Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5057, Thomas Hitchcock, S.C.
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(3 - 1776)

SERVICE
S. C.

Hitchcock, Thomas
or
Hedgcock

NUMBER
R. 5057

Born in S.C.
CONTENTS
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Franklin N.C. Sept 26th  Hon J.L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions  Washington City D.C. ( upside down on page ) (  Oct 5 '48 Thos Hitchcock  died Mr.Th. Hitchcock )
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Identical to previous page
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Qualla Town Haywood Co N.C. Sept 19 , 1848 Hon J.L. Edwards Com. of Pensions Sir, My father Thomas Hitchcock applied for the payment of a pension , which for reasons assigned  in your letter of the 1st April 1842  , directed to the Hon Jas. Grayham , was not allowed, since the death of my father the heirs employed  B King of Hendersonville to attend to the said  claim and  to procure the  necessary   testimony , not withstanding  about four years had elapsed no information has been received of said King in relation to the claim. May I therefore ask of you  the favor to inform me if the claim has been allowed , and paid, if not whether on furnishing the proof required by your letter of  1842, it  would still be allowed, and what sum would by  .. ( illegible )   under the act of 1818 . My object in knowing  is for the purpose  forming a correct opinion as to the propriety of incurring the expense of sending to South Carolina to procure from the record the indents of enlistment and service required in case the claim has not been allowed. My father during his lifetime for many years objected to making application  for the payment of a pension and it was not until unable to work  and reduced to poverty  that  he consented to apply. His children being left  poor and scarcely able to  defray the expense of procuring additional testimony.  Your obt.. servt. Hunter Hitchcock. ( signed )
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Thos . Hitchcock NC 33629 Declaration of Thomas Hedgecock  to obtain a pension  15 mo  State from S Ca
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(1) [ State of North Carolina Macon County ] Court of Pleas  & Quarter Sessions April Term 1836   This 15th day of April 1836  personally appeared in open Court  before the Justice of said  Court  now in  Session , Thomas Hitchcock  alias Hedgecock  a resident  citizen of Macon County  & State of N. Carolina  aged about eighty  one years who being 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 7th June 1832. That he enter the service of the United States   under the following named officers and served as follows. That he enlisted under Captain  Snipes of the Couth Carolina  State troops , colonel  Horry's  Regiment , General Marion commanding for the term of one year on or about  last of December  1781  or first of January  1782  at  __ on the Santee  ten miles below Mc Cord's Ferry on Peedee River  South Carolina  served as private - after to be described in answer to  the question  No. 5  Served 15 months , three months longer than his enlistment because of the wars raging so fiercely - has no documentary evidence  of service and that I know of no person  whose testimony  can be procured who can testify to my service.
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( 2 ) I hereby release all claim to a pension or annuity except the present , and declare that my name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any State.  Questions by the Court  1st. When & where were you born ? Answer. I was born in Marlborough  District South Carolina 3rd Nov.  1755  which appears from an entry in my father's old Bible lost or worn out or otherwise gone. Question 2. Have you  any record of your age ? Answer None, but the one  my own Bible made by copy of my father's . Question  3. Where were you living when called into the service, where have you lived since the revolution   and where do you now live ? Answer. I lived in Marlborough  District in South Carolina at the time of going into the service - thence in Rowan N.C.  about a year  then went to Lincoln  & lived 14 years the to  Tennessee  Cook County   Tennessee & then moved to this County when it was Haywood  & lived here ever since. 4th . How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute ? Answer . I enlisted  in the State troops of South Carolina .  Question 5. State the names of some of  the  regular officers who were with the troops when you served, such continental
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(3 ) and Militia  Regiments as you can recollect  and the general circumstances of your service ? Answer to No. 5  I enlisted  & marched to the  4 holes swamp under  General Marion  , thence to the fork of Wateree  there crossed the Wackamaw  , fought the British  Col. Watson  &  Tories - then crossed the PeeDee met the British and tories at Goose Creek Bridge they were foraging - tried to take the forage from the British - we were defeated. then went to Black Creek  & to Black Mingo  & encamped  scouting there , the enemy  had about  1200 N.C. Militia prisoners - Placed our Blankets on the Bridge to prevent the enemy  hearing the  horses - feet just at daybreak  attacked the enemy  took a  British Captain  & about 80 men  & released the prisoners, who went on  horse scouting about  , marched to  Marion's Station  ( on Santee ) called  Ancrom's old fields - there scouting  about in the neighborhood , and a scout within a few miles of  Camden met the British  &  were defeated - joined  Green's army  at Pine tree Creek  , went o Sandhill Creek there fought  & were whipped. I was off below  Ancrom's
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(4) old field  with 50 other men  and went under Captain Snipes on a scout ,  when the Battle of Eutaw  was fought  heard the guns distinctly  battle fought about  8th Sept.  1782  a memorable  day - continued to serve for 3 months  after my  term of a year was out because the  times was hot  & the  county in such a state  our officers would not discharge a man  even when his time was out if they could  possibly induce one to serve. I did serve  &  in all 15 months. - discharged in Spring of 1783  below Ancram's old fields  by Genl Marion  got  a written discharge but have lost it long since.  Saw Gen. Green  and Col. Washington   & his dragoons  not far from the High Hills where we went to Goose Creek where we fought & were defeated - Horry  was Major  when he first was under him but got  to be Colonel. I was wounded  in the back & breast at the  Battle of Goose Creek . I  am old my memory  very bad so bad that I cannot remember the times  & places  where we fought we had a great  deal of skirmishes under Marion , I cannot remember any  of the  Militia  regiments.
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(5 ) that were with us. We were with  Green's army  about a month  or 6 weeks . Col. Washington  with  his Dragoons  along  saw General Morgan of the Rifle Corps on his march not far from the High Hills of Santee  we were with him but a short time perhaps  not more than 24 hours, I may have made many mistakes as to  dates for my memory is gone, but  I believe the  last time of the above services  verily true.  Question 6th .  Didi you ever receive a  written discharge,  & by whom was it signed ? Answer. I rec'd a written discharge  signed  I think by  Marion , I got it of Colonel Horry. Question 7th . State the names of person s to hon you are known in your neighborhood  who can testify  as to your character for veracity  & good behavior and you services in the Revolution. Answer. I am known to  James Truit,   Sheriff , and David Elders the  chairman who certified  for me and  Samuel Sanders (?) Esquire  whose affidavit  is ....( illegible )  Sworn to in open Court   John Tatham ( signed ) clk Thomas Hedgecock ( his mark )
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[ State of North Carolina Macon County ] Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions  April Term  1836   Samuel Sanders states that he  knows  Thomas Hedgecock  well  & has known him for 41 years that he has now  & has always   had the reputation of being a  soldier of the Revolution  , that he has often seen his discharge but  never read it although  hear it read  well recollects one time its being read by Captain Samuel  Ramsey  of Lincoln. that said discharge  said that Hitchcock was honorably discharged  &  purported to be signed by General Marion after about 40 or 41 years ago  heard another soldier  of the Revolutionary  , ow dead,  to wit Nicholas Estes  & said  Hitchcock talk of their services together in the  Revolutionary war. , they conversed about  the  services described as if they were real and no fiction .  Sworn to in open Court. John Tatham ( signed ) clk Samuel Sanders ( signed )
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David Elder a clergyman  residing in Macon County   and James Truit  Sheriff of the County residing in the same. hereby certify that we are well acquainted with  Thomas Hitchcock  who subscribed  & swore to the declaration for a pension  , that we believe him to be 81 years old , 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. David Elder ( signed ) Jas. Truit ( signed ) Sworn to in open Court . John Tatham ( signed ) clk  And the 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 Thomas  Hedgecock alias Hitchcock   was a revolutionary soldier as he states, and the Court further certifies that   it appears to them that David Elders  who has made the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the County of Macon   and that James Truit  Sheiff   and  Samuel Sanders  Esquire  who has also made & sworn to the above certificate  of Macon County  are credible
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persons and that their statements are entitled to  full credit. I, John Tatham clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions  for the County of Macon  do hereby certify  that  the foregoing contains the original proceedings  in the matter of the application of Thomas Hitchcock for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand  and affixed my seal of office this 15th day of April 1836 . John Tatham ( signed / sealed ) Clk
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July 16, 1937
Thomas Hitchcock
R. 5057
BA-J/AWF

Mr. E. V. Hedgecoke
Peacock
Texas

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letter in which you
request information in regard to Thomas Hedgecock,
who served in General Marion's Brigade in the War
of the Revolution.

The data which follow were obtained from papers
on file in pension claim, R. 5057, based upon the
service of Thomas Hitchcock or Hedgcock in the Revolutionary War.

He was born November 3, 1755 in Marlborough
District, South Carolina; the names of his parents
were not given. He lived in Marlborough District,
during the Revolution, and afterwards moved to Rowan
County, North Carolina, lived about one years, then
to Lincoln-----, lived about fourteen years, then to
Cooke County, Tennessee, and thence to Macon County,
North Carolina.

While a resident of Macon County, North Carolina,
he applied for pension on April 15, 1836, and then
signed by mark " Thomas Hedgcock". He stated that he
enlisted sometime in December, 1780 or 1781, served in
Captain Snipes' company in Colonel Horry's South Carolina regiment, marched under General Marion to Four
Hole Swamp, fought the British and Tories at "Wackamaw",
was wounded in the battle of Goose Creek Bridge, and in
the battles of Black Mingo, Camden, Sand Hill Creek, and
was discharged in the spring of 1783.

He was still a resident of Macon County, on March
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14, 1862, and then signed by mark "Thomas Hitchcock".

The claim for pension was not allowed as the
soldier failed to furnish proof of his service, as
required by the pension law. One Thomas Hitchcock of
the South Carolina line was found recorded as a deserter
in February, 1783, and no evidence was submitted to prove
that the applicant for pension was not identical with
the deserter.

Newton Hitchcock, as he signed, referred on September
19, 1848 to the soldier, Thomas Hitchcock, as his
father, then deceased, and at same time referred to
other children, names not stated.

In 1850, the soldier's widow, Mrs. "Hedgecock"
was referred to, there are no further data relative
to her. The date of death of the soldier was not
stated.

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
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Franklin NC}
19th March }

Free

Hon James Graham
Washington
D. C.
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[ North Carolina Macon County ] This day came before me   Jas . Thomason one of the acting Justices of the peace for said County Thomas  Hitchcock  and after being duly sworn deposeth and saith  in answer to  the requirements of  J L Edwards on the pension business  first requires  said Hitch cock to answer  with respect to the date of his enlistment Answer. Mr. W Rane Drew off my claim and happened to rather be in a state of intoxication  but as fear as I can  say done all  my business correct only with respect to the date you wrote about I cannot  read ( nor write )  and I understood him as having dated it write , but it appears that he did not to the best of my recollection  the date of my enlistment  was in the latter part of  the year  1780 or in the beginning of the year 1781  the other objection  you wish me to answer  why I did not  apply  for a pension sooner is I live in the most extreme part of the State which is thin settled  and no person living in  my reach that could do the business for me and I am very frail and cannot  go and attend to any of that kind of business without some person comes  to me  . Sworn to and subscribed before me this day 14th  March 1842 /  Thomas Hitchcock ( his mark ) Jas. M. Thomason ( signed )
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Franklin N.C.  Oct 26th  1850 Dear Sir, Allow me to  trouble you if you  please for information  relative to the claim of Thomas Hitchcock . I believe that his declaration  was filed about the year 1836 . He afterwards died and Mrs. Hedgecock   his widow says that about  four years ago  a Mr. King came to her house and took her declaration  . She has never heard from Mr. King  but supposes that he at least filed the declaration some time about the year 1846. Thomas Hedgecock  was a very honest man and had the undisputed reputation of  having served under  Genl. Moultrie, Lincoln  and Marion in the war of the revolution. He was in the battle at  Fort Moultrie  on  Sullvan's Island if false pride or patriotism  prevented him form applying  for a pension till  1836 when he had become  reduced by age and infirmity  to the necessity of doing so. By this time it had become difficult  to identify himself as a soldier of the revolution  & legally  though no one
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who knew him doubted it  for a moment . To gratify  a very  old and a very worthy   woman  I have concluded to write this letter to you . I have  had no experience in such matters. Will you please inform me what disposition  was made of Mr. King's  attempt four years ago ,and if he failed please state the difficulty. My address  will be at Raleigh N.C.   during  the  Session of the Legislature  which convenes in a few days afterwards it will be at Franklin  Macon Co. N. C.  Very respectfully  yours D W Liles ( signed )
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REJECTED
5057
P.O.
Thomas Hitchcock
Service:

Enlisted:                  , 18
Discharged:            , 18

Application filed:   , 18
The printed list of 1852
shows reasons for suspension

Alleges:
"A person of the same name
the South Carolina records is
marked as a deserter,
and claimant - must exonerate
himself if he can from this"

Attorney:
P. O.

_____Recognized.   _____Contract.

[top of page]

1937. July 16 - Hist to Mr. E. V. Hedgecoke
1937 - Aug 3 - E. V. Hedgecoke adv. [illegible]
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Peacock Texas June 25 1927.

Veterans Administration,
Washington D. C.

Gentlemen;

Can you give me any information on Thomas Hedgecock, who served in General Marions Brigade, in the Revolutionary War,
Tradition says that he was courtmartailed once, and punished for
striking an officer,

Thanking you for information, I am.

Yours Truly.
E V Hedgecoke

time stamp
2:30
RECEIVED
JUN 29 1937
MAIL SUB-DIV
VETS ADM
READER # 24
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Peacock Texas July 22 1937.

Veterans Administration,
Washington D.C.

Gentlemen;

Thanks very much for the information contained in your letter of
the 16th, I think that we have the right man, I have copies of many old papers signed by mark "Thomas Hedgecock" and many of them show that he had
resided in Lincoln and Macon Counties, North Carolina, and Cooke County Tenn, But there is no reference to the name Hitchcock, in any of them, so that must 
have been a mistake of the enrolling officer,

Family tradition says that he was courtmartialed once for striking an 
officer, does your records show any thing of the kind,

It seems that the Company were riding in loose formation and one man rode 
a little too far to the side and was soundly cursed by the Captian, 
Hedgecock, thinking this uncalled for, rode out to the side, and on the Captian cursing him, he struck him on the head with the flat of his Saber, and knocked 
him out,  He was placed under arrest, courtmartialed, and condemned to stand 
his weight with his naked heel on a sharp spike, of course it went to the 
bone, He was in the hospital for some time, He rejoined his company with the 
firm intention of killing the Captian, but he had been transferred, and he 
never seen him any more.

Thanking you for any additional information that you may be able to find.

I am, Yours truly.
EV Hedgecoke

File Reference.
Thomas Hitchcock.
R  5057
BA-J /AFW


time stamp
3:15
arrow
RECEIVED
JUL 26 1937
MAIL SUB-DIV
VETS ADM
READER # 10
Page 23

August 3, 1937
Thomas Hitchcook
R. 5057
BA-J /AWT

Mr. E. V. Hedgecoke
Peacock
Texas

Dear Sir:

Reference  is made to your letter in which you request to be advised it the records of this office give any data relative to a court martial of
Thomas Hitchock or Hedgcock, Revolutionary War
Soldier, pension claim, R 5057, which record was
furnished you July 16, 1937. You state that it is 
a tradition in the family that he was courtmartialed for striking an officer.

The papeze on file in this claim for pension
contain no reference to a court martial of the 
soldier, Thomas Hitchcock (Hedgcock). 

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant 
to the Administrator
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Mar 28. 1842
N C

J L Edwards Esq
Washington
D C

Hon  J Graham
H R
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HR March 26th 1842 Mr. J.L. Edwards I presume the within evidence will be satisfactory - I do not know Hitchcock  the soldier , but I do know Raone the Lawyer and he is subject to intoxication. Yours James  Graham ( signed )
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June 29, 1841 I'm at N.C.   Hon . J. Graham HR ( vertical on page ) J L Edwards Esquire Washington  D.C.
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identical to previous page
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Washington  June 28th  1841 J L Edwards Esq. Sir, I enclose you the solemn statements  Thomas Hitchcock  and Daniel Bryson  in relation to a pension claimed for the former. Please  to examine then  & answer them to me , that I may satisfy the two old gentlemen. Very respectfully , James Graham ( signed )
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Franklin N.C.  Oct 29   Free To the Commissioner of Pensions  Washington City D.C.  ( vertical notes ) (  Resp. case   Thomas Hedgecock ) ( Triplett
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Wm Roane

May 7 1836

[illegible]


Recd  Vol 40 pa 481
Page 31

Dept. of War Pensions office  May 7, 18 __ Sir, I have examined the declaration of Em. Hude * Thos Hitchcock  and have placed them  on file in this office  Mr. Hitchcock   claims for a pension in the S.C.  state troops  of 15 months,  under Genl Marion. That he entered in Dec 1781  or Jan 1782 , and  was discharged in the  spring of 1783  - That he  enlisted for one year, but  in consequence of the wars raging  so fiercely was detained three months over his time, and the war had in fact almost closed in the spring  of  1782 , enlistments were discontinued, and  in Dec 1782  the British evacuated Charleston  S. Ca. Mr. Hitchcock  must be mistaken as to the period of his service , proof of which will be required. It may perhaps be  obtained at  some of the Executive offices of So. Ca.  He will also  state the reason why he has not applied at an earlier day  for pension. This last question will also be answered by Mr. Hyde.  I am etc.  Mr. William Roane Franklin Macon Co. N.C.
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Hon James Graham
June 30 41
OC
Page 33

Pension Office     471
June 30. 1841

Sir


I return herewith the letter of W Daniel
Bryan respecting the claim of Thomas Hitchcock
and in reply have the honor to state that
Wm Hitchcock filed his declaration in the Office
in the year 1836. Enclosed is a copy of a
letter  addressed to William Roane [illegible]
on the subject of his claim dated May 7
1836 which will inform you the reasons
why the claim has not been allowed

I have the honor

Hon James Graham
H R
[check mark]
Jun 7 1832
33629.  [check mark]
Page 34

Pension Office
February 7, 1851

D. W. Liber
Franklin, North Carolina

Sir: The claim of Thomas Hitchcock was not admitted
because it was totally unsupported by evidence. There
was one of the name in Colonel Marion's Regiment, but
he deserted. If the one to whom your letter refers was
not the same, then there is nothing to show that he
was ever in service at all.

I am etc
F. S. Evans
Triplett for Commissioner.
Page 35

Tho Hitchcock
[illegible]   [check mark]

Susd see let to
[struck out]
letter Hon James Graham

doto E. King July 3. 1845

[3 lines of text struck out]

5057
Act 7 June
Page 36

Hon J. Graham

1 April 1842

[illegible]
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Pension Office  April 1, 1842 Sir , I have the explanatory  statement of Thomas  Hitchcock  and have file it with his papers  The objection  to the   allowance of his claim is the want of proof  of his alleged enlistment and service of one year in the SC line . To this objection   may be added the following. It is  this . If he had performed the service alleged he  would have been entitled to a pension under the act  of March 18, 1818 . and if so , a question  arises  as to the cause of his failing to  assert such a claim. He did not even prosecute his claim under the act of  June 7 , 1832, until April 1836. Proof of the service must  therefore be produced.   I have the honor   Hon  Jas Graham  H Reps
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Pension Office May 18 1849 Sir, In reply to your letter of the  19th  September  last in the  case of Thomas Hitchcock under act of 7th June 1832 has been received &  re-examination of his declaration in what he alleges to have enlisted in the South Carolina  line in December 1781  , and to have served for fifteen  months has been made, upon referring to the records of the South Carolina  line in this office there is only one person of the name of Thomas Hitchcock  found thereon , and he is noted as having deserted in February  1783 . If it  be the same person who has made application  for a pension  he would by that act  have forfeited all claim to the bounty of his
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country  and would not be allowed  a pension. If he be not the same person , he should  obtain  record evidence from the office of the Comptroller  General of South Carolina , at Columbia  in proof of his declaration. Th reasons for  the delay in making his application for a pension under the act of  7 June 1832  and for not having applied under act of March 18, 1818  should be given under oath. Mr. Newton Hitchcock  Qualla Town N.C.  ( vertical note ) (  Newton Hitchcock  May 18, ' 49 )
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June 30 45

Jno Davis
Abm Wiggins
Tho Hitchcock
[illegible]

Hendersonville}
NC June 22      }

Free

J. L. Commissioner of Pension
Washington  City
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Hendersonville 20th June 1845.

J.L. Edwards Esqr.

Dear Sir I wish to know the
condition of the claims of the following persons who are
applicant for Pensions for Revolutionary Services (Viz.)
John Davis who was a Citizen of Rutherford County N Ca
when he applied-

Abraham Wiggins & Thomas Hitchcock both of Macon
County No.Ca

I have the honor to be very
Respectfully your obt.
Servant.

Elisha King

10  Apl 33 Jno Davis T. F. Berchel Clk Rutherd Co [illegible]
Jhn Davis Admd

J. L. Edward Esqr
Washington City