LINCOLN CO, NC REV PENSION RICHARDS, JOHN File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Barbara Parsons [ bparsons@worldnet.att.net ] John Richards Revolutionary War Pension Application I came across this article as I researched my Philmon family, from microfilm at the Mormon Church. It pretains to a petition that was filed in Early County, Georgia by the Richards for the Revolutionary War Pension. He tells of people from Lincoln County where he was born, joining the Continental Army with him, so I thought it may be of local interest. It holds a lot of history that we normally do not hear or read about. Early County, Georgia was and is a virgin county. There has never been an attempt to extract or index any of their records and but for the filming of them by the Mormon Church, there are no records available on them without actual on hand research. The books are still in the old handwriting, and must be read page by page in order for you to learn about your family. In the reading of this microfilm, the only word that stood out to me was CHARLOTTE. It took a tremendous amount of time, and blowing up of copies to glean the information that is listed herein. I post to this board in case this may be your relative and the fact it holds a great amount of history. Barbara Parsons DECEMBER TERM 1832 Tuesday morning, December 11th. State of Georgia, Early County On this the eleventh day of December, Eighteen hundred and thirty two, personally appeared before this Superior Court of the County of Early, John Richards, a resident of the fourth district of the county of Early and State of Georgia, aged Seventy nine years, nine months, and fourteen days, who being first duly sworn according to Law doth in his oath make the following in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by an act of Congress passed June 8, 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1774 or thereabouts (the precise time this applicant cannot recollect) under Captain Garrett and served in the Second Battalion-Regiment of the line (the number of the regiment not recollected) under the following named officer and others not now recollected. Colonel Elliot and White, Major Roberts, Captain John Garrett and Lane, Adjutant Latterteam ( a Frenchman), Ensign Siass Hutton and Sergeant Hugh Roney and Wood., and that he enlisted for two years under Captain Garret in Lincoln County, North Carolina, and no other person enlisted with him. That he was immediately after enlisting appointed as a recruiting officer-Sergeant by Captain Garret who kept money with him for that purpose and that he enlisted fifteen or sixteen men and that Patrick Sullivan, Daniel Sullivan and Davie Sullivan their father, two brothers called Brown and a man called Crawford who afterwards deserted at a ferry on the Ogeechee fifteen miles from Savannah and a man called Cane were among the number who enlisted under this applicant. That Captain Garrett after this applicant had enlisted went northward as a recruiting officer and on his return called on this applicant who mustered the men he (this applicant) had enlisted in the Town of Charlotte, North Carolina where Garrett administered the oath commonly called the enlistment oath. That this applicant not being ready, Captain Garrett granted applicant and the recruits whom he enlisted a furlough for eight or ten days after which time this applicant with the recruits whom he had enlisted marched for Savannah and on the way fell in with Captain Lane from Virginia at Brown Bridge about twenty five miles above Charleston with whom they went on to Savannah where this applicant and the recruits before mentioned joined this company. That whilst stationed at Savannah, Captain Garret was ordered to Augusta for the purpose as this applicant understood of getting money to pay the soldiers, and on his return to Savannah was killed by a Captain James Moore, a Tory of what called the *friend (*looks like) Scout. That after remaining sometime at Savannah his battalion was ordered to Fort Barrington on the Altamaha River whether it marched by the way of the Ogeechee Bridge and Midway Meeting House. That after remaining sometime at Fort Barrington this applicant was selected to serve as a marine on board of what was then called the Georgia Galley the navy of which were the Lee, the Washington, and the Congress. That whilst on a cruise on board one of these Galleys off Frederick Falls and near the mouth of St Augustine Creek they fell in with the British vessels whom they cannoned from day break until 11 O'clock before they banished them. That Colonel White and Elliot were Commanders in this expedition. Colonel White was, as this applicant was informed from one of the Northern States, and Colonel Elliot was a citizen of Georgia. That after this expedition this applicant went on an expedition to Florida under the command of General Howe, Adjutant Lullwelean, Captain Lane, and other officers whose names not now recollected. . That they crossed the St Illa River on the way to St Marys on the day called at that time "the dark day", the day of the great eclipse of the sun. That in their approach the commander of Fort Toney on the St Marys called Broad Foot Brown evacuated said Fort and as this applicant was informed, sought shelter in St. Augustine. That shortly after this they went down the St Marys to Cumberland Island, thence by Frederick Island to Sunbury thence to Savannah that after remaining there for some time this applicant term of enlistment being up finally he received a discharge from Major Roberts about a month before the siege of Savannah. That from the great length of time which has elapsed the applicant cannot state with certainty what became of his discharge and that it has been long since been lost or mislaid so that it is impossible for this applicant ever to find it. That during the term this applicant served in this Continental Army except the time he was engaged in the service of a Marine he acted and held the rank of Sergeant with the additional exception of a few intervals when because of his skill in that business, "he was employed as an armourer* (*British word..meaning one that repairs firearms) and that he enlisted as a solider and not as an armourer." That he lived in Mecklenburg County, N.C., when he entered the service but enlisted in Lincoln an adjoining County. He humbly relinquishes any claim whatsoever to a pension or amenity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension list of any agency of any state. Sworn to subscribed the day and year aforesaid. Signed by: John Richards Lott Warren, Judge of the Superior Court, Southern Circuit, Georgia...And the said Court doth hereby declare its opinion that the above named applicant (John Richards), was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. (Signed) Lott Warren, Judge, SCSC, Ga. Submitted by Barbara Parsons[ bparsons@worldnet.att.net ] Sun, 7 Sep 1997 ======================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation.