Jasper Billings

 Revolutionary War Pension Application

Transcribed and submitted by Joyce Joines Newman

State of North Carolina

County of Wilkes

On this 22^d day of October 1832, personally appeared before me John Gambill, one of the acting Justices of the Peace for the County & State aforesaid, Jasper Billings, a resident of the County of Wilkes & State of North Carolina, aged seventy three years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7^th 1832.

That he was born on the 3^d day of April 1759 in the County of Pittsylvania & State of Virginia, (the record of which was entered by his father in a bible now in the possession of the family of his brother) where he continued to reside until he was about fifteen years of age, when he removed with his father to the County of Surry (now Wilkes) in the State of North Carolina, where he lived until he entered the service of the United States about the month of August 1776 as a volunteer under Lieutenant Martin Davenport, and rendezvoused on Roaring River in the said County of Wilkes, and marched immediately to the North Western side of the Blue Ridge against the Cherokee Indians, who at that time were very troublesome. When they had proceeded as far as the Grandfather Mountain they halted and struck up camp, and after detailing a portion of the company to guard the camp, they [sic] remainder divided themselves into scouting parties and were employed during their stay at that place in scouring the country round about after the Indians. After about a month or six weeks employed in this manner, and without meeting with any of the Indians, they concluded that they had abandoned the country--and therefore there was no longer any necessity for their services. They accordingly set out for home, and when they had reached the County of Wilkes, they were discharged by Lieutenant Davenport, and each man repaired to his home. Soon after the return home of this deponent, he removed with his father back to Pittsylvania County Virginia, where he lived for about three years & again returned to North Carolina in the fall of the year 1780. In the month of October of that year, this deponent again volunteered himself for three months, and joined a company of volunteers commanded by Cap^t William Hewlit, [probably Hewlett] & Lieutenant John Harper or Parker, and rendezvoused at Surry Old C. H. where they remained for a few days until they were properly organized, and thence marched direct to Salisbury, where they were stationed in conjunction with other troops for nearly three months guarding a portion of the prisoners which had been taken at the battle of Kings Mountain (this deponent believes that the troops at that place during the time aforesaid were under the command of Col Washington, but of this fact he is not certain). [NOTE: This was Lieutenant Col. William Washington (1752-1810), cousin of George Washington, who was wounded and taken prisoner during the battle of Eutaw Springs.] Some time in the month of January 1781, information was received at Salisbury that Lord Cornwallis was approaching the State from South Carolina, when the prisoners aforesaid were immediately put in preparation and marched off under the guard aforesaid to the State of Virginia. And when they had proceeded as far as the Horse Pasture Creek in Patrick County, the term of service of Capt. Hewlits company having expired, they were relieved by the substitution of some other troops, and were discharged and sent home. In the month of July following, this deponent again volunteered himself for three months, and joined the company of Capt Alexander Gordon at Hamblins old store, in the said County of Wilkes, and very soon thereafter marched direct to Camden in South Carolina, where they joined the army under Gen^l [Nathanael] Greene [1742-1786]. Immediately after joining the main army, Gen^l Greene set out upon his march crossing the Wateree, and Congaree, to Thompsons Fort. After remaining at that place for about a week, they marched direct for the Eutaw Springs, and after a hard march for a day  and night, they arrived within a few miles of the Eutaw Springs where the British had taken post.  As soon as the necessary arrangements for an attack could be made, Gen^l Greene moved forward with the army, and when they arrived within about three miles of the British army, they came upon their advance guard (who were getting potatoes) whom they attacked, and who immediately retreated, but who were very soon surrounded by the American Light Horse, and the whole party taken prisoners.  Gen^l Greene then pushed forward with all possible speed, until the general action at that place commenced, and after a hard fought battle of about two hours, the Americans retired, having taken a great many prisoners, and left a great many dead upon the field.

 Soon after the engagement, the prisoners which were taken, were given n charge to the North Carolina militia who guarded them on their march back until they reached Salisbury, where they were stationed for about three weeks when their term of service of this deponent expired, and he received his discharge and returned home, having been in service about three months and two weeks. This last tour closed the services performed by this deponent during the revolutionary War. This deponent has lived in the County of Wilkes ever since the revolutionary War, and resides there at this time.

He received discharges from Captains Hewlit & Gordon under whom he served, for both his three months tours, but which have been lost or mislaid for many years. He has no documentary evidence to prove his service, nor does he know of any person living whose testimony he could procure, who can testify to his services, except Thomas Jines [Joines] who served with him during the last tour to the Eutaw Springs, and whose affidavit is hereto annexed, and to which he refers for proof of that tour, for the remaining part of his services he refers to James Baugus and the aforesaid Thomas Jines as persons to whom he has been long known in his neighborhood  and who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.

Sworn to & Subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.

test                                                                              [smudge]         Jasper Billings

Jn^o Gambill JP                                                                              [name written not his mark]

On the day and year aforesaid, personally appeared before me John Gambill an acting Justice of the Peace for the County & State aforesaid, Thomas Jines, who being first duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith that he served with Jasper Billings the above applicant during the three months tour mentioned in the foregoing declaration as having been performed under Capt. Alexander Gordon to Camden, where they joined Gen^l Greene, and thence by Thompsons Fort to the Eutaw Springs, where the engagement was fought, and from thence to Salisbury N.C. guarding the prisoners taken at the Eutaw Springs, and where they were discharged. And further that the services set forth and specified in the said declaration as having been performed by the said Jasper Billlings during the three months tour aforesaid, were performed by him.

Sworn to & Subscribed the day and year aforesaid

We James Baugus & Thomas Jines residents of the County of Wilkes & State of North Carolina do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jasper Billings who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy three years of age, that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that  opinion.

            Sworn to & Subscribed the day and year aforesaid

I John Gambill Justice of the Peace as aforesaid, do hereby declare my opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And I further certify that I am well acquainted with James Baugus & Thomas Jines who have signed the preceding certificate, that they are both residents of the County of Wilkes & State of North Carolina, and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit. I further certify that I am well acquainted with Jasper Billings the above applicant, and that he has been for near six months past confined to his house by the dislocation of his hip joint, and that he is in a very helpless condition, & entirely unable from the circumstance aforesaid, to attend a court of record to make the application for a pension aforesaid.

                                                Given under my hand the day & year aforesaid

                                                                                    Jn^o Gambill JP [Seal]

 State of North Carolina

County of Wilkes

I Robert Martin Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions of the County of Wilkes & State of North Carolina, do hereby certify that John Gambill Esq^r  (remainder illegible)