Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16,539, for John Stonecypher, North Carolina
Page 1

(9-1776)
SERVICE
N.C.

Stonecypher, John

NUMBER
S.16,539

carded
Page 2

[printed with handwriting]

Georgia 16.914
John Stonecypher-
of Franklin in the State of Ga
who was a Pri in the - commanded
by Captain [blank]
of the Reg commanded
by Col Cleveland in the North Car line
for 20 mo: 23 days

Inscribed on the Roll of Georgia
at the rate of 69 - Dollars 22 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 day of Oct 33.
and sent Mr. H. Stanley
Carnesville Ga
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 173.05
Sem--anl. allowance ending [?] 34 34.61
$207.66
{Revolutionary Claim, June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Nath Rice Clerk
Book E Vol. O Page 103
Payt [?] Agt [?] 28 '35
" payt resumed Agt Mar 5. 35
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[handwritten]

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of
Congress passed June 7 1832
State of Georgia}
County of Franklin} S.s.
On this third day of September
in the year Eighteen Hundred and thirty two personally appeared
before the Inferior Court of the County and State aforesaid
now sitting ^[insert] for ordinary purposes John Stonecypher a resident of Capt Bryants district in the County and State aforesaid aged Seventy
five years who being first duly sworn according to Law
doth on his oath make the following declaration in order
to obtain the benefit of the Congress passed June 7 1832
That he entered the service of the United States 
a private in the militia of North Carolina in May
or June 1779 under Col. Cleveland and he thinks
Capt Shepherd He entered the service at [?] CH
North Carolina and was placed as one of the Guard
under Capt. Gordon over some prisoners at Salisbury
lived a three months tour & returned to Wilkes CH
Nor. Car. and was marched to Ramsours on Catawba
river where he was in a battle, then marched to New
River to try to stop Roberts and a gang of Tories
came up to them at Kings Creek where he was in a
battle & drove the Tories off. This ended a second
tour of three months
That he again entered the service about the month of June
1780 at Wilkes C. House Nor Car in the Militia of that
state under Capt Rutledge & thinks the Regiment was
commanded by Cols Locke & Isaacs was placed under
command of Gen. Rutherford, & Gen Gates was commander
chief Served at that time three months
Again entered in the North Carolina Militia at Salisbury
and thence was marched to Charlotte Court House and
Page 4

[handwritten]

from thence to the neighborhood of Camden South Carolina
where he fought in a battle under General Gates, the army was 
defeated & he made his escape & returned home,
remained at home out a few days and then
again entered the North Carolina Militia at Wilkes
Court House under Col Cleveland with whom he
continued in service until the Battle of Kings
Mountain in October, 1780 he was in that battle &
was afterwards placed under the command of
General formerly Colonel Davidson and was at
the Battle or skirmish at Beatties Ford on the
Catawba river where they were trying to prevent
the British under Cornwallis from Crossing & at the
Battle Genl Davidson was killed & we were
defeated & retreated to Wdow Torrances & were
attacked next morning in her Lane & again
defeated, returned to Wilkes CH & again
joined the Nor Car Militia under Col Cleveland &
served with him until he left the Troops to
go to the Legislature, when he was place under the
command of Col. Hearne with whom he continued
to serve until the Battle of Guilford in
March 1781 at the Battle of Guilford he was placed
among the riflemen under Colonel Campbell and
was wounded in that battle. From this battle he
returned home and as soon as his wound was
healed he again entered the army within October 1781
at Wilkes Court House aforesaid under
Captain Keys, Col. Hearn & Genl McDowell and
was marched to Pleasant Gardens on the Catawba
and from thence in the Cherokee County against the
Indians, where he was at the burning of Watauga, 
Cowee, Sugar & Burnin Towns & several Indian
villages He served until December 1781 when
he was discharged at Wilkes Court House
by Col Cleveland. That he served altog
Page 5

[handwritten]

than three years, as a private soldier
1 He was born in 1756 in Culpepper County Virginia
2 Has a record of his age in possession of Peter Stonecypher
in Wilkes County North Carolina
3 When he entered the service he lived in Wilkes County
Nor Car and in 1784 he removed to his present residence
where has remained ever since
4 Never was a substitute & never was drafted, always
served as a volunteer
5 Recollects DeKalb and Gates at Gates defeat
was marched about so rapidly does not recollect
more of the Regular officers
6 Received several discharges for different tours of
duty one from Capt Keys, one from Capt DeMoss
one from Capt [?], one from Capt Jackson
one from Capt Allen one from Capt Lenore
one from Capt Rutledge one from Capt Barton
one from Capt Henderson who afterwards became a Tory
one from Capt Robt Cleveland & one from Captain
Shepherd,
All of which are lost and he never
received one cent of pay other than the Liberties of
his Country
7 Is known to William Glover in his present neighborhood
who knew him in the service & who can
testify thereto Is also known to
Moses Guest and Dozier Thornton a preacher of the
Gospel who can testify to his character & veracity
and the belief of his having been a revolutionary
soldier
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 any agency of any state
within his knowledge or belief
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court the day
and year first above written
John his X mark Stonecypher
[illegible] Clk
Page 6

[handwritten]

We Dozier Thornton a Clergyman and Moses Guest
and William Glover residing in the County
and state first aforesaid hereby Certify that we are well acquainted
with John Stonecypher who has subscribed & sworn to the above
declaration, that we believe him to be seventy five years of age
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. And that said William Glover and Moses Guest 
[illegible] the said Stonecypher in the service of his Country during the war
of the Revolution
Dozier his X mark Thornton
Moses Guest [signature]
William his X mark Glover
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court
the day and year first above written
[illegible] Clk
mark
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after
the investigation of the matter and after putting 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 Dozier Thornton who has signed the preceding
Certificate is a Clergyman resident in the County & State
first aforesaid and that William Glover and Moses Guest
who have also signed the same are residents
in said County and that their statement is entitled
to credit
Wm King Clk
William Tark J.J.C.
Thomas Farmer JH
[illegible] JJC
I Thomas King Clerk of the Court of Ordinary for said County do
hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings
in the matter of the application of John Stonecypher for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand &
seal of office this 11th day of September 1832
Wm King C. C.
Page 7

[handwritten]

John Stonecypher
Georgia
[illegible]
P. 332
31 July
[?] Stanford
Agent
Carnesville
Page 8

BRIEF in the case of John Stonecypher 
[illegible] of [illegible] in the State of [illegible]
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? [illegible]
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? 
3. How old i
s he? [illegible]
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 

[Table] 
[Column 1] 
Period.
May in 1779
[illegible] 

[Column 2]
Duration of Service
Years, Months, Days. 
[illegible] 

[Column 3] 
Rank. 
As a 
[illegible]

[Column 4]
Names of General and Field Officers
under whom he served. 
Gen. 
[illegible]

5. In what battles was he engaged? [illegible]
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? North Carolina 
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? [illegible]
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? [illegible]
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. 
[illegible]
Examining Clerk.
Page 9

John Stonecypher
S. 16539
PA-J/AWF

Mrs. Joe Payne
Duluth
Georgia

Dear Madam:

Reference i made to your request for infor-mation in regard to John Stonecypher, who was born about 1755 in the State of Virginia.
The data which follow pertaining to John Stone-cypher were obtained from papers on file in pension claim, S. 165339, based upon his service in the War of The Revolution.

John Stonecypher was born in the year 1756 in Culpeper County, Virginia. The names of his parents were not given.

While a resident of the Wilkes County, North Caro-lina, John Stonecypher enlisted sometime in May or June, 1779 and served a various times as a private with the North Carolina troops, under Captains Shep-herd, Fall, Gordon, Rutledge, John Cleveland, Campbell Keys, Colonels Locle, Cleveland, Campbell and Hearne;he was in the battles of Ramsour's Mill, King's Moun-tain, Beatties Ford, Guilford Court House, where wounded, in the battle of Camdem, and had several engagements with the Cherokee Indians and the Tories, continued in the service until in 1781; his service amounting in all to about three years.

He was allowed pension on his application exe-cuted September 3, 1832, at which he was a resi-
Page 10

dent of Captain Byrants District, Franklin County, Georgia, where he had moved in 1784.

It was not stated that the soldier, John Stone-cypher, was ever married.

One Peter Stonecypher was a resident of Wilkes County, North Carolina in 1832; his relationship to the soldier was not stated.

In order to obtain the date or last payment of pension, name and address of person paid, and possibly the date of death of this pensioner, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D.C., and give the following data:

John Stonecypher
Certificate 16914
Issued October 15, 1833
Rate 169.22 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831Act of June 7, 1832
Georgia Agency.

Very truly yours

A.D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
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[scan of letter envelope]
[top left corner] 
Mrs. Joe Payne, 
Duluth, Ga. 

[middle]
Veteran Administration, 
Washington, 
D.C.

[Stamp]
THIS SIDE OF CARD IS FOR ADDRESS 

[Stamp] 
RECEIVED 
MAR 15 1937
[illegible] 

[Stamp]
DULUTH 
1937
MAR
14
9AM
GA

[Stamp]
U.S. POSTAL
ONE CENT
Page 12

Duluth, Ca.
March 13, 1937.

Veterans Administration.
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen:

The War Department referred me to you re: the Revolutionary War Record of one JOHN STONECYPHER (who as my family record shows entered the war from the State of Virginia and was born in that state about 1755).  I would like to get this record. 

I shall surely appreciate an early reply.

Very truly yours,
Mrs. Joe Payne.
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[printed form with handwriting]

16.539
INVALID.
File No. 16,539
John Stonecypher
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7" 32
Index: - Vol. 1, Page 362
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1928 - Feb 18 Hist to Lt. Col. K. G. Hampton
1937 - April 5 " " Mrs Joe Payne
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[typewritten]

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section.
February 18, 1928.
Lt. Col. K. J. Hampton,
Office of the Quartermaster General,
Washington, D. C.
Sir:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War
pension claim, S. 16539, it appears that John Stonecypher
was born in 1756 in Culpeper County, Virginia.
While a resident of Wilkes County, North Carolina,
he enlisted in May or June 1779 and served at various
times as a private with the North Carolina Troops under
Captains Shepherd, Fall, Gordon, Rutledge, John Cleveland,
Campbell, Keys and Colonels Cleveland, Locke, Campbell
and Hearne. He was in the battles of Ramsour's Mill,
King's Mountain, Beatties Ford, Guilford, where wounded,
Camden, was out against the Cherokee Indians, and had
several engagements with them, and served until 1781, in
all amounting to about three years.
He was allowed pension on his application executed
September 5, 1832, while a resident of Captain Bryants
District, Franklin County, Georgia.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.
Page 15

WAR DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF THE QUARTERMASTER GENERAL
WASHINGTON

IN REPLY REFR TO QM 293 A-C
Stonecypher, John

February 16, 1928

The Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:

In order that a headstone properly inscribed may be provided for the grave of the decedent named on the enclosed application, The Quarter-master General requests that you furnish this office the correct spelling of the name and complete designation of the organization, with return of the application as soon as practicable. 

Very truly yours,
K.J. HAMPTON,
Lt. Col., Q.M.C.,
Assistant.

1 Enol.
Application
Page 16

[handwritten]

State of Georgia}
Franklin County} Ss.
Personally appeared before me the undersigned,
a justice of the Peace in and for the County
aforesaid John Stonecypher who has heretofore sworn to
and subscribed the original declaration to which this is 
annexed and who being again sworn according to Law on his
oath deposeth and saith that by reason of old age
and the consequent loss 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
In May 1779 he served three months as a private under
Capt Shepherd & Gordon & Col Cleveland & was discharged in
August
In August 1779 he again entered under Capt Falls & Gen Rutherford
and served for three months as a private & was discharged
in November
In December 1779 he again entered under Capt Gordon & Majr
Lewis as a private & served two months & Ten days & was
stationed at Salisbury to scout the neighborhood & served
the three months excepting twenty days he was out on furlough
In June 1780 he served for three months under
Capt Rutledge & was discharged in September
In September 1780 he entered and served three months excepting
one week he was absent after the defeat of Gates & dispersion of
the Troops say this service as a private 83 days under 
Rutledge & Major Johnson & Col Nathan Lock
In November 1780 he entered under Capt Jno. Cleveland and served
for three months as a private
In February 1781 he entered again under Capt Campbell
and served for three months as a private, was under Col
Hearne, but before Guilford Battle was detached from him
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[handwritten]

and put under Col. Campbell & the riflemen
In October 1781 he entered under Capt Keys & Col Hearn
& served for three months as a private against the
Cherokee Indians
For particulars of service he refers to his original Declaration
And for the aforesaid service he claims a pension
He was during the service aforesaid in an embodied Corps
called into service by competant authority that he was
either in the field or in Garrison, and for the time during
which the service was performed he was not employed
in any civil pursuit
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 11th day
of September 1833
John his X mark Stonecypher
C. Addison JP

Georgia}
Franklin County}
Personally appeared before the undersigned
James Blain who being sworn saith that
he saw and knew the aforesaid John Stonecypher in the service
of his Country at several times during the Revolutionary War
Has known him more than fifty years as a respectable & worthy man
Sworn to & subscribed before
me the 11th Sept 1833
James Blain [signature]
C. Addison JP
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[handwritten]

State of Georgia}
Franklin County} Ss.
I Christopher Addison an Acting
Justice of the Peace in and for said County
Do Certify that James Blain who has sworn to & subscribed
the foregoing affidavit is a resident of the adjoining County
of Habersham about nine miles from my residence that
he is a Respectable & credible person and that his
statement is entitled to Credit Witness my hand and
seal the day & year aforesaid
C Addison JP seal [hand circled]

Georgia}  I Thomas King Clerk of the Inferior
Franklin County}  Court of said County do hereby certify
that Christopher Addison before whom the above
affavit [sic] was made was at the time a Justice of the
peace as there represented, and that the foregoing
purporting be his is genuine - In testimony
I have hereunto affixed my seal of office
my name this 24th day of Sept 1833
Thos King J.C