Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10,335, for John Swann, North Carolina
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Service  N.C.
Swann, John
             Sarah
Number  R10,335
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4
Mrs. M. Watters, 
Deposition
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State of North Carolina
Chatham County
     This day before me H. A. London one of the acting Justices of the Peace, for the County of Chatham came Mary Watters aged seventy eight years after being duly sworn deposeth and sayeth that she is the sister of Mrs. Sarah Swann and recollects very distinctly the intermarriage of her said sister with Mr. John Swann in the year Seventeen hundred and Eighty two that she was at the wedding and saw them married at the house of Mrs. Dry on the Cape Fear River.
The Deponent further sayeth that she subsequently lived with her sister the said Mrs. Swann after she had married John Swann and heard them [illegible] each other as man and wife and further this Deponent sayeth not.
Mary Watters
Henry A. London J.P.
I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with Mrs. Mary Watters & that she is a lady of integrity and veracity.  Henry A,. London J.P.
State of North Carolina 
Chatham County
I Nathan A Stedman Clerk of the Court of May Quarter Sessions for the County aforesaid, so duly Certify that Henry A. London is a magistrate as above & that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine.
   In testimony whereof I have hereunto at my hand and affixed my seal of office at Pittsborough this 14th day of July A.D. 1847.
N A Stedman C.C.C
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[printed form]
The State of North Carolina
To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting:
Be it known [handwriting] Hon. Wm H Butler [end handwriting]
whose name is his own proper handwriting, is subscribed to the annexed Certificate, is, and was, at the time of granting of the same, [handwriting] one of the judges of the Superior Court of Law & equity in & for the state aforesaid [end handwriting]
and that his said Certificate is in due form.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, HIS EXCELLENCY, WILLIAM A. GRAHAM, our Governor, Captain General, and Commander in Chief, hath signed with his hand these presents, and caused our GREAT SEAL to be affixed thereto.
Done at the City of Raleigh on the [handwriting] Eighth [end handwriting] day of [handwriting] July [end handwriting] in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty - [handwriting] seven [end handwriting] and in the [handwriting] 72nd [end handwriting] year of our Independence.
BY THE GOVERNOR: [signed] William A. Graham
W.W. Morrison [signed] 
Private Secretary.
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Declarations
In order to obtain the Benefit of the third Section of the act of the 4th July 1836 and of the first section of the act of the [illegible] March 1837
State of North Carolina
Chatham County
On the 25 day of September one thousand eight hundred and forty six personally appeared before the Honorable William H. Butler one of the Judges of the Superior Court of Law and Equity for the State of North Carolina in open Court Frederick J. Swann aged fifty five years. A resident of North Carolina in the County of Chatham who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed the 4th July 1836 and the act explanatory of said act passed March 3rd 1837 That he is the son of john Swann who was a Soldier of the Revolution That the said John Swan died in the year [blank] and left a widow Named Sarah Swan who died on the twenty fifth day of June eighteen hundred and forty five and that she remained the widow of the said John Swan to the day of her death.  That she left three children named John Swan, Frederick J. Swan, and Maria Toomer. That of his own personal knowledge he can say nothing of the services rendered by his father but must rely upon such [illegible] as he may be able to make in his case. That he does not make the Declaration in order to obtain a pension.  But he makes it in order to obtain what was [erasure] due his said mother Sarah Swann, at the time of her death.  Sworn to and Subscribed
[final line not visible]
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[illegible] open Court on the day and in the year first above written.
[signed] F. J. Swann
Subscribed and sworn to before me in open Court this 25th Sept. 
Will. H. Battle J P C [illegible]
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7
Clerk Certificate
With
Transcript
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State of North Carolina
Chatham County
At a Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions begun & [illegible] for said County at the Court House in Pittsborough on the 2nd Monday in November A.D. 1845.
Present to the Worshipped
H. A. London
G.W. Goldston
Joseph [illegible]
Esquires
     It has been proved to the satisfaction of the Court that Sarah Swann, widow of John Swann, died on the 25th day of June 1845 left the following children [illegible], Frederick J. Swann, John Swann & Maria Toomer.
     I Nathan A. Stedman Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for Chatham County, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true & perfect transcript of the [illegible] of said Court in its November Term 1845.  relative to the death of Mrs. Sarah Swann & the children she left.
     In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at Pittsborough this 16th day of July 1847.
N A Stedman C.C.C.
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NC q5
Sarah Swann Mrs
NC
[illegible]  Augt
9th 47
Lt. to Davis & Seming
Nov 5 '47
10335
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Raleigh NC
Compt Office
I William F Collins Comptroller of Public Accounts in and for the State of North Carolina do hereby Certify,  that the Name of John Swann appears of record in this office as having had the following Special Certificates issued in his name for Military Service (viz) One for Eighteen pounds  (L18) See Book C No 13 page 51 Also another for One hundred pounds (L100) see same Book page 54 and another for Twenty Pounds Five Shillings (L20 S5) see Book Novy page 15 given under my hand and Seal this 1 day April 1846.
Wm F Collins, Compt
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State of North Carolina
New Hanover County
This day before me Mr. James T. Miller one of the acting Justices of the Peace for the County of New Hanover came A. J. DeRossett of the County and State aforesaid and maketh oath that he is in his Eightieth year; has lived in the Town of Wilmington a great portion of that time, and recollects very distinctly the intermarriage of John Swann and Sarah Moore. That he was not present at the wedding being too small at the time, but that the said Sarah Moore was a near Kinswoman of his, and that his sister the late Mrs. Toomer was a Bridesmaid of the said Sarah.  And further the Deponeth sayeth that after the said marriage he saw the said John Swann and the said Sarah living together as man and wife were so recognized by the Community and so continued until the death of the said John Swann.  This deponent further sayeth that the said Sarah never intermarried  with anyone else after the death of her said husband John Swann, but remained his widow since hius death, and further this deponent sayeth not.
A. J. DeRossett
Wilmington, N.C. April 19, 1947
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The within affidavit was sworn and subscribed in my presence this 19th April 1847.
Jas T. Miller JP
State of North Carolina
New Hanover County
I L H Marsteller, Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of the County aforesaid, do hereby certify that James T. Miller, Esq. whose signature is attached to the foregoing certificate was at the time of signing thereof and is at this time an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County, and Chairman of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of said County.
   In testimony whereof I have hereinto set my hand and affixed the seal of said county at office this 21st day of April A.D. 1847 and in the 71st year of American Independence.
L. H. Marsteller, Clerk
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Washington DC
20 July 1847
Sirs,
We have the honor to present the Declaration of Frederick J. Swann one of the heirs of Mrs Sarah Swann of N Carolina, widow of John Swann an officer of the Revolution from that State, with the proof in support of the claim to a pension under the act of 1846.
We are very respectfully
[illegible]
T L & A Tho Smith
J S Edwards Esq
Commd of Pensions
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Washington Oct 26 1847
Sir
We write to request information as to whether the case of Fredk Swann one of the heirs of Sarah Swann which was presented on 20 July last by Messrs Smith has been examined, and if not, the time at which it will probably be reacted.  We are requested also to ascertain the condition of the case of James Seymour; the papers relating to which were presented by Mr. Stedman some time since.  We are unable from the want of information to give you a better clue to the papers in the latter case.
We remain
Very Respectively
[illegible]
David jr Simme
Hon James L Edwards
Comm of Pensions
Washington City
[handwriting note added] Sarah Swann died N.C. Anno 36 [end note]
[two lines of notes added illegible]
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[Crossed out printed text] Acts of July 14, 1862 and March 8, 1873 [end crossed out text]
ID 335 [in handwriting]
[printed form]
P.O. [handwriting begins] Sarah Swann [end handwriting]
Service: [handwriting] wid. of John [end handwriting]
REJECTED [stamped]
[rest of form does not have any entries]
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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Paragraph 1st [Note added in different pen]
State of North Carolina
Chatham County
This 24th day of October 1846 personally appeared before the subscribers an acting Justice of the peace in and for said County Archibald M. Hooper who having first been duly sworn doth depose and say as follows, (viz)
2. [Number added in different pen]
   J. Archibald Maclain Hooper was born in Wilmington North Carolina on 7th December 1775 & was in that town from the occupation of the British forces to the evacuation & Subsequently when General Rutherford arrived there with the Whig militia.  I shall be 71 years of age on the 7th Decr 1846.
3. [Number added in different pen]
   I have been twice applied to, to make a deposition relative to the Revolutionary Services of the said John Swann Esquire of New Hanover County.  On the first application I refused because I was unable to state any facts relative to such services from my own knowledge.  On the second, backed by William Stedman Esquire being assured that traditional testimony would be available I consented to give my deposition.
4.[Number in different pen]
   Reference being made by the agent George further to the affair of the Big Bridge I  know nothing, but what I had Caught from the general & I presume from the vague Communications of revolutionary Witnesses namely that there had been at or near that place a skirmishing between Royal veterans and the Whig militia and that Col Brown was badly wounded.  I made inquiry into the details & having no doubt of
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doubt of their verity I will give an account as it may tend to explain & elucidate my evidence.
5. [Number in different pen]
   Wilmington was a British Garrison from Jany 29th to Nov 14 1781.  During this period Major Craig the Commandant, stationed a Company of about 90 men at the Big Bridge 10 miles from the town.  Colonel Thomas Brown who had signalised himself by surprising & carrying the British post at Elizabethtown Bladen County & who had the command at this time of about 300 militia Conceived the project of surprising and Capturing the British force stationed at the Big Bridge.  With this view he employed Col. Campbell Captain Jones & Mr Swann to reconnoiter the position & found that the officers & privates were off their guard in the for sun bathing, in the river at the foot of the dichirty been heard & North of the house; & the latter either bathing or washing clothes on the margin  Their arms were stacked in front, or to the south of the house & guarded by sentinels.
6. [Number in different pen]
   In this state of things Col Brown soon formed his plan.  This was that his force in three divisions should advance simultaneously.  The Topsail Company under Col. Campbell; another Company on George Moore's road; & a third under William Jones on the Wilmington road.  That they should meet at the fork near to the bridge & that the united forces should from thence proceed with the [illegible] Celerity to the encampment, cut down the sentinels seize the stacked army & surprise & Capture the whole force Col. Brown himself led the division on the George Moore to
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Sanguine of success his conduct was yet in this as in every other instance alike marked by the extremes of Caution & daring.  He submitted his plan to his staff Composed of Col. Campbell, Captain Jones & Mr Swann who executed during the progress of this enterprize the duties  of an Aid de Camp. His two former approved the last opposed it.  Mr Swann was the youngest & in fact, only not a stripling, He was brave active & adventurous & though young had acquired experience in the modes of attack & retreat.  He proposed another plan which he deemed more feasible.  It was that selection of from 60 to 20 persons should be made from the Whig forces  who could be relied on for coolness and intrepidity & that this little band should proceed with the requisite secrecy Caution & determination to the enemys quarters dispatch the sentinels, seize the army & Capture the soldiers or keep them at bay until the arrival of the advancing divisions should ensure  success by their presence.  This bold & perilous substitute for Col. Browns plan was rejected.
7. [Number in different pen]
   Upon the approval of the plan of the Commander, he proceeded to execute it.  His division, led by respective officers advanced towards the fork designated.  An accident frustrated their purpose before they reached the point of junction.  The Company on the Wilmington Road not a British foraging party & in opposition to the authority of their Captain, fired on [the party = crossed out] it.  These seized with a panic they fled in despite of all his efforts to dispel their terror.  His firing was heard at the enemys camp, the sentinels gave the alarm & the drums beat to arms.  The Companies on the
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Topsail & Moores road who were advancing & who were now in sight, halted.  Col. Brown whose Courage & presence of mind were equal to any emergency endeavoured to recover them from the embarrassment & apprehension occasioned by the accident & to form them into battle array.  It was in vain.  They continued in disorder.
8. [Number in different pen]
    In the intermission the British veterans had formed & advancing upon the Whig Companies fired.  An irregular contest was kept up by the bravest of the Whigs.  Col. Brown received a severe wound in his right above & a slight one in his mouth.  He was so disabled by the wound in his arm & in so much pain as to be compelled to leave the field which he did after offering his word to Mr. Swann & authorizing that gentlemen, Col. Campbell & Captain Jones to rally those who came flying & to carry on their Contest.  The combat [crossed out = carried on] continued for some time.  The British attacked the militia in squads.  One squad commanded by Sergeant Campbell was aiming to cut down a militia man who was standing still, unarmed, & who was evidently reduced by disease to an almost hopeless condition.  Mr Swann who was mounted & rallying the Whigs about 20 paces distant desired the Sergeant peremptorily not to injure the poor unresisting creature.  The sergeant raised his sword upon which Mr. Swann presented his gun & shot him dead upon the spot.  While he was in the act of firing Mr Swanns horse dashed off with him into the midst of the enemy.  Surprised & disconcerted by the suddenness & impeturity  of the movement no hand was raised to arrest him in his careen.  As soon as they recovery
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themselves they fired their pistols at him.  Having a very fleet horse he kept about 25 yards ahead of his pursers.  As he approached the cavalry who were formed along the side
of the road, they raised their swords & cut at him as he passed. Holding up his gun & firing off their shots as he passed, he heard distinctly the clicks of the swords on the barrel of his gun. He had yet to pass another line of the British forces. The infantry seeing him escape from the Cavalry unhurt, formed across the road to intercept him.  As soon as he came near to them the whole line fired upon
him but missed him. The firing affighted his horse & turning him out of the road he broke into the woods.  A dragoon seeing that he was still unhurt & likely to escape pursued him. At some distance Mr Swann came to a ridge or narrow pass between two bogs, Here
"horsing log" as it is called in the Phraseology of the country people, that is broke off high up the butt end resting on a stump & the other end on the branches & thus extending from one bog to another seemed to present an
insurmountable obstacle to his progress. To the pursuing dragoon his capture must have appeared to be inevitable.  He did not however hesitate or pause but putting spurs to his horse leaped over the trunk of the tree & cleared himself of the branches. The dragoon afraid to imitate him in this feat was obliged to follow him by circuitary route, meantime Mr Swann rode through the narrow pass overtook the fugitives. The dragoon having rode round the bog at length
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come up to the retreating militia bawling out "Fire! You damned rebel rascals."  Not one of the firing party raised a gun.  Mr Swann having discharged his as related & having no time to reload could not persuade the insolence of the dragoon.  So he rode off with impunity.  Major Craig the Commandant of the garrison offered a reward for Mr Swann in consequence of the part he took in the attack on his post.
     I believe the foregoing narrative to be substantially true.  It is probably not a full, though a correct account.  In matters of this kind much is often lost by the want of skill in the first relates.  Very recently I drew out the details of that enterprize in conversation with some gentlemen descended from the old families of Cape Fear.  Before I entertained no distinct views of it.  A confused idea of skirmishing at the Big Bridge & the wound received by Col Brown was all that was preserved in my memory.  The latter fact was indeed deeply impressed because in the society of that Revolutionary veteran there was at different times reference to it & I had reason to think it occasioned him pain and inconvenience to the end of his life.
     In reflecting on the little traditionary matter relative to Mr Swann which is in my power to state on oath in connection with this affair more reflection & some discussion with gentlemen from Cape Fear showed me that I was mistaken.  The fact is that while
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Wilmington was a British garrison. Mr Swann was pursued by an officer of dragoons & owed his life to his presence of mind & agility.  The only points of resemblance between the fact in the affair at the Big Bridge & the latter were that Mr Swann that officer of dragoons in each instance & that in each instance he escaped uninjured.  The latter instance will be understood when I state that during the maintenance of the British garrison in Wilmington it was the practice of active & patriotic inhabitants of the vicinity to make stealthy approaches towards the outposts, at or near the Little Bridge about two miles from the town & pick them off as it was pressed & instantly ride away at full speed.  In this practice they were sometimes discovered and pursued.  Mr Swann was in this predicament in the case specified by me.  He was discovered & pursued  by an officer of dragoons.  Finding that the [dragoon=crossed out] officer was gaining on him very rapidly he turned round on his horse then at full speed & taking aim shot his pursuer.  His presence of mind dexterity & horsemanship must have saved his life on that occasion he having at the time no weapon but his gun.  I heard this incident related many years ago & afterwards by Mr Swann himself.  My mind at the time must have been engrossed with the part which is most striking, towit, the narrow escape of Mr Swann in so eminent a peril & the previous particular hardly noticed on faint at first must be effaced by the  lapse of time.  Having mentioned this exploit in what I deem its true connection, I will add that Mr. Henry Watters, with
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whom I was intimate & had family ties related to me that during the period in which Wilmington was a British garrison, he was associated with Mr John Swann in efforts to annoy the enemy. That they used to fire with deadly aim on the sloops of war which sailed up the Cape Fear river above Wilmington for hostile purposes.  These two last [last = crossed out] specifications are the subjects of my deposition.  I will add further that I was acquainted with Mr John Swann from about the 19th year of my age to the period of his death.  He was an unassuming gentleman of undoubted honor & veracity.  I felt for him always a very high respect & some regard.  He was not within my traditionary knowledge attached to any corps, but I am warranted by that knowledge in stating that he was as a volunteer brave, active, & daring; & that he gallantly staked his life on any occasion in which he could under a service to the Cause of liberty & his country.
     This deponent further saith that he was personally acquainted with Mrs. Sarah Swann, who died at the house of the Hon. John D. Toomer sometime during the year 1845 & that she was the [wife=crossed out] widow of the said John Swann & that she remained a widow until her death.  He further saith that he is personally acquainted with Major Frederick J. Swann & that he is the son of the said John & Sarah Swann.
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North Carolina
Chatham County
     Archibald M. Hooper being sworn on the Holy evangelists deposeth that the specifications of those last paragraphs are true as stated by him & the other facts collected and narrated by him are also true to the best of his knowledge & belief.     A. M. Hooper
Sworn to & subscribed before me
N A Stedman JP
     I certify that Archibald M Hooper is a gentleman of integrity & veracity & that full faith & credit are due any statement he may make.
N A Stedman JP
State of North Carolina
Chatham County
     I Nathan A Stedman Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County aforesaid do hereby Certify that Nan A Stedman is a magistrate as above & that the foregoing Certificates purporting to be his are genuine.
     In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal of office at Pittsborough this 14th day of July AD 1847
N A Stedman C.C.C.
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3
Dr. DeRossettes
1st Deposition
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State of North Carolina
New Hanover County
     This day personally appeared before the subscriber a acting Justice of the Peace for said County Doc A. J. DeRossett, age, in his Eightieth year, who being first duly sworn, doth depose and say as follows. Viz. I had known the late John Swann Esq. when quite a young man & before his marriage with his wife lately decd. & while this Town (Wilmington, NC) was a garrison under Maj. Craig afterwards General Sir James Craig.  Mr. Swann was out with a small band of patriotic young men annoying the enemy upon every opportune occasion, but whether he belonged to any organized body of Troops I cannot tell.  I know that he was in the battle which took place about ten miles from Town near the Bridge or ferry on main N.E. Road; I remember well hearing from his companions an exploit he performed in that skirmish.  Mr. Swann rode a very spirited young blooded horse which ran away with him during the firings and carried him into the midst of the enemy. As soon as able he reined up his horse, slapped spurs to return to his own men, was pursued by a Dragoon officer, whose name I have forgotten & who coming up with him raided his weapon to cut him down.  Mr. Swann drew his pistol and fired it over his shoulder at the enemy who fell mortally wounded, & thus saved his own life & regained his station amongst his friends.  Without any knowledge whether he was enrolled in any corps, I have no hesitation in stating that he was actively engaged during the controversy from his early manhood to close of war.  I am also under the impression that Mr. Swann had been captured & paroled before the peace took place.  I am now in my eightieth year & lived in the neighborhood of Mr. Swann's Father & was indeed for a time residing in the family & that of his uncle Col. Saml Swann.  Where Mr. Jno Swann recd his education I do not remember, but am under the impression
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that it was at the North perhaps Philadelphia.  He returned immediately home upon leaving the Seminary I believe.  If he served at Red Banks or elsewhere, I was not aware of it, but he might have done so without my knowledge.  I was then quite young and small for my years.
     A J DeRossett
Sworn to and subscribed in my presence this 23 Nov 1846
    Jas T Miller JP

State of North Carolina
New Hanover County
     I do hereby certify that Dr A J DeRossett is a gentleman of strict integrity an unimpeachable veracity and that full credence should be given to any statement he should make  Witness my hand & seal this 23d November 1846
     Jas T Miller JP

State of North Carolina
New Hanover County
     I, L. H. Marsteller, Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of the County aforesaid, do hereby certify that James T Miller, Esq whose name is affixed to the above affidavit, was at the time of signing thereof, and is at this time an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County, and that said signature is in his own proper handwriting.
     In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said County, at the office this 24th day of November A D 1846, and in the 71st year of Independence.
     L H Marsteller, Atty, N.H. Cty County
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2 
Mrs Bain's
deposition
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State of North Carolina
Chatham County
     On this 26th day of September 1846 personally appeared before the subscriber an acting Justice of the Peace for said County Frances Eliza Bain, aged 84 years, who solemnly affirms that she was acquainted with John Swann & with Sarah Swann his wife, in the time of the Revolution & that she distinctly recollects that John Swann was an officer in the army of the Revolution, but what office he held she does not now distinctly recollect, but she knows that he sometimes bore the title of Captain at others that of Major and at others that of Colonel.  She further says that the said John Swann was considered as a very active & enterprising officer & rendered quite extensive & efficient service.  She further saith that she knows that the said John Swann was the husband of Mrs. Sarah Swann who died some time during the last year (1845) at the house of the Honorable John D Toomer her son-in-law & that he is the identical person he presents himself to be in his declaration (viz), the son of the said John & Sarah Swann.
     F L Bain
The said Francis Bain affirmed & subscribed to the foregoing deposition before me the year and day first above written.  I Certify that Frances E. Bain is a Creditable witness.
   Geo Luthese JP
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State of North Carolina
Chatham County
I Nathan A Stedman Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County aforesaid do hereby Certify that George Luther is a magistrate as above & that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine.
     In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at Pittsborough this 14th July 1847.
   N A Stedman C.C.C