Guilford-Johnston County NcArchives Military Records.....Gurley, Jeremiah October 30, 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 29, 2006, 8:22 pm Pension Application Of Jeremiah Gurley, Nat’l Archives Series M804, Roll 1174, Application #S13231 Madison County, AL, October 30, 1832, Jeremiah Gurley, aged 73 years: “That the original manuscript entry made by John Gurley, affiant’s father, of the births of his children, is shown to the court and herewith sent. Affiant was born on the 29th December, 1759; and by family tradition, his birth occurred in Johnston County, NC. About February 1781 there was a draft in that county to reinforce the American army in North Carolina, which it was expected would shortly engage the British in a battle. Affiant’s brother being drafted for 3 months, he determined to go with him, and enlisted as a substitute for one whose name is forgotten, and with his brother, William, was put under Captain Hardy Bryan and marched to join Major General Greene, then stated to be in Guilford County.” “They united with General Butler on Haw River, who conducted them to Green’s army. General Greene put most of the militia under regular officers; and affiant and his company were placed under Colonel Eaton. General Greene moved with his forces toward the waste fields near Guilford Courthouse and entered them from the east on the morning of 15th March. Earl Cornwallis’ army at the same time appeared on the western part of the space and opened a cannonade. Affiant and his company were near the center of Greene’s line, which opened at the center, and the artillery passed through. Formed in front and returned the cannonade. The action then became general and lasted several hours. Affiant’s brother was killed at his side, but he, himself was not wounded.” “General Green, at the close of the battle, retired to Troublesome Ironworks where his army reached about nightfall, and the next day or shortly after, advanced to Ramsey’s Mills where it was expected to engage a detachment of the enemy; but on getting there, they had retired precipitately, leaving their fires burning and some of their baggage and provisions; having thrown a hasty bridge over a shallow of Deep River by rails and logs. General Greene selected his best troops and moved toward Camden to attack Lord Rawdon.” “Captain Bryan had left the army to act as a member of the colonial legislature, leaving his brother, Asa, the lieutenant to succeed him, with whom this affiant went in this expedition after Rawdon. Greene encamped about 3 miles from Camden; the next day ordered most of the militia with him to countermarch as if retreating but to return the next day. He, on their return, proceeded rapidly with the van toward the town, but was met by the enemy and thrown into apparent and en__real disorder. But the militia and artillery coming up to his assistance, the enemy were checked and engaged for some ?time, when he left the field in order, leaving the enemy too much injured to pursue. In this affair, affiant was under Col. Read.” “Affiant becoming too ill to proceed in said service was ordered to a hospital but upon reaching the hospital, he declined entering it, but found a hospitable reception with a family on Lynch’s Creek. The rest of his company were shortly after discharged, and coming where the affiant was, the Captain gave him the discharge of the 13th day of May, 1781, which is herewith sent. Affiant returned with them to Johnston County and immediately volunteered in his brother Lewis Gurley’s company of light Horse, raised to defend the county from the Tories. It was raised for 3 months but found little else to do but move from point to point and arrest the stragglers of that worst of all enemies; and were dismissed before that term expired. Samuel S????h the colonel of the county, gave affiant a discharge from this service which is also annexed.” “Presently after, affiant served under Col. Benjamin ?Exum in an expedition of the militia raised to attack the British in their passage at Spring Bank, but they passed farther below. Affiant, being best satisfied by being on the field, offered himself and horse as a substitute for anyone who should wish to leave it, and took the place of one whose name he cared not to remember, in a troop of horse and finished his term, about 15 or 20 days.” “18-months men were then called for by Congress to be raised by volunteering or by draft. Classes were formed and numbered. Affiant took a number and got the men required to fill it, and when that number was called they stepped forth. Col. Robert Rayford , a regular officer, was present, and having heard of affiant’s services, urged him to be of his mess, stating that he would put him on extra duties and in general exempt him from the ordinary drafts and fatigues. He consented; was allowed to ride his own horse, and appear in a garb suitable for the colonel’s mess and staff. He proceeded with him to Charleston, and until the close of the Revolution, acted immediately or mediately under his orders. Affiant’s whole service exceeded 6 months and was near 12 of active continued duty.” “Affiant, in order to avail of the corroborating memory of James Cotton of this county, will mention two incidents which are also remembered by him. On their march from Troublesome Ironworks to Ramsey’s Mills, affiant remembered to have seen a man hanging to a tree with a paper on his breast. Affiant went to him, turned his head and read the inscription which mentioned his desertion to the Tories as the cause of the example made of him. The other circumstance occurred at Ramsey’s Mills. The troops were marched out upon an alarm and formed around a tree where two men were hung; the two thus hung, affiant understood, were Tories and had come to the Whig camp, pretending themselves to be Whigs and giving a false alarm about the enemy’s approach.” “Shortly after the Revolution, the affiant removed into Georgetown District of South Carolina, remained there about 10 years, removed back into Johnson County, Nc where he remained with his family about 10 years, then removed into Maury County, TN, where he resided until 1817, when he came with his family into Madison County, AL, where he since and still does reside.” Additional Comments: His family’s birth records torn from the Bible pages, are included among the photocopies on the microfilm. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/guilford/military/revwar/pensions/gurley383gmt.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/ File size: 6.9 Kb