Guilford-Randolph-Buncombe County NcArchives Military Records.....Merrill, John 
Revwar - Pension 
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Nancy Poquette npoq@hotmail.com June 17, 2006, 2:42 am

Pension Application Of John Merrill, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 1714, Application #S7220
JOHN MERRILL, a resident of Buncombe County, NC, aged 75 years:
	“That he lived in the County of Guilford and state of North Carolina 
and was drafted some time in the year 1778. That his officers were then General 
RUTHERFORD, FRANK LOCKE, Colonel, ENOCH DAVIS, captain, the major he does not 
recollect. That he joined the army at Salisbury in Rowan, state aforesaid. From 
Salisbury the army marched to Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and state 
aforesaid, from Charlotte they marched to Camden, state of South Carolina, from 
Camden they marched to the Ten-Mile House near Charleston, state aforesaid, 
from the Ten-Mile House they marched to Bacon’s Bridge on Ashley River, thence 
to Purysburg on Savannah River.”
“At that place he was attached to the light infantry and marched to Augusta 
under command of Captain JAMES CRAIG, Major JOHN NELSON and ARCHIBALD LYTLE, at 
which place General ASHE joined them with his army. From Augusta the army 
marched to Briar Creek in Georgia [per Heitman, March 3, 1779] at which place 
they had an engagement with the British and were defeated. He further states 
that at that defeat there was no general engagement, that there was scattering 
shooting for about three hours. That Captain LYTLE under whose command your 
deponent, there was ordered a retreat and after they had retreated, your 
deponent asked LYTLE why he did not let his men fire, to which LYTLE replied 
that the British were musket and bayonet men and as his men were riflemen, they 
would have rushed on them with their bayonets.”
“From Briar Creek they went to Turkey Hill below Augusta, not far from the Two 
Sisters [Ferry] where they joined RUTHERFORD’s army, where he remained until 
the 10th day of April 1779, when his time being out, he got his discharge and 
returned to Randolph County, State of North Carolina, Guilford County having 
been in the meantime, divided into Guilford and Randolph Counties. The 
discharge is herewith filed marked A.”
	“That in the year 1781, he volunteered at the courthouse in Randolph 
County in the light horse under the command of Captain THOMAS DOUGAN, Major 
JAMES DOUGAN, and Colonel JOHN COLLIER. That they ranged about the country. 
That at that time the company with whom he served had a rencounter with Tories 
in the County of Guilford on the 15th day of April 1781, where he received a 
severe wound with a sword on his head, the marks of which are now to be seen. 
His brother’s [BENJAMIN MERRILL] horse was shot under him, and his captain, 
then JOHN KNIGHT, received two balls in his head. About the 30th of July, 1781, 
he received his discharge as may appear by the discharge herewith filed, marked 
B.”
	“After that time, he never was regularly in the service, tho’ scouting 
parties and some rencounters with the Tories…I know no one who can testify to 
my services but my brother BENJAMIN MERRILL, who was with me on my tours, but 
he is now sick and unable to come here.”

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