Guilford-Orange County NcArchives Military Records.....Hamilton, James 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 16, 2006, 2:30 am Pension Application Of James Hamilton, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 1171, Application #W155 Jane, widow of JAMES HAMILTON, a resident of Carroll ?County, TN, aged 79 years: “The declarant cannot ascertain now, with distinctness , the different troops, company, regiments or corps he served in. She has understood from her deceased husband that he served some time under EDWIN GWINN as his captain, but she thinks this portion of the service was a volunteer independent company whose main object was to act against the Tories. This company she thinks, was raised in Orange and Guilford Counties, North Carolina. She does not remember if she ever heard her husband declare the date or the duration of service under Captain GWINN, otherwise than that it was in the Revolutionary War.” “She states that she learned from her said husband that he was in the army at the time of General GATES Defeat [at Camden, per Heitman, August 16, 1780] and was at that time a soldier under his command, but that he was not in that action, having been detached to guard some prisoners at that time in possession of the American army, which were however, released immediately after General GATES Defeat, some of the guard being killed, some taken, and others dispersed. If she learned from her husband she does not now remember the other officers under whose command her husband at that time served, nor does she remember if she ever knew the duration of their term of service, nor its date otherwise than it was near into the time of General GATES Defeat in the War of the Revolution.” “She states that at the time of the Battle of Guilford, her said husband was in the army as she has often heard him say, and she thinks it likely that he served there under a captain whose name was FORBIS. Of this however, she is not certain and thinks it possible the impression may be in her mind from the fact that a person known as Captain FORBIS was wounded in that action.” “She states that he served a tour against the Cherokee Indians [1776], but she cannot now remember any of the officers commanding on that expedition. Its duration, she always understood from her husband, was five months. Her understanding was that this service was before the Battle of Guilford and also before the defeat of General GATES, though her mind cannot fix the date.” “She does not know that she has heard her husband say whether he served as a volunteer or as a drafted militiaman, but her general impression is that his services were rendered in character of volunteer, and that those services altogether would cover a period of something like three years during the War of the Revolution.” “And for more particular proof of her deceased husband’s services, she refers to the proof transmitted to the pension officer, and of the witness whose deposition was transmitted to that officer, having as she understands such ____, namely Mr. JOHN GWINN.” [The next two pages only contain family data, and have been deleted, lacking relevant information for this study.] “Personally appeared…BENJAMIN STARRITT, who…sayeth that he was in the army with JAMES HAMILTON in the North Carolina militia, drafted and was mustered into service the tenth day of November, 1778 and was discharged the tenth of May following. We were in one mess, and were both in the Battle at Briar Creek [per Heitman, March 3, 1779], and served our tours and went home with honorable discharges.” “After that, I saw him often in the army but not in the same troops with me, and do not remember who were his officers. That tour we served under General RUTHERFORD in a regiment commanded by Colonel JOHN PAISLEY in Captain JOHN DONNELL’s company. I do know that he was in service and on scouts too. He married a lady by the name of Jane Gwinn in February ’82. He was twice wounded by the enemy.” “I have seen the deposition of his widow and think it correct and if any draws pensions, I would think she ought. I am 78 years of age and get a pension for my services in the regular army. In my former deposition I stated that we were out together in 1779 and till the following May. By mistake I stated it one year too late, which mistake I have corrected in this deposition. This will certainly account for our serving a longer tour than three months. We were drafted for five months, but were out ass long as above stated.” “The deposition of JOHN GWINN, a citizen of Depew? County…Tennessee, being now seventy-six years of age and of strong and sound mind: that he…JOHN GWINN, was a soldier in the Army of the Revolution and served in the North Carolina militia, and for said services he was entered on the United States pension list of West Tennessee. That he was well-acquainted with JAMES HAMILTON while in actual service in the Army of the Revolution.” “Question 1st-What way did JAMES HAMILTON serve in the Revolution and how long did he serve? Answer-He served as a volunteer, sometimes on foot and sometimes on horseback. We served together from GATES’ Defeat [at Camden, per Heitman, August 16, 1780] until the surrender of CORNWALLIS. I do not recollect the length of time.” “Question Second-State the regiment and the names of your officers. Colonel MOORE of Caswell County, NC was our colonel. DAVID GRES??? was our captain, FERGUSON? was our Lieutenant, and LESLEY? was our ensign. I have forgotten the No. of our regiment, but I think it was the second.” “State the part of country through which you marched. We marched from Orange County to PeeDee River, thence to Lynche’s Creek, thence to Rugeley’s Mills. Here we parted.” “State which battles he was in. GATES Defeat [per Heitman, August 16, 1780] was the first, Whitesell’s Mills [per Heitman, March 6, 1781] the next, Lindley’s Mills [per Heitman, September 13, 1781] the next, and the next day on to Colonel PYLE’s Defeat [at Holts Racepaths, February 25, 1781]. We were together the whole time, were even in the Battle of Guilford [per Heitman, March 15, 1781] and were in several skirmishes with the Tories.” “State whether or not he was wounded. He was wounded through the calf of his leg and in the head at the same battle, all done at Lynche’s Creek. At the same time out in the same battle, I was also wounded in my shoulder. The surgeon? who attended us was from Wilmington. I have forgotten his name, though he was an Irishman.” “How many tours did you serve with him? We were out all the time from the first time we volunteered until the surrender of LORD CORNWALLIS. Colonel WILLIAM O’NEAL had the command of us for some time. General BUTLER had the command of us all the time. We were under my brother EDWARD GWIN, who was our captain for some time. State what part of the country he lived in when he went into service. He lived in Guilford Country, NC. I lived in Orange, though we lived close together. State the time and place of the marriage of JAMES and Jane HAMILTON. Sometime in February 1782, in Guilford County, NC. I did see them married and they were legally married, and that I was well acquainted with JAMES HAMILTON from the time of his marriage until his death, which happened on or near the 7th day of April, 1831 and that Jane Hamilton was a widow on the 4th day of July 1836, and still remains a widow.” File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/guilford/military/revwar/pensions/hamilton184gmt.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/ File size: 7.9 Kb