Pension Application of William Murphy W9580 Rachel Murphy NC VA
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris. Revised 13 Dec 2014.
State of Missouri St. Francois County, Ssct, County Court. May term
On this seventh day of May in the year of our Lord 1833 Personally appeared in open Court before William Murphy Jr. presiding Justice, and Thomas Hale & George W. Robinson Justices, Composing & holding said Court in the State of Missouri and within the County and State aforesaid William Murphy Sr. a resident of the county aforesaid aged Seventy four years the 12th day of March last. And he being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in in order to obtain the bennifit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
1st He states; that in the latter part of July 1776 There was a draft ordered in Capt. Wilkerson’s Company, Bedford county State of Virginia, which company I belonged to at that time, I turned out a volunteer for three months as a private soldier under Capt. William Leftridge [sic: William Leftwich] Lieut. Calaway [sic: Callaway] Ensign Jessee Bounds, all of Bedford County & state aforesaid, and traveled from Bedford Court house across the blue ridge to Chisels lead-mines [sic: lead mines near Fort Chiswell in present Wythe County], and was stationed at that place for the purpose of guarding said mines against the Indians, until the arival of other troops, and then discharged, at the end of said three months by Capt. Leftridge, upon the arival of other troops – which discharge is lost or mis-laid.
2nd In Aprile 1777 I served a three months tower a private soldier as a substitute in the place of Lewis Duese [Lewis Deweese?], who was Drafted in Thos. Jonese’s [sic: Thomas Jones’s] Company in Henry county State of Virginia; and served under Capt. Peter Herston [sic: Peter Hairston], Lieut. William Ferguston [sic: William Ferguson] Ensign Edward Tatum – in Col. Christy’s [William Christian’s] Regiment, and traveled through the wilderness from Henry county state of Virginia, a cross the blue ridge at the flower gap, and the Poplar Camp mountains [in present Carroll County] to the long Islands of Holston River [at present Kingsport TN] distance about two hundred miles, and was stationed there to guard that place during a treaty that was held with the Cherokee Indians by the sd Col Christy [Treaty of Long Island, 20 Jul 1777] – and was discharged at that place by Capt. Peter Herston, which discharge is lost or mis-laid – 3rd In August 1777 I substituted in the place of Guinn Dudley (who was drafted in John Wilkerson’s company, Bedford county Virginia, and served three months as 2nd Sergent under Capt. Thos Duley [Thomas Dooley], Lieut. Hale Tolbert [Haile Talbott], Ensign Caloway [Callaway], all of said county & state, and marched from Bedford-court-house a cross Jamese’s [sic: James] River at Richmond to Williamsburgh [sic: Williamsburg], in Virginia, and there stationed to guard the city, and remained there until discharged by said Thos. Duley which discharge is lost or mislaid –
4th October 12th 1778 William Cannon was drafted for five months in Robert Seviers Company in Washington County North Carolina [from which Tennessee was later formed], In whose place I substituted and was marched across the Iron Mountain, the Brushey Mountain, and the Catawba river, and through South Carolina to Purisburgh [sic: Purysburgh in present Jasper County], and there joined General [Benjamin] Lincoln’s Regulars about the first of december of that year [sic: see endnote], and the company was there organised and I was apointed first Sergeant and served as such til the first of March, 1779. I served the above tower of duty under Capt. Robert Severe [sic] Lieut. Christopher Cunningham Ensign Charles Young in Col. [John] Peasley’s Battalion & General [Griffith] Rutherford’s Regiment, about the first of March 1779 Capt. Severe resigned his commission and the Company officers arose by senority and I was Ensign of the company until the tenth day of the next April, the time that I was discharged. The five months was out the 12th day of March but we were detained until the said 10 of April for the arival of recruites from South-Carolina and I was discharged (as is herewith shown) I did not receive a commission for the time that I served as Ensign. In the time of the above tour of duty I was at Nashes’s defeat on Brier Creek in the State of Georgia [sic: defeat of Col. John Ashe, 3 Mar 1779](that is) I was in Rutherfords regiment which Crossed the Savanah river in the time of the Battle, who was met by General Nash (a superior officer who ordered a retreat. I was in several other unimportant skirmishes in the State of Georgia.
5th In April 1780 there was a draft ordered for three months to rase men to go against the valley towns of the Cherokee Indians. I volunteered and went said campaign as sergeant (I think 2nd Sergeant) under Capt. John Clark, Lieut. John Bond, Ensign not recolected. the Expedition was commanded by General John Severe [sic: John Sevier] all of Washington county North carolina, and marched over the bald mountain [in present Greene County TN] and french broad river to the head waters of Tennessee, and destroyed a number of towns and killed a number of Indians, with the loss of Capt. Davis and Lieut. Bond killed, & Jasper Terry wounded, and the loss of some horses killed. we were then marched back to Washington Co. and dismissed. I don’t think any of the men received a writen discharge
6th In the latter part of July 1780 I volunteered on another three months tour as a private under Capt. John Renfrow [John Renfro], Lieut. Chatton Doggett, Ensign Lewis Davis in Col. Linches [sic: Charles Lynch’s] light horse (so called) of Bedford county Virginia, and marched across the blue ridge to the waters of New river, after some tories that was imbodied there, and succeeded in taking their Capt. William Terry got his commission which was from a British officer and got a list of his men, all of which we took and disarmed Except one, who made his escape – at the close of the tour, I was discharged by Capt. Renfrow which discharge is lost or mislaid – 7th In June 1781 there was a Thos. Runnels [Thomas Reynolds] killed by the Indians and a Capt. Neley McGuire ordered out men to persue the Indians I turned out as a volunteer and went in persuit of the indians and was one month in the servis in the persuit and guarding the fronteers until men could be properly organised and then I was releaved –
8th In February 1782 I volunteered a three months tour under Capt. John Clark, Lieut John Murphy Ensign of Washington County North Carolina Commanded by Col. Jacob Brown, and marched across Noley Chuckey [sic: Nolichucky] and French broad rivers, in the persuit of Indians that had attacked Sherrels [sic: Sherrell’s] Station on the fronteers of North carolina the indians lost one of their number in the attack, we overtook a party of the Indians supposed to be some 60 or 100 killed 13 on the ground (so said) at the end of the tour we were dismissed I cannot say whether we were in servis three months or not, it counted for a three months tour – 9th In August 1782, there was a draft for men to go against the Indians, I was drafted and hired George Dogget to go in my place and went to the place of rendevouz and gave him up General Severe insisted that I must go also, and I Volunteere and went on the tour for three months against the Cherokee under Capt Thos Wood [Thomas Wood], Lieut. Nathan Breed ensig[?] Commanded by General John Severe, the company officers all of Green Co. North Carolina [sic: the Greene County now in Tennessee]. we was marched through the Cherokee nation, and destroyed the indian town that we passed through, on the Tennessee, highwassee [sic: Hiwassee], Chickymoggy [sic: Chickamauga], Coosey [sic: Coosawattee?], & big Shoemake Rivers. Killed a number of Indians and took some prisoners John Watts a half breed gave up a white woman that was taken from Rones[?] Creek in North Carolina [possibly Roan Creek in Johnson County TN] by the name of Jinney Ivey who had been a prisoner among the indians something like a year. we returned to Green county and was there dismissed without any writen discharge In the time during which the above terms of duty were performed I was not employed in any civil pursuits.
I was never on the pension list. I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and I declare that my name is not on the pension Role of any agency of any state Interogatories
1st Where and in what year were you born?
An’r. I was Born in Pittsylvania County, in the State of Virginia in the year 1759 the 12th day of March 2nd Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
An’r. I have none I have seen a record of my age in a bible that belonged to my Father but I dont know where it is. I have enquired for it but cannot find it.
3rd Where were you living when called into Servis; where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live?
An’r. in Bedford County in the State of Virginia and in what is now called the State of Tenessee & have lived thirty one year where I now live in the State of Missouri.
4th How were you called into servis, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if so for whome?
An’r. 1st I volunteered for 3 months 2nd I was a substitute in Lewis Duese’s place who was drafted 3rd I was a substitute for 3 months as 2nd Sergeant in Gwin Dudley’s place who was drafted.
4th I was a substitute for 5 months in William Cannon’s place who was drafted.
5th I volunteered for 3 months 6th I volunteered for 3 months 7th I volunteered and served one month til men were properly raised.
8th I Volunteered and served 3 months. 9th I was drafted for 3 months and Hired George Dagget to go in my place, & then thhrough the solisitation of General Severe I volunteered and went also.
5th State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the troops where you served such continental and Militia Regiments as you can recolect and the General circumstances of your services?
An’r. 1st there were no regular officers 2nd none Col. Christy Regiment (Militia) 3rd not attached to regular troops, regiment not recollected 4th General Lincoln South Carolina line [sic], under General Rutherford, General Nash & Col. Peasley of the Militia 5th no regulars Gen’l. John Severe commanded. 6th Col. Linch commanded. 7th Capt Neeley McGuire commanded. 8th Commanded by Col. Jacob Brown. 9th Commanded by General John Severe. The circumstances I could relate in addition to my statement, they are inconsiderable.
6th Did you ever receive a discharge and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it?
1st I rec’d a discharge from Capt Wm Leftridge & it is lost. 2nd I rec’d a discharge from Capt. Peter Herston, and it is lost. 3rd I rec’d. a discharge from Capt. Thos. Duley, it is lost 4th I rec’d a discharge from Christopher Cunningham and signed by Col. Peasley which is herewith forwarded. the Ballance of the tours I rec’d no discharge ecept the time I served under Capt Renfrow who gave me a discharge and it is lost.
7th State the names of persons to whome you are known in your present neighbourhood and who can testify as to your caracter for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution
Ans. Colonel John Cobb, John Boyce, Wm Brown, Jno F Reedy, Corbin Alexander. Reverend James Halbert. State of Missouri }
County of St Francois } Sct
Personally appeared before me the undersigned, a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid, William Murphy, who being duly sworn, deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his services, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less that the periods mentioned below in the following grades. For one month and ten days I served as Ensign. For three months I served as First Sergeant For six months I served as second Sergeant. For sixteen months and twenty days I served as a private Soldier, and for such service I claim a pension
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 7 day of May 1833
John Boyce Justice of the peace
Camp Turkey hill April the 10th 1779
To whome it may Concarn This is to Certify that William Murphy has served five Months in the Militia from No Carolina to the aid of So Carolina and he is hereby Discharged having served his time as a good Soldier [Christopher Cunnigham Lut]
[John Peasley Lt Col] Joseph Murphy [pension application W25737] of lawful age (having been proved in open court this day to be seventy two years old) states that in 1776 he thinks the last saturday in July there was a call for men to be drafted if volunteers could not be got to go to Chissel lead mines in Virginia to guard them and the aforenamed William Murphy volunteered for three months, and returned after his time was out. He had a discharge I saw it. This was his first trip a statement of which appears in his declaration Again in 1777 he went on a three months tour as a substitute for Lewis Deuese to the long islands of Holston to guard that place during the treaty and he returned after his time was out. I dont recollect whether he brought his discharge with him. Again in the same year he substituted in Guin Dudlys place to go to Williamsburg on a three months tour, left home [page torn] the service and returning home after his term was out with a discharge. The discharge I saw again in the fall of 1778 there was an order for a draft. William Canna was drafted and said William Murphy substituted in his place and went went in the service on a five months tour and returned after his service was out he returned home with a discharge which he has now.
What the said William Murphy has stated in his declaration as to his volunteering & substituting and leaving home the length of tours, and returning & his having had and having now discharges as respects the four above named tours I the said Joseph Murphy state to be correct, as we both lived together, and I was acquainted with the facts as stated Subscribed and sworn to in open court May 7 1833
NOTES:
On 1 Dec 1778 the army in the South was still under command of Gen. Robert Howe. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln arrived in South Carolina near the end of 1778 and took command of the Southern Department on 3 Jan 1779.
On 10 Nov 1842 Rachel Murphy, age 78 on the 15th of that month, applied for a pension stating that she married William Murphy on 26 Jan 1782, and he died 2 Nov 1833 at age 75. With her application is a family record in William Murphy’s handwriting that is very faded but transcribed below with the aid of a typed summary in the file. Her application was supported by a deposition by David Murphy born 23 April 1770, a half brother of William Murphy.
MARRIAGES
William Murphy and Rachel henderson Jan the 26 1782
John Croford Murphy son of William Murphy and Rachel his wife was Born october the 16 in the year of our Lord 1782
Mary hodges was Born June the 22 in the y’r 1784
Marthy hodges was born May the 29 in the year 1786} and Deseas october the 26 1803
Elizabeth Barton was born april the 16 in the year 1788
William Eccles was born may the 8 in the year 1790} and Deceased august 29 1810
Delilah Sarah was born may the 14 in the year 1792
James henderson was born may the 19 in the year 1794
Keturah Beavers was born april the 9 in the year 1796
Francis Menefe was born may the 23 in the year 1798} and Deceased may the 10[?] 1824[?]
Sarah Barton was born january the 4 in the year 1800
David henderson was born june the 12 on saturday half after seven in the year 1802
[page torn] Henderson was born September the [rest missing]
[Typed summary gives following date for unnamed child: May 6, 1806]
