Revolutionary War Pension Application of Samuel Davis
National Archives Microfilm Publication M804 - Revolutionary War Pension & Bounty Land Warrant Application Files
Roll 755
transcribed by L. Melberg and D. Powell, 1997
State of Alabama Circuit Court
Madison County
On this 8th day of November 1832 personally appeared in open court before ________ the Judge of the circuit court now sitting, Samuel Davis, a resident of the county of Madison and State of Alabama, aged seventy six 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 the 7th day of June 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein after stated Sometime in the year 1776 (he thinks about the latter part of August) he entered the service under Colo. Christie and was in what has been called Christie's Campaign. Robert Craig was his captain. At the time Christie came on, he was in the Black's fort the place where Abingdon is now situated. Christie told Craig that if he would raise twenty six men, he should have the rank & pay of a Captain. He did so and this applicant was one of the twenty-six; and served in that campaign against Cherokee indians, three months or thereabouts. In the year 1777 & 1778 he was generally engaged in guarding & defending the frontier forts in what is now called Russell County, ( it was then called Clinch settlement) to prevent the predatory incursions of the Shawnee indians which were very frequent. The several forts in which he served were Moore's fort - Glade hollow fort - and Gilmore's fort or Burks' garden. He was, during this time, personally under the command of Capt. Matthew Willoughby of Washington county (the same county in which this applicant resided) . In March 1779, he states that he went to Kentucky to McAfee’s station on Salt river and commenced a campaign against the Shawnee indians under Colo, Benjamin Logan. His captain was named Josiah Harland, first Lieutenant - William McAfee & 2nd Lieutenant, John Allison, Ensign - John King - mustered into service at Harrodsburg and marched to Elkhorn station , the place or near the place where Lexington now stands - at which place we met with several companies and marched to Riddles station , at which place after being detained some time to procure the company provisions, we marched to a new town erected by the Shawnees on the little Miami River - crossed the Ohio a short distance above the mouth of Licking and, on a Sunday morning, the last of June or first of July, our party under the command of Colo. Logan made an attack on the town which was defended by a party of British in a blockhouse. We burnt the principal part of the town tho this attack was unsuccessful. We lost nine men, five of whom were from the company to which this applicant belonged. Our party left the town about 9 or 10 oclock and fell back to our boats on the Ohio. The indians followed us about 12 miles, during which time there were three slight engagements; in the last of which an indian, gaudily dressed, was killed after which they ceased to follow; the indian that was killed was said at the time, or supposed to be a chief called the "Blackfish". ______ does not recollect how long this campaign lasted but it was several months - He returned to Washington county, and in the month of November 1780 he entered the service under Colo. Authur Campbell and commenced a campaign against the Cherokee indians. His Captain was Joseph Black, the Lieutinant was John Davis, brother to this applicant, the other officers if any are not recollected. They marched to Chota town & took prisioners (or possession). The main army remained sometime at Chota. A party was detached to range the mountains & burn Chilhowee town, of which this applicant was one. We did not succeed in burning the town, not being able to cross the river. On the route home we came across a party of nine indians all of which we killed or took. We returned from Chota & stationed a party of our men at Tellico Plains & fixed a garrison there. A party of which this applicant was one, was stationed to go to Hiwassa, with which Colo. Campbell also went. After taking & killing some indians we returned to Tellico and, from there, home. This campaign lasted three months. In the Spring of 1778, a draft took place in Washington county for men to serve one year down about Norfolk. The applicant was drafted and was himself willing to go into any service his country "might require"; but his friends and relations were opposed to his going to a country considered so sickly as that to which he was called. He therefore purchased a convict whose term of service had not expired and delivered him to Colo. Arthur Campbell and received the annexed discharge. This applicant was always disposed never to shrink from any duty; but he always had a preference for fighting indians, particularly the Shawnee, who killed his father.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declares that that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state or Territory. He has no documentary evidence of his services.
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open court.
L, Mead, Clerk
Mr. Samuel Harris, a Clergyman residing in the county of Madison, and Isaac Wellborn, R. V. Purdom, N.V Chun came forward; also residing in the same county, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Samuel Davis, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy-six years of age. That he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open court 8 Nov 1832
by L Mead Clerk
Samuel Harris
Richard Acklen
Isaac Wellborn
R. B. Purdom
Interrogatories propounded to Samuel Davis:
1st Where and in what year were you born?
Ans. I was born is what is now Rockbridge , then called Augusta county, state of Virginia - my mother has always told me that I was born 24 th day of December 1755 (this answer is bracked and the word 'add" is written in front of it.)
2nd Have you any record of your age and if so where is it?
Ans. I have no record of my age, it was burnt at the time my father was killed by the indians when I was about three years of age - so my mother and eldest brother have told me.
3rd Where were you living when you were called into service; where have you lived since the revolutionary war; and where do you now live?
Ans. I lived in the county of Washington, state of Virginia when called into service and lived there until about the year 1797 when I moved to Blount county - East Tennessee; and lived there eleven years and In 1808 I moved to the place where I now live, in the county of Madison, state of Alabama. It was Mississippi Territory when I moved here. I believe I planted the first corn that was ever planted in Madison county by a white man.
4th How were you called into service? Were you drafted? Did you volunteer or were you a substitute? And, if a substitute, for whom?
Ans. I was once draughted as stated in my declaration. At other times I volunteered and, was sometimes an informal substitute for my brothers who had families before I had one.
5th State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops when you served; such continental and militia regiments as you can recollect; and the general circumstances of your service.
Ans. I have in the body of my declaration answered this question as fully as I can do.
6th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and, if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?
Ans. If I ever did receive a discharge I do not know by whom it was signed or what has become of it. I was raised by my brother, John Davis, who had it - if I ever had one He has been dead more than twenty years.
7th 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.
(My copy of the original is unreadable beyond this point)
Ans. Messers Isaac Wellborn, John R.H. Ackerlin, Richard B. Purdom and many others .
Sworn and subscribed in open court,
8 Nov 1832 Samuel Davis
L. Mead, Clerk
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter; and after putting the interrogatories forescribed, that the war department has the above named Samuel Davis, applicant, as a revoluionary soldier as stated in his declaration and served in the
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Samuel Harris
Isaac Wellborn
John R H. adklin
Richard B . Purdom, who have the preceeeding certificate with the ? of said county and state and are credible persons and -------certificate be granted & that said Samuel Harris is a clergyman.
W.I. Adair
I Lemuel Mead Clerk of the circuit court of madison County, State of Alabama do hereby certify that the foregoing contains also an official proceeding of the said court in the matter of the application of Samuel Davis for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have unto set my hadn 7 affixed the seal of office the eighth day of November 1832 and the 57th year of American Independence.
L. Mead
Dormans Transcription also contains the following:
“Washington County April 2d 1778. Samuel Daivs one of the Draughts from the Militia of this County for recruiting the Virginia Regiment delivered to me Isaac Archer, an able bodied Man who has enlisted for One Year in his place. Therefore the sd Samuel Davis is hereby discharged as the Act of Assembly directs
Arthur Campbell
County Lieut.
2 Nov. 1832 Madison Ala. John (X) Ammonett, aged about 80, declares he was in Christie’s campaign and although he has no positive recollection of the fact is convinced Samuel Davis was a soldier in that campaign from the detailed statement of occurrances during that period.
Samuel Davis of Madison Co., Ala., private in the company of Capt. Craig in the regiment of Col. Christie in the Virginia militia for eight months from 1776, was placed on the Alabama pension roll at $24.66 per annum under the Act of 1832.
Certificate 4754 was issued 24 Jan 1833.