Guilford County NcArchives Military Records.....Cunningham, Jeremiah 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 15, 2006, 3:09 am Pension Application Of Jeremiah Cunningham-Nat’l. Archives M804, Roll 712, Application #W6753 “JEREMIAH CUNNINGHAM, aged seventy-two years: “That he was born June 6th, 1760 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and moved when very young with his father to that part of North Carolina now called Guilford County, in which he believed was since. That he has a record of his age in his family Bible.” “That sometime before the British marched into North Carolina from the south, he was ordered out by Captain GILLESPIE and was marched [as a] horseman in a troop commanded by said Captain GILLESPIE and Col. PAISLEY towards the Forks of the Yadkin River after Tories commanded by one Col. BRYAN. That BRYAN made his escape after ____ the troops arrived into his neighborhood. That after staying a few days to collect more forces as there were many under BRYAN’s command, he was marched in quick chase after BRYAN’s company in their flight to join the British in South Carolina. That he traveled in pursuit into said state down near the Cheraw Hills, and coming into the neighborhood of the British army, it was thought prudent to return. That he believes this tour was in the summer of 1780, and that he was out at least three weeks.” “That shortly after his return he was called out under the command of Capt. JNO. GILLESPIE and Col. DAVIE, and marched straightway south, passing through Salisbury, and joined the troops in the county of Mecklenburg about three or four miles beyond Charlotte. That these troops were commanded by Gen’l DAVIDSON. That he was continued there sometime.” “That he was dispatched with other horsemen after Tories encamped a few miles beyond the Waxhaw Creek [per Heitman, May 29, 1780]. That the troops killed 30 or 40 of these Tories and dispersed the rest. That on this being done, he was marched back to headquarters. That after staying some days in camp it was ascertained that the British with a superior force was hard by them, when he was marched back to Charlotte. That after being one day in Charlotte, the next morning came and made attempt to take the horsemen who were still in the village and separated from the main body of Americans under General DAVIDSON who had continued his march north. That after receiving a few fires from the enemy, he was marched in retreat as rapidly to join the main body of troops. That he was continued on retreat until he arrived on this side of the Yadkin.” “That he continued here some time, and was then marched under Col. PAISLEY to disperse a band of Tories collected in the Forks of the Yadkin not far from the Shallow Ford. That the Tories had been overtaken by a party of Whigs from the mountains and hills and scattered just before his arrival. That he was marched then under one Captain PEARCE and Col. PAISLEY to Salem, Stokes County, when he got a permit to go home, which was only 20 miles distant, to get clothes, with orders to join the army again as soon as practicable. But owing to his past exposure and his wading the Yadkin River (having permitted a friend to use his horse home before he started last for the Forks of the Yadkin) he was taken sick and confined for some time. That this service was in the latter part of 1780 and early part of 1781, and that in this tour he was out a long time, at least as much as five months.” “That after the Battle of Guilford in 1781 (summer), he was again called out under Capt. GILLESPIE and Col. PAISLEY down among the High Hills of Randolph County, called the Caraway Mountains after Tories commanded by Col. FANNING, and must have been gone a month.” “That shortly after his return home, he was called out under the command of Capt. BRASHEARS and Capt. PEARCE, and marched down on a tour down towards the town of Fayetteville after the Tories and must have been gone as much as two weeks. That his memory has quite failed him and that he is unable to give a correct account of all his tours as he was out frequently after Tories.” “That he was called out on his recovery from sickness in February 1781 under Capt. PEARCE and marched to annoy? the British in their march. That he joined Gen’l PICKENS of South Carolina at Trollenger’s? Ford on the Haw River in Orange County, but finding they could not parade force enough to effect anything, he was discharged and sent home, with orders to use every endeavor to keep the plunder and provisions from the British. That in this last mentioned tour, he was out perhaps a week.” “That he was out many other small trips of which he does not now have any distinct recollections, but that he must have served in all, not less than ten months, and stood always ready at the call of his county officers. That he was not drafted, but was a private volunteer.” JOHN LOWRY was the only living witness that he could locate, from one of his tours… Rev. Henry Tatum was his clerical character witness." [Tatum provided some of the anecdotes for Eli Caruthers’ books]. 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