ASHE COUNTY, NC - MILITARY - Jesse Ray, Revolutionary War Pension Application ----¤¤¤---- REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION APPLICATION - JESSE RAY The Following is quoted from the application for Pension filed by Col. Jesse Ray of Ashe Co.NC (Taken from the records of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions) State of North Carolina,Ashe Co.NC: On the 20th day of May 1833, Personally appeared before the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions,Ashe Co., Jesse Ray,a resident of said County,age 73 years. Who being first duly aworn according to law,did on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision of the act of Congress,June 7,1832. He entered the service of U.S.Patriots under the following named Officers,and served as stated herein. "I was living in Wilkes Co.NC the year before the Gates defeat,I think it was 1779. I volunteered in the Light Horse under Capt.Moses Green,called out by Col.Cleveland, I volunteered for six months,but was discharged at the end of five months, In this tour I was actually engaged in scouring the country after Tories. (Capt.Green discharged him and others by disbanding them,but with no written discharge.) My second tour was in the year 1780 about the last of June. I volunteered under Capt. Abraham Demoss to go to Ransom Mill, Col. Cleveland,Commander. We got to Ransom Mill the day after the battle. I saw at Ransom Mill, General Rutherford, on his way with troops to join General Gates. General Joseph McDowell was there also. The tour lasted two months, from Ransom Mill, Col. Cleveland marched us in pursuit of Col. Bryant, a Tory, whom we followed to near Anson County. We were marched back and discharged, but not in writing. The third tour was one month, to the best of my recollection. I volunteered under the same Capt. Demoss, and marched under Col. Cleveland and Gordon to the Virginia line in persuit of Tory Capt. Cadwell and Brown. We took a Tory Officer who was hung by sentence of a Court Martial. The fourth tour, I think was three months, I volunteered with the same Capt. Demoss in the Horse,but was furloughed to attend my brother, who was sick. When he got better I went to join my Company and met them on the Morgantown road, with prisoners taken at Kings Mountain. I joined them and we were marched to the Moravian Town. Col.'s Campbell,Cleveland,Winston,Shelby and Sevier were at the Moravian Town part of the time I was stationed there and at the end of three months actual servise I was discharged and went home, but no written discharge. The fifth tour was I think in the winter of the same year. I Volunteered the same Capt. Demoss to scour the country of Tories, under the command of Col. Cleveland and was actually engaged one month. I had no written discharge. The Sixth tour was in the year 1781 before the battle of Guilford. I volunteered under Capt. Demoss and for six weeks we were watching Lord Cornwallis, we were a light foraging party toward Shallow Ford, and in that neighborhood. We were discharged, but not in writing. I was drafted after the battle of Guilgord for the purpose of joining Gen.Green,under Capt. Alexander Gordon. In the middle of July we were called out on the winter tour and we were marched to Salisbury and Charlotte and joined Gen.Green at Camden. Col. Malmaby had then the command of the Regiment in place of Col. Locke, who started with them. We were foot troops and I acted as Orderly Sergeant at the time of the battle of Futaw Springs. I was twenty five miles from Camden with some sick men, we packed and joined the Company and marched with the prisoners to near Salisbury, where we encamped until late November. When Col. Locke who had rejoined them gave me a written discharge. This discharge is lost. In this tour I was enrolled six months and in actual service four months. I was engaged in other short tours during the war but do not recollect the times as from age I am losing my memory. I never had but one written discharge and that was the last tour. I have no record of my age,but I have seen a record of my fathers bible which states me to be born in 1760, I was born in Amherst Co.VA, but moved to NC when twelve years old. I have lived in this county fifty five years, it was first Wilkes Co. and this part struck off is called Ashe. I refer to Rev. Drury Senter, the Rev. Joseph Plummer and any other respectable citizen of Ashe Co. on my character. I have no means of proving any but the last tour of service except by my own oath. I hereby releinquish any claim to a pension or annuity whatever except to repeat and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. s/ Jesse Ray Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above said. T. Calloway clerk of Ashe Co. by R. Gentry District clerk And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter,and after putting the questions and interrogations prescribed by the war Department, The above named applicant was a Revolutionary War Soldier, and served as he stated, and the court further certifies that it appears to them that Dury Senter and Joseph Plummer who signed the proceeding certificate are clergymen residing in Ashe Co. and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit. s/David Miller, J.L.Charles, D.Farthing, Jesse Testerman,Jr. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above said, the 20th. of May, 1833 note: According to National Archives records the pension amount was at the rate of $37.99 per annum, to commence the 4th.day of March 1831 (rectroactive) received $94.97 on Feburary 10, 1839 s/ William Miller, clerk ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Warren Houck (whouck@skybest.com) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------