Guilford County NcArchives Military Records.....Leak Or Leek, John 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, 2:57 pm Constructed History Of Captain John Leak JOHN COOK-“The nineteenth day of July 1776, I entered the service of the United States as a volunteer, under Captain JOHN LEAK, Lieutenant JOHN DAVIS, THOMAS OWENS was our major. General RUTHERFORD commanded. I started from Guilford, North Carolina. We went through Salisbury and up to the head of Catawba near a fort called Cathey’s Fort, from that fort we crossed the mountain and went down the Swamano River, thence to the Indian towns upon the Tennessee and its waters, and destroyed sixteen of their towns. I remained three months in that tour, and returned home.” In an addendum-“That he volunteered into the service of the United States for three months as a private on the nineteenth day of July in the year 1776, in Guilford County, NC, his place of residence at that time, under Captain JOHN LEAK and Lieutenant JOHN DAVIS, in a detachment commanded by THOMAS OWENS, all commanded by General RUTHERFORD. Joined his regiment at Guilford in the state of North Carolina, marched from thence through Salisbury in the state of North Carolina to the head of the Catawba River near a fort called Cathey’s, from the fort crossed the mountains and went down the Swamano River, thence to the Indian towns upon the Tennessee River and its waters, and destroyed sixteen Indian towns and after serving three months as a private was discharged from the service of the United States in the month of October 1776.” THOMAS COOK-“I entered the service in the revolutionary war as a volunteer in the year 1776, in July, under Capt. JOHN LEAK in Guilford County, North Carolina, first lieutenant in said company, JOHN DAVIS, said company belonging to Col. MARTIN’s regiment of said county and state. We joined the main army under Gen’l RUTHERFORD in Rowan County, State of North Carolina and from said county marched to the Cherokee nation where we burned and destroyed sixteen towns and villages together with as many of the Indians as we could get hold of. I then returned home which was on about the first of Nov. in said year (1776), being out four months. In an additional addendum-“In July the tenth, 1776, I entered the service as a private soldier in Capt. JOHN LEAK’s company (Guilford militia), North Carolina, Guilford County, Col. JAMES MARTIN’s Regiment, GRIFFITH RUTHERFORD, General. Marched to the Cherokee Nation to suppress the Indians, burnt their towns and destroyed as many of the Indians as we could get of; remained in the nation as long as we could get provisions, and was compelled to return back again. On the 25th of Nov. landed at our starting point, being out four months & fifteen days. 4 months + ½. This was known by the Cherokee expedition. This service was in an embodied corps called out by competent authority, the state of North Carolina.” “On the 1st of September, 1777, I was elected first lieutenant of a company in MARTIN’s Regiment, company commanded as before by JOHN LEAK and attached to the said brigade, commanded by the same General (GRIFFITH RUTHERFORD). The intention of this service was to scout the country thereabouts for the Tories was very mischievous ____ in the lower part of the state alongside the seaboard. We were raised as the protectors of our state. MCCLOUD [MCLEOD] was the Tory General who headed the Tories in the Scotch settlements as aforesaid. In this service aforesaid, I was out three months, when we returned back to our county & home. This was known in that day as the Scotch expedition [per Heitman, actually called Moore’s Creek Bridge-February 27, 1776].” “About Christmas or the first of January 1778, we were ordered out as before to the lower part of the state to hunt for the same Tory commander (MCCLOUD), for the Tories, as soon as we had left that particular section commenced their mischief. Some time in the winter of [unreadable] upon MCCLOUD in the Scotch settlements at a bridge (name of bridge not recollected) [Betty’s or Beattie’s Bridge] but near to a swamp called Drowning [Swamp] when we had a fight, and killed several of the Tories and caused MCCLOUD to flee with the balance. Col. PAISLEY commanded our regiment at this time, Col. MARTIN, with some of the men remaining in the upper part of the state. We consumed the whole of this year as we did the latter part of the former, backward and forward continually. This was likewise known as the Scotch expedition, making the whole in this kind of service fifteen months. I was commissioned by Governor CASWELL.” And in yet more additions-THOMAS COOK does say: “That in the month of July, 1776, he volunteered as a private soldier in the company of Captain JOHN LEAK, in Guilford County, North Carolina, which company belonged to the regiment raised in said county under the command of Col. JAMES MARTIN, which regiment, with others, assembled at Salisbury, North Carolina, under the command of Gen’l ___RUTHERFORD, which Christian name he thinks (but is not certain) was GRIFFIN- they marched over the mountains to the Cherokee country on the waters of the Tennessee River, where they burned sixteen Cherokee towns, deponent was in this expedition which lasted at least four months.” “Shortly after, in the beginning of the year 1777, deponent was elected lieutenant in the company of the aforesaid Captain JOHN LEAK, and was frequently engaged for several weeks at a time, in scouting for Tories, the number of different services not recollected by deponent among the events of that year. He recollects that he was in the battle fought at a bridge near Cross Creek tour, in which battle MCCLOUD, a Scotch General & a Tory, was defeated [per Heitman, February 27, 1776].” JAMES P. BARNETT-“That he served a tour of three months under Captain JOHN LEAK, a man by the name of MARTIN, he thinks was the Colonel, and JOHN JONES was the Lieutenant. That he served in the year 1780 in the winter he thinks. That it was the duty of the company in which he was, to guard a public magazine in Guilford County, North Carolina, pursuant to the command of General GREENE, to preserve it from the Tories. That there was no regular officers or regiments stationed near them. That they marched only from one part of Guilford County to another in which they were stationed. That there was no regular discharge in writing, but they were relieved at the expiration of their term of duty at the public magazine. That he was in no battle.” “That he served as a substitute for his father, JOHN BARNETT, and that he was under the command of Captain JOHN LEAK, and that he served a tour of three months as guard over the public magazine in Guilford County, North Carolina, which she thinks was in the year 1780.” WILLIAM COTTON-“In the month of March 1780, he volunteered and served for six months under General SUMTER, Col. MARTIN, (major forgotten) and Capt. JOHN LEAK, the rest of the company officers he has forgotten. He left the service in the month of Sept. same year, after serving faithfully for six months, when he was discharged by Col. MARTIN.” “He then afterwards, in the month of November, same year, volunteered a second time for six months and served out the full length of his tour under General RUTHERFORD, Colonel MARTIN, Major CANADA [Major KENNEDY?], Captain JOHN LEAK, (Lieutenant forgotten), and Ensign WALKER. He left the service this second tour in the month of May 1781, after first being duly discharged by Colonel MARTIN. This in addition to his former made the term of one year. This second tour he was in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina. He then in the month of July 1781, volunteered a third time and served under General SUMTER, Colonel MARTIN, Major CANADA [KENNEDY?], Captain JOHN LEAK and Ensign WALKER.” “During his first tour he was in the Battle of Cross Creek [per Heitman, Feb. 27, 1776, Moore’s Creek Bridge] in North Carolina, where the Americans defeated the British, and in his second tour, was in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse [per Heitman, March 15, 1781], NC. During his first tour, he marched from Dan River to Guilford Courthouse, from thence to Sandy River, from thence to Cross Creek, where the engagement took place, from thence he marched back to Guilford Courthouse, where he remained stationed as a guard until he was discharged in September 1780. During the second tour he marched from Dan River to Guilford Courthouse, from thence to Blue Creek, from thence to the waters of PeeDee, from thence (after remaining there for some time), he marched to the swamps, from thence up the D___ling roads, from thence to the Crossroads, from thence to Guilford Courthouse, where he was engaged in the Battle, from thence to the Crossroads, and here he was discharged. During his third and last tour, he marched against the Cherokee Indians and passed across the Mayo, from thence to French Broad, from thence to Nolachucky, from thence to the Cherokee towns, for many miles in the wilderness where he served for about three months, when he was marched home to Guilford County, by the way of the waters of PeeDee, from thence across the River Dan, from thence he marched to Guilford Courthouse, where he was discharged. Applicant thinks it his duty to state to the Department that the marches may not be exactly correct, but in consequence of his extreme bodily infirmity and consequent mental imbecility he cannot be more exact. During all of his tours there were many regular soldiers with the troops where he served, but he cannot remember the particular regiments or companies to which they belonged. There were also other militia regiments and companies than the one to which he belonged. PETER CURTIS-“In the spring 1778, he enlisted again at Guilford, North Carolina under Captain JOHN LEAK, in the 3rd North Carolina regiment, and transferred to Captain WILLIAM’s in Colonel PAISLEY’s regiment and served out his time, which was nine months faithfully, and was discharged at Monck’s Corner in South Carolina near Charleston by Colonel DONOHO, but he has lost his discharge. During the service, he was in the Battle of Stono [Per Heitman, June 20, 1779], of Camden [per Heitman, August 16, 1780], and Guilford [per Heitman, March 15, 1781] and Eutaw [per Heitman, September 8, 1781]; and in pursuance of the act of 1st March 1820, etc.” ANSEL FIELDS-“Sometime in the month of July 1780 [The Cherokee Expedition actually took place in August to October, 1776], (he does not remember the day of the month), he entered said service as a volunteer of the militia and was sergeant during all his service, of the company to which he belonged.) He resided then in Guilford County, North Carolina. The officers of his company was Captain JOHN LEAK, Lieutenant GEORGE PEAY, Ensign JAMES LEAK. Claimant himself was the sergeant of the same, to which office he was elected immediately after he volunteered and before the company marched. He does not remember the number of his company, nor of the regiment to which it was attached. The latter was called the Guilford Regiment, and was commanded by Colonel JAMES MARTIN and Major ROBIN RALSTON. He was under the command of General RUTHERFORD.” “After his company was formed and their officers elected, they assembled at Spring Garden in Guilford County, NC, from which place they marched to Guilford Courthouse, on their way to which place they met with another company, which joined them and they marched together to the courthouse. There they met the army of the militia, consisting, he thinks, of three thousand men. He thinks there were among them, no regulars.” “From Guilford Courthouse they marched southward against the Indians who had been committing depradations on the whites. The first important point at which they arrived was Salisbury in North Carolina, about ninety miles from claimant’s residence at that time, thence they marched to Camden in South Carolina, at least one hundred miles farther, thence they marched about two hundred miles to an Indian town, lying on the Tennessee River, he thinks, in the state of Tennessee. He does not know the name of this town, but thinks it belonged to the Cherokee nation.” “This town they destroyed and burned the houses. They then marched thirty miles farther among the Ter??? Nation and took a white man called SCOTT, who had married an Indian woman. They were out of provisions, and returned home, where they arrived sometime in the month of October 1780. He there received a written discharge from his colonel which he has lost. He served during this engagement just three months. He was during this time, in no battle except at the destruction of the Indian town and a skirmish at the taking of SCOTT. He was with none of the regular forces, and thinks they were stationed at Cross Creek, now called Fayetteville, North Carolina. He does not recollect the names of any of the regular officers except Lieutenant BARNES, with whom he had been acquainted at home.” “While crossing a stream on their march, an officer of the Rowan Troops took up a soldier on his horse behind him, and there being a great number of reeds growing about the edge of the stream, the lock or trigger of the private’s gun caught among the reeds and was fired off. The load passed through the body of the officer [possibly ?] and produced his immediate death [is he referring to the death of Major LEWIS or JOHN BRAWLEY?].” “He received no commission as sergeant, and is now under the impression that the sergeant was at that time, a non-commissioned officer.” “About the last of November 1780, he again volunteered in the militia. His company elected the same officers [JOHN LEAK, GEORGE PEAY, JAMES LEAK] as before, he being reelected sergeant in which capacity her served during the whole of this, his second engagement, of course under the same officers as in his first engagement. He, at this time, resided at the same place as when he first entered. He does not remember the number of his company nor that of the regiment to which he belonged. The officers of the regiment were the same as before. His general was the same also.” “As before, his company assembled at Spring Garden in Guilford County, NC, and he marched to Guilford Courthouse where they joined the main army. They then marched one hundred and twenty miles to Cross Creek or Fayetteville, under the expectation that the enemy would invade that place. Here some of the regular army was stationed. Here they remained about a week during which time the regular army marched to Purysburg.” “After remaining at Cross Creek a week, claimant’s company and the rest of the army consisting, he thinks, of three thousand, marched to Salisbury, about two hundred miles from Fayetteville, were stationed there one month, and then marched to Camden, in South Carolina, where they stayed one week guarding Tories in the prison and awaiting the approach of the enemy. They then, upon the enemy’s arriving within three miles, retreated for the purpose (as claimant thinks) of leading them farther into the interior of the country. The British pursued them at various distances on their return to Guilford Courthouse.” “Shortly after their return to that place the enemy came up and a battle was fought [per Heitman, March 15, 1781], in which there was considerable loss on both sides. The Americans fought in an old field and the British in a wood. Claimant thinks both parties were beaten, as both retreated, the Americans having spent the ammunition. This battle took place sometime in March 1781. After this battle, the army was scattered. Claimant’s company scouted around in a circuit of fifty miles after the Tories.” “At length they returned to Salisbury, where they were stationed about a month, at the end of which time claimant received from the colonel a written discharge, which he has lost. This discharge was about the last of August 1781. He does not remember the precise day of the month on which he entered or left the service, either in this or the previous engagement. In this engagement he served just nine months as a sergeant of the volunteers of North Carolina. He received no commission as sergeant.” “When they retreated from Camden, they took the Tories from the jail with them, and lodged them in the jail at Guilford County, NC. He does not know the name of any other officers, either of the militia volunteers or regular army. During this or the former engagement, except those mentioned and Lieutenant BARNES, with whom as before stated, he was acquainted at home. During this engagement he was in no battle except that at Guilford Courthouse.” ALEXANDER LEMONDS-“That he volunteered as a militiaman for the term of nine months sometime in the spring of 1779 as near as he can recollect, in the company commanded by Captain JOHN LEAK, that the whole company to which he belonged all volunteered at the same time at their company muster near Spring Gardens, in what is now the County of Rockingham, (then Guilford). That he marched first to Salisbury, from there to South Carolina to the Savannah River at a place called Purysburg, or some such name. That he remained there a while under the command of Colonel HAL DICKSON [or DIXON], that he, with a small detachment, marched to Charleston and remained there about two weeks.” “That he returned from Charleston to headquarters at a place as well as he recollects called the PonPon Roads. That this was about a month before the Battle of Stono. That after his return, he was attached to a scouting party and on the night before the Battle of Stono, his party was out upon a scout. That he did not return to camp until late in the morning, when he found that the army had all gone out to battle. That the firing commenced shortly after his return to the encampment. That he was not in the battle, but was on the battlefield the next morning.” “That his term of service expired in a month or thereabouts after the battle. That he received his discharge and brought it home with him, but it is now lost. He does not recollect the name of the officer who gave him his discharge… That he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service except one SNEED STRONG, who was present when he volunteered. He is also acquainted with one NICHOLAS MCCUBBIN with whom he has often conversed about his tour of service, and knows from the circumstances he relates, that they were in service together, but they were not acquainted at that time, he was in a different regiment. That Mr. JAMES OLIVER also states that he knows of his service, having met him at his return…” August 1832-“SNEED STRONG…he is well acquainted with ALEXANDER LEMMONS… that he was present at the muster in 1779, as well as he recollects the year, when said ALEXANDER LEMMONS together with his whole company under the command of Captain JOHN LEAK, volunteered for the term of nine months. That he knows said LEMMONS marched to the south with his company and did not return until after his term of service had expired…” August 1832-“JAMES OLIVER…he has been acquainted with ALEXANDER LEMMONS… ever since his infancy…that he knows that he volunteered under Captain JOHN LEAK for nine months. That he saw him on his return near ?Holgen’s Creek in the County of Rockingham, about ten miles from his place or residence…” ALEXANDER LEMMONS-“That said allowance is for nine months service by himself, the affiant, in the company of Captain JOHN LEAK in the company commanded by Captain JOHN LEAK in the regiment of Continental line of North Carolina, commanded by Colonel DICKERSON, which service was performed in the year 1779. That he does not now remember whether he claimed for additional services or not in his application made for pension some twenty years since, but that he did perform an additional service of three months in the militia of the state of North Carolina in the following manner and under the following circumstances: “About the 15th day of April in the year 1781, a man by the name of JACOB JAMES, having enlisted or having been drafted and having become tired of the service, and did about three months before the expiration of his term, with the consent of, and agreement of his officers, employ him, the declarant to serve as his substitute for the remainder of his term, and that he the declarant, did about the 15th day of April in the year 1781, in the County of Guilford, now Rockingham and state of North Carolina, enter the said company as a substitute for said JACOB JAMES and with the rank of a private, did serve the remaining three months of said JACOB JAMES term and was at the end thereof, disbanded at a place called Guilford Old Courthouse… “That he was at the time while a substitute for JACOB JAMES, a teamster and was in company with a guard transporting provisions to a town called Charlotte in Mecklenburg, in the state aforesaid, and upon his return from the point at which he deposited his stores, and by a called court martial, was disbanded and returned home.” “…That he has not heretofore made application for an allowance for the term of service for the following reasons; that he was not aware that substitutes received any pay from government; that he was given a fine rifle by the said JACOB JAMES and a cow and a yearling. I state this because I have a distinct recollection of what I was to receive over and above the monthly pay, which he was to receive, and that he does now adduce the best proof in his power to establish what he herein sets forth, and trusts at this late day when all his officers and comrades are dead or removed beyond his reach, the said proof will be satisfactory to the accounting officers of the Government…” GEORGE PEAY-“That in January or February 1776, I joined the army of the United States as a volunteer in Guilford County, NC, under Captain JOHN LEAK and Colonel JAMES MARTIN. We rendezvoused at Guilford Courthouse and marched thence to Cross Creek where Fayetteville now stands. This expedition was against the Highland Scotch and Tories who had rebelled against the government. Governor CASWELL having defeated them before we arrived at Cross Creek [per Heitman, February 27, 1776], we in a day or two returned home and stayed there two weeks. Then we were called out again to go to Wilmington and when we had marched to Rocky River in Chatham County, an express met us stating the British had left Wilmington and hove out of sight. We then returned home, having been absent these two trips, three months. Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN commanded a regiment of regular troops and we lay at the Cross-Roads in Randolph County with his regiment nearly four weeks during the first trip.” That about the 20th of June, 1776, I joined as a volunteer Captain JOHN LEAK and Colonel JAMES MARTIN, General GRIFFITH RUTHERFORD being our brigadier General. In the county of Rowan in the town of Salisbury, we rendezvoused and marched thence to the head of the Catawba River near Cathey’s Fort, which is at a place called Pleasant Gardens, where we remained near four weeks until General RUTHERFORD and the balance of his army joined us. We marched thence against the Cherokee Indians across the Blue Ridge and stopped on the Tennessee River in the Cherokee nation where we remained four weeks, the Indians having been subdued by the Southern Army commanded by General WILLIAMSON. We returned home after an absence of about three months and a half, no battle having been fought this expedition.” That about the 20th of June 1778, I joined the company of Captain JOHN LEAK as a volunteer, which company belonged to the regiment called New Levees commanded by Colonels ARCHIBALD LYTLE and HENRY DIXON. We rendezvoused about that time at Guilford Courthouse in Guilford County, and our two companies from Guilford, one commanded by Captain LEAK, the other by Captain GEORGE HAMILTON, marched thence to David Logan’s, 4 miles from Guilford Courthouse, where we lay four weeks until the balance of said regiment commanded by said Colonels LYTLE and DIXON, joined us.” “We marched thence to Dixon’s Ferry on Dan River in Virginia, on our way towards the north, where we met an express which caused us to return into North Carolina, our services not being needed in the North. We marched thence to Moore’s Creek in Caswell County, NC, where we remained about a month.” RICHARD VERNON for GEORGE PEAY-. I was acquainted with GEORGE PEAY in the state of North Carolina in the County of Guilford in the year 1776, at which time an insurrection was raised by a set of people called Scotch Tories, and about the first of February 1776, the militia was called to arms.” “Mr. PEAY, along with myself and many others, turned out as volunteers and marched to Guilford Courthouse on the fifteenth of February 1776, and there formed a regiment under the command of Colonel JAMES MARTIN and Captain JOHN LEAK (I acted his subaltern) and at that period, Guilford County was in the western part of North Carolina in a district called Salisbury, which was commanded by Brigadier General RUTHERFORD, who at that time had all the militia of said district in arms.” “Then marching down to the lower part of the state were these Tories were embodied, our regiment joined General RUTHERFORD and then marched and proceeded with him to a town on Cape Fear River, at that time was called Cross Creek, where we understood for certain that the Tories were defeated by Colonel CASWELL [Moore’s Creek Bridge, per Heitman, 27 February, 1776] near Wilmington in said state, we were then sent back home, excepting a regiment of regular troops that had marched down with us under the command of Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN.” “In about fifteen days after we returned home, a general alarm took place throughout the state, caused by the British vessels appearing in the Capes adjacent to said state, at which time we were all called to arms. Mr. GEORGE PEAY with myself and many others volunteered again, under our former officers and marching in military order to Wilmington, and the only transaction that took place was an express that came to Colonel MARTIN stating that a party of Tories were embodying in front of us to make an attack. We advanced near them. Myself and 13 others were sent to discover their situation. We proceeded to the place in the night and discovered a large encampment. Their sentinels fired at us and we returned to our regiment. All preparation was made by us to advance and attack them the next day. Accordingly, we met and prepared for action. We then discovered they were our friends who had drove the Tories the evening before.” “We then proceeded on our march for Wilmington and were met by an express from the executive of the state, stating that the British vessels had left the Capes contiguous to North Carolina. We were all remarched back to our homes where we remained until the month of June in the same year 1776.” “The Cherokee Indians broke out and was committing great depradations upon the frontier settlements of North and South Carolina. On which occasion a general call for the militia in the district of Salisbury took place about the month of June 1776. Then Mr. GEORGE PEAY and myself volunteered again under the command of said officers RUTHERFORD, MARTIN and LEAK. So we marched north, a determined resolution to destroy the Indian settlements on Tennessee and Hiwassee, which we affected by entering wilderness on the 9th day of September 1776. About the 25th November following, we were discharged.” SAMUEL RAYL-“At his company muster ground, at the house of CHARLES BRUCE in Guilford County near Guilford Courthouse, the declarant, together with many others, volunteered under Captain JOHN ?ALLUMS [?ELMS] in the month of July, day not recollected, in the year 1776, for the purpose of marching against the Cherokee Indians who had attacked the frontiers a short time before and had murdered some women and children and some men. Declarant had been elected ensign in Captain ELMS company of militiamen more than a year before, and still was the ensign of the company. Declarant received his commission as ensign from the hands of Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN, who commanded the regiment. HEZEKIAH RHODES was the lieutenant, as declarant believes, though he is not certain. JAMES DELAY was the orderly sergeant, as he believes, though he is not certain. The other sergeants and the corporals are not recollected.” “At the same place and time another company volunteered under Captain LEAK, so pronounced. The place of rendezvous was Guilford Courthouse and on the 13th day of July 1776, this declarant reported there and within sight of Guilford Courthouse, a large body of men, many companies, number not recollected, were collected. Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN commanded them. This declarant was ensign in Captain JOHN ELMS company. Captain FORBIS was one of the captains. Declarant does not now recollect any other captains’ names. There were no regular officers or soldiers.” “Many of the men being unprepared with guns and provisions and clothing, had to return to their homes to make ready. They were ordered to make ready and return immediately. This declarant returned home, prepared himself, and returned in three or four days to Guilford Courthouse. Thence we were marched under Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN towards the Cherokee towns. We marched a few miles only the first day, encamping the first night four or five miles from Guilford Courthouse. The third or second day, we reached Salisbury, within sight of it. Thence in four or five days, we marched to Cathey’s Fort, crossing on our way the Catawba River at the Root Bridge Branch. Here we remained several days (three or four) waiting for reinforcements.” “From Cathey’s Fort, in a few days (five or six), we marched to Cowee Town, a Cherokee town on the Hiwassee River, crossing on our way, the mountains between North Carolina and what is now east Tennessee. We crossed the French Broad and Little Pigeon Rivers, and the Little Tennessee River. When we reached Cowee Town, it was deserted by the Indians. We burned the town. Here we found corn, fresh meat, hogs and chicken, and sweet potatoes, and we remained here several days, number not recollected. A considerable body of men from Georgia joined us at Cowee Town.” “While we were at Cowee, the Over-Hill Cherokees we were informed, were coming upon us and 400 of our men were sent in two divisions and ordered to take different routes. This declarant was not in either division, though desirous of going, he was prevented by his captain on account of his having an attack of inflammatory rheumatism, brought on by wading French Broad. One of the divisions that took the right hand [position] met the Over-Hill Cherokees who were coming on. About two miles from Cowee, our men engaged with and routed them, killing nine of the Indians with a loss on our part of two or three men. From Cowee Town, we marched to a town, the name of which is not recollected, not far from Cowee, which we also burned. We also burned several towns not far from Cowee that were attached to Cowee Town, the names of which, if they had any, not recollected.” “We returned to Cowee Town on Hiwassee River after having destroyed the towns and provisions of the Indians near the Cowee Town, and thence returned home the same route we had gone on. We started in July, day not recollected, and returned the latter part of October, day not recollected, making a service of three months and twelve days. This declarant received no written discharge, and never applied afterwards for a written discharge, never thinking it would be of any service to him to get one.” “This declarant received pay for three months and twelve days service in this way. There was a sale at Cowee Town of property taken in the Indian towns. Declarant purchased a horse and his account was an offset against his pay.” “In the month of March 1777, day not recollected, declarant volunteered at his company muster grounds at CHARLES BRUCES’s house under his Captain JOHN ELMS, for the purpose of marching against the Tories on Cross Creek, who had been committing many outrages upon the Whig families in that and adjacent sections of country. THOMAS MCCRORY was lieutenant in this tour, declarant believes, though he is not certain from the impaired state of his memory. Declarant was ensign, sergeant or corporals not recollected.” “At Guilford Courthouse, we collected together and thence we were marched under Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN towards the Cross Creek settlement about seventy miles from Guilford Courthouse. Captain LEAK was one of the captains. There were several companies, number unknown to declarant, as they joined us on our way from different sections. We marched in a southerly direction towards Cross Creek, waiting for reinforcements. We got into a settlement of Tories eight or ten miles before we reached Cross Creek. About ten or twelve miles from Guilford Courthouse, we crossed Deep River. We delayed for some time in going to Cross Creek. The Tories were collecting in a body under CONNER DOWD. On our approach, they dispersed.” “All the Tories we could catch were compelled to take the oath of allegiance to the state of North Carolina, and to support and maintain the independence of the United States against George 3rd, or any other king or foreign power. After doing this and destroying the property of those Tories who had been committing outrages upon Whig families, and had been aiding and abetting the British power, we returned home. We took some prisoners and had them tried at the townhouse of the country, name of the town and county not recollected. These Tories were suffered to go unpunished after taking the oath as above, which they did. When we had finished the destruction of the property of such Tories as had been committing outrages, their trial and had compelled all that we could take to swear the oath of allegiance to the state, we returned to our respective homes, and this declarant was discharged verbally by his Captain JOHN ELMS at Guilford Courthouse after a tour of three months…Declarant volunteered in this expedition in the month of March 1777 and returned and was discharge in the month of June 1777, day not recollected.” JAMES SCALES-“On one occasion under an Act of the General Assembly of our state, [a class of] 8 men were permitted to furnish one man for twelve months by which they were exempted for one term of service. Myself and 7 others hired a man for a term of 12 months for ___ hundred dollars for the service and surrendering him up to Captain LEAK, the commanding officer…” NATHANIEL SCALES-That he entered the service of the United States in June 1777 [probably 1776], he thinks about the 10th day, as a private soldier in the company commanded by Capt. JOHN LEAK and Lt. JOHN DAVIS, in the regiment commanded by Col. JAMES MARTIN. That they marched from Salisbury, North Carolina under the command of General RUTHERFORD against the Chickasaw [probably Cherokee] nation of Indians. That in that campaign the army under General RUTHERFORD destroyed thirteen Indian towns besides destroying their corn and carrying off their horses. This applicant thinks that this campaign lasted six months. This applicant will here state that he has always been under the impression that he enlisted for 12 months as a private soldier because he got ten dollars when he entered the service. He enlisted at the Rocky Springs, North Carolina.” “This applicant further states that after they had subdued the Indians in the early winter, they were discharged. This applicant thinks he got a discharge but does not recollect who signed it, but he well recollects that Colonel MARTIN returned home with them. He also recollects that Captain LEAK ordered all those who had enlisted to be in constant readiness for active service, should they be called on. The other Colonels who served in this campaign were Colonel PAISLEY, Colonel GRIMES and Colonel ALEXANDER and the adjutant of that army was ROBERT MARTIN, brother of our Colonel.” ISHAM SHARP-“That he entered the service of the United States in the Revolutionary War as a drafted militiaman in the year 1779 [Cherokee Expedition was in 1776] in the County of Guilford, state of North Carolina, for three months under Capt. LEAK, Lt JOHN DAVIS. He does not recollect the name of the ensign. He was…put under Gen. RUTHERFORD and marched to the Cherokee nation, in which tour he faithfully served three months and was honorably discharged and returned home.” “January 1834-“He states that in the early part of 1779 he was drafted for three months in Guilford County, state of NC. He then belonged to Capt. LEAK’s company. That he immediately entered the service of the United States as a private drafted militiaman under said Capt. LEAK, JOHN DAVIS, Lt. He was immediately attached to Col. MARTIN’s regiment, Maj. HUNTER’s battalion. Marched to Salisbury where they stayed a short time and joined Gen. RUTHERFORD’s brigade. They then marched up the Catawba River to its head where they remained for some short time, when they marched on the Cherokee nation where they burned several villages, killed two or three Indians and after remaining in that region some time, was marched on homewards and after reaching home he was honorably discharged by his captain.” “He has, in his former declarations, called this a tour of three months and that in the time he was drafted for, but he positively states that from the time he was drafted and entered the service and took up the line of march, it was five months before he reached home and received his discharge. It was early in the year when he was drafted, and it was in the latter part of the summer or fall before he reached home, and therefore he can with certainty say…that on this tour, he faithfully served five months instead of three…” WILLIAM THOMAS-“In the month of August 1778, he volunteered in Guilford aforesaid, and under Capt. JOHN LEAK, and Cols. PAISLEY and MARTIN, and was marched to near the head of the Catawba, where we remained a month waiting for reinforcements, and then marched to the Cherokee nation and helped to burn seventeen towns cut down corn and returned here after serving three months tour. Was a volunteer except nine months when he enlisted. The first three months he served as a substitute for his brother, ____ Thomas.” “And enlisted in Guilford aforesaid in the Continental Army for nine months, he thinks which month of August or September under Col. [probably mistaken about LEAK being a colonel] JOHN LEAK, and was marched by him to Purysburg and placed under Lieut. LEWIS, Capt. RALPH CHAPMAN, and Col LYTLE, Continental officers. Wintered at Purysburg, and marched in the spring up to near Augusta, Georgia, where deponent was taken sick and placed in a hospital and was furloughed to go home and when he was recovered, he returned home and was not again called upon.” “That he entered the service of the United States in the militia of the state of North Carolina in the month of April 1777, in Guilford County, as a volunteer under Capt. JOHN LEEK (or LEAK), Col. JAMES MARTIN commanded. The regiment was marched to Guilford Courthouse, thence to Cross Creek (now Fayetteville) and defeated the Scotch at that place, returned to Guilford and then marched after the Tories to Little River. They had dispersed, and we were discharged having served three months, and” “In the month of August 1778, he volunteered in Guilford County under Captain John LEEK (LEAK) and Cols. JOHN PAISLEY and MARTIN and was marched to near the head of the Catawba where we remained a month waiting reinforcements and then marched to the Cherokee Nation and he helped to burn seventeen towns, cut down corn ___ and returned home after serving a three months tour.” “And enlisted at Guilford Courthouse aforesaid in the Continental Army for nine months, he thinks, which month of August or September under Captain JOHN LEAK and was marched by him to Purysburg and placed under Lieutenant LEWIS, Captain RALPH CHAPMAN, and Colonel LYTLE, Continental officers, wintered at Purysburg, and marched in the spring up to near Augusta, Georgia, where deponent was taken sick and placed in a hospital and was furloughed to go home and when he recovered, he returned home and was not again called upon.” ISAAC VERNON-“That he entered the service as a volunteer…in the year 1777 in the first of the month of January under the command of JOHN LEAK and Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN in Guilford County in the state of North Carolina. That he was in Captain LEAK’s company and by him, marched to Anson County [he named wrong county, and date, if this was the Battle at Moore’s Creek Bridge, per Heitman, February 27, 1776] in NC, to fight some Scotch Tories and to join General CASWELL’s forces. Before Colonel MARTIN joined Governor CASWELL, he, Governor CASWELL defeated the Tories. He then sent an express to Colonel MARTIN to inform him of the defeat and to disband his forces, amounting in number to about three thousand, when the army under Colonel MARTIN was accordingly disbanded and the troops returned home, having been out in this service three weeks…” RICHARD VERNON-“I first entered the service of the United States about the 15th February, 1776, while living in Guilford County, NC, as lieutenant in Captain JOHN LEAK’s company, which was attached to the militia of Guilford County commanded by Colonel JAMES MARTIN from Guilford on an expedition against the Scots Tories near Fayetteville [Moore’s Creek Bridge, per Heitman, February27, 1776], where we were under the command of ALEXANDER MARTIN, colonel of the 1st regiment of N.C. troops and General RUTHERFORD. This part of my service is proved by the certificate of Colonel MARTIN M___ and who resides in NC, Stokes County.” “Immediately after my return from this tour, there being a call for men to go to Wilmington, near which, in the Capes the British having appeared, I entered Captain LEAK’s company as a lieutenant, Colonel JAMES MARTIN commanding again, and we marched to Wilmington, but before we arrived, the British having continued down to Charleston, we halted and returned. I was 30 days in service in this expedition which, added to my first tour, made a little more than three months.” “I next volunteered about the first of August 1776 (being there in the first division in consequence of my first tour of service) in Captain LEAK’s company and served as lieutenant. This expedition was against the Cherokee Indians. We marched about the above date from Guilford under Colonel JAMES MARTIN to Salisbury, where we fell under the command of General RUTHERFORD. From thence we marched thro’ the wilderness to Indian nation and after having destroyed a number of their towns and villages, we returned.” [Certificate A-“I do hereby certify that I was Colonel Commandant of the militia of Guilford County in this state during the War of the Revolution. That RICHARD VERNON formerly of the said County of Guilford and now a citizen of the state of Tennessee, served under my command in the expedition against the Cherokee Indians in the year 1776. That said RICHARD was a lieutenant in Captain LEAK’s company in said expedition. That in said rank of lieutenant, he likewise served under my command in an expedition against the Scots-Tories near Fayetteville and in several other excursions against the Tories in the south part of the County of Randolph in this state.” “That Captain LEAK’s company having become too large, it was divided into two, and the said RICHARD VERNON appointed by me a captain of one of the two companies. JAMES MARTIN, Sen. Commandant of the Guilford militia.”] GEORGE PEAY for RICHARD VERNON-“The deponent and RICHARD VERNON volunteered in 1776 sometime in the month of February as private soldiers under Captain JOHN LEAK and joined the regiment commanded by Colonel JAMES MARTIN at Guilford Courthouse and marched on an expedition to Cross Creek against the Highland Scots and Tories and was accredited and paid for a three months tour. In the same year in June following, under the same officers, we marched to Salisbury. We then marched on near Pleasant Gardens on the Catawba River, and there awaited the arrival of General RUTHERFORD with the balance of the troops. From there we marched on to the Cherokee nations of Indians on the Tennessee River. We destroyed several towns, cut down their corn, remained there several weeks. We then returned home in October and was accredited and paid for four months.” “A Memorandum of military services of RICHARD VERNON, __known to have been written by him, having no signature to it.” “I here mean to memorialize the service that I performed in the Revolutionary War: “Vizt, I went into service about the 15th of February 1776 under Captain JOHN LEAK and Colonel JAMES MARTIN after the Scotch Tories in the lower part of North Carolina, and continued in service with a 2nd call which completed a tour of three months.” “Item second- I volunteered about the 1st of July 1776 and went to the Cherokee nation of Indians under the aforesaid Colonel MARTIN and was discharged about the first of November, something more than 3 months. This was a hard tour for I had 4 horses in the pack service and on our return to a place called Cathey’s Fort, I took the 3 sick men in Captain LEAK’s company and conducted them home. Imputed to be about 220 miles.” “The next tour, I volunteered in the capacity of Lieutenant to go to Charleston in South Carolina on the 23rd of February, 1780, and got to a town called Monck’s Corner, and there were defeated by the British. We retreated back over Santee River and waited till Brigadier General CASWELL came on from North Carolina. We then formed a regiment and was commanded by him. Charleston surrendered. We then retreated into North Carolina and about the ninth of June we was dismissed.” JOYCE, GEORGE-lived on his father’s plantation in Guilford County at enlistment. Did not write down all of his officers names. Served under Capt. JOHN LEAK, Major JOSEPH CLOUD in the Cherokee expedition. 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/leakorle337gmt.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/ File size: 47.2 Kb