WILKES COUNTY, NC - MILITARY - The Pension Application Of Amos Church Sr ==================================================================== 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. These 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. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Linda Johnson Revis Pllsr@aol.com ==================================================================== STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA WILKES COUNTY On the 19th day of October in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty Three personally appeared before me James Wellborn, a Justice of the Peace and for the County of Wilkes and State aforesaid, Amos Church, resident in said county who being duly sworn according to law (for the purpose of obtaining a pension, under an act of Congress pass'd June the 7th 1832). Deposeth and saith that he has no written evidence of his age but believes that he was born in the State of Virginia in the year 1758, being so informed by his parents. That at two years old his parents removed to Rowan County, North Carolina where they lived about thirteen years as this affiant was informed and believes, they then moved to Wilkes County where this affiant has liv'd ever since. This affiant states that in the Spring of the year 1778, He volunteered and was call'ed into service for three months under the command of Colonel Benjamin Cleveland, Capt. John Cleveland, and Lieut. Gambill, as a private, was march'd from Wilkes across the Blue Ridge to the head of New River where a division of the company took place and Lieut. Gambill took the command of the company to which this affiant was attached as Capt. We march'd down New River in pursuit of the tories thro' Cox's Settlement, where we captured a tory by the name of Ingram and executed him, we then pursued them to the Virginia line, and captured several of them, but did not have any engagements, we then returned home to Wilkes County, where we were discharged having served about five weeks, which discharge this affiant has long since lost. This affiant further states that in the Summer of 1778 he was drafted and call'd into service for three months under the command of Col. Benjamin Cleveland and Capt. Richard Allen, was march'd up the Yadkin River out at its head into Burke County to what was called Criders Fort in pursuit of a company of Tories under the command of a Tory Col. by the name of Roberts, on arriving at the fort we were informed that the Tories had retreated towards the Catawba River, we pursued them on, when we reach'd the river we continued our march down the river, and we had not gone many miles before we were fir'd upon by the Tories from the cliffts, the Captain of our light horse, Capt.Larkin Cleveland, was shot through the thigh, when the Tories retreated we remain'd along said river for several days, scouting and guarding the country, when we were marched back to Wilkes County and discharged for three months by our Captain, which discharge this affiant has lost: he further states that in the Month of October 1779 he volunteered and was call'd into service for three months under the command of Captain Reuben Stringer, and Lieut. William Brown, we marched from Wilkes County across the Blue Ridge to Cove Creek crossing the Stone Mountain to the Watauga River in pursuit of the above named Col. Roberts a Tory and his company; The Tories retreated before us some miles as we understood, when our company arrived at the Watauga River they remain'd there some days, engaged in scouting expeditions, and guarding the country, when we were march'd back to Wilkes having served one month which discharge of our captain this affiant has lost: He further states that in the month of November 1779, he volunteered and was call'd into service for three months under the command of Capt. Robert Cleveland, march'd across the Blue Ridge to the South Fork of the New River at a place call'd the old fields in pursuit of a company of Tories: who had captur'd Col. Benjamin Cleveland, we pursued them across the mountains, near the North fork of Said River, where we overtook them and fir'd upon them, wounded one tory and made three prisoners, and rescued Col. Cleveland, we then returned to the old fields, and remained a few days and return'd home in ten days from the time we started. He further states that in the months of July or August he served a short tour after the Indians, commanded by Capt. Benjamin Greer, and Lieut. William Stringer, that in the month of August or September he volunteered and was call'd into service for three months, under the command of Col. Benjamin Cleveland, and Capt. George Morris, march to the Calloway Settlement on New River in pursuit of Tories, and returb'd to Wilkes, this was in 1780. He received no discharge: this affiant further states that in the fall of the year 1730, he volunteered for three months and join'd headquarters at Salisbury, North Carolina, under the command of Col. Lark and Capt. William Glenn of Virginia, we were stationed at Salisbury, Rowan County for some time, when an express came on for the troop to march to Mecklenburg County where there were a number of the British prisoners to guard, we were stationed there for some time, when the prisoners were taken sick, and several died, we then marched back to Salisbury, guarding the prisoners, where we were discharged by our Capt. for three months service which discharge this affiant has lost. He further states that he did not return home to Wilkes before he volunteered, and was called into service for three months under the command of Capt. William Fletcher, there being no commanding col. as well as I recollect, To guard the tory prisoners in the stockade or kind of fort in Salisbury where he remained station'd for three months and received a discharge from Capt. Fletcher, which he has long since lost. This affiant further states that in the Spring or Summer of 1781 he volunteered and was call'd into service for three months under the command of Capt. Joel Lewis, and march'd from Wilkes County through Rowan crossing Yadkin at the trading ford below Salisbury, passing through Randolph County to some creek, as this affiant understood to join Gen. Greene's army, our company was stationed at Cane's Creek for some time, when news came for them to be marched back to Wilkes, where we were discharged for three months having served altogether two years and three months under orders which discharge this affiant has lost. This affiant further states that he has no documentary evidence of his services and that he knows of no living witness to his services except his brother John Church who served several tours with him. He further states that his name is not upon the pension roll of any state, and that he relinquishes all pension claims whatsoever save that stated in his declaration. his Amos X Church mark Sworn to and subscribed before me a justice of the peace for Wilkes County and State aforesaid this 19th day of October A.D. 1833. J.Wellborn, J.P. State of North Carolina Wilkes County We, Hugh Brown and Thomas Fletcher being a clergyman do swear and depose and say that we are acquainted with Amos Church who lives in our immediate neighborhood, that he has always been reputed to have been a whig and soldier of the revolutionary war, and we believe he was so, and that his veracity is unimpeach'd. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 19th day of October A.D. 1833. J.Wellborn, J.P. Hugh Brown Thomas Fletcher, Clergiman = State of North Carolina Wilkes County This day came before me, James Wellborn, as justice of the peace in and for the county of Wilkes and State aforesaid John Church and made oath that his age is about Seventy Three years, that he served in the revolutionary war with his brother Amos Church, was with him in the expeditions to Cox's Settlement, the Catawba River and Crider's fort, to Cove creek and the Watauga River, against the indians and to the Calloway Settlement, that they parted during the service, but he believes said Amos Church was frequently if not constantly in service to the close of the war. Sworn to and subscribed this his 19th day of October a.d. 1833 John X Church mark