WHITE COUNTY, TN - MILITARY - Thomas Welch Revolutionary War Pension ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: David Lee Welch ==================================================================== The following document is the American Revolution Pension Application and was transcribed from microfilm copy obtained at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. by David Lee Welch, descendant of Thomas Samuel Welch. State of Tennessee (seal) SS -White County On this 8th day of July A.D. 1833 personally appeared in open court before the Court of Pleas and Quarters Sessions for the said County now sitting Thomas Welch a resident citizen of White County and State of Tennessee, aged Eighty-four years, who being first duly sworn according to law, does on his oath make the following declarations in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. He entered the Service in the latter part of the Summer of the year 1776 about the 21st of August as well as this declarant now recollects under Captain James Morrison, his lieutenant's name was David Robinson, his Col's name was Charles McDowel - He then resided in Lincoln County North Carolina and was drafted for Six months - He was marched to headquarters at a place called Pleasant Garden at the head of the Catawby River in Burk County North Carolina under the command of Captain Archibald Fleman(or Fleming.) - Here he was placed in the Company commanded by Captain James Morrison. His Major's name was Richard Singleton. The object of this expedition was to go against the Cherokee Indians who had become remarkably troublesome. He remained at Pleasant Garden something like ten days until all the troops had collected there, provisions provided them - The troops twenty two hundred in number were then marched into the Cherokee Nation, West of the Blue Ridge passing through and destroying their Towns, crops, etc - They were marched as far as the Over Hills towns which we also destroyed by fire - They then marched back to Cowwee town where a number of the troops had been left with the Magazine & provisions - The whole of the troops were then marched back to Pleasant Garden - This declarant with others were then stationed at Cathey's fort about one mile from Pleasant Garden until his Six Months expired - When he was dismissed or discharged - Col. Charles McDowel during this tour of service resigned his office as Colonel and was promoted to the office of General - after this promotion Generals Mcdowel and Rutherford were with the troops - Declarant after being discharged as already stated, returned home to his family which consisted of a wife and one child in Lincoln County - He remained with his family a short time, when he was again drafted for three months - This declarant then returned to Catheys Fort and was placed under Captain Joseph McDowel, Cousin of Col. Joseph Mcdowel - This declarant was here again stationed and served out his three months there and was again discharged. Declarant's lieutenant's name was John Davison - General McDowel was with the troops, He does not recollect to have seen Genl. Rutherford during this tour - After being discharged he again returned home - He remained at home this time something like five or six weeks when he volunteered for three months under Captain Joseph McDowel again - His lieutenant again was John Davison He was again stationed at Cathey's fort where he continued for three months this time for which he had volunteered - General McDowel was again principal commander of the troops.- Joseph Mcdowel, his Captain's cousin was his Colonel - He was again discharged and returned home to see his family - He again in a short time thereafter volunteered for three months and went up to Fort Cathey when he was sent among others by Genl McDowel out on a scouting party - John Davison above spoken of being well acquainted with the country was sent with them as commander and pilate of the party - They continued on this scouting expedition searching the woods some fifteen twenty and far as thirty miles from the fort occasionally in the mean time returning to the fort for the purpose of imparting their discoveries, and receiving their provisions - He served out his three months and was discharged at the fort and returned home not having been in any battle during either of his engagements nor anything remarkable having occurred. This terminated the principal part of his service rendered his country. Having served in all Fifteen months - He states that he is unable from his extreme age to give the precise periods of the war when he served but is confident that he entered the service first in August 1776 as stated by him - He has no documentary evidence, neither does he know of any person, whose testimony he can procure, who can testify as to his service - He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State - Answers to the questions prescribed by the War Department and propounded by the Court. 1st He was born in Lancaster County Pennsylvania in the year 1749- 2nd He has no record of his age - He once had his indentures of apprenticeship in which his age was stated but they are lost - 3rd He resided in Lincoln County North Carolina when called into service each time - He now lives in White County Tennessee- 4th He was drafted twice, and twice volunteered as before stated - 5th He has stated as fully as he can the officers who were with the troops where he served - There were no continental Regiments with the troops there he served - He has already stated the general circumstances of his service - 6th He never received a written discharge from the service - 7th He refers to the following persons in his neighborhood, who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution. - (viz) William Hunter - Thomas Bounds Esq. - Joseph Hudgens - Joseph Hunter - Nathan Bartlett - Aaron England - There is no minister of the gospel who can be procured sufficiently acquainted with him to testify as to the general reputation of his service - Sworn to and subscribed in open court this 8 July 1833. Jacob Shaw(?) Clerk by A. Oldham, DC. his (Aham?) Thomas + Welch (seal) Mark State of Tennessee White County We Thomas Bounds & William Matlock residing in the County of White do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Welch who has subscribed and sworn to above declaration that we believe him to be Eighty-four years of age that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion. his /s/ Thomas Bounds + mark his William + Matlock Mark (seal) Sworn to and Subscribed in open Court 8 July 1833 Jacob Shaw(?) Clerk by (Aham?) A. Oldham DC Thomas Welch For Declaration of Pension And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after investigation of the matter and after pursuing the interrogatiories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and lived as he states and we further certify that Thomas Bounds & William Matlock who have signed the preceding certificate are resident Citizens of White County and are Credible persons and that their statement is entiled to Credit. Sim Dearing (seal) William Bruster (seal) Isaac Burke (seal)