WILKES COUNTY, NC - PENSIONS - John Yates Pension Application 
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Pension Application for John Yates, filed in Wilkes County, North 
Carolina, November 1834

State of North Carolina
Wilkes County

     On the 4th day of November (1834) personally appeared in open court, 
before the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the county and state 
aforesaid now sitting, John Yates, a resident of the County of Wilkes and 
State of North Carolina, aged seventy three years, 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 7th 
1832.
     That he entered the service of the United States under the following 
named officers and served as herein stated—That in the year 1776 just 
before the Declaration of Independence, the Cherokee Indians were very 
troublesome in the western and northwestern sections of North Carolina.
And particularly so on the western side of the Blue Ridge in that section 
of the country embraced within the boundaries of what is now Ashe County, 
but which was then a part of Wilkes County—that they had committed many 
depredations upon the white settlement upon the frontier, and that it 
became necessary to keep small bodies of the militia almost constantly 
under arms to repel their invasions—Accordingly about the last of May or 
first of June 1776 this declarant volunteered his services in Wilkes 
County, NC and joined a company of volunteer militia commanded by Captain 
Frances Hargrove and Lieutenant Lewis De Moss—the company rendezvoused at 
a place known as Holman’s Ford on the Yadkin River, and after being 
organized marched forthwith to the protection of the frontier settlements 
on the north side of the Yadkin, and between that and the Blue Ridge—After 
being engaged in ranging the country between the river and the mountains 
for some time without being able to meet with the Indians, or any portion 
of them, they were stationed at an eligible position on the north side of 
the river about equi-distant between the river and the mountains, where 
they constructed a fort and where they remained a considerable time for 
the purpose of protecting the frontier settlements—About the last of 
August or first of September and while this declarant was stationed at the 
fort above mentioned, orders were received by Captain Hargrove to march 
with his company forthwith to join Genl. Griffith Rutherford at the 
Pleasant Gardens in Burke County, preparatory to a general expedition 
against the Cherokee Indians.  Accordingly they set out immediately and 
proceeded to the Pleasant Gardens  where they joined Genl. Rutherford with 
a large number of other troops.  As soon as the whole were organized and 
prepared for the expedition they set out for their march on the Cherokee 
towns, and proceeded by the most direct route until they reached the Cowee 
towns.  These towns they found abandoned by the Indians, and after 
destroying them, together with the corn, stock, etc. and such other 
property as they could find, they proceeded to the middle towns where they 
expected to meet with the South Carolina troops, but in which they were 
disappointed.  The middle towns they found also abandoned—and after 
destroying them as they had done the Cowee and other towns, Genl. 
Rutherford divided his army, leaving a portion of it at the middle towns 
to guard the baggage and provisions, and also to take care of the sick, 
the whole of which were left at that place—Upon arriving at the latter 
place, however, they found that the Indians had principally fled—there 
being only a few straggling men, women and children to be found.  These 
they captured, and after destroying the towns, they proceeded on their 
return to the middle towns with their prisoners, and on the way meeting 
with the South Carolina troops (who were proceeding to join Genl. 
Rutherford at the valley towns) they delivered the prisoners up to them 
and what afterwards became of them this declarant does not know.  Upon the 
return of the North Carolina troops to the middle towns they remained 
there some time, resting and refreshing themselves, having suffered 
greatly from the exposure they were subjected to and from eating green 
corn and beef without salt.  As soon, however, as the troops were 
sufficiently rested to undertake the journey they setout upon their return 
to North Carolina, and having marched back into the interior of the 
settlements, they were severally disbanded by companies and each proceeded 
to their respective homes.  In this expedition, this declarant is 
satisfied, he served, from the time he first turned out, not less than six 
months—having served three months under Captain Hargrove before joining 
Genl. Rutherford, and three months afterwards.
     In the spring of the year following (as this declararnt believes), 
the Cherokee Indians still continue to annoy and depredate upon the 
frontier settlements on the northwestern side of the Blue Ridge, this 
declarant again volunteered his services for three months, and joined the 
company of volunteer militia raised by Captain Benjamin Cleveland at 
Wilkes Court house, and marched direct to Carters Fort on the Watauga 
River on the northwest side of the Blue Ridge, where they were stationed 
for a considerable time (the precise period not recollected) and where 
they were employed principally in scouting parties to keep the Indians in 
check, and to protect the frontiers.  After having remained at Carters 
Fort for a considerable time, Captain Cleveland was ordered with his 
company to repair to the Long Islands of Holstein (Holsten), where this 
declarant understood the Indians were about entering into a treaty of 
peace with the whites.  They set out immediately upon their march, and 
upon reaching the treaty ground found a considerable number of the chiefs 
of the Cherokee nation, together with several persons whom he  understood 
were commissioners appointed on the part of the United States, engaged in 
forming a treaty—After the treaty was concluded, Captain Cleveland with 
his company marched back to Carters Ford, and after remaining there a 
short time, set out for home, which place this declarant reached he thinks 
some short time before harvest, having served in this expedition not less 
than three months.  
     About the first, or in the early part of August in the year 1780, 
this declarant again volunteered his services for three months, and joined 
the company of Captain David Viar, at Wilkes Court House, and thence 
marched to the defense of the southwestern section of the state, and it 
was understood that Majr. Ferguson was approaching from south Carolina 
with a large body of British and Tories.  Having proceeded some distance 
into Burke County, they were joined by a considerable number of other 
troops—the whole being then placed under the command of Col. Benjamin 
Cleveland.  While remaining in Burke organizing themselves and awaiting 
some expected intelligence as to the movements of Majr. Ferguson they were 
also joined by a regiment of militia from Virginia under the command of 
Colonel Campbell.  The whole body of troops then moved on towards South 
Carolina, but upon the way (at some point not now recollected) 
intelligence was received that Majr. Ferguson was posting himself on Kings 
Mountain, upon receiving which it was immediately proposed that all who 
had horses or who could produce them should proceed forthwith with all 
possible dispatch in order to attack him.  This declarant having no horse 
and not being able to produce one, was left behind with a large number of 
troops and did not reach the battle ground in time.  The engagement having 
been fought and the Americans with their prisoners being on their return 
some distance when they met them.
     After meeting the army on its return that portion of the troops which 
had been left behind rejoined them and returned with them assisting in 
guarding the prisoners until they reached Wilkes Court House where a 
considerable number of fresh troops were ordered out to proceed with them 
and where this declarant (being nearly destitute of clothing and his feet 
much cut to pieces for the want of shoes) was discharged by Col. Cleveland 
and went home, having served during this tour not less than two and a half 
months.  This last tour of duty closed the services performed by this 
declarant during the Revolution except some short tour performed in the 
early part of the war, for which he declines to set up any claim.
     This declarant was born in the County of Pittsylvania in the State of 
Virginia in the month of March 1754 as he was informed by his mother, but 
has no record of his age nor never had.  He was living in Surry County now 
Wilkes, North Carolina when he was called into service and has continued 
to live in the same county ever since.  All the services performed  by 
this declarant were performed as a volunteer.  The answer to the fifth 
interrogatory is contained generally in the body of this declaration.  
This declarant never received a written discharge from the service, nor 
has he any documentary evidence of any kind to prove his services, but 
refers to the testimony of Moses Watters, David Laws and William Viars, 
hereto annexed, all of whom served with him, and who can testify to his 
services.  He also refers to the Rev. Thomas Fletcher and Joseph McNeill, 
as to persons to whom he is well known in his present neighborhood, and 
who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his 
service as a soldier of the Revolution.
     He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity 
except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll 
of the agency of any state.
     Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
     
				     his
				John  x  Yates
				     mark
Wm. Mastin CCC
      
(Under his signature, Jemima Yates states that she was married to John 
Yates 2 or 3 years prior to the Battle of Kings Mountain, in Orange 
County, Virginia and in a short time moved to North Carolina).

*A marriage certificate dated 8 March 1779, is on record for John Yates 
and Jemima Roper in Caswell County, North Carolina (formed from Orange 
Co., NC)


Application for widow’s benefits was filed by Jemima Yates in 1841


State of North Carolina
Wilkes County

     On this 18th day of May AD 1841 personally appeared before James 
Reynolds, one of the acting justices in and for said county, Jemima Yates, 
about eighty two or three years of age, being as near as she can 
recollect, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath 
make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the 
provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4, 1836.  That she is 
the widow of John Yates, who was a soldier in the revolutionary war who 
was a pensioner at the time of his death—The said Jemima Yates has no 
means by which she can prove the time her husband John Yates entered the 
service and length of service, only on reference to the declaration of her 
husband John Yates, which is on file in the Pension Office in Washington 
City, D.C.—She further declared that she was married to the said John 
Yates some two or three years before the Battle of Kings Mountain in 
Orange County, Virginia, and removed a short time after this marriage to 
North Carolina, where she has remained ever since.  She further states 
that her husband, John Yates died in the month of December 1835, and that 
she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear 
by reference in the proof hereto annexed.  She further declares that she 
has lost her eyesight and is so old and infirm that she cannot possibly go 
to the court house; neither has she been able for some years to leave her 
house.