Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3258, John Edwards, N.C.
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 N C
Edwards, John
R3258
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State of Tennessee
Jefferson County  ss
On this twentieth day of May in the year 1840 personally appeared before me Hamilton Copland, a Justice for said county. John Edwards, a resident of said county and state aged about seventy three years he being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Acts of Congress granting pensions to persons who served the United States in the War of the Revolution being unable to appear in open court that he entered the service of the United States in May or June of the year 1781 at Salsbury, North Carolina under the following circumstances and ingagement, (i.e.)  The Militia Company of Captain Crump in Montgomery County North Carolina was called on to furnish for an eighteen months tour one man for every twenty of their own number. The company consisted of about sixty men and pursuant to said call the following men (viz) Joseph Hurly, Brantly Haris, Richard Bell, ___________ Bell, Asa Golihorn and ____________ Baker.
Agreed with his, declarants, father Phillip Edwards then residing in Montgomery County North Carolina to give him Phillip, one hundred pounds North Carolina money to furnish a soldier for them according to said call whereupon and on learning which, he this declarant then not quite fifteen years of age, insisted with his father to perform said tour, and accordingly with his father's consent he, declarant, volunteered to serve said eighteen month stour.  He went to Salsbury
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with William Morris and John Morris who he believes were imployed in the same way - by other parts of the same company, under an officer of the United States Army (a stranger whose name he cannot remember.) They remained at Salsbury some two months or more and was marched to Ashly Hill in South Carolina.  Some miles below Beacons Bridge on Ashly River, taking two or three hundred Brittish prisoners to be exchanged, and there he was placed under Captain John Sharp, Lieutentant Campbell, Colonel  Lytle and General Green, commanded. The regiment designated the North Carolina Regiment = to distinguish it from the Pennsylvania, Virginia and other regiments then there under Genl Green.  The Brittish prisoners were sent on towards Charleston, S C.  Declarant remained at Ashly Hill till white frost, Then was marched under the said officers and John Loller, Orderly Sargent in Captain John Sharps Company and Drum Major Phillip Mason, to James's Island.  Made by a [illegible] of Cooper Rover running into Ashly called Wapoo Cut. Remained encamped on said island without any engagement except a night attack of some negroes of the Black Core, upon a forrage guard of about thirty soldiers (of which declarant was one) and in which the negroes lost two (killed) that declarant saw, by moonlight. About coming of spring in 1782 declarant was detached as one of a fatigue party marched to Charleston South Carolina some miles distant under strange officers whose names he cannot remember.  They remained in Charleston
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some four or six weeks and saw three Brittish [illegible] set said with the Brittish troops.
Declarant was then marched back to the encampment on James Island, joined his company under Captain Sharp again and about May or June 1782 was honorably discharged by Captain John Sharp,  Declarant is illiterate but he was told the names of Captain John Sharp and General Green were both signed to his discharge.  He then returned home and gave his discharge to his father and was not quite sixteen years of age and had served about one year, or a little over.
In a few months afterwards he married, then removed to Rutherford County North Carolina where he resided for some years and served a volunteer tour of twelve months against the Indians as a pioneer [illegible] the road from Nashville in Tennessee to Whites Station where Knoxville now stands under Captain Hadley of the United States Armu now dead.  He then returned to his family and from Rutherford N C moved to Tennessee to Sulivan County, in two years moved to Hawkins County, then in two years went to Powels Valey Lee County Virginia.  Stayed one year and moved to Maddison County Kentucky.  Raised five crops then moved to Canyfork of Cumberland in Tennessee, raised three crops then moved to Morgan County Alabama and there raised twelve cops and
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lost his wife and about that time hearing of pensions being given by Congress to soldiers of the Revolution, Declarant went to North Carolina, Montgomery County to get his discharge and there found that his father Phillip Edwards had been dead some eight or ten years and could not find his discharge and but few of his acquaintances, he despaired of getting a pension and being ignorant of the regulations at the War Department said no more and started back to Alabama and in about 1832 stoped in Jefferson County Tennessee where he has lived ever since. He knows of no one by whom he can prove his personal services as his acquaintances of that day are mostly dead or removed out of his knowledge.  Declarant knew nothing about the pension law of 1832 till lately he has been induced to believe his case is imbraced and therefore he applies at this late period and for no other cause.  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 or teritory.
John (his mark) Edwards
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year afforesaid, before me
Hamilton Copeland, Justice of the Peace
The Justice so [illegible] the following interogatories to the above declarant and to which he made the answers annexed being on oath quested 1st by the Justice where and in what
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year were you born?
Answer by the Declarant:  I was born in the State of Virginia.  I do not know what county.  My father removing from Virginia before my rembrance to North Carolina. I suppose I was born in the year 1766 about the 17th of August.
Question 2nd - Have you ant record of your age, if so where is it?
Answer:  I have none.  My father had a record of the age of himself, his wife and each of his children.  My mother was his second wife, I was her first child.  I have heard him read that record from a recollection of which I state the time of my birth.  I believe I am not mistaken.
Question 3rd - Where were you living when called into service. Where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live?
Answer:  I was living in Montgomery County, South Carolina on the waters of the Adkin River.  I have stated particularly in the foregoing declaration where I have lived since and where I now live to which I beg you to refer for answer.
Question 4th - How were you called into service, were you [illegible]?  Did you volunteer or were you a substitute?  And if so, for whom?
Answer:  I have stated in the foregoing declaration particularly.  How I was substitute and for whom, to which I beg to refer for answer.
Question 5th - State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the troops where
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you served and such Continental and militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service.
Answer:  Attached to the regiment in which I served as Captain Hall, Captain John Sharp, he was wounded in his right hand loosing two fingers by the stroke of dragoon sword as I as informed.  Healed up however before I saw him and Captain Hadley.  I rather think Thomas Hadly and Captain Alexander Bevard (alias) Pevard,  and Lieutenant Campbell over me and Lieutenant Pasters between whom and Lieutenant from Pennsylvania a dispute arose.  One day (when I was on duty) while reviewing the guard detached for duty, which resulted the same day in a duel, in which Lieutenant Pasters was not hurt but the other (name not remembered) was wounded mortally of which he died same evening and was buryed with the honors of war.  I saw the duel from my post.
Question 6th - Did you ever receive discharge from the service and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?
Answer:  I did receive a discharge in 1782 from Captain Sharp.  I believe it was signed by Capt. Sharp and General Green both at James Island in South Carolina.  I gave it into the care of my father in Montgomery County, North Carolina soon after I got it.  I cannot find it he being dead many years.
Question 7th -State the names of persons
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to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for varasity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
Answer:  I would expect Parson William B. Helm and George Turnley Esq would be able to give an opinion on that subject
John (his mark) Edwards
Sworn to and subscribed before me on the date above.
Hamilton Copeland, Justice of the Peace

We, William B. Helm, a clergyman residing in the county of Jefferson, state of Tennessee and George Turnley, residing in the same county and state, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Edwards, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy three years of age, that we believe his statements on oath are entitled to full credit, that  he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion given under our hands this 20th May 1840.
Wm. B. Helm
Geo Turnley
Sworn to and subscribed before me the date above.
Hamilton Copeland

State of Tennessee
Jefferson county
I, Hamilton Copeland, a Justice of the Peace for said county and before whom the declaration was sworn to and subscribed
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and the certificate was also sworn to and subscribed do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation f the matter and after putting the interogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the abovenamed applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states except in [illegible] that the frailty of memory at the age of seventy three and bad health may render unavoidable.  And I further certify that William B. Helm, who has signed  the foregoing certificate is a clergyman resident in Jefferson County, Tennessee and that George Turnley Esq who has also signed the same is a resident in the same county and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit given under my hand and seal this 20 day of May 1840.
H. Copeland
Justice of the Peace

Seal of Tennessee
I, Joseph Hamilton, Clerk of the County Court of Jefferson and seal aforesaid do certify that Hamilton Copland Esq before whom the foregoing declaration and affidavits was sworn to is now and was on the day and [illegible] an acting Justice of the Peace in [illegible] County of Jefferson duly commissioned and sworn, I that full faith and credit is given and due to all his official acts as such. In testimony whereof I have herewith set my hand and seal of office at [illegible] the 23 May AD 1840.
Joseph Hamilton Clerk of Jefferson County
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3258
John Edwards


Rejected
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John Edwards
Tennessee

Suspended (crossed out)
Let 27 Augt 39
J C Turnley
let 25 June 1840
to N,  W B Carter and Wm Hill
Rejected
let 2 July 1840 
Wm B Carter

deserted Act 7 June 1832
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Jno Edwards
[illegible]
June 7 1832
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Raleigh North Carolina
Secretary of State Office
29 June 1840
Sir,
In answer to your letter of the 25th instant asking information of the services of John Edwards, a revolutionary soldier.  I regret that I have to say it appears from the rolls in this office, that he entered the service in Capt. Sharp's company of the 10th regiment in year 1782 for 18 months and that he deserted on the 30th April 1783.
Very respectfully,
Wm. Hill


James L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
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J L Edwards Esq
Com of Pensions
Washington DC

June 24 1840
Tenn
.J L Edwards

Hon W B Carter
[illegible]
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Rep Hall
22nd June 1840

J L Edwards Esq.

Sir, I have been written to to give some attention to the late application of Mr, John Edwards for a pension for revolutionary services.  The papers I am informed have been forwarded you by mail.
Will you please communicate to me the decision when made?

I remain very respectfully,
Yr Obt Servt
Wm B Carter
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J Edwards  73          $1840
                                       73
                                     1767
1781                                  14
                                       1781
Crump NC militia
Vol 18 mo.  Jn  Sharp NC line
served 12 mos
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Commissioner of Pensions
War Department
City of Washington DC


June 17 1840
Tennessee
John Edwards

Act 1832
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Oak Grove Jefferson  County Tenn
5th June 1840

Commissioner of Pensions

Sir,
Enclosed I send you the declaration of John Edwards to obtain a pension for services in the Revolution.
It was drawn to be made in Open Court but the declarant was found to be in too bad health when court came and that part erased and the declaration made before a Justice of the Peace as there stated.  You will confer a favor as an old soldier by giving his case [illegible] attention and should any informality have escaped my notice.  Suggest the same for amendment.
I remain with Due Respect, yours
J C Turnley
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Oak Grove Tenn                        free
14 August 1839

Hon Secretary of War
War  Department
Washington DC
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J 24534859  Aug 25
John Edwards
Tennessee
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State of Tennessee Jefferson County
12 August 1839

I, John Edwards, a citizen of Jefferson County Tennessee do hereby certify that I volunteered in the service of the U.S. for eighteen months in the year 1781 at the muster ground of Captain Crump in Montgomery County, North Carolina, and about June of that year marched with John Morris and William Morris to Saulsburg and thence in a couple of months to South Carolina to a place called Ashly Hill where we were mustered into the service aforesaid, under Lieutenant Campbell, Captain John Sharp in the North Carolina Regiment under Gen Green (then at that place) and I served under Genl Green in Captain John Sharps company there and at James Island, and Charleston and back to James Island where I was honorably discharged by Captain Sharp and Genl Green in May or June 1782, having served about twelve months.
My discharge I deposited with my father, then residing in Montgomery County North Carolina, which I now cannot find, he having deceased about fifteen years ago.  I am about 73 years of age, I have resided in the United Stats ever since.  I have never asked for or received a pension.  I hope the records evidence will be examined and if it appears that under any law I am intitled to a pension, I may be enroled accordingly, and if the proof lacks anything,that I may be informed of it.
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with directions as to the forms to be observed in making such proof.
Remain with due respect,
John Edwards

[illegible] I forward you the above certificate of John Edwards, a revolutionary soldier hoping you will cause the rolls to be examined and inform us how we must proceed to establish his claim if under any law of Congress such services are intitled to a pension.  I suppose his affidavit would be unnecessary till the rolls were examined and I know the man and know he would swear to what he has had stated in his certificate above.  Aged men find difficulty in making proof of services so long done but the regulations of the Department being reasonable, it is believed that Mr. Edwards can substantiate his statements, also identity  [illegible] your attention at your earliest convenience will confer a great favour upon the said soldier as well as your friend.
Your Obt Servt
J C Turnley

Hon Secretary of War
Washington DC 
Please address me at Oak Grove, Jefferson County