Virginia Revolutionary Pension Applications, Vol. 28
Abstracted and compiled by John Frederick Dorman
Washington D.C. 1977
DAVIS, Nathaniel. S. 30366
29 May 1833. Caldwell Co., KY. Nathaniel Davis of said county, aged 79, declares on 1 May 1776 he entered service as a spy in Washington Co., VA., under Capt. John Davis (his brother) and Col. Robert Craig. The Indians were exceedingly bold and troublesome on the frontiers and for several years after the battle of the Big Kanawha at the mouth of New River in 1774 (where Lewis was killed), the Shawnees and the Cherokees particularly kept up a constant warfare. The frontier inhabitants had to organize themselves and keep up a constant force. In 1776 the Indians were more than common bold and troublesome and the inhabitants had to build forts to defend themselves. The Flat Lick fort, Blackmore’s fort and the Rye Cove fort were some built on the frontier. It became necessary for each company to appoint one or more spies and the company to which he belonged selected him for that purpose. On 1 May 1776 he undertook the duty and continued until August following when immediate danger ceased and he returned to the company which about that time released their guard and returned to their homes. Some of the frontier counties of Virginia were required to defend themselves and the frontiers and were excused from serving anywhere else. In April 1777 he was again appointed a spy to the same company and regiment and continued until October. He was ordered to spy down the North Fork of Holston and towards Clinch Mountain and generally remained 2 or 3 days on a trip and would then return to the fort (Blackamore’s) and report. Sometimes he proceeded toward the Rye cove fort and in every direction that was necessary. By this time he became what was termed a good spy and the following spring was again selected from the same company in may and continued until September. He often ran many risks and discovered many dangers.
He lived in Washington County until the winter of 1779 when he moved into North Carolina to Sullivan County (Tenn) near the mouth of the Watauga. In Sept. 1780 between the 5th and the 10th, he was drafted from this county for three months under Capt. George Warfield and served in the regiment of Col. Isaac Shelby (afterward Governor of Kentucky). The object of the expedition was against a Col. Ferguson who was marching a detachment through North and South Carolina. They rendezvoused on Doe River at the foot of the Yellow Mountain. They marched to the top of the mountain and there mustered and reviewed and immediately proceeded to King’s Mountain and there met Col. Ferguson and fought a battle in which the troops gained a great victory. A number of prisoners were taken; the night after the battle he was placed to guard them. This battle was fought on 7 or 8 Oct. 1780. From there they went to the Shallow ford of the Yadkin and there the prisoners were taken from their guard and conducted on. At that place they were discharged and permitted to return home, 27 or 28 Oct. 1780. It was not the full three months for which he was drafted but was allowed as such. In the battle of King’s Mountain Col. William Campbell, Col. John Sevier, Col. Shelby, Col. Cleveland and Col. Williams commanded the American forces. The last two were from South Carolina.
He was born in Augusta Co., Va., 4 July 1753. His father had a record and he had access to it until within a few years. After a few years in Sullivan Co., N.C., he moved to Tennessee and lived there about 39 years and then moved to where he now lives where he has lived about two years.
Nathaniel Davis of Caldwell Co., Ky,. Private in the company of Capt. Davis in the regiment of Col. Craig in the Virginia line for one year, was placed on the Kentucky pension roll at $40 per annum under the Act of 1832. Certificate 25049 was issued 14 Nov. 1833
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The following additional information was abstracted by D. Powell from a photocopy of the original pension application - viewed on roll 755, National Archives M-804, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files
Interrogation:
Q. Where and in what year were you born?
A. I was born in Augusta County, Virginia on 4 Jul 1753
Q. Have you any record of your age, and if so where is it?
A. I have not. But my father had, and I had access to that until within a few years, and I distinctly remember it.
Q. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
A. During my service as a spy I lived in the county of Washington, state of Virginia – in my last service I lived in Sullivan County, North Carolina, where I lived a few years, and then moved to Tennessee, and lived there about 39 years, and then moved to where I now live in this county and have been here about 2 years.
Q. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, if so a substitute for whom?
A. While acting as a spy I was selected by the company or my captain. In the expedition to Kings Mountain I was drafted.
Q. State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served, such Continental and militia regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service.
A. I never served with any regular troops. I remember several militia regiments in the expedition to Kings Mountain: Col Sevier, Campbell’s Shelby’s, Cleveland and Williams.
Q. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and also by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
A. I never received any written discharge.
Q. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood who can testify as to your character.
A. George Kest__ow, Bailey Baker, Andrew Collie [?], William King, Luke Nichol, Eli Griffith and many others
Nathaniel Davis [his signature]
There follows two statement signed by Bal___ Ezell (clergyman), Luke Nichols, George Kest__ow and Bailey Baker stating that they believe Nathaniel to be 79 years old and to have been a soldier of the revolution
20 May 1833: Nathan S. Dallan, clerk of the county court certified that documents provided contained the original proceedings of the said court
The record also contains a statement by James A. Ca_t__, justice of the peace for Caldwell County. It says that Nathaniel Davis personally appeared before him and saith that by reason of old age, and loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service but according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned, and in the following grades: for 11 months as a spy and for 1 month as a private (in the Kings Mtn expedition though drafted for 3 months) ; dated __ Oct. 1833
The file also contains a letter dated 26 Oct. 1833 from __ Haynes at Princeton, KY which states: Hon. Sec. War: Enclosed you will please find the declaration of N. Davis again sent on with the amendment suggested by the Department. It is hoped no further difficulty will occur. I regret to put the Department to the trouble of re-examining any claim I send on as I am confident the trouble is enough without that. But such is the disposition of many old men, that knowing their memories are impaired, they will not fix their terms of service at all, being “afraid of doing wrong”