Guilford-Wilkes County NcArchives Military Records.....Boyd, William September 1832 Revwar - Pension ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nancy Poquette npoq@hotmail.com June 14, 2006, 3:26 am Pension Application Of William Boyd, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 308, Application #S30881 WILLIAM BOYD, a resident of Barren County, KY, aged 79 years [Sept.1832]: I, WILLIAM BOYD of the County of Barren and state of Kentucky, being in the 79th year of my age, and having served as a soldier of the Revolutionary War, do hereby proceed to make a declaration of some of my service, but so long a time has elapsed since, that many thing has escaped my recollection.” “I was a citizen of Guilford County, North Carolina when the war commenced in the year 1776. I enlisted sometime in that year for the term of six months. My captain was JOHN WALKER, the lieutenant was ABSOLOM TATOM, the Colonel who commanded was by the name of FRANCIS NASH. We marched to Wilmington in North Carolina. There, I was stationed a short time. We then moved about six miles below and built some barracks, but the soldiers becoming very sickly there, we were marched up Cape Fear River where there were a party of Tories collected. They removed down the river and we pursued them to a creek called the Widow Moore’s Creek, where we overtook and defeated, killed their leader whose name was MCCLOUD [MCLEOD-per Heitman, February 26, 1776] and dispersed the party who escaped our hands. We were continued the balance of the six months ranging from Wilmington to Fort Johnston at the mouth of Cape Fear River, trying as much as possible to prevent the British and Tories from plundering and destroying our citizens. At the expiration of the six months I received a written discharge from my commanding officer at Wilmington which has been lost long since by me.” “I then returned home and sometime after I volunteered, I believe as near as I can recollect, for a term of three months, the date I do not recollect. I was then marched to the Cherokee nation under the command of General RUTHERFORD. My colonel was JAMES MARTIN [his lieutenant-colonel during this campaign was JOHN PAISLEY] and Captain NATHANIEL WILLIAMS. The other officers I do no recollect. We were marched to the valley towns, but had a severe skirmish with the Indians before we reached the towns. We were then continued in the Indian nation as well as I recollect, the balance of our term of service, hunting and pursuing the Indians. We then returned home.” “Some time afterwards, I was drafted for three months, the date I cannot now recollect. My captain was THOMAS FLACK, Lieutenant GEORGE DILLARD, our colonel was by the name of LYTLE. I was then marched to the White House in South Carolina and was commanded there by General ASHE. We then crossed the Savannah at Blackledge Ford and marched down the river to the mouth of Briar Creek [per Heitman, March 3, 1779]. There, the British and Tories met us and we were shamefully defeated. Our general forsook us in the commencement of the engagement and the whole army was nearly all made prisoners and killed. I narrowly escaped by making my way through a tremendous mire and lagoon, which was made from the river. I afterwards met with some of my dispersed comrades and we returned to the White House. I was there continued until my term of service expired. I then returned home.” “Some time after I was drafted for three months. My captain was by the name of BUSTER. His first name I do not now recollect. Our colonel was JOHN PAISLEY. We were during that term in North and South Carolina, obstructing the progress of the British and Tories. I do not recollect of any very important circumstances taking place during that time.” “I sometime after, removed from Guilford to Wilkes County. I then volunteered for two months in a horse company. My captain was JAMES TAYLOR and our major was by the name of STEVETON [Stevenson?]. The other officers I do not recollect. Our range was, during that time, generally in the counties of Mecklenburg and Rowan, after the Tories.” “I was then discharged and immediately entered as a substitute in the room of another man for three months. My captain was by the name of MORGAN. Our General’s name was DAVIE. Their first names I do not recollect, neither do I recollect the names of my other officers. During that time, we met the British under Lord CORNWALLIS at the Cherokee Ford on the Catawba River [per Heitman, February 14, 1779]. We had an engagement with them. Their and our general was slain in the action. I do not recollect anything more of importance taking place during that campaign.” “Sometime afterwards, I volunteered under Captain SAMUEL JOHNSTON. Our major was by the name of HARDGRAVES. The other officers names I do not now recollect. The object of this campaign was to destroy or rout a number of Tories who had collected on the Yadkin River, commanded by one FANNING and CHEEK. Our commander, Major HARDGRAVES marched us home before we completed what he was sent to do. He was immediately arrested for his disobedience of orders. Colonel ELISHA ISAACS took command of us and we returned to the Yadkin and succeeded in dispersing the Tories who had collected there.” “I was at different other times, called out on short tours and had several skirmishes with the Tories, but cannot recollect the particulars now. I generally received a written discharge at the expiration of each tour I but had no thought at that time they would ever after be of any service to me. I was not careful to preserve them and therefore they are all lost…” William BOYD, a resident of Barren County, KY, aged 79 years March 1833]: “When he first entered the service of the United States, he lived in Guilford County, North Carolina. In the fall of the year 1776, the exact time he cannot remember, he enlisted as a private in the army of the Revolution in the North Carolina militia under Captain JOHN WALKER, Lieutenant ABSOLOM TATOM, in the regiment commanded by Colonel FRANCIS NASH. The number of the regiment he does not now remember.” “He joined said company at Hillsborough, North Carolina and marched to Wilmington where he was stationed a short time. From Wilmington, he was marched some miles below, and built some fortifications, but the soldiers became very sickly. He was marched up Cape Fear River where the Tories were collected, who moved down the river. He and his fellow soldiers pursued them to a creek called the Moore’s Creek [per Heitman, February 27, 1776], overtook and defeated them, killing their leader who this applicant thinks was one Colonel MCCLOUD [MCLEOD]. He then continued ranging for the balance of six months, from Wilmington to Fort Johnson at the mouth of the Cape Fear River. He was discharged at Wilmington by the commanding officer, Colonel NASH, which discharge is now lost. On this tour, he served six months.” “In the fall, to the best of his recollection of 1778 [1776], he again volunteered to go to the Cherokee nation of Indians under the command of General RUTHERFORD, Colonel JAMES MARTIN, [the lieutenant colonel at this time was JOHN PAISLEY], Major THOMAS OWEN, in the company commanded by Captain NATHANIEL WILLIAMS, his other officers he does not remember. He was marched to the valley towns of the Cherokees, having a severe skirmish with the Indians on the way. He continued in the Cherokee nation until the expiration of his term of three months. He received no written discharge from this service. On this tour, her served three months.” “In the fall of the year 1780 he was drafted for three months in the company commanded by THOMAS FLACK, Lieutenant GEORGE DILLARD. The colonel was called Colonel ARCHIBALD LYTLE. He joined Captain FLACK’s company in Guilford, from thence he marched to the place in South Carolina called the White House. There he was commanded by General ASHE. He then crossed the Savannah River at Blackledge Ferry. He and his fellow soldiers were then marched down the river to the mouth of Briar Creek, where they were met by the British and Tories. Our General ASHE forsook us in the commencement of the action and the troops were entirely defeated. Nearly all of the troops were made prisoners, and this applicant narrowly escaped through an immense lagoon or bay, which was made up from the river. This applicant was then returned home in Guilford County, after going back to the White House and serving his tour out. He got a written discharge at the White House from Colonel LYTLE which is now lost. On this term of service he served three months.” “In the spring of the year, the precise year he cannot now from loss of memory remember, he was again drafted under Captain John BUSTER, Lieutenant (GEORGE, he thinks) POOR and the colonel was one JOHN PAISLEY. On this tour he was engaged in North and South Carolina in opposing the progress of the British and Tories. He does not remember any very important events which took place on this tour. He served his full three months out. He received from his captain a discharge, but it is now lost.” “He, after the end of the last 3 months service, removed from Guilford to Wilkes County, North Carolina and volunteered for two months in said county in a horse company under Captain JAMES TAYLOR, Lieutenant DANIEL SHIP?, his major was one (JAMES, he thinks) STEVENSON, the other officers he does not now remember. During this service he ranged together with his company in the Counties of Mecklenburg and Rowan after the Tories. He was discharged from this service at the Twelve-Mile Creek which emptied in the Catawba River in Mecklenburg County. Said discharge is now lost. On this tour he served two months.” “Immediately on his discharge from the above last mentioned service, he entered the service in Rowan County as a substitute for a man by the name of POOR. His given name he does not now remember, for three months, in the company commanded by Captain JOHN MORGAN, he thinks, Lieutenant and other officers, not remembered.” “The general was one WILLIAM DAVIE. His other officers he does not now remember. He marched with his company to the Cherokee Ford on the Catawba River, where they met with Lord CORNWALLIS on the other side of the river. They had a skirmish with the British, in which General DAVIE was killed, and the British were suffered to cross. He was then marched back to Rowan County where he was discharged, receiving a discharge from Captain MORGAN. On this tour he served three months.” “In the fall of the year, the particular year he cannot now from the frailty of his memory state, he again volunteered under Captain SAMUEL JOHNSON, and Lieutenant MORRIS, he thinks. His major was one HARDGRAVE, his first name not remembered. The object of this tour was to break up a party of Tories who had collected on the Yadkin River. He was marched in pursuit of the Tories on the waters of the Yadkin, as a ranger. Before Major HARDGRAVES had completed what he was sent to do, he was arrested for disobedience of orders. Colonel ELISHA ISAACS then took the command and marched us to the Yadkin where he succeeded in dispersing or driving away the Tories. From thence he went to Wilkes Courthouse, where he (this applicant) was released from this service, having served three months under said Major HARDGRAVES and Colonel ISAACS together. He received no written discharge from this service…” File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/guilford/military/revwar/pensions/boyd121gmt.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/ File size: 11.8 Kb