Pension Application of John Fields: S8471
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Virginia}
County of Patrick} SS
On this 25th day of March 1850 personally appeared in open court before the court of Patrick now sitting John Fields a resident in the County of Patrick and State of Virginia aged 89 years 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 the 7th 1832
that he entered the service of the united states under the following named officers and served as herein stated
he states that in the spring of the year 1776 Captain William Bobbit came across the mountain from big reed Island [in present Carroll County VA] to the County of Surry State of North carolina a distance of about twenty miles to raise a company to pursue the Shawnee Indians who had been commiting depredations on the persons and property of the neighbourhood of Reed Island River. this affiant joined his company as a Volunteer. March from the County of Surry where he then lived acrost the Mountains to the County of Botetourt the indians having obtained [illegible word] of their near approach, took shelter in a cave [possibly cove] called the big cave; Capt Bobbit surrounded the cave with the determination to starve the indians into a surrender –; he remained encamped at the mouth of the cave forty days the Indians would not surrender but starved to Death in the cave, all except one which under took to make his escape and was fire upon and killed the company marched back to Reed Island the abode of Capt Bobbit and was discharged he was engaged in this expedition three months. he states that Capt Bobbits company was the only company engaged in this expedition and that he started in the expedition on the 3rd day of May 1776 – he states that in the month of August 1776 shortly after his return from the above expedition he entered the service as Volunteer under Captain George Deatherage joined a regament under the command of Colonel Joseph Williams destined against the Cherokee Indians this Regement Rendesvoused at Dobsons Cross Roads in the County of Surry State of N. C. now the County of Stokes at this place the company became dissatisfied with Capt Deatherage and voted in Captain William Dobson under whom this affiant march from that place to the Cherokee towns a distance of about three hundred miles on their way they were joined by a redgment from Virginia under the command of Col Christie [sic: William Christian]. They destroyed some of the Indian towns but could not bring them to a fight agreed on terms of peace. The redgiment to which he belonged was march back to the long Islands of Holston [at present Kingsport TN] the larger portion of which was there discharged, the remainder was stationed there to keep the indians in subjection untill the treaty agreed upon could be ratified [Treaty of Long Island, 20 July 1777] this affiant was among the retained who remained there for some time when they commenced their march homeward where he arrived about the first of March having been engaged in this expedition seven months. this affiant states that shortly after his return from the above tour he joined Captain David Roark’s company of minute men for the term of six months during which term Capt Roark with his company was ordered to march against the tories who had collect together near the head of the yadkin River they march up the yadkin to near its head. the tories hearing of their approach dispursed they then returned home having been engaged in this expedition 21 days. this was the only time he was called on during his six months engagement which he believes ended in the fall of 1777. he then joined Captain Joshua Case’s company of minute men for six months during this engagement he believes in the spring of 1778 he was called on to march against the tories up the yadkin they marched up said River nearly to it head not coming in contact with the tories. They returned home through Guilford County having been engaged forty days – his term of enlistment or engagement under Case having terminated he volunteered under Captain William Shepherd in the month of June 1788 [sic] in an expedition against the tories who it was reported had collected in a body near the long swamp down on or near Rocky River. they commenced their march in June 1778 marched to rocky River to a place called the Stone House and then to the long Swamp before they reached the long swamp they were joined by several other companies they found the tories collected and engaged them in battle, which continued but a short time before the tories gave way and fled into the swamps where it was thought not advisable to follow them in this battle this affiant was wounded by a rifle Ball passing through his leg but fortunately did not brake a bone being now unable to ride he was left in the care and under the protection of Captain John Johnson who resided not far off. his captain and the rest of the company returned home. the affiant remained about a month and then returned home having been engaged three months in actual service and one month detained by his wound for which he claims four months. this affiant again entered the service as a volunteer under Captain Joseph Cloud in March 1779 march to 96 [Ninety-Six] in South Carolina. was there stationed for a short time hearing that a party of tories had collected together in or near a Swamp near Wilmington [NC] they were ordered to march against them after marching considerable distance they came upon a band of tories had a recontre[?] in which this affiant received a shot through his wrist. They then commenced their march home having been engaged in this expedition at least three months. the next tour of duty this affiant performed was in the year 1780 he volunteered under Captain John Smith in the county of Surry Marched under him to join a regiment under Collonel Williams destined against the British and tories in the South. they proceeded to a Place called the cowpens [in South Carolina] near which place they joined Colonel Williams regiment who had previously joined Col. Cambell [sic: William Campbell] [Benjamin] Cleveland and others and was in hot persuit of the British under the command of Figgerson [sic: Maj. Patrick Ferguson] – they persued him to Kings Mountain on the top of which place we battled and the combined forces of Williams Cleveland and Cambell attacked him on the Mountain a dreadful Battle ensued in which the combined forces of Williams &c were successful in this Battle Col. Williams [see note below] was killed as also the british commander in the battle your affiant received three wounds from the bayonet of the enemy one in the thigh one in the hip and one in the left Breast but not so as to disable him this affiant was retained a few days after the battle to aid in guarding prisoners. his three months having expired he was discharged and returned home he served in this expedition three months.
in November following he entered the service again, under Captain William Lewis of Surry County march under him to join General [Daniel] Morgan who at that time was in iminent danger being as it was said surrounded by the enemy they reached him in time to be engaged in the battle of the cow pens in which general Tarleton was defeated [sic: Battle of Cowpens SC, 17 Jan 1781, in which Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton was defeated] he remained with the army untill the expiration of his tour at which time three month was discharged and returned home about the first of March 1781 in this battle at the cow pens this affiant received a Blow in the head with a sword from one of the enemy which felled him to the ground the scare [sic: scar] of which as well as the scares from other wounds above mentioned are now visible. he states during the war he performed several other short tours against the tories but has neglected to mention them in their proper place. one of those short tours was under Capt Cloud Capt Case and Capt Blackburn all in compay, after the tories in Chesnut ridges [sic: Chestnut Ridge] in Surry County. this engagement did not last more that two weeks in this they killed four tories and recaptured property that they the tories had been Robed the citizens of Town Fork Town Fork is a branch of Dan River [in present Stokes County] the other small tours he declines Claiming for. he states that he received discharges for the regular tours performed by him signed principally by the Captains under whom he served with one exception which was signed by Col Leadbetter, all of which has long since been lost or destroyed. that he has no documentary evidence of service and knows of no person living by whom he can prove service except by Edward Hickman of Stokes County North carolina and Thomas Ayres of Surry County same State by whom he can prove part of this service if they are living and he has not heard of their Death. he will endever to procure their affidavits and forward them
he states that he was born in the County of Bedford now the County of Campbell in the state of Virginia on the first day of october 1761 according to a transcript of his age now in his possession taken from a register of his age in his mothers Bible
he states that his father moved to Roan [sic: Rowan] County State of North carolina when this affiant was about five years old, the county being divided and Surry taken off he resided in Surry during the Revolution, from which Stokes County was formed out of Surry wherein he lived until about 15 years past he took up his abode in Patrick County State of Virginia where now resides. Patrick and Stokes Counties joins one on each side of the State line. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the revolution and the name of the Clergyman of your neighbourhood if any there be. Answer – there is no Clergyman in my immediate neighbourhood Edmond Collins, Joseph Brown and Martin Cloud who are the only persons present in Court from his neighbourhood.
this affiant be interrogated why he had not made earlier application for a pension stated that he had always been of opinion that no man, not withstanding he may have fought for liberty should apply to his government for a support so long as he is able to support himself, but that he has now become so infirm that he is not able to procure a living by his labour – and having nothing to support himself upon, he claims it now right and proper to apply for and demand the provision made by the government for those who served their country in the Revolutionary war
he hereby relinquishes all claim 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 aforesaid John hisXmark Fields
State of Virginia}
Patrick County} SS
the deposition of William Moore Esqr of Stokes County North carolina aged 76 years taken before me Martin Cloud a Justice of the peace in and for the county of Patrick this 4th day of June 1850 to be read as evidence in support of the claim of John Fields to a Pension. The said William Moore being first duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that he was acquainted with John Fields the applicant for a pension when this affiant was about fifteen years of age it was then said that John Fields had been a soldier in the revolutionary war. Frequently saw Fields in companys where he was haled as a whig of the revolution. he has heard many conversations between him the affiants Brother Samuel (who is now dead) and John Fields in relation to their services together in the war of the revolution, they having persued in the service tories together. he further declares that he has heard Capt Joseph Cloud who was a captain in the revolution and who has been dead many years, speak of the services of John Fields. he said John Fields served under him and was a willing and valiant soldier and was always willing and ready to serve his country whenever called on that they had served together as privates at the long Islands of Holsten before he got the appointment of Captain. he used to say that Fields ought to be highly respected for the manly course he pursued in fighting for liberty when his Father and older Brothers were torys. he states that he has been acquainted the applicant for sixty years or more and he has always bore the name of a whig of the revolution
[signed] Wm Moore
NOTES:
The Col. Williams who was killed at King’s Mountain was James Williams of the Laurens District SC Militia.
A letter in the file states that John Fields died in early April 1850.