The Revolutionary War Pension Application of Abiud
Fairchild as Given to the Floyd County, Kentucky Fiscal Court, February 18th
1834
Floyd County,
Kentucky. On this 18th day of February 1834, personally
appeared in Court, before the Justices
of the Peace of Floyd County, Abiud Fairchild, resident of Floyd County and
made oath: That he entered the service of the Revolutionary War and served as
herein stated. He resided in Wilkes County, North Carolina when he first
entered the service, as a drafted soldier, on or about the 10th of
October, 1778 in a company of North Carolina Militia of which John Robins had
been appointed Captain. He met his company in Wilkesboro Wilkes County, North Carolina, and Captain
Robins, not joining us, William Gillery the
sentinel of the Company took the
command and commanded it throughout
the whole tour. William Button, the
ensign acted as Lieutenant and the sergeant whose name to the best of his recollection was James Lewis, acted as
ensign. From Wilkesboro we marched them to Salisbury in Rowan County, North
Carolina where we lay 3 or 4 days and
then marched on to Charlotte in Mecklenburg, where we did not halt, but marched
directly on to Camden, South Carolina where we halted and stayed about a week.
From Camden, we marched and crossed
Santee River at Nelson’s Ferry, where we lay at night only. We took the left
hand road and marched on through Dorchester and came near the Prestonsburg
headquarters of the North Carolina troops. The South Carolina troops were there
when we arrived. We encamped about a half a mile from the town where we
remained about six weeks. (Col. Pervard belonged.) From the encampment there we
marched up the Savannah River to the 3 Sisters where we stayed but a short time
when Captain Gillery and his company left the other troops and we marched then
to the river and down it, about three miles to a place called the “White House”
where we were a garrison to guard a ferry on the Savannah River. But a few days
after his company left the 3 Sisters, General Lincoln, having under his command
about 6,000 regulars, as this applicant was informed, came on to the 3 Sisters
and remained there but a few days. During our stay at the “White House”, Col.
Synis-? having under his command about 200 Light Horse troops, came there and
encamped with us one night and the next morning left us. Every morning during
our stay at the “White House” a corporal and his 6 men were sent to the ferry
as sentinels while they remained until they were released by another corporal
and his six men. After remaining at the “White House” to the best of my
recollection, about six weeks, his company was marched around a swamp called
the “Black Swamp” lying near the river, to a place called “Turkey Hill” where
the company was discharged on the 10th day of April, 1779. His
discharge was signed by a Captain or Lieutenant, Wm. Gillery. From the 10th
of April 1779 to the first of June 1780 he was out as a volunteer on short
excursions receiving orders from Col. Benjamin Cleveland in what direction to
proceed in pursuit of the Tories and give information to the Colonel, so that
he could go on or send forces sufficient to take them. In these he was
accompanied generally, by 10, 15, or 20 men detached from the men under the
command of Col. Cleveland, in excursion of this kind and sometimes in service
of Col. Cleveland with the other troops of the Regiment, he was in service a
few days of the months between April 10th, 1779 and 1st
of June, 1780. In the counties of Wilkes, Burke, and Rutherford but mostly Burke.
In the last of June or first of July, 1780, he went as a
volunteer and joined Col. Cleveland at Wilkesboro in Wilkes County, North
Carolina. He was placed in a company by Col. Cleveland, the names of none of
the officers of which, he can recollect. Col. Cleveland had about 200 men under
his command. We marched to Ramsours, about 10 o’clock A.M. the day or month not
recollected, but thinks it was between the 5th and 10th
of July, 1780. When we arrived the Battle between the Mecklenburg troops and
the Tories was over and the Tories had been defeated. He understood that in
this Battle, about 100 Tories had been slain and 200 taken prisoners. From
Ramsours, he returned home to his residence in Wilkes County. He had been in
service about three weeks.
He next went into the service as a volunteer in a company of which William Jackson was
Captain and Col. Benjamin Cleveland was commanding colonel. He joined his
company in Wilkesboro, Wilkes County, North Carolina where we remained about 2
or 3 weeks and then marched up and across the Catawba River at Greenleaf Ford
into Morgantown. From there, we marched to the head of Cane Creek, a branch of
Little Broad Creek, between Greenleaf Ford and the head of Cane Creek, we went
in with the Virginia troops to the command of Col. Campbell. From here we
marched to Col. Wilkes old place (then so-called). On Little Broad River we
halted but a very short time when Col. Campbell, whose troops were all
horsemen, and Col. Cleveland, having raised all the horses he could, marched on
with mounted soldiers and left the footmen (about 100 in number) to follow on
with all possible haste. From Col. Walker’s old place this applicant marched on
under command of Capt. Wm. Jackson, crossed the Broad River and went then to a
place called “Cowpens.” We then went down Buck’s Creek some distance and left
Buck’s Creek and crossed Broad River again to Cherokee Ford. We then marched to
King’s Mountain and arrived the next day, a little after dark, after the
battle, at the encampment of the American Forces, about 2 miles from the
battleground. Colonel Ferguson, the commander of the British troops at King’s
Mountain was killed and the troops under his command defeated, and to the best
of his recollection, more than 100 of them were taken prisoners. The battle was
fought, to the best of his recollection, on the 4th or 5th
of October, 1780.
From King’s Mountain we marched back to Col. Walker’s old
place and turned back toward King’s Mountain again to Vickerstaff where we
remained about two days. Here, ten of the Tory prisoners were sentenced to be
hanged. Nine of them were accordingly executed and the other escaped. From
Vickerstaff we again marched to Col. Walker’s old place. Here this applicant,
and 6 or 7 other soldiers were left with directions from Col. Cleveland to
bring on a wagon which had been taken at the Battle of King’s Mountain , and
the other troops marched on and left us. We went on towards Wilkes County and
on Cain Creek we met 4 or 5 men, sent back to assist us with the wagon. We then
went on to Wilkes County with the wagon and we received a discharge signed by
Captain Jackson for a 3 month tour. He next went on to volunteer under John
Cleveland, a young man, son of Cleveland who commanded as Captain. He met the
company at Wilkesboro on or about March 3, 1781, and then marched (there being
about 40 of us under Captain Cleveland) at the old Trading Fort on the Yadkin
River at Rowan and returned on this expedition about the 25th of
April, 1781 and received no written discharge to the best of his recollection.
I have no documentary evidence and he knows of no person whose testimony he can
procure who can testify to his services.
Signed Abiud Fairchild
I
was born in the year 1762, in Westmoreland County, Virginia. I lived in Wilkes
County when I enlisted and continued to live there till about 25 years ago when
I removed to Floyd County where I now live. In my first tour, I went as a
drafted soldier and all my subsequent service as a volunteer.
I
am known to John Colvin, Ezekiel Stone, both of whom will testify to my
character for veracity and truth.
Signed Abiud Fairchild
We,
Ezekiel Stone, a clergyman residing in Floyd County, Ky. and
John Colvin residing in the same county, certify, on this 18th
of February, 1834, that we are well acquainted with Abiud Fairchild. That he is
believed and reputed, in this neighborhood, to have been a soldier of the
Revolutionary War, and we concur in that opinion.
Signed John Colvin
Signed Ezekiel Stone
Abiud Fairchild of Floyd County, Kentucky was inscribed
to the Roll of Kentucky to commence on the 4th of March, 1831.
Certificate of pension was issued 27th of
March, 1834.