Marlboro-Darlington County ScArchives Military Records.....Ham, John June 24, 1833
Revwar - Pension 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Poquette npoq@hotmail.com May 27, 2006, 4:03 pm

Pension Application Of John Ham, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 1168, Application #R4501
June 24, 1833, John Ham, a resident of McNairy County, Tennessee, aged 68 years:
	“That in the year 1779…he entered the service…as a volunteer soldier 
under Captain James Blassingaim and Colonel Abel Kolb at the Cheraw District, 
SC. So soon as I was mustered into service, I marched to a place called 
Kimbro’s [Kimbrough?] Mill where a number of British prisoners was placed under 
our care. From there we marched with the prisoners to a place called Long Bluff 
on Big Peedee River. We here guarded the prisoners for five or six weeks and it 
appearing there was no further use for my services at this time, I was 
discharged…he was positive it was not less than two months…”

	“In the spring of the year 1780, I again entered the service…as a 
volunteer soldier under Captain Alexander McIntosh and Colonel Kolb at Cheraw 
District in SC. So soon as I was mustered into service, we took up our line of 
march and went directly to Santee River. Here we joined Major Lemuel Benton’s 
battalion, who was at a place called Murray’s Ferry. From here I was sent by 
Major Benton together with some others with a drove of hogs to a Captain Town’s 
plantation, about five or six miles from the Ferry. After being there a short 
time, I was dismissed, having served in this tour not less than two months…”

	“About this time news reached the neighborhood which was in the year 
1780, that the British had taken Charleston, which circumstances raised the 
energy of the Tories in every direction, and there was a great call by the 
Whigs for men to keep the Tories down, so I hastened to a place called Kimbro’s 
Mill, and in the year 1780…I again entered into the service…as a volunteer 
soldier under Captain James Blassingaim. So soon as I joined his company (as 
yet we had no other officers) we were put under strict discipline and continued 
at the mill for the purpose of guarding it from the British, who was then lying 
and had possession of Long Bluff Town, and also to keep the Tories from joining 
the British at that place.”

	“We were not stationed at that place long before Major Benton came to 
us, so he took command of the men here, as major. He brought the news that it 
would not be safe for us to remain here any longer, so every soldier was 
dismissed with directions to look out for a hiding place. The next day, a great 
many Tories came to the mill. Major Benton came riding by while they were there 
and the Tories fired on him, but without effect. Then Major Benton returned to 
the swamps where Captain Blassingaim was, and they, upon consultation, agreed 
to surrender together with the men to Major Hogg, the British officer. After 
our surrender, Major Hogg had the officer of the Tories brought to him, 
whereupon a guard moved between them and Major Hogg beat him with his sword. 
This circumstance rather ?dampened? the Tories so they lay quiet in that 
quarter until they heard of the defeat of General Gates.”

	“So soon as they heard of that circumstance, the Tories commenced 
raising again, and from that time until 1781, when General Greene was marching 
through the West, and until after he fought the Battle at Guilford Courthouse, 
we were in small groups, sometimes more and sometimes less, scouting after the 
Tories. Part of my time I was with Colonel Kolb and Captain Blassingaim, and 
part of my time with Colonel Thomas Wade and Captain O’Neal. About this time, 
the Tories killed Colonel Kolb and Major Benton was appointed colonel in his 
place. We were now in the Cheraw District when I was discharged, having served 
from about the time of the fall of Charleston until after the Battle at 
Guilford Courthouse…not less than ten months…”

	“I again entered the service…in Cheraw District, SC as a volunteer 
soldier in the year 1781…We marched to the Eutaw Springs under Captain Daniel 
Sparks, Major Tristram Thomas and Lieutenant George Strodder. Before we reached 
the Eutaw Springs, Gates’ army had left there. Then we marched to a place 
called Bacon’s Bridge on Ashley River. Here we joined General Marion. The 
British at this time had possession of Charleston. Marion sent out horsemen 
after the Tories, of which I was one [horseman]. We caught a great many and 
carried them to Long Bluff Town and there guarded them for some time until a 
court martial could be made to try them. After their trial was over, part of 
them was sent to our army. I was one that went as a guard I served in this way, 
sometimes out with Marion and sometimes out in small groups after the Tories 
until sometime in the year 1782…He thinks he served 8 or 9 months, but positive 
he served at least six months…”


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