REV WAR PENSION: Captian Henry Connelly & Tempy Connelly, Floyd Co., KY

SUBJECT: Rev War Pension
SUBMITTER: Marianne Hitchcock Smith
EMAIL: hitch@netwalk.com
DATE: Mar 22, 1999
SURNAMES: Connelly
Revolutionary War Pension Application File
Of Captian Henry Connelly & Tempy Connelly

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Declaration in order to obtain this benefit of this act of Congress passed June 
7th 1832 State of Kentucky County of Floyd.

Declaration
On this 15th day of August, 1833, personally appeared before I James Davis
Justice of the peace now setting HENRY CONNELLY a resident of Floyd County
and State of Kentucky. Age Eighty-One years, 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 enlisted the service of the United States under the following named
officers and served as herein stated: That he enlisted the service and
commanded one hundred men as state troops of North Carolina (called militia)
as the Captain thereof on the 7th day of July, 1777, for five years or
during the war. In the County of Guilford North Carolina -- his Col. in
the first instance was Col. John Williams, then under Leut. Pacely, then
by Leut. John Taylor and lastly by Col. Billy Washington. This applicant’s
Company was a horse company & was raised for the especial purpose of keeping
down a dareing Tory Col. by the name of Fanning who had made several daring
attempts in the neighborhood of Sailsbury and Charlotte, during the first
year of the service of this applicant, by the orders of his Col. the company
transversed and marched to Rowan, and Guilford in order to keep Fanning
and his Confederates down. During this year, in the month of October, The
company encountered his scouts and routed them with some loss. The General
rendezvous of the Tories was in that region of the country called Haw Ford
on Haw River. These counties and the adjacent neighborood was assigned
to this applicant’s charge by his Excellency the Governor of North Carolina
in the month of June 1778. This this applicant and his company continued
to do during this year 1778. And that winter he and his company rendezvoused
at Salisbury. The particulars of this year’s services was only a few fights
with the Tories. The war was raging in the North, whither that delingusished
and and officer, Col. William Davidson had gone, and all remaining for
the continental authorities to do was to keep down the Tories, which where
so numerous in this region of N. Carolina. During this year, 1778, the
men suffered much for cloths and every necessary, and our forage master
frequently had to press for our perishing horses. Continental money was
there one hundred dollars was for one - for this applicant could not get
a breakfast for $100 in Continental money. During this year, by the orders
of the Governor, this applicant’s company was placed under the direction
of Col. Davie, who then commanded the North Carolina Cavalry, but he renewed
the old orders, and my district still remained as they were under my former
orders.--
Early in March 1779 the tories broke out with great fury at a place called
Haw Fields, whither this applicant and his company repaired and disloged
them with the assistance of Col. Lyttle from Rowan, who commanded a Regt.
of militia. During this year the tories were fast accumulatinng in Rowan,
and this applicant’s Horse Company was most withdrawn from Guilford to
that section of North Carolina. The Whigs this year took a great many tories,
who were all put in jail and contained at Hilsboro and Sailsbury.


In the month of November 1779, orders were received by Col. Pacely from
Col. Davie the commanding Col. to rendezvous at Sailsbury to start to the
South to join Gen. Lincoln at Savannah, but about this time news arrived
that Gen. Lincoln was overtaken at Charlestown, and all was taken prisoners.
Gen. Davidson now raised several hundred men, and Col. Sumner and Brevard
had several skirmishes with the Loyalist, in which this applicant and his
company actively participated at Colson’s Mills -- about this time at a
place in the western part of the state (N.C.) the tories had collected
to a great number and we marched against them and at Colson’s Mills. This
was in the Month of May 1780, as well as this applicant recollects. He
recollects well that it was just before or about the time of Gates’ defeat
at Camden. During this winter and fall this applicants company abandoned
his district of protection and under Col. Davie and Gen. Davidson opposed
the passage of Lord Cornwallias through North Carolina. At the time of
the approach of Cornwallias to Charlotte under Col. Davie the troops posted 
themselves to meet the enemy. On the enemys approach the companies commanded
by this applicant received the first onset from Tarleton’s Calvallry, and
the firing became general on this on the left wing, the troops were commanded
by Col. Davie in person and for three times we succeeded in repulsing the
enemy. At length we had to yield to superior numbers. In this battle we
had many men killed several from under this applicant. In December just
before Christmas Gen. Nathaniel Greene from the North took command of us
all this was in 1780. We all by his proclamation and the order of our governor
was placed under his command and assembled at Charlotte, from there this
applicant was placed under Col. Washington and marched to S. Carolina to
Augusta and Ninety Six. After marching in a southern direction for several
days news came, that Tarleton was after us. We were all now under Gen.
Morgan, and a terrible conflict ensued at the Cowpens between Tarleton’s
men and the army under Gen. Morgan, at the Cowpens. Here the Americans
was victorious and took a great many military stores, cannons, baggage,
and six or seven hundred British and Tory prisoners. This was in January
1781 it was cold weather but inclined to be rainy during the battle. The
company which belonged to this applicant was placed under Col. Howard on
the extreme right of the division and this applicants commanded under a
company in the center.

Our company when just about to catch up our horses which was hid about
four hundred paces in the rear of the line of battle, fell upon us with
great fury but we were fortunately relieved by Washington’s Leegion that
hastened to our assistance. After this engagement we all formed a junction
with Gen. Greene and retreated with him to Dan and crossed over into Virginia
and remaining there but a short period and marched back to Guilford Court
House and this applicant actively participated in the memorable battle
and he had the great mortification to see his men in a panic fly at the
approach of the enemy, and although this applicant endeavored to rally
them, it was impossible and many even retreated to their homes. But this
applicant remained and continued to fight until the Americans was thrown
into disorder & confusion and defeated. At this time or in a few days afterwards,
this applicant being unwell and his company broken obtained respite for
a while, which was granted him. He remained at home and did not go with
General Greene to Ninety Six, during this summer he did all he could to
get his company to assemble, there cry was no pay and thier families required
them at home. He then went from Guilford over to Virginia, and in September
1781 he raised a small volunteer company for three months to join Gen.
Washington at Little York. Little York was however taken before this applicant
arrived. He knew a great many Continental officers and Regiments, and Militia
officers during his service. In the month of October the term of service
of the Company from Montogmery County, Virginia just mentioned, expiring
he gave them their discharge and he himself returned to NC where he received
the thanks of the Governor and a Certificate stating his services. This
applicant knew Gen. Smallwood, Gen. Davidson, Gen. Rutherford, Gen. Pickens,
Gen. Sumner, Gen. Otho Williams, Col. Cleveland, Col. Lyttle, Col. William
Washington, Col. Malnady?/Malmody, Col. Lee, (from Virginia) General Goodwin,
Col. Howard who commanded the 3rd Maryland Regiment, Captain Holgin. Col
Paiseley, John Williams, the Baron BeKalb, Col. Brevard. And many other
Continental and Militia officers that I have forgotten.
I have no documentary evidence in my favor having forwarded my commission
about six years ago by General Alexander Lackey to the War department who
sent it on by mail it has never been returned to this applicant. He received
a letter from the Secretary of War informing him that as he was not a regular
he could not be allowed, his commission was from the Governor of the N.
Carolina. He has made search and enquiring for it for some time, and he
believes that the same is now lost or mislaid.

He refers the War Department to Henry B. Mayo Esq. the Hon. David K. Harris,
to Col. Francis A. Brown, Col. John Vanhoose the Reverend, Henry Dixon
the Rev. Cuthbert Stone, the Rev. Samuel Hanna, the Rev. Ezekial Stone
& Wallace Bailey to Andrew Rule Esq. to John Rice to Jacob Mayo Esq., Clerk
of the Floyd County and Circuit Courts, these can testify to his character
for veracity and their belief of this applicants services as a soldier
and officer of the revolution. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever
to a pension or annuity except the preset, 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.

Henry Connelly (Seal)

We Wallace Bailey a Clergyman residing in the county of Floyd and State
of Kentucky and John Rice residing in the same, to wit Floyd County Kentucky
hereby certify that we are well aquatinted with Henry Connelly who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to have
to be Eighty One years of age, that he is reported and believed in the
neighborhood where he resides to have been a solider in the Revolution.
And that we concur in that opinion sworn and subscribed the day and year
above.

Wallis Bailey (Seal)
John Rice (Seal)

And I James Davis do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation
of the matter and after getting the interrogations subscribed by the War
Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier
and officer and served as he stated and I further certifies that it appears
to me that Walis Bailey who has signed the preceeding certificate is a
clergyman resident in the County of Floyd and state of Kentucky. And that
John Rice who has all signed the same is a resident in the county of Floyd
and state of Kentucky and are credible persons, and that their statement
is entitled to credit and I do further certify that the applicant cannot
from bodily infirmity attend court.

James Davis J. P. F. Co. (Seal)

State of Kentucky
Floyd County Court Clerks Office

I Jacob Mayo clerk of the Floyd County Court, do hereby certify that James
Davis who hath signed the the preceeding certificate, and to the questions
and answers here to annexed (on the right of this sheet) "is a Justice
of the peace," and that the signature these to annexed is genuine.
In testimony when of I have hereunto affixed my hand, and affixed the Seal
of my office this 16th day of August 1833--

Att-- Jacob Mayo CFCC

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Where, and in what years were you born?
Ans-- I was born in Pennsylvania, Chester County on the 2 day of May 1751.

Question 2: Have you any record of your age and if so where is it?
Ans-- I have it in my bible record there by my father (in dutch) I have
it now at my house--

3. Qes: Where were you living when called into the service where have you
lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
Ans-- I was living in Guilford County North Carolina where I had lived
since my father moved from Chester Pennsylvania up to the Revolution. I
have lived three years in the County of Montgomery in the state of Virginia
and the residue of the time I have lived in this County - where I now live--

No. 4 How were you called into service. Were you drafter: did you volunteer,
or were you a substitute? And if a substitute for whom?
Ans-- I was a volunteer under the Government of North Carolina by an invitation
from the governor and was called the state troops on militia a part of
the men under my command was drafted men for Eighteen months. A small portion
was for six months and about forty was volunteers for and during the war,
I was called into service by a recruiting officer, by the name of Holgin
I think a regular officer, I made up my company and reported to the Col.
and went forth into active service--

No. 5 State the names of the regular officers who were with the troops
where you served. Such continental and militia regiments as you can recollect
and the general circumstances of your service.
Ans-- I knew Gen. Greene. I have seen Gen. Gates at Hilsboro. Gen. Smallwood,
Gen. Davidson, Gen. Pickens, Gen. Sumner. Gen. Otho Williams, Col. Billy
Washington, Col. Lee, Col. Howard, the Baron DeKalb. I have seen in my
1780 Captain Holgin, Col. John Williams, Col Nat Williams, who commanded
9th Regiment N. Carolina another in 1778, Col. Paiseley, Col. Buncombe,
Capt. Charles Briant, Col. Brevard. Major (often called Colonel) DeMalmody,
and old Col. Cleveland, Leut. Joseph Lewis, Major Chas. Anderson, William
Boma, Ensign.
I was directed by Governor Burke and Col. Davie to keep down Fanning in
Guilford and Rowan , this this applicant did with 100 men a horse company.
He served in 1777 in the capacity, likewise in 1778, and until the fall
of 1779. He then joined General Davidson and was with him in the Battle
of Colson’s Mills where he got wounded, that was in May or June 1780. He
was at the Battle of Hilsboro, and had nineteen of his horsemen on the
field, and seven died the next day of their wounds.
I was in the Battle of the Cowpens under Col. Washington in January 1781
and Tarleton was defeated and we work his baggage & several hundred prisoners.
I returned with my horse company with Gen. Greene to Dan - went out into
Virginia, and remained with army. I was in charge and my men all broke
very near at first charge in a panic and fled, and many went even home,
when my roll was called at Iron Works I had but a few men left.
I was then taking in a few days afterwards sick, and was permitted formy health 
to retire for awhile from the service. This was in April 1781.
Gen. Greene went to S. Carolina and went over into Montgomery County Virginia
to see my relatives, and I here raised a three months volunteer company
to march to Little York. I marched them on to the Big Lick in Botetourt
County, in September, and waited for orders but before I received them
it was too late, and I gave my men their discharges and we all went home.--

Question 6. Did you ever received a commission and if so by whom was it
signed and what has became of it?
Ans-- I did receive a Captain’s Commission from Governor Burke of N.C.
it was, I believe, signed by him.
I gave it about six years ago to Gen. Lackey who says he sent it on to
the War Department he thinks. I have made search and cannot find it, it
was never returned to me--

Quest. 7 State the names of persons of whom you are known in your present
neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and
their belief of your service as a soldier & officer of the Revolution.
Ans-- I refer to Gen. Lacky to Col. Brown, Col. T. W. Graham, to Austin
Litteral to Jacob Mayo Esq., to Andrew Rule, to the Rev. Ezekiel Stone,
to the Rev. Walis Bailey.
Sworn to before me--

James Davis JPFC (Seal)

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*NOTE: I have tried to do as little editing of this file as possible. Portions
of this file have been filled in with the help of the transcript done by
William E. Connelley in his book: "Eastern Kentucky Paper, The Founding
of Harman's Station and the Captivity of Jenny Wiley" Copyrighted
1910.  There are more documents in this file, such as those that where filed by
Temperance Connelly where she applied for widows pension.


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