Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements
Pension application of Thomas Epperson S4282 fn19NC
Transcribed by Will Graves 12/1/08
[Methodology: Spelling, punctuation and grammar have been corrected in some instances for ease of reading and to facilitate searches of the database. Also, the handwriting of the original scribes often lends itself to varying interpretations. Users of this database are urged to view the original and to make their own decision as to how to decipher what the original scribe actually wrote. Blanks appearing in the transcripts reflect blanks in the original.]
State of Tennessee, Hawkins County
On this 24th day of June 1834 personally appeared Thomas Epperson resident of the County of Hawkins and State of Tennessee aged 74 years of age before me Shadrach Epperson One of the Justices of the peace for said County and after being 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 7th June 1832 --
I entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated --
I entered the service of the United States in the year 1779 as a private volunteer under the command of Colonel Joseph Williams Captain Pleasant Henderson John Colbert Lieutenant -- In the County of Surry North Carolina we rendezvoused at Surry Court house on the 30th [?] day of August as well as I now recollect in the year 1779 and marched under the command of the before mentioned officers as a guard out on the frontiers we marched on across the Blue Ridge at the flower gap went through Montgomery County State of Virginia in Cranford New River at Harbord’s Ferry and on to long Island of Holston River where we lay all might have at a place called Eton’s Fort we went next day after some Indians that had done so mischief to the family of one Russell but we could not find them. We then came on through Washington County Virginia and home through Sullivan County now Tennessee State and crossed Clinch River and Powel's mountain and on to Cumberland gap where we lay some time. We then returned back nearly the same route until we arrived at the long Island of Holston where were we were discharged I received my discharge from Colonel Williams which I have since lost. I returned the 10th of December 1779 being gone four months. In the year 1780 I volunteered myself again in the Regiment of Colonel Henry Clark Captain Benjamin Clark in Lieutenant John Wheeler on the 15th of November in Sullivan County State of North Carolina now Tennessee broad River on the big Island and on into the Cherokee nation to a town called Chota where we lay some time we were scouting about after Indians to different places we went to another Indian town called Chilhawer [?] We went about to different towns while we lay there the names of which I cannot now recollect taking prisoners in many places and killing some until we started home we returned home near the same route as well as I recollect we got home somewhere between 15th of February and the first of March 1781 being gone three months I received no discharge upon my return. The first of September 1782 I volunteered myself again under the command of Colonel John Sevier Captain Amis Bird [Amos Bird?] and Lieutenant Gragg in order to go against a body of the Cherokee Indians I was then living in Washington County State of North Carolina now State of Tennessee. We marched on towards the Indian nation crossing French broad River and Tennessee River and on to a Creek called Chicamogy [Chickamauga?] We lay there a few days ranging after Indians we went on to the head of Coosy River from there we went on to Highwassey [Hiwassee] River then returned to Chota town and lay sometime from
there we returned Home the first of November 1782 being gone two months and I never was out any more. This declarant says he was told that soldiers who served against the Indians in time of the revolutionary war could not draw at least, this declarant, never knew he was entitled to a pension until lately is the cause he did not apply sooner. He declares he has no documentary evidence of his service nor can he procure any evidence of the same. He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the present and declares his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state Sworn to and subscribed this 24th of June 1834 before me
S/ Shadrach Epperson, JP S/ Thomas Epperson, X his mark
[Moses McGinnis, a clergyman, and Captain James Byrd gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
Questions proposed to Thomas Epperson applicant for a pension by the war department
1st Where and in what year were you born?
Ans: I was born in the State of Virginia Buckingham County in 1760
2nd Have you any record of your age and if so where is it?
Ans: I had a record of my age but lost it
3rd Where were you living when called into service: where have you lived since the
Revolutionary War and where do you now live?
Ans: I was living in the State of North Carolina and I went out of Surry County in out of Sullivan and once out of Washington Counties from Washing County I moved to Green County Tennessee from Green County I moved to Hawkins County where I now live
4th How were you called into service; were you drafted; did you volunteer or were you a substitute, and if in substitute, for whom?
Ans: I volunteered myself every time
5th State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops when you served, such Continental and militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service.
Ans: Colonel Williams, Captain Henderson, Captain Colbert, Absalom Cleveland,
Colonel Clark, Colonel Sevier &c
6th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?
Ans: I received a discharge once from Colonel Williams but I have since lost it
7th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief in your services as a soldier in the revolution.
Ans: I am acquainted with Major Charles Wolf, Colonel James Willis, Captain John A.
Rogers, Colonel David Rogers and many others
