John made his decision to fight in the War and did so in 1776 and 1777. John received a pension from the United States government from 1833 until his death in 1845 for his service in the Revolutionary War. John's wife, Charity, applied for a widow's pension after John's death. Her pension request was denied due to John's desertion in August of 1777. It has not been determined why John deserted the Army.
Records show that hundreds of other soldiers also deserted.
John may have left so that he could move south to North Carolina with his mother and step father. John moved to Rowan County, North Carolina where he met and married Charity Barton on August 16, 1778. John and Charity were living in Rowan County, North Carolina in 1778 where John is listed as having paid taxes. John Owsley paid a poll tax in Wilkes County in 1786. John was away from home for some unknown reason.