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Facts and Events
Thomas Brown was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia
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Revolutionary War Pension Information
Information from “Virginia/West Virginia Genealogical Data from Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty
Land Warrant Records”, Vol. 1, compiled by Patrick G. Wardell, Lt. Col. U.S. Army Ret. :
- Brown, Thomas - entered service in Tryon County (now Rutherford County), North Carolina; born 2/28/1753 in Augusta County, Virginia, son of William; family moved to Rowan County, North Carolina, when soldier was child; brother of William, Alexander & Robert, all Revolutionary War soldiers; to Warren County, Tennessee, abt. 1808 where granted Pension in 1833. R379.
References
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Pension Application
http://www.southerncampaign.org/pen/s3059.pdf
Pension application of Thomas Brown S3059
Transcribed by Will Graves[Punctuation, grammar & spelling corrected for clarity]
State of Tennessee, Warren County
On the 8th day of October 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County of Warren aforesaid now sitting there being present the worshipful William McGregor Samuel Durby & Anson Higginbotham Esqs presiding justices of said Court Thomas Brown a Resident in the County of Warrenand State of Tennessee aged Eighty years some time last February, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated:
In the early part of the year of 1776 it was apprehended in North Carolina that the British meditated an attack upon Wilmington in that State. It was said that a large number of Scots who resided in that State were embodying themselves under a Scotch Col. by the name of McDonald with a view of marching against that Town and with the expectation of joining the British forces who were expected there about that time, to oppose which and defend the Town the North Carolina Militia was called into the service and perhaps some from the adjoining States.
Applicant, who was then a resident in Tryon County in that State (now Rutherford), entered the service some time about the first of the second week in March 1776. He volunteered and joined a Company commanded by Captain James McFadgin [sic, McFadden?]. He attached himself to the Company at a Town called Gilbert Town on Cathie's Creek, a branch of Broad River and in Tryon County State of North Carolina, of which Company Adam Hampton was Lieutenant and Andy McFadden Ensign his Company was attached to a Regiment commanded by James Goines [Gowen?] Col. Commandant and by Andrew Hampton Col, Lieutenant [no name given] He does not recollect the name of the Majors.
He rendezvoused and was mustered into service at Gilbert Town, various other companies did also, and in a few days was marched on in the direction to Wilmington. They passed Salisbury crossed the Catawba river, from there they were marched across the Adkin [sic, Yadkin] River crossing at Stone's ferry, his understanding is that as soon as they crossed the river at Stone's ferry that they entered Surry County, N.C. Not far from the ferry his Regiment formed a Junction with a large army commanded as he thinks by General Rutherford [Griffith Rutherford] consisting altogether of upwards of more than Nine thousand men all destined to the same place and for the same purpose. They were then marched to a little Town on Cross Creek, now called Fayetteville, from there to Campell [sic, Campbell] town not far from Cross Creek. There they found Col. Caswell [Richard Caswell] and were informed that the Scotch Col. McDonald had been attacked by Col. Caswell and others and that he was taken prisoner his forces defeated many of them killed and others captured some of them were then confined in Campbelltown. Hearing nothing of the British and the Scots having been defeated, the army was marched back from Campbell town, to Cross Creek where they remained for something like a week. From there they were marched back to the place of rendezvous, and went with a few exceptions the same rout that they did in their march towards Wilmington. In returning, they crossed the Catawba at Tuckaseegee ford. They were detained on their return home several weeks in receiving the submission and paroling of Tories. He arrived at Gilbert Town in Tryon County State of North Carolina some time in the month of April 1776, and was then and there verbally discharged by his Captain James McFadden. In this Tour he served seven weeks. From there he went to one Hayes in Tryon [County] with whom he had learned the hatter's trade. He worked with him at the hatter's business until he earned and received from him two five dollar hats. He then went to the residence of this father, William Brown, who lived in the Waxhaw Settlement in South Carolina. Upon his arrival, there he was informed by his father that he, his father, was drafted into the service and that in consequence of him having a large family and harvest being near at hand, he was disinclined to serve and requested applicant to serve his tour which was six weeks for him as a substitute which applicant agreed to and diddo. He rendezvoused as he now thinks at Camden South Carolina, does not know what county it is or was in.
He was there mustered into the service. In the first of June 1776[he] was attached to a Company commanded by Captain John Barkley, the Ensign of which was Robert Harper; [he] does not recollect the name of the Lieutenant. His company was attached to a Regiment commanded by Cols. Joseph and Ely Cashars [sic,Kershaw], as he now thinks, he does not recollect the names of the majors either of this or the former Tour. From Camden, he with his Regiment was marched pretty briskly to Charleston South Carolina, crossing the Santee River at Nelson's ferry. Upon his arrival in Charleston, he saw the British Ships. [His] Regiment was attached to the Army there commanded by General Lee [Charles Lee]. When he got to Charleston, he saw the British Ships at anchor. He was detained in Charleston and employed as a sentinel. He witnessed the attack of the British upon Sullivan's Island which he thinks was in the latter part of June. He saw one or more of the British ships burning on the day of the attack. The Island, to the best of his recollection, is about three miles from Charleston. He remained in Charleston until his tour expired which was some time in July 1776. He can not state the precise time when and where he was verbally discharged by his Captain John Barkley. In this tour he served six weeks. Immediately or at least in a day or two, he cannot state the precise time, after the expiration of his last above mentioned tour, he again entered the service in the month of July 1776. He volunteered for a tour of six weeks in Charleston South Carolina. He volunteered in a company commanded by Captain John Kenedy [sic, Kennedy?] of which he thinks Hugh White was the Lieutenant. He does not recollect the name of the ensign. This company constituted a part of Cols Joseph and Ely Kershaw's Regiment consequently he remained in the same regiment. It was commanded by Cols. Joseph and Ely Kershaw. He does not now recollect which of these was the Col. Commandant or Lieutenant nor does he recollect the names of the Majors at this time. During the greater portion of this tour, he remained in Charleston and was employed most usually as a watch & sentinel. Once in the term, he was marched to the Savannah River and back to Charleston where he remained until some time in September 1776. He does not remember the precise day, when and where he was verbally discharged by his Captain John Kennedy. In this tour he served six weeks. On the same [day] or in a very few days after the expiration of the last mentioned tour, he does not recollect the precise day but it was as he believes in the month of September 1776, applicant again entered the service for a tour of six weeks. He volunteered and entered the Service in Charleston South Carolina. He attached himself toa Company commanded by Captain George Dunlapp [sic, Dunlap?]. He does not recollect the names of the Ensign or Lieutenant. This Company also belonged to the Cols. Kershaw's Regiment to which he was again attached. He does not remember the names of the Majors who were attached to the Regiment. During this Tour, he was marched to a place called the Turkey Hill in the direction to Savannah River from Charleston with all his regiment to give security to the residents in those parts from the attacks of the scouting parties of the Tories and British, and was again marched back to Charleston andthere remained until his tour expired when and where he was by his Captain George Dunlap verbally discharged. He does not recollect the precise time but thinks it was in the month October A.D. 1776. This tour he served six weeks. On the same or in a very few days after the expiration of the last of six weeks, he volunteered in Charleston South Carolina and attached himself to and joined the Company he came to Charleston in. It was commanded by Captain John Barkley. He does not recollect the precise time but thinks it was in the first part of the month of October 1776. Of this company, Robert Harper was the Ensign. He does not now remember who the Lieutenant was. This company still belonged to the Regiment commanded by Cols Joseph and Eli Kershaw and to which he again attached himself. He does not recollect the names of the Majors of the Regiment. Shortly after the applicant entered upon the tour, he with his entire Regiment was marched to a place he thinks called Beaufort or Blueford Island for the purpose of assisting in the defense of the Country against the attack of the British which was constantly expected. There he with his Regiment remained for some time. [He] does not recollect the precise time and was then marched back to Charleston South Carolina where he remained until his tour of six weeks expired which he thinks was about the first of December 1776. When and where he was verbally discharged by his Captain John Barkley. During the time he was at the place he now thinks was called Blueford's Island, the ensign of his Company Robert Harper died. He does not recollect whether the vacancy occasioned by his death was filled or not or if so by whom. In this tour he served six weeks. Immediately upon the expiration of the last above mentioned tour, applicant left Charleston for the residence of his father in the Waxhaw Settlements of S.C. He traveled as he now thinks one day on his way to his father's where he met a considerable number of the five- and nine-months North Carolina Militia under General Rutherford [Griffith Rutherford] and commanded by him, among whom applicant found his brother William, who had entered the service for five months. Here one of the five-months men William Houston being tired of this service proposed to give applicant $40.00 to take his placeand serve out the balance of his five months which was to expire on the 10th day of the succeeding March which applicant consented to and did do. Applicant entered the service this time as he thinks in the first of December 1776 and in the road leading from Charleston towards the Waxhaw Settlement and about as he supposes thirty miles from the former place. He was attached to a company commanded by a Captain William Houston. He does not remember the names of the Lieutenant or Ensign. One Campbell was a Corporal in the company. He and his Company were attached to a Regiment commanded by a Col. Locke. [He] does not recollect his given name, nor does he now recollect any of the other officers of the Regiment nor does he now remember whether Locke was a Col. Com; or Lieut [Col.]. From the place where he entered the service he was marched to a little town on the Savannah River called Purysburg or Purvy's Burgewhich was opposite to a place on the Georgia side of the River called the Two Sisters. Here they remained for some time inactive and were then marched by General Rutherfordup the Savannah River for the purpose of assisting the forces under General Nash [sic,John Ashe] in the State of Georgia in defending themselves against an attack of the British which was expected. They crossed the river Savannah at Matthew's Bluff, and were at that place met General Ashe. He had been attacked by the British on Bryer [sic,Briar] Creek in the State of Georgia; vanquished and as many thought fled with more precipitancy than was done. It was said that his troops fought bravely after he left there.He came to the camp of Rutherford almost alone. From here applicant with the balance of the army was marched back to Purysburg about that time the five months for which he entered expired. At this time great fears were apprehended that the country would be in ashort time over run by the British. On or about the 10th day of March, applicant demanded his discharge but was informed by his officers that he would not be discharged until new levies or troops were procured. This was not effected until some time in June 1777. About that time applicant does not recollect the day he was verbally discharged by his Captain William Houston. He thinks Purysburg or Purvis Burgh was in South Carolina tho he is not certain that it is so he does not know what district or county. Hewas then at the time aforesaid discharged and served in that tour at least six months.Shortly after this he returned to the residence of his father in the Waxhaw Settlement South Carolina. Some time in the Spring or summer of 1780, the Waxhaw Settlement as well asthe greater part of South Carolina was over run and some settlements desolated by the British. Those who were afraid of their coming left their houses with all of their portableeffects and generally went into North Carolina from the Waxhaw Settlement the line being but a small distance off applicant had remained in that settlement from 1777 untilthat time. He then fled to McLunburger [sic, Mecklenburg] County North Carolina. His father left home and carried with him the most valuable of his portable effects.
Applicant's brothers Alexander, Robert and William joined the army of the U.S. About this time, he does not recollect the precise day or month, applicant again entered the service. He volunteered for twenty seven days. He entered service inMecklenburg County North Carolina. He joined a company of cavalry commanded by Captain Oliver Wily of which Thomas Shelly was Lieutenant and Thomas Wray, Ensign. He entered the service at Gilbert's Mill in Mecklenburg County North Carolina and wasthen situated with Wily's company and so remained until his tour expired when he wasverbally discharged at the same place. He entered the service he does not recollect the day or the month it was in the year of 1780 and in mild weather as he now thinks he wasnot this tour attached to any Regiment. This ended his military service. He received pay at the rate of Ten dollars a month for the six first Tours he served. For the last and seventh [tours], he never received any thing although he understood his Captain received the money. In this tour he served twenty seven days. He served in all and claims pay for at least fourteen months.1. He was born in Augusta County State of Virginia in the month of February and he thinks the 28th day in the year A.D. 1753.
2. He never had any record of his age. His father had in a Bible when he fled from the Waxhaw Settlement he understands it was left there. He knew his age at the time of the attack of Clinton upon Sullivan's Island that day Twenty three years of age and now ascertains his age by that date. When first called into the service he was living in Tryon (now Rutherford) County North Carolina. Whilst he was a youth, his father moved from Augusta County Va. to Roan [sic, Rowan County], North Carolina not far from the Yadkin River. From there he moved whilst applicant was a boy to the Waxhaw settlement in South Carolina not far from the N.C. line. He does not recollect the county or district. It was about a quarter of amile from the Catawba River and about forty five miles from Camden, and about threemiles from the Widow Jackson's the mother of General Andrew Jackson; [he] thinks her given name was Betty. He is older than Andy Jackson; knew him when he was a boy. Whilst he, applicant, was a boy his father bound him to one Henry Hays, a hatter, to learn the hatter's trade. At that time, Hays lived in the Waxhaw Settlement S.C. but shortly afterwards moved to Tryon County North Carolina and carried applicant with him.
In the year of 1780 when he left the Army he moved to Holston River and settled in what is now Sullivan County State of Tennessee. He there remained for several years. He then moved to Clinch River to a place now in Roan [sic, Rowan] County in the same state; from there he moved to Smith County in the same state; lived there until he made one crop. He then moved to this Warren County State of Tennessee where he now and has for the last twenty four or five years resided; during the revolution and at the time he first entered the service he considered his settled residence with his father in the Waxhaw settlement South Carolina although he was there but a small portion of his time. He does not recollect what county the Waxhaw settlement was in. The first tour applicant served he volunteered into the service.
His second [tour] he was a substitute for his father, William Brown, who was drafted into the service. The third tour he served he volunteered into the service; the fourth tour he served he volunteered into the service; the fifth tour he served he volunteered into the service; thesixth tour he served he volunteered into the service and as a substitute for William Houston. Does not know whether he was drafted or not but from the circumstances of his employing a substitute he supposes he was and the seventh Tour he served he volunteered into the service.
He saw General Lee at Charleston S.C. during his service there; he also during his service there became acquainted with a lieutenant by the name of Charles Burnet as he thinks, he also heard of Col Moultrie [William Moultrie] there thinks he saw him is not certain. He also heard of a sergeant McDonald; did not see him thinks he was killed by a cannon ball all of whom he thinks belonged to the regular army. He frequently saw General Lincoln [Benjamin Lincoln] during his service thinks he saw him once at the Turkey Hills.
Does not recollect any of the Continental regiments either by name ornumber nor can he say any thing more of militia regiments than he was in the body of his declaration.
6. Never did receive a written discharge for any of the Tours he served. He was always verbally discharged by the Captains under whom he served.
7th. He is known to William F. Luck, General William C. Smartt & others, all of whomare in the neighborhood where he now resides, or at present resides and will testify as to his character for veracity and of their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
He has no documentary evidence of his services. He knows of no person living that he can procure by whom he can prove all of his services. He can prove by Robert Brown that he was in the service at Charleston at the time it was, or at least Sullivan's Island was, attacked by Clinton. He can not make any other positive proof.
Applicant further states that many years ago he received a severe hurt upon his head by the fall of a tree which together with extreme old age has greatly impaired hismemory. Indeed he feels confident that many of the important incidents attending his service have escaped his recollection at best his recollection is so fraught of them that hecan not give a detail of them. He is the more inclined to believe this from the circumstances that he is confident in his own mind that he served a much longer time than he is by summary able to demonstrate. His impression has always been since the revolution that he served about three years. He is confident that he saw and knew more of the regular officers than he by memory can state. He is inclined to believe this from this that he now well knows that he was once or twice stationed with or near them but his recollection of the time and places is so faint that he can not with any certainty attempt tostate them. The various Tours he served may not be correct as to the time when served, that is a Tour or Tours that is stated to have been served prior in time to another may have been served subsequent to it. But he is certain that he served all the Tours stated and for the time stated, and he believes very confidently others that are not stated. He hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a Pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not upon the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
:S/ Thomas Brown, X his mark
:Jo. Colville, Clerk
:By L Colville
- Geneanet Community Trees Index.
Name Thomas Archibald Brown*
Gender M (Male)
Birth Date 28 févr. 1753 (28 Feb 1753)
Birth Place Augusta County, Virginia, USA
Marriage Date 1780
Marriage Place Tennessee (Tennessee City), Tennessee, USA
Death Date 3 sept. 1849 (3 Sep 1849)
Death Place Viola, Warren (Viola), Tennessee, USA
Spouse Celia Sealy Green
Child[ren]
Absalom Billoat Brown
Alexander Brown
Margaret Brown
Martha Brown
Nancy Brown
Rebecca Celia Brown
Sarah Sels Brown
- ↑ Thomas Brown died 3 Sep 1849 at the age of 96, leaving the following children and only heirs: William Brown, Alexander Brown, Rebecca Brown, Margaret Hall, Nancy McGregor. Of these, only William Brown appeared to be present at the 1850 census. Rebecca Brown had moved to Missouri. She had married a Daniel Brown.
http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cchouk/oregon_trail/b1.htm
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