Revolutionary War Soldier
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Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements Pension application of Jane Wilson, widow of Robert Wilson W216 Transcribed by Paulette Haynes
Jane Wilson Declaration & Exhibits Act 7 June 1838 State of Tennessee Williamson County
On the 12th day of May A.D. 1849 before me John A. McCaul Esq. a Justice of the Peace of said County and also a Justice of the County Court thereof Jane Wilson of said County aged about eighty five years, who having been duly sworn according to law, declares upon oath, as follows in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of 7 June 1838 & other Acts of Congress providing for the widows of Revolutionary Soldiers, to wit.
That she is the daughter of William McDowell who was with Col. Thos Sumpter [sic, Thomas Sumter] at the Hanging Rock Battle, who was also at the Battle of Kings Mountain in October 1780. She believes from the tradition of her family that she was born on the 2d day of Sept 1766 in York District Province of South Carolina. She was married on the (blank) day of February (the second or third Thursday of said month) in the year 1783 or 1784 by the Revd James McRee to Robert Wilson Junior the son of Robert Wilson of Steele Creek, Mecklenburgh [sic, Mecklenburg County], North Carolina. She was married at her own fathers house in Mecklenburg he having removed to Mecklenburg in 1783. She has no family or Church or Court record by which to prove her marriage. Her marriage was by publication of bans, & she has been able to procure the evidence of Mrs. Phebe Reed, Josiah Wilson & Moses Wilson who witnessed her marriage.
The year after her marriage, she removed with her husband to Lincoln County, State of Georgia, where Robert Wilson Junior, lived five or six years during which time her husband was engaged in several campaigns against the Indians as a captain of Militia Volunteers. He then removed to the Cumberland Valley about the year 1791 or 2 and lived in Sumner County near Bledsoes Lick until about the year 1799. Sometime in the year 1799 her late husband removed to Harpeth Lick in Williamson County state of Tennessee where he continued until the year 1819 when he departed this life, aged about sixty years, leaving the declarant his widow surviving ---, where she has continued to live a widow to the present time, never having remarried.
In relation to her husbands Revolutionary service she refers to the deposition of Moses & Josiah Wilson, surviving brothers of her late husband already on file in the Pension Office and to the additional facts which may be stated by these in relation to said services. Her husband, Robert Wilson Junior was the son of Robert Wilson Senior who lived before during and after Revolutionary war at Steele Creek in the County of Mecklenburg State of North Carolina. The elder Robert Wilson had six or seven sons (whose names have all been mentioned in the deposition of Moses Wilson) who were soldiers in North & South Carolina & Georgia in almost every campaign which occurred in said states or provinces from 1776 to 1783. Robert Wilson Senior was not less than fifty or fifty five years of age at the beginning of the Revolution and although he was a bold and ardent supporter & advocate of the Revolution he was too much advanced in years & too feeble in body to endure the fatigues of a campaign if he had been subject to military duty which he was not.
Although he was a prisoner in the hands of the British in 1780 taken at or near Sumters Camp in August of that year and confined in Camden jail together with one of his sons, named John Wilson and several of his nearest neighbors and others he was not taken as a soldier but as aged and influential citizen, who had several sons fighting under Sumter & other Republican leaders against the British
King and who was when taken engaged in furnishing and conveying provisions to Genl Thomas Sumters camp.
This declarant states that Robert Wilson Senior, the father of her husband Robert Wilson Junior, was not, at any period of the war, subject to military duty and never did receive pay as a private soldier, or as an officer for any service performed by him during the Revolutionary War. Amongst several periods of service, extending through out the Revolutionary War, with but few intervals, this declarant is only able to specify the following campaigns of her husband. A tour of duty of three or four months as a private of North Carolina Militia in August and September, October & November AD 1776 in a company commanded by Capt. Robert Irwin, in a Regiment commanded by Col. Alexander under the principal command of Brigadier General Rutherford, against the Cherokee Indians & other tours not now remembered.
In a tour of duty, as a private of Company of North Carolina Militia Commanded by Capt. _____ _______ in a Regiment or Corps commanded by _________ under the command of General Lincoln before and at the defence of Charleston in the year 1780, said tour beginning as early as December 1779 or earlier. She believes that her husband Robert Wilson Junior & his brother Joseph were under Brigd General Tillington [sic, John Alexander Lillington] whose period of service expired during the siege about the 20th March 1780, and after the 20 March 1780, belonged to Col. Lytle & Corps, which was composed of volunteers from General Lillington's North Carolina Brigade, who volunteered to remain three months longer & who did stay under Col. Lytle & Major Habersham, until the day of the surrender of Charleston by Genl Lincoln about 12 or 15th May 1780, making a tour of not less than five or six months without including time to return to Mecklenburg after surrender.
A tour of duty beginning with the Hanging Rock Campaign about 1st of June 1780, under Genl Thomas Sumter, of South Carolina & Col. Anderson of South Carolina, but under what Captain this declarant cannot now state. A brother of Robert Wilson Jr. was under Capt. Reid, but she does know that Robert was. The head quarters of Genl. Sumter were on Sugar Creek near old Robin Wilson's in June 1780, and after the affair at Fishing Creek about 20th August 1780, Robert Wilson, Junior & several of his brothers were his constant followers from 1st June 1780, & were with him at Hanging Rock & other subsequent battles. During this period he acted under the authority of South Carolina & received an Indent, a copy of which herewith filed marked Exhibit AD from South Carolina, during this period is made a part of this deposition.
The certificate of W. F. Collins, Compr of N.C. herewith filed marked Exhibit AB is made a part of this deposition which shows various payments made by the State of North Carolina to Robert Wilson Junior besides payments for the periods stated by her above. She believes the largest payment to refers to the tour at defense of Charleston, being for the sum of twenty pounds fourteen shillings.
This declarant, owing to age & infirmity cannot -- to travel seventeen miles, to the Court House, without danger to her life.
She further declares that she knows of no persons now living by whom she can prove more definitely the several period & tours of duty, and the names of the company & regimental officers than she has already done by the depositions of Moses & Josiah Wilson, and by the pay certificates & other records, which she has been able to procure showing the amount & character of the services of Robert Wilson Junior; except by reference to the Declaration of James Wilson, late a Pensioner of the United States, made in 1833 before the County Court of Bedford County, State of Tennessee & who was a brother & fellow soldier in the Hanging Rock Campaign, with her late husband under Col. Sumter but not under
Capt. Reid & Col. Irwin. In that Declaration he states ---he was a private in Capt David Reids Company of Col. Robert Irwins Regiment of North Carolina Militia from 10th June 1780 to about the 1st of Sept 1780, three months. James Wilson has been sometime deceased, but his Declaration is now on file in Pension Office at Washington City. He departed this life before declarant thought of making this application for a pension, & she knows of no other evidence which she can now procure, to describe more in detail her late husbands services. While under Sumter & Anderson, Robert Wilson Jr was a private militia volunteer.
Jane Wilson
-----12th line above Sworn to & subscribed before me this day & date above written John A. McCaul, JP justice of Peace
Exhibit AD is the Certificate of the Comptroller Genl of South Carolina dated 24th April 1849 Exhibit AB is the Certificate of the Comptroller of N Carol. dated April 30th 1849
State of Tennessee Marshall Co At the House of Samuel Reid, son of Phebe Reid
On the 8th day of June 1848 A.D. personally appeared before me George R. May one of the Justices of the County Court of Marshall County Tennessee Phebe Reid an old resident of said county aged seventy six years who is infirm of body but of sound mind and good recollection, who having been duly sworn, made oath as follows, that she was born Sept 3rd 1772, in the county of Mecklenburg, N. Carolina; that she was well acquainted with Robert Wilson, deceased, and was present at the house of William McDowell in said county of Mecklenburg, when said Robert Wilson was married to Jane McDowell by Rev. Mr. McRea; that said witness was then in her twelfth or thirteenth year; that said marriage was about the month of February in the year 1783 or 1784. It was two or three years after the Revolutionary War. The marriage was by publication of bans. Witness knows that Robert Wilson removed to Tennessee about the year 1795 and lived at the time of his death near Harpeth Lick in the County of Williamson, state of Tennessee, which took place about the year 1819. Jane Wilson has remained a widow ever since and has still continued to live in said county of Williamson. Witness was distantly related to the Wilsons and was well acquainted with the family.
Witness has in her own possession an old family record, a Bible, in which her age is entered and from this she knows that she is now about seventy six years old & that she was born Sept 3rd 1772.
Phebe (her mark) Reid
The lines numbered from 1 to 4 and from 6 to 11 were erased before signing. Sworn to & subscribed before me on the day & year above written George R. May J.P. of said county
I hereby certify that Phebe Reid whose name is signed to the above affidavit is an aged and infirmed woman, and confined to her bed by infirmity, but that she is of sound mind & has been many years a
resident of Marshall & Williamson Countys in the state of Tennessee and has ever borne the character of a truthful and honest woman and has been known & esteemed in her neighborhood; as one of the witnesses in the war of Independence of many of the events of that war in the province of North Carolina & especially in the county of Mecklenburg. Her statements are entitled to full faith & credit. Her family record ----old Bible is as above stated by her.
George R. May June 8th 1848 Justice of the Peace & one of the Justices of the County Court of Marshall County, Tennessee
J. Shuffield Justice of the Peace Marshall County Tennessee
In the matter of the application of Jane Wilson, widow of Robert Wilson, deceased, for the benefit of the Acts of 7th Jul 1838, 3rd Mar 1843, and February 1848 granting pensions to the widows of certain persons who served in the Revolutionary War.
State of Tennessee Marshall County
On this 31st day of July 1848 personally appeared before me John Shuffield a justice of the peace of said county, Moses Wilson, who having been duly sworn makes the following statements in relation to the marriage of Robert Wilson and Jane McDowell and as to the Revolutionary Services of said Robert, viz witness believes he was born about the year 1769 (seventeen hundred sixty-nine) in the Steele Creek congregation Mecklenburg Co. N.C. and was about seven or eight years old at the beginning of the revolutionary war and thirteen or fourteen at the end of it. He has no record of his age, but the age of himself and brothers have been preserved by tradition The family record of his father was lost during the war. Witness remembers many of the events of the war especially of what took place during the year 1779, 1780, 1781 and 1782.
His father Robert Wilson Senr. lived on Steele Creek before during and after the Revolutionary War and had six sons who were old enough to bear arms during the war all of whom were repeatedly engaged in various campaigns, & battles, both in North and South Carolina, against the British and Tories. The father of witness was taken prisoner by Col. Tarleton's [Banastre Tarleton's] dragoons the day after the defeat and dispersion of Col. Thomas Sumter's troops at Fishing Creek about the 18th August 1780.
Witness had six brothers who were engaged from time to time in the service of the Republican Army in North Carolina. Their names and age were nearly as follows.
1. Joseph Wilson born 1749 died 2. Aaron Wilson " 1751 " about 1833 3. John Wilson " 1753 " " 4. James Wilson " 1755 " " 184- 5. Robert Wilson " 1760 " " 1819 6. Samuel Wilson " 1762 " "
None of these brothers ever applied for or received any pension in land or money either from the
General Government or the States of North or South Carolina, except James Wilson who received a pension from the U.S. Government before he died.
Joseph and Robert Wilson were both privates in a company of Militia raised in Mecklenburg County North Carolina but witness does not know whether they went out under the officers of North Carolina or South Carolina. The citizens of Mecklenburg sometimes served under Col. Sumter, Col. Marion & other South Carolina partisans, but he knows that while they -- under Major General Lincoln of the Continental Army; that they were both in his army and under the command of said Lincoln, at the defense of Charleston, which continued from the 4th of February 1780 to the 12th day of May 1780, on which day Joseph and Robert Wilson together the rest of the North & South Carolina Militia were surrendered prisoners of war and marched out upon parole. Joseph & Robert Wilson shortly afterwards, say about June 1st 1780, returned to the house of their father in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Witness cannot state how long Joseph & Robert served before the siege of Charleston but thinks it probable some months before and from 4th February to 12th May 1780 during which the siege lasted.
Witness believes that Joseph, James & Robert Wilson soon afterwards joined Col. Thomas Sumter & Corps of partisans, Joseph & Robert doing so in violation of their paroles for they were with him in the battle of the Hanging Rock about the 9th day of August 1780 and must have been gone with him two or three months during that tour of duty Witness has often seen a rifle which was taken from a Tory killed in that battle by Joseph Wilson and believes it is now in possession of David Wilson of Maury County, one of his descendants.
Witness refers in corroboration of what he has above said in relation to the service of Robert Wilson, to an old affidavit herewith filed, marked A, and which he makes part of his evidence, it being the evidence on oath of Aaron Wilson & Joseph Wilson before Robert Irwin, a Justice of the Peace, made August 6th 1783, as to the value of a blanket and a pott one lost by Robert Wilson in the defence of Charleston under Lincoln and the other lost in the Hanging Rock battle.
Witness having been applied to for any old papers showing the service of Robert Wilson accidentally found the above named papers amongst the property of his deceased brother Aaron Wilson, and upon examination, witness distinctly remembers the handwriting of Robert Irwin which is very peculiar and who was known to this witness in early life, as well as the handwriting of Joseph & Aaron Wilson. Witness knows the signatures to be theirs & that it is genuine. He also knows that Robert Irwin was a justice of the peace at the time and believes that he also was an office in the Hanging Rock Battle under Col. Thomas Sumter.
Witness knows that some of his brothers were out in the Cherokee Campaigns in 1775-6 and in 1778-9. His brother John was out and others of the family, but he cannot remember whether Robert Wilson was out or not. He knows that his brother Robert and in fact all his older brothers were out some weeks at the time of the Ramsour battle [sic, the Battle of Ramsour's Mill], but witness cannot note how long they were out. He thinks that they--- out at that particular time only a few weeks.
Witness also knows that several of his brothers were with Genl Green [sic, Nathanael Greene] before & at the battle of Guildford [sic, Guilford] Court House but he cannot name what one ----
The last time Robert Wilson was out in the republican army was in what was called the Wilmington Campaign, which witness believes was the last service performed in North Carolina & was about the summer or fall of 1781. Robert Wilson was out then three or four months.
These are all the tours of duty performed by Robert Wilson during the war, which are fixed in the memory of the witness so that he can specify the place or battle or campaign in which he served but he is well satisfied that Robert Wilson as well as his other brothers before named performed more services than has been stated above. In fact, from the time when the Indians broke out in the west in 1775, some of his brothers were generally in some of campaigns which occurred against them during the Revolution and after the British & Tories combined to over run South & North Carolina in 1778, until the end of the war witness believes that his brothers were but seldom at house being generally out against the Tories or the British.
Witness knows that shortly after Gates defeat all of his brothers were out, & that when the British advanced in Mecklenburg in 1780, after Gates & Sumter defeats, a younger brother of the witness named Zaccheus was sent to give notice of their approach and was taken prisoner, and although but a boy was retained several days.
Witness remembers that his father & brother John had taken a wagon & supplies to Col. Sumters men just before his party was dispersed & that they were both taken prisoner of war & marched towards Charleston with many other prisoners & that the prisoners over powered their guard & made their escape & that shortly afterwards & before they got back the British General Cornwallis & others, took possession of the house of the father of the witness as he marched toward the --- & that witness was hid in the loft being then about eleven years old, for fear of being carried away by the British Army.
Witness has not attempted to specify the period of time for which his brother Robert entered the service nor the officer, captain or Colonel under which he served & has declined doing so because being young he cannot state distinctly what particular officer commanded in each period of service. & because the particular time, when he started on each tour of duty can not now be stated by him.
Robert Wilson died in 1819 and had been an early settler in Georgia say in 1790 to 1795, in during which time he was on the frontier & engaged in the Indian struggles & in 1795 crossed the Cumberland Mountains to the Cumberland Valley and afterwards about 1800 settled in Williamson County, Tennessee. During this period the papers, certificates & other memorandums of service of Robert Wilson, if he ever returned ----, must have been lost, so that now it would be impossible perhaps to procuring any of his papers, from which these exact periods of his service could be gathered.
Witness was acquainted with his brother & family --- and was a part of the time a member of his family & has heard him speak of the incidents of the siege of Charleston in 1780 from that time until the day of his death.
Robert Wilson, the brother of witness was born about the year 1760 and was married to Jane McDowell daughter of William McDowell in Steele Creek in Mecklenburg N.C. in 1783 or 1784 by the Rev. James McRea a Presbyterian minister, then & long afterwards the pastor of the Steele Creek congregation. This marriage was by publication of bans The witness was at the wedding & has known Jane Wilson ever since 1819 the year of her husbands death & knows that she has continued to live in Williamson County near Harpeth Lick ever since & that she is still a widow.
Witness believes that his brother Josiah Wilson & Phebe Reid both of Marshall County Tennessee are the only persons living beside himself who saw Robert Wilson married. He knows of no other persons now living to whom the services of Robert Wilson are known.
Moses Wilson
In the matter of the application of Jane Wilson widow of Robt Wilson, decd, for benefit of pension laws in relation to widows of Revolutionary Soldiers.
Be it remembered that on the 21st day of October eighteen hundred and forty eight personally appeared before me George R. May Esqr one of the Justices of the Peace & of the county court of the county of Marshall of the state of Tennessee Josiah Wilson, an aged and in firmed man, a citizen of Marshall County, state of Tennessee who having been duly sworn upon the Holy Bible in the due form of law, makes the following declaration in relation to the services & marriage of his brother the late Robert Wilson, to wit: that he was born in the County of Mecklenburg N. Carolina in the month of October A.D. seventeen hundred and sixty seven and is now in his eighty first year. Robert Wilson was born in 1760 or 1761 and was married to Jane McDowell daughter of William McDowell in the Steele Creek Congregation in Mecklenburg Co. North Carolina by the Rev. James McRee, the pastor of said congregation in the year seventeen hundred & eighty three or four, being the second year after war of Revolution.
He further states that his brothers were engaged in nearly every campaign of any importance against the British & Tories from 1776 to 1783, as well as against the Cherokee & Chicamauga [sic, Chickamauga] Indians, during the same period. They were at Briar-Brie? 1779 at the siege & defence of Charleston, at the Hanging Rock Battle in Augt. 1780, at the Cowpens & Guilford Court House.
He has examined the Pay Certificates attached to the Declaration of Jane Wilson taken before John A. McCaul Esq on the 12th day of May 1849, showing the amount of pay received by Robert Wilson, as a private in the Revolutionary War & he states that his father Robert Wilson, the elder, was too far advanced in life to be subject to military duty during the Revolution and too feeble in body to endure the fatigue of a campaign. His father Robert Wilson, the elder, it is true was taken prisoner at or near Fishing Creek about the 18th day of Augt 1780 near or at Sumters camp, but he was not taken as a soldier but as an aged and influential citizen, who had several sons who were active soldiers in what the British called, the "Rebel Army" and who was at the time conducting supplies to Sumters Corps & was known to be a zealous advocate of the American cause; but Robert Wilson Senior never did receive pay or pay certificates for military service as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, but his son, the brother of witness, Robert Wilson, Junior, the late husband of Jane Wilson, did receive pay or pay certificates, he thinks both as a drafted soldier & as a volunteer for services in North Carolina before the siege and at the siege of Charleston and also for services in North & South Carolina after the reduction of Charleston as a private ----- officers whose names are not known to witness.
He further states that he is satisfied that the pay certificates heretofore referred to, issued in the name of Robert Wilson & R. Wilson for services as a private in the Revolutionary War were not issued to Robert Wilson Senior, the father of this witness, but to Robert Wilson Junior his brother.
Interrogatories by the Justice-
Intg. 1 How old were you when your father Robert Wilson Senior was taken prisoner by Tarletons Dragoons? and also your brother John? Ans.1 According to the best of my recollection I was then about thirteen years of age being born in October AD 1766 or 1767.
Intg.2 Was this before or after your brothers Robert & Joseph were prisoners at Charleston? Ans 2 My father was taken prisoner with my brother John the day before Cornwallis reached Charlotte.
My brothers Robert & Joseph were surrendered prisoners of war at Charleston about the 12th of May preceding and were discharged upon parole. I think my father & brother John were taken prisoners about the 19 or 20th day of August AD 1780.
Intg.3 Please state, according to the best of your recollection, the length of time your brothers Joseph and Robert Wilson Junior were in the military service prior to and during the siege of Charleston? did they or not remain in the lines of Charleston during the whole period of the defence? and were they or not there when Genl Lincoln & army laid down their arms? Ans. 3 My brothers Robert & Joseph were both at the siege & defence of Charleston - They both went out before the siege of Charleston began as privates of Militia Troops raised in the county of Mecklenburg, at the call of Genl Lincoln. I am certain they were both within the lines of Charleston during the defence and at the time of the surrender. The distance from Steele Creek or Charlotte to Charleston is about two hundred miles. It was then about ten or twelve days drive with a wagon to Charleston and I think it would not have taken a body of infantry soldiers less than twelve days to have marched from the Town of Charlotte in Mecklenburg to the City of Charleston, making the necessary allowance for detention in crossing streams with troops & supply wagons, and this estimate would require a prompt and rapid march - more rapid than usual.
Ingt.4 Please state the names of such American Generals & Colonels as commanded the American Troops in the various campaigns and battles & sieges, in which your brothers were soldiers? Ans.4 I remember of the Militia Generals who commanded the Mecklenburg Troops, both against the British & Tories, but sometimes against the Indians, Joseph Rutherford, Joseph McDowell, Ashe, Davidson, Adam Alexander, Robert Irwin, Lytle, --- James White and others less important. Of the South Carolina Troops were Col afterwards General Thos. Sumter & Wade Hampton & Col. Anderson, and of the Continental Army were Generals Lee, Lincoln, Gates, Greene, Daniel Morgan, & Colonel Lee & Washington. Genl Hogan. Of the officers of lower grade I remember Captain Barnett, Hall, David Reed, Robert Irwin & Brevard &c. and my elder brother Aaron Wilson was a Lieutenant in Capt. Halls company in 1778 or 9 and was at the Battle of Stono in June 1779. I knew Major James White long after war, when we were both citizens of Sumner County. I knew him not only in North Carolina but also as a citizen of Tennessee. Genl Lillington according to my information commanded the only Brigade of North Carolina Militia at defence of Charleston, but there were others Corps then under Colonels I cannot remember whether Robert Wilson Jr. was under Lillington or some other officer. If he was under Lillington, he was one of those who volunteered to stay until the siege ended under Col. Lytle & Major Habersham. In addition to what I have already stated I wish to add that I am well satisfied that I have not been able to state all the periods of service in which my brother was a soldier during the Revolutionary War- especially in the four years preceeding the year 1780 and where I have stated it I have stated a less period of service than was probably performed.
Intg.5 Please name some clergyman who knew your brother Robert Wilson, Junior prior to his death, & who could testify as to his reputation in his neighborhood, in regard to his services in the Revolutionary War? Ans.5 I think James B. Porter of Spring Hill, an aged Cumberland Presbyterian Clergyman who has known the whole family forty years.
I am not interested in this application of Jane Wilson for a pension either directly or indirectly & further this deponent ---- to note.
Josiah Wilson
Sworn & subscribed before me the day & year above written containing six pages. In the matter of the application of Jane Wilson, of Williamson Co. Tenn, widow of Robert Wilson, decd for the benefit of the Act of 7th June 1838, & other acts for the benefit of widows of Revolutionary Soldiers.
The Deposition of Josiah Wilson Transcribed by Paulette Haynes
State of Tennessee Marshall County
On this 14th day of May 1849 at his own house, before me L.L. Fox, a Justice of the Peace of said County personally appeared Josiah Wilson aged about 81 years, who having been duly sworn declared that he is the same Josiah Wilson who was examined in this case before Esq. May on the 21st day of October 1848 and he now makes this additional statement in relation to the Revolutionary services of Robert Wilson Jr.
Robert Wilson Senior, of Steele Creek, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, in 1775, was the father of Robert Wilson Jr. as well as witness. The elder Robert Wilson had six sons who were subject to military duty and did perform military duty during the war of the Revolution between the years 1775 and 1783, under Genl. Rutherford, Col. Sumter, Col. Irwin, Genl Lincoln, Genl Greene and other American Generals.
Witness was present at the marriage. The marriage was by publication of banns and took place at the house of William McDowell. Moses Wilson, a brother of witness, & Phebe Reid both of Marshall County, State of Tennessee are the only persons now living known to witness who were present at this marriage, besides himself.
About the year 1785 or 1786 Robert Wilson moved with his family to Lincoln County in the State of Georgia, where he lived until 1795. He then moved to Cumberland Valley in 1795 and was the first man who brought a wagon across the Cumberland Mountains. He first lived in Sumner County near Cumberland River, but in the year 1800 he settled near Harpeth Lick in Williamson County, State of Tennessee, where he continued to live until the year 1819; when he died, leaving his wife Jane Wilson surviving ---, who has continued to live a widow; & to reside in said County of Williamson until the present time. Witness came to Tennessee in 1795 or 1796, and has always since lived within from three to fourteen miles of the residence of his brother Robert Wilson, and since his death, of his widow Jane Wilson. First while witness lived in Williamson Co. Tennessee but for near a dozen years last, in Marshall County Tennessee distance of ten or twelve miles. Witness remembers some of the events of the Revolutionary War especially those connected with his own family and neighborhood. He knows seven of his older brothers were soldiers at different and various times during the Revolutionary War to wit, Joseph, Aaron, John, James, Robert, Samuel & Zaccheus. He also knows that his own father Robert Wilson was a prisoner in the hands of the British in fall of 1780 and that his Uncle Zaccheus Wilson, Sr. was a signer of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, yet he does not think that he can at this late period in his life recollect all and each campaign in which his brothers may have served in the war.
He knows that Joseph & Robert Wilson were out in the North Carolina Militia under Genl Lincoln before and during the siege of Charleston but he cannot now name even the general officer, who
commanded the North Carolina Troops, nor the Colonels or Captains, who commanded the particular Regiment or Company in which Robert Wilson & Joseph Wilson served. Witness remembers the names of Genls Ashe, Rutherford, Sumter, Davidson & Caswell, who at different times commanded the North Carolina Troops, & he also knows that his brothers served under these men at various times but he cannot now state whether either or which one of these men commanded at Charleston. He remembers distinctly that both Robert & Joseph Wilson were at the siege of Charleston under Genl Lincoln and they were both surrendered prisoners of war at the surrender of Charleston, laid down their arms, and were paroled and returned to their fathers house at Steele Creek about the 1st of June 1780 being about two or three weeks after the surrender.
Witness cannot say how long his brothers were out before the siege of Charleston but he knows they were out before the British Army besieged Charleston, for he remembers distinctly that Joseph Wilson often spoke of his return from the army, of having applied to Col. Washington, before the British Army --- down before the City of Charleston to be admitted into his corps of mounted men or dragoons and that Col. Washington objected on account of his being too large. This took pace before the siege, the dispersion of Col. Washington's Corps, with others by the British, during the siege, near Monks Corner, fixed this circumstance in their minds.
Witness believes that service of his brothers were under the command of Thos. Sumter, --- but afterwards a Brigadier General, after the fall of Charleston. He remembers that his father Robert Wilson and his brother John Wilson were both taken prisoner near Genl Sumters camp about five miles from Steele Creek while engaged in hauling provisions or supplies to the Republic troops under Sumter & that they were dragged to Camden and confined with other of the Whig inhabitants of Mecklenburg in the Camden jail for about five weeks and that his father & brother John with ten others were started to Charleston under an escort of twelve soldiers and that on their way the prisoners were ---their guard - overpowered them, took their guns, locked them all up in a house in which they were quartered and all of them made their way, some to Marion County and some back to Mecklenburg & that his father & brother came back after near three months captivity. James Hart and John Bacste? were of the number of the prisoners who were most active in the rescue. The British guard was put on parole, when overpowered.
He believes that Aaron, James, Robert & Joseph Wilson were with Genl Sumter in the summer of 1780 but he cannot state whether they were at the battle of Rocky Mount & Hanging Rock although he believes they were with Sumter at that time in what was called the Wilmington Campaign which --- in 1780, and in ---North Carolina Troops, were --- under the command of Genl Rutherford. Witness can state that Robert Wilson was a private of Militia ---- Mecklenburg. Witness believes that his tour --- was for three or four months.
He cannot now state or specify any other campaigns, marches or tours of duty in which his brother Robert Wilson served but he knows that in nearly every campaign from 1775 (the "snow campaign") until 1780 or the end of the war, which occurred in North or South Carolina, either against the British, Tories or Indians, one or more of the brothers of witness were engaged.
None of these seven brothers ever applied for or received as witness believes, any pension whatever, except James Wilson who died in 1845. The others all departed this life either before the passage of a pension law or soon after, and none of them, so far as witness remembers, has now living any widow except Robert Wilson's widow. She was about 17 years old when married & is now over eighty.
Witness would further state that so far as he remembers his brother was a private at the time he was
under Lincoln at Charleston, belonging to the North Carolina Militia & likewise a private of North Carolina Militia on all other occasions. He does not think he ever belonged to the Regular or Continental Lines or to the State Line. He was always an infantry soldier. He was quite a young man during the war of Independence but in the Indian War in Georgia in 1790 or 1791, or about that time Robert Wilson was a Captain & served as such in the Indian War under the authority of the State of Georgia. He was also engaged in the Indian struggles in the Cumberland Valley in 1795 & 96 after he came to the State of Tennessee.
This witness is not either directly or indirectly interested in the application of Jane Wilson for a pension for her husbands services in the War of Independence.
Josiah Wilson (seal.
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Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements Pension application of Jane Wilson, widow of Robert Wilson W216 Transcribed by Paulette Haynes
Jane Wilson Declaration & Exhibits Act 7 June 1838 State of Tennessee Williamson County
On the 12th day of May A.D. 1849 before me John A. McCaul Esq. a Justice of the Peace of said County and also a Justice of the County Court thereof Jane Wilson of said County aged about eighty five years, who having been duly sworn according to law, declares upon oath, as follows in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of 7 June 1838 & other Acts of Congress providing for the widows of Revolutionary Soldiers, to wit.
That she is the daughter of William McDowell who was with Col. Thos Sumpter [sic, Thomas Sumter] at the Hanging Rock Battle, who was also at the Battle of Kings Mountain in October 1780. She believes from the tradition of her family that she was born on the 2d day of Sept 1766 in York District Province of South Carolina. She was married on the (blank) day of February (the second or third Thursday of said month) in the year 1783 or 1784 by the Revd James McRee to Robert Wilson Junior the son of Robert Wilson of Steele Creek, Mecklenburgh [sic, Mecklenburg County], North Carolina. She was married at her own fathers house in Mecklenburg he having removed to Mecklenburg in 1783. She has no family or Church or Court record by which to prove her marriage. Her marriage was by publication of bans, & she has been able to procure the evidence of Mrs. Phebe Reed, Josiah Wilson & Moses Wilson who witnessed her marriage.
The year after her marriage, she removed with her husband to Lincoln County, State of Georgia, where Robert Wilson Junior, lived five or six years during which time her husband was engaged in several campaigns against the Indians as a captain of Militia Volunteers. He then removed to the Cumberland Valley about the year 1791 or 2 and lived in Sumner County near Bledsoes Lick until about the year 1799. Sometime in the year 1799 her late husband removed to Harpeth Lick in Williamson County state of Tennessee where he continued until the year 1819 when he departed this life, aged about sixty years, leaving the declarant his widow surviving ---, where she has continued to live a widow to the present time, never having remarried.
In relation to her husbands Revolutionary service she refers to the deposition of Moses & Josiah Wilson, surviving brothers of her late husband already on file in the Pension Office and to the additional facts which may be stated by these in relation to said services. Her husband, Robert Wilson Junior was the son of Robert Wilson Senior who lived before during and after Revolutionary war at Steele Creek in the County of Mecklenburg State of North Carolina. The elder Robert Wilson had six or seven sons (whose names have all been mentioned in the deposition of Moses Wilson) who were soldiers in North & South Carolina & Georgia in almost every campaign which occurred in said states or provinces from 1776 to 1783. Robert Wilson Senior was not less than fifty or fifty five years of age at the beginning of the Revolution and although he was a bold and ardent supporter & advocate of the Revolution he was too much advanced in years & too feeble in body to endure the fatigues of a campaign if he had been subject to military duty which he was not.
Although he was a prisoner in the hands of the British in 1780 taken at or near Sumters Camp in August of that year and confined in Camden jail together with one of his sons, named John Wilson and several of his nearest neighbors and others he was not taken as a soldier but as aged and influential citizen, who had several sons fighting under Sumter & other Republican leaders against the British
King and who was when taken engaged in furnishing and conveying provisions to Genl Thomas Sumters camp.
This declarant states that Robert Wilson Senior, the father of her husband Robert Wilson Junior, was not, at any period of the war, subject to military duty and never did receive pay as a private soldier, or as an officer for any service performed by him during the Revolutionary War. Amongst several periods of service, extending through out the Revolutionary War, with but few intervals, this declarant is only able to specify the following campaigns of her husband. A tour of duty of three or four months as a private of North Carolina Militia in August and September, October & November AD 1776 in a company commanded by Capt. Robert Irwin, in a Regiment commanded by Col. Alexander under the principal command of Brigadier General Rutherford, against the Cherokee Indians & other tours not now remembered.
In a tour of duty, as a private of Company of North Carolina Militia Commanded by Capt. _____ _______ in a Regiment or Corps commanded by _________ under the command of General Lincoln before and at the defence of Charleston in the year 1780, said tour beginning as early as December 1779 or earlier. She believes that her husband Robert Wilson Junior & his brother Joseph were under Brigd General Tillington [sic, John Alexander Lillington] whose period of service expired during the siege about the 20th March 1780, and after the 20 March 1780, belonged to Col. Lytle & Corps, which was composed of volunteers from General Lillington's North Carolina Brigade, who volunteered to remain three months longer & who did stay under Col. Lytle & Major Habersham, until the day of the surrender of Charleston by Genl Lincoln about 12 or 15th May 1780, making a tour of not less than five or six months without including time to return to Mecklenburg after surrender.
A tour of duty beginning with the Hanging Rock Campaign about 1st of June 1780, under Genl Thomas Sumter, of South Carolina & Col. Anderson of South Carolina, but under what Captain this declarant cannot now state. A brother of Robert Wilson Jr. was under Capt. Reid, but she does know that Robert was. The head quarters of Genl. Sumter were on Sugar Creek near old Robin Wilson's in June 1780, and after the affair at Fishing Creek about 20th August 1780, Robert Wilson, Junior & several of his brothers were his constant followers from 1st June 1780, & were with him at Hanging Rock & other subsequent battles. During this period he acted under the authority of South Carolina & received an Indent, a copy of which herewith filed marked Exhibit AD from South Carolina, during this period is made a part of this deposition.
The certificate of W. F. Collins, Compr of N.C. herewith filed marked Exhibit AB is made a part of this deposition which shows various payments made by the State of North Carolina to Robert Wilson Junior besides payments for the periods stated by her above. She believes the largest payment to refers to the tour at defense of Charleston, being for the sum of twenty pounds fourteen shillings.
This declarant, owing to age & infirmity cannot -- to travel seventeen miles, to the Court House, without danger to her life.
She further declares that she knows of no persons now living by whom she can prove more definitely the several period & tours of duty, and the names of the company & regimental officers than she has already done by the depositions of Moses & Josiah Wilson, and by the pay certificates & other records, which she has been able to procure showing the amount & character of the services of Robert Wilson Junior; except by reference to the Declaration of James Wilson, late a Pensioner of the United States, made in 1833 before the County Court of Bedford County, State of Tennessee & who was a brother & fellow soldier in the Hanging Rock Campaign, with her late husband under Col. Sumter but not under
Capt. Reid & Col. Irwin. In that Declaration he states ---he was a private in Capt David Reids Company of Col. Robert Irwins Regiment of North Carolina Militia from 10th June 1780 to about the 1st of Sept 1780, three months. James Wilson has been sometime deceased, but his Declaration is now on file in Pension Office at Washington City. He departed this life before declarant thought of making this application for a pension, & she knows of no other evidence which she can now procure, to describe more in detail her late husbands services. While under Sumter & Anderson, Robert Wilson Jr was a private militia volunteer.
Jane Wilson
-----12th line above Sworn to & subscribed before me this day & date above written John A. McCaul, JP justice of Peace
Exhibit AD is the Certificate of the Comptroller Genl of South Carolina dated 24th April 1849 Exhibit AB is the Certificate of the Comptroller of N Carol. dated April 30th 1849
State of Tennessee Marshall Co At the House of Samuel Reid, son of Phebe Reid
On the 8th day of June 1848 A.D. personally appeared before me George R. May one of the Justices of the County Court of Marshall County Tennessee Phebe Reid an old resident of said county aged seventy six years who is infirm of body but of sound mind and good recollection, who having been duly sworn, made oath as follows, that she was born Sept 3rd 1772, in the county of Mecklenburg, N. Carolina; that she was well acquainted with Robert Wilson, deceased, and was present at the house of William McDowell in said county of Mecklenburg, when said Robert Wilson was married to Jane McDowell by Rev. Mr. McRea; that said witness was then in her twelfth or thirteenth year; that said marriage was about the month of February in the year 1783 or 1784. It was two or three years after the Revolutionary War. The marriage was by publication of bans. Witness knows that Robert Wilson removed to Tennessee about the year 1795 and lived at the time of his death near Harpeth Lick in the County of Williamson, state of Tennessee, which took place about the year 1819. Jane Wilson has remained a widow ever since and has still continued to live in said county of Williamson. Witness was distantly related to the Wilsons and was well acquainted with the family.
Witness has in her own possession an old family record, a Bible, in which her age is entered and from this she knows that she is now about seventy six years old & that she was born Sept 3rd 1772.
Phebe (her mark) Reid
The lines numbered from 1 to 4 and from 6 to 11 were erased before signing. Sworn to & subscribed before me on the day & year above written George R. May J.P. of said county
I hereby certify that Phebe Reid whose name is signed to the above affidavit is an aged and infirmed woman, and confined to her bed by infirmity, but that she is of sound mind & has been many years a
resident of Marshall & Williamson Countys in the state of Tennessee and has ever borne the character of a truthful and honest woman and has been known & esteemed in her neighborhood; as one of the witnesses in the war of Independence of many of the events of that war in the province of North Carolina & especially in the county of Mecklenburg. Her statements are entitled to full faith & credit. Her family record ----old Bible is as above stated by her.
George R. May June 8th 1848 Justice of the Peace & one of the Justices of the County Court of Marshall County, Tennessee
J. Shuffield Justice of the Peace Marshall County Tennessee
In the matter of the application of Jane Wilson, widow of Robert Wilson, deceased, for the benefit of the Acts of 7th Jul 1838, 3rd Mar 1843, and February 1848 granting pensions to the widows of certain persons who served in the Revolutionary War.
State of Tennessee Marshall County
On this 31st day of July 1848 personally appeared before me John Shuffield a justice of the peace of said county, Moses Wilson, who having been duly sworn makes the following statements in relation to the marriage of Robert Wilson and Jane McDowell and as to the Revolutionary Services of said Robert, viz witness believes he was born about the year 1769 (seventeen hundred sixty-nine) in the Steele Creek congregation Mecklenburg Co. N.C. and was about seven or eight years old at the beginning of the revolutionary war and thirteen or fourteen at the end of it. He has no record of his age, but the age of himself and brothers have been preserved by tradition The family record of his father was lost during the war. Witness remembers many of the events of the war especially of what took place during the year 1779, 1780, 1781 and 1782.
His father Robert Wilson Senr. lived on Steele Creek before during and after the Revolutionary War and had six sons who were old enough to bear arms during the war all of whom were repeatedly engaged in various campaigns, & battles, both in North and South Carolina, against the British and Tories. The father of witness was taken prisoner by Col. Tarleton's [Banastre Tarleton's] dragoons the day after the defeat and dispersion of Col. Thomas Sumter's troops at Fishing Creek about the 18th August 1780.
Witness had six brothers who were engaged from time to time in the service of the Republican Army in North Carolina. Their names and age were nearly as follows.
1. Joseph Wilson born 1749 died 2. Aaron Wilson " 1751 " about 1833 3. John Wilson " 1753 " " 4. James Wilson " 1755 " " 184- 5. Robert Wilson " 1760 " " 1819 6. Samuel Wilson " 1762 " "
None of these brothers ever applied for or received any pension in land or money either from the
General Government or the States of North or South Carolina, except James Wilson who received a pension from the U.S. Government before he died.
Joseph and Robert Wilson were both privates in a company of Militia raised in Mecklenburg County North Carolina but witness does not know whether they went out under the officers of North Carolina or South Carolina. The citizens of Mecklenburg sometimes served under Col. Sumter, Col. Marion & other South Carolina partisans, but he knows that while they -- under Major General Lincoln of the Continental Army; that they were both in his army and under the command of said Lincoln, at the defense of Charleston, which continued from the 4th of February 1780 to the 12th day of May 1780, on which day Joseph and Robert Wilson together the rest of the North & South Carolina Militia were surrendered prisoners of war and marched out upon parole. Joseph & Robert Wilson shortly afterwards, say about June 1st 1780, returned to the house of their father in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Witness cannot state how long Joseph & Robert served before the siege of Charleston but thinks it probable some months before and from 4th February to 12th May 1780 during which the siege lasted.
Witness believes that Joseph, James & Robert Wilson soon afterwards joined Col. Thomas Sumter & Corps of partisans, Joseph & Robert doing so in violation of their paroles for they were with him in the battle of the Hanging Rock about the 9th day of August 1780 and must have been gone with him two or three months during that tour of duty Witness has often seen a rifle which was taken from a Tory killed in that battle by Joseph Wilson and believes it is now in possession of David Wilson of Maury County, one of his descendants.
Witness refers in corroboration of what he has above said in relation to the service of Robert Wilson, to an old affidavit herewith filed, marked A, and which he makes part of his evidence, it being the evidence on oath of Aaron Wilson & Joseph Wilson before Robert Irwin, a Justice of the Peace, made August 6th 1783, as to the value of a blanket and a pott one lost by Robert Wilson in the defence of Charleston under Lincoln and the other lost in the Hanging Rock battle.
Witness having been applied to for any old papers showing the service of Robert Wilson accidentally found the above named papers amongst the property of his deceased brother Aaron Wilson, and upon examination, witness distinctly remembers the handwriting of Robert Irwin which is very peculiar and who was known to this witness in early life, as well as the handwriting of Joseph & Aaron Wilson. Witness knows the signatures to be theirs & that it is genuine. He also knows that Robert Irwin was a justice of the peace at the time and believes that he also was an office in the Hanging Rock Battle under Col. Thomas Sumter.
Witness knows that some of his brothers were out in the Cherokee Campaigns in 1775-6 and in 1778-9. His brother John was out and others of the family, but he cannot remember whether Robert Wilson was out or not. He knows that his brother Robert and in fact all his older brothers were out some weeks at the time of the Ramsour battle [sic, the Battle of Ramsour's Mill], but witness cannot note how long they were out. He thinks that they--- out at that particular time only a few weeks.
Witness also knows that several of his brothers were with Genl Green [sic, Nathanael Greene] before & at the battle of Guildford [sic, Guilford] Court House but he cannot name what one ----
The last time Robert Wilson was out in the republican army was in what was called the Wilmington Campaign, which witness believes was the last service performed in North Carolina & was about the summer or fall of 1781. Robert Wilson was out then three or four months.
These are all the tours of duty performed by Robert Wilson during the war, which are fixed in the memory of the witness so that he can specify the place or battle or campaign in which he served but he is well satisfied that Robert Wilson as well as his other brothers before named performed more services than has been stated above. In fact, from the time when the Indians broke out in the west in 1775, some of his brothers were generally in some of campaigns which occurred against them during the Revolution and after the British & Tories combined to over run South & North Carolina in 1778, until the end of the war witness believes that his brothers were but seldom at house being generally out against the Tories or the British.
Witness knows that shortly after Gates defeat all of his brothers were out, & that when the British advanced in Mecklenburg in 1780, after Gates & Sumter defeats, a younger brother of the witness named Zaccheus was sent to give notice of their approach and was taken prisoner, and although but a boy was retained several days.
Witness remembers that his father & brother John had taken a wagon & supplies to Col. Sumters men just before his party was dispersed & that they were both taken prisoner of war & marched towards Charleston with many other prisoners & that the prisoners over powered their guard & made their escape & that shortly afterwards & before they got back the British General Cornwallis & others, took possession of the house of the father of the witness as he marched toward the --- & that witness was hid in the loft being then about eleven years old, for fear of being carried away by the British Army.
Witness has not attempted to specify the period of time for which his brother Robert entered the service nor the officer, captain or Colonel under which he served & has declined doing so because being young he cannot state distinctly what particular officer commanded in each period of service. & because the particular time, when he started on each tour of duty can not now be stated by him.
Robert Wilson died in 1819 and had been an early settler in Georgia say in 1790 to 1795, in during which time he was on the frontier & engaged in the Indian struggles & in 1795 crossed the Cumberland Mountains to the Cumberland Valley and afterwards about 1800 settled in Williamson County, Tennessee. During this period the papers, certificates & other memorandums of service of Robert Wilson, if he ever returned ----, must have been lost, so that now it would be impossible perhaps to procuring any of his papers, from which these exact periods of his service could be gathered.
Witness was acquainted with his brother & family --- and was a part of the time a member of his family & has heard him speak of the incidents of the siege of Charleston in 1780 from that time until the day of his death.
Robert Wilson, the brother of witness was born about the year 1760 and was married to Jane McDowell daughter of William McDowell in Steele Creek in Mecklenburg N.C. in 1783 or 1784 by the Rev. James McRea a Presbyterian minister, then & long afterwards the pastor of the Steele Creek congregation. This marriage was by publication of bans The witness was at the wedding & has known Jane Wilson ever since 1819 the year of her husbands death & knows that she has continued to live in Williamson County near Harpeth Lick ever since & that she is still a widow.
Witness believes that his brother Josiah Wilson & Phebe Reid both of Marshall County Tennessee are the only persons living beside himself who saw Robert Wilson married. He knows of no other persons now living to whom the services of Robert Wilson are known.
Moses Wilson
In the matter of the application of Jane Wilson widow of Robt Wilson, decd, for benefit of pension laws in relation to widows of Revolutionary Soldiers.
Be it remembered that on the 21st day of October eighteen hundred and forty eight personally appeared before me George R. May Esqr one of the Justices of the Peace & of the county court of the county of Marshall of the state of Tennessee Josiah Wilson, an aged and in firmed man, a citizen of Marshall County, state of Tennessee who having been duly sworn upon the Holy Bible in the due form of law, makes the following declaration in relation to the services & marriage of his brother the late Robert Wilson, to wit: that he was born in the County of Mecklenburg N. Carolina in the month of October A.D. seventeen hundred and sixty seven and is now in his eighty first year. Robert Wilson was born in 1760 or 1761 and was married to Jane McDowell daughter of William McDowell in the Steele Creek Congregation in Mecklenburg Co. North Carolina by the Rev. James McRee, the pastor of said congregation in the year seventeen hundred & eighty three or four, being the second year after war of Revolution.
He further states that his brothers were engaged in nearly every campaign of any importance against the British & Tories from 1776 to 1783, as well as against the Cherokee & Chicamauga [sic, Chickamauga] Indians, during the same period. They were at Briar-Brie? 1779 at the siege & defence of Charleston, at the Hanging Rock Battle in Augt. 1780, at the Cowpens & Guilford Court House.
He has examined the Pay Certificates attached to the Declaration of Jane Wilson taken before John A. McCaul Esq on the 12th day of May 1849, showing the amount of pay received by Robert Wilson, as a private in the Revolutionary War & he states that his father Robert Wilson, the elder, was too far advanced in life to be subject to military duty during the Revolution and too feeble in body to endure the fatigue of a campaign. His father Robert Wilson, the elder, it is true was taken prisoner at or near Fishing Creek about the 18th day of Augt 1780 near or at Sumters camp, but he was not taken as a soldier but as an aged and influential citizen, who had several sons who were active soldiers in what the British called, the "Rebel Army" and who was at the time conducting supplies to Sumters Corps & was known to be a zealous advocate of the American cause; but Robert Wilson Senior never did receive pay or pay certificates for military service as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, but his son, the brother of witness, Robert Wilson, Junior, the late husband of Jane Wilson, did receive pay or pay certificates, he thinks both as a drafted soldier & as a volunteer for services in North Carolina before the siege and at the siege of Charleston and also for services in North & South Carolina after the reduction of Charleston as a private ----- officers whose names are not known to witness.
He further states that he is satisfied that the pay certificates heretofore referred to, issued in the name of Robert Wilson & R. Wilson for services as a private in the Revolutionary War were not issued to Robert Wilson Senior, the father of this witness, but to Robert Wilson Junior his brother.
Interrogatories by the Justice-
Intg. 1 How old were you when your father Robert Wilson Senior was taken prisoner by Tarletons Dragoons? and also your brother John? Ans.1 According to the best of my recollection I was then about thirteen years of age being born in October AD 1766 or 1767.
Intg.2 Was this before or after your brothers Robert & Joseph were prisoners at Charleston? Ans 2 My father was taken prisoner with my brother John the day before Cornwallis reached Charlotte.
My brothers Robert & Joseph were surrendered prisoners of war at Charleston about the 12th of May preceding and were discharged upon parole. I think my father & brother John were taken prisoners about the 19 or 20th day of August AD 1780.
Intg.3 Please state, according to the best of your recollection, the length of time your brothers Joseph and Robert Wilson Junior were in the military service prior to and during the siege of Charleston? did they or not remain in the lines of Charleston during the whole period of the defence? and were they or not there when Genl Lincoln & army laid down their arms? Ans. 3 My brothers Robert & Joseph were both at the siege & defence of Charleston - They both went out before the siege of Charleston began as privates of Militia Troops raised in the county of Mecklenburg, at the call of Genl Lincoln. I am certain they were both within the lines of Charleston during the defence and at the time of the surrender. The distance from Steele Creek or Charlotte to Charleston is about two hundred miles. It was then about ten or twelve days drive with a wagon to Charleston and I think it would not have taken a body of infantry soldiers less than twelve days to have marched from the Town of Charlotte in Mecklenburg to the City of Charleston, making the necessary allowance for detention in crossing streams with troops & supply wagons, and this estimate would require a prompt and rapid march - more rapid than usual.
Ingt.4 Please state the names of such American Generals & Colonels as commanded the American Troops in the various campaigns and battles & sieges, in which your brothers were soldiers? Ans.4 I remember of the Militia Generals who commanded the Mecklenburg Troops, both against the British & Tories, but sometimes against the Indians, Joseph Rutherford, Joseph McDowell, Ashe, Davidson, Adam Alexander, Robert Irwin, Lytle, --- James White and others less important. Of the South Carolina Troops were Col afterwards General Thos. Sumter & Wade Hampton & Col. Anderson, and of the Continental Army were Generals Lee, Lincoln, Gates, Greene, Daniel Morgan, & Colonel Lee & Washington. Genl Hogan. Of the officers of lower grade I remember Captain Barnett, Hall, David Reed, Robert Irwin & Brevard &c. and my elder brother Aaron Wilson was a Lieutenant in Capt. Halls company in 1778 or 9 and was at the Battle of Stono in June 1779. I knew Major James White long after war, when we were both citizens of Sumner County. I knew him not only in North Carolina but also as a citizen of Tennessee. Genl Lillington according to my information commanded the only Brigade of North Carolina Militia at defence of Charleston, but there were others Corps then under Colonels I cannot remember whether Robert Wilson Jr. was under Lillington or some other officer. If he was under Lillington, he was one of those who volunteered to stay until the siege ended under Col. Lytle & Major Habersham. In addition to what I have already stated I wish to add that I am well satisfied that I have not been able to state all the periods of service in which my brother was a soldier during the Revolutionary War- especially in the four years preceeding the year 1780 and where I have stated it I have stated a less period of service than was probably performed.
Intg.5 Please name some clergyman who knew your brother Robert Wilson, Junior prior to his death, & who could testify as to his reputation in his neighborhood, in regard to his services in the Revolutionary War? Ans.5 I think James B. Porter of Spring Hill, an aged Cumberland Presbyterian Clergyman who has known the whole family forty years.
I am not interested in this application of Jane Wilson for a pension either directly or indirectly & further this deponent ---- to note.
Josiah Wilson
Sworn & subscribed before me the day & year above written containing six pages. In the matter of the application of Jane Wilson, of Williamson Co. Tenn, widow of Robert Wilson, decd for the benefit of the Act of 7th June 1838, & other acts for the benefit of widows of Revolutionary Soldiers.
The Deposition of Josiah Wilson Transcribed by Paulette Haynes
State of Tennessee Marshall County
On this 14th day of May 1849 at his own house, before me L.L. Fox, a Justice of the Peace of said County personally appeared Josiah Wilson aged about 81 years, who having been duly sworn declared that he is the same Josiah Wilson who was examined in this case before Esq. May on the 21st day of October 1848 and he now makes this additional statement in relation to the Revolutionary services of Robert Wilson Jr.
Robert Wilson Senior, of Steele Creek, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, in 1775, was the father of Robert Wilson Jr. as well as witness. The elder Robert Wilson had six sons who were subject to military duty and did perform military duty during the war of the Revolution between the years 1775 and 1783, under Genl. Rutherford, Col. Sumter, Col. Irwin, Genl Lincoln, Genl Greene and other American Generals.
Witness was present at the marriage. The marriage was by publication of banns and took place at the house of William McDowell. Moses Wilson, a brother of witness, & Phebe Reid both of Marshall County, State of Tennessee are the only persons now living known to witness who were present at this marriage, besides himself.
About the year 1785 or 1786 Robert Wilson moved with his family to Lincoln County in the State of Georgia, where he lived until 1795. He then moved to Cumberland Valley in 1795 and was the first man who brought a wagon across the Cumberland Mountains. He first lived in Sumner County near Cumberland River, but in the year 1800 he settled near Harpeth Lick in Williamson County, State of Tennessee, where he continued to live until the year 1819; when he died, leaving his wife Jane Wilson surviving ---, who has continued to live a widow; & to reside in said County of Williamson until the present time. Witness came to Tennessee in 1795 or 1796, and has always since lived within from three to fourteen miles of the residence of his brother Robert Wilson, and since his death, of his widow Jane Wilson. First while witness lived in Williamson Co. Tennessee but for near a dozen years last, in Marshall County Tennessee distance of ten or twelve miles. Witness remembers some of the events of the Revolutionary War especially those connected with his own family and neighborhood. He knows seven of his older brothers were soldiers at different and various times during the Revolutionary War to wit, Joseph, Aaron, John, James, Robert, Samuel & Zaccheus. He also knows that his own father Robert Wilson was a prisoner in the hands of the British in fall of 1780 and that his Uncle Zaccheus Wilson, Sr. was a signer of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, yet he does not think that he can at this late period in his life recollect all and each campaign in which his brothers may have served in the war.
He knows that Joseph & Robert Wilson were out in the North Carolina Militia under Genl Lincoln before and during the siege of Charleston but he cannot now name even the general officer, who
commanded the North Carolina Troops, nor the Colonels or Captains, who commanded the particular Regiment or Company in which Robert Wilson & Joseph Wilson served. Witness remembers the names of Genls Ashe, Rutherford, Sumter, Davidson & Caswell, who at different times commanded the North Carolina Troops, & he also knows that his brothers served under these men at various times but he cannot now state whether either or which one of these men commanded at Charleston. He remembers distinctly that both Robert & Joseph Wilson were at the siege of Charleston under Genl Lincoln and they were both surrendered prisoners of war at the surrender of Charleston, laid down their arms, and were paroled and returned to their fathers house at Steele Creek about the 1st of June 1780 being about two or three weeks after the surrender.
Witness cannot say how long his brothers were out before the siege of Charleston but he knows they were out before the British Army besieged Charleston, for he remembers distinctly that Joseph Wilson often spoke of his return from the army, of having applied to Col. Washington, before the British Army --- down before the City of Charleston to be admitted into his corps of mounted men or dragoons and that Col. Washington objected on account of his being too large. This took pace before the siege, the dispersion of Col. Washington's Corps, with others by the British, during the siege, near Monks Corner, fixed this circumstance in their minds.
Witness believes that service of his brothers were under the command of Thos. Sumter, --- but afterwards a Brigadier General, after the fall of Charleston. He remembers that his father Robert Wilson and his brother John Wilson were both taken prisoner near Genl Sumters camp about five miles from Steele Creek while engaged in hauling provisions or supplies to the Republic troops under Sumter & that they were dragged to Camden and confined with other of the Whig inhabitants of Mecklenburg in the Camden jail for about five weeks and that his father & brother John with ten others were started to Charleston under an escort of twelve soldiers and that on their way the prisoners were ---their guard - overpowered them, took their guns, locked them all up in a house in which they were quartered and all of them made their way, some to Marion County and some back to Mecklenburg & that his father & brother came back after near three months captivity. James Hart and John Bacste? were of the number of the prisoners who were most active in the rescue. The British guard was put on parole, when overpowered.
He believes that Aaron, James, Robert & Joseph Wilson were with Genl Sumter in the summer of 1780 but he cannot state whether they were at the battle of Rocky Mount & Hanging Rock although he believes they were with Sumter at that time in what was called the Wilmington Campaign which --- in 1780, and in ---North Carolina Troops, were --- under the command of Genl Rutherford. Witness can state that Robert Wilson was a private of Militia ---- Mecklenburg. Witness believes that his tour --- was for three or four months.
He cannot now state or specify any other campaigns, marches or tours of duty in which his brother Robert Wilson served but he knows that in nearly every campaign from 1775 (the "snow campaign") until 1780 or the end of the war, which occurred in North or South Carolina, either against the British, Tories or Indians, one or more of the brothers of witness were engaged.
None of these seven brothers ever applied for or received as witness believes, any pension whatever, except James Wilson who died in 1845. The others all departed this life either before the passage of a pension law or soon after, and none of them, so far as witness remembers, has now living any widow except Robert Wilson's widow. She was about 17 years old when married & is now over eighty.
Witness would further state that so far as he remembers his brother was a private at the time he was
under Lincoln at Charleston, belonging to the North Carolina Militia & likewise a private of North Carolina Militia on all other occasions. He does not think he ever belonged to the Regular or Continental Lines or to the State Line. He was always an infantry soldier. He was quite a young man during the war of Independence but in the Indian War in Georgia in 1790 or 1791, or about that time Robert Wilson was a Captain & served as such in the Indian War under the authority of the State of Georgia. He was also engaged in the Indian struggles in the Cumberland Valley in 1795 & 96 after he came to the State of Tennessee.
This witness is not either directly or indirectly interested in the application of Jane Wilson for a pension for her husbands services in the War of Independence.
Josiah Wilson (seal.
Revolutionary War Soldier
--
Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements Pension application of Jane Wilson, widow of Robert Wilson W216 Transcribed by Paulette Haynes
Jane Wilson Declaration & Exhibits Act 7 June 1838 State of Tennessee Williamson County
On the 12th day of May A.D. 1849 before me John A. McCaul Esq. a Justice of the Peace of said County and also a Justice of the County Court thereof Jane Wilson of said County aged about eighty five years, who having been duly sworn according to law, declares upon oath, as follows in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of 7 June 1838 & other Acts of Congress providing for the widows of Revolutionary Soldiers, to wit.
That she is the daughter of William McDowell who was with Col. Thos Sumpter [sic, Thomas Sumter] at the Hanging Rock Battle, who was also at the Battle of Kings Mountain in October 1780. She believes from the tradition of her family that she was born on the 2d day of Sept 1766 in York District Province of South Carolina. She was married on the (blank) day of February (the second or third Thursday of said month) in the year 1783 or 1784 by the Revd James McRee to Robert Wilson Junior the son of Robert Wilson of Steele Creek, Mecklenburgh [sic, Mecklenburg County], North Carolina. She was married at her own fathers house in Mecklenburg he having removed to Mecklenburg in 1783. She has no family or Church or Court record by which to prove her marriage. Her marriage was by publication of bans, & she has been able to procure the evidence of Mrs. Phebe Reed, Josiah Wilson & Moses Wilson who witnessed her marriage.
The year after her marriage, she removed with her husband to Lincoln County, State of Georgia, where Robert Wilson Junior, lived five or six years during which time her husband was engaged in several campaigns against the Indians as a captain of Militia Volunteers. He then removed to the Cumberland Valley about the year 1791 or 2 and lived in Sumner County near Bledsoes Lick until about the year 1799. Sometime in the year 1799 her late husband removed to Harpeth Lick in Williamson County state of Tennessee where he continued until the year 1819 when he departed this life, aged about sixty years, leaving the declarant his widow surviving ---, where she has continued to live a widow to the present time, never having remarried.
In relation to her husbands Revolutionary service she refers to the deposition of Moses & Josiah Wilson, surviving brothers of her late husband already on file in the Pension Office and to the additional facts which may be stated by these in relation to said services. Her husband, Robert Wilson Junior was the son of Robert Wilson Senior who lived before during and after Revolutionary war at Steele Creek in the County of Mecklenburg State of North Carolina. The elder Robert Wilson had six or seven sons (whose names have all been mentioned in the deposition of Moses Wilson) who were soldiers in North & South Carolina & Georgia in almost every campaign which occurred in said states or provinces from 1776 to 1783. Robert Wilson Senior was not less than fifty or fifty five years of age at the beginning of the Revolution and although he was a bold and ardent supporter & advocate of the Revolution he was too much advanced in years & too feeble in body to endure the fatigues of a campaign if he had been subject to military duty which he was not.
Although he was a prisoner in the hands of the British in 1780 taken at or near Sumters Camp in August of that year and confined in Camden jail together with one of his sons, named John Wilson and several of his nearest neighbors and others he was not taken as a soldier but as aged and influential citizen, who had several sons fighting under Sumter & other Republican leaders against the British
King and who was when taken engaged in furnishing and conveying provisions to Genl Thomas Sumters camp.
This declarant states that Robert Wilson Senior, the father of her husband Robert Wilson Junior, was not, at any period of the war, subject to military duty and never did receive pay as a private soldier, or as an officer for any service performed by him during the Revolutionary War. Amongst several periods of service, extending through out the Revolutionary War, with but few intervals, this declarant is only able to specify the following campaigns of her husband. A tour of duty of three or four months as a private of North Carolina Militia in August and September, October & November AD 1776 in a company commanded by Capt. Robert Irwin, in a Regiment commanded by Col. Alexander under the principal command of Brigadier General Rutherford, against the Cherokee Indians & other tours not now remembered.
In a tour of duty, as a private of Company of North Carolina Militia Commanded by Capt. _____ _______ in a Regiment or Corps commanded by _________ under the command of General Lincoln before and at the defence of Charleston in the year 1780, said tour beginning as early as December 1779 or earlier. She believes that her husband Robert Wilson Junior & his brother Joseph were under Brigd General Tillington [sic, John Alexander Lillington] whose period of service expired during the siege about the 20th March 1780, and after the 20 March 1780, belonged to Col. Lytle & Corps, which was composed of volunteers from General Lillington's North Carolina Brigade, who volunteered to remain three months longer & who did stay under Col. Lytle & Major Habersham, until the day of the surrender of Charleston by Genl Lincoln about 12 or 15th May 1780, making a tour of not less than five or six months without including time to return to Mecklenburg after surrender.
A tour of duty beginning with the Hanging Rock Campaign about 1st of June 1780, under Genl Thomas Sumter, of South Carolina & Col. Anderson of South Carolina, but under what Captain this declarant cannot now state. A brother of Robert Wilson Jr. was under Capt. Reid, but she does know that Robert was. The head quarters of Genl. Sumter were on Sugar Creek near old Robin Wilson's in June 1780, and after the affair at Fishing Creek about 20th August 1780, Robert Wilson, Junior & several of his brothers were his constant followers from 1st June 1780, & were with him at Hanging Rock & other subsequent battles. During this period he acted under the authority of South Carolina & received an Indent, a copy of which herewith filed marked Exhibit AD from South Carolina, during this period is made a part of this deposition.
The certificate of W. F. Collins, Compr of N.C. herewith filed marked Exhibit AB is made a part of this deposition which shows various payments made by the State of North Carolina to Robert Wilson Junior besides payments for the periods stated by her above. She believes the largest payment to refers to the tour at defense of Charleston, being for the sum of twenty pounds fourteen shillings.
This declarant, owing to age & infirmity cannot -- to travel seventeen miles, to the Court House, without danger to her life.
She further declares that she knows of no persons now living by whom she can prove more definitely the several period & tours of duty, and the names of the company & regimental officers than she has already done by the depositions of Moses & Josiah Wilson, and by the pay certificates & other records, which she has been able to procure showing the amount & character of the services of Robert Wilson Junior; except by reference to the Declaration of James Wilson, late a Pensioner of the United States, made in 1833 before the County Court of Bedford County, State of Tennessee & who was a brother & fellow soldier in the Hanging Rock Campaign, with her late husband under Col. Sumter but not under
Capt. Reid & Col. Irwin. In that Declaration he states ---he was a private in Capt David Reids Company of Col. Robert Irwins Regiment of North Carolina Militia from 10th June 1780 to about the 1st of Sept 1780, three months. James Wilson has been sometime deceased, but his Declaration is now on file in Pension Office at Washington City. He departed this life before declarant thought of making this application for a pension, & she knows of no other evidence which she can now procure, to describe more in detail her late husbands services. While under Sumter & Anderson, Robert Wilson Jr was a private militia volunteer.
Jane Wilson
-----12th line above Sworn to & subscribed before me this day & date above written John A. McCaul, JP justice of Peace
Exhibit AD is the Certificate of the Comptroller Genl of South Carolina dated 24th April 1849 Exhibit AB is the Certificate of the Comptroller of N Carol. dated April 30th 1849
State of Tennessee Marshall Co At the House of Samuel Reid, son of Phebe Reid
On the 8th day of June 1848 A.D. personally appeared before me George R. May one of the Justices of the County Court of Marshall County Tennessee Phebe Reid an old resident of said county aged seventy six years who is infirm of body but of sound mind and good recollection, who having been duly sworn, made oath as follows, that she was born Sept 3rd 1772, in the county of Mecklenburg, N. Carolina; that she was well acquainted with Robert Wilson, deceased, and was present at the house of William McDowell in said county of Mecklenburg, when said Robert Wilson was married to Jane McDowell by Rev. Mr. McRea; that said witness was then in her twelfth or thirteenth year; that said marriage was about the month of February in the year 1783 or 1784. It was two or three years after the Revolutionary War. The marriage was by publication of bans. Witness knows that Robert Wilson removed to Tennessee about the year 1795 and lived at the time of his death near Harpeth Lick in the County of Williamson, state of Tennessee, which took place about the year 1819. Jane Wilson has remained a widow ever since and has still continued to live in said county of Williamson. Witness was distantly related to the Wilsons and was well acquainted with the family.
Witness has in her own possession an old family record, a Bible, in which her age is entered and from this she knows that she is now about seventy six years old & that she was born Sept 3rd 1772.
Phebe (her mark) Reid
The lines numbered from 1 to 4 and from 6 to 11 were erased before signing. Sworn to & subscribed before me on the day & year above written George R. May J.P. of said county
I hereby certify that Phebe Reid whose name is signed to the above affidavit is an aged and infirmed woman, and confined to her bed by infirmity, but that she is of sound mind & has been many years a
resident of Marshall & Williamson Countys in the state of Tennessee and has ever borne the character of a truthful and honest woman and has been known & esteemed in her neighborhood; as one of the witnesses in the war of Independence of many of the events of that war in the province of North Carolina & especially in the county of Mecklenburg. Her statements are entitled to full faith & credit. Her family record ----old Bible is as above stated by her.
George R. May June 8th 1848 Justice of the Peace & one of the Justices of the County Court of Marshall County, Tennessee
J. Shuffield Justice of the Peace Marshall County Tennessee
In the matter of the application of Jane Wilson, widow of Robert Wilson, deceased, for the benefit of the Acts of 7th Jul 1838, 3rd Mar 1843, and February 1848 granting pensions to the widows of certain persons who served in the Revolutionary War.
State of Tennessee Marshall County
On this 31st day of July 1848 personally appeared before me John Shuffield a justice of the peace of said county, Moses Wilson, who having been duly sworn makes the following statements in relation to the marriage of Robert Wilson and Jane McDowell and as to the Revolutionary Services of said Robert, viz witness believes he was born about the year 1769 (seventeen hundred sixty-nine) in the Steele Creek congregation Mecklenburg Co. N.C. and was about seven or eight years old at the beginning of the revolutionary war and thirteen or fourteen at the end of it. He has no record of his age, but the age of himself and brothers have been preserved by tradition The family record of his father was lost during the war. Witness remembers many of the events of the war especially of what took place during the year 1779, 1780, 1781 and 1782.
His father Robert Wilson Senr. lived on Steele Creek before during and after the Revolutionary War and had six sons who were old enough to bear arms during the war all of whom were repeatedly engaged in various campaigns, & battles, both in North and South Carolina, against the British and Tories. The father of witness was taken prisoner by Col. Tarleton's [Banastre Tarleton's] dragoons the day after the defeat and dispersion of Col. Thomas Sumter's troops at Fishing Creek about the 18th August 1780.
Witness had six brothers who were engaged from time to time in the service of the Republican Army in North Carolina. Their names and age were nearly as follows.
1. Joseph Wilson born 1749 died 2. Aaron Wilson " 1751 " about 1833 3. John Wilson " 1753 " " 4. James Wilson " 1755 " " 184- 5. Robert Wilson " 1760 " " 1819 6. Samuel Wilson " 1762 " "
None of these brothers ever applied for or received any pension in land or money either from the
General Government or the States of North or South Carolina, except James Wilson who received a pension from the U.S. Government before he died.
Joseph and Robert Wilson were both privates in a company of Militia raised in Mecklenburg County North Carolina but witness does not know whether they went out under the officers of North Carolina or South Carolina. The citizens of Mecklenburg sometimes served under Col. Sumter, Col. Marion & other South Carolina partisans, but he knows that while they -- under Major General Lincoln of the Continental Army; that they were both in his army and under the command of said Lincoln, at the defense of Charleston, which continued from the 4th of February 1780 to the 12th day of May 1780, on which day Joseph and Robert Wilson together the rest of the North & South Carolina Militia were surrendered prisoners of war and marched out upon parole. Joseph & Robert Wilson shortly afterwards, say about June 1st 1780, returned to the house of their father in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Witness cannot state how long Joseph & Robert served before the siege of Charleston but thinks it probable some months before and from 4th February to 12th May 1780 during which the siege lasted.
Witness believes that Joseph, James & Robert Wilson soon afterwards joined Col. Thomas Sumter & Corps of partisans, Joseph & Robert doing so in violation of their paroles for they were with him in the battle of the Hanging Rock about the 9th day of August 1780 and must have been gone with him two or three months during that tour of duty Witness has often seen a rifle which was taken from a Tory killed in that battle by Joseph Wilson and believes it is now in possession of David Wilson of Maury County, one of his descendants.
Witness refers in corroboration of what he has above said in relation to the service of Robert Wilson, to an old affidavit herewith filed, marked A, and which he makes part of his evidence, it being the evidence on oath of Aaron Wilson & Joseph Wilson before Robert Irwin, a Justice of the Peace, made August 6th 1783, as to the value of a blanket and a pott one lost by Robert Wilson in the defence of Charleston under Lincoln and the other lost in the Hanging Rock battle.
Witness having been applied to for any old papers showing the service of Robert Wilson accidentally found the above named papers amongst the property of his deceased brother Aaron Wilson, and upon examination, witness distinctly remembers the handwriting of Robert Irwin which is very peculiar and who was known to this witness in early life, as well as the handwriting of Joseph & Aaron Wilson. Witness knows the signatures to be theirs & that it is genuine. He also knows that Robert Irwin was a justice of the peace at the time and believes that he also was an office in the Hanging Rock Battle under Col. Thomas Sumter.
Witness knows that some of his brothers were out in the Cherokee Campaigns in 1775-6 and in 1778-9. His brother John was out and others of the family, but he cannot remember whether Robert Wilson was out or not. He knows that his brother Robert and in fact all his older brothers were out some weeks at the time of the Ramsour battle [sic, the Battle of Ramsour's Mill], but witness cannot note how long they were out. He thinks that they--- out at that particular time only a few weeks.
Witness also knows that several of his brothers were with Genl Green [sic, Nathanael Greene] before & at the battle of Guildford [sic, Guilford] Court House but he cannot name what one ----
The last time Robert Wilson was out in the republican army was in what was called the Wilmington Campaign, which witness believes was the last service performed in North Carolina & was about the summer or fall of 1781. Robert Wilson was out then three or four months.
These are all the tours of duty performed by Robert Wilson during the war, which are fixed in the memory of the witness so that he can specify the place or battle or campaign in which he served but he is well satisfied that Robert Wilson as well as his other brothers before named performed more services than has been stated above. In fact, from the time when the Indians broke out in the west in 1775, some of his brothers were generally in some of campaigns which occurred against them during the Revolution and after the British & Tories combined to over run South & North Carolina in 1778, until the end of the war witness believes that his brothers were but seldom at house being generally out against the Tories or the British.
Witness knows that shortly after Gates defeat all of his brothers were out, & that when the British advanced in Mecklenburg in 1780, after Gates & Sumter defeats, a younger brother of the witness named Zaccheus was sent to give notice of their approach and was taken prisoner, and although but a boy was retained several days.
Witness remembers that his father & brother John had taken a wagon & supplies to Col. Sumters men just before his party was dispersed & that they were both taken prisoner of war & marched towards Charleston with many other prisoners & that the prisoners over powered their guard & made their escape & that shortly afterwards & before they got back the British General Cornwallis & others, took possession of the house of the father of the witness as he marched toward the --- & that witness was hid in the loft being then about eleven years old, for fear of being carried away by the British Army.
Witness has not attempted to specify the period of time for which his brother Robert entered the service nor the officer, captain or Colonel under which he served & has declined doing so because being young he cannot state distinctly what particular officer commanded in each period of service. & because the particular time, when he started on each tour of duty can not now be stated by him.
Robert Wilson died in 1819 and had been an early settler in Georgia say in 1790 to 1795, in during which time he was on the frontier & engaged in the Indian struggles & in 1795 crossed the Cumberland Mountains to the Cumberland Valley and afterwards about 1800 settled in Williamson County, Tennessee. During this period the papers, certificates & other memorandums of service of Robert Wilson, if he ever returned ----, must have been lost, so that now it would be impossible perhaps to procuring any of his papers, from which these exact periods of his service could be gathered.
Witness was acquainted with his brother & family --- and was a part of the time a member of his family & has heard him speak of the incidents of the siege of Charleston in 1780 from that time until the day of his death.
Robert Wilson, the brother of witness was born about the year 1760 and was married to Jane McDowell daughter of William McDowell in Steele Creek in Mecklenburg N.C. in 1783 or 1784 by the Rev. James McRea a Presbyterian minister, then & long afterwards the pastor of the Steele Creek congregation. This marriage was by publication of bans The witness was at the wedding & has known Jane Wilson ever since 1819 the year of her husbands death & knows that she has continued to live in Williamson County near Harpeth Lick ever since & that she is still a widow.
Witness believes that his brother Josiah Wilson & Phebe Reid both of Marshall County Tennessee are the only persons living beside himself who saw Robert Wilson married. He knows of no other persons now living to whom the services of Robert Wilson are known.
Moses Wilson
In the matter of the application of Jane Wilson widow of Robt Wilson, decd, for benefit of pension laws in relation to widows of Revolutionary Soldiers.
Be it remembered that on the 21st day of October eighteen hundred and forty eight personally appeared before me George R. May Esqr one of the Justices of the Peace & of the county court of the county of Marshall of the state of Tennessee Josiah Wilson, an aged and in firmed man, a citizen of Marshall County, state of Tennessee who having been duly sworn upon the Holy Bible in the due form of law, makes the following declaration in relation to the services & marriage of his brother the late Robert Wilson, to wit: that he was born in the County of Mecklenburg N. Carolina in the month of October A.D. seventeen hundred and sixty seven and is now in his eighty first year. Robert Wilson was born in 1760 or 1761 and was married to Jane McDowell daughter of William McDowell in the Steele Creek Congregation in Mecklenburg Co. North Carolina by the Rev. James McRee, the pastor of said congregation in the year seventeen hundred & eighty three or four, being the second year after war of Revolution.
He further states that his brothers were engaged in nearly every campaign of any importance against the British & Tories from 1776 to 1783, as well as against the Cherokee & Chicamauga [sic, Chickamauga] Indians, during the same period. They were at Briar-Brie? 1779 at the siege & defence of Charleston, at the Hanging Rock Battle in Augt. 1780, at the Cowpens & Guilford Court House.
He has examined the Pay Certificates attached to the Declaration of Jane Wilson taken before John A. McCaul Esq on the 12th day of May 1849, showing the amount of pay received by Robert Wilson, as a private in the Revolutionary War & he states that his father Robert Wilson, the elder, was too far advanced in life to be subject to military duty during the Revolution and too feeble in body to endure the fatigue of a campaign. His father Robert Wilson, the elder, it is true was taken prisoner at or near Fishing Creek about the 18th day of Augt 1780 near or at Sumters camp, but he was not taken as a soldier but as an aged and influential citizen, who had several sons who were active soldiers in what the British called, the "Rebel Army" and who was at the time conducting supplies to Sumters Corps & was known to be a zealous advocate of the American cause; but Robert Wilson Senior never did receive pay or pay certificates for military service as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, but his son, the brother of witness, Robert Wilson, Junior, the late husband of Jane Wilson, did receive pay or pay certificates, he thinks both as a drafted soldier & as a volunteer for services in North Carolina before the siege and at the siege of Charleston and also for services in North & South Carolina after the reduction of Charleston as a private ----- officers whose names are not known to witness.
He further states that he is satisfied that the pay certificates heretofore referred to, issued in the name of Robert Wilson & R. Wilson for services as a private in the Revolutionary War were not issued to Robert Wilson Senior, the father of this witness, but to Robert Wilson Junior his brother.
Interrogatories by the Justice-
Intg. 1 How old were you when your father Robert Wilson Senior was taken prisoner by Tarletons Dragoons? and also your brother John? Ans.1 According to the best of my recollection I was then about thirteen years of age being born in October AD 1766 or 1767.
Intg.2 Was this before or after your brothers Robert & Joseph were prisoners at Charleston? Ans 2 My father was taken prisoner with my brother John the day before Cornwallis reached Charlotte.
My brothers Robert & Joseph were surrendered prisoners of war at Charleston about the 12th of May preceding and were discharged upon parole. I think my father & brother John were taken prisoners about the 19 or 20th day of August AD 1780.
Intg.3 Please state, according to the best of your recollection, the length of time your brothers Joseph and Robert Wilson Junior were in the military service prior to and during the siege of Charleston? did they or not remain in the lines of Charleston during the whole period of the defence? and were they or not there when Genl Lincoln & army laid down their arms? Ans. 3 My brothers Robert & Joseph were both at the siege & defence of Charleston - They both went out before the siege of Charleston began as privates of Militia Troops raised in the county of Mecklenburg, at the call of Genl Lincoln. I am certain they were both within the lines of Charleston during the defence and at the time of the surrender. The distance from Steele Creek or Charlotte to Charleston is about two hundred miles. It was then about ten or twelve days drive with a wagon to Charleston and I think it would not have taken a body of infantry soldiers less than twelve days to have marched from the Town of Charlotte in Mecklenburg to the City of Charleston, making the necessary allowance for detention in crossing streams with troops & supply wagons, and this estimate would require a prompt and rapid march - more rapid than usual.
Ingt.4 Please state the names of such American Generals & Colonels as commanded the American Troops in the various campaigns and battles & sieges, in which your brothers were soldiers? Ans.4 I remember of the Militia Generals who commanded the Mecklenburg Troops, both against the British & Tories, but sometimes against the Indians, Joseph Rutherford, Joseph McDowell, Ashe, Davidson, Adam Alexander, Robert Irwin, Lytle, --- James White and others less important. Of the South Carolina Troops were Col afterwards General Thos. Sumter & Wade Hampton & Col. Anderson, and of the Continental Army were Generals Lee, Lincoln, Gates, Greene, Daniel Morgan, & Colonel Lee & Washington. Genl Hogan. Of the officers of lower grade I remember Captain Barnett, Hall, David Reed, Robert Irwin & Brevard &c. and my elder brother Aaron Wilson was a Lieutenant in Capt. Halls company in 1778 or 9 and was at the Battle of Stono in June 1779. I knew Major James White long after war, when we were both citizens of Sumner County. I knew him not only in North Carolina but also as a citizen of Tennessee. Genl Lillington according to my information commanded the only Brigade of North Carolina Militia at defence of Charleston, but there were others Corps then under Colonels I cannot remember whether Robert Wilson Jr. was under Lillington or some other officer. If he was under Lillington, he was one of those who volunteered to stay until the siege ended under Col. Lytle & Major Habersham. In addition to what I have already stated I wish to add that I am well satisfied that I have not been able to state all the periods of service in which my brother was a soldier during the Revolutionary War- especially in the four years preceeding the year 1780 and where I have stated it I have stated a less period of service than was probably performed.
Intg.5 Please name some clergyman who knew your brother Robert Wilson, Junior prior to his death, & who could testify as to his reputation in his neighborhood, in regard to his services in the Revolutionary War? Ans.5 I think James B. Porter of Spring Hill, an aged Cumberland Presbyterian Clergyman who has known the whole family forty years.
I am not interested in this application of Jane Wilson for a pension either directly or indirectly & further this deponent ---- to note.
Josiah Wilson
Sworn & subscribed before me the day & year above written containing six pages. In the matter of the application of Jane Wilson, of Williamson Co. Tenn, widow of Robert Wilson, decd for the benefit of the Act of 7th June 1838, & other acts for the benefit of widows of Revolutionary Soldiers.
The Deposition of Josiah Wilson Transcribed by Paulette Haynes
State of Tennessee Marshall County
On this 14th day of May 1849 at his own house, before me L.L. Fox, a Justice of the Peace of said County personally appeared Josiah Wilson aged about 81 years, who having been duly sworn declared that he is the same Josiah Wilson who was examined in this case before Esq. May on the 21st day of October 1848 and he now makes this additional statement in relation to the Revolutionary services of Robert Wilson Jr.
Robert Wilson Senior, of Steele Creek, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, in 1775, was the father of Robert Wilson Jr. as well as witness. The elder Robert Wilson had six sons who were subject to military duty and did perform military duty during the war of the Revolution between the years 1775 and 1783, under Genl. Rutherford, Col. Sumter, Col. Irwin, Genl Lincoln, Genl Greene and other American Generals.
Witness was present at the marriage. The marriage was by publication of banns and took place at the house of William McDowell. Moses Wilson, a brother of witness, & Phebe Reid both of Marshall County, State of Tennessee are the only persons now living known to witness who were present at this marriage, besides himself.
About the year 1785 or 1786 Robert Wilson moved with his family to Lincoln County in the State of Georgia, where he lived until 1795. He then moved to Cumberland Valley in 1795 and was the first man who brought a wagon across the Cumberland Mountains. He first lived in Sumner County near Cumberland River, but in the year 1800 he settled near Harpeth Lick in Williamson County, State of Tennessee, where he continued to live until the year 1819; when he died, leaving his wife Jane Wilson surviving ---, who has continued to live a widow; & to reside in said County of Williamson until the present time. Witness came to Tennessee in 1795 or 1796, and has always since lived within from three to fourteen miles of the residence of his brother Robert Wilson, and since his death, of his widow Jane Wilson. First while witness lived in Williamson Co. Tennessee but for near a dozen years last, in Marshall County Tennessee distance of ten or twelve miles. Witness remembers some of the events of the Revolutionary War especially those connected with his own family and neighborhood. He knows seven of his older brothers were soldiers at different and various times during the Revolutionary War to wit, Joseph, Aaron, John, James, Robert, Samuel & Zaccheus. He also knows that his own father Robert Wilson was a prisoner in the hands of the British in fall of 1780 and that his Uncle Zaccheus Wilson, Sr. was a signer of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, yet he does not think that he can at this late period in his life recollect all and each campaign in which his brothers may have served in the war.
He knows that Joseph & Robert Wilson were out in the North Carolina Militia under Genl Lincoln before and during the siege of Charleston but he cannot now name even the general officer, who
commanded the North Carolina Troops, nor the Colonels or Captains, who commanded the particular Regiment or Company in which Robert Wilson & Joseph Wilson served. Witness remembers the names of Genls Ashe, Rutherford, Sumter, Davidson & Caswell, who at different times commanded the North Carolina Troops, & he also knows that his brothers served under these men at various times but he cannot now state whether either or which one of these men commanded at Charleston. He remembers distinctly that both Robert & Joseph Wilson were at the siege of Charleston under Genl Lincoln and they were both surrendered prisoners of war at the surrender of Charleston, laid down their arms, and were paroled and returned to their fathers house at Steele Creek about the 1st of June 1780 being about two or three weeks after the surrender.
Witness cannot say how long his brothers were out before the siege of Charleston but he knows they were out before the British Army besieged Charleston, for he remembers distinctly that Joseph Wilson often spoke of his return from the army, of having applied to Col. Washington, before the British Army --- down before the City of Charleston to be admitted into his corps of mounted men or dragoons and that Col. Washington objected on account of his being too large. This took pace before the siege, the dispersion of Col. Washington's Corps, with others by the British, during the siege, near Monks Corner, fixed this circumstance in their minds.
Witness believes that service of his brothers were under the command of Thos. Sumter, --- but afterwards a Brigadier General, after the fall of Charleston. He remembers that his father Robert Wilson and his brother John Wilson were both taken prisoner near Genl Sumters camp about five miles from Steele Creek while engaged in hauling provisions or supplies to the Republic troops under Sumter & that they were dragged to Camden and confined with other of the Whig inhabitants of Mecklenburg in the Camden jail for about five weeks and that his father & brother John with ten others were started to Charleston under an escort of twelve soldiers and that on their way the prisoners were ---their guard - overpowered them, took their guns, locked them all up in a house in which they were quartered and all of them made their way, some to Marion County and some back to Mecklenburg & that his father & brother came back after near three months captivity. James Hart and John Bacste? were of the number of the prisoners who were most active in the rescue. The British guard was put on parole, when overpowered.
He believes that Aaron, James, Robert & Joseph Wilson were with Genl Sumter in the summer of 1780 but he cannot state whether they were at the battle of Rocky Mount & Hanging Rock although he believes they were with Sumter at that time in what was called the Wilmington Campaign which --- in 1780, and in ---North Carolina Troops, were --- under the command of Genl Rutherford. Witness can state that Robert Wilson was a private of Militia ---- Mecklenburg. Witness believes that his tour --- was for three or four months.
He cannot now state or specify any other campaigns, marches or tours of duty in which his brother Robert Wilson served but he knows that in nearly every campaign from 1775 (the "snow campaign") until 1780 or the end of the war, which occurred in North or South Carolina, either against the British, Tories or Indians, one or more of the brothers of witness were engaged.
None of these seven brothers ever applied for or received as witness believes, any pension whatever, except James Wilson who died in 1845. The others all departed this life either before the passage of a pension law or soon after, and none of them, so far as witness remembers, has now living any widow except Robert Wilson's widow. She was about 17 years old when married & is now over eighty.
Witness would further state that so far as he remembers his brother was a private at the time he was
under Lincoln at Charleston, belonging to the North Carolina Militia & likewise a private of North Carolina Militia on all other occasions. He does not think he ever belonged to the Regular or Continental Lines or to the State Line. He was always an infantry soldier. He was quite a young man during the war of Independence but in the Indian War in Georgia in 1790 or 1791, or about that time Robert Wilson was a Captain & served as such in the Indian War under the authority of the State of Georgia. He was also engaged in the Indian struggles in the Cumberland Valley in 1795 & 96 after he came to the State of Tennessee.
This witness is not either directly or indirectly interested in the application of Jane Wilson for a pension for her husbands services in the War of Independence.
Josiah Wilson (seal.
--
Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements Pension application of Jane Wilson, widow of Robert Wilson W216 Transcribed by Paulette Haynes
Jane Wilson Declaration & Exhibits Act 7 June 1838 State of Tennessee Williamson County
On the 12th day of May A.D. 1849 before me John A. McCaul Esq. a Justice of the Peace of said County and also a Justice of the County Court thereof Jane Wilson of said County aged about eighty five years, who having been duly sworn according to law, declares upon oath, as follows in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of 7 June 1838 & other Acts of Congress providing for the widows of Revolutionary Soldiers, to wit.
That she is the daughter of William McDowell who was with Col. Thos Sumpter [sic, Thomas Sumter] at the Hanging Rock Battle, who was also at the Battle of Kings Mountain in October 1780. She believes from the tradition of her family that she was born on the 2d day of Sept 1766 in York District Province of South Carolina. She was married on the (blank) day of February (the second or third Thursday of said month) in the year 1783 or 1784 by the Revd James McRee to Robert Wilson Junior the son of Robert Wilson of Steele Creek, Mecklenburgh [sic, Mecklenburg County], North Carolina. She was married at her own fathers house in Mecklenburg he having removed to Mecklenburg in 1783. She has no family or Church or Court record by which to prove her marriage. Her marriage was by publication of bans, & she has been able to procure the evidence of Mrs. Phebe Reed, Josiah Wilson & Moses Wilson who witnessed her marriage.
The year after her marriage, she removed with her husband to Lincoln County, State of Georgia, where Robert Wilson Junior, lived five or six years during which time her husband was engaged in several campaigns against the Indians as a captain of Militia Volunteers. He then removed to the Cumberland Valley about the year 1791 or 2 and lived in Sumner County near Bledsoes Lick until about the year 1799. Sometime in the year 1799 her late husband removed to Harpeth Lick in Williamson County state of Tennessee where he continued until the year 1819 when he departed this life, aged about sixty years, leaving the declarant his widow surviving ---, where she has continued to live a widow to the present time, never having remarried.
In relation to her husbands Revolutionary service she refers to the deposition of Moses & Josiah Wilson, surviving brothers of her late husband already on file in the Pension Office and to the additional facts which may be stated by these in relation to said services. Her husband, Robert Wilson Junior was the son of Robert Wilson Senior who lived before during and after Revolutionary war at Steele Creek in the County of Mecklenburg State of North Carolina. The elder Robert Wilson had six or seven sons (whose names have all been mentioned in the deposition of Moses Wilson) who were soldiers in North & South Carolina & Georgia in almost every campaign which occurred in said states or provinces from 1776 to 1783. Robert Wilson Senior was not less than fifty or fifty five years of age at the beginning of the Revolution and although he was a bold and ardent supporter & advocate of the Revolution he was too much advanced in years & too feeble in body to endure the fatigues of a campaign if he had been subject to military duty which he was not.
Although he was a prisoner in the hands of the British in 1780 taken at or near Sumters Camp in August of that year and confined in Camden jail together with one of his sons, named John Wilson and several of his nearest neighbors and others he was not taken as a soldier but as aged and influential citizen, who had several sons fighting under Sumter & other Republican leaders against the British
King and who was when taken engaged in furnishing and conveying provisions to Genl Thomas Sumters camp.
This declarant states that Robert Wilson Senior, the father of her husband Robert Wilson Junior, was not, at any period of the war, subject to military duty and never did receive pay as a private soldier, or as an officer for any service performed by him during the Revolutionary War. Amongst several periods of service, extending through out the Revolutionary War, with but few intervals, this declarant is only able to specify the following campaigns of her husband. A tour of duty of three or four months as a private of North Carolina Militia in August and September, October & November AD 1776 in a company commanded by Capt. Robert Irwin, in a Regiment commanded by Col. Alexander under the principal command of Brigadier General Rutherford, against the Cherokee Indians & other tours not now remembered.
In a tour of duty, as a private of Company of North Carolina Militia Commanded by Capt. _____ _______ in a Regiment or Corps commanded by _________ under the command of General Lincoln before and at the defence of Charleston in the year 1780, said tour beginning as early as December 1779 or earlier. She believes that her husband Robert Wilson Junior & his brother Joseph were under Brigd General Tillington [sic, John Alexander Lillington] whose period of service expired during the siege about the 20th March 1780, and after the 20 March 1780, belonged to Col. Lytle & Corps, which was composed of volunteers from General Lillington's North Carolina Brigade, who volunteered to remain three months longer & who did stay under Col. Lytle & Major Habersham, until the day of the surrender of Charleston by Genl Lincoln about 12 or 15th May 1780, making a tour of not less than five or six months without including time to return to Mecklenburg after surrender.
A tour of duty beginning with the Hanging Rock Campaign about 1st of June 1780, under Genl Thomas Sumter, of South Carolina & Col. Anderson of South Carolina, but under what Captain this declarant cannot now state. A brother of Robert Wilson Jr. was under Capt. Reid, but she does know that Robert was. The head quarters of Genl. Sumter were on Sugar Creek near old Robin Wilson's in June 1780, and after the affair at Fishing Creek about 20th August 1780, Robert Wilson, Junior & several of his brothers were his constant followers from 1st June 1780, & were with him at Hanging Rock & other subsequent battles. During this period he acted under the authority of South Carolina & received an Indent, a copy of which herewith filed marked Exhibit AD from South Carolina, during this period is made a part of this deposition.
The certificate of W. F. Collins, Compr of N.C. herewith filed marked Exhibit AB is made a part of this deposition which shows various payments made by the State of North Carolina to Robert Wilson Junior besides payments for the periods stated by her above. She believes the largest payment to refers to the tour at defense of Charleston, being for the sum of twenty pounds fourteen shillings.
This declarant, owing to age & infirmity cannot -- to travel seventeen miles, to the Court House, without danger to her life.
She further declares that she knows of no persons now living by whom she can prove more definitely the several period & tours of duty, and the names of the company & regimental officers than she has already done by the depositions of Moses & Josiah Wilson, and by the pay certificates & other records, which she has been able to procure showing the amount & character of the services of Robert Wilson Junior; except by reference to the Declaration of James Wilson, late a Pensioner of the United States, made in 1833 before the County Court of Bedford County, State of Tennessee & who was a brother & fellow soldier in the Hanging Rock Campaign, with her late husband under Col. Sumter but not under
Capt. Reid & Col. Irwin. In that Declaration he states ---he was a private in Capt David Reids Company of Col. Robert Irwins Regiment of North Carolina Militia from 10th June 1780 to about the 1st of Sept 1780, three months. James Wilson has been sometime deceased, but his Declaration is now on file in Pension Office at Washington City. He departed this life before declarant thought of making this application for a pension, & she knows of no other evidence which she can now procure, to describe more in detail her late husbands services. While under Sumter & Anderson, Robert Wilson Jr was a private militia volunteer.
Jane Wilson
-----12th line above Sworn to & subscribed before me this day & date above written John A. McCaul, JP justice of Peace
Exhibit AD is the Certificate of the Comptroller Genl of South Carolina dated 24th April 1849 Exhibit AB is the Certificate of the Comptroller of N Carol. dated April 30th 1849
State of Tennessee Marshall Co At the House of Samuel Reid, son of Phebe Reid
On the 8th day of June 1848 A.D. personally appeared before me George R. May one of the Justices of the County Court of Marshall County Tennessee Phebe Reid an old resident of said county aged seventy six years who is infirm of body but of sound mind and good recollection, who having been duly sworn, made oath as follows, that she was born Sept 3rd 1772, in the county of Mecklenburg, N. Carolina; that she was well acquainted with Robert Wilson, deceased, and was present at the house of William McDowell in said county of Mecklenburg, when said Robert Wilson was married to Jane McDowell by Rev. Mr. McRea; that said witness was then in her twelfth or thirteenth year; that said marriage was about the month of February in the year 1783 or 1784. It was two or three years after the Revolutionary War. The marriage was by publication of bans. Witness knows that Robert Wilson removed to Tennessee about the year 1795 and lived at the time of his death near Harpeth Lick in the County of Williamson, state of Tennessee, which took place about the year 1819. Jane Wilson has remained a widow ever since and has still continued to live in said county of Williamson. Witness was distantly related to the Wilsons and was well acquainted with the family.
Witness has in her own possession an old family record, a Bible, in which her age is entered and from this she knows that she is now about seventy six years old & that she was born Sept 3rd 1772.
Phebe (her mark) Reid
The lines numbered from 1 to 4 and from 6 to 11 were erased before signing. Sworn to & subscribed before me on the day & year above written George R. May J.P. of said county
I hereby certify that Phebe Reid whose name is signed to the above affidavit is an aged and infirmed woman, and confined to her bed by infirmity, but that she is of sound mind & has been many years a
resident of Marshall & Williamson Countys in the state of Tennessee and has ever borne the character of a truthful and honest woman and has been known & esteemed in her neighborhood; as one of the witnesses in the war of Independence of many of the events of that war in the province of North Carolina & especially in the county of Mecklenburg. Her statements are entitled to full faith & credit. Her family record ----old Bible is as above stated by her.
George R. May June 8th 1848 Justice of the Peace & one of the Justices of the County Court of Marshall County, Tennessee
J. Shuffield Justice of the Peace Marshall County Tennessee
In the matter of the application of Jane Wilson, widow of Robert Wilson, deceased, for the benefit of the Acts of 7th Jul 1838, 3rd Mar 1843, and February 1848 granting pensions to the widows of certain persons who served in the Revolutionary War.
State of Tennessee Marshall County
On this 31st day of July 1848 personally appeared before me John Shuffield a justice of the peace of said county, Moses Wilson, who having been duly sworn makes the following statements in relation to the marriage of Robert Wilson and Jane McDowell and as to the Revolutionary Services of said Robert, viz witness believes he was born about the year 1769 (seventeen hundred sixty-nine) in the Steele Creek congregation Mecklenburg Co. N.C. and was about seven or eight years old at the beginning of the revolutionary war and thirteen or fourteen at the end of it. He has no record of his age, but the age of himself and brothers have been preserved by tradition The family record of his father was lost during the war. Witness remembers many of the events of the war especially of what took place during the year 1779, 1780, 1781 and 1782.
His father Robert Wilson Senr. lived on Steele Creek before during and after the Revolutionary War and had six sons who were old enough to bear arms during the war all of whom were repeatedly engaged in various campaigns, & battles, both in North and South Carolina, against the British and Tories. The father of witness was taken prisoner by Col. Tarleton's [Banastre Tarleton's] dragoons the day after the defeat and dispersion of Col. Thomas Sumter's troops at Fishing Creek about the 18th August 1780.
Witness had six brothers who were engaged from time to time in the service of the Republican Army in North Carolina. Their names and age were nearly as follows.
1. Joseph Wilson born 1749 died 2. Aaron Wilson " 1751 " about 1833 3. John Wilson " 1753 " " 4. James Wilson " 1755 " " 184- 5. Robert Wilson " 1760 " " 1819 6. Samuel Wilson " 1762 " "
None of these brothers ever applied for or received any pension in land or money either from the
General Government or the States of North or South Carolina, except James Wilson who received a pension from the U.S. Government before he died.
Joseph and Robert Wilson were both privates in a company of Militia raised in Mecklenburg County North Carolina but witness does not know whether they went out under the officers of North Carolina or South Carolina. The citizens of Mecklenburg sometimes served under Col. Sumter, Col. Marion & other South Carolina partisans, but he knows that while they -- under Major General Lincoln of the Continental Army; that they were both in his army and under the command of said Lincoln, at the defense of Charleston, which continued from the 4th of February 1780 to the 12th day of May 1780, on which day Joseph and Robert Wilson together the rest of the North & South Carolina Militia were surrendered prisoners of war and marched out upon parole. Joseph & Robert Wilson shortly afterwards, say about June 1st 1780, returned to the house of their father in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Witness cannot state how long Joseph & Robert served before the siege of Charleston but thinks it probable some months before and from 4th February to 12th May 1780 during which the siege lasted.
Witness believes that Joseph, James & Robert Wilson soon afterwards joined Col. Thomas Sumter & Corps of partisans, Joseph & Robert doing so in violation of their paroles for they were with him in the battle of the Hanging Rock about the 9th day of August 1780 and must have been gone with him two or three months during that tour of duty Witness has often seen a rifle which was taken from a Tory killed in that battle by Joseph Wilson and believes it is now in possession of David Wilson of Maury County, one of his descendants.
Witness refers in corroboration of what he has above said in relation to the service of Robert Wilson, to an old affidavit herewith filed, marked A, and which he makes part of his evidence, it being the evidence on oath of Aaron Wilson & Joseph Wilson before Robert Irwin, a Justice of the Peace, made August 6th 1783, as to the value of a blanket and a pott one lost by Robert Wilson in the defence of Charleston under Lincoln and the other lost in the Hanging Rock battle.
Witness having been applied to for any old papers showing the service of Robert Wilson accidentally found the above named papers amongst the property of his deceased brother Aaron Wilson, and upon examination, witness distinctly remembers the handwriting of Robert Irwin which is very peculiar and who was known to this witness in early life, as well as the handwriting of Joseph & Aaron Wilson. Witness knows the signatures to be theirs & that it is genuine. He also knows that Robert Irwin was a justice of the peace at the time and believes that he also was an office in the Hanging Rock Battle under Col. Thomas Sumter.
Witness knows that some of his brothers were out in the Cherokee Campaigns in 1775-6 and in 1778-9. His brother John was out and others of the family, but he cannot remember whether Robert Wilson was out or not. He knows that his brother Robert and in fact all his older brothers were out some weeks at the time of the Ramsour battle [sic, the Battle of Ramsour's Mill], but witness cannot note how long they were out. He thinks that they--- out at that particular time only a few weeks.
Witness also knows that several of his brothers were with Genl Green [sic, Nathanael Greene] before & at the battle of Guildford [sic, Guilford] Court House but he cannot name what one ----
The last time Robert Wilson was out in the republican army was in what was called the Wilmington Campaign, which witness believes was the last service performed in North Carolina & was about the summer or fall of 1781. Robert Wilson was out then three or four months.
These are all the tours of duty performed by Robert Wilson during the war, which are fixed in the memory of the witness so that he can specify the place or battle or campaign in which he served but he is well satisfied that Robert Wilson as well as his other brothers before named performed more services than has been stated above. In fact, from the time when the Indians broke out in the west in 1775, some of his brothers were generally in some of campaigns which occurred against them during the Revolution and after the British & Tories combined to over run South & North Carolina in 1778, until the end of the war witness believes that his brothers were but seldom at house being generally out against the Tories or the British.
Witness knows that shortly after Gates defeat all of his brothers were out, & that when the British advanced in Mecklenburg in 1780, after Gates & Sumter defeats, a younger brother of the witness named Zaccheus was sent to give notice of their approach and was taken prisoner, and although but a boy was retained several days.
Witness remembers that his father & brother John had taken a wagon & supplies to Col. Sumters men just before his party was dispersed & that they were both taken prisoner of war & marched towards Charleston with many other prisoners & that the prisoners over powered their guard & made their escape & that shortly afterwards & before they got back the British General Cornwallis & others, took possession of the house of the father of the witness as he marched toward the --- & that witness was hid in the loft being then about eleven years old, for fear of being carried away by the British Army.
Witness has not attempted to specify the period of time for which his brother Robert entered the service nor the officer, captain or Colonel under which he served & has declined doing so because being young he cannot state distinctly what particular officer commanded in each period of service. & because the particular time, when he started on each tour of duty can not now be stated by him.
Robert Wilson died in 1819 and had been an early settler in Georgia say in 1790 to 1795, in during which time he was on the frontier & engaged in the Indian struggles & in 1795 crossed the Cumberland Mountains to the Cumberland Valley and afterwards about 1800 settled in Williamson County, Tennessee. During this period the papers, certificates & other memorandums of service of Robert Wilson, if he ever returned ----, must have been lost, so that now it would be impossible perhaps to procuring any of his papers, from which these exact periods of his service could be gathered.
Witness was acquainted with his brother & family --- and was a part of the time a member of his family & has heard him speak of the incidents of the siege of Charleston in 1780 from that time until the day of his death.
Robert Wilson, the brother of witness was born about the year 1760 and was married to Jane McDowell daughter of William McDowell in Steele Creek in Mecklenburg N.C. in 1783 or 1784 by the Rev. James McRea a Presbyterian minister, then & long afterwards the pastor of the Steele Creek congregation. This marriage was by publication of bans The witness was at the wedding & has known Jane Wilson ever since 1819 the year of her husbands death & knows that she has continued to live in Williamson County near Harpeth Lick ever since & that she is still a widow.
Witness believes that his brother Josiah Wilson & Phebe Reid both of Marshall County Tennessee are the only persons living beside himself who saw Robert Wilson married. He knows of no other persons now living to whom the services of Robert Wilson are known.
Moses Wilson
In the matter of the application of Jane Wilson widow of Robt Wilson, decd, for benefit of pension laws in relation to widows of Revolutionary Soldiers.
Be it remembered that on the 21st day of October eighteen hundred and forty eight personally appeared before me George R. May Esqr one of the Justices of the Peace & of the county court of the county of Marshall of the state of Tennessee Josiah Wilson, an aged and in firmed man, a citizen of Marshall County, state of Tennessee who having been duly sworn upon the Holy Bible in the due form of law, makes the following declaration in relation to the services & marriage of his brother the late Robert Wilson, to wit: that he was born in the County of Mecklenburg N. Carolina in the month of October A.D. seventeen hundred and sixty seven and is now in his eighty first year. Robert Wilson was born in 1760 or 1761 and was married to Jane McDowell daughter of William McDowell in the Steele Creek Congregation in Mecklenburg Co. North Carolina by the Rev. James McRee, the pastor of said congregation in the year seventeen hundred & eighty three or four, being the second year after war of Revolution.
He further states that his brothers were engaged in nearly every campaign of any importance against the British & Tories from 1776 to 1783, as well as against the Cherokee & Chicamauga [sic, Chickamauga] Indians, during the same period. They were at Briar-Brie? 1779 at the siege & defence of Charleston, at the Hanging Rock Battle in Augt. 1780, at the Cowpens & Guilford Court House.
He has examined the Pay Certificates attached to the Declaration of Jane Wilson taken before John A. McCaul Esq on the 12th day of May 1849, showing the amount of pay received by Robert Wilson, as a private in the Revolutionary War & he states that his father Robert Wilson, the elder, was too far advanced in life to be subject to military duty during the Revolution and too feeble in body to endure the fatigue of a campaign. His father Robert Wilson, the elder, it is true was taken prisoner at or near Fishing Creek about the 18th day of Augt 1780 near or at Sumters camp, but he was not taken as a soldier but as an aged and influential citizen, who had several sons who were active soldiers in what the British called, the "Rebel Army" and who was at the time conducting supplies to Sumters Corps & was known to be a zealous advocate of the American cause; but Robert Wilson Senior never did receive pay or pay certificates for military service as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, but his son, the brother of witness, Robert Wilson, Junior, the late husband of Jane Wilson, did receive pay or pay certificates, he thinks both as a drafted soldier & as a volunteer for services in North Carolina before the siege and at the siege of Charleston and also for services in North & South Carolina after the reduction of Charleston as a private ----- officers whose names are not known to witness.
He further states that he is satisfied that the pay certificates heretofore referred to, issued in the name of Robert Wilson & R. Wilson for services as a private in the Revolutionary War were not issued to Robert Wilson Senior, the father of this witness, but to Robert Wilson Junior his brother.
Interrogatories by the Justice-
Intg. 1 How old were you when your father Robert Wilson Senior was taken prisoner by Tarletons Dragoons? and also your brother John? Ans.1 According to the best of my recollection I was then about thirteen years of age being born in October AD 1766 or 1767.
Intg.2 Was this before or after your brothers Robert & Joseph were prisoners at Charleston? Ans 2 My father was taken prisoner with my brother John the day before Cornwallis reached Charlotte.
My brothers Robert & Joseph were surrendered prisoners of war at Charleston about the 12th of May preceding and were discharged upon parole. I think my father & brother John were taken prisoners about the 19 or 20th day of August AD 1780.
Intg.3 Please state, according to the best of your recollection, the length of time your brothers Joseph and Robert Wilson Junior were in the military service prior to and during the siege of Charleston? did they or not remain in the lines of Charleston during the whole period of the defence? and were they or not there when Genl Lincoln & army laid down their arms? Ans. 3 My brothers Robert & Joseph were both at the siege & defence of Charleston - They both went out before the siege of Charleston began as privates of Militia Troops raised in the county of Mecklenburg, at the call of Genl Lincoln. I am certain they were both within the lines of Charleston during the defence and at the time of the surrender. The distance from Steele Creek or Charlotte to Charleston is about two hundred miles. It was then about ten or twelve days drive with a wagon to Charleston and I think it would not have taken a body of infantry soldiers less than twelve days to have marched from the Town of Charlotte in Mecklenburg to the City of Charleston, making the necessary allowance for detention in crossing streams with troops & supply wagons, and this estimate would require a prompt and rapid march - more rapid than usual.
Ingt.4 Please state the names of such American Generals & Colonels as commanded the American Troops in the various campaigns and battles & sieges, in which your brothers were soldiers? Ans.4 I remember of the Militia Generals who commanded the Mecklenburg Troops, both against the British & Tories, but sometimes against the Indians, Joseph Rutherford, Joseph McDowell, Ashe, Davidson, Adam Alexander, Robert Irwin, Lytle, --- James White and others less important. Of the South Carolina Troops were Col afterwards General Thos. Sumter & Wade Hampton & Col. Anderson, and of the Continental Army were Generals Lee, Lincoln, Gates, Greene, Daniel Morgan, & Colonel Lee & Washington. Genl Hogan. Of the officers of lower grade I remember Captain Barnett, Hall, David Reed, Robert Irwin & Brevard &c. and my elder brother Aaron Wilson was a Lieutenant in Capt. Halls company in 1778 or 9 and was at the Battle of Stono in June 1779. I knew Major James White long after war, when we were both citizens of Sumner County. I knew him not only in North Carolina but also as a citizen of Tennessee. Genl Lillington according to my information commanded the only Brigade of North Carolina Militia at defence of Charleston, but there were others Corps then under Colonels I cannot remember whether Robert Wilson Jr. was under Lillington or some other officer. If he was under Lillington, he was one of those who volunteered to stay until the siege ended under Col. Lytle & Major Habersham. In addition to what I have already stated I wish to add that I am well satisfied that I have not been able to state all the periods of service in which my brother was a soldier during the Revolutionary War- especially in the four years preceeding the year 1780 and where I have stated it I have stated a less period of service than was probably performed.
Intg.5 Please name some clergyman who knew your brother Robert Wilson, Junior prior to his death, & who could testify as to his reputation in his neighborhood, in regard to his services in the Revolutionary War? Ans.5 I think James B. Porter of Spring Hill, an aged Cumberland Presbyterian Clergyman who has known the whole family forty years.
I am not interested in this application of Jane Wilson for a pension either directly or indirectly & further this deponent ---- to note.
Josiah Wilson
Sworn & subscribed before me the day & year above written containing six pages. In the matter of the application of Jane Wilson, of Williamson Co. Tenn, widow of Robert Wilson, decd for the benefit of the Act of 7th June 1838, & other acts for the benefit of widows of Revolutionary Soldiers.
The Deposition of Josiah Wilson Transcribed by Paulette Haynes
State of Tennessee Marshall County
On this 14th day of May 1849 at his own house, before me L.L. Fox, a Justice of the Peace of said County personally appeared Josiah Wilson aged about 81 years, who having been duly sworn declared that he is the same Josiah Wilson who was examined in this case before Esq. May on the 21st day of October 1848 and he now makes this additional statement in relation to the Revolutionary services of Robert Wilson Jr.
Robert Wilson Senior, of Steele Creek, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, in 1775, was the father of Robert Wilson Jr. as well as witness. The elder Robert Wilson had six sons who were subject to military duty and did perform military duty during the war of the Revolution between the years 1775 and 1783, under Genl. Rutherford, Col. Sumter, Col. Irwin, Genl Lincoln, Genl Greene and other American Generals.
Witness was present at the marriage. The marriage was by publication of banns and took place at the house of William McDowell. Moses Wilson, a brother of witness, & Phebe Reid both of Marshall County, State of Tennessee are the only persons now living known to witness who were present at this marriage, besides himself.
About the year 1785 or 1786 Robert Wilson moved with his family to Lincoln County in the State of Georgia, where he lived until 1795. He then moved to Cumberland Valley in 1795 and was the first man who brought a wagon across the Cumberland Mountains. He first lived in Sumner County near Cumberland River, but in the year 1800 he settled near Harpeth Lick in Williamson County, State of Tennessee, where he continued to live until the year 1819; when he died, leaving his wife Jane Wilson surviving ---, who has continued to live a widow; & to reside in said County of Williamson until the present time. Witness came to Tennessee in 1795 or 1796, and has always since lived within from three to fourteen miles of the residence of his brother Robert Wilson, and since his death, of his widow Jane Wilson. First while witness lived in Williamson Co. Tennessee but for near a dozen years last, in Marshall County Tennessee distance of ten or twelve miles. Witness remembers some of the events of the Revolutionary War especially those connected with his own family and neighborhood. He knows seven of his older brothers were soldiers at different and various times during the Revolutionary War to wit, Joseph, Aaron, John, James, Robert, Samuel & Zaccheus. He also knows that his own father Robert Wilson was a prisoner in the hands of the British in fall of 1780 and that his Uncle Zaccheus Wilson, Sr. was a signer of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, yet he does not think that he can at this late period in his life recollect all and each campaign in which his brothers may have served in the war.
He knows that Joseph & Robert Wilson were out in the North Carolina Militia under Genl Lincoln before and during the siege of Charleston but he cannot now name even the general officer, who
commanded the North Carolina Troops, nor the Colonels or Captains, who commanded the particular Regiment or Company in which Robert Wilson & Joseph Wilson served. Witness remembers the names of Genls Ashe, Rutherford, Sumter, Davidson & Caswell, who at different times commanded the North Carolina Troops, & he also knows that his brothers served under these men at various times but he cannot now state whether either or which one of these men commanded at Charleston. He remembers distinctly that both Robert & Joseph Wilson were at the siege of Charleston under Genl Lincoln and they were both surrendered prisoners of war at the surrender of Charleston, laid down their arms, and were paroled and returned to their fathers house at Steele Creek about the 1st of June 1780 being about two or three weeks after the surrender.
Witness cannot say how long his brothers were out before the siege of Charleston but he knows they were out before the British Army besieged Charleston, for he remembers distinctly that Joseph Wilson often spoke of his return from the army, of having applied to Col. Washington, before the British Army --- down before the City of Charleston to be admitted into his corps of mounted men or dragoons and that Col. Washington objected on account of his being too large. This took pace before the siege, the dispersion of Col. Washington's Corps, with others by the British, during the siege, near Monks Corner, fixed this circumstance in their minds.
Witness believes that service of his brothers were under the command of Thos. Sumter, --- but afterwards a Brigadier General, after the fall of Charleston. He remembers that his father Robert Wilson and his brother John Wilson were both taken prisoner near Genl Sumters camp about five miles from Steele Creek while engaged in hauling provisions or supplies to the Republic troops under Sumter & that they were dragged to Camden and confined with other of the Whig inhabitants of Mecklenburg in the Camden jail for about five weeks and that his father & brother John with ten others were started to Charleston under an escort of twelve soldiers and that on their way the prisoners were ---their guard - overpowered them, took their guns, locked them all up in a house in which they were quartered and all of them made their way, some to Marion County and some back to Mecklenburg & that his father & brother came back after near three months captivity. James Hart and John Bacste? were of the number of the prisoners who were most active in the rescue. The British guard was put on parole, when overpowered.
He believes that Aaron, James, Robert & Joseph Wilson were with Genl Sumter in the summer of 1780 but he cannot state whether they were at the battle of Rocky Mount & Hanging Rock although he believes they were with Sumter at that time in what was called the Wilmington Campaign which --- in 1780, and in ---North Carolina Troops, were --- under the command of Genl Rutherford. Witness can state that Robert Wilson was a private of Militia ---- Mecklenburg. Witness believes that his tour --- was for three or four months.
He cannot now state or specify any other campaigns, marches or tours of duty in which his brother Robert Wilson served but he knows that in nearly every campaign from 1775 (the "snow campaign") until 1780 or the end of the war, which occurred in North or South Carolina, either against the British, Tories or Indians, one or more of the brothers of witness were engaged.
None of these seven brothers ever applied for or received as witness believes, any pension whatever, except James Wilson who died in 1845. The others all departed this life either before the passage of a pension law or soon after, and none of them, so far as witness remembers, has now living any widow except Robert Wilson's widow. She was about 17 years old when married & is now over eighty.
Witness would further state that so far as he remembers his brother was a private at the time he was
under Lincoln at Charleston, belonging to the North Carolina Militia & likewise a private of North Carolina Militia on all other occasions. He does not think he ever belonged to the Regular or Continental Lines or to the State Line. He was always an infantry soldier. He was quite a young man during the war of Independence but in the Indian War in Georgia in 1790 or 1791, or about that time Robert Wilson was a Captain & served as such in the Indian War under the authority of the State of Georgia. He was also engaged in the Indian struggles in the Cumberland Valley in 1795 & 96 after he came to the State of Tennessee.
This witness is not either directly or indirectly interested in the application of Jane Wilson for a pension for her husbands services in the War of Independence.
Josiah Wilson (seal.
Bio by: Vonnie L Cantrell
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