Person:Richard Dillon (3)

Richard Dillon was born 7 Oct 1745 in Norfolk County, Virginia, per his application for Revolutionary War Pension (R2959). He removed to Bertie County, North Carolina by 1759, at which time he was bound to Christopher Harrison, Cooper. His parents are identified in the apprenticeship record as James Theophilus Dillon and Mary Whitson.

There are strong indications that Richard Dillon was either born out of wedlock (more likely), or that his parents separated after his birth (less likely). We may infer from the general tenor of information that we have about James Theophilus Dillon's life, that the likelihood of him fathering a child out of wedlock was a relatively high one. We may state, more concretely, that James Theophilus Dillon did not remove to Bertie County with Richard Dillon and his mother, Mary. Rather, he appears to have lived most, if not all of his life, in Virginia, where he died by 1772. James Theophilus Dillon is found in no Bertie County, North Carolina records known to me. We also may read into certain statements made by Richard Dillon in his pension application. When asked to give his date and place of birth, Richard stated that he was born "in the state of Virginia Norfolk County, on the 7th day of October 1745, as appears from the record of my father from the information of my mother." When asked what record he had of his age, he stated that it was "in my Bible at home a copy, from my father's record as informed of my mother." This language is insinuative of a boy who did not know his father very well, and who was separated from him at a fairly early age. Finally, we may again refer to his apprenticeship to Christopher Harrison. The language of the indenture reads [26 Jan 1759] "bind unto the said Christopher Harrison as an apprentice Richard Dillon son of James Theophilus Dillon about the age of twelve years." The reader will note that James Theophilus Dillon was not shown as deceased. Three days before the 26 Jan indenture, on 23 Jan 1759, "Mary Whitson" gave consent: "I desire my son should be bound to Cristopher Harrison." I have uploaded the apprenticeship record and the consent to Richard Dillon's page here. The fact that Mary Whitson gave consent, and not the boy's father, who is not shown as deceased, is fairly definitive.

Richard Dillon was indentured to Christopher Harrison until he reached 21 years, i.e. in 1766. We assume that he either stayed "in business" with Harrison or struck out on his own as a Cooper at this time. Richard Dillon's affidavit executed 22 April 1833 in support of his Revolutionary War pension application is an interesting read. In it, he stated that he was drafted under Capt John Faulk in Bertie County, North Carolina, that in "March next" he was marched to "headquarters" at Northwest River Birdge, where he was put under the command of Col Blunt in Virginia, and was also commanded by General Gregory. He described his tour under General Gregory as a three month tour. He then stated that in the summer of 1781, he enlisted aboard the privateer "Greyhound," commanded by Capt Samuel Butler, and served on board said privateer until he was taken prisoner by the frigate "Balona," commanded by a Capt Kennedy, a Scotchman; that he was a prisoner about 9 months, until his parole. Dillon's pension application was rejected by the Commissioner of Pensions. The most probable reasons for the rejection were that Dillon could not provide documentary evidence of his service; or that he could not procure the eyewitness testimony of any comrades in arms. His affidavit was executed in April 1833, and he died in October 1833, so whatever objections made by the Commissioner were rendered moot by Dillon's death. Dillon's service, whether it be of a military or non-military nature, may be substantiated by his warrant for unspecified services, as found in NC Revolutionary Army Accounts, vol X, page 20, folio 1.

Richard Dillon probably married in late 1778 or early 1779 to Ann Lawrence, daughter of Humphrey Lawrence. I will discuss this marriage under the Richard Dillon/Ann Lawrence family page. Richard bought his first piece of land about this time, 8 Dec 1778, 150 acres on the NW side of Wills Quarter Swamp, from Jeremiah Lester for the sum of 200 pounds (Bertie Co NC Deed Book M, 380). He bought land again on 25 Aug 1787 from William Meredith, 250 acres on ES Round Pocosin,for 80 pounds. This land was adjacent to the lands of his wife's grandfather, Thomas Ashley (Bertie County NC Deed Book O, 91).

Richard Dillon stated in his Revolutionary War pension application that he lived in Bertie County until 1790, at which time he removed to Barnwell District, South Carolina. This is supported by a (1) deed 17 Nov 1789 by which Richard and Ann Dillon sold his 250 acres on Round Pocosin (Bertie Co NC Deed Book P, 37 [I have not located a record of how Richard disposed of his 150 acres bought from jeremiah Lester]); and (2) 20 Oct 1792 power of attorney executed by Richard to Frederick Lawrence (his brother-in-law) in Bertie County for Dillon's affairs in Bertie (Bertie Co NC Deed Book P, 371). He stated in his pension that he remained in Barnwell District until 20 March 1807, at which time he removed to Mississippi.

His final place of abode was in Pike County, Mississippi (present-day Walthall County), on Bogue Chitto River immediately north of the Louisiana state line. Late in life, he and wife Ann joined the New Zion Baptist Church, as shown by the church minutes of May 1830 (transcribed minutes in my possession, records are held at MS Baptist Historical Collection, Mississippi College, Clinton, MS). Richard would die on 7 Oct 1833, per his Bible record (copies scanned in Richard Dillon ancestor file, NSDAR, Washington, DC). Thus ended the life of an old Revolutionary War soldier, and a Mississippi pioneer.

submitted by: Bevin Creel, Jan 2012

Richard Dillon to Christopher Harrison, Bertie County NC Apprenticeship Bonds, North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, NC

Consent of Mary Whitson for binding of son Richard Dillon to Christopher Harrison, in Bertie County Apprenticeship Bonds, North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, NC

1. ↑ Revolutionary War Pension Application R2959.
2. ↑ Richard Dillon Bible Record (aka Hollingsworth Bible), in Richard Dillon ancestor file, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Washington, DC.