On this 26 of May 1833 personally appeared in open court before John Chambers, Exum Whatley and Solomon Debow, Esqrs. The court of pleas and quarter sessions for said county, John McClung a resident of the county and state aforesaid aged 70 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 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated that he entered as a private for the term of fourteen months about the First of May 1779, in South Carolina, Edgefield County in the Company commanded by Captain Richard Johnston in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Samuel Hammons in the line of the state of South Carolina on the new continental establishment, that he continued to serve out the fourteen months when he was discharged by Colonel Hammons at the Block House at Gen. Pickens in South Carolina. This term he was an enlisted soldier for the time aforesaid, and marched first from Edgefield, Edyston (sp) Creek – there to Bull Swamp below Augusta. The regiment was raised in this county – The discharge he received was burnt in the house of applicant. He assisted at the storming of Grafus (sp) Fort and also at the siege and capture of Brown’s Fort at Augusta, Georgia.
After having been dismissed (sp) as above in June or July 1781 he volunteered under Captain Solomon Beckham which discharge has been since last.
In all, he served as a regular fourteen months and as a militiaman six months and ten days. He was born in Pennsylvania but cannot say in what year or in what county he was born as his parents died when he was a child. While a child he was carried to Warren County, Georgia where he lived until he went to South Carolina and enlisted in his fifteenth year – after serving fourteen months as above and two months as above he returned to Warren County and lived there during the balance of his service. Since which time about 1806 he moved to French Broad North Carolina where he lived 3 years in Buncome County. He then moved to Pendleton District South Carolina and lived there 5 years – then to White River Arkansas Territory and lived there 2 years – then to Morgan County, Alabama and lived there 4 years – then to Highwasse (sp) __ ___ McMinn County, Tennessee and lived there 2 years then to Smith County, Tennessee where he now resides and where he has ever since resided.
He knows of no person living by whom he can prove his service but sends an old declaration containing proof, which a ___ ___ to adopt as part of this. As to his character he can establish it by James Field a clergyman and Samuel Jones who are well acquainted with him.
He hereby relinquishes his every claim whatever to a pension except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state in the United States.
Mr. James Fields a clergyman residing in the county of Smith and State of Tennessee and Samuel Jones residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John McClung who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 70 years of age that he is reported and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that belief..
And the said 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 was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. And the court further certifies that it appears to them that James M. Fields who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in Smith County, Tennessee and that Samuel Jones who also signed the same is a resident in said county and state is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Jonathan Pickett, clerk of the court of pleas and quarter sessions for said county do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of John McClung for a pension. In testimony whereof I have herewith set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at office in Carthage this 30th day of May 1833 and 57th year of our Independence.
On this 23rd day of October 1827 personally appeared in open court, being the Circuit
Court for said county of McMinn in the Seventh Judicial Circuit in and for the said State
of Tennessee and above being a court of record in that having the power to fine and
imprison, John McClung resident in said county aged 64 years, who being first duly sworn
according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the
provisions made by the Acts of Congress of the 18th March 1818 and the 1st of May 1820 that
he this said. John McClung enlisted as a private for the term of fourteen months on or
about the first day of May 1779 as well as declarant recollects (but being old declarant
is not certain as to the precise year) in the state of South Carolina in the company
commanded by Captain Richard Johnston in the regiment commanded by Colonel Samuel Hammons
in the line of the state of South Carolina on the new Continental establishment – that he
continued to serve in said corps until the end of said term of fourteen months, which, as
well as declarant recollects, was on or about the 1st day of June 1781, when he was released
from service by said Colonel Hammons at the Block house at General Pickens in said state of
South Carolina, that sometimes afterwards, perhaps about the space of one month (say in
July 1781) said declarant by appointment with the said Colonel Hammons in Augusta in the
state of Georgia, when and where declarant received from the said Colonel Hammons an
honorable discharge –that said declarant has since lost or mislaid said certificate of
discharge of the said Colonel Hammons, and that the same cannot now be found – that said
declarant served nine months and was _______ (first for the said term of fourteen months)
under one enlistment the said declarant assisted at the storming of Grason’s Fort and also
at the siege and capture of Brown’s Fort at Augusta in Georgia, that declarant during said
term served sometimes in the state of South Carolina and sometimes in the state of Georgia.
That he hereby relinquishes any claim whatsoever to a pension except the present – that his
name is not placed on the roll of any state for a pension – and that the following are is
reasons for not making earlier application for a pension that declarant heretofore has
been able to support himself and family by his labor and did not wish to ask for assistance
from his government whilst he considered himself to be able _____ that support without such
assistance – that declarant has lately become very infirm and is much afflicted with
Phthises so that he is totally unable by manual labor to support himself and family that
declarant’s family consists of himself, his wife aged about forty years, and five children,
the oldest, a girl, twelve years and the youngest two years, that his children are all
girls except one, a boy of nine years of age.
And in pursuance of the said act of the 1st day of May 1820, I do solemnly swear that
I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818, and that have
not since that time by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of any of my property, or any
part thereof with intent thereby to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions
of the act of Congress entitled “An Act to Provide for Certain Persons Engaged in the Land
and Naval Line of the United States in the Revolutionary War” passed 18th March 1818 and
that I have not nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or security, contracts
or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than that what is contained in the
schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.
That the above amount of $101 is a correct aggregate of the schedule of the whole of
declarant’s property. Sworn to me in open court.
I do certify that I was well acquainted with the above named declarant John McClung from
the time he was a small boy. Until the time of his said enlistment that he lived at the
time of our acquaintance in the state of Georgia, that all his relatives with whom I was
acquainted were Tories and opposed to the American cause in the Revolutionary War. That
declarant having espoused the cause of his country, produced a disturbance between him and
his relatives, as affiant was then informed, and he ran off from them to the state of South
Carolina where he enlisted as affiant was informed as often said in said declaration alleged
that affiant afterwards saw said declarant at the siege of Augusta in the service of his
country in the regiment of the said Colonel Hammons.
We do certify that we are acquainted with said declarant John McClung, that we believe the
facts set forth in the foregoing declaration are true and that the schedule annexed to said
declaration contain a correct account and the full values thereof of declarant’s property
and that he has no other property to the knowledge of affiants.
I Samuel __ Gautt, clerk of said Circuit Court, do hereby certify that the said schedule
and oath have been transmitted to the record of said court and that the same are truly
copied therefrom and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said court that
the whole amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is one
hundred and one dollars.
In testimony whereof I have herewith set my hand and the probate seal of the said court
having no seal of office this 24th day of October 1827.
Samuel G. Gautt
On this date to wit 28th of December 1833 at the house of Dabney Cooper in the county of
Smith and State of Tennessee personally appeared John McClung, a resident of said county
and state aforesaid before the said Dabney Cooper, one of the acting Justices of the Peace
in and for the said county, who being first duly sworn according to law the truth he speaks,
doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of
Congress of the 7th of June 1832 that he is 70 or 71 years of age, that since he made his
former declaration in open court is herewith annexed. He has been taken with a kind of
weakness in his knees and ankles attended at times with pain and inflammation and as he
believes is brought on and increased by his old age and other bodily infirmities. He is
unable to travel to the courthouse of his county as he has heretofore done and is compelled
to make his declaration before a Justice of the Peace who lives in his neighborhood and in
the following manner “to wit” that he entered the service of the United States under the
following named officers and served as herein stated. That he entered as a private that
is by enlistment for the term of fourteen months about the 1st of May 1779 in South
Carolina in Edgefield County in the company commanded by Captain Richard Johnston in the
regiment commanded by Colonel Samuel Hammonds in the line of South Carolina. They were
called state troops. He does not now recollect whether they were actually on the new
continental establishment or not but knows they were sometimes called troops under the
new continental establishment and sometimes state troops. Their Lieutenant’s name was _____
Beal, 3rd Lieutenant James Spann, Sergeant Myers and Elliott. The adjutant’s name was
Robert Starkes. Sergeant Major’s name was _____ Lawrence. He thinks John Lawrence. The
other companies of the same regiment were commanded by Jesse Johnston, ________,Captain
Cowan, Captain Mucklehany. The latter got his leg broke from a fall from his horse. These
were the four Captains in the regiment. Their major’s name was Fields Purdue. He marched
from Edisto Creek then to Bull Swamp below Augusta on the South Carolina side of Savannah
river. The regiment was raised in South Carolina. He assisted at the storming of Grayson’s
Fort and also at the siege and capture of Brown’s Fort at Augusta, Georgia. He got a
written discharge from Colonel Samuel Hammons in town of Augusta for the full term of
fourteen months service as above stated but having had his house burnt, it was destroyed.
He recalls during this term of service of he and a party of 27 men from the regiment
pursuing the Tory Colonel Cunningham, he thinks his name was but at this instance of
time cannot say and overtaking and having severe skirmish with his band. They took him
by surprise when his men were cooking. They killed several of his men and took most of
their guns as they had rushed upon them before they could get them to shoot. He saw a
great many Tories killed and also could name a great many other skirmishes but deems it
unnecessary here to make any further mention of them. In getting his discharge as above
stated he would further say that he and the company were dismissed at the Block House
General Pickens in South Carolina. As stated in his first declaration but received his
discharge in Augusta as above stated after it was taken by our troops.
After having been discharged as above stated in June or July 1781 he volunteered under
the command of Captain John Carter for three months and marched near Orangeburgh, South
Carolina and joined Colonel Saunders regiment but says but a short time with him having
been ordered up on a expedition against the Tories up towards Edisto Creek. He served two
months this time. He got a written discharge this time for the above period of two months
but it got burnt with his other discharges in his house.
In the fall of 1781 ay Wrightsborough, then Richmond County, Georgia, he volunteered for
one month under Captain Robert Day and marched to Ebenezer to guard some wagons from the
Tories during the siege of Savannah. After having served out his month applicant was
verbally discharged. In the latter part of the same year (1781) he volunteered in Warren
County, Georgia, to go to (followed by two illegible lines) and served twenty days and
was verbally discharged. In the fall of 1782 he was drafted under Captain _____ Beckham
in Warren County, Georgia. He was attached to the regiment of Colonel Saunders and
placed under the command of General Trigg or Twiggs and marched to the mouth of Shoulder
Bone Creek on the Caney River and remained while the treaty with the Indians was made at
that place. Then marched back and discharged in Wrightsborough, Warren County, the place
from where they started. He received a written discharge this time from Captain Beckham
which discharge he also got burnt with the other discharges. He served this term two
months. In the spring of 1782 he was also drafted under Captain ______ in Warren County,
Georgia and marched on a scouting party to ______’s Fort and was marched back home and
discharged verbally having served twenty days this time. In all he served 14 months as
a regular and as a militiaman six months and ten days.
He was born in Pennsylvania but cannot say what year but believes to the best of his
recollection it was 1763. His parents moved from Pennsylvania to Georgia, then Richmond
County now Warren County and died when he was very young. He lived there until he went
to South Carolina the place of his enlistment. He enlisted in his fifteenth year as well
as he recollects. This age was recorded in the family bible but when his parents died all
their property was destroyed and sold and his age thus has been rendered somewhat uncertain
had it not been for the records of the age of a cousin of his which applicant has seen
and who from tradition is but six months older than applicant His age has thus been
correctly established and applicant believes beyond doubt. After serving fourteen months
in the first town and two in the next he returned to Warren County, Georgia and lived
there the balance of his service- since which time and about 1806 he moved to French
Broad on Holsten in North Carolina where he lived three years in Buncome County. He then
moved to Pendleton District in South Carolina and lived there five years. Then to White
River, Arkansas Territory and lived there two years. Then to Morgan County, Alabama and
lived there four years and then to Highwasey Purchase, McMinn County, Tennessee and lived
there two years, then to Smith County where he has ever since and now resides. He herewith
sends all the documents he had in the proceedings. He can establish his character John
Saunders, a clergyman and Samuel Jones who are well acquainted with him. He also has got
two respectable citizens of the state of Tennessee who are acquainted with facts of
services and who also can testify as to his character for truth and veracity. He hereby
relinquishes his every claim to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that
his name is not on the pension rolls of the agency of any state or territory within the
United States.
I Dabney Cooper, one of the Acting Justices of the Peace in and for the county and
state aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains a correct account of
the original proceedings in the matter of the application of John McClung for a pension.
I further certify and ______ my opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary
Soldier and served as he states.
I do further certify that I am well acquainted with Moses Rhoads and J. B. Saunders
whose names are subscribed to the above certificate. Sworn to before me that they are
respectable citizens of the county and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Dabney Cooper, one of the Acting Justices of the Peace in and for the county
aforesaid do hereby certify that John McClung personally appeared before me and made
oath that he is unable to attend at the courthouse of his county in order to have the
necessary interrogatory put and that I have caused them to be put in manner following
to wit.
Answer I was informed that my age was recorded in the family bible but when my parents
died it was either kidnapped or destroyed. I have no recollection of it but I was told
after coming to years of understanding.
3rd Where were you living when called to serve and where have you since lived since the
Revolutionary War and where do you now live?
Answer - I lived in South Caroline Edgefield County when I first enlisted afterwards he
lived in Georgia and in the different states as mentioned in the latter part of his
declaration and now lives in Smith County, Tennessee.
4th How were you called into service were you drafted did you volunteer or were you a
substitute and if a substitute for whom?
Answer I first enlisted as stated in my declaration I then volunteered and was drafted
for the times mentioned in my foregoing declaration. I was never a substitute for any man.
5th State the names of the Regular officers who were with the corps you served such
continental and militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of
your services.
Answer The regular officers are mentioned in the first part of my declaration. General
Pickens had a severe battle with the Tories a short time before and defeated them.
6th Did you receive a discharge from the service and if so where is it by whom was it
signed and what has become of it?
Answer I received my several discharges as stated in my foregoing declaration and by the
officers therein mentioned but they were all burnt in my house.
7th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who
can verify as to your character for veracity and their belief as to your services as a
soldier of the Revolution.
Answer My neighbors can state generally as to my character but I will only mention those
who are named to above certificates, to wit John Saunders, a clergyman, Samuel Jones,
Moses Rhoads and J. B. Saunders.
I Dabney Cooper do further certify and declare my opinion after the investigation of the
matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the
above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he stated and I further
certify that it appears to me that John Saunders who has signed the foregoing certificate
is a clergyman resident of the county of Smith and State of Tennessee and that Samuel
Jones who resides in the county and state aforesaid who has signed the same is a credible
person and that their statement is entitled to credit. This 28th Day of December 1833.
I Jonathan Pickett, Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions do
hereby certify that Dabney Cooper of whom the foregoing proceedings _________ in the
matter of the application of John McClung for a pension now is and was at the time of
the proceedings aforesaid was an Acting Justice of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions
for the county aforesaid duly qualified and commissioned according to law. I further
certify that I am well acquainted with the official character of Dabney Cooper aforesaid
and that the signature attached to the foregoing affidavits purporting to be his are
genuine and that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to his official _____.
In testimony thereof, I have herewith set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at
office in Carthage this 4th day of April 1834 the 58th year of our independence.