Guilford County NcArchives Military Records.....Gates, Josiah 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 18, 2006, 2:06 pm Constructed History Of Captain Josiah Gates JOHN BURNS-“That he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer in the County of Guilford, and state of North Carolina, in Captain JOHN NELSON’s company, attached to a regiment commanded by Colonel JAMES MARTIN. He states that his lieutenant was by the name of JOSIAH GATES, and that he volunteered and was mustered into service in the spring and summer of 1776, he thinks about the 1st of June. He states he was marched from Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina to Salisbury, from that to Cathey’s Fort on Catawba River, from thence into the Cherokee nation to Catawba Town, at which place one of our men killed an Indian. Our troops destroyed Catawba Town and a great many other towns that he cannot recollect the names of. He recollects Turkey Town, the Americans destroyed the corn that was growing by cutting it down.” WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM-“That he entered the service of the United States as a drafted soldier in Guilford County and state of North Carolina, some time about the last of July 1776, and was placed in a company commanded by Captain JOHN NELSON and Lieutenant JOSIAH GATES, who was under the command of General RUTHERFORD, Colonels JAMES MARTIN and JOHN PAISLEY. He states he was marched to Salisbury and from there to Cathey’s Fort at the head of the Catawba River, and from there he was marched into the Cherokee nation, passing several small Indian towns, the names of which he does not now recollect, on to the town of Watauga, where an engagement was expected, but the Indians had left the town and the Americans set it on fire and destroyed it.” “Deponent says that the troops with General RUTHERFORD remained near that place for some days for the arrival of the troops from South Carolina under the command of General WILLIAMSON, and from there he was marched back into Guilford County again and dismissed in the month of November in the same year, after serving not less than three months.” JOHN BURNS-“He states that afterwards he volunteered with the same Captain JOHN NELSON, his Lieutenant was JOSIAH GATES, his Colonel was JAMES MARTIN, he thinks he volunteered about the first of February in the year 1781. He states he was mustered into service at a WILLIAM MONTGOMERY’s about six miles below Guilford Courthouse, in the state of North Carolina, in General GREENE’s army. He states the troops remained for some time when they were mustered into service, but was ordered and marched to Works Bridge on Haw River.” “He states that he was ordered from that place to pilot some baggage wagons to the Rocking Springs now in Rockingham County, NC and after some days, was ordered to have said wagons moved across Dan River into Henry County, VA, which he performed agreeable [to] orders. He states that afterwards he was marched to the battle ground of the Guilford Battle to bury some of the Americans who fell in that battle and were left on the ground. They found six men and buried them. He thinks he served on this tour of duty about one month and a half, and was dismissed, making in all about seven months and twenty-one days. OLIVER, JAMES-Soldier lived in that part of Guilford County which became Rockingham County. He served under Capt. JOSIAH GATES, and Capt. GEORGE COOK, and was in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. JOHN GATES-“…entered the United States service in February 1781, a short time previous to the celebrated Battle at Guilford Courthouse, under the command of Captain JOSIAH GATES, who was commanded by Colonel JAMES MARTIN of the same state and county aforesaid. I entered the service as a volunteer for the term of six months. We were called minutemen at that time, being considered ready to march whenever required. Our regiment marched to join said General GREENE at or near Guilford Courthouse, but on our arrival within five miles of that place, at CHARLES BRUCE’s store, we met Colonel WASHINGTON’s horse and infantry (it being Sunday) and received information from Colonel WASHINGTON in which direction General GREENE was. We marched in pursuit and joined his army the next day in Caswell County and hence proceeded under his command to Halifax (VA). We remained probably about ten days at Halifax, and from thence received orders to return to our different settlements in small squads not exceeding eight or ten in number to guard and protect the neighborhood from the incursions of the British and foreign parties. Colonel MARTIN accompanied us.” “We were to rejoin General GREENE shortly afterwards at the High Rock Ford on Haw River in Guilford County. Owing to the march, my feet became so blistered and sore that I was unable to proceed in consequence of which, Colonel MARTIN gave me a furlough. This is the reason why I did not return with the rest of the regiment to share in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse.” “On General GREENE’s leaving for the south, we were left to protect the settlements and I was not again in actual service until November following, when I was ordered out under Lieutenant WALKER of the dragoons (as a dragooner furnishing my own horse to guard the assembly of North Carolina which was then held its session in Salem. Captain BUSH commanded the infantry of the guard. After the adjournment of the assembly (Governor CASWELL having died in the meantime) the guard accompanied Governor ALEXANDER MARTIN, brother to Colonel MARTIN, my first commander to Salisbury, who succeeded Governor CASWELL. I received no discharge except from Lieutenant Governor MARTIN, which was verbal.” GIDEON JOHNSON-“Some years after this, when Colonel ALEX. MARTIN was chosen governor of N. Carolina, the year I cannot recollect, it being necessary for him to have a life guard, I was chosen by him as one of his life guard, and became such in Guilford County, and marched with him thence to a place called Nutbush in Granville County where we, after remaining some time were dismissed and returned home after an absence of about four weeks. Captain JOSIAH GATES commanded this company of lifeguards. It was represented to us when acting as his guard that that tour should answer as a three months tour, but whether I got a discharge for the same I do not now recollect.” “Deponent thinks in the month of May, June or July 1779, he again volunteered as a life guard to Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN, to guard and convey him to Wilmington, he being appointed Governor of the State of North Carolina the fill the place of [Thomas Burk], Governor who was taken prisoner by the British. In consequence of services pressed, which Colonel A. MARTIN met, we did not escort him quite to Wilmington. JOSIAH GATES being Captain, we marched back to Guilford, for which service deponent got from (he thinks) Colonel MARTIN a certificate for a three months term of service as a militiaman.” GEORGE OLIVER-“He then volunteered as a guard for Governor MARTIN at the seat of government in North Carolina and served one month under Captain [JOSIAH] GATES.” Additional Comments: Constructed History is my term for a soldier who did not file for a pension himself, but about whom there is enough evidence from other soldiers to form an equivalent to a pension application. Most of the testimony comes from other men mentioning the officer or non-comm. officer, but in some cases, the actual soldier himself testified on behalf of other men, thus revealing his own history. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/guilford/military/revwar/pensions/gates318gmt.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/ File size: 8.0 Kb