Franklin-Banks County GaArchives History .....The Reverend Moses Sanders August 1, 2007 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: jim Sanders sandersj@roadrunner.com August 1, 2007, 8:58 pm July 22nd, 2007 Jim Sanders sandersj@roadrunner.com THE REVEREND MOSES SANDERS AND THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR Researchers for years have relied on undocumented stories that the Reverend Moses Sanders, (Groves level Church in Franklin County, Georgia, 1798-1817) was a revolutionary war Hero. Several websites and other written accounts state that he was at the battle of the Cowpens, which is in Northwestern South Carolina. Others state he was the bearer of many bayonet scars and that the enemy who inflicted the wounds paid with his life. The DAR has him listed as a veteran of the Revolution. One website has him as being a private in the Iredell Militia in 1782. (Iredell was not created until 1788). With these recordings in mind we noticed several instances, whereby an imaginative author embellished history. If we find no documentary evidence that Moses fought in the War, from where did the ÒrumorÓ emanate? We look to two embellishments of history, which may shed light on Òpassed ahead misinformationÓ. The first is: The Battles of the Cowpens and Kings Mountain The earliest recordation of the name Saunders connected with the Cowpens or Kings Mountain is described in detail on page 125-128 by Edwin C. Bears, in a 238 page National Parks Service booklet, written in 1974. In it he describes a well-documented, historical account of the Battle of Cowpens. Mr. Bears states, ÒIn 1881, Lyman C. Draper wrote a well-documented history of the Battle of Kings Mountain. He had collected materials for his book since 1839, using manuscript narratives of David Vance, Joseph McDowell, and Silas McBee (participants in the battle). Draper wrote, ÒOn October 6th, 1780, there was a stirring bivouac at the Cowpens. A wealthy English Tory, named Saunders, resided there, who reared large numbers of cattle and having many pens in which to herd his stockÑhence the derivation of Cowpens. Saunders was, at the time, in bed- perhaps not very well, or feigning sickness; from which he was unceremoniously pulled out and treated pretty roughly. When commanded to tell at what time Ferguson had passed that place, he declared that the British Colonel and army had not passed that way at all; ÒÉSearch was accordingly made and no evidence of a passing army was foundÉÓ ÒÉ Several of the old ToryÕs cattle were quickly shot down and slaughtered for the supply of the hungry soldiersÉÓ Draper used most of the information found in this account from the reminiscences of David Vance in 1799. Vance in his account states in part that they proceeded to the Cowpens and mentions a ToryÕs house, but does not name the Tory. Mr. Bears states and we agree that Draper ÒflavoredÓ the story a bit with a few additions to the historical accounts of the participants at the Cowpens and his accounts were embellished even further by subsequent historians including the writings of Judge Schenk in 1889, which also names Saunders a wealthy Tory, who herded large numbers of Cattle at the Cowpens. Mr. Bears also provides this information, ÒA review of the South Carolina Grant and plat books and search of the records of Spartanburg and Tryon County and review of the claims filed by Loyalist, show no evidence of a Saunders at the location of the Cowpens BattleÓ. It is unfortunate but it seems that many later historians and researchers used Drapers account as their basis for the account of the ÒCamp at the CowpensÓ. The above information may provide us with a clue and help us understand how Moses Saunders was attributed as being at the Cowpens in any capacity. It is not much of a leap for a writer to build off the original works of another and further glorify the account by adding events or names. Later researchers may have further embellished the stories and made Saunders a participant in the ensuing battle. As stated, Draper wrote his embellished account in 1889. Subsequent writers used his account as an original work and perpetuated the name Saunders, when, as stated, there is no evidence that a Saunders was at the Cowpens. Christopher Columbus Sanders, a Great Grandson of Moses Sanders is another possible source of the embellished history of Moses Sanders. In 1902 C.C.Sanders donated the headstone and grave markers for Moses and his wife, (which he named ÒSallieÓ). On the marker he called Moses ÒA soldier of the RevolutionÓ. Researchers may have interpreted this inscription as a matter of fact and that he was in an organized fighting unit, when no evidence has been found. Remember that the marker was inscribed nearly 125 years after the Revolution and oral family histories are often just plain wrong! Incidentally, MosesÕ wife was not ÒSallieÓ; her name was Mary (Hamilton). (Proven by deeds and Ordinance works). Sallie was his daughter. (She married Obadiah Hooper). I908, for a book called ÒMen of Mark in GeorgiaÓ, C.C. Sanders again was interviewed. In the account therein he states ÉÓMoses migrated from England (Many researcher have it that Moses was from Downton) in 1765 and had two younger brothers, David and JohnÓ. (Subsequent research has proven that David and John were his sons) The article also states that they took part in the battle of the Cowpens and Kings Mountain and other major battles of the revolution. Once again the story is embellished from verbal accounts of C.C.Sanders. (Thanks to Eldon Hurst who either visited Downton Parish, England or retained a professional researcher to view the records and through correspondence with the minister there, found no Moses Sanders mentioned in their records post 1740). With these above stated accounts we can see the pattern of how Òhistory has emerged from misstated verbal accounts and just plain embellishments by supposedly well meaning, Òstory tellersÓ. One more bit of information has been located in a letter to the War Department, This letter and its response from the Department showed that no record has been found concerning Moses. Ellen Sanders CardonÕs letter,dated February 13th 1932, was sent to the Veterans Bureau, Washington,D.C. The response to Ms. CardonÕs request dated April 16th, 1832. stated that there is no record of Moses Saunders having served in the Revolutionary War. In even in 1932 researchers were making the same mistake as to his birth and the name of his wife. IÕm sure there are other accounts from Òoriginal RecordsÓ which one may review in order to prove or disprove that Moses was a participant in the Revolutionary War. Hopefully this writing will inspire others to dig deeper into recorded accurate history ands accurately disseminate the information. Jim Sanders 2235 Los Encinos Road Ojai, Ca 93023 sandersj@roadrunner.com File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/franklin/history/other/reverend307ms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 8.1 Kb