Husband of Mary Robertson

REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION APPLICATION:

State of North Carolina, Burke County: Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions October Term 1832

On this 22nd day of October 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Justices of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County & State aforesaid now sitting John Duckworth a resident of said County & State aged 74 years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served herein stated (viz.): That he entered the service under Captain William Knox in the County of Burke, then Rowan, & state of North Carolina sometime in the year 1776. He entered said service for the term of six months or during the War.

Colonel Alexander Martin commanded the Regiment. He has understood that he was subsequently Governor of North Carolina. The company of Captain Knox rendezvoused at Salisbury, North Carolina from whence they marched to Fayetteville & from there to Wilmington where the Regiment joined General Lee (Charles Lee).

We were then marched down Cape Fear River to a place called Brunswick from thence we were marched to Charleston, South Carolina & arrived there the day that Sullivan's Island was first attacked (date not recollected). He remained there till the 4th day of August 1777 when I was discharged, my term of service being about nine months & a few (sentence ends here).

Captain Knox was accidentally shot by his Lieutenant Richard Grimes of which would he died & on his deathbed requested that his company should be discharged. It was accordingly done & this is the reason why I did not serve the War.

Shortly after my return home I volunteered under Captain Thomas Kennedy and went a short expedition against the Cherokee Indians. In a short time after, I volunteered again under Captain John Harden and went another short expedition against the Cherokees. These expeditions did not exceed six weeks or two months These expeditions were in the year 1777 or 1778.

I then volunteered under Captain Thomas Lytle for six months during which time I was generally in a stockade or fort on the frontier of Burke County guarding against the Indians.

After this service I volunteered to go against the British & Tories under Captain Thomas Kennedy (Colonel William Sharpe commanding) & was marched in Lincoln County & was in the Battle of Ramsour's Mill. I was there wounded in the left shoulder & the ball is now plainly to be felt where it is lodged. (Note: I felt the ball myself. S/Samuel Carson)

Some time after this, Ferguson (Captain Patrick Ferguson) came through the Country & a number of the citizens crossed the mountains & joined the Colonels Shelby (Isaac Shelby) & Sevier (John Sevier) under the command of Colonel Charles McDowell. We returned & followed on to King's Mountain where we defeated Ferguson.

At the time of this Battle my wound was not yet well & I fought with a tent (sic?) in my shoulder of considerable length. I still remained under Captain Kennedy & Major Joseph McDowell. Col. Campbell (William Campbell) & Shelby & Sevier commanded in the battle.

Ramsour's Battle was on the 20th of June 1780 and King's Mountain Battle was in October following. This ended my service except some little scouting expeditions against the Indians. My whole services amounted to something upwards of two years.

I hereby relinquish every claim to a pension or annuity except the present & do hereby declare that my name is not on the pension roll of any State or the Agency of any State.

Sworn to & subscribed the day & date above written in open Court.
S/John Duckworth
Test: S/J. Erwin, Clk
State of North Carolina, Burke County; Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions April Term 1833