CHESTERFIELD CO., SOUTH CAROLINA - REV WAR - Jenkins, James ************************************************ SCGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/sc/scfiles.htm Contributed to the SCGenWeb Archives by: Nancy Poquette May 27, 2006 ************************************************ Pension Application Of James Jenkins, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 1410, Application #R5569 Sevier County, Tennessee, July 2nd, 1832, James Jenkins, aged 72 years: “He entered the service of the United States under the following named officers as herein stated: On Peedee River in Cheraw District, now Chesterfield County, SC. The men fit to bear arms was laid off into three classes and each man, from the arrangement, had to be in the service every third month. In February 1776, he went into the service under the aforesaid arrangement as first sergeant under Captain Thomas Ellerbee and Colonel George Hicks. Marched from Cheraw to Charleston and was discharged at the end of the month and ordered back to Cheraw Hills to rendezvous in ten days.” “He went back and rendezvoused a few days and then marched from there to Orangeburgh, South Carolina. Stayed there a few days, then marched to Black Swamp on Savannah River, and from there to Purysburg in the neighborhood of Savannah, and from there to Charleston. Stayed there till June. Was discharged and let go home, but got no regular discharge. Served in the whole, four months as first sergeant.” “Again, in September 1776 at the afore mentioned Cheraw District, was called into service as a first sergeant agreeably to the aforesaid arrangement and served every third month till September 1779 under Captain Thomas Ellerbee. Marched from Cheraw to Charleston against the British and Tories. Served twelve months as first sergeant. Was honorably discharged each time, but got no written discharges.” “In September 1779, he received a commission as lieutenant, which was signed by Governor Rutledge of South Carolina and counter-signed by Peter _____, Secretary of State.” “Again in March 1781 at the same place, to wit, Cheraws, volunteered in the cavalry in the state troops. The captain’s name he does not recollect, but under Colonel Wade Hampton and General Sumter. Joined the army in North Carolina at the town of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Marched from there to Congaree River, South Carolina. We surrounded the fort at that place, had a skirmish, killed some Tories and British, and left a guard at the fort to keep them in. Then marched to ?Buckhead? against the British. There we met General Marion and his troops, then marched to Orangeburg; had a skirmish there. Took about 100 British and Tory prisoners there, then we marched to Friday’s Ferry on Congaree River. Just before we got there the British surrendered to Colonel Lee of the cavalry and General Sumter’s men. I think the General was not there till after the surrender. We lay there till June, then was discharged but yet no written discharge. Served at that time, three months.” “Again, in July 1781 at the same place, to wit, Cheraw, volunteered as a lieutenant and raised a company with Captain Claudius Pegues and Major Tristam Thomas. We marched our company to Santee River and there joined General Marion. Marched from there to near Bluford after a party of British, found them in an old field armed with a field piece. We waited till they came out. Next day we met and defeated them, killed about twenty-five and took some prisoners, then marched to Santee River, stayed there about three days, then went to meet General Greene above the Eutaw Springs, met him and marched with him to the Eutaw. Had a battle there with the British. Killed and took about five hundred prisoners, then marched to the Strawberry River. There had a skirmish with the British. Served till the first of September, about forty days.” “Again at the same place, to wit, Cheraws, served as a lieutenant and as such, in November 1781, served one month and every third month till in March 1783, making six months of the last mentioned service under Captain Thomas Ellerbee, when we had a captain, but at same times, he commanded company without a captain. Was in no battle. His commission was signed by the Governor of South Carolina. He lost his commission. Served in the whole sixteen months as a first sergeant, three months as a volunteer in the cavalry, seven months and ten days as a lieutenant.” “5th day of December, 1832, James Jenkins makes the following amendment to his declaration…That he was born in Cheraw District, South Carolina at Cheraw Hill on the 13th of May, 1760…He was living on Peedee River in Cheraw District, SC when called into service and he continued to live there till the year 1805…” “…He was called into service by what they call classing. He thinks it was not drafting. He always volunteered, he never was a substitute. He recollects the names of Colonel Eli Kershaw, Colonel Thompson, Colonel John Donaldson, who were regular officers, who he thinks were with the troops where he served some part of the time.”