Pension application of William Lowe S13795 fn29NC
Transcribed by Will Graves rev'd 4/24/10
State of Kentucky, Warren County
On this 24th day of July 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of the County Court of Warren County now sitting, William Lowe a resident Citizen of the adjoining County of Simpson and State aforesaid aged Seventy seven years on the 17th day of February 1833 – 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 7th 1832 – That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated.
1st – That he volunteered into the service of the Army of the Revolution from the County of Surry & State of North Carolina sometime in the summer (he thinks) of 1775 under the command of Captain Joseph Philips. He joined the Army for the purpose of quelling certain Scotch Tories who had risen near the “sand hills” in North Carolina under the command of a Colonel McCloud he thinks –There was a Captain Jarvis marched in company with him. He was under no general officer. He belonged to the Regiment of Colonel Dye – as well as he remembers his name. He marched from Surry County to Cross Creek on Cape Fear River. We encamped here for eight or 10 days, till we heard that McCloud had been defeated by an officer named Caswell – as well as he remembers – we were then marched back & discharged. He was only out about six weeks and got no discharge. There was a Captain Good out with him.
2nd – He volunteered again into the service from the same County & State in the latter end of the summer or beginning of the fall of 1776 on a three months tour under the command of Captain William Dobson-- Major Joseph Winston, & Colonel Joseph Williams. There were three other captains along – Captain Good, Mosby, & Cobb, there was a Captain Shepherd, Captain of horse, along also. We marched into the State of Virginia & joined Colonel Christie [sic, William Christian] at the Long Island of Holston [River] – Colonel Christie then took command of the whole – marched thence to a place on Tennessee River called the “Over Hill” Towns. We were scattered about through the Country here a while and burnt many of Indian towns – And then returned home in the winter. We were out on this tour thirteen weeks. He did not receive a discharge.
3Rd – He again volunteered from the same County & State under the command of Captain Minor Smith-- his lieutenant was named Varnil [sic, Richard Vernon] – Major Winston [Joseph Winston] & Colonel Benjamin Cleveland. There was a Captain Guess [Moses Guess or Guest] along. The forces rendezvoused at Bethany or Bethlehem, a Moravian town in Surry County – and marched towards the Cowpens and on our route joined the Virginia militia under Colonel Campbell [William Campbell] at the Cowpens we joined Colonel Williams' [James Williams'] Regiment from South Carolina. He started from the Cowpens under the command of Campbell, about sunset marched the whole night and crossed Broad River at the Cherokee Ford about day light – thence on to King's Mountain. Surrounded Colonel Fergurson [Patrick Ferguson] & killed & took his whole Army. In this engagement Captain Smith was shot through the head but recovered. His Lieutenant Varnil was wounded & died of his wound a day or two afterwards. He spent a day or two here – and then marched back towards the Moravian towns with the prisoners. He did not continue with the Army but went as a nurse with William Hana [sic, Hanna or Hannah?] as a nurse who was severely wounded in the battle, to a doctor and remained with said Hannah till he died. He then returned to Surry County and Captain Smith, not having yet recovered, he marched under a Captain Joel Lewis against some Tories at the head of John's River we followed them to the head of the Watauga River now in the State of Tennessee. Here we overtook them – fired on them, killed one & wounded another – they fled & hid themselves in an adjoining swamp. And we then returned over on John's River again – thence home. There was a Major White in company with us after these tours, but I believe he had no command. He
got no discharge. He was out on this tour a little upwards of three months.
4thly He again volunteered from the same County & State under Captain William Bostick, he joined a Regiment commanded by Col. Pickens [Andrew Pickens], a refugee from South Carolina – marched down on Haw River near Trolener's [sic, Trollinger's or Trolinger's] Ford-- and was there waiting to strengthen Green [sic, Nathanael Greene]
when he required his services. The British under Lord Cornwallis was then in Hillsborough – While he was yet stationed near Trollinger's Ford the British evacuated Hillsboro & marched on towards Guilford. As they were passing on near where your
applicant was stationed in a small skirmish of spies Major M. Lewis was shot through the
thighs and died of his wounds. We were beaten back that night from two encampments
& were compelled to make a third without fire. The next morning being confined with rheumatism he was compelled to leave the Army. He was engaged on this tour about three weeks. He was not discharged. This was in the winter of 1781, just before the battle of Guilford. He cannot remember precisely the date of his joining & leaving the service. By reference to the fixed dates he has alluded to, he hopes his statement on that subject will be found sufficiently certain. After the war he resided in Surry County six or
seven years then moved to South Carolina on Saluda River where he lived 11 years, then to Kentucky where he now lives. He has his birth recorded in his family register, now at home. He can prove a portion of his service by a Mr. Clark but who he has been unable to get to the Court House owing to his advanced age. He forwards to the certificates of Joseph Smith & Zachariah Morris a minister of the gospel. He hereby relinquishes all claim to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the
pension roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
S/ William Lowe
[Zachariah Morris, a clergyman, and Euclid M. Covington gave the standard supporting
affidavit.]
State of Kentucky Warren County
On this 26th day of November personally appeared in open Court before the
Judge of the Warren Circuit Court now sitting William Lowe and offered the following
amendment to his declaration, pursuant to the suggestions of the War Department.
1st. That he was born in the State of Virginia but was moved from that State while an infant to North Carolina. 2nd The reason his application is not made in Simpson County where he resides is 1st that he could get no individual in that County to write his declaration &
attend to the business for him and 2nd that his witnesses live in Warren. And the said Lowe being duly sworn, deposeth & saith that by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory he cannot positively swear as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades: for 34 weeks or eight months & two weeks I served as a private and for such service I claim a pension. He begs leave to present also pursuant to the direction of the war Department the Certificate of Micajah Clark.1
S/ William Lowe
Kentucky Warren County: SS
Be it known that before me an acting Justice of the Peace for said County, on the 26th day of November 1832 personally appeared Micajah Clark aged eighty-three years also very feeble & infirm insomuch that he is unable to attend Court, at the house of the said Clark in the said County of Warren and made oath that he was with William Lowe who makes the present application for a pension, in the State of North Carolina on an expedition of thirteen weeks duration against the Cherokee Indians under Colonel Joseph Williams, in the year 1776, also in 1780 said Lowe was in the North Carolina State troops under Colonel Benjamin Cleaveland at the battle of King's Mountain. And I do further certify that the said Micajah Clark is a person of Credibility and that his statement is entitled to credit. Given under my hand the date above written.
S/ Benjamin C. Smith
[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $26.66 commencing March 4, 1831, for 8 months
service in the Revolution.]
1 Micajah Clark S30940
https://revwarapps.org/s13795.pdf
