William Eddin(g)s
pension application

Submitted 10/16/2000 by:
Charlotte Sandel Beck.

Personal Notes and information:
WILLIAM EDDINS (2) [William (1), Abraham] was born on 21 April 1758 in Culpeper County, Virginia. He died at the age of 83 on 13 Jan 1841 in Wilson County, Tennessee.

On 24 Aug 1784 he married *REBECCA CHANDLER in Wilkes County, North Carolina Rebecca was born on 19 Feb 1765 in Henry County, Virginia.

Both appear in the 1840 Wilson County, Tennessee census with William aged 82 and Rebecca aged 75.

William's grandfather, also named William, was also married to a woman named Rebecca.

William served in the Revolutionary War as a soldier from two states - North Carolina and Virginia. In 1832 the government created a pension for soldiers who could prove they served during the war. William gave court testimony of his military experience as proof of his service. Though his records are filed under the spelling "Eddings" the details prove he is the same Eddins.

It is rare that a soldier served from two states. According to his court testimony, William joined in Virginia, spent several months looking for George Washington's troops, and when he found him, finally, there were more soldiers than needed. A lottery was held to see which soldiers would stay. William was sent home.

In the next year, William's father and the rest of the family moved to North Carolina where troops were still needed so William enlisted in the army again.

Listed below are the children of *WILLIAM and REBECCA EDDINS.

*MARY ANN "POLLY" EDDINS was born 06 Oct 1790 at Laurens County, South Carolina. Called by the name "Polly" and sometimes "Molly", she married *THOMAS BAY on 02 January 1815. Mary Ann came to Montgomery County, Texas with eight of her nine children and three grandchildren in 1850 and founded the town of Bay's Chapel. Mary Ann died 11 Sep 1871 in Montgomery County, Texas.

ISAAC EDDINS, born in 1786 in Wilkes County, North Carolina. He married Sarah.

NANCY EDDINS, born in 1786, married Littleton Mosley.

FRANCES EDDINS (Fanny), born in 1790 at Laurens County, South Carolina, married Burwell Mosley.

JOHN EDDINS, born 12 Feb 1792 in Laurens County, South Carolina, married Nancy Hooker who was born 1792 Bertie County, North Carolina. John died in 1859 in Fayette, Tennessee. Their children were Elizabeth, Benjamin Hooker, Chloe, Rebecca M., John Miller, Frances H., William, Anne Tucker, Samuel W., Joseph H., Thomas Partlow.

JOSEPH EDDINS, born 1794, married Parthena Henderson.

REBECCA EDDINS, born 1800 in Wilson County, Tennessee, married Richard Ozment. She died after 1850 in Wilson County, Tennessee

TEMPERENCE EDDINS, born in 1798 in Laurens County, South Carolina, married Lewis Wright.

ELIZABETH EDDINS, born in 1800 in Lauren County, South Carolina. She married James Ozment in 1817.

CATHERINE EDDINS was born in 1802 married William Drennan in 1820. She died in 1842.

PATSY EDDINS was born in 1804 in Wilson County, Tennessee. She married Ira Tatum

JANE EDDINS, was born in 1805 and she died in 1823.

LUCINDA EDDINS was born in 1809 in Wilson County, Tennessee. Lucy married Rufus Capel in 1828.

SALLY EDDINS was born in 1808 in Wilson County, Tennessee. She married Rufus Capel

WILLIAM EDDINS, Junior was born in 1808 in Wilson County, Tennessee. William married Sally Hooker in 1810. He died 1885.

Notice that 2 daughters married Mosley brothers, 2 daughters married Ozment brothers, 2 daughters married the same person and 2 sons married Hooker sisters.

DECLARATION in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. State of Tennessee. Wilson County.

On this 28th day of September 1832, personally appeared in open court before David C. Hibbetts, James McMartin & Benj. W. Billings - Esquires justices of the Court of Pleas and (Quarter) sessions of said County of Wilson now sitting, William Eddings Senr. a resident of said County of Wilson & State of Tennessee aged seventy four 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 7th, 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. He volunteered his services to the United States in the summer of the year 1777 (according to his best recollection) in Culpepper County, Virginia; he belonged to the company commanded by Captain Henry Hill, in the Regiment commanded by Col. Barber, was mustered into service at Culpepper Court House; did not remain there long, before they marched for Gen'l Washington's headquarters which he thinks was near the line, between the States of Maryland & Pennsylvania; in their march they crossed the Patomac River at the Ferry called Nolin's ferry, if he recollects, passing through Frederick town in the State of Maryland and another small town, name not recollected; we were stopped and stationed for some time, at some great mills in Maryland, not far distant from Genl Washington's head quarters. The Maryland troops had united with the Virginia troops shortly after they had crossed the Patomac. After we had remained some time at these mills, we were informed that Genl Washington only would require one half of the Virginia & Maryland Militia, and that the other half should be discharged, that they might return home and thereupon a drafting took place, to ascertain who might return home and who should remain to be attached to the army under Genl Washington. Upon the draft having taken place, it fell to his lot to return home, so that he did not continue in the public service at this time more than about two months, according to his best recollection. He does not recollect who assumed the command of the Maryland & Virginia Militia, nor does he remember the names of the Major of his regiment, or the Lieutenant of his company.

The fall after his return from the campaign above stated, his father removed to Wilkes County North Carolina; some time in the next year 1779, to the best of his recollection, he again volunteered his services in the Revolutionary War; belonged to the company commanded by Capt. Wm. Lenore and Lieutenant Nathaniel Gordon, Major Allen was one of the field officers; does not remember the Col Commandant in this campaign. We were mustered in service at Wilke's Court house, if he recollects rightly, marched after being organized, equiped. He, down the Yadkin, crossed the river one evening, and recollects after they had marched about one mile from the river & had encamped, that Capt. Lenore came to him & told him he must select twenty or twenty five men and return to the ferry, that they might watch for the crossing of one Bryant, who was a leader among the tories & was expected to cross the river that night; from there we were marched about through the country guarding the citizens against the attacks and depredations of the tories; we recrossed the Yadkin and returned to Major Lewis' the father of Major Micajah Lewis who was killed by a stratagem of the picket guard of the enemy; he recollects one incident that occured in that campaign; on their return to Wilkes County up to Major Lewis' they took one of Genl Pickens' light horsemen, who believing us to be Tories, confided himself to be one, and set about much abuse against the Lewis family; the Lewis' were present and questioning him at the same time, though he did not know them, we kept him under guard at Lewis' where we remained stationed for some time, until Genl Pickens crossed the river and came over where we were encamped, he saw his man under guard and calling him Mulkey by name if recollects rightly and inquired of him what he was doing there; after stating his situation and the abuse that he had rec'd, Genl Pickens flew into a great rage & ordered him to leave the guard & to go and wash himself (for the man had been badly beaten & as he understood had been shot at with a musket, when attempting to escape, and had rec'd a buckshot near his back bone), the Militia officers appeared to be conscious of having suffered the soldier to have been mistreated and much abused. From Major Lewis' they marched down the Yadkin again and crossed the river at the shallow ford, the same day he thinks Lord Cornwallis with his army crossed the same place; late in the night the news reached our camps that the enemy were near at hand, we were ordered to our arms and commenced a retreat through the woods that night; the next day in our retreat we got scattered & did not collect together again before the second day about 10 O'clock, shortly Genl Locke's troops joined us, still retreating from the enemy, in short time after Genl Locke joined us, the British Dragoons came upon us, we retreated and were only saved from being cut to pieces or taken as prisoners, by Genl Pickens corps of Calvry keeping between the enemy and the Militia. The British persued us & pressed us closely for about seven miles until we met with Genl Green's army - being greatly fatigued & exhausted we were directed to halt for the night & join his rear next morning - the British then retreated (pricipitalely) & Genl Green with his army persued them toward Guilford Court house and about the second day after we had joined the main army his term of those months had expired, he was discharged and returned home. He well recollects that his term of service expired but a few days previous to the Battle of Guilford. He knew Genl's Morgan, Buford, Genl Green, Col Williams.

The next and last campaign he served was against the Cherokee Indians who had been attacking the frontier settlements. Capt Keys commanded the Volunteer compaign from Wilkes County North Carolina & he was the 1st Lieutenant, Col Herndon was Commandant of the Regt, Col McDowell & Major McDowell were field officers in this campaign - Genl McDowell of Burke or Rutherford North Carolina was appointed to take the command of the expedition - does not recollect the place distinctly where the North Carolina troops were rendezvoused. We marched from Wilkes Court house through Burke, crossed the Blue Ridge at the head of the Catawba thence through the wilderness as it was then called to the Indian Country - recollects that on this march they crossed French, Broad & Pigeon River & perhaps some other rivers he crossed but does not recollect; each officer & soldier furnished himself with a horse, arms - at least he did and believes the others done the same. They encamped one night within about 6 miles of the first Indian town they reached, but the Indian spies had discovered us and when we reached their town they had all abandoned it, except one old man, who informed us that we had been discovered & the warriors had all retreated to the Valley Towns where the main battle was fought. On our march we laid waste the country, destroying their little towns, provisions, & every thing that we considered would be useful or necessary for their subsistance, he was not at the Battle, but was about eighteen miles distant when it was fought; he served in this campaign about two months agreable to his best recollection and belief. After having done all they could well do to break up the Indians & compell them to sue for peace, he returned to Wilks County North Carolina - where he resided for about seven years, then moved to Lawrence County South Carolina where he resided about seventeen or eighteen years, then removed to Wilson County Tennessee where he has lived upwards of twenty four years. He was born 21st April 1758 according to a record now in his posession, taken from his father's family record.

He will now state his services as a volunteer Minute Man, under the Command of Col Cleavland of Wilks County and Major Allen. Nathaniel Gordon ___ was the Captain of   the Company to which he belonged in the minute service and this was previous to the expedition against the Cherokee Indians. Col Cleavland's object principally was to keep the tories in check & to prevent them from embodying - he was about two years in this service, but cannot state how long he was on duty and in actual service under arms, but will state that he believes he served in all about three months; Col Cleavland was once taken prisoner by the tories; we went & rescued him and at the time he was retaken three of the tories were killed & shortly afterwards three more were taken prisoner and were hanged at Wilks Court house. The Tories were very troublesome in North Carolina to the whigs.

This applicant has not been able to state dates & must rely upon the foregoing statements of the events which he had personal knowledge of. He is well acquainted with Rev'd Elijah Maddox, Jasper R. Ashworth & John Guthrie - Citizens of Wilson County, Tennessee, who can testify as to his character for veracity & their belief of the services above stated & his being a soldier of the Revolution.

He has no documentary evidence to sustain his application, does not recollect that he ever rec'd a discharge in writing.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declares that his name is not in the pension Roll of the agency of any State.

Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid.	William Eddings His "X"  Mark
Josiah J. McClain, Clerk of Wilson County Court
W. Elijah Maddox - a Clergyman residing in Wilson County
Jasper R. Ashworth and John Guthrie - residing in the same, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with .....

Submitted 10/16/2000 by: Charlotte Sandel Beck

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