Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16,475, for James Mc Cleskey, North Carolina
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(3-17776)
SERVICE
N.C.
S.C.
Va.
McCleskey, James
NUMBER
S. 16475
carded
CONTENTS
[blank]
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Jan'y 1835 - Ja's. Law

Georgia 23.0-13-
James McCleskey - of Hall in the State of Ga,
who was a private in the   commanded by Captain - of the Reg't. commanded by Col. Chistia in the No. Ca. line for 10 mos: 12 days.

Inscribed on the Roll of Georgia at the rate of 69 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26th day of Oct. 31 and sent Ja's. Law Gainesville Ga.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1833 174.15
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar. 34 34.83 =
$208.98

{Revolutionary Claim, }
{Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Nath. Rice Clerk
Book E Vol. 6 Page 97.

Let - 15

139.32
34.83 =
174.15
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James McClesky
Georgia
4.5.14.16
Admit as a private of Infntry
13 mos 12 days
Cavalry 6 mo - $69.66
12901 
13 Apl. 33   
4337
1.33
25 =
69.00

22 augt
James Law geo.
Gainesville
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BRIEF in the case of James McClesky County of Hall in the State of Georgia
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1, Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? open Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 77
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

[Headings]
Period. | Duration of Service. | Rank. | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.

In 1776 volunteered | about 2 mos. | private | Cap. Armstrong Genl. Rutherford |
on 77  | about 2 mos.| private | Cap. Bowen  Col. Christia
1777 volunteered | 2 mos. | private | Cap. McCall Maj. Perkins
1778 volunteered| 3 mos. | private | Cap. McCall and Cap. Clark
after this was doing duty served to the end of the war  making in all about | 3 mos.| private | under various officers.
[blank] | 1mos. 12 days | [blank] | [blank]

5. In what battles was he engaged? frequent skirmishes ditto battle and defeat at Rusty branch - Battle of Cow pens - at 96. siege
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? North Carolina 13. 12  6. Cal
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditionary and one living witness
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? the papers are not attached agreeably to the regulation - nor is the affidavit of the living witness certified
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
[Signature] George Taylor
Examining Clerk.
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State of Georgia } On this day the third day of 
Hall County } September 1832 - Personally appeared in open Court before us Thomas S Tate Ezekiel Buffington and Joseph Dunagan Judges of the Inferior Court of said County of Hall in said State of Georgia now sitting James McCleskey Resident of Said County of Hall in Said State of Georgia aged Seventy seven years who being first duly Sworn according to Law doth upon his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 That he entered the Service of the United States under the following named officers and served as here in State That he Volunteered in the State of Northcarolina [North Carolina] under Captain Armstrong under the command of General Rutherford in the militia of North carolina [Carolina] that they March into South carolina [Carolina] in pursuit of the Tories to Reedy & Saludy [Saluda] Rivers that they Captured & took prisoners Same of the Tories and the others that they were in pursuit of dispersed they then Returned to North carolina [Carolina] and was then discharged which discharged has been lost or destroyed which tour was about two months Service this was in Seventy six or Seventy seven - he then went from there to Virginia where he had formerly Resided that he performed Several Scouting parties after the Indians the particulars of which he dose not now Recollect that in the latter part of the year Seventy Seven in the State of Virginia he attached himself to -
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the Virginia Volunteers under the Command of Captain Bowen & Col. Christia in a tour after the Cheroke [Cherokee] Indians the South carolina [Carolina] militia were then nearby after the Indians and got in before the Virginia Soldiers and fought the battle with the Indians before we reached them we then Returned to Virginia and was discharged making a tour of about two months the discharge is lost or destroyed he then Came to the State of Southcarolina [South Carolina] in the year Seventy Eight and there Volunteered under Captain McCall Major Perkins and Maj. Hambleton and Col. Perkins and continued in the militia Service of Southcarolina [South Carolina] until the fall of Chrleston which was about - Eighteen months or two years during which time he Served in different Companies but still belonged to Colonel Perkins Redgement [Regiment] and was not in any important engagement only Skirmishes and [obscured] was on his march to Charleston and heard of the fall before he reached there he then Refused to take protection under the British and fled to Northcarolina {North Carolina] under the Command of Captain McCall & Captain Clark who each had a company of what was called Reffugies [Refugees} and instead of taking protection went into Northcarolina [North Carolina] and found the Northcarolina [North Carolina] Militia and continued in north carolina [North Carolina] Six or twelve months in Various Scurmishes [Skirmishes] after the tories [Tories] and Scouting British parties Captain McCall and Captain Clark then Returned to South carolina [Carolina] with their companies and fell in with a  party of British and Tories at Reedy Branch under the Command Colen
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bridge of the British Army and was there defeated and dispersed Captains Clark and McCall both was wounded and Major Linsey was wounded there after we were defeated then we dispersed and fled into North carolina [Carolina] and there we met Colonel Washington and found his Ridgement [Regiment] we then continued with Col Washington until General Morgan Came on with his main Army which we then found and went on with General Morgan to the Battle of the Cow pens and was in that Battle under the Command of Captain McCall & Colonel Perkins during the Battle we then went on and Joined General Green at Ninety six and he was attached to a Rifle Company commanded by Captain Corruthers and Served under Carruthers during the Seige [Siege] at ninety six after the Siege Captain Corruthers Raised a Horse company to protect the frontiers of South carolina [Carolina] and he was chosen a Spy for that company which was ordered by General Perkins and that he served in that company until the close of the war making in the whole time he Served near Seven years 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 and Subscribed the day and year before written - 
[Signatures]
Thomas S. Tate J.I.C.      James McCleskey
Joseph Dunagan J.I.C.
Ez Buffington J.I.C.
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Georgia } We James Riley [Rylee] and Josiah 
Hall County } Roberts Clergy man and John Bates & John Moore Jr. residing in Hall County in Said State do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James McClesky who has Subscribed and Sworn to the above Declaration that we believe him to be Seventy seven years of Age that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood [neighborhood] where he resides to have been a Revolutionary Soldier and to have been in the Revolutionary war and that w concur in that opinion Sworn and Subscribed this 3rd day of September 1832
[Signatures]
Ez Buffington J.I.C.         James RyLee mj
Thomas S Tate J.I.C.       Josiah Roberts M.j.
Joseph Dunagan J.I.C.   John Moore Jr. X his mark

Georgia }
Hall County } Joseph Dunagan Thomas S Tate & Ezekiel Buffington  Judges of the Inferior Court of Said County do hereby declair [declare] in our opinions after investigating of the matter and after putting the Interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above named Aplicant [applicant] was a Revolutionary Soldier and Served as he States and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that James Rylee and Josiah Roberts - who Signed the preceding certificate are Clergymen and that John Bates & John Moore are residents in Hall county and are Creditable persons and that their Statement, is entitled to credit Given under our hands this 3rd September 1832
[Signatures]
Joseph Dunagan J.I.C.
Thomas S. Tate J.I.C.
Ez Buffington J.I.C.
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Georgia } Interrogatories Propounded by the 
Hall County } Judges of the Inferior Court of Said County to James McClesky
1st Where and in what year was you Born
James McCleskey answers he was Born in the State of Pennsylvania in the year Seventeen hundred and fifty five
2nd Have you any Record of your age & if so where is it. A. He answers he has a Record of his age in the Bible he got from his father and which was Registered there by his Father
3rd Where were you living when called into Service & where have you lived Since the Revolutionary ware [war] & where do you now live
Answer he Lived in the State of Virginia but commenced Service in Northcarolina [North Carolina] he Lived in Georgia ever Since the ware [War] and now lives in Hall County Georgia
4th How were you called into Service
Answer he was always a Volunteer
5th State the names of Some of the Regular officers who were with the Troops where you Served
Answer. he Served under Colonel Washington General. Morgan. General Green and was at the battle of the Cowpens
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and the Seige [Siege] of Ninety six
6th Did you ever Receive a discharge from Service if So by whom was it given and what has become of it
Answer he Received a discharge for his Services in North carolina [Carolina] from Captain Young and also one other discharge from Captain Bowen of the Virginia Volunteers both of which is lost or destroyed
7th State the names of Persons in your Neighbourhood [neighborhood] to whome [whom] you are known and who can testify as to your character for Veracity and their belief of your Services as a Soldier of the Revolution
Answers the Reverend James Rylee & the Reverend Josiah Robert and John Moore, John Bates
Amend Sworn & Subscribed before us this 3rd Septr. 1832
[Signatures]
Thomas S. Tate J.I.C.     James McCleskey
Joseph Dunagan J.I.C.
Ez Buffington J.I.C.
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16.475
INVALID. ow
File No. 16,475
James McCleskey Pri. Rev. War
Act: June 7" 32
Index: - Vol. 1, Page 248
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Georgia } I John B. Nichols clerk of the Inferior 
Hall County } Court of Said County do hereby certify that Joseph Dunagan, Ezekiel Buffington and Thomas S. Tate before whom the declarant in the foregoing declaration was Sworn and before whom James Riley [Rylee], Josiah Roberts and John Bates who made the foregoing certificate were also Sworn were all acting Justices of the Inferior Court at that time and that the Several Signatures thereto are their genuine Signatures.
Given under my hand and Sea of office this 15th day of May 1833
[Signature] John B. Nichols C.I.C.
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12901
James McClesky
Declaration for 
a Pension
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State of Georgia } I John B. Nichols Clerk of the 
Hall County } Inferior Court of Said County hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of Said Court in the matter of the application of James McCleskey for a Pension the testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of office this 3rd day of September 1832
[Signature] John B. Nichols
Clerk I.C.
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Department of War
Pension Office
August 22 1833
Sir:
The amended declaration of James McCleskey has been carefully examine, but the objections to the admission of his claim in the first instance, still exist.
Of the whole Seven years Military Service claimed by the applicant in his original declaration, 8 months only has been satisfactorily Specified. The claim for 2 years of Service Set up the original declaration, appears by his explanation in the amended one, to have been wagoning; having voluntarily engaged in that pursuit, which not being considered Military Service, is inadmissible The other claim of 12 months is altogether of a doubtful character; and unless he can distinctly shew that he was regularly called out by competent authority - giving at the same a detailed account of the number and duration of each tour, this will also be inadmissible. The voluntarily. scouting, after tories [Tories] and scouring the Country, as the phrase is, although at the time, an evidence of patriotism,  is not received as Military Service.
I am respectfully your Obt. Srvt.
J L Edwards

James Law - Esq.
Gainesville Ga
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Amendment to the declaration of James McCleskey
Georgia } Personally appeared before me a 
Hall County } Justice of the the peace in and for Said County James McCleskey who being duly Sworn 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 - For the year 1776 I served two months as a private Soldier For the year 1777 I Served one tour of two months in a Scouting party under Capt. Stephens and was attached to Col. Campbell's Regiment. and in the Same year I Served an other tour of two months under Capt. Bowen & belonged to Col. Christas Regiment in both of which tours I Served as  a private Soldier For the year 1778 I Served twelve months as a public waggoner. For the year 1779 I Served twelve months as a public waggoner. I then received a discharge from James Ponder the Waggon Master. having been under the command of Capt. McCall Major Hamilton Joseph Pickern & Col. Andrew Pickens, For the year 1780 I joined Capt. McCalls company and Served as a private Soldier twelve months. For the year 1781 I Served as a private Soldier ten months. I Served Said tour of duty with embodied corps called into Service by competent authority I was not engaged in any civil pursuit during the
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time of my Service and for such Service I claim a pension Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 15th day of May 1833
[Signatures]
Francis Luck J.P.    James McCleskey

Georgia }
Hall County } I John B Nichols clerk of the Inferior  Court of Said County do hereby certify that Francis Luck before whom the within affidavit was made is an acting Justice of the peace in and for Said County and that the Signature annexed is his genuine Signature.
Given under my hand and seal of office this 15th day of May 1833
[Signature]
John B Nichols C.I.C.
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 Georgia } Personally appeared before me Robert
Madison County } Coruthers and being duly sworn deposeth & Saith that he was well acquainted with James McCleskey in the time of the Revolutionary war enter the service of the United States with him as a Volunteer in the year, as well as 1780 under the command of Col. Perkins and marched to the Relief of  Charlestown, South Carolina on hearing of the fall of Charlestown Williams and them "Captured & Surrender to the British this deponent saith  James McCleskey and others would not Give up their Arms [illegible] of under McCall in No. Carolina & I saw no more of him until the Siege of ninety six when he come back to South Carolina and Joined the Company I belonged to and Remained thus, (I thinks in the year 1780 we were ordered to he frontier against the Indians when this deponent was Capt. of a Company of horse when the said McCleskey acted as They and Continued faithfully to discharge the duty until the end of the war. he was to the best of my Recollection in the battle of the Cowpens under Morgan being now in my Eighty ninth year of age and having no documents  to Refer to I cannot be positive in the dets. and more their Circumstances that took place at that time but well Recollect that I said James McCleskey was a Revolutionary Soldier and was with me Personally from the year Seventeen hundred and Eighty to the End of the war. Sworn to And Subscribed before me this 22nd of August 1832 [Signatures]
David Evans J.P    Robert Caruthers X his mark

Georgia. }I William Sanders Clerk of the Court of Ordinary for said County do hereby certify, that David Evans, whose name appears t the foregoing certificate is a Justice of the peace for said County and that full faith and credit ought to be given to his attestation as such, - Given under my hand and seal of office, this twenty third day of August, one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
[Signature]
William Sanders Clk C.O.
Madison County,}
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Georgia } I do hereby Certify that Robert Madison County ] Caruthers who has signed the within affidavit is a man of truth and that due Credit ought to Given to him in all cases wherein he is called to give Evidence Given under my hand this 10th of May 1833

[Signature]
David Evans J.P.
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Amendment to the declaration of James McCleskey
Georgia } Personally appeared before me a 
Hall County ] Justice of the Peace in & for Said County James McCleskey who being duly Sworn 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 the year 1776 I volunteered into service under Capt. Armstrong as a private Militia man (Capt Armstrong being called out to suppress the tories) and was attached to Col. Davidson's Regiment. under the command of Genl. Rutherford and marched to a place called the Snow Camp (a distance of about two hundred miles) on Reedy River in the State of South Carolina at this place we joined the troops from Georgia and South Carolina. I remained at this place about Two months and was discharged I returned to the State of Virginia. In the year 1777 the Indians on the frontiers having become very troublesome Colo. Campbell called on Capt. Stephens to raise a Volunteer Company I volunteered into Said company as a private Militia man and marched to a place called the Royal Oak it being the Residence of Col. Campbell at which place we held our headquarters I was attached to Col. Campbells Regiment. We marched from this place to Black Fort a distance of fifty miles and from the Fort Started to march to the Long Island on Holstein[Holston] River but mett [met] a party of the Indians before we reached the Island and had a skirmish with them in which we Killed eighteen of them and had wo of our men wounded We then returned to the Fort and a few days after a party of Indians were discovered in the neighborhood we pursued and overtook some of
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them and Killed two of them Shortly after this we returned to the Royal Oak I having Served two months In a Short time the militia were again called for to march to the Cherokee nation Capt. Bowen raised a volunteer Company into which I volunteered as a private militia man and was attached to Colo. Christys Regiment we marched to the Long Island on Holsten [Holston] River and rendezvoused Col. Campbell & Shelby were with the army after remaining at this place some days we marched to the Valley Towns in the Cherokee nation we marched to this place to join the South Carolina troops but the Indians having learned that they were coming marched from their Towns to a Gap of the mountains and attempted to intercept their passage but were defeated. We burned some of their Towns and then returned to the Long Island at which I was dismissed with the remainder of the troops & returned home having Served two months. I then removed into Abbeville District State of South Carolina where I was employed the two first years as a Waggoner for which service I claim nothing but merely state it to shew where I was. Some time in the year 1780 the British besieged Charleston. Genl. Williamson give orders to Colo. Pickens to turn out and march with two division of the militia to its relief the Col. finding the militia backward in turning out called on Capt. James McCall to raise a company of Volunteers into which company I volunteered as a private Soldier we marched to and rendezvoused at a place called White Hall the Residence of Genl. Williamson about two hundred miles from Charleston and from there Stared on to Charleston but were informed before we got there that the City had been Surrendered to the enemy then returned to White Hall this was a place where the
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public Stores and arms were Kept we remained at this place to guard the Store until the enemy had taken possession of the Surrounding Settlements Genl. Williamson was called on to Capitulate which he did and the militia all except Capt. McCalls Company of Volunteers took protection. I had then Served a tour of three months Capt. McCall marched with his company into the frontier settlements and met Genl. Clark with our hundred men at the mouth of Generous Ten Creek in the Indians Territory or land we remained in this neighbourhood [neighborhood] defending ourselves against the British and tories  [Tories] until Genl. Morgan came to our relief having remained in this Situation and not under any regular or competent Authority five months to the best of my recollection About the fist of February 1781 Genl. Morgan called on the Militia to turn out and join him Capt. McCall  with his company joined him at Pachoti [Pacolet] River in which company I still remained as a private militia man Genl. Morgan learning that Cornwallis was coming on retreated up the River until he reached the Cowpens at which place Genl. Morgan made a Stand and was attacked Col. Tarlton and defeated him after the engagement at the Cowpens we were placed under the command of Genl. Pickens and took charge of the prisoners and guarded them to the Island ford on the Catawba River the prisoners being placed under the Virginia troops I was here dismissed having Served three months and returned back to South Carolina and remained under arms but not under any competant [competent] authority Some time Capt. McCall died about this time with the Small pox. About the first of July I think Genl. Green came to ninety six and called out all the Militia I turned out and was attached to a Rifle Company under the command of Capt. Robert Caruthers and attached to Col. Pickens Regiment as a private Soldier
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remained at this place Six Weeks endeavoring to drive the enemy who had their Forts at this place the Town Fort, Holmes Fort, and the Big red out Fort but we could not Succeed there being reinforced by Lord Rodden we had to retreat. Genl. Pickens then ordered Capt. Caruthers to raise a horse company for Six months I volunteered into this company as a private Soldier and marched to the frontier and built a Station and remained there Skirmishing with the Indians and tories [Tories] in one of which we Killed five tories [Tories] and took three prisoners I remained at this place until the end of my term of Service Six months and was discharged.
The foregoing tours as Set is all the service that I claim as being under Competent authority and for such Service I claim a pension.
Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 26th September 1833.

[Signatures]
E.M. Johnson JP   Jas. McCleskey

State of Georgia } I John B Nichols clerk of the 
Hall County } Inferior Court of Said county hereby certify that Ephraim M Johnson before whom the foregoing affidavit was made is an acting Justice of the peace in and for said county that the Signature annexed is his genuine Signature Given under my hand and Seal this 7th day of October 1833
[Signature] John B Nichols clk