William was the husband of Sarah Brashears. She was possible a McElroy before she married William. He was the son of Bazil and Ann Belt Brashears. He died after Aug. 20, 1920, after he made the following declaration. He filed for his Revolutionary War pension on Feb. 20, 1819 in Maury Co., TN. and was awarded a pension certificate number #13790 on Aug. 5, 1819. It is believed he died after 1825. On Aug. 29, 1820 he swore and delcared that this was all he owned. "A schedule of my property at the time (bed and bic...and my clothing excepted) to wit: One sow and seven pigs about xixxt months old; one ewe and lamb; by occupation a farmer; has no person to work for him; lives with his children and acquaintances; unable to work much himself. Aug. 29th 1820, Signed (s) William Bratcher. The clerk attached a certificate, evaluating William's assets at $10.
William served with General Thomas Sumpter, then Colonel, in Sumpters Regiment in Captain Blassingames Company in the Continental line. He fought in several battles including the Battle of Sullivan's Island where he received a wound to his right hand from a Bayonet, which in great measure disabled it. He also served in the War as a Lieutenant against the British in the years 1779 and 1780 under Captain Gowen, Colonel White and General Pickens.
On Feb. 20, 1819, in the Revolutionay War Pension application S39223 of the state of Tennessee, it states, "That He did, on the 1st day of June 1776, in Spartenburgh County in the State of South Carolina, enlisted as a private Soldier, in the Continental establishment for the term of twelve months, in a company of Col. Thomas Sumpter, of the Continental Line-). It futher states that he was in the battle of the first attack of Charlestown, SC and Sullivans Island, where he recieved a wound with a Bayonet from the enemy in the right hand, which has in a great measure disabled it.

Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters
Pension application of William Bratcher S39223 fn12SC
Transcribed by Will Graves 8/4/10
[Methodology: Spelling, punctuation and/or grammar have been corrected in some instances for
ease of reading and to facilitate searches of the database. Also, the handwriting of the original
scribes often lends itself to varying interpretations. Users of this database are urged to view the original and to make their own decision as to how to decipher what the original scribe actually wrote. Blanks appearing in the transcripts reflect blanks in the original. Folks are free to make non-commercial use this transcript in any manner they may see fit, but please extend the courtesy of acknowledging the transcriber—besides, if it turns out the transcript contains mistakes, the resulting embarrassment will fall on the transcriber. I use speech recognition software to make all my transcriptions. Such software misinterprets my southern accent with unfortunate regularity and my poor proofreading fails to catch all misinterpretations. I welcome and encourage folks to call those and any other errors to my attention.]
State of Tennessee [illegible word] Sixth [?] Judicial Circuit, This day personally appeared before me Alfred M. Harris, one of the Circuit Judges in
and for the State of Tennessee, the undersigned, William Bratcher; who being by me sworn,
saith, that he is a citizen of the United States, and resident in the County of Maury, & State of
Tennessee --
That he did on the 1st day of June 1776 in Spartanburg County in the State of South Carolina, enlist as a private Soldier on the Continental establishment only for the term of twelve months, in a company commanded by Captain John Blasingame in a Regiment commanded by Colonel Thomas Sumpter [sic, Thomas Sumter], of the Continental line -- that he did faithfully served in the company & Regiment aforesaid against the common enemy (Great Britain) for and
during his said term of enlistment being twelve months -- and was, at the end thereof honorably discharged by said Colonel Thomas Sumpter, which said discharge is herewith enclosed. That he was in the battle when the British first attacked the city of Charlestown (in South
Carolina) and Sullivan's Island, where he received a wound with a Bayonet, from the enemy in the right hand, which has in a great measure disabled it. That he was in several inconsiderable skirmishes -- That he knows of no person living convenient to him, by whom he can prove his
said service. That he is now in the seventy ninth year of his age, & half no means of Subsistence, except his own labor --
He is unable to get a subsistence by his labor -- & has been supported by his children --
He stands in need of assistance from his country for a support -- He hath never received a pension from his government, and hereby relinquishes all pensions heretofore granted him by the laws of the United States except the one hereby observed -- He prays to be placed on the pension list, agreeably to the provisions of a late act of Congress in such cases made and provided
2nd February 1819 S/ William Bratcher
Subscribed & sworn to before me the day & date aforesaid
S/ Alfred M. Harris, Judge etc.
District of West Tennessee Lawrence Circuit
On this 29th day of August 1820 personally appeared in Open Court being a Court of Record for the Sixth judicial Circuit of the said State older than in and for the County of Lawrence and State aforesaid died the Honorable Pary.[?] W. Humphreys, William Bratcher aged seventy-nine years on the 5th day of October next Resident of Maury County in said Circuit and District who being first sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he served in the
Revolutionary War as follows (to wit) in General Thomas Sumpter's, then Colonel Sumpter's, Regiment in Captain John Blasingame's Company in the South Carolina line which he claimed originally on second day of February 1819 and has received a pension Certificate No. 13790.
And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift, sale or in any manner whatever disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring
myself within the provision of an act of Congress entitled "an act to provide for certain persons
engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war" passed on
the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property, or securities, contracts or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed
S/ William Bratcher
Sworn to and declared on the 29th day of August 1820.
S/ Josephus Irvine, Clk
A Schedule of My property at this time bed and necessary Clothing Excepted (to wit) one cow
and seven pigs about seven months old one ewe and lamb by occupation a farmer has no person to work for him, lives with his children & acquaintances, unable to work much himself.
S/ William Bratcher
[fn p. 11: I suppose this document to be the discharge referred to by the applicant: it is so faint
that very little can be discerned from it other than the signature of Thomas Sumter. [Veteran was pensioned at the rate of eight dollars per month commencing February 2, 1819, for one year service as a private in the South Carolina line.]

These are BELIEVED to be the children of William Gowan Brashears, Sr. and Sarah (?McElroy) Brashears that are:
1. William Gowan Brashears, Jr.
2. Ithra Brashears, Sr. born 1780, married Hannah Elizabeth Middleton, moved 1803-1807 to Christian Co., KY, then about 1812 to Crawford Co., IL.
Children of William Gowan Brashears, Sr. and Sarah (?McElroy) Brashears that are believed to be thier children but not proven are;
3. Sarah Brashears married Joseph Barnett. A deed of gift from William Bratcher to Sarah Barnett, proven in open court by te evidence of James Lanford and Joseph Barnett, accordint to law and ordered to be recorded (Spartanburg County Court Minues, 1785-1799, by Brent H. Holcomb, page 277.)
4. Daughter Brashears, married Nathaniel Wooten (See Spartanburg County, SC, Deeds, Book B, page 100.)
5. Daughter Brashears, married Moses Pruett (See Spartanburg Deeds, Book D, pages 465-467.)
6. Rachel Brashears, born about 1762, married John Grist (See Spartanburg Deeds, Book E, pages 70-72.) John Grists will (1816) names their children:
1.John Grist.
2. William Grist.
3. Thomas Grist.
4. Benjamin Grist.
5. Susa Grist.
6. Fanny Grist.
7. Franna Grist.
7. Henry Brashears, born about 1775.
8. Daughter Brasheas, married John Wadkins (See Spartanburg Deeds Book L, pages 233-234.)

Believed to have died circa 1820-1830 in Tennessee.