GUILFORD COUNTY, NC - MILITARY - Isham Sharp, Revolutionary War Pension Records ----¤¤¤¤---- Contributor's Note: This is the pension application for Isham Sharp who resided in Guilford Co. at the time of the Rev. War according to his affidavit. It was sent back to him 3 times for revisions and I have transcribed each one of those as well a summary on the first page from his initial application. I transcribed them as is, not correcting the lack of punctuation or spelling errors. The one with the No1 at the top is perhaps the best summary of his service. Interestingly he refers to previous service before 1779 but not included in the Rev. War application. ( ) show my comments. ? shows question regarding interpretation of handwriting. " show handwritten quotes ----¤¤¤¤---- (First Page) Service Sharp, Isham Number N.C. Mary W.11,442 Or Polly B.L.Wt 36550-160-55 War Department Pension Office May 9th, 1833 Sir: The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been reviewed and the papers are herewith returned. (Here he says that certain objections have to be removed before a pension can be granted. This is a form that was filled out and also written over with the questions the pension officer has concerning the evidence to be provided.) A Statement, showing the Service of "Isham Sharp Russell County State of Kentucky" Period years/ Rank Names and ranks of field officers Age Proof service Months/days under whom he served place "May? 1779 /3/ Prvt Capt. Leak? Gen. Rutherford 78 Traditionary Guilford County, NC 1779 /6/ Capt. Hunter? No Colonel vol 1780 /6/ Capt Cook? No Colonel No Col given but for tour only I am, respectfully Your obedient servant, J.L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions (More handwritten instructions) page 3 "Only one year can be allowed in this case May 1, 1834" "State of Kentucky S.S. ? Russell County Court February term 1833 on this 11th day of February 1833 personally appeared in Open Court before the worshipful justices of the County Court of Russell County State of Kentucky now setting Isham Sharp a resident of the County of Russell aforesaid aged 78 years who living first duly known according to law doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of passed June 7th 1832 that he entered the service of the United States in the revolutionary war as a draft militiaman on in the month of _________in the year 1779 in the County of Guilford state of North Carolina for 3 months under Capt Leak?Seak? Lieutenant John Davis he does not recollect the manner of the ensign he was immediately put under General Rutherford and marched to the Cherokee nation in which tour he faithfully served three months and was honorably discharged and returned home in the latter part of that same year. He was again drafted for 6 months and entered the service of the United States immediately under Capt. Alexander Hunter same Lieutenant as states above and marched to various places through the country after the Tories no troops having harmed them in this way. He served full six months and was honorably discharged by his Capt & he returned home in the year 1780 he entered this service of the united states as a volunteer malitiaman under Capt Cook for six months he states that he has? now recollect the leut & ensign he was immediately marched to the various places in the mughbauriry? Counties their principle? activities? Was to guard certain dangraus places they were in many skirmishes with the Tories during that tour and in which he faithfully served full six months and was Honorably discharged by his Capt sometime after his return he again volunteered under Capt Cook Tate? And was put under or in Col. Rolsom Regiment and was previous? to his joining said regiment and afterwards marching to various places in search of the enemy-and was marched on to Guilford and was there at the Battle Called the Battle of Guilford This he thinks was in the year 1781 he states that he faithfully that as a private malitiaman in the revolutionary war and each time was honorably discharged by his Capt all of which he has lost or misplaced so that he knows not where they are not how when or where he lost them he knows not he knows? not he never supposed that they would be of any use to him he has no documentary evidence nor does he know of any person who Whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service he further States that he lived in the County of Guilford North Carolina the time he was in service he states that he was born in Buckingham County State of Virginia in the year 1755 Agreeable to the information of his parent which he believes to be true he has no record of his age he remembered the oft? state a few years when his father moved to North Carolina Birck County from there he moved to Guilford County where he lived when he entered the service of and when he remained until about 20 years ago when he moved to Kentucky and settled in the neighborhood where he now lives Sic? he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any state subscribed and sworn to the day and years of? Isham Sharp We Hugh French and Ira Whitlock Residing in the County of Russell" they are hereby aquainted with Isham etc etc (handwritten) "State of Kentucky Russel County Be it remembered that on this fifth day of August 1833 before the undersigned a Justice of the peace in as at for the County of Russel, State of Kentucky personally came Isham Sharp a Resident Citizen of the County of Russel State of Kentucky who being first Duly Sworn according to law doth on this oath state that on the 11th day of February 1833 he made his declaration in the worshipful County Court of Russel State of Kentucky for a pension under the act of Congress of June 7th 1832 to which declaration he offers this as an amendment he positively states that he faithfully served the several tours as stated in his original declaration in the war of the Revolution in a Corp called regularly embodied and Called into service by Competent Authority that he was either in the field or in garrison for the time during which the service was performed he was not employed in any civil pursuit. He states that the first Tour he served he was in Cole James martins Regiment, he further states that the second & third tour he served in Col. Paceleys Regiment he does not at the time of his former declaration recollect he is hard of hearing and perhaps did not understand the ?-? the questions now being fully explained to him he has finally understands them and positively that he did leave (New page) the tours as there states and under the officers in his original declaration and in this amendment stated. he further states that he lives in a Remote part of the County and knows of Clergyman who can testify as to his belief of this declarants services he lelarins? A pension for the aforesaid services. Where and in what year were you born. Answer I was born in Buckingham County state of Virginia in the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty five agreeable to the information of my parents which I believe to be true 2nd Have you any record of your age if so where is it Answer I have none nor did I ever have any 3rd Where were you living when called into Service where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live Answer when I entered into service I lived in Guilford County state of north Carolina where I continued during the whole time of my service and until about 20 years ago. When I moved to Kentucky and settled where I now live (then Adair County) now Russel 4 How were you called into service were you drafted did you volunteer (end of page) or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom Answer the first and second tours I was drafted and the third I volunteer and never did serve as a substitute for any person 5. state the name of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served such Continental and militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service Answer I have stated the regiment to which I belonged in the foregoing amended declaration the principal circumstances so as I can recollect 6 did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and has become of it Answer I recd a written discharge for my service each tour signed by my Captain but have lost them But have when or where I know not 7 State the names of persons to whom you are known in your presentneighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your service as a soldier of the Revolution Answer I have mentioned Hugh Fren? The Erg? & Ira Whitlock who has Certified for me in my original declaration I am acquainted with Wm Green Esq Cole William D. Pattigrew and many others and? believes that all with whom I am acquainted with me would verify as to my veracity & good character liking? As to their belief as to my service in the war of the revolution subscribed and sworn to this day and year of ? (Signed) Isham Sharp (The remainder is the statement of Thomas Garrett justice of the peace certifying Isham answered the questions in person and his belief he was a soldier in the revolution) (Handwritten) No 1 (circled) State of Kentucky Russel County Be it remembered that on this 15th day of January 1834 personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid Isham Sharpe of the County and state aforesaid who Being first duly sworn according to Law deposeth and saith that on the 11th day of July 1833 he made his declaration in the worshipful County Court of Russel for a pension under the act of Congress of June 7th 1832 that he has made the amendment thereto and now makes the following amendment to the whole. He states that in the early part of the year 1779 he was drafted for 3 months in Guilford County state of North Carolina he then belonged to Capt Leak Company that he immediately entered the service of the united states as a private draftee malitiaman under said Capt Leak John Davis leut he was immediately attached to Colo Martins Regiment Maj. Hunters Battalion marched onto Salisbury where they staid and joined Genl Rutherfords Brigade a short time they then marched up the Cataba River to its head where they remained some short time when they marched to the Cherokee nation where they burnt several villages Killed two or three Indians and after remaining in that region of (end of page) sometime was marched on homewards and after reaching home he was Honorably Discharge by his Captain he has in his former declaration called this a tour of three months and that is 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 5 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 and does say that in this tour he faithfully served five months instead of three as charged in his former declarations He states that soon after returning home he was again drafted and put into Captain Alexander Hunters Company Maj. James Hunters Battalion Colo paceleys Regiment they then marched to Randolph County Chatham County and many other places guarding and protecting the inhabitants routing the tories driving and dispersing them he was not attached to any other troop or Brigade in this expedition he has stated in his former declarations that e was drafted in that time for six months and he yet thinks so if he was not so drafted he served that length of time before he was discharged (End of page) He distinctly recollects that he faithfully served six months in this tour in the way stated soon after he returned home and was discharged returned but as a volunteer under Capt Cook and was attached to the same Battalion & Regiment as stated in the preceding Tour that they marched to Surry Courthouse where they quartered for awhile he was then joined to Colo Hendersons Regiment and marched across the adkin river and turned down said river where they made a stand for some days near where there was a large body of Tories collected and for sometime a general engagement was expected but the tories finally abandoned their positions and retreated down the country and the regiment pursued them many miles across the river and marched on to many other places that which he cannot now particularly recollect in the course of a month or six weeks spent in this way they then marched back to Guilford County and immediately again march on again to Randolph and Chatham Counties where they had several skirmishes with the tories from their they again marched on to the adkins river Crossed the same and continued in that region for a considerable time and again marched back to Guilford a distance of about fifty miles they remain- (End of page) Ed in guilford sometimes & again marched to Randolph & Chatham where they continued for a long time scouting guarding and was finally marched back to Guilford When he was discharged he has stated in his former declarations that in this tour he volunteered for six? Whether he so agrees when he turned out or not he did actually serve six months as a volunteer without ever quiting this service or being discharged. Soon after his return as before he again volunteers under Capt Tate and was attached to Maj Alcouns? Battalion Colo Nolsons Regiment, he was marched onto Han/Haw? River and had some skirmishes was marched back to guilford County and was attached to general Greens army and was Kept in constant active service for sometime in ranging about his being detached for that purpose and about five days before the Battle of Guilford Courthouse the party to which he was attached had a Battle at Whatchls Mills (Whetzells Mill) about six miles from Guilford Courthouse they then returned to the army and Remained with main army until the Battle of Guilford Courthouse was Guilford (End of page) Was fought in which Battle this declarent was in from beginning to end The army lay at Guilford Courthouse a few days after the battle when General green took up the line of march to the north this declarant marched on with the main army about one hundred miles when as this declarant understood the Tories and the British was Collecting again in Guilford County When Colo Nolsons Regiment was sent Back to that place where he continued marching from County to County for a considerable time to about the last of July When this declarant was attached to a party and sent on to Henry County state of Virginia to guard provisions on to North Carolina and other places, and in this service he continued until a few days after the Surrender of Cornwallis after which he again was Honorably discharges and in which last mentioned tour he did serve at least nine months and may Be that he was mistaken in stating that he volunteered for nine months End of page) Tho he thinks he was not tho he may have come to that conclusion in Consequence of his having served that length of time without quiting the service or being discharged so it is he did faithfully serve the aforesaid several tours as he as stated and that Each and Every one of them was done and performed with an embodied Corp Called into service by Competent Authority that he was Either in the field or in garrison and for the time which the services was performed he was not employed in any Civil pursuit and for which he claims a pension, he would further remark least some doubt might exist as to the time he was engaged as an is iscert? of Bures? & provision that he was taken out of the ranks it was not upon any private engagement of this declarant he has in due course to give as full and satisfactory a detail of the events of his service as he Can he does not want pay for more than he is entitled to and he has not enumerated the whole of his services he rendered for previous to the year 1779 he served on a number of short tours which he has not here noticed. Subscribed and Sworn to the day & year of ? (signed) Isham Sharp State of Kentucky Russel County I Hugh French on of the Commons worthy Justices of the peace in and (end of page) For the County of C? hereby Certify the day and year of? Isham Sharp Subcribed and was duly sworn to the & any oiny? amended declaration on this and first? No 1 and I further Certify that he lives a near neighbour to me and that his reported and believed to have been a soldier of the Revolution that the Report is general and has been for many years and I concur in that opinion given under my hand this day and year of? (signed) Hugh French JP Russel? " (What follows is another affidavit from the County Clerk William Patterson attesting to the testimony and signatures etc. etc.) State of Kentucky Russel County On this 8th day of November 1833 personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the peace in and for the County oforesaid and made oath that he did on the 11th day of July 1833 made his declaration in the worshipful County Court of Russel for a pension under the act of Congess of the 7th of June 1832 Tat on the 5th day of August of the same year he made an amendment before Thomas J Garrett Esq. to which original and amended declaration he offers this as an amendment He observes there is an objection made to his Declaration in stating he was drafted for 6 months & that the term of which the militia was drafted was three months only have that is this declarant does no Know but Be -A- as it may he positively states that he did serve six months in the tour he states he was drafted for six months if the draft was for a shorter time this declarant was kept Ignorant of that fact so it is he does most solemnly declare he faithfully served the several tours as therein stated and many others he could with certainty and truth states that he served more than one year longer than he stated, there can be no longer a doubt as to his service (End of page) even if the draft as is stated by the department was for three months only-he again repeats that in that tour as well as all the others charged he did serve faithfully the times herein specified and if he was kept in service longer than he was drafted for he supposes he aught not be the looser he hopes he will share tha same as others of his companions in arms and if so he will be allowed to the extent of the law. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year of? (Signed) Isham Sharp (Following contains statement of Justice of the peace William Lair attesting his belief that he was a soldier of the revolution.) "We William I Patterson William Lucess? William Smith residing in the County of Russel state of Kentucky certify that we are well acquainted with Isham Sharp who has subscribed and sworn the above amended declaration that he is generally respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides To have been a soldier of the revolution and we concur in that opinion subscribed & sworn to this day year of? (Signed) William Smith Will S Patterson William Lair" Following is another page with another statement certifying the above statement and that they are "Credible persons and their statements are entitled to Great Consideration" 8th of November 1833 Signed by William Lair J.P.RL Then another statement by William Patterson that William Lair was the regularly commissioned justice of the peace with his seal 8th of November 1833 & "42 year of the Commonwealth" (Signed) Will Patterson Clerk of the Russel County Court ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Jeff Sharpe jglsharpe@msn.com ___________________________________________________________________