Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 8,764, for William Johnson, North Carolina
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N.C.     Johnson, William     S.8.764


illegible                                       carded
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      16048
North Carolina
===============
   William Johnson
of Wilkes in the State of N. Car:
who was a pri: in the company commanded
by Captain Herndon of the Regt. commaded
by Col. Cleveland in the North Car:
line for 6 mos. and 28 days
===============================
Inscribed on the Roll of North Car
at the rate of 23 Dollars 11 cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.
==============================
Certificate of Pension issued the 25th day of June '33 and sent S.F. Patterson
Wilkesboro N.C.
=============================
Arrears to the 4th of March '33 - 46.22
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept. 11.55 1/2
                                                         =======
                                                         $57.77 1/2
                                      {Revolutionary  Claim, }
                                      {Act June 7, 1832.        }

Recorded by Wm. Miller Clerk
Book E. Vol 6 page 45

[page 2]

????? see letter to P. ap. 8
??? 1836   do  23 March
36. part [illegible]
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                 18592
          William Johnson
              Wilkes, Co.
                      N.C.
   
   A???l or private
     6 mo. 128 days
         $23.11

5.12.16.
Int  7
Apl 30. '33

P363


     S.F. Patterson
     Wilkesboro'
            N.C.
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BRIEF in the case of William Johnson
     of Wilkes Co. in the State of North Carolina
                           (Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or Judge?  Court

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3. How old is he?  81

4. State his service, as directed in form annexed.  [note: it is next to impossible to fit the information in this table into the space provided]

==============================
Period  Duration of Service  Rank Names of 
                                                      General and 
                                                      Field Officers
                                                      under whom                             
                                                      he served
_________________________________________________
In 1776   About two weeks   Private  Gen.
    1780    About 3 months               Rutherford
     1781              3                       Col. Cleveland
                  About 2 weeks  
[in the margin left of in 1776 is written Volunteer]

5. In what battles was he engaged? None ????? 

[in the margin left of #5 is 3.14 over 3.14 summed to 6.28]

6. Where did he r4eside when he entered the service?  Wilkes Co. N.C.

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? living witness

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Perfect, except device not very legible

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

                                              F.E. Bradford
                                              Examining Clerk
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State of North Carolina
County of Wilkes
     On this 31st day of October 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of the County of Wilkes and the State of North Carolina now sitting, William Johnson a resident of the County of Wilkes State of North Carolina aged Eighty One years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declarations, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
      That he was born in the County of Fauquier in the State of Virginia on the 6th day of April 1751, (the record of which was entered in his bible by directions of his father) where he continued to reside until he was about fifteen or sixteen years of age, when he removed with his father to the County of Loudon in the same state - where he lived about two years, when he again removed with his father to Rowan (now Wilkes) County in North Carolina --
     In the spring of the year 1776, the Cherokee Indians were very troublesome on the western side of the Blue Ridge in that part of the country particularly now embraced in the limits of Ashe County N.C., and a requisition was made upon the militia of Wilkes County for a company to guard the frontier settlements on the western side of the ridge from their depredations - This deponent among others volunteered himself in the latter part of May in the year 1776 in the said County of Wilkes, and joined the company of volunteers commanded by Capt. Joseph Herndon, and marched directly across the Blue Ridge near to where the Court House now stands, where they found  a number of the frontier inhabitants engaged in the erection of a fort. Upon reaching that place Capt Herndon endeavored to prevail upon the inhabitants to abandon the country and remove to the eastern side of the mountains, but this they declined to do - and after
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remaining there for some time, scouring the surrounding country, they returned home and was discharged - In this expedition the deponent believes he served about two weeks.
     About the first of August following, the deponent again volunteered himself and joined Captain Benjamin Clevelands company and rendezvoused near where Wilkes CH now stands, and as soon as the company could be properly organized, and the necessary arrangements made, they marched to the Pleasant Garden in the County of Burke, where they joined the troops under Genl. Rutherford - In a few days after joining Genl. Rutherford they marched direct to the Cherokee towns of Cowee, Wautauga, Oconotuflu and some others not particularly recollected - at what was called the Middle Town ( the troops being a good deal sickly from eating roasting ears & fresh beef) a [illegible] was made by Genl Rutherford for a thousand volunteers of the ablest and stoutest men to him to turn out and march to the Valley Towns - This deponent was one of the number, and as soon as the required number was made up they marched immediately to the Valley Towns, a distance of about sixty miles - upon their arrival, they found a few straggling Indians (the balance having fled) whom they captured and kept prisoner - After burning the town and destroying their corn and all the property they could find, they retuned again to the Middle Town, where they rejoined that portion of the aarmy they had left - After remaining a few days at the Middle Town until they rested and recruited, they set out upon their return to North Carolina, and after reaching the County of Wilkes, Capt Cleveland discharged his company & this deponent returned home, which place he reached about the last of October, having been gone about three months - From the time that the deponent returned from the Cherokee nation until about the month of August 1780 embracing a period of nearly four years this deponent performed sundry short tours of duty
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against the tories, (who at that time were very troublesome) two of which were performed under Capt Wm Lenoir on the North Western side of the Blue ridge - in these two times this deponent believes he served about a month - The particular periods of the other tour performed against the tories cannot now be recollected - About the latter part of August 1780 information was received by Colo Benjamin Cleveland that Maj Ferguson of the British Army was supposed to be approaching North Carolina from the South with a large number of British and tories upon which Col Cleveland issued orders immediately for all the Militia in the County of Wilkes to rendezvous at the Court House - This deponent immediately repaired thither and joined the company commanded by Capt William Lenoir - After remaining at Wilkes CH for some time until the troops could be organized, they set out upon their march to oppose Majr Ferguson - Upon the way they were joined by Col Campbell, with a regiment from Virginia, as also by other troops from North Carolina - When they had advanced perhaps to the Cherokee ford on Broad River it was ascertained that Majr Ferguson was endeavoring to post himself on Kings Mountain - Upon which it was  proposed that all those who had horses or who could procure them, should proceed with all possible dispatch to engage with him - this deponent having no horse and not being able to procure one was necessarily left behind with the foot men, and did not reach the battle ground - The battle having been fought and the Americans being on their return with their prisoners a short distance, when the foot men rejoined them - After rejoining the army, this deponent was detailed by Col Cleveland with others to take charge of the wounded, (among whom was a brother of the deponent) and after making what preparation they could and administering to their wants as much as possible, they set out in advance of the army
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and proceeded on until they reached Wilkes CH when Col Cleveland directed this deponent to convey his brother home, as he was in a very helpless condition and to remain with him until he should recover - which this deponent accordingly did - In this expedition, this deponent believes he was absent nearly three months from the time that he rendezvoused at Wilkes CH until his return to that place - not counting the time that he remained with his brother after their return - Though it was counted to him for a three month tour and he drew pay for that length of time - In the spring of the year 1781 when Lord Cornwallis was marching through North Carolina this deponent again volunteered himself and joined a company commanded by Capt Nathaniel Gordon - The company to which this deponent belonged endeavored to form a junction with Genl Greenes army, which was supposed to be at that time somewhere on the waters of Dan River in the borders of Virginia - but before they had reached the shallow ford of the Yadkin, it was ascertained that Lord Cornwallis was ahead of them, and that he kept scouting and foraging parties constantly scouring the country so that they found it would be impossible to reach Genl Green without running a great risk of falling into the hands of the enemy - They accordingly took post at a place in the County of Surry where the village of Jonesville now stands - and where they remained until they were discharged - In this expedition this deponent believes he served about two weeks -
    This deponent has resided in Wilkes County ever since the revolutionary War and resides there at this time - He never received any written discharge from the service nor has he any documentary evi-
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-dence to prove it, but refers to Mr. Elijah Vickes who served with him most of the time, whose affidavit is hereto annexed, as a witness who can testify 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.
  Sworn to & subscribed the day and year afore said.

R Martin C.W.C.C.         William Johnson

On the day and year aforesaid, personally appeared in open court before the court aforesaid Elijah Vickes who being first duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith, that he served with William Johnson the above applicant during the following tour of service.
ToWit: first under Capt Joseph Herndon to the Western side of the Blue ridge against the Cherokee Indians, secondly under Genl Rutherford to the Cherokee Nation, and thirdly under Colo Cleveland to Kings Mountain, and further, that the said three several tours of duty as set forth and specified in the foregoing declaration as having been performed by the said William Johnson, were performed by him, and that the remaining tour of duty set forth in the said declaration, he believes (from his knowledge of the character of the said William Johnson) was performed by him.

   Sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid
                                              his
R Martin C.W.C.C.          Elijah  + Vickes
                                             mark
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And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the Matter, and after pulling the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states, and the Court further certifies that it appears to them, that Elijah Vickes who has subscribed and sworn to the preceding affidavit is a resident of the County of Wilkes, and is a credible person and that his statement is [illegible] to credit.

         J. La[illegible]  C.W.C.C.


I Robert Martin Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions of the County of Wilkes and State of North Carolina, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Johnson for a pension.
     In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of Office this 31st cay of October 1832.

                  R. Martin C.W.C.C.
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State of North Carolina
     Wilkes County

     Personally appeared before me, the under signed a Justice of the Peace in and for the County & State aforesaid, William Johnson, who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that by reason of old age, and the consequent lapse of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades. For seven months and twenty one days I served as a private, and for such service I claim a pension.
     This deponent further deposeth and saith by way of amendment to the foregoing declaration, and to obviate the objections made by the War Department thereto that he cannot procure a clergyman to certify as to his character for veracity and his belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution, as there is none residing in his neighborhood, nor any of his acquaintance within a convenient distance. He however refers to Andrew Patterson and John J. Bryan Esqrs as persons to whom he is well known in his present neighborhood, and who can testify as to his character for veracity and their beleif of his services as a soldier of the revolution.
     Sworn to and subscribed before me this 14th day of May 1833.

   W.R. Lenoir J.D.                 William Johnson

     We Andrew Paterson and John J. Bryan residents of the County of Wilkes & State of North Carlina hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Wm Johnson who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration and the
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amendment thereto, that we believe him to be Eighty one years of age; that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he sides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
     Sworn & subscribed the day and year last above mentioned

Before me                    A. Patterson

W. R. Lenoir, J.D.           J.J. Bryan

I hereby certify that Andrew Patterson & John J. Bryan Esqrs who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of the County of Wilkes, & State of North Carolina, and are credible persons, and that their statement is [illegible] to credit.

   Given under my hand the day last above mentioned.
                                      W.R. Lenoir J.D.

William  Johnson [written down the side]

I Robert Martin Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions of the County of Wilkes & State of North Carolina do hereby certify that Walter R. Lenoir Esquire whose signature appears to the foregoing proceedings is and was at the time of signing the same, an acting  Justice of the Peace for said County, and that the signature purporting to be his, is his genuine official signature. Given under my hand & Seal of Office affixed this 14th day of May 1833.

                                    by R. Martin Clk
                                         B.W. Calp D. Clk
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Rev. and 1812
Wars Section
 1CS/ee1

                                                     April 19, 1929

Mrs. E.L. Phillips
463 So. Yorktown
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Madam

     I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.8764, it appears that William Johnson was born April 6, 1751, in Fauquier County, Virginia.
     While a resident of Wilkes County, North Carolina, he enlisted and served as a priate in the North Carolina Troops as follows:
     From late in May, 1776, about two weeks under Captain Joseph Herndon.
     From about August 1, 1776, about three months under Captain Benjamin Cleveland; he went on an expedition against the Cherokee Indians, burned the Valley Towns, took the Indians prisoner and destroyed their corn.
     From the time when he returned from the Cherokee Nation until about August, 1780, he served various short tours against the Tories, and about one month of this period was under Captain William Lenoir.
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     From late in August, 1780, nearly three months under Captain Wiliam Lenoir in Colonel Cleveland's Regiment; he was not in the battle of Kings Mountain but met the army a short distance from the battle ground and was detailed to aid his brother, name not given who was wounded in said battle, to reach home.
     In the spring of 1781, about two weeks under Captain Nathaniel Gordon.
     He was allowed pension on his application executed October 31, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Wilkes County, North Carolina.
     There are no data on file relative to wife and children.

                                    Respectfully,



                                    E.W. MORGAN
                                   Acting Commissioner.
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[back of folded page on left]
1929, Apr. 19 hist. to Mrs E.L. Phillips U.C.S.

[Front of folded page on right]

Rev War [written on side slant]

8764
INVALID
________________________________________
File No.       8764

William Johnson
Priv. Rev. War
_________________________________________

Act: June 7th 1832

Index: - Vol. [illegible], Page 198

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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463 Yorktown
Tulsa, Okla.
Sept 7, 1928

Pension Dept.
Rev. War Records
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sirs: -
     Do you have a record of William Johnson receiving  pension?  He lived on Yadkin River, Wilkes Co. N.C. Prior to Rev. War. He served n Col. Cleveland's brigade. He was in the charge on Ferguson at King's Mt.  After the war he came back to his home and married a Mary Parks. Thanking you for your trouble, I am

                                          Sincerely,
                                                Mrs E.L. Phillips