Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 2770, Vachel Davis, S.C.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE S. C.
Davis, Vachel-
NUMBER R. 2770

CONTENTS
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State of Kentucky
Harlin County
Be it remembered that on the 10th day of July 1837 Vachel Davis aged [illegible] years of age the 4th of July 1776, a resident citizen of Harlin County Ky before Joseph Bengey a justice of the Peace for Harlin County Ky duly commissioned and acting as such upon his oath subscribed to the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed July 7 1832 for the benefit of the officers and soldiers of the Revolutionary War.

He first volunteered as a private for the term of three months in the ninety-six district in South Carolina under Capt Nathaniel bacon in the regiment commanded by Col Leroy Harris of the South Carolina Militia and under Gen'l Williamson of said state. His Lt was William Covington Major's name I think was Robt Cahoon [next four lines illegible]

was after which he was stationed at Liberty Hill and to Fort Livingston in Georgia [remainder illegible]
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troops under Genl. Lincoln and the British forces. We were repulsed at  attempting to  storm the enemy's forts , and retreated  to our encampment we remained there until new .. ( illegible ) arrived, and the  tour ( 2 months ) having expired he now was told  ( by his Capt. ) with the  ... ( illegible ) of other companies they were discharged, but he got  no written discharge. The last accompanied him part of the way home when he was taken sick and his  brother came for him and took him home.  As to the time of entering  the service he does no remember , but refers the dep. to the date of the  Battle of  Stono  etc. After the Battle of Stono he shortly after his return home, he again volunteered for  no  definite period , to join Genl. Clark of the  State of Georgia  . It happened in this way  , Genl. Clark  laid siege to  Augusta , and e with others of the District of Ninety Six   associated themselves together  to the ... ( illegible ) of about one hundred  and chose for  Capt. Ralleigh Robuck and  .. ( illegible )   Genl Clark at the siege and these .. (illegible )  before  Genl Clark  .. ( illegible ) the siege in  consequence of .. ( illegible )   Ninety Six  under Genl.  Cresinger Clark  retreated up the country to the mountains near the head of .. ( illegible ) river being at the same time .. ( illegible ) by
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[illegible] who fell at Kings Mountain we continued our retreat through the mountains until we arrived on the next Thursday near the grassy cove in [illegible] County Low: then N. Carolina. Gen. Clark's reinforcements were on this River when the Battle was fought at Kings Mountain, and after the Battle Clark Marched back to South Carolina and joined Gen. Sumpter, near black Stocks in sd State, when there was a battle fought under Gen Sumpter with the Tories where Genl Sumpter was wounded through the shoulder. Genl Sumpter was sent to Spartanburg to recover from his wounds. The army forwarded him as far as Forest from where he left the army. The army then marched to Long Cain in South Carolina under Clark where an engagement took place with the British said Clark got shot through the shoulder and Maj Lively his hand cut off. and two of [illegible] party (being lately retreated from the army) went to suppress Tories  (supposed to be 100 Tories) but instead of there being the 100 there were about 200 British regulars near at hand who soon united with the Tories who were retreating from our fire. He was one of the party under Genl Clark After this defeat the troops under Clark were about
300 strong, starving and almost naked
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were ordered to disperse through the Country and do the best they could in procuring provisions and clothing. On this engagement he served [illegible] and ten months he volunteered as a private but for no particular time under the South Carolina Militia Lt [illegible] stationed in 96 district & when marched by Col Parris in to the state of Georgia and was stationed at Spirit Creek to guard the road leading from Savannah to Augusta in Georgia and after remaining there two months and a few days he was detached and placed in Capt D. Bacon's company to the white house at the mouth of
Horse Creek [illegible] Augusta to guard Indian prisoners about twenty [illegible] and he remained there stationed nine months when he was discharged by Bacon and he went home

During this engagement of nine months he was in company with [illegible] and Gen'l Williamson at Liberty Hill [illegible] in the state of Georgia
[illegible]

had battle with the Indians in which [illegible] was in the battle of [illegible] in South Carolina in Edgecombe District was wounded and died i[illegible] days thereafter
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[this is written on the backside of a page and the writing on the front interferes with reading and transcribing... have recorded what was possible to read]

(5)
As to his age he refers to his statement to the 
date of the declaration of said pension 
He states that his name is not on the Pension
roll of any state or states of the United States
that he never  has recd, any thing whatever,
for his services as a revolutionary 
and relinquishes all claim except the present
soldier. He resides in Harlan County Ky.

He well remember Genl Lincoln and
Genl Corthworth Pinkney, Capt Nathaniel
Perry of the Maryland lines, all of 
the Continental line . His country
[illegible] claims to a 
pension [illegible] the present. he
[illegible]
lives in 
by whom he [illegible]
[illegible]  dis=
charges now [illegible]
why he have lived or is
that he had been informed that unless
he had a written discharge or his
name could be found upon the
rolls it was unless to apply and
he had given out all hope of ever
geting any thing, he still lately

informed difficulty, understanding
that [illegible] years after the close
of the war the office containing
the Rolls of the S. Carolina Militia
was burnt up with all the rolls.
owing to old age and affliction
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[paper has writing on the front and back side ..ink bleds though ad makes it hard to read and accurately transcribe...]

and the want of funds he can not git to
S. Carolina to seach out his testimony,
to prove his services, this for not know
that his companing in arms are now
[illegible]
Vachal Davis

State of Kentucky
Harlan County SS.

I Joseph Kenney Justice of the peace
for the County afd do hereby certify that the foregoing dictation [illegible] &
Sworn to infront of me by the said Vachal 
Davis according to law Given [illegible]

My hand this the 10 of July 18?7. And
I further certify (there being no preacher
of the Gospel convenient to me) that
William Bengey aged thirty seven
●
are correct, and a resident
Citizens of this County and entitled
to credit made oath before me in due
form of law, that to his knowledge
of the said Davis and from his general
good [illegible] he has no doubt the state
ments made  by him as to his revo=
lutionary services he has no doubt is
true His statements to his condition he
know to be true. As to his age the believes his
statement to be true
Joseph Bensey 37
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Vachel Davis
Kentucky
Suspended
See letter 26th Nov 37 E. Smith

2770
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2770
.
P.O. Vachel Davis
Service: _____
REJECTED

Enlisted: _____ ,18__
Discharged: _____ ,18__
application filed: _____ ,18__
Alleges: ______
re-enlisted: ______
Attorney: ______
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract
______ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____ ,18__
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[envelope]
Mt. Vernon Ky  Free
Nov 2

Hon J.L. Edwards
Pension Office
Washington City

[sideways]
Ken Nov 10
Act 7 Jun 1832
Benj Howard
Vachel Davis
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M. Vernon Ky
Novr 1 1837

Dr Sir
In the case of Howard, please have reference to the peo: of his brothers in Floyd County in this state
Respectfully
E. Smith

P.S. I am informed by [illegible] that there were 4 Companies under Capt Lewis. Perhaps you will have to contact the office at Richmond Va:
E.S.
Perhaps you will have to consult the department in South Carolina in the case of Davis
-
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Joseph Bengey, aged 76 or 77, a resident Citizen of Harlin County Ky upon his oath makes the following statement. That near three years past he has known Vachel Davis and that he has no doubt as to the statement of his age is true as sworn to, to day before me as a Justice of the
peace for Harlin County Ky to obtain a pension for Revolutionary services. Also I concur with Wm Bengey, that from the general good moral character of said Davis I have no doubt his  Statement is true - as to his condition I know it to be true. Substantially he repeatedly told me the same
tale on my first acquaintance with him as he has this day sworn to before me in his declaration afsd. There is no ordained Preacher of the Gospel, living anyway near or convenient to me.
-
Joseph Bengey [signature]

Harlin County Ky
I, John Jones a Justice of the peace for the County aforesaid, do hereby certify the foregoing
affidavit of Joseph Bengey was this day, sworn & subscribed to before me, according to law. July 10th 1837.
John L. Jones J.P.H.C.C..
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-
State of Kentucky
Harlin County, July Circuit Court 1837 Judge Evo Presiding. It is ordered by the court, that it be certified to the Secretary of Pensions, that it was proven in open Court, that Joseph Bengey, who has subscribed the foregoing petition of Vachel Davis, and this evidence of William Bengey, as a Justice of the peace for the County aforesaid, at the time was an acting Justice of the peace for Harlin County and that his signature is in his own handwright and in due form of law

And it is further ordered to be certified to the Sec of Pensions, that from proof in open Court
that it is the opinion of said Court that William Bengey and Joseph Berger who have sworn to their belief of truth of said Davis are reputed persons and deserve credit, and as the opinion of this Court, the Statement of said Davis is true in his pre app- And Now I John G Crump Clerk of the Harlan Circuit Court Court, do hereby certify that the foregoing was presented in open Court & that the foregoing contains the original as presented in Court. Given under my hand and to which I have attached the seal of my office this 12 of July 1837. 
John G Crump Clerk of Harlan Circuit Court