Crittenden-Livingston County KyArchives Military Records.....Clark, William December 1832 Revwar - Pension ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ky/kyfiles.html ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nancy Poquette npoq@hotmail.com July 18, 2006, 12:10 pm Pension Application Of William Clark, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll ___, Application #W8610 Livingston County, Kentucky, December 3rd, 1832, William Clark, aged about 75 years: “That in the year 1775, in the district of Camden, state of South Carolina, he entered as a volunteer in the militia of that state under Captain Andrew Love (who was afterwards colonel, after the death of Colonel Neal) and belonged to the regiment commanded by Colonel Thomas Neal, one William ?Irwin, Lieutenant of said company.” “We rendezvoused at Friday’s Ferry on Broad River, below the mouth of the Saluda, and there we joined General ?Richardson, or some such name, and marched from thence up Broad River and crossed the Saluda at Widow ?Bower’s Ferry, and from thence to Rayburn’s Creek, and there encamped. The Tories at this time lay at a cane break on Reedy River about 20 miles off, and the general detached Colonel O’Neal with about 800 men to surprise them. Colonel O’Neal promptly executed the order and succeeded in totally defeating them and too many of them prisoners. This campaign was called the ‘Snow Campaign’ and lasted about 2 months, ending after the defeat of the Tories as above mentioned.” “That in June 1776 (which year he will not be positive) he volunteered again from the same district under Captain Francis Ross (who was afterwards killed at Briar Creek in 1779), and the same Colonel O’Neal commanded the regiment; the 1st lieutenant was the same William ?Irwin and ?Kirk was Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment. He rendezvoused at ?Sirico [?Seneca] and there joined General Andrew Williamson (who was an illiterate Scotchman) and marched from there to the middle settlement Tories on the T____ River and expected to meet General Rutherford at that place, but he reached there before us and had destroyed the east towns, but had left a party of men there. We then marched to the valley towns on Hiwassee, and about 4 miles from there at a place called the Black Hole on the 9th day of September, the Indians made an attack on us, but they were defeated after a severe battle of one hour and a half. We could never ascertain the number killed and wounded, but they must have been considerable.” “After this, we marched back to ?Seneca ?Sirico where we had left some invalids. In the valley we met General Rutherford and sent back our wounded where he had left a party of men as before mentioned. From ?Sirico ?Seneca we marched home, having been out on this campaign 4 months, from June till October, the time of our return.” “That again in the year 1779, he volunteered under the same Colonel O’Neal, Major Bratton (who was elected such at Orangeburg by the soldiers) and Captain Ross, who took command of my company , as there was then no regularly commissioned captain, and one Hawthorne was adjutant of the regiment. We rendezvoused at Orangeburg and lay there about 6 weeks when we were relieved by a detachment under Colonel Waters. During our stay at Orangeburg, Governor Rutledge was there, and one Christian Snief, an engineer taken at Burgoyne’s Defeat, as was said.” “That again in the year 1780, he volunteered under Captain Miller and colonel Watson commanded the regiment. He rendezvoused at ?Elam’s Branch, and there Sumter was made general of the brigade, and Andrew Neal [?O’Neal?] colonel of the regiment. From this place we marched down to the Waxhaw meetinghouse (where Colonel Buford’s wounded men then lay), and crossed the Catawba at Landsford about sun down, and marched to the Rocky Mount and arrived there on Saturday night.” “This place was a British fort under a Colonel Turnbull (if I am not mistaken). We immediately commenced the attack. In the first attack, Colonel Neal’s regiment marched to the attack through an old field about 200 yards to the house, in which the enemy were posted, and around which they had fixed large timbers, pointed outwards. On our approach, the enemy poured a destructive fire on us, and in this assault, Colonel Neal and several others were killed.” “Finding it impossible to take the place, and being much exposed to the enemy’s fire, we were compelled to retreat. The attack was made by dividing the army into __ree divisions, each of which was to approach in different directions. The commanders of these divisions were Colonel Neal, Brannon and ?Wm. Bratton. After the repulse, General Sumter fell back a short distance and sent a flag demanding a surrender, but this was refused and Sumter ordered a second attack, but as in the former attempt, we were again repulsed. It was possible for us to have set fire to the works, but a rain came on and prevented this last effort. Our loss was not great. From this place we retreated and camped on Fishing Creek, and from thence back to Landsford, where this applicant was discharged, having served in this expedition 6 weeks as lieutenant of the company the whole time, appointed and commissioned as such by Governor Rutledge. In the attack on Rocky Mount, among the killed was Captain Miller.” “That again in 1781, he volunteered (as lieutenant of the company) under Captain John Peters and Colonel William Bratton and joined General Sumter at Ancrum’s Bluff on the Congaree where he then lay. After our junction with Sumter, we marched to Friday’s Fort (then known by that name) on Broad River and laid siege to it. After besieging it for some time, we were obliged to abandon it for want of cannon; but not long afterwards, General Green arrived at Ancrum’s with cannon and sent up Colonel lee with a corps of infantry and dragoons and a brass 6-pounder. Immediately on the arrival of Lee, he ordered a breastwork to be raised (in the night, under a heavy fire). As soon as completed, Lee ordered the assault, the infantry on the left and the dragoons on the right, and Sumter’s militia in the center with the cannon. After about three rounds the fire from the fort ceased. At about 10 o’clock the enemy capitulated and surrendered themselves prisoners of war. The Tories later were tried, and some of them hung as traitors. After this attack and surrender, he, with others, were discharged, having served 2 months in this campaign as lieutenant of the company.” “This ended his Revolutionary services except a few short expeditions against the Tories, which perhaps are not worth enumerating. That in his first expedition, he served faithfully two months; in the second as much as four months; in the third as much as one month at least; in the 4th as much as 6 weeks, and in the last expedition, as much as 2 months, making in all at least 10 months and a half, and the last 3 and a half months as a commissioned lieutenant of the company. In the last expedition above mentioned, the company to which he belonged was a horse company, which was omitted to be mentioned in the proper place. “ “He declares that he has no documentary evidence in his possession (having lost his commission) which would prove his service, nor does he know of any person now living who could prove it, except one James Clinton, now living in Caldwell County, with whom he served a part of the time and whose affidavit he will endeavor to procure, as it is out of his power to get his attendance here in this court, and Arthur Travis living in this county…” Interrogatories: Where and in what year were you born? I was born in Ireland in the county of Downe about 75 years ago from the best of information I have. I came to America on 1770 and settled in Camden District, SC. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it? I have none. All I know is from the information of my parents and my age when I left Ireland, and the time I came to this country. Where were you living when called into the service, and where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live? I was living in Camden District, SC when I entered the service, and continued to live there until the year 1805, and have lived here ever since. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and if so, state for whom? I always volunteered my services and never waited to be called out… As my services were generally with the militia, I did not become acquainted with any regular officer but Colonel Lee, that I now remember, nor do I remember becoming acquainted with any other militia regiments than those that I have mentioned.” Arthur Travis made oath that he was well acquainted with the afore named William Clark, and was acquainted with him in the Revolutionary War...that he knew him when he was in Captain Miller’s company and when he was in the Battle at Rocky Mount…” Crittenden County, Kentucky, September 15, 1855, Rosa Clark, aged 88 years: “That she is the widow of William Clark, senior, deceased, who was a private and a lieutenant in a company commanded by Captain ____ in the ____ regiments commanded at different times and places by Generals Ross, ?Heath, Hawthorn…” They were married November 30, 1792 or December 16, 1793 or early in 1793 (all of these dates appear in this claim) in York County, SC. Her maiden name was Rosa Cunningham. William died April 16, 1834 in Crittenden County, KY. They raised a large family, only 2 mentioned, James, the oldest born Aug. 15, 1793, 2nd Aug.20, 1795. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ky/crittenden/military/revwar/pensions/clark323gmt.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/kyfiles/