Davidson-Williamson County TN Archives Military Records.....Johnson, Gideon Revwar - Pension ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tn/tnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nancy Poquette npoq@hotmail.com June 24, 2006, 8:39 pm Pension Application Of Gideon Johnson, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 1421, Application #S4456 Pension Application of Gideon Johnson, Natl Archives Microseries M804, Roll 1421, Application #S4456 GIDEON JOHNSON, a resident of Williamson County, TN [in 1832] aged 78 years: “That I enlisted in the army of the United States in the last of the month of July 1776 for the term of twelve months under Captain JOHN ARMSTRONG from Surrey County, Lieutenant JOSEPH TATE from Guilford County, in North Carolina. I resided in Guilford County, NC at that time and joined the army in that county at a place called Spring Garden. Captain ARMSTRONG’s company joined the second regiment of the Continental line at Salisbury, shortly after my enlistment as well as I can recollect, which regiment was commanded by Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN. We lay at Salisbury about three months when we marched thence to a place near Hollisworth Mills on Duncan’s Creek, which I think is a branch of the Catawba River. Receiving information that there were a body of Tories collected either on Duncan Creek about fifteen miles distant, we were marched thither in the night and surrounded them near daybreak, when we [were] fired on by their sentinels and our men closed in upon them and took, as was reported, one hundred prisoners, whom we marched to headquarters on Duncan’s Creek, where we guarded them two days when they were sent to Charleston, South Carolina.” “Shortly after this, we rendezvoused at Salisbury, I going by home by furlough, whence I, in the company of Captain SAMUEL MARTIN who had recruited a company of fifty men with some delinquents, marched to Charleston, SC, where we joined the main army, the latter part of the summer of 1777. I in the meantime, having been employed in assisting Captain SAMUEL MARTIN in recruiting men, he being a recruiting officer of the U.S. Army and in scouting after the Tories in NC.” “On account of the sickness of the troops in Charleston, we left that place where I took sick and was hauled to Camden in a wagon, where we lay 10 days. From that place the army marched towards Salisbury, NC and I being too sick to travel further, was left at the Widow Sutton’s on Seven-Mile Creek under the care of Sergeant REUBEN CURTIS. At the end of ten days I went to Charlotte, NC where I met with Captain SAMUEL MARTIN, with whom I traveled to Salisbury, where I arrived about the last of October, 1777, where I think I received a discharge signed by Colonel ALEX. MARTIN, which I have lost, not thinking it would ever be important to me.” “Some years after this, when Colonel ALEX. MARTIN was chosen governor of N. Carolina, the year I cannot recollect, it being necessary for him to have a life guard, I was chosen by him as one of his life guard, and became such in Guilford County, and marched with him thence to a place called Nutbush in Granville County where we, after remaining some time were dismissed and returned home after an absence of about four weeks. Captain JOSIAH GATES commanded this company of lifeguards. It was represented to us when acting as his guard that that tour should answer as a three months tour, but whether I got a discharge for the same I do not now recollect.” “In about 1778 or the winter of 1779, I carried an express from Colonel JAMES MARTIN of the County of Guilford to the western part of the state into Burke, Buncombe and Wilks Counties and delivered the same to Colonel and Major ERVIN, Colonel and Major MCDOWELL and to Mr. GREENLEA of Buncombe County. In this expedition I underwent much hardship on account of inclement weather and high waters and returned home after having been absent about four weeks...” “September 13, 1832-This day came JOHN W. CRUNK…that in the year of 1776 he was intimately acquainted with GIDEON JOHNSON in the Continental Army and further saith that he knew him to be a regular soldier in the Revolutionary War, in the second regiment of the North Carolina troops commanded by Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN and Captain JOHN ARMSTRONG’s company and her further saith that he (CRUNK) and the said JOHNSON both belonged to the same company at the same time, and he further saith that in consequence of sickness that he (CRUNK) was separated from the regiment and sent home and that he never returned to the regiment again, the time for which he enlisted having expired before he recovered from his sickness, but that said JOHNSON continued in the army for a long time, and returned home to Guilford County honorably discharged, the time for which he enlisted being eighteen months. He further adds that they were both born and raised in the same neighborhood.” August 9, 1833-“GIDEON JOHNSON in addition and explanation of his said declaration…states that he served as a private from July 1776 till October 1777, fifteen months, for which he got a discharge as stated in said declaration.” “He states that he served as a private for one month as a life guard for Governor MARTIN in the year 1778 as well as he recollects, he is not certain of the time.” “He states that he served as a private one month in carrying an express from Colonel MARTIN to Colonel and Major ERWIN and others as stated in his declaration in 1778 or 9, making in all as near as he can recollect, seventeen months and in every instance as a private soldier.” Davidson County Tennessee, January 1840: “Personally appeared, GIDEON JOHNSON, aged 86 years…that he entered the service in the month of June 1775, he thinks in the second regiment of the Continental line of North Carolina as a regular soldier, under the command of Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN, in which there were four companies: First company commanded by Captain JOHN DAVIDSON of Rowan County, second company commanded by Captain JOHN ARMSTRONG of Surrey County, third company commanded by Captain ___ PICKET of Anson County, fourth company commanded by Captain JOHN BELL of Guilford County, which four companies composed said regiment.” “Deponent states that he first turned out as a volunteer under Lieutenant JOSEPH TATE, who was Lieutenant under his Captain JOHN ARMSTRONG, at Spring Garden, Guilford County, North Carolina for a term of (he thinks) of twelve months; rendezvoused in the latter end of said month at Salisbury, and (he thinks) left Salisbury in September following. While at Salisbury, a dissatisfaction arose amongst the troops and a second enlistment became necessary and was proposed by Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN for a term of eighteen months, for which time said declarant volunteered, he thinks about the last of July or first of August 1775.” “The troops, when leaving Salisbury, were ordered south, kept headquarters at Hollingsworth Mills on Enoree River, about four weeks, after which the troops were ordered south on a meandering route, to the Hickory Camps, he thinks near the borders of South Carolina, from thence, he thinks, in the month of January following, they were informed, there was a company of Tories collected on Duncan’s Creek, to which place the troops were ordered and marched under the guidance of our informants. On our arrival at said Duncan’s Creek, we had a small skirmish with the Tories. They fled, save three hundred prisoners we took, and marched back to Hickory Camp. Guarded them there two days and nights. Thence we were sent to Charleston, South Carolina under a guard of militia. From Hickory Camp we marched south in the direction of Ninety- Six through the country watered by Tyger River, Congaree, Wateree Rivers, falling down below Ninety-Six. Thence we went towards Bell’s Mills on Deep River in the direction of Fayetteville in North Carolina. Thence we returned to Salisbury, where we stayed five or six weeks, and where many of the troops were furloughed for a small space of time.” “We were from thence marched to Charleston, through the Swamps of Santee River and arrived at Charleston some time in August, just in time to see the British embark, when they evacuated Charleston, or Sullivan’s Island near Charleston, where we continued until (I think) the latter end of October following, occupying the old British Barracks. From which place we were then ordered to march in consequence of the bad health of the troops, of whom many had died. On our first or second days march at night, going towards Camden, in Goose Creek, deponent for the first time was taken sick and put in a wagon, he thinks about twenty miles from Charleston, and hauled from thence to Camden, he thinks 130 or 140 miles. There, in consequence of sickness of the troops we lay about three weeks. Some two or three men died there, and from thence we marched to Seven-mile Creek at Widow Suttle’s. Deponent was given out for dead and left in the care of Sergeant REUBEN CURTIS for an attendant. Deponent thinks he lay here about three weeks, from whence deponent started about, leaving his gun and shot bag and belt? bit? not being able to carry them, has never heard of them since.” “He pursued the army alone (having left Sergeant CURTIS sick) to Charlotte in North Carolina, where he stayed with SAMUEL MARTIN, about two weeks. From thence, by the assistance of the said SAM’L MARTIN, he went to Salisbury where he joined the remaining fragment of his regiment, he thinks some time in the month of November 1776. After remaining at Salisbury a short time, deponent by permission of Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN left for his house in Guilford County, being very weak. Arrived he thinks, in November, near the latter end. He afterwards saw Colonel MARTIN who gave him a discharge, his term of eighteen months being ended.” “Sometime in the month of January or February in the year 1777 or1778, deponent was engaged by Colonel JAMES MARTIN of the militia of the County of Guilford to bear some expresses, he thinks to JOSEPH and CHARLES MCDOWELL living in Wilkes County, North Carolina, both bearing commissions in the United States service; and to Major ALEXANDER ERWIN and Major GREENLEE, living, he thinks, in Burke County and state aforesaid; for which service he, Colonel JAMES MARTIN gave him a receipt for a term of three months served as a militiaman.” “Deponent thinks in the month of May, June or July 1779, he again volunteered as a life guard to Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN, to guard and convey him to Wilmington, he being appointed Governor of the State of North Carolina the fill the place of [Thomas Burk], Governor who was taken prisoner by the British. In consequence of services pressed, which Colonel A. MARTIN met, we did not escort him quite to Wilmington. JOSIAH GATES being Captain, we marched back to Guilford, for which service deponent got from (he thinks) Colonel MARTIN a certificate for a three months term of service as a militiaman.” “Deponent further states that he was at home plowing in his field when he heard the firing of the cannon and platoons at the Battle of Guilford on the 15th of March, he thinks 1781 or 1782. He immediately took out his horses, seized his gun and hastened hither, though not at that time in service himself. He had a substitute (ELIJU CURRAY). He met the baggage wagons near Guilford, making their way to a safe place, out on Haw River. He turned round, led them on till he knew they could not mistake the way. He then hastened to the place of action and joined his countrymen in that engagement, it having nearly ended. Reconnoitered and assisted in burying dead for about 9 days. This service was voluntary for which deponent had no receipt, nor did he expect or demand or wish any.” “Deponent had been previous to this, summoned as guard to the Legislature at Salem in North Carolina in which service he was engaged about 3 or 4 weeks. Deponent further states that the discharge of Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN, the receipt of Colonel JAMES MARTIN and the last receipt from Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN, making in all a term of two years service, etc.” “…That his name is already on a pension roll of the agency of the state of Tennessee, was placed there on the 20th day of August 1833, and receives a pension of fifty dollars payable semiannually. That said pension is not proportionate to his terms of Revolutionary services for the want of a living testimony to the facts herein before stated. That he has, since making application before, found living, ?Olituopy, of whom he did not know, which accompanies this declaration; many things now also came to his own recollection since, which are true and not named in his former declaration…” In 1832, an ABNER JOHNSON, of Maury County, TN aged 74 years, stated that he served in the Revolution a part of the time with GIDEON JOHNSON. January 29th, 1840-“Personally appeared, RICHARD VERNON, aged eighty-one years: That he has been acquainted with GIDEON JOHNSON for upwards of seventy years, first in the state of North Carolina and then in this state. That he was present when said JOHNSON enlisted into the regular army in Continental service, with Lieutenant JOSEPH TATE of Captain ARMSTRONG’s company, Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN’s regiment. That the troops to which he belonged marched to the south as he then understood, that about the time his enlistment expired he returned to his father’s house, where deponent visited him and found him reduced almost to a skeleton by sickness. That said enlistment was for twelve or eighteen months.” ‘That he knows Colonel JAMES MARTIN sent expresses to some persons in Wilkes County, North Carolina, but does not recollect who was the bearer of them. That he knows also that Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN, when he was appointed Governor of North Carolina had a guard to escort him on his way to Wilmington and that JOSIAH GATES was captain of that guard, but he does not recollect who composed the guard; and that said JOHNSON served as one of the guard to the Legislature at Salem.” “Said deponent also states that he was personally acquainted with Colonel ALEXANDER MARTIN, Colonel JAMES MARTIN, Captain JOHN ARMSTRONG, Lieutenant JOSEPH TATE and JOSEPH and CHARLES MCDOWELL. He also states that during the Revolutionary War and afterwards, said JOHNSON was considered a good Whig and a true friend to his country and was frequently engaged in active service during the War. He also further states that he was acquainted with WALT CRUNK, and would believe him on his oath, etc.” File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tn/davidson/military/revwar/pensions/johnson158gmt.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/ File size: 14.9 Kb