James PEARCE Declaration of Revolutionary War Service

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12 Sep 1832. James Pearce Declaration of Revolutionary War Service

STATE OF TENNESSEE WASHINGTON COUNTY

On this 12th day of September 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Samuel Powell, Judge of the Circuit Court of Law and Execution for said county now sitting James Pearce, formerly a citizen of Washington County, Tennessee, now a resident of Sevier County in the state aforesaid, aged eighty-four years, who being sworn according to law doeth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of this act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.

To wit, that he entered the service of the United States Union the following named officer and swears as having stated that in the year of 1779 he was a resident of Washington County, now Tennessee, then in the State of North Carolina, which county was then a frontier and bordered on the Nation of Cherokee Indians who were in liege with the British in the War of the Revolution and was at that time and before and after committing murders and confrontations on the said frontier in which he resided.

That in the summer of 1779 he raised a company of volunteers in the county of Washington (now Greene) by order of Colonel John Sevier and marched his volunteer company to the French Broad river, then in Indian territory, now Cocke and Sevier counties Tennessee, after said Indians in Company with Capt. Jacob Brown who also commanded a Volunteer Company from Washington county, now Tennessee. There being no officers of higher grade in Company with us other than captain which grade this acclaimant occupied, he states the object of said tour was to prevent the Indians from crossing the river and getting into the frontier settlements. He states that he was nineteen days after Indians said tour and commanded this company as Captain.

He states that in the spring of 1780 he again raised a volunteer company in the said county of Washington and marched to Beaver Dam on Lick Creek where the Indians had come in on the frontier settlements and killed one man and assisted in guarding the frontier for the time of two weeks when he returned home.

He states that early in the fall of 1780, he with a company, volunteered under Colonel Sevier, then of Washington county, North Carolina, now Tennessee. This acclaimant being a resident of Washington, now Greene county, Tennessee and marched to what is now Carter County, Tennessee to Gap Creek. When Colonel Campbell's Regiment joined Colonel Sevier.

Campbell's Regiment being from the western part of Virginia, we were joined by Colonel Shelby's Regiment from Sullivan county, now Tennessee. We marched on to Kings Mountain atop the Yellow Mountains by way of Bright's Trace. He states that there was a hard battle fought on Kings Mountain. Which battle he was in and commanded his said company under Colonel Sevier. In which battle the American army was successful. The British Colonel (Ferguson) was killed and his army principally killed and taken prisoners.

He states he marched his company home and discharged them in now Greene county, Tennessee. Virtually after having delivered a full months tour. He states that immediately after his returning home to Greene county, he received orders from Colonel Sevier to march with his company to guard the frontier neighborhood on the Lick Creek flats against the Cherokee Indians and prevent Indian spies from getting into the white settlement. When he remained with his company serving as aforesaid, waiting the march of Colonel Sevier, whom he was to join where all together they had remained the time ten days. He marched his company and joined Colonel Sevier's regiment on Lacy Creek, now Jefferson county, Tennessee, in accordance with the order of the said Colonel Sevier. From thence, marched over the French Broad River, encamped on Boyds Creek, marched about ten miles on the following morning, was attacked by the Indians and had a battle in which the Indians were defeated with the capture of eleven of their men (none of the whites were killed). Found protection papers with the Indians and British protection papers, also British Civilians from the Thirtieth Regiment. Returned to an island in the French Broad River and encamped there some days waiting for Colonel Campbell's Regiment form Western Virginia. After the arrival of Colonel Campbell, we then marched on to the Indian towns which they burned and destroyed. Had several skirmishes. Killed some Indians and took some prisoners and returned home where he discharged his men verbally after having served the full time of nine months in said campaign.

That in the several tours before, states he served seven months and some days, and commanded as a Captain during the whole time, being elected by the company in which he remained their Captain and recognized by Colonel Sevier. The distance from the seat of Government being very great and the chain of mountains and unsettled country intervening furnishing such obstacles.

The officers of the militia elected in the frontier received no regular commissions at the time but acted upon the authority of the election in the companies and recognition of the superior officers, and he received his commission on his march to King Mountain in North Carolina.

That he resided, as before stated, in Greene county, then Washington co., and there resided for many years but recently removed to Sevier and there resides at this time, but is now residing amongst those who knew nothing of his Revolutionary War service.