McMINN COUNTY, TN - MILITARY - John McMahan, Revolutionary War Pension Application ----¤¤¤---- McMAHAN, JOHN, VA Line, RWS #S2808 Transcribed as written by Mary Lu Johnson Certificate of Pension issued for John McMahan of McMinn Co, State of Tennessee, enrolled East Tennessee. Private in the Company commanded by Capt. Moffitt of the regt commanded by Col. Dickinson in the Virginia line for 10 months. $33.33 per annum to commence 4 March 1831. 18 Decr 1833, sent to Alexr D. Keys, Athens, TN. Enlisted 1777 for three months under Col. Dickinson, Jany 1781 for 4 months under Col. Sampson Matthews, Capt J. Patterson, August 1781 for 3 months under Capt Buchanan. Age 78 at present [no date on form]. 2 September 1833, Declaration of Pensioner, aged about 78. He entered the service in the year 1777 in the month of September he thinks as a volunteer Militia man in the State of Virginia and County of Augusta. His officers were Col. Dickinson, Christian name not recollected, Major Samuel McDowel, Capt. George Moffit, Lieutenants name not recollected. The object of raising the troops to which declarant was attached was to go on an expedition under the command of Genl Hand against the Shawnee Indians. Part of the men were drafted and part, declarant one of them, turned out as volunteers. We were rendezvoused on Carr's creek, in what is now Botetort county, and were marched from there to Big Savannah, in Greenbriar County, thence to the mouth of the Canaway River where we had a garrison under the command of Col. Arbuckle. Here the soldiers under Dickerson lay some time waiting for Genl Hand who was coming on another rout. Our provisions gave out and we sent two runners up the Ohio river to meet Genl Hand, whom they met at the mouth of the Hock hocking river at the place where Wheeling now stands or near it. Here it was ascertained that Genl Hand had met some of the Indian Chiefs and had made a treaty. Genl Hand shortly after came down the river with about 40 men in a boat, and furnished us with provisions. Shortly afterward we were marched back to our homes, under our respective officers, and discharged from the service the month of December, 1777, having served three months the term for which we entered. The next service he performed was as a volunteer in the month of January, 1781 for a three months tour, under the command of Col Sampson Mathews, Major Alexander Robinson, Captain Joseph Patterson. We were rendezvoused at Fredericksburg VA where we lay a few days waiting for some men who had not yet joined us, and were then marched to Camp Carson, or it was generally called Camp near Carson's, within about 9 or ten miles of Portsmouth where the British under Arnold the traitor were stationed, perhaps for wintering. At Camp Carson we were stationed during the remainder of the service. From this place we were frequently marched across what was called the Dismal Swamp, and had a great many skirmishes here with parties of the British, frequently firing on and driving in their pickets. On one occasion, we had what we called the hot skirmish with them, killed some of the enemy and took some prisoners. This happened on the same day the battle at Guilford Court house in North Carolina was fought. Our tour of three months having expired, we were prevailed upon by our field officers, still to continue in service untill the troops who were _____ could be brought into the field. We continued one month more at the same place and performing the same kind of services before we were discharged. At the end of four months other troops had got to Camp, and declarant, with his comrades, were discharged, declarant having served four months. Declarant again entered the service as a volunteer in the month [smear] as he thinks, 1781, under Captain Patrick Buchannan, who commanded a company of drafted men & volteers, raised for the purpose of joining the American force under Genl Washington at the siege of Cornwallis at Yorktown. Declarant does not recollect the Colonels nor the regiment to which he belonged, as shortly after they joined the Army at Yorktown he was taken from the ranks by the commissary General, to take care and drive a team the former driver having been bitten by a spider, which rendered him unable to take care of his team. On the day of the surrender Declarant was bit a few paces from where Washington stood - saw Cornwallis march out and surrender his sword to the American General. The British prisoners after the surrender were marched to Winchester VA - declarant accompanied the Army as far as Fredericksburg, having charge of the wagon & team as above stated, where he was discharged in the month of November as well as he recollects in the year 1781 having served three months in the term. Declarant makes the following ___ born in Augusta County VA. in the year 1755 as he has been informed by my parents father, but it was lost in consequence of getting my books and papers wet ____ in the same county & state for several years. I then moved to Sevier county Tennessee about ?3 years and then to McMinn County Tennessee where I have lived about twelve years. He hereby relinquishes every claim...Pension Roll or Agency of any state. Sworn to ...2nd day of September 1833 s/s A. R. Turk, Clerk John [his X mark] McMahan We, George E. Mountcastle, a clergyman residing in the county and state aforesaid, and Henry Smith residing as aforesaid, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John McMahan...believe him to be 78 years of age...believed to be a soldier of the Revolution... [Mountcastle signed, Smith [X]. [Acknowledged] John Miller I Archibald R. Turk, Clerk of the County Court of the County of McMinn...application of John McMahan for a pension....affixed my seal at office this 6 day of September 1833. Answer to the questions propounded by the War Department. I have no record of my age now. I once had the family record kept by my ___ in Augusta Co., VA when I entered the service. After the revolution I ____ from Sevier I moved to Blount county this state then to Jefferson __ or thirteen years & where I now reside. I volunteered for three tours as stated before. _____ but few regular officers with the troops when I served ____ regulars were stationed near Camp Carson; and I recollect a Major Wells - the general circumstances of my service I have stated in my Declaration. I never received a written discharge - I have no documentary evidence. I know of no witness who can prove all the services I performed. Robert Douglas can prove the three months tour I served at the seige of Cornwallis - Robert Stephenson, Samuel Blackburn & James Hand are some of my present neighbours who can testify to my character. State of Tennessee, 2nd September 1833...personally acquainted with John McMahan ...served the three months at the siege of Cornwallis. [Signed] Robt Douglas Sworn: A. R. Turk, Clerk; John Miller ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Mary Lu Nelson Johnson hellomlu@bellsouth.net ___________________________________________________________________