Orange-Guilford County NcArchives Military Records.....Cumming, William November 29, 1832 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 28, 2006, 8:41 pm Pension Application Of William Cumming, Natl Archives Microseries M805, Roll __, Application #S8265 Orange County, NC, November 29th, 1832, William Cumming, aged 74 years: “That sometime in the month of March or April 1778, he enlisted for the term of 18 months in a company commanded by Captain Mathew McCauly and was attached to the regiment commanded by Col. Archibald Lytle. Marched from Hillsborough in Orange to Halifax, NC thence to Petersburg in Virginia, thence to Valley Forge where we were encamped 3 months or thereabouts. From thence to Halifax, NC, thence to Hillsborough in Orange where we remained till the expiration of our 18 month term, having served as a quarter master sergeant from the time he returned from Halifax till the expiration of his enlistment.” “In the year 1780, this applicant, some time in the month of June (he thinks it was) volunteered in the service of the United States for 4 months in the town of Hillsborough in a company commanded by Captain Farmer and John Wall was lieutenant. We were marched to the south, passing through Pellsboro and Fayetteville and crossed Cape Fear at Sproul’s Ferry, and near this ferry we joined Gen. Caswell’s troops. From Sproul’s Ferry we marched to Cheraw Hills on the Pedee in SC. From thence our march was continued southerly. Joined first, General Rutherford’s army, then Gates’ at the Cross Roads (he thinks it was) about 40 miles from Camden. Was at the engagement at that place in August of that year. After the rout of Gates’ army at said battle, this applicant returned home and acted for the remaining part of the tour as deputy quarter master under Major Absalom Tatum of the town of Hillsborough.” ‘This applicant further states that some time in the fall of the year 1780, he again engaged in the service of the United States as quarter master sergeant under Major Absalom Tatum, and was stationed in the town of Hillsborough and was engaged in issuing provisions, forage, and etc. After he had officiated in this capacity some 4 or 5 months, he and his brother, Henry Cumming were made prisoners by some of Col. Tarleton’s corps at William Couch’s in the vicinity of Hillsborough whither he had gone to hide some property anticipating a visit from the enemy. By the enemy, he was brought to the town of Hillsborough as a prisoner of war.” “From Hillsborough was taken by the British Army to Guilford Courthouse, thence to new Garden, thence to Bell’s Mill on Deep River, where he was discharged by the British, probably in consequence of their being on a retreat and their having been much discomfited by battle at the courthouse a few days previous. After this applicant returned home, he was again appointed quarter master sergeant and stationed in the town of Hillsborough.” “Whilst quarter master sergeant, he was frequently employed as ‘bearer of dispatches’ having to pass sections of county rendered dangerous by the strength of the Tories. Amongst other dispatches, he bore one to Col. Robert Mebane at White Marsh in Bladen County. Also went to Halifax with a dispatch from Major Tatum to Col Nicholas Long. He was the bearer of a dispatch from Hillsborough to Governor martin at his residence in Rockingham County. In conclusion this applicant states (he thinks it was in the fall of the year 1781) he entered a company under Colonels Long and ?Branch?. The object of this company was to make a tour to suppress the Tories. This company ranged through the southern part of Orange, through part of Chatham, and when on this excursion, they took a Tory about 4 miles from Jones’ Ferry on Haw River and forthwith hung him.” “This was the conclusion of this applicant’s public services as well as he can now remember, having served the United States in the capacities of quarter master sergeant and private, in all three years or upwards. This applicant was born in the town of Hillsborough in Orange on the 18th day of January 1759.” Orange County, NC, December 18th, 1837, Thomas Clancy, postmaster: “That he has been intimately acquainted with William Cummings of the aforesaid County of Orange (now a resident of Guilford County) since his earliest recollection, and many years ago before the passage of the Act of Congress, has heard said Cummings and other men of his age speaking of his (said Cummings) Revolutionary services. ..That William McCauly his attorney at law of the aforesaid County now deceased, was in court on behalf of the declarant, made oath that he had frequently heard his father, Captain Mathew McCauly (deceased) say that ‘Billy Cummings was a very active young man in the United States Service during the War of the Revolution.’” “This affiant further states upon his said oath that he is under the impression that said Cumming has his enemies and some that would throw obstacles in the way of his being reinstated upon the pension roll that he entertains no doubt from what he has heard of said William Cumming both before and since he was a pensioner, but he was an active Whig and contributed all he could in establishing the independence we so richly enjoy.’ Additional Comments: [Could it have been possible, that upon his ride as a prisoner of Tarleton when the British fought the Battle of Guilford, that some citizens of Guilford County mistook him as an ally of the British…which led to such accusations upon his removal to Guilford County?] In later years, his son, William H. Cumming located the evidence needed to prove his father's claim as a quartermaster and commissary. His father died April 18th, 1849. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/orange/military/revwar/pensions/cumming376gmt.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/ File size: 6.2 Kb