Burke County Sessions January Time 1833
On this 30th of January AD 1833, personally appeared
in open Court before the Justices of said Court now sits Aaron Stacy a resident
of said County and states 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 the 7th AD
1832 in favor of Revolutionary Soldiers – That he entered the service of the
united States under the following officers and served as herein stated. I
commenced service in the year 1778 and served three month under Capt. Gilliam
and Col. William More in the County of Granville NoCar. Our first march was to
Bells Mills on Deep river where we camped for the space of a week and repaired
our arms that were deficient. From there we marched to the Island Ford on the
Yadkin and was sent as one of a detachment that was sent under the command of
Capt. Harrison and Col. Parcely to surprise a band of Torries that had
assembled at the shallow ford of the Yadkin. We arrived near the ford just as
the firing commenced between the Torries and a Company of which who had
surprised them. We arrived in time to see the results. There were 19 Torries
slain and the Captain who commanded the Whigs was killed in the engagement. We
then returned to the headquarters at the Island Ford. From there we marched
into South Carolina and camped at Waxaw Creek house whence we returned to the
six mile creek where we formed the regulars commanded by Cols. Washington and
Lee and General Warren. We remained two weeks. About this time Col. Washington
took a detachment of which I was one, and marched to Rudesly’s Mill where a
group of Torries had assembled under the command of Col Rudesly. We decided
storming the fort and took one horse and five Torries and their Col. I marched
as one of the guards of said prisoner to Salisbury in NoCarolina where they
were confined. My time of service had expired. I was discharged and returned
home. My second term of service commenced a short time before the battle of
Guilford under Capt. John Henderson and Col. Malberly, who made a proposition
that if each man would furnish his own horse and gun that there time of service
of three month should expire at the termination of two month. I excepted of the
terms and furnished my own horse and gun. At the time of the battle of Guilford
I, with a few of the others was sent to guard a public store at Ramseys Mills
on Deep River. A few days afterwards joined the army again and was sent to the
right as <minisbohin> under the command of Capt. Ward. (We) were sent to
carry meal to General Greens camp.. On our way we inquired of an old man for
Genl Greens camp who told us that it was near at hand, but we fortunately met
with a woman who told us that Lord Cornwallis Army was near us and we escaped
to our own camp. Genl Green arrived in a short time from the Battle of
Guilford. Shortly after Genl Green arrived this old man who had given Capt
Ward’s detachment the information referred to attempted to pass through our
camp and was taken prisoner by the centenals. We Were all called in as
witnesses who identified him as the man who had attempted to sidewind us into
the camp of Cornwallis. He was executed on a limb and the army marched under
him as he hung. From there were sent in great haste to Cross Creek to remove a
public store and by the time that we had completed the removal the British
arrived and after firing a few times we concluded that it was most prudent to
retreat. Shortly afterward my time of service having expired, I was discharged.
The third time commenced shortly after the expiration of the first. I
volunteered for three months on the condition of the last time under Capt.
Blackwell at Harrisburg, Granville County, No Carolina from there we marched to
Genl. Lee’s and from there down towards Cross Creek under the command of Col.
Maybin to surprise the Torries who had assembled in that region. After a
considerable march we go with Genl Rutherford’s army and I was sent with a
party of Dragoon under Capt. Simons in search of Torries that were committing
depredations on Black River. We found and took Twelve Tories prisoners who
informed us of a company of Torries that were concealed at Rafte Swamps. We
marched on immediately and surprised them – killed three picket guards and four
men. I was afterward sent with Sergeant Boyd in search of deserters. And my
time having expired was discharged. Afterwards was drafted to serve a fourth
tour and was marched to Col. Burton and was stationed there until peace was
ordered and was dismissed without a discharge. I believe we was there three month,
making my service in army about ten month as well as I can recollect. I have no
documentary evidence nor know of no person whose testimony I can secure who can
prove my services as set forth in the foregoing declaration. I do hereby
relinquish every claim whatever to pension or annuity except the present and
declare that my name is not on the pension roll of any state.
1.
Rem where and in what year
were you born?
I was born in the County of St. Marys in the State of
Maryland in the year 1760.
2.
Have you any record of your
age?
Ans. I have not.
3.
Where were you living when
called into service? Where have you lived since the Revolution and where do you
now live?
Ans. Lived in Granville County NoCarolina when called into
service. Part of the time service, I have lived in Virginia, but for the last
twelve years have lived in the County of Burke in the State of NoCarolina.
4.
How were you called into
service? Were you drafted or volunteered.
I was drafted in my first and last tour and volunteered in
the second and third tours.
5.
State the names of some of
the regular officers who were with the troops when you served, such continental
and militia regiments as you can recollect.
I have given the names of the principal officers under whom
I served by the foregoing declaration as well as I could recollect.
6.
Did you ever received a
discharge from the service and by whom?
I received discharges at the expiration of each tour except
the last, but have lost them.
7.
State the names of persons to
whom you are known and who can testify as to your character for virosity and
good behavior?
I am known to
the Court and various others.
Sworn to and subscribed this 30th day of January
in open court in presence of the Justices of said court.
Sworn to in open court singed X Aaron Stacy (actual signature)
30 Jany 1833 J Erwin Clk
We Richard Baird a clergyman residing the county of Burke
in the State of North Carolina and Elisha Dorsey residing in the county and
state aforesaid do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Aaron Stacy
who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to
be seventy three years of age that he is respected and believed in the
neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that
we concur in that opinion. Sworn to and subscribed this day and year above.
Sworn to life in open court R. Bird
30 Jany 1833 J Erwin Clk Elisha Dorsey
And the said court do herby declare these opinions.
After the investigation of the matter and after putting the
interrogatives prescribed by the war department that the above name applicant
was a Revolution Soldier and served as he states. And find then that it appears
to <view> that. I Richard Baird who has signed the preceding certificate
is a clergyman resided in the county and state aforesaid and that Elisha Dorsey
who has also signed the same is a resident in the said county and state and is
a credible person and that this statement is entitled to credit.
SIGNED James Avery
Saml
--------(?)
John K-------(?)
State of North Carolina
Burke County
I James Erwin, Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter
Sessions for the County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that the forgoing
contains the original proceeding in the matter of the application of the
application of Aaron Stacy for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have herewith put my
hand and affixed the
Seal of office at Morganton this
February 1833.
J Erwin, Clk