Guilford County NcArchives Military Records.....King, Peter 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 17, 2006, 1:54 am Pension Application Of Peter King, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 1489, Application #W7981 Jane King, widow of PETER KING, a resident of Smith County, Tennessee, May 1837: “That she is the widow of PETER KING who was a private in the army of the Revolution and served in different tours of service almost throughout the Revolution. His first tour of services was in the militia service under the command of Captain BEARD and under Colonel MAYBEN or MAYBOURN [MABEN], and under General GREENE. He served this time three months as a volunteer and marched this time to Richmond in Virginia as well as she can recollect. She knows that his route was towards Virginia and Petersburg. They lived at this time in Guilford County, North Carolina. This was before the British had come about, but they had been fighting at the north some time before. He was discharged this time, but all his papers have been placed in the hands of some person in Jackson County in this state a short time before he died and this affiant can’t recollect who was the person, as he was then endeavoring to get his pension, but died before he could succeed.” “He entered the service again shortly after his return, and she thinks under General GREENE, but cannot recollect the name of his captain, but she recollects his being at the Battle of the Eutaw Springs [September 8, 1781] and at Camden [April 25th, 1781, Orange Co militia, including Capt. James Ray were there]. Her recollection of these battles are more fresh in her recollection than his tour of service. He served three months this tour. Was discharged as a militia volunteer but continued at home but a short time. She had two children at this time and the British were then coming toward North Carolina and it was necessary that all who could bear arms should go as a volunteer or be drafted.” “He turned out as a volunteer again and joined the army of General GREENE. This was after GREENE had come into North Carolina and the British also was marching upon Guilford. She cannot recollect the captain’s name this tour, but distinctly recollects his coming home with his brother who was very sick and his commanding officer, thinking it was the smallpox sent him out of the army and her husband took him home to his father’s. This was two days before the Battle of Guilford [March 15, 1781]. She distinctly recollects the Battle of Guilford, they lived only four miles off when the action took place and a party of Americans came to where her father lived on Reedy Fork Creek and tore up a bridge fearing lest the British should come that way.” “Her husband waited on his brother for seven days and then he died. It was not the smallpox as was thought, but a fever. On the death of his brother, her husband immediately joined the army. There was none of the British army came to her father’s as it was off the road. He served this tour three months and was discharge, which discharge is mislaid as above stated.” “He then with some persuasion, agreed to stay at home and hired a substitute for one whole year, but after having paid the substitute a likely mare, bridle and saddle, he found that he would be compelled to go again, and volunteered for a whole year. Was stationed sometimes at Salisbury, sometimes on Pedee River as occasion might require. He was at the battle with the Tories on PeeDee River [Colson’s Mill? July 21, 1780, possibly under Henry Connelly or Absalom Bostick of Surrey Co.], Ramsour’s Mills [June 20, 1780, some Surrey and Orange Co. militia there] and at ____ Ford [if this was Shallow Ford under Captain WILLIAM BETHEL, then date was October 14, 1780]. During this tour of service he frequently got furloughs to stay at home a week or sometimes a day or two. She can’t recollect the name of his captain or officers on this tour of service, which was the most important took a considerable army to keep down the Tories. He was discharged this time as before, but it is with the other papers and cannot be found…” “On this day [May 1837]…appeared James Davis…made oath that he is well acquainted with PETER KING in his lifetime, and Jane King, his wife. He became acquainted with them in Washington County, East Tennessee [afterward Greene County, then North Carolina]. They had moved from near Guilford Courthouse. This was in 1784. The Revolutionary War was but just over and he lived close by the connections of the Kings, and more particularly PETER KING and his wife Jane…This affiant has heard said PETER KING relate his services in the War of the revolution, particularly his engagement he was in the Battle of King’s Mountain [October 7th, 1780, Surrey Co. militia were there], also at several others but cannot say particularly at this distance of time…” “This day [May 1387]…appeared William Bertram…that he has known PETER KING and his wife Jane King for thirty-two years past and he has heard PETER KING frequently speak and relate his services in the War of the Revolution. He has heard him repeat the circumstances of seeing Colonel WASHINGTON, TARLETON meet and the horse of the latter jumping across the wagon at the Battle of the Cowpens [January 17, 1781] frequently, and also other services in other tours…” “On this day [March 1840, Jefferson County, Illinois]…appeared BENJAMIN KING…aged seventy-four years…and says ‘His brother PETER KING entered the service of the United States in the year 1775 and served during the remainder of the war. His first trip in the service lasted three months. His second trip lasted six months, and he recollects of his having been out in the service at one time nine months without being at home. This trip was near the close of the war, he was scarcely ever at home, and when he was, it was but a short time, being kept busy in the service. He was a drafted militiaman and held the office of lieutenant all the time he was in the service. He was at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse and at a skirmish in Hillsborough [April 25, 1781, or September 13, 1781].” “On this day [June 1843, Monroe County, Kentucky]…appeared JOSHUA BROWN… aged eighty-five years…that he was in the War of the Revolution as one of the Virginia Blues and went over to North Carolina to the neighborhood of a place called the Red House [January 1781]. This affiant then lived in Pittsylvania County, state of Virginia, and his captain, who was by the name of Saulton, took sick on the day they started and did not go. They were mustered into service under Colonel THOMAS OWENS and Major BUTLER.” “It was at this place that affiant met with PETER KING from Guilford County, North Carolina, with whom he became afterwards, well-acquainted. Affiant thinks PETER KING at that time was under a Captain WILLIAM BETHEL. Affiant has a more distinct recollection of PETER KING on account of his very [or merry] jovial and soldier-like manner than from any particular acquaintance with him, as affiant had lived previously in Virginia near the North Carolina line and PETER KING lived in Guilford County in North Carolina.” “PETER KING was a robust, strong, athletic man, was fond of sport, had a very strong and healthy constitution, and when not engaged in action or exercises, would be engaged in various pastimes such as running fool races, jumping and wrestling, which made affiant take more notice of him. Said KING was a resolute and good soldier and affiant and he would take a glass of rum together when they could get it.” “Affiant and said PETER KING were together at the Battles of Eutaw Springs [September 8, 1781] and Cowpens [January 17, 1781] and when the Battle of Guilford [March 15, 1781] was fought, cannot say whether saw KING was at Guilford or at Bell’s Mills. This affiant was engaged at Bell’s Mills against the Tories but was not at Guilford.” “Said KING would endure an insult from no one. He messed with a different set of men from affiant, and of course would be together only when the army was at leisure and not on the march or engaged in fight. Affiant cannot state how long KING served because he was not with him all the time, nor under the same officers, but said KING must have served more than two years and chiefly as a volunteer and on one occasion said PETER KING informed him he was then under an engagement for nine months. All this information and acquaintance was during the Revolution War and under Generals GREENE and MORGAN and Colonel WASHINGTON. The knowledge affiant has is from seeing said KING in actual service and not from any acquaintance after the war of the Revolution.” “The places the affiant has a more correct knowledge of seeing said KING in service are the following, to wit: Before and after the Battle of the Cowpens, before and after the Battle of Eutaw Springs, before and after the Battle of Guilford. On one time in July following after the Battle of Guilford, this affiant and PETER KING got discharged to go home, and then took a notion and volunteered again and served three months longer. Affiant would have made application for a pension on his own account long since, but had such a dislike to ask a pension from his government. Affiant had a brother SAMUEL BROWN who drew a pension, and if living is now in the state of ?Illinois?…” File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/guilford/military/revwar/pensions/king203gmt.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/ File size: 9.8 Kb