TART, Thomas 1761-1850

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, SAMPSON COUNTY

On this 15th of august, 1833, personally appeared before us, James Bennett and John King, two of the justices of peace in and for the county Aforesaid, Thomas Tart, a resident of Sampson County in the state of North Carolina, aged 72 years. Who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832. That he entered the Service of the United States under the following named officers and Served as herein stated.

That as near as he can recollect, it was in the month of June, 1779 (Actually enlisted July 20, 1778), a draft was to take place in the Company to which he belonged, for the term of nine months, that the Company was to furnish six men, that in order not to stand the draft, the Company made up two hundred dollars continental money to any one who Would volunteer. Rather than be drafted he took the money and Volunteered under command of captain William Williams; and that himself And what men were drafted from the regiment rendezvous at Windsor, Bertie County and remained there about a week, and from Windsor they were Marched to the town of Halifax in Halifax County. Before they arrived at Halifax they met some continental officers who took command of the Militia. When they arrived a Halifax, there was a considerable army Stationed there. He was then placed in a regiment commanded by Colonel Hogan, Major Thomas Hogg, Captain Redding Blount and lt. Rueben Wilkinson. They were stationed there as much as three or four weeks. They then Marched from Halifax to west point fort on the north river, and as he Understood, to fill up the Third North Carolina Regiment. They marched Under command of the continental officers already named.

When the regiment got to New Kent County, Virginia, Lt. Wilkinson, got a parole, as he supposed, to visit his father in said county, and took him (Thomas Tart) along to wait on the lieutenant.

After staying with the father of Lt. Wilkinson for some time, they took off after the army, but never over took them until they got to West Point. They went through Richmond, Fredricksburg, Alexandria in Virginia, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Princeton NJ.

When they arrived at West Point they found their regiment back of the Fort on the commons. There was several armies stationed there and about the area. There was a large chain stretched across the river, as he reported, to prevent the British shipping from going up river. Thomas Reported that he was never in any battles but nearly all the time for Which he volunteered he had to wait on his captain and lieutenant.

Lt. Wilkinson and Lt. Yarborough of another company fought a duel, and Lt. Wilkinson was wounded in the left arm. They went up the river to a town called New Windsor and to the hospital. While there and the care of a doctor, time expired on our enlistment (April 20, 1779). Our Commander, Big William Matfoot, John Male, John Hoggard, Patrick Hoggard, And Nathan Cobb were all discharged and left for Bertie County North Carolina, Lt. Wilkinson sent Thomas to Philadelphia to find Colonel Hogan To get his discharge. Hogan by then was a general and he ordered Thomas To be inoculated for the Smallpox. Thomas was sent to the hospital in Philadelphia. And before he was over the Smallpox, he was taken ill with The Putrid fever and his life was for some time despaired of.

When Thomas was well enough to leave the hospital, he returned to General Hogan and this time obtained a discharge. He was told that he could go home, however he was still feeble and unable to make the long walk alone to North Carolina and was at lost as what to do. He was told that he might get a job aboard a ship to the West Indies on a trading voyage. Thomas signed up on the ship Clay ( actually named Jay), formerly called the ship Liverpool. (This 18-gun vessel with Captain Courter also had 100 men as American Privateers.)

They sailed from the port of Philadelphia in August of 1779, and when They were three days out from the Cape of Delaware, they captured an English Brig (called Pitt) laden with rum and sugar for the English Army at Halifax, Nova Scotia. She was sent to Alexandria Virginia. They then Sailed to an island called St. Eustatius in the West Indies where they unloaded their tobacco and stores.

They loaded up with salt and returned to the United States. The ship was Commanded by Captain Steerman Coulter, John Douglass, and Lt. Tanner A. Fisher. When they got as far as Chester on the Delaware River the ice prevented her from going any farther. (About Jan. 1780. Ed.) Thomas then Went into Chester and worked with a shoemaker for his vituals while he waited for the prize money from the ship's load of salt. When all issues were resolved he returned to his father's home in Bertie County in may of 1780, being absent one year and ten months.

Questions asked Thomas Tart by James Bennett and John King, Justices of The Peace, during the application for this pension.

Question 1: Where and what year were you born? Answer: I was born in Nansemond Country in the state of Virginia, the 7th of February, 1761.

Question 2: Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it? Answer: I have it on a slip of paper from my father's (Nathan Tart) large Family Bible.

Question 3: Where were you living when called into the service? Where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do You now live?

Answer: When I was called into the service, I lived with my father in Bertie County. I was absent by land and sea for one year and ten months. After my return, I married. I moved to the state of Virginia near where I Was born. I stayed one year, then I moved back to Bertie County and from thence about thirty-three (33) years ago (1800), I moved to the place That I now live on the north side of Kill Peacock Swamp and east side of The Great Coharie, Sampson County North Carolina.

Question 4: How were you called into the service, were you drafted? Did You volunteer? Were you a substitute and if a substitute, for whom? Answer: When the draft was pending for a term of nine months, our company Was to furnish a quota of six men. The company offered to give any men that volunteer two hundred dollars Continental Money. Rather than run the Risk of being drafted, I took the money and volunteered for a term of Nine months.

Question 5: State the names of some of the regular offices who were with The troops where you served, such continental and militia regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service? Answer: Colonel Hogan and Major Higg commanded the regiment where I Served, and Captain Redding Blount and Lieutenant Rueben Wilkinson Commanded the company to which I belonged. I have no recollection of any militia or regiments, nor do I remember who the officers were that commanded At West Point. Our regiments were encamped on the commons back of the Fort, and the soldiers of the fort and the soldiers of the regiment had No communication with each other. My employment was to wait on the Captain and lieutenant.

Question 6: Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so, By whom was it given and what has become of it? Answer: I received a discharge from the army from Colonel then General Hogan in Philadelphia After my return from waiting on Lieutenant Wilkinson. I know not what has Become of it. When I received it, I had no idea of it being of any advantage to me, and I then entered on board the Ship Clay by Letter of Marque on a cruise to the West Indies.

Question 7: State the name of person who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your service as a soldier of the Revolution? Answer: I know of no person who can testify at this time as To my service as a soldier of the Revolution. A few years back I could have done so. I don't know whether any of them are yet alive or if alive, I know not where they live. As to my character for veracity, I will state the names of Thomas Thornton Sr. and Westbrook Lee, who have know me for about thirty-three years, the time that I have resided in this county.

We Thomas Thornton, Sr. and Westbrook Lee, farmers residing In Sampson County in the state aforesaid do hereby certify that we have know and are well acquainted with the applicant Thomas Tart who has subscribed to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy-two years of age, that he is believed and reputed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion, and that we believe him to be a man of veracity. Sworn and subscribed to the day and year aforesaid: Westbrook Lee and Thomas Thornton, farmers.

We John King and James Bennett, Justices of the Peace as aforesaid do hereby declare as our opinion, after the investigation of this matter and After putting the interrogations prescribed by the war department, that The above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he States; we further certify that Westbrook Lee and Thomas Thornton who signed the preceding certificate are very respectable farmers of the county; that they are creditable persons, And that statement is entitled To credit. We further state that we have know the applicant and believe him to be a man of veracity. Given under our hands the day and year above written. John King, JP and James Bennett, JP.

Submitted by: Jerome Tew jdtew@esn.net

TUTTLE, John

John Tuttle was born March 22, 1761 in Fairfax County, Virginia. He came to North Carolina as a youth. In Surry County on June 16, 1783, he married Anna Barbara Elizabeth Frey. He entered the service of the United States as a private volunteer in the militia company of Captain Peter ONeal, in Rockingham County, sometime around Easter of 1778. He was in service for about two months and then returned home to Rockingham County.

In August of 1778, he was drafted into a company commanded by Captain Wm. Wilson. They marched to Guilford Courthouse, NC and there joined Col. Paisley's regiment. From there they marched to Salisbury and were joined by General Davidson's brigade. After a short stay in Salisbury, they marched "to or near" the borders of South Carolina and established headquarters at what was called 12 Mile Creek. Here John Tuttle assisted in capturing 19 Tories which were tried by a court martial. John Tuttle was one of the guards during this trial. Tuttle's unit then marched back to Salisbury and were met by an army of Virginia troops. They received information that the British were seen near their old headquarters at 12 Mile Creek close to the Catawba River, so they returned there to "watch and guard" to prevent the British from crossing the river. At 12 Mile Creek, John received a written discharge from Col. Paisley and returned to his father's home in Surry County near Major Joseph Winston's residence.

In January 1781, he answered a call for mounted men and joined a company commanded by Capt. Robert Hill of Surry County under Major Joseph Winston. They marched down through Rockingham County and into Caswell County. While enroute, they skirmished and "defeated a parcel of Tories" and then were joined by General Pickens' light horse troops. Tarlton, the British commander with about 800 soldiers was located near Hillsboro, North Carolina. The British advanced on Tuttle's unit which "retreated a few miles and them formed for battle." Tuttle apparently had been previously wounded on his instep by a "rough shod horse" and was left to guard some horses in the rear. The attack was to much for the US troops and they 'broke on the right wing which soon became a general disorderly retreat with the loss of two men killed." Tuttle and a few other men made it into Rockingham County where he stayed until his foot healed. After recovering form the injury, he received a verbal discharge from Captain Hill.

John Tuttle applied for a Revolutionary War pension on June 13, 1836 and received a sum of $25.00 per year till his death on September 30, 1840. John Tuttle's grave has been located in an old Frey Cemetery, in Stokes County, which is thought to be that of his father-in-law.

This information was taken from the Revolutionary War pension application of John Tuttle and was submitted by a great-great-great-great-great grandson.

WHITE, Isaac

Isaac WHITE b. 4-Jun-1752, Kent Co., m. 12-Oct-1775, in Guilford Co. Sarah VAUGHN, b. 1755, Hanover Co.VA, (daughter of David VAUGHN and Susanah?) d. 15-Jun-1844, Washington Co. TN, buried: White Cem, Washington Co. TN. Isaac died 18-Aug-1819, Washington Co., TN, buried: White Cem. Washington Co. TN.

Isaac was a Lieutenant in the North Carolina Militia during the Revolutionary War, and participated in the Battle of King's Mountain. "A pivotal and significant victory by American Patriots over American Loyalists during the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War. The battle fought on October 7, 1780 destroyed the left wing of Cornwallis' army and effectively ended Loyalist ascendance in the Carolinas. The victory halted the British advance into North Carolina, forced Lord Cornwallis to retreat from Charlotte into South Carolina, and gave General Nathanael Greene the opportunity to reorganize the American Army." In 1781, Isaac and his family from Guilford Co., N.C. just after the Battle of Guilford in the last year of the Revolution in 1782. They moved to Washington County, Tennessee (then North Carolina) and settled on the Fall Branch of Horse Creek, just below the present day community of Fall Branch. Isaac owned about 400 acres of land in Washington County, as well as 200 acres in Sullivan County. In 1790, Isaac was commissioned a Lieutenant in the Sullivan County militia by Governor William Blount, and he served at various times in later years as a justice of the peace and a tax collector for Washington County.

Submitted by: Carla Gruber

WISEMAN, Jacob

Jacob WISEMAN b-12 Jan 1740? d-24 Dec 1807? (date of will) at Rowan Co. NC m-Elizabeth HENDERSON. Both are probably buried in the Jersey Church cemetery. Jacob served as a private in the North Carolina Militia. Enlisting in Rowan Co. NC. He was a prisoner of Lord Cornwallis and was Paroled in 1781. A Specie Certificate was issued for his services.

Submitted by: Dale Wiseman

WOODY, Jonathan

Jonathan WOODY B ca 15 June 1756 in Surry Co., NC. According to his Military History (File # S17211, NC. Rev. War). D 10 DEC 1847 in Wapello Co., Iowa at the home of his son William B. WOODY at Dahlonega, Iowa. Had moved there ca 1845 after the death of his wife in Dahlonega, Ga. Married Mary Lovell in SC. (listed in the 1790 Census in Greenville Co., SC. They had 8 children; 1. William Berry 2. James 3. John 4. Stephen 5. Letticia After the Rev. War he moved to South Carolina and then to Georgia where he raised his family and lived most of his life. It is said at the age of about 90 he rode a horse to Dahlonega, Iowa. A tough old man. Said to likely be the only Rev. War Veteran buried in Iowa. The Dahlonega Cemetery at Wapello Co., Iowa is now abandoned although a few people who have family members buried there try to keep it up.

Submitted by: Michael A. Woody

WORD, Charles, Jr.

My ancestor, Charles Word, Jr. moved from Virginia to Surry Co N. C. about 1770. He had fought in the Battle of Fort DeQuesne in the Colonial French and Indian War under then Col. Washington, when Gen Braddock was mortally wounded. Most of the soldiers were slaughtered by the French or tortured to death by the Indians after being captured. Only the Virginians, knowledgeable in how the Indians fought from behind trees, etc., survived and escaped that battle. When Ferguson sent word over the mountain that he was coming to wipe out the nest of rebel vipers, Charles Word, Jr. picked up his gun and joined those gathering to do battle with Ferguson and the tories. Charles Word, Jr. was one of the few rebels who lost his life that Oct. day in 1780. He left behind a widow, with eight small children. He began a will while dying that was completed by a friend when he couldn't finish, I am sure at his request. The N. C. courts first honored it but in 1782 or thereabouts, the courts denied it ( maybe because his widow was about to remarry, and the prospective groom got involved? ) at any rate, the property was not divided until the two older children became of age and I am sure forced the division.

Submitted by: Carolyn Parkman

VOYLES, Thomas

b. 1745 Denbighshire, Wales. d. 1816 Washington Co., KY Fought in North Carolina Militia. He was awarded three pounds, three shillings for his service. Date of the pay voucher is July 14, 1781, "State of North Carolina, Salisbury district No. 1514"

Submitted by Jim Voyles Dec 22, 1998