James Pearsall Sr was born in 1750 in New Hanover County on the banks of Lewis’ Creek a western tributary of the NE Cape Fear River near present day Watha. His father, Edward Pearsall died in 1762.  The widow Catharine married Thomas Routledge and the family moved to Golden Grove, the present site of Kenansville. 
James Pearsall served in the North Carolina Militia (voucher number 1007), Wilmington District, during the Revolutionary War. He was with his step-father, Col Thomas Rutledge in the "Battle of Moore's Creek," and saw duty as a Lieutenant at the “Big Bridge” in New Hanover County on the northwest side of the NE Cape Fear River in 1781.  Other historical accounts reflect that he was a Captain in the Militia.
Continuing with public service, James Pearsall was the auditor for public claims for Wilmington District in 1782; one of three special tax commissioners for Duplin Cpunty in 1785. In a deed he gave to the County Commissioners of Duplin
County, a tract of land containing five acres square, in which the county commissioners appointed to build the court house and prison. The present, 1977, court house is located on the same tract of land in the center of Kenansville, North
Carolina. It is dated 17 January 1785, Duplin County, North Carolina; Deed Book 1, page 114.) He was Sheriff of Duplin County in 1784, 1788, 1789. He was a member from Duplin County to the State Constitutional Conventional at Fayetteville, North Carolina on 21 November 1789. He was a member of the House of Commons from Duplin County in 1791 and 1793. He was a member of the Justices of Duplin County for a number of years, an inn keeper, and a coroner.
James Pearsall was first married to Zilphia Uzzell of Lenior County, daughter of Thomas Uzzell.  Four children were born of this marriage.  His second marriage was to Feraby Whitfield, daughter of Constantine Whitfield and Barbara Williams.  There were no children of the second marriage.  Lastly, he married Anna Dickson, daughter of Joseph Dickson and Jane Moulton.  Seven children were born of this marriage.  James Pearsall died on November 12, 1812 and is buried in the Routledge Cemetery, Kenansville, NC.
The four children of the first marriage were:  Elizabeth, thought to have married an Edward McGowan; Edward Pearsall (1780 – 1836), who married Ann Guy; James Pearsall (1785 – 1859), who married Ann Carr; and Mary Pearsall who married William McGowan (1772 – 1860).
The children of the third marriage were:  His third wife was Anna Dickson 23 July 1775-4 November 1837).  Her parents were Joseph Dickson and Jane Moulton, who died in Dickson County, Tennessee.  Anna is buried in the James Pearsall cemetery near Pearsall Chapel.  By her, he had Feraby Pearsall (1809-21 August 1859), who married 1 May 1854, Dr. David Gillespie, widower of her sister, Lucy Jane Pearsall, and died in Leon County, Texas; Anne Pearsall (19 August 1797-14 August 1873) who married John Oliver 15 June 1817; Jeremiah Pearsall (21 January 1800-7 August
1871), who first married 10 July 1821, Katherine Middleton, then 10 February 1857, Jemina Haywood Middleton; Joseph Dickson Pearsall (1803-28 August 1828); Hugh Pearsall (1805-15 August 1839), who married Margaret E Maxwell; Lucy Jane Pearsall (1808-8 November 1848), who married, 18 February 1835, Dr. David Gillespie; and William Dickson Pearsall (12 November 1812-2 April 1892), who married 26 January 1841, Sarah Whitaker.



Contributed by Joshua Waller

Nathaniel Waller
Revolutionary War Bounty Land Grants: Waller, Nathaniel. NC Private. 1 July 1825, 640acres
Abstracts of Rev War Pension Files: Waller, Nathaniel, NC line, S42051, appl 23 Oct 1818 New Hanover Co. NC,
in 1821 sol had a wife and children at home
Index to Revolutionary War Service Records: Waller, Nathaniel, srv as Pvt in NC Troops, card #2998 roll #54
Roster of the Continetal Line From North Carolina: 1st Regiment, Col. Thomas Clark, Carter’s Company: Waller, Nathaniel, Pvt, enlisted 1782, served 18 months.
Nathaniel Waller, age 18, joined the army on June 1, 1782 in the 3rd Regiment of NC Continental Troops, Capt. Benjamin Carter's Company and served until the war ended.  He was discharged at Charleston, SC in 1783.
1825, Nathaniel Waller, NC Private, 1 July recieved 640 acres.
1830 Duplin County Census lists the following with Nathaniel Waller: 2 Males (from 20-30), 2 Females (from 20-30), 1 Female (from 50-60), 1 Male (from 60-70).
Pension Roll of 1835 states that the individual lived in New Hanover County.  He was a private, NC Continetal Line.  Receiving $96 annual allowance.  $1475.35 received as of 1835.  Pension started April 1, 1819
1840 Duplin County Census lists the following with Nathaniel Waller: 1 Male (from 20-30), 1Male (from 70-80), 1Female (<5), 1Female (from 30-40), 1 Female (from 70-80)
Had revolutionary war pension in 1840 duplin county census.  Listed as being 76 yrs old.

Nathaniel Waller of New Hanover County of North Carolina duly sworn maketh oath that in the year 1782 he entered the service of the United States in the Continental line of North Carolina in the North Carolina Regiment, in Benjamin
Carter's Company.  That he served until he was regularly discharged after the peace of 1783 and further swears he is poor and in need of the aid of his country. Signed: Nathaniel Waller
Oct 23rd 1818, North Carolina, New Hanover County, the above direction was subscribed and sworn to by Nathaniel Waller before this ????  ?????  of this ???? of the superior court of ????   ??  ?? of the said state this 23rd Oct 1818.
signed ????
Jeremiah Williams being duly sworn and maketh oath that the above facts set forth in the affidavit of Nathaniel Waller in his affidavit are true.  Signed: Jeremiah Williams HIS MARK
State of North Carolina, New Hanover County the ????? affidavit of Jeremiah Williams this day that he is of New Hanover County was ??? to the individual by ????  before ??? in ?? of this hand of the state superior courts of law and
equity of the said state this 28 Oct 1818 signed: ????
District of North Carolina, I Harry Potter, District judge of the state for the district aforementioned do herby certify that form the foregoing declaration of the accompanying testimony it appears to my satisfaction that the said Nathaniel
Waller did service in the Revolutionary War against new ???  ?? For duration of nine months or until the end of the war on this continental ???? and that he is poor and need the aid of his country and I ??? ??? ?? proceedings and
testimony put into my hand for that purpose (Judy Baker being died) to the secretary for the war department. 1st Jany 1819 H. Potter, ??? [taken from a exact copy of the actual pension request, transcribed by Josh Waller on 30 Sep 2007]

District of Wilmington, New Hanover County of North Carolina,
On this 13th day of August 1821, Personally appeared in open court, being a court of record for the court aforementioned, Nathaniel Waller aged fifty seven years, resided  in the county and district aforementioned who being first duly sworn according to the law doth  on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows.  That he entered into the ????service June 1782 in the 3 Regiment of North Carolina Continental troops commanded by Colonel Arch. Lytle and Capt. Capt. Benj. Carter's Company of said Regiment and served to the end of the war.  That his original declaration was made some time in the month of October 1818.  The number of the pension  Certificate is 8839,
and dole solemnly swear that I was a resident  citizen of the united states on the 18 day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift, sale, or in any manner displayed of my property or any part thereof, with intent thereby do
to diminish it, as to ring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled " an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War."  Passed on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not , nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts, or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.
3 axes, $5.0
1 plow, $2.0
2 hoes, $1.50
1 pine table, $1.0
2 iron pots, $2.0
5 chairs, $2.0
--------------------------
$14.50

a few carpenter's tools, $25.0
1 small chest, $2
1 cotton spinning wheel, $2.0
1 cotton ???, $1.0
------------------------------------------
$30.00

no stock of any kind
signed: Nathaniel Waller

That I am a carpenter by trade but from infirmities I am not able to follow the business of.  That my family consists of the following members, my wife who is infirm, one son (John) about 19 years of age much affected at times with pain by which he is not able to work.  One son (Levin) about 13 years of age.  One daughter (Nancy) about 16 years of age.
-Sworn and declared on the 13 day of August 1821 before Thos? F Davis
I Thos. F. Davis, Clerk of Court of New Hanover County do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule whereto annexed are truly copied from the record of the said court and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is forty four dollars and 50 cents.  In testimony where of I have here unto let my hand and affixed the seal of said court and the 13 day of August 1821.   Signed Thos. F. Davis Clk.
[taken from a exact copy of his actual pension request, transcribed by Josh Waller on 30 Sep 2007]

Duplin County 1840 Pensioners List
This is a listing of the 1840 Pensioners List in Duplin County. I have transcribed the names EXACTLY as they appear on the census records. This census transcription is complete and as accurate as the original census takers wrote
it down. Any errors or omissions are not on my part.

No Township Listed 
William Alfin Age 74
Nathaniel Waller Age 76
James Moore Age 77
John Davis Age 78
Thomas Kennaday Age 78
John Rigby Age 78
Thomas Wright Age 78
James Blauton Age 79
Jesse Brown Age 79
Samuel Gauff Age 81
Bezzent Brock Age 82 
William Taylor Age 83
David Charlton Age 84
Daniel Withington Age 85
William Carr Age 87
James Holland Age 93
Kadar Harrell Age 94