Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 11,401, Alexander Muscle White, N.C.

SERVICE
NUMBER
N. C.
White, Alexander Muck R11401
CONTENTS

32974 South Carolina Columbia Dist.
Alexander Muscle Whites
Application and Certificate
for
Pension —————

State of South Carolina ss
District of Colleton On this sixth day of April one thousand eight hundred and thirty five personally appeared in open court before the court of common Pleas now sitting Alexander M. White a resident of Saint Bartholomews Parish in the District of Colleton and State of South Carolina aged seventy eight 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 June the 7 th 1832.
That he entered into the service of the United States of America under the following officers as herein after stated and served as herein stated. He deposeth and saith that he was born in Bladen County (since called Robbinson County) about twenty or fourteen miles from Cape Fear River & State of North Carolina on the eighteenth day of June one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven and will be seventy eight years of age on the eighteenth day of June one thousand eight hundred and thirty five; that in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight, he was drafted as a private in Capt John Hathorn's Company of light horse (Col William Robertson was of Bladen County) and was both Capt and then Colonel and served during all the war until within one month of the Peace when he was confined by an injury received during the war. He was regularly discharged by Capt Hathorn which discharge is destroyed or lost; he has no documentary testimony at this time. He knew General John Willis of Bladen County, who was General of Col Robertson's Regiment. He the deponent was at a skirmish at Betsy's Bridge across drowning creek; Col Robertson was in command when they were attacked by the Tories under the command of Major Samuel Andrews and Capt McNeal when deponent's horse was shot under him and fell back on him by which he deponent was ruptured.

Deponent was on his way to join General Gates' army (under command of Capt Heathorn) and was within hearing of the cannon at the battle at Camden South Carolina but before they reached the field of battle his Capt heard of General Gates' defeat and retreated towards North Carolina and in their way fell in with a party of Tories with whom they had a hot skirmish: this he says was on Big Pedee near Mary Bluff that there were a good many of the Tories killed on that occasion; he says he had a brother named Nathan White who was a regular soldier in General Gates' army; the deponent was with Gates' army a few days before his defeat and General Gates was pointed out to him by his brother; he cannot state why they were not in the battle of Camden. On the retreat of Capt Heathorn's company on the south side of Big Pedee they encountered a small body of Tories under command of Capt Thomas Gibson and defeated them. That from great length of time and very imperfect memory deponent cannot recollect all the incidents of the war. He was with his company under command of Capt Heathorn and another company under command of Capt Clayton in a severe skirmish with the Tories at Kellie's crossing in South Carolina; that he removed to South Carolina Saint Bartholomew Parish in Colleton District about the eleventh or twelfth of March one thousand seven hundred and ninety and has resided in the said Parish and District from that time to this. The deponent was at one time drafted from Capt Heathorn's company of Light horse and placed under command, he thinks of Capt Rice and acted as pilot or guide for General Rutherford's Light horse in Bladen County North Carolina. He was stationed in a Big Swamp called ten mile swamp about ten miles below Cross Creek, does not recollect how long he served there, thinks not more than a month, General Rutherford and his troops left there and came south. After they left there deponent returned home and was very shortly after called out by and served again with Capt Heathorn's company. During deponent's service as a guide or pilot the company of Capt Rice and deponent occasionally went into General Rutherford's camp. One Lieutenant Sepie Little who commanded the Tories about there came up back of the fence hurrade for King George and waived his hat for some of his company to follow him. Capt Rice

ordered ten or fifteen of his men to mount and follow Little and run him down. They pursued him and in the woods about a mile from the house they came up with Little and some of his men; a skirmish took place in which Little was killed and one of Rice's Light horse also. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on any pension Roll of any agency in any State. — Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Sworn to in open Court April 6 th 1835
Alexander M c Whirte
A. Campbell Clerk
We John Youmans a clergyman in Saint Bartholomew Parish Colleton District and State of South Carolina & William O'Bryans residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Alexander M c Whirte who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be about seventy eight years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a Soldier in the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion. — Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Sworn to in open Court April 6 th 1835 A. Campbell Clerk
J. Youmans William O'Bryan
And the said Court hereby declares their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after often putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a Regular Soldier and served as he states and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that John Youmans who has signed the foregoing certificate is a clergyman resident of Saint Bartholomew Parish in the District of Colleton and State of South Carolina and that William O'Bryan who has also signed the same is a resident of the same place is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credence.
Josiah G. Edwards Pres. Judge
A. Campbell Clerk of the Court for Colleton District do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of application for pension of Alexander M c Whirte
In testimony I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said court this sixth — day of April one thousand eight hundred and thirty five

thirty five and in the fifty ninth year of the Sovereign- ty of the United States of America
A. Campbell Col. H. G. D.

1 dec. def. into Capt Halkon Co. and found not one mo of peace — was one part of Halkon Co. Hpl and under Capt Reed.
2 dec. def. into Capt Halkon Co. and found 2 parties. — Was def. into Capt Rulander Co. and about 2 p.m. — was then ordered into Capt Rulander Co. and found then left back into Halkon Co. —
3 dec 78. def. from Rulander Co. to form a party from Co. and Capt Halkon, met at Mannys Creek. and found that there called Munnys creek —
4. 77 Was def. from Rulander Co. to settle the Capt Munnys Co. 1 year —

S. G. Alex. M. White suspended Ad 7 June Fr Lib. M o D. Edwards Apr 21 1831 same 22 May 1835 " 1 July " " 5 Aug " " 10 Oct " Rejected
11 H Q1
In the papers of Aaron Taylor N.C. Rejected.

11,401
P. O.
Alex. M. White
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Walterboro.
John L. Edwards Esq. 10 th Sept - '85
Pension Office
Washington City
Dear Sir:
Yours of 6 th ulto has been received, and contents communicated to Mr White, he came here this morning and I took the declaration which is sent herewith.
If my memory serves, I think the Draft at Lumberton is mentioned as an historical fact, and that Col Moore's company was regularly called into service - if so, I presume there can be no difficulty in White's claim - The affair is quite a troublesome & nothing but a thorough examination of its justness & a sense of his duty to an old & very infirm man could have induced me to

to tender you in the Government
I am
respectfully
Yr obedt Servt
John D. Edwards
H

The State of South Carolina 6th Ten District 3
The third amended Declaration of Alex M. White, for a Pension -
Personally appeared Alex M. White 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 times mentioned in his Decla- rations now on file in the War Depart- ment at Washington and in addition that he served as a private in Capt John Hethorns company of Light Horse in the year 1781- for six months, for which he was drafted at the house of Solomon Messer in North Carolina, Bladen County near Ten Mile Swamp, and for

This and his other services, he claiming a pension—
Sworn to this 24th day Alexander White of July Anno Domini 1835—
Malachi Hood O. C. D.
I. Malachi Hood Judge of the Court of Ordinary for Colleton District in the State of South Carolina, do hereby certify that the above & foregoing decla- ration was sworn to & subscribed before me the day & year above written, and that by the Laws of South Carolina, there is no Clerk to the Court of Ordinary—
Given under my hand & the seal of the Court of Ordinary at Walterboro this 24th day of July Anno Domini 1835—
Malachi Hood O. C. D.

Walterboro.
John L. Edwards Esq. 14th May - '85
Pension Office
Washington City -
Friend Sir.
Yours of 21st ulto, relative to Alex M. White's Pension application is recd. - I have been absent & this occasioned delay, the bed man came down to day and I amended his declaration which is included in an Envelope - he is very feeble and was so much overcome by the idea that he could with difficulty sign - I hope that he has now conformed to all the requisitions of the Act as I honestly believe he merits the Pension, if any do, - of the system we

of the South have some doubts — an early reply will oblige
I am respectfully Yr obedt Servt John D. Edwards

For John L. Edwards Esq. Pension Office Washington City

Walterboro. 9th June '35 John L. Edwards Esq.
Dear Sir:
I forward another statement of White's - I cannot coincide with you in opinion, that "he has confounded "mere readiness to serve with actual service"
It is clear that he served three months (by the declaration was sent) at one time, four weeks at another, and one month with Matthews. It is impossible that a private soldier, can say by what authority or the existing Government he is called out, the command of his immediate superior Officer is all he looks to or can be expected from him - by what authority Troops were ordered out during the Revolution are even now questions of doubtful history, and I have no history of No: Carolina at hand - It is certain, that a company was formed by Ball for three months & Hathorn put in command - the term "minute Men" is well understood at the South, and the elite of our State North Carolina comprised it, its service was almost constant , called out in any emergency

for weeks they were in the field & did hard duty - such in some measure was White's service
When White alludes to the "True" he means Marion's true (see Harnysay to Gen: note 27th 51 Morning to Page 371) - I think Hunter also made a similar one, but have nothing to refer to -
Write you please when to call on Taylor & John Jackson, and I enclose their certificate which he had among his papers, to had given me but it was mislaid, if they had been required during perhaps their declarations on being re- ferred to might furnish testimony for or against White - Will you refer to it, if I knew the address of these men and they are living, I might perhaps, get a proper certificate from them, though I hope there will be no necessity for it, as I firmly believe White, and if he is correctly informed of their being in the Peninsular War, such their declaration must throw some light on his -
I shall be obliged by a an end yrs -
I am respectfully Yrs &c John D. Edwards

N.B. It runs, that according to printed Requisition of Pension Office, White affidavit at last want of memory for term of service is in substance such as is required by the Office regulations - John D. Edwards

A. M. White Perrin

North Carolina Robeson County
This may certify that that these two persons do appear
Before me John Wilus one of the Justices of peace to keep the peace in and for said District and do testify that we Alexander W. Whitehead Solomon with them in the first Reverend were drafted under Colonel Robertson served under Captain John Hays whom was one of the company that
During the two months in the State of South Carolina and Nicks Gap Henderson we having St. Elizabeth where we got our Discharges
his John S. Gason his Aaron T. Lator
John Wilus Feb. 2 1832

Walterboro. July-25 th 35
George W. Crump Esq. Acting Commr of Pensions
Sir.
Your favor of 2 nd inst. is at hand. I now enclose another declaration of Mr White, which I think brings his claim within all the regulations required by the Department - as I have made it in accordance to a printed form furnished by the Department - The claim now stands thus, Year of 2 nd inst, admits five months services to be established by his previous declarations - which on being referred to will show to be  have been rendered

in 1779 - The Declaration new unit, shows service for 6 months in 1781 - both combined make Eleven months -
The memory of White is exceedingly impaired, his speech defective and he is almost deaf, all of which is of a fact in all his declarations - I am well aware, that strict compliance with the regulations of the Department is absolutely necessary, except in this case of this character, where age has rendered it impracticable to do more than has been done -
I trust that White may now receive his pension, which I honestly declare I believe he richly merits - I am respectfully John D. Eddy

9 Mar 31 - Alex (2) M. Whites Second Amended voluntariness for a Pension

State of South Carolina Cleton District 3
The record amended Declaration of Alex r M. White, to his applica- tion for a Pension, made on 6 th April 1835-
Alexander M. White, deposes, and says, that in 1778, he was a private in Captain John Prigun's Company, that Captain Prigun's ordered his Company as he stated to Department, by order of General Willis of North Carolina, for the purpose of a Draft to form a Company of Light Horse to be com- manded by Capt John Hathorn that Department, was one of this Draft and six others named, Aaron Taylor John Jackson, Reuben Rozier, Wm Gilbert Frank Gubett & John Chavez, they were ordered to meet in two days after the Draft, at Prichardsons old Gate on Drowning Creek, they all met there, and the rest of Hathorn men met them thirty five in number, all of whom were drafted

from other companies - he was then drafted for to serve three months, on the service of guarding the "True line" and protecting the country from the Tories - on this tour he went to Grub creek, and there had a skirmish with the Tories in which, one of their men Wm Gilbert was killed - Deponent then returned home with his company, and after being there for two or three days, Capt after war's Col Robertson came & pressed him & Aaron Taylor to go in pursuit in pursuit of Tories to Churning Creek, he was not out long, as his horse was killed & fell on him at this time - he was confined by the injury then received for some time - After he got well - he was then again ordered out by Capt Hathorn, who felt he had orders to go out again, but he never went and does not know who gave these orders, he went then crossed over the line into South Carolina, "the True was at an end" or nearly so - he was four weeks on this tour, - he was then at home for two or three days - again ordered - went out with Capt Hathorn company - The Deponent states that he believes his company & Capt Hathorn's was in the duty of guarding the frontier or True line, were called Minute men and he served & was drafted during whole war on this frontier service, in company with

Aaron Taylor - his memory is feeble & weak and cannot remember any thing - his comrade Aaron Taylor, John Jackson both write this Deponent, that they had received a Pension - he has heard since that Jackson is dead -
Sworn & subscribed to before me in open Court - This ninth day of June Anno Domini 1834 - Alexander Mackie
I. Malachi Ford, Judge of the Court of ordinary for Colleton District in the State of South Carolina, do hereby Certify that the above declaration was subscribed & sworn to before me in open Court, this ninth day of June Anno Domini 1835 - and I do further certify that by the Laws of South Carolina, there is no Clerk to the Court of ordinary -
Given under my hand & Seal of said Court At Walterboro, this 9th of June 1835 -
Malachi Ford O. C. D.

The State of South Carolina Colleton District?
The Amended Declaration of Alex r M c Leod White, to his declaration still taken before Judge Evans at Walter- boro Court House Colleton District on the 6th day of April 1835 and now on file of the War Department of the United States, Pension Office at Washington District of Columbia Alexander M c Leod White being duly sworn, says that he was a private in Captain John M c Ginnis company of Militia in Bladen County North Carolina This was a Company of Infantry, he was drafted from this Company in the year 1778 into the light horse company of Capt John Heathorn of Bladen County North Carolina as a private soldier; that he served two years with Capt John Heathorn That at the expiration of two years or about that time, he was

he was then drafted into as a private, into Captain Samuel Richardson's company of Light Horse, Captain Samuel Richardson lived on Drowning Creek in North Carolina that Nathaniel Richardson was the Lieuten- ant of this Company, he thinks, he served under and with Richardson's Company about two years, he went with this Company to Wilmin- ton North Carolina, also to Georgetown in South Carolina, and on Cooper River in South Carolina at Strawberry Ferry and on the Santee River in same state. He was then drafted into Captain Williams Robertson's company of Light Horse as a private, he thinks, he only served three months with Robertson's company, Robertson was afterwards a Colonel, he went with Robertson to Battle Bridge  Ford in North Carolina across Drowning Creek, here his horse was shot under him, fell back on & left him him, this injury confined him about three months - After this he was drafted back to Captain Hathorn's Company of Light Horse (his old & first Company) he was

drafted then for three months, but thinks he did not serve so long, as peace was shortly declared, he went on this tour to the Big Pee Dee in South Carolina, and to Shee Heel Swamp but does not remember if this swamp is in North or South Carolina, while on this tour near Gibsons Ferry in South Carolina on the Big Pee Dee, they caught a Foray named Charles Yates and hung him, he had murdered Capt. Hawthorne near Nathaniel, also above Gibsons Ferry, caught another Foray named Nicholas Henderson and hung him for the same offense and at Shee Heel Swamp caught another Foray named Dickerson and hung him for the same offense - the character of his service, was to guard the country, go in pursuit of the Forays and prevent their doing mischief and injury - The Deponent is very infirm and from an attack of Palsy, can with difficulty be understood - His memory is feeble, and he cannot recollect precisely how long he served each tour of duty

ten of duty - He however positively swears, that during the whole war, (with the exception of three months when he was confined from his horse (falling on him) he never was at home one week at very one time and putting all the time together he was not out of service for one year during the whole war - Beard  Beard
Sworn to & subscribed before me Malachi Ford Judge of the Court of ordinary & probate of wills in the District of Columbia & State of South Carolina at Walterboro, Court House in open Court this 14 th day of May Anno Domini 1835 - Given under my hand & Seal of said Court the day & year above written [14 th May 1835] and I further certify that by the Laws of South Carolina, there is no Clerk of said Court -
Malachi Ford J. C. D.
14 th May 1835

The Amended Declaration of Alex M. White to his previous applications for a pension, now on file in the War Department, Pension Office at Washington City -
The Deponent Alex M. White, states & declares on oath, that in or about the year 1777 - through at the time he cannot specify certainly, yet he is certain or nearly so, that it was the year before what is called the First  South Carolina Force, at a General Muster at Lumberton in the State of North Carolina, where were assembled several Militia Companies, he rode to his own Company, commanded by Capt John Mighers, one Company commanded by James or Jacob Blount one by Jerry Richardson and other Companies, under the names of the Officers he does not recollect, one more he does namely Capt Shadrach Lee's - That in this occasion

General John Miles was present and the Deponent saw him, he also understood the Governor of North Carolina was present but he did not see him, if he did, he did not know him - that at this time & place, a Draft was made from all the Companies assembled, and that this Deponent Alvin M. Whiten and Ruben Mosier, David Mosier, Isaiah Powell, Joseph Bailey and some others whose names he does not recollect, were drafted from the the Company of Capt John Mignon's for one year, and attached to the Company of Captain Wm Moore, where Lieutenant was named Isiah Powell, that he served as a Private Soldier with Capt William Moore under this Draft for one year - that Capt William Moore's company was a Light Horse Company, consisting of thirty five Privates - that he marched under command of in Capt Wm Moore's as a Private, from Lumberton to

up to Rock Fish Bridge, and went there into Camp, that on their arrival at the Rock Fish Bridge, they found there a company of Foot Artillery, commanded by Capt Jerry Miller and Lieutenant Isaac Plummer, — that Regiment went from Rock Fish Bridge Camp, under Capt W m Moore in pursuit of a band of Tories said to have been commanded by Thos Gibson, they first went to Fair Bluff at Brownings Creek in North Carolina, found the Tories had gone to South Carolina, followed them across the Big & Little Pee Dee Rivers, across Benton's Ferry and came up with them upon Lynch's Creek at Witherspoon's Ferry and there had a fight & dispersed the Tories, and that at this fight, his Lieutenant M c Wood was killed — The Regiment then returned with Capt Moore to the Camp at Rock Fish Bridge — and remained in the Camp during the

rest of the year, occasionally were they left the Camp under orders & were scouting about the country — that the Camp was of Capt Wm Moore Detachment at this time was ordered down to Elizabeth Town, and Detachment was then with them, the 1st Field at Elizabeth a night or two & returned to the Camp —
and this Detachment refers to his previous declarations to show his want of memory —
Sept. 31 (4)
Sworn to & subscribed before me me in open Court this Fourth day of September Anno Domini 1835 — Alexander Mahone
I. Malachi Ford Judge of the Court of Ordinary for Colleton District in the State of South Carolina, do hereby Certify, that the above declaration of Alex r M. White was sworn to & subscribed before me in open Court. the day & year above written — and that by Laws of South Ca there is no Clerk attached to said Court Given under my hand at the seat of said Court this 1 st day of Sept r 1835 — } Malachi Ford O. C. D