Declaration in order to obtain this benefit of this act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 State of Kentucky County of Floyd.

Declaration On this 15th day of August, 1833, personally appeared before I James Davis Justice of the peace now setting HENRY CONNELLY a resident of Floyd County and State of Kentucky. Age eighty-one 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 7th 1832. That he enlisted the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated: That he enlisted the service and commanded one hundred men as state troops of North Carolina (called militia) as the Captain thereof on the 7th day of July, 1777, for five years or during the war. In the County of Guilford North Carolina -- his Col. in the first instance was Col. John Williams, then under Leut. Pacely, then by Leut. John Taylor and lastly by Col. Billy Washington. This applicant’s Company was a horse company & was raised for the especial purpose of keeping down a daring Tory Col. by the name of Fanning who had made several daring attempts in the neighborhood of Salisbury and Charlotte, during the first year of the service of this applicant, by the orders of his Col. the company transversed and marched to Rowan, and Guilford in order to keep Fanning and his Confederates down. During this year, in the month of October, The company encountered his scouts and routed them with some loss. The General rendezvous of the Tories was in that region of the country called Haw Ford on Haw River. These counties and the adjacent neighborhood was assigned to this applicant’s charge by his Excellency the Governor of North Carolina in the month of June 1778. This applicant and his company continued to do during this year 1778. And that winter he and his company rendezvoused at Salisbury. The particulars of this year’s services was only a few fights with the Tories. The war was raging in the North, whither that delinquished and officer, Col. William Davidson had gone, and all remaining for the continental authorities to do was to keep down the Tories, which where so numerous in this region of N. Carolina. During this year, 1778, the men suffered much for cloths and every necessary, and our forage master frequently had to press for our perishing horses. Continental money was there one hundred dollars was for one - for this applicant could not get a breakfast for $100 in Continental money. During this year, by the orders of the Governor, this applicant’s company was placed under the direction of Col. Davie, who then commanded the North Carolina Cavalry, but he renewed the old orders, and my district still remained as they were under my former orders.-- Early in March 1779 the Tories broke out with great fury at a place called Haw Fields, whither this applicant and his company repaired and dislodged them with the assistance of Col. Lyttle from Rowan, who commanded a Regt. of militia. During this year the Tories were fast accumulating in Rowan, and this applicant’s Horse Company was most withdrawn from Guilford to that section of North Carolina. The Whigs this year took a great many tories, who were all put in jail and contained at Hillsboro and Salisbury.



In the month of November 1779, orders were received by Col. Pacely from Col. Davie the commanding Col. to rendezvous at Salisbury to start to the South to join Gen. Lincoln at Savannah, but about this time news arrived that Gen. Lincoln was overtaken at Charlestown, and all was taken prisoners. Gen. Davidson now raised several hundred men, and Col. Sumner and Brevard had several skirmishes with the Loyalist, in which this applicant and his company actively participated at Colson’s Mills -- about this time at a place in the western part of the state (N.C.) the tories had collected to a great number and we marched against them and at Colson’s Mills. This was in the Month of May 1780, as well as this applicant recollects. He recollects well that it was just before or about the time of Gates’ defeat at Camden. During this winter and fall this applicants company abandoned his district of protection and under Col. Davie and Gen. Davidson opposed the passage of Lord Cornwallis through North Carolina. At the time of the approach of Cornwallis to Charlotte under Col. Davie the troops posted themselves to meet the enemy. On the enemies approach the companies commanded by this applicant received the first onset from Tarleton’s Cavalry, and the firing became general on this on the left wing, the troops were commanded by Col. Davie in person and for three times we succeeded in repulsing the enemy. At length we had to yield to superior numbers. In this battle we had many men killed several from under this applicant. In December just before Christmas Gen. Nathaniel Greene from the North took command of us all this was in 1780. We all by his proclamation and the order of our governor was placed under his command and assembled at Charlotte, from there this applicant was placed under Col. Washington and marched to S. Carolina to Augusta and Ninety Six. After marching in a southern direction for several days news came, that Tarleton was after us. We were all now under Gen. Morgan, and a terrible conflict ensued at the Cowpens between Tarleton’s men and the army under Gen. Morgan, at the Cowpens. Here the Americans was victorious and took a great many military stores, cannons, baggage, and six or seven hundred British and Tory prisoners. This was in January 1781 it was cold weather but inclined to be rainy during the battle. The company which belonged to this applicant was placed under Col. Howard on the extreme right of the division and this applicants commanded under a company in the center.

Our company when just about to catch up our horses which was hid about four hundred paces in the rear of the line of battle, fell upon us with great fury but we were fortunately relieved by Washington’s Legion that hastened to our assistance. After this engagement we all formed a junction with Gen. Greene and retreated with him to Dan and crossed over into Virginia and remaining there but a short period and marched back to Guilford Court House and this applicant actively participated in the memorable battle and he had the great mortification to see his men in a panic fly at the approach of the enemy, and although this applicant endeavored to rally them, it was impossible and many even retreated to their homes. But this applicant remained and continued to fight until the Americans was thrown into disorder & confusion and defeated. At this time or in a few days afterwards, this applicant being unwell and his company broken obtained respite for a while, which was granted him. He remained at home and did not go with General Greene to Ninety Six, during this summer he did all he could to get his company to assemble, there cry was no pay and their families required them at home. He then went from Guilford over to Virginia, and in September 1781 he raised a small volunteer company for three months to join Gen. Washington at Little York. Little York was however taken before this applicant arrived. He knew a great many Continental officers and Regiments, and Militia officers during his service. In the month of October the term of service of the Company from Montgomery County, Virginia just mentioned, expiring he gave them their discharge and he himself returned to NC where he received the thanks of the Governor and a Certificate stating his services. This applicant knew Gen. Smallwood, Gen. Davidson, Gen. Rutherford, Gen. Pickens, Gen. Sumner, Gen. Otho Williams, Col. Cleveland, Col. Lyttle, Col. William Washington, Col. Malnady?/Malmody, Col. Lee, (from Virginia) General Goodwin, Col. Howard who commanded the 3rd Maryland Regiment, Captain Holgin. Col Paiseley, John Williams, the Baron DeKalb, Col. Brevard. And many other Continental and Militia officers that I have forgotten. I have no documentary evidence in my favor having forwarded my commission about six years ago by General Alexander Lackey to the War department who sent it on by mail it has never been returned to this applicant. He received a letter from the Secretary of War informing him that as he was not a regular he could not be allowed, his commission was from the Governor of the N. Carolina. He has made search and inquiring for it for some time, and he believes that the same is now lost or mislaid.

He refers the War Department to Henry B. Mayo Esq. the Hon. David K. Harris, to Col. Francis A. Brown, Col. John Vanhoose the Reverend, Henry Dixon the Rev. Cuthbert Stone, the Rev. Samuel Hanna, the Rev. Ezekial Stone & Wallace Bailey to Andrew Rule Esq. to John Rice to Jacob Mayo Esq., Clerk of the Floyd County and Circuit Courts, these can testify to his character for veracity and their belief of this applicants services as a soldier and officer of the revolution. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the preset, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

Henry Connelly (Seal)

We Wallace Bailey a Clergyman residing in the county of Floyd and State of Kentucky and John Rice residing in the same, to wit Floyd County Kentucky hereby certify that we are well aquatinted with Henry Connelly who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to have to be Eighty One years of age, that he is reported and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a solider in the Revolution. And that we concur in that opinion sworn and subscribed the day and year above.

Wallis Bailey (Seal) John Rice (Seal)

And I James Davis do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after getting the interrogations subscribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and officer and served as he stated and I further certifies that it appears to me that Walis Bailey who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the County of Floyd and state of Kentucky. And that John Rice who has all signed the same is a resident in the county of Floyd and state of Kentucky and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit and I do further certify that the applicant cannot from bodily infirmity attend court.

James Davis J. P. F. Co. (Seal)

State of Kentucky Floyd County Court Clerks Office

I Jacob Mayo clerk of the Floyd County Court, do hereby certify that James Davis who hath signed the preceding certificate, and to the questions and answers here to annexed (on the right of this sheet) "es a Justice of the peace, & quote; and that the signature these to annexed is genuine. In testimony when of I have hereunto affixed my hand, and affixed the Seal of my office this 16th day of August 1833--

Att-- Jacob Mayo CFCC

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Where, and in what years were you born? Ans.-- I was born in Pennsylvania, Chester County on the 2 day of May 1751.

Question 2: Have you any record of your age and if so where is it? Ans.-- I have it in my bible record there by my father (in Dutch) I have it now at my house--

3. Ques: Where were you living when called into the service where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live? Ans.-- I was living in Guilford County North Carolina where I had lived since my father moved from Chester Pennsylvania up to the Revolution. I have lived three years in the County of Montgomery in the state of Virginia and the residue of the time I have lived in this County - where I now live--

No. 4 How were you called into service. Were you drafter: did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute for whom? Ans.-- I was a volunteer under the Government of North Carolina by an invitation from the governor and was called the state troops on militia a part of the men under my command was drafted men for Eighteen months. A small portion was for six months and about forty was volunteers for and during the war, I was called into service by a recruiting officer, by the name of Holgin I think a regular officer, I made up my company and reported to the Col. and went forth into active service--

No. 5 State the names of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served. Such continental and militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service. Ans.-- I knew Gen. Greene. I have seen Gen. Gates at Hillsboro. Gen. Smallwood, Gen. Davidson, Gen. Pickens, Gen. Sumner. Gen. Otho Williams, Col. Billy Washington, Col. Lee, Col. Howard, the Baron DeKalb. I have seen in my 1780 Captain Holgin, Col. John Williams, Col Nat Williams, who commanded 9th Regiment N. Carolina another in 1778, Col. Paiseley, Col. Buncombe, Capt. Charles Briant, Col. Brevard. Major (often called Colonel) DeMalmody, and old Col. Cleveland, Leut. Joseph Lewis, Major Chas. Anderson, William Boma, Ensign. I was directed by Governor Burke and Col. Davie to keep down Fanning in Guilford and Rowan , this applicant did with 100 men a horse company. He served in 1777 in the capacity, likewise in 1778, and until the fall of 1779. He then joined General Davidson and was with him in the Battle of Colson’s Mills where he got wounded, that was in May or June 1780. He was at the Battle of Hillsboro, and had nineteen of his horsemen on the field, and seven died the next day of their wounds. I was in the Battle of the Cowpens under Col. Washington in January 1781 and Tarleton was defeated and we work his baggage & several hundred prisoners. I returned with my horse company with Gen. Greene to Dan - went out into Virginia, and remained with army. I was in charge and my men all broke very near at first charge in a panic and fled, and many went even home, when my roll was called at Iron Works I had but a few men left. I was then taking in a few days afterwards sick, and was permitted for my health to retire for awhile from the service. This was in April 1781. Gen. Greene went to S. Carolina and went over into Montgomery County Virginia to see my relatives, and I here raised a three months volunteer company to march to Little York. I marched them on to the Big Lick in Botetourt County, in September, and waited for orders but before I received them it was too late, and I gave my men their discharges and we all went home.--

Question 6. Did you ever received a commission and if so by whom was it signed and what has became of it? Ans.-- I did receive a Captain’s Commission from Governor Burke of N.C. it was, I believe, signed by him. I gave it about six years ago to Gen. Lackey who says he sent it on to the War Department he thinks. I have made search and cannot find it, it was never returned to me--

Quest. 7 State the names of persons of whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your service as a soldier & officer of the Revolution. Ans.-- I refer to Gen. Lacky to Col. Brown, Col. T. W. Graham, to Austin Litteral to Jacob Mayo Esq., to Andrew Rule, to the Rev. Ezekiel Stone, to the Rev. Walis Bailey. Sworn to before me--

James Davis JPFC (Seal)

Created with CoffeeCup HTML Express 3.0