Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 9,960, for William Sparks, North Carolina
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(8-1776)

SERVICE
N.C.

Sparks, William

NUMBER
R. 9,960

Born in N.C.

CONTENTS
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Declaration of Witham Sparks
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of
Congress passed June 7, 1832
State of Texas
County of Nacogdoches S.S.
the 14th day of September A.D. 1846 personally and before the Honorable District Court of said County now sitting in open Court, William Sparks a resident
of Spork's settlement in said County of Nacogdoches and State of Texas aged Eighty five years
on the 5th day of April last, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June
7, 1832 that this applicant entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated Shortly before this applicant
entered the service his father Matthew Sparks removed with him from the Yadkin River in the County of Wilkes and State of
North Carolina at the Blue Ridge to
a place on New River Then in the said County of Wilkes, which is now about two miles from
the County seat of High County North Carolina Also shortly before I entered the service the Cherokee Indians had committed 
depredations and murdered four persons, I think, three children and two women
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near the head of the Catawba River at
least, above John's River at a place then I think, in Burke County North Carolina. In the part of the County in which I lived. after the war had lasted several years, all of us capable of bearing arms were divided
into four classes, as well as I remember. I fell into the fourth class. About this time it came to the time of my. class to enter the service; and while we were making preparations to do so Capt John Cleveland Nick-named Devil Johnson of Solo, Benjamin Cleveland, who afterwards
fought at King's Mountain, and who then resided near our former residence on the Radkins, came over to our settlement on New River, and proposed to my class to volunteer to go with him against the Cherokee Indians, saying that this tour would be accounted the same as the same length of service against the British
against whom we were then preparing to go. Four of my neighbours of my [illegible] John Baker Israel Campbell, John Waters, and George Humphreys, with myself accepted John
Cleavelands proposition, and in obedience to his order rendezvoused at Wilkes Court House (Wilkesboro, and entered the service under the said John Cleaveland as our Captain on the
15th day of August--- from old age and consequently loss of memory this applicant cannot state positively in what year this was, but he
does recollect, that it was when he had just entered his seventeenth year, and several years before the battle of King' Mountain
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At Wilkesboro, which was the place of general rendezvous for the North Carolina troops raised for this expedition, Capt. Cleaveland's Company was filled to the number of about sixty, and about one thousand in rendezvoused here We were all mounted gun men and nearly
all armed with Rifles, tomahawks, and
butcher knives, each man, and myself
amongst the rest furnishing his own horse arms and equipments. At the end of about two days we took up the line of march by Pleasant Gardens on the Catawba, crossed the John's River, then by Catheys Fort to Turkey Cove on the Catawba a distance, I supposed
of about one hundred miles in all from
Wilkesboro. At Turkey Cove we remained about two weeks collecting beef and other provisions for
the campaign. Here we were joined by the rest of the North Carolina forces, making our number
from twelve to fifteen hundred; and here the command in chief was taken by Genl Charles McDowell of Pleasant Gardens, Burkes County of North Carolina, in which he continued throughout the campaign
At this place my Capt. John Cleveland was informed by letter that his wife was dangerously ill, and went home, and did not again return to us. Myself and my New River  neighbours, Baker Campbell, Waters and Humphreys, at the request of Capt. Cleaveland were then permitted to join Capt John Beverley's Company, in which we remained to the end of the Campaign. I do not remember positively what disposition was made of the rest of Cleaveland's company
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but I believe that as Beverly had not
before a full company they all joined
him. My Regiment was commanded by
Col. Benjamin Hiern of Wilkes County.
The Captains under him were as for as I
remember, John Cleaveland and John Beverly
and I think others whom I do not recollect.
Col. Joseph McDowell brother of our Genl. commanded the Burkes County Regiment. There was also a Maj. McDowell in under Col. Joseph McDowell, I think his given name was also Joseph and that he was a cousin of the
General and the Colonel. I do not remember
any of the other North Carolina officers.
At the end of about two weeks were marched
from Turkey cove up the Catawba on the
East side along an old Indian Trace, and
crossed the mountain through a gape the
name of which I do not collect - struck
the waters of Swano River went down the same
and crossed French broad River just
above the month of Supano-- Here the
foot company from Wilkes County in which
was my uncle, James Sparks, and which
marched behind us built a station, and
remained to guard the frontier until
our return from the Indian Country
(Here I say my uncle on my return) from the
month of Suanant [?] we proceeded across Richland Creek, and then Homing Creek
Here we met and were joined by twelve or
fourteen hundred mounted Gunmen from
South Carolina. I do not remember their
commander, or any of their officers except
Maj Leitle, and him I recollect
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only from his afterwards in the course of the campaign accidently killing one of his own men by the name of Morrison in an Indian skirmish. The whole Army then proceeded across another ridge of mountains and then crossed Tuckasege River. The night of the day we crossed this river a scouting party of thirty or fifty of our men
under  in his Maj. McDowell
were attacked by a party of Indians
of whom they killed two or three, and
made prisoners of a woman and child,
an old man and one or two boys. The old Indian was shot the next day by a friendly Indian, servant of Col. Miller N.C. who I think was with us, but in what capacity I do not recollect. I regret
to say that I believe all the prisoners
were murdered except two boys. We
then marched on to the Tennessee River a distance of some 20 or 30 miles. here we found several Indian Village on the
South East side of the River, which gave
every indication of having been but
recently deserted. We remained some
two weeks destroying the houses, corn, beans and every thing of utility in and about the villages. We then received orders one evening that on the next morning
we were to march to the Valley Towns
some 70 or 80 miles further on, but
in the morning these orders were countermanded, I have never known why. We next proceeded about a day's march up a River, the name of which I forgot,
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on the South East side of the Tennessee, to a large town surrounded by villages
where we spent several days more in destroying the town and villages and every thing in and about them. Rumor afterwards stated, and I believe truly, that the
devastation committed by us in this
campaign was the cause of the death of many hundred of Indians from starvation. After spending a week or two more in endeavoring through our scouts in vain to find the Indians we commenced
our return march, and retraced the same route as well as I can recollect
When we repassed the station near the mouth of Swanano the foot company were still left there to protect the frontier, and
remained for some time afterwards. To the best of my recollection the South Carolina
troops parted from us at Henning Creek where they had joined us. the North Carolina troops then marched on and returned
to the Radkin at or near Wilkesboro
where we were disbanded. From this service I received a written discharge from Capt John Beverly which I kept for many years, but at length not deeming it of any use it was long since lost or destroyed. On this tour he marched a
distance which we deemed about five hundred miles and back; and I
served in it as a private mounted Rifleman (furnishing my own horse arms and equipments) at least four months and I believe longer for I feel confident
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that I did not [sic] home until after
[illegible], and I know I returned
home as soon as I was discharged.
On this expedition I know I received
no pay but to the best of my recollect
the privates were promised twenty
Dollars per months each, and the same
remarks will apply to all my revolutionary services; for I received no pay for
any of them.
Upon my return from this campaign
the militia company, in the bound of which
I resided, was organized into a company
of mounted minute men under Andrew
Baker as Captain and my Brother John
Sparks as Lieutenant. In this company ┃
served till the close of the war of the revolution. We furnished our own horses, arms and equipment. Our part of the country was
almost constantly infested with robbing and
murdering parties of Tories, British and
Hessians, and I was constantly either
out in pursuit of such parties, or in obedience to the orders of my Captain, held
myself in readiness to march at
moments warning. Of the many and
almost constant scouting parties, pursuits,
and expedition in which I was engaged during
this period from my great age and infirmities
I can recollect but one so as to able to state
the particulars and that only from the personal interest of my family in it. I will
proceed to state it. In less than a year
after my return from the campaign against
the Cherokees above detailed a party of
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Tories, about 150 in number, robbed my father, taking a horse saddle and
bridle, six guns, all our pewter (we
had no Delf ware in those days) and
whatever else they could carry. My
company was immediately called out
and others amounting in all to about
one hundred and fifty mounted Gun
men under the command of Col. Benjamin Cleaveland. We pursued the above named Tories a distance of between 60 and 70 miles and retook them in Bone's settlement near
the Virginia line. They were feasting,
frolicking and many of them drunk. We
killed and wounded 25 or 30 of them in a fight, made prisoners of nearly all the
rest, of whom hung five or six. The balance of the prisoners were discharged by Col. Cleaveland upon their promise not to molest the patriots for the future. In this expedition I was engaged three weeks. I received no written discharge during the war except the one from Capt Beverley above mentioned. I have no documentary
evidence of my service, and I know of
no person whose testimony I can procure who can testify to my service. This applicant further states on oath 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 three years as a private volunteer mounted Rifleman, always
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furnishing his own horse Arms and
Equipment, and for service he claims
a pension.This applicant was
born in Rowan County near Sallisbury
in the State of North Carolina
on the 3 day of April A.D. 1761. He
has no record of his age, but he believes
his brother Jesse Sparks, residing in Hickman County in the State of Tennessee has a copy of the record of his age, the original  have been lost. When called into service this applicant lived in Wilkes County North Carolina and remained there till the close of the Revolutionary War.
Then he removed with his father to
what was then Franklin County County,
afterwards Jackson, and now Clark(e)
County in the State of Georgia, and
settled about four miles from Athens in
that State. There this applicant resided
till the year 1811 when he removed to
Lawrence County Mississippi, thence to
Holmes County in that State where he
lived till March 1836 when he
moved to this County and vicinity,
where he has ever since resided. In
his service he was at all times a volunteer Do hereby [surrender?] any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present; and declared
that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. Allan Sparks
Sworn to & Subscribed before
me this the 14 Sept 1846
Ada
S
By A. Dean Fifty
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the Court then proceeded to [illegible]
the following interrogatories according to Law
Interrogatory1st When & in what year were
born?
Answer; I was born within one mile of the town of Salsbury [Salisbury] in the County of Roan [Rowan] State of North Carolina on the third day of April in the year 1761.
Int. 2d Have on any record of your record
of your age, & if you have where is it?
Answer; I have no record of my birth but my
brother had who lives in Richmond County Tennessee. he promised me a copy which I lost several years since with a trunk of papers
near Natchez Mississippi
Int 3d 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 Wilkes County North Carolina, my father emigrated from Wilkes County in Georgia Shortly after the revolutionary war, and settled in what was then Franklin County, now Clark County, near Athens, where I remained till about AD 1811. when I moved to the Territory of Mississippi  on Pearl river now Lawrence County. 
I remained there a number of years and then
removed to Holmes County where I remained until I moved to the then Republic of Texas; I
stopped in Nacogdoches County where I have lived ever since
Int. 4th  How were you called into service
were you drafted, did you volunteered, or were
you Substitute, of a Substitute for whom?
Answer. I volunteered and signs that I am
not able to do so again. I was not a Substitute nor was I drafted
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Interrogatory 5th State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served, such continental & militia regiment that you can recollect & the general circumstances of your service
Answer - I served under Caption John Clevland
Son of old Col Ben Clevland Capt. Clevland was
called home and I served the rest of the time
under Captain John Beverly, Col Benjamin
[illegible] that our Col. commanding & General
Charles McDowal was the General in command
Col. Joseph McDowal was out at the same line
commanding another regiment during that tour were engaged against the Cherokee Indians, after I returned from this tour I was frequently engaged as a Scout under the command of Col. Ben Clevland
Capt. Joseph Baker & Lieutenant John Sparks
who was my older brother The Tories came into the neighborhood and commited [committed] depredations Col Ben Clevland came over with a company, we followed
the Tories about 60 miles [? over]took them and killed and wounded severall [several]
and took some prisoners of war in this service
with Col Clevland.
Interrogatory 6th  Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so what has become of it?
Answer. I did receive a discharge from Capt
John Beverly for my first tour against the Cherokees which I have lost years and years ago. I never received any other discharge.
Int. 7th  State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
Ans. Genl Tho. J. Rusk, Major David S. Kaufman
Rev. Wm Harrington and any others of my acquaintance.
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I certify that the answers to the foregoing
seven interrogatories were made on oath by
the said William in open court before me
on this 14th day of September A.D. 1846.
W B Ochiltree
Judge of the 6th Jud: Dist.
State of Texas
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No 37475
William Sparks
Texas
Let. to Hon. Tho J. Rusk
March 2 '47


9960 [handwritten]

act 7 June 1832
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Senate Chamber
March 1st 1847.

To
The Commissioner
of Pensions

Sir

Some days since I transmitted to your office the papers of Willam Sparks of the County of Nacogdoches, Texas claiming a pension under the Act of June 7th 1832. You will confer a favor
by informing me this evening or tomorrow,
whether the claim can be allowed
and, if not, for what reasons
I expect to leave this city immediately and Mr Sparks, who is a very worthy old man, will be anxious to to (sic) know the fate of his application
Very respectfully
yr Obt Servt
Tho J Rusk
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We Simpson Shepherd a clergyman
residing in Nacogdoches in the
State of Texas, Thomas J. Rusk residing in the
County of Nacogdoches and David S. Kaufman
residing in the County of Sabine in said State of Texas, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Sparks who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
eighty five years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood [neighborhood] where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution; and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn to and subscribed }
this 19th day of September }
A.D. 1846 in open Court }
H. Nelson Dep CCC
Simpson Shepherd
Tho J Rusk
David S Kaufman

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
Simpson Shepherd who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the Town of Nacogdoches and that Thomas J. Rusk and David S. Huffman are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
W.B. Ochiltree
Judge 6th Judicial District
State of Texas
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Pension Office
March 2nd 1847

Sir

I have the honor to inform you that the
papers in the case of William Sparks have
been examined and filed under the act of the
1832.
In order to a satisfactory adjustment of
this claim appears will be required to specify clearly the commencement and duration of each tour of served with the names of the Company and [? field] officers under whom it was rendered, and to sustain the same or at the last to them by the certificate of the comptroller of North Carolina or by the testimony of two or more witnesses who
were in service with him. He alleges that he
served a tour of 4 months against the Indians
for which he was "promised $20 per month, but that he was not paid," that after his return from the expedition he was attached to a company of Mounted Minute Men, and was constantly out in pursuit of Robbers and Tories or held himself in readiness to march at a moments warning. The law grants a pension for actual service only. Claimant has not
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set forth as required by the regulations as much as 6 mos. service
The only one specified would appear from the amount of pay he was "promised" was not in the
regular Millitia, but like his subsequent minute service self organized for the protection of the Citizens against the depredations of the Tories and robbers, which if established [illegible] no ground for a stipend


Hon HW J. Rusk
Senate U States

Hon. J. T. Rusk
March 2, '49
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Act of July 4, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
9960
P.O.
William Sparks
Service:

Enlisted:                             , 18  .
Discharged:                       , 18  .

REJECTED

Application filed:                 , 18  .

Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P. O.

Recognized.
Cert. of Dis.
Contract.
Searched for -----, 18  .
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Senate Chamber
Feby 23d 1847.

To
The Commissioner of Pensions

Sir
I enclose the Declaration
of William Sparks claiming a pension
under the Act of Congress passed June
7th 1832, to which I respectfully request
your earliest attention. If possible, I should
be gratified to know the result before the
rising of Congress, but, if not, you will
confer a favor by enclosing your answer
addressed to me at Nacogdoches, Texas.
respectfully
yr Obt Servt
Tho J Rusk
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No 37,475
William Sparks
Texas
Act 7 June 1832
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I Richard Parmalee, clerk of the District Court
of the County of Nacogdoches in the State of Texas, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Sparks for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and seal of office this Nineteenth
day of September A.D. 1846.
R. Parmalee
Clk. Dist. Ct.

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