Spartanburg County ScArchives Military Records.....Bearden, Richard June 6, 1836
Revwar - Pension 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Poquette npoq@hotmail.com July 4, 2006, 3:02 am

Pension Application Of Richard Bearden, Nat’l Archives Microseries M804, Roll # __, Application #R672
State of Tennessee
McNairy County
“On this the sixth day of June in the year of our lord 1836 Personally appeared 
in Open Court, before the justice of the County Court for said County now 
sitting Richard Bearden a resident of McNairy County and State aforesaid aged 
Seventy Six 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 the 7th June 1832.”

“That he was Born in Granville County State of Virginia On the Sixth day of 
July in the year of Our Lord 1760. When I was six or seven years old my father 
moved from Granville to Mecklenburg County North Carolina there We continued to 
reside until I was Eleven Or Twelve years of age When I moved with my Father 
and the balance of the Family to Ninety Six District South Carolina. (this 
District having afterwards been Divided). I fell in the District called 
Spartanburg there I resided until the year 1781 When I volunteered about the 
first of March in the Dragoon Service for the Term of Ten months under Captain 
William Smith after the Company was Organized. We joined Col. John Thomas 
Regiment of Dragoons in Ninety Six District in South Carolina Regiment of 
Dragoons a few days after Our Junction with Col Thomas we marched down to near 
the Congaree Fort on the Congaree River there we joined Genl Sumter. from hear 
we marched under Genl Sumter to the Congaree Fort then in the possession of the 
British.” 

“We lay round the fort for about two weeks. When Col. Washington joined us with 
his Troops. Then we made an attack on the fort and took it with a number of 
Prisoners the fort was taken as well as I now recollect the last of April Or 
first of May 1781. from hear in a short time after the fort was taken we 
marched across the Congaree river and Encamped at a place called Ankrums. hear 
we lay about One month guarding the Prisoners Col. Washington having parted 
with us after the taking of the Fort. From the place called Ankrums we marched 
under Genl Sumter to ninety Six District in South Carolina. We there joined 
General Greens Army in a few days after we joined Genl Green I was attacked 
with the small pox and was carried to the Camden Hospital there. I remained 
about one month before I recovered.”

 	“From Camden I was sent with an express from Maj Taylor then at Camden 
to Genl Green On the Congaree River. hear I again joined my Company then under 
the command of Genl Greene. From hear the whole army marched to Orangeburgh 
South Carolina where the British had fortified. Some Cannonading passed between 
the armies at this place. Col Wade Hampton’s Regiment and Col. Thomas Regiment 
was ordered by General Green to march down the Charleston road at the Ten Mile 
house we took some British Prisoners from hear we marched to a place called the 
quarter house five miles from Charleston. hear we had a severe engagement the 
victory was on our side. hear we took a wagon loaded with arms and clothing. 
from hear we marched to Nelsons Ferry on the Santee River not far from the 
Eutaw Springs. from hear We marched a very short distance and again adjoined 
Genl Greens Army then Encamped on the high hills of Santee.” 

“Here we lay until we marched to meet the British at the Eutaw Springs which 
was in September 1781 as well as he recollects. at the Battle of the Eutaw I 
was stationed with my Captain as an out guard so I was not in the heat of the 
Battle. We staid at this place a very short time after the Battle. When Genl 
Sumter and the whole of his troops marched to Orangeburgh South Carolina where 
we lay until sometime in the winter When we marched to a place called the four 
hole bridge On Edisto river. hear we lay some time then we marched back to 
Orangeburgh when I was discharged having served Ten months the time I 
volunteered for. I received a written discharge signed by Col Thomas but not 
believing it would ever be of any benefit to me I used it so carelessly that it 
is now lost or destroyed.

“I have the record of my age now recorded in a large family bible taken from my 
fathers register of ages. I have no Documentary Evidenced to prove my services 
nor does he know of any person now living who he can prove said services by but 
he can prove by Captain John Henderson now of McNairy County who was a Captain 
in the Revolutionary War that he was with Genl Sumter and acquainted with all 
the affairs above mentioned and that history of my services mentioned in the 
Declaration did take place said Henderson will further State that he has no 
doubt of my services from Circumstances which I have mentioned to him 
concerning the campaign which I served in. Aaron Gage now of McNairy County and 
who served in Col Hammonds regiment in the Revolution will state in substance 
the same as Capt Henderson I can prove my character for veracity and good moral 
demeanor by Parson Francis Beard and James Campbell of my neighborhood they can 
also testify as to their belief and the neighborhood’s belief generally of my 
being a soldier of the Revolution. I hereby relinquish every claims whatever to 
a pension or annuity except the present and declare 
that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.”

“This applicant applied for a pension a short time after the passage of the law 
of 1832 the papers was returned for some informality they have been lost so I 
can not return them back to the War Office. After I was discharged I resided in 
Spartanburg District for about twenty years from there I moved to Warren 
County, Kentucky and lived there about three years from there I moved to 
Livingston County Kentucky and lived there two years. from there I moved to 
Giles County, Tennessee and lived there one year. From there I moved to 
Lauderdale County Ala and lived there about four years from there to Wayne 
County Tennessee lived there seven or eight years from Wayne to McNairy County 
where he now lives given under my hand the date above.”
Sworn to & subscribed in open court the day and date above
Benjamin Jones Clk
Richard Bearden {seal}

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