Josiah Sykes Pension Application, New Hanover County, North Carolina Submitter: Applebery@aol.com Rebecca Appleberry Josiah Sykes Rev. Pension Application - 1832 _____________________________________ United States of America State of North Carolina New Hanover County On this 13th day of December A.D. 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before the Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for New Hanover County now sitting, Josiah Sykes a resident of New Hanover County, State of North Carolina aged ninety two years on the fifth day of March last, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That he first joined the Militia as a volunteer under Captain John Devane. That he does not recollect the year when he entered the service, but that he is certain he entered it at the beginning of the war. That while under Capt Devane, he does not think he went out of the County of New Hanover. The Company was kept in the County marching about through the County to annoy the Tories and discover their plans. That nothing of importance occurred during his service as volunteer under Capt. Devane, except the Battle at Moore's Creek Bridge in the above mentioned County. That Capt. Devane understanding that McCloud with a considerable number of Tories were marching towards the Bridge and intended crossing it. He took the Company to the Bridge thence up an entrenchment near it, took up a[ll] the Bridge and left nothing but the sleepers for them to cross on. That having three brass pieces he placed them in a range with the three sleepers of the Bridge, and then kept the men entrenched. That very early one morning the Tories arrived, McCloud at the head marched across, upon getting over, he waved his sword around his head, and said "Come on my boys, the day is our own" when he was instantly shot down, and all those on the sleepers coming over were fired upon and shot, falling off into the Creek. That they attempted three times to come over, but all being killed who came on the sleepers, they did not attempt it a fourth time, but those of them who were left alive retreated. That he served under Capt. Devane as volunteer six months. That he was next drafted and served under Capt. Stephen Andrews three months, at Green Field near Wilmington in New Hanover County North Carolina. That he was next drafted in Bladen County and served six months or therabouts under Captain Thomas Haynes, that he was marched from Bladen County North Carolina to Pedee in Sounty Carolina, and from thence back again to Drowning Creek in Bladen County, backwards and forwards through that section of Country. That during his service under Capt. Haynes nothing of any consequence occurred. They were all the time in search of Tories. That while in Bladen County they attacked a small party of Tories on the Brown Marsh and killed one man. That his Captain Thomas Haynes died. And not long after he was again drafted and served under Captain Turpin McRae about six months. That while under McRae he was employed with the company he was in, in gathering cattle for the use of the soldiers. That he got cattle in Bladen County North Carolina and drove them to Green's Camps, back of Charleston. Upon being asked what Battles he was in, he recollects and states that he was drafted and served under a Dutch Captain from the west whose name he does not recollect, that he was while under him, a part of the time at Green's Camps in South Carolina. That he went under the Command of General Green, (This same dutchman from the west being his Captain) to the head of the Santee River. That while in Camp at the Entaw Springs, they were attacked by the British about the break of day. That a Battle ensued, which lasted as well as he can recollect, about two hours, when the British retreated. That General Green then sent a flag to them to return and bury their dead, which they did. That General Green with the main body of the men returned to the Camps, but understanding that the remainder of the British who were in that engagement were to march to the Cape Fear River in North Carolina, Genl. Morgan with some of the men, commenced a March for Cape Fear River in North Carolina. That he, this Deponent, was among those under Morgan. That while on thir March at the Cowpens, while encamped for the night they were attacked by the British and Tories. An engagement commenced, which lasted he thinks about an hour or an hour and a half when the evening retreated. That he does not recollect when these engagements happened, but he is certain they were after the battle at Savannah in Georgia. That he does not recollect the names of any officers besides those he has already mentioned. That he has no documentary evidence of his service, and that he knows but one person now living who knows of his having served in the Revolutionary war, and that person is a coloured man by the name of Holmes, living on Long Creek in New Hanover County. I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declare that my name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State. To the Interogatories propounded by the Court, he makes the following answers. To the first Interogatory he saith, I was born in North Carolina, in Edgecombe County. The year when born, he cannot precisely say but thinks he was Ninety two years of age the fifth day of March last. To the second Interogatory he saith, My Father put my age in a large Bible, which he gave to one of his last sons, who carried it to Kentucky. To the third Interogatory he saith, I was living in Bladen County North Carolina, I have since the war lived part of the time in Bladen County and part of the time in New Hanover County, North Carolina. I now live in New Hanover County. To the fourth Interogatory he saith, I served as volunteer for six months and after that was drafted. To the fifth Interogatory he saith, I have already answered this as fully as I am able in the above declaration to which I beg leave to refer. To the Sixth Interogatory he saith,I never did receive a written discharge. To the Seventh Interogatory he saith, Leuten Orr, William Lewis, David Jones, William Scudder. I cannot remember any more names. This Deponent states that he cannot procure the attendance of a Clergyman without too much inconvenience and expense. Josiah (his X mark) Sykes Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. Mr. Leuten Orr and William Lewis, both residing in the County of New Hanover, State of North Carolina, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Josiah Sykes, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be ninety two years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. Leuten (his X mark) Orrs William (his X mark) Lewis And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the Interogatory prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a soldier of the Revolution, and served as he states, and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Leuten Orr and William Lewis who have signed the preceding certificate, are both residents in the County of New Hanover, State of North Carolina, and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. I, John W. Stanly clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for New Hanover County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original precedings in the matter of the application of Josiah Sykes for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 13th day of December A.D. 1832. [signed] John W. Stanly Clk. State of North Carolina New Hanover County Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, Josiah Sykes, who being dully sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service. But according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned before and in the following grades: for one year and nine months I served as a private and for such service I claim a pension. Sworn to and subscribed before me the Justice of the Peace for County aforesaid this 3rd day of May 1833. [signed] John Kerr JP Josiah (his X mark) Sykes Josiah Sykes Admit as private 21 months, $70.00 ======================== 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. 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