SOUTH CAROLINA - REV. WAR PENSION APPLICATION - William McGarity, Sr. ********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed SCGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Contributed to The SCGenWeb Archives by: Dawn Gibson 25 Jun 2001 ---------------------------------------- The Pension request of William McGarity, Sr., of Chester District, South Carolina, was rejected on 10 December 1802 and the rejection agreed upon by the Comptroller General in November of 1803. Mr. McGarity requested a pension again in November of 1826 which included a thorough account of the battles in which he fought and was accompanied by numerous affadavits of fellow soldiers. On December 4, 1826, the Committee on Pensions of the House of Representatives acted in favor of the petition and it was sent to the Senate for consideration. In December of 1826, William McGarity was granted a pension of $60.00 annually. Mr. McGarity also received from the State of South Carolina, 18 pounds, 17 shillings and a penny half penny sterling for sundreis provided during the Revolutionary War. The document is dated 08 October 1785. William McGarity, Sr., was born 14 February 1756, possibly in Cecil County, Maryland. He died 03 February 1836, in Chester County, South Carolina. He was, at one time, a member of Catholic Presbyterian Church in Chester County, South Carolina, and is buried at Union ARP Church Cemetery, Richburg, Chester County, South Carolina, next to his wife, Mary (possibly Mary Polly Jacke). William McGarity's parents may have been Patrick and Martha McGarity who also moved to the Chester County area from Cecil County, Maryland. He entered the War a Private and was promoted to Lieutenant. His grave in Chester County is marked with both the original tombstone purchased according to his Last Will and Testament and a Military Marker dedicated in modern times. The petition of William McGarity states that he was a "volunteer under Captain Patton under the command of Colonel Richardson we defeated the Tories and Indians at reddy river under the command of Colonel Cunningham and Paris this was since known by the name of the snowy campain after his return home he turned out under Captain Nixon went to Purinsburgh and was under the command of General (Linkhorn). He was transferred and put under the command of General Wilkinson crossed the Savannah River was in the battle at (unknown) creek where we defeated the Tories and Indians we then returned into South Carolina joined General (Linkhorn) was at the battle of Stono then returned home, he then turned out under Captain McClure was in a scrimmage with the Tories at Beckhamsvill where he received a slight wound in the arm he was at the battle of Williamson old place where Hood and Ferguson was defeated he then joined General Sumpter was at the battle at Rocky mount he was then in five days at the battle of hanging rock we then marched down the side of the wateree river till we heard of Gates defeat we then retreated back was sent out by Sumpter to destroy the houses at Rocky Mount which prevented your petitioner from being at the battle of Fishing Creek where Sumpter was surprised he then took his family and moved them into North Carolina for safety, then returned back rejoined General Sumpter was at the battle of the fishdam ford on broad river where we defeated the british tories in a few days was in the battle at Blackstock on tiger river where General Sumpter was wounded he then returned home and moved his family from North Carolina home; in the year 1781 he turned out under Captain Hannah and joined General Green a the old cross roads and marched to Orangeburgh against the british under Lord Roden who was entrenched so strongly he was then sent in a small detachment to the quarter house near Charleston where we had a scrimmage with the british and negroes he then marched to Gigen church when the british found us approaching they burnt the church and retreated we then followed them to Quinby Bridge where we overtook them and had a scrimmage with them, he then returned home and in the year 1782 he turned out and went to Orangeburgh and remained there three months and returned home which is the last tour that he was out..." The petition of William McGarity was recorded by Thomas Reid and signed with Mr. McGarity's mark (X). He stated that his health was very poor and that he was in the 70th year of his age. Joseph Gaston, James Harbison, William Knox, and George Weir signs affadavits affirming the involvement of William McGarity in the service of his country. The pension applicaton was further accompanied by an affadavit from his Physician stating that he was in poor health. **************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ****************************************************************