Pitt County, NC - Military - Declaration of Robert Williams File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Sloan Mason July 13, 2000 Declaration of Robert WILLIAMS of Pitt Co., Revolutionary War Service Draper Manuscripts Declaration Series VV Sumpter Manuscripts-V8-10 Pension Statements & Speeches 1791-1832 Film #0889217 p. 190 State of N.C.-Pitt co. On this the 9th day of Aug. 1832. Personally appeared in open court before the Justices of the court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the State an Co. aforesaid now sitting (being a court of record Robert WILLIAMS a resident of this Co. and State aforesaid aged 74 the 25th inst. Who being first duly sworn according to law doth on this oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832. That he was born on the 25th August 1758 by the record of his father in County of Pitt & State of N.C. and raised in said county, that he has lived in said county and still and continued to live in ever since except some less that 2 years. That he lived in the town of Windsor in Bertie co. in the above State upwards of 45 years past; and except when he was in the service of the state or on some business a short time. That his first going into the service after the Rev. War commenced was when a body of Tories up the Cape Fear River most in Cumberland co. in said State, that the said Tories were making their way to the sea board below Wilmington where a British ship of war was then lying, that col. Robert SALTER? Commanded the troops he was with who got to a bridge on the north Coast River of Cape Fear. That Col. Rich. CASWELL commanded another party of men who got to Moore's Creek Bridge, where the said Tories attempted to cross and were totally defeated when we all returned home perhaps in 1 month. I then was appointed QuarterMaster. There serve the first troops that I believed marched in this state after the war commenced and expect it was the year 1775 or in the early part of the year 1776. I was then a short time in the cont. line of this state acting as Surgeons Mate under Dr. USHER'S in the year 1779 as I believe I was appointed. Surgeon to a Reg. Raised by that state of N.C. That John HERRITAGE was Col. and John ALLEN major, of said Reg. That Bryan WHITFIELD, WILLIAM HERRITAGE, HERRING and John GARLAND, Shadrach ALLEN, John ISLER, & Gideon EDWARDS were Cats. And Benj. CASWELL Capt. of cavalry belonging to said Reg. That they went across Pedee River perhaps 200 miles from their homes that they were some months employed in taking those Tories who had refused to comply with the laws of the state and would not take the oat of allegiance. They then went to Fort CASWELL below New Bern, which erected to prevent small-armed vessels of the enemy from committing depredations on said town. They afterwards removed to the neighborhood of Kinston where they mostly remained until discharged by the Leg. Or the Gov. orders, which I believe, was in Nov. The time I acted as Surgeon I think was about 9 months, the next service I entered in was in I think Aug. 1780, when GATES went to the south there were about 80 men turned out volunteers in the count of Pitt under Col. James GRAHAM to aid Genl. GATES but before we had gone far we met men that were in Gates defeat. We continued on until we joined the remains of the defeated army at Ramsey Mills on Deep R. in this state then under the command of Gen. Jethro SUMNER who was a Brigadier in the cont. Line James Cole MONTLFLORENCE was his aide. He gave me an app. Of Surgeon Gen. Which I went and returned because I was young and there was several surgeons on the Con establishment who had been several years in service. He then gave me an app. As surgeon to the army as he said the e doctors he believed that were there were inattentive to their duty and some of them drank hard. We moved towards S.C. and a few miles below Charlotte in Mecklinburg Co. near the S.C. line, a reconnoitering? Party of ours took some British prisoners when we found we were near Cornwallis. We then retreated next day, our Horse had a skirmish at Charlotte, some were killed and several wounded. We retreated on this side the Yadkin where we lay a considerable time and where I kept a hospital and continued until reduced by excessive fatigue and our time all nearly expired, which was 3 months. I then had orders from the Gen. To discharge the sick and then come on home with them, which I did accordingly. I was a short time out when Lord Cornwallis passed through our State Whilst I kept the hospital above Col. WASHINGTON with his Reg. Of Horse and Gen. MORGAN passed on by us. It would take up too much time to mention all the officers I then knew, suffice it to say Genl. DAVIDSON commanded the Horse, and William R. DAVIE was Col. Of a Reg. Of Horse, our whole numbers were about 2000 men, as I believe. Robt. WILLIAMS State of N.C. Pitt co. Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions August Term, say 7th August 1833. Personally appeared in open court Robert WILLIAMS of the same state and county and after being duly sworn saith that the statement herewith appended or annexed containing a statement of his services rendered during the Rev. War dated the 9th of August 1832 is correct as far as he believes, but as a specified time is required to be given and as he has no documents to enable him to say with precision the exact time he did serve in the State Reg. Of N.C. as set forth to have been in the year 1779. He believes it to have been 9 months but can venture to say it could not lack 10 days of that time. That for his services charges as a surgeon in 1780, under Genl. SUMNER for 3 months, he can venture to say it could not want more than 5 days ( if any of being 3 months from the time he left home until he returned again and although at the time of making out the said claim he had no knowledge of any person by whom he could make any further proof of his services there charged, yet after those papers wee made up the same court, Mr. John ANDERSON, came into court produced as discharge given by me the said Robert WILLIAMS as Surgeon to Yadkin Hospital 21st Oct. 1780. Which is herewith ---- with such other proofs respecting the services he performed as hereafter appears. Robt. WILLIAMS. On the same day appeared John ANDERSON in open court and being duly sworn saith, that he the said John ANDERSON is now in the 74th year of his age, that he has been well acquainted with d/r. Robert WILLIAMS from the time of the service in which he rec'd his discharge from the said Robt. WILLIAMS until the present time, that he does believe he is really about 75 years of age. I also swear that the discharge given by him to me was at Yadkin Hospital that I have kept the same ever since which discharge reads as follows. Yadkin HOSPITAL-21 Oct. 1780-John ANDERSON, a substitute in Capt. HODGE'S company from Pitt Co. in Col. CASWELLS' reg. Being by sickness rendered unfit for duty is hereby discharge. By order Robert. WILLIAMS Surg. Of Hospital And that the said discharge is in the handwriting of the said Robt. WILLIAMS and further saith that although he cannot state the precise time the said Robt. WILLIAMS was on service the said tour but am confident its could not want more than 10 days of 3 months and further saith that from the time the troops met with Genl. SUMNERS and his troops which was the first step was made after having Pitt Co. the said Robt. WILLIAMS acted as Surgeon and was the principal one at the said Yadkin Hosp. And that he supposes the said Hospital was bout 200 miles from Pitt Co. where they resided. John ANDERSON Deposition of Thomas PHILLIPS is taken at his own house the 21st day of Sept. 1833, who after having been duly sworn to depose tot he truth touching and concerning what he knows as to the services of Do. Robt. WILLIAMS in the Rev. War saith as follows. That he was in service in the State Reg. with Robt. WILLIAMS in the year 1779 which reg. Was raised for 12 months, but was discharged perhaps a little before the expiration of that time. That John HERITAGE was Co. Jno. ALLEN, Major, Bryan WHITFIELD, John GARLAND, ----HERRING, William HERITAGE, John ISLER, Gideaon EDWARDS, & Shadrach ALLEN were Capt. of Infantry, and Brig'd CASWELL, Capt. Of a troop of Horse. William WHITFIELD was Commissary. Robt. WHITE paymaster and the said Cot. WILLIAMS was Surgeon to said Reg. We went of Pedee River a few miles then recrossed the River and went among the Tories caught many of them who took the oath of allegiance. We were sometime encamped at a place where we had nearly nothing to eat but parched corn and which place we called parched corn hills, from thence we went to Fort CASWELL below New Bern where we remained, some marched then moved up the River and encamped near Cobbs Mills for some time. The whole of the time amounting to about 9 months. That I was in service with said Capt. WILLIAMS and I believe that sd. WILLIAMS was the only surgeon in our company during that time, and I further believe that the said Co. WILLIAMS now living in Pitt Co. is the identical person as is above stated and further this deponent saith not. Thos. PHILLIPS State of N.C. Lenoir Co. Personally appeared before me Pinckney HARDEE a Justice of the Peace in & for said Co. Benj. COX who after having been duly sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God deposeth and saith as follows viz: That he was in service in the Rev. War in the State Reg. With Doctor Robt. WILLIAMS in the year 1779 which reg. Was raised for 12 months but was discharged perhaps before that time, that John HERITAGE was Col. John ALLEN, Major, Bryan WHITFIELD, John GARLAND, Harmon HERRING, William HERITAGE, John ISLER, Gibeon EDWARDS and Shadrack ALLEN were Captains of Infantry & Brid'g CASWELL Capt. Of a troop of Horse. William WHITFIELD was Commissary. Robt. WHITE, Paymaster and the said Doctor WILLIAMS was Surgeon to said Regiment. We went over Pedee River I pursuit of the Tories & caught many of them, but the principal one named GARNES mad his escape and fled over the mountains. We were some time encamped at a place called Parched Corn Hill from our having nothing to eat while there but parched corn which place was near Ramsay's Mills. From thence we marched to Fort Caswell below New Bern, whence we remained some time, then moved up and encamped near Cobbs Mills where there was a good deal of sickness in our camp and in which the said Co. WILLIAMS was our only physician, and that said IWLLIAMS was the only physician in our regiment during the whole of the time that we were in service together. Which time a mounted to something like 9 months and I further believe that the aforesaid Cot. WILLIAMS now residing in Pitt Co. is the identical personas aforesaid, having frequently heard from him ever since our services together and that I the said Benj. COX was in service with Thos. PHILLIPS during the above specified time and that I am now on the Pension Roll of this state and receive regularly a pension from the Government. Sworn to 12th Oct. 1833 Benj. (his mark) COX Above records on 10VV-Lenoir & Pitt co. ============================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. The electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ==============================================================