The following is a transcription of the original document on file at the National Archives in the case file for a Revolutionary War pension W9244 for Thomas Reagan (Regin, Ragin, Reagin) and his wife Hannah. The spelling and punctuation is as appears in the original document, but I have added some blank lines to break the flow of words into paragraphs. The original document is witnessed by James M. Ray, clerk of court. From the difference in his hand writing between the declaration and his statement notarizing the document it would appear that he was writing the declaration as it was being delivered. When he is less hurried, his handwriting becomes more studied and flowery. There is one point where he appears to be caught up in the narrative and momentarily abandons the third person point of view and records "our forces were marched back . . . " before returning to the third person.
(Cover)
Thomas Ragin's Application
Any communication necessary to be made
by the War department may be directed
to Cap Ragin & to the Care of James M.
Ray Clerk of the Court, who is
personally known to the Sec'y at War
SIGNED
C. Fletcher
11622
(a note that is illegible, possibly written in pencil
appears to say something about "amended declaration")
(the note is signed John J. surname illegible)
The State of Indiana|
Marion County |ss
On the 24th day of September 1832 personally appearing in open Court before the honorable B. F. Norris Presiding Judge and Joshua Stephens one of the associate Judges of the Marion circuit court now sitting as Judges thereof and competent to hold such court by the constitution and laws of the said State of Indiana, Thomas Ragin of the County of Clinton in the State aforesaid aged Eighty three years on the sixth day of May 1832, who being duly affirmed according to law doth on his affirmation make the following declaration in order to obtain the 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 viz.
Sometime in the Spring of 1779, the day nor month not now recollected & while he was a resident citizen of Newbury (Newberry) County South Carolina he entered the service of that State for no definite period of time as a voluntier in the Militia or State troops but which they were denominated this applicant from the great distance of time & present bodily infirmities cannot now recollect, in the brigade of General Andrew Pickens & in a regiment composed of following officers viz
Beard Col Commanding
given name not now recollected Lile Lieut. Col
and Jeremiah Williams major and in the company commanded by Capt. Philoman Waters James Williams Lieut and Daniel Richardson was Ensign to the best of this applicants recollection -- The company to which he belonged were raised for the avowed purpose of keeping and protecting two stations in the county of Newbury on the Saluda river, called the upper and lower stations, the former was then also known by the name "of Perdu's Station" and the latter by the name "of Dragoon Hall"
This applicant entered the service as such voluntier with a horse which he furnished himself & continued to furnish and keep the same during the whole period of his service.
That in a few months after his enlistment Lieut. Williams belonging to his company left the service and one Edward Satterfield was made Lieut. and served for a short time when he deserted to a company of disaffected persons called "the Out layers" and this applicant in a short period of time after such desertion with five or six of his fellow soldiers, while on a scout on the waters of Bush River, discovered Satterfield in the woods on horse back & they gave chase to him and in a short time they came up with & captured him -- They immediately took him to their Col. Commandant Glenn (David Glenn), Beard having some short time previously left the regiment & Glenn having been appointed in his stead) and the next day after such capture, Satterfield was hung near Colonel Glenn's house by the colonels approbation & order, that immediately thereafter this applicant was by his company elected Lieut. to fill Satterfields place, which election was approved of by Colonel Glenn but he did not receive any commission or authority except such election & approval of the Colonel to act as Lieut.
From the time of his enlistemnt as a voluntier to the time of his election to the Lieutenancy this applicant was to the best of his recollection imploid in the service aforesaid with his horse about six months--
That during this period he was in a great measure imploid at the two stations & in their vicinity --
That he served as Lieut. in said company from sometime in the fall of 1779 until the fall of 1780 making about one year but during that period this applicant was occasionally at home and perhaps putting all the time together while he acted as a private & the period during which he was Lieut. he spent about two months with his family but stood ready at all times to ingage in the service of his country
That during the summer of 1780 this applicant commanding about 20 men were on a scout and lay on the bank of the Saluda river when early in the morning they heard firing at Sterling Turners Station in Edgefield county he supposes about 8 or 10 miles distant from the place of their incampment, and being apprized that one William Cunningham a cruel & unrelenting tory, well acquainted with the country with about 100 followers, had come up from Charleston and probibly had surprised the fort which he this applicant expected was poorly manned & unable for the force that had attacked it, he and five or six of his party resolved to proceede directly to General Sumpters (General Thomas Sumter, "The Gamecock") army consisting of about 600 men at the Waxhaws Settlement on the Catabaw (Catawba) river which was at least forty or 50 miles from the place of their incampment --
They started & proceeded across the Inere (Enoree), Tiger (Tyger), Broad River & Fishing Creek to the banks of the Catabaw --
They started in the morning and arrived there about sundown at Sumpters Camp who lay about six miles above the British forces commanded by one Colonel Turnbull to the best of the applicants recollection. He had a personal interview with Sumpter & apprised him of Cunninghams movements and other intelligence which he had acquired in relation to the emeny --
The next morning this applicant with Sumpters forces about sunrise moved down the River towards the British Camp & arrived there about 24 hours after they started.
They lay about one mile & a half of the enemy the succeeding night and came within gunshot distance (neither side having cannon) about 8 o clock
Sumpters forces immediately attacked the British who lay in a large log house at a place called "Rocky Mount" on the Catabaw -- The ingagement lasted till near 11 o clock in the fore noon when the troops under Sumpter drew off, leaving the British in possession of the log house.
During this ingagment Sumpters party were protected by the woods and the huge rocks situated near the log house consequently but few were killed of his men --
This applicant thinks there were killed and missing about 14 or 15 men and among the killed were Col. Lee -- Capt. Jones and Capt. Burns who was shot in the Eye & fell close by this applicant who took an active part in the ingagement.
Our forces were marched back to their old Camping ground and incamped for the night --
The forgoing officers named as belonging to Sumpters force except one Maj. Heather who carried a flag to the British the next day to get permission to bury the dead, are all now recollected.
This applicant left Sumpters forces the third day after his joining them & with his six companions returned to Newbury County and joined the rest of his company --
That after his return he was solicited to take with him a small detachment of the company he belonged to & with them to drive twenty three head of fat cattle to Pickinses Station about Seventy miles from Dragoon Hall Station; provisions with the waggons designed for Pickenstation having been recently burned & destroyed by Cunningham while on their way for that place --
That this applicant started in the fall or latter part of the summer of 1780 while we was acting as such lieut. with the 23 head of cattle from the lower station and was about three days before he reached Pickens station but before his arrival the forces there had received relief -- on his arrival he thinks there were about from fifty to one hundred men ready for duty & some few Indians, he thinks of the Catabaw tribe.
He arrived there about sundown having on his route from Newbury passed Bush river Little River and Long Cane --
Pickens then commanded the station -- he saw him and delivered letters to him in person from his Colonel -- but as to any other officers there, does not now recollect for he left there the same evening and traveled that night towards home --
During this summer individuals belonging to the Whig party were in great danger, more so perhaps than other persons who adheard to the cause of Independence that resided within the direct range & intercourse of the foreign invading army, as among them the laws of war observed among civilized nations at this period of our revolution began to be observed by the British but the most unprincipaled robberies and murders were perpetrated by the tory neighbors in that part of Carolina to which his services were confined --
During the summer or fall of 1780 Col. Glenn left the Regiment & Captain Waters was promoted to the station of Colonel Commandant of the regiment and this applicant was commissioned as he believes and is certain he received the appointment of captain in the place of Waters but what has become of the commission or appointment he is now unable to state but he held & exercised the office of Captain until the fall of 1785 when he received a commission from Govenor Moultrie (Governor William Moultrie). He received the command of the company for about two years before the close of the revolutionary war & for several years thereafter. Two years before the close of the war & the year or most of the year after, he was in active service as a captain of the militia a greater part of his time for the military force in the part of South Carolina where he resided was kept up & were frequently called to assist the civil authorities in the execution of the laws & suppressing robberies & other outrages as late as the year 1783-4 (vide Col. Water's order hereto attached) That while he was Captain there were two drafts for Eight men each made from his company to supply deficiencies or to increase general Greens (Gen. Greene) army -- one draft was made he thinks about the close of the year 1780 and the other in 1781 or 82 but the latter draft of 8 men he recollects distinctly were sent back their services being dispensed with for some reason not now distinctly recollected -- The under officers of his company when he took command of it were as follows -- Peter Julian Lieut. John Lester ensign -- Simon Tadferd first Serg and Wm Goldins 2nd Serg.
In the years of 1780 and 1781-2 while acting as Captain he & his company met with several adventures while on scouts -- They were present & assisted in hanging a number of tories and two of consediable note in the neighborhood of the Stations viz one Striplin Harvey and one Dorman Hinson who were hung at the Upper or Perdues Station in 1780 or 1781 -- This applicant was sent by his Colonel with his Company to guard Neels Mill on Bush River which runs into the Saluda sometime he believes in the Spring of the year 1782 and while proceeding on horseback in the direction of the Mill his company turned off to a spring to get water, when from an adjacent thicket a shot was made by a stragling Tory, at this applicant, as it was then believed, he being the commanding officer and the ball passed very near him & wounded one Ichabod Wood riding next to him who fell from his horse and died the same evening.
Deducting the time he was at home while he held the office of Captain, endeaving to keep his own domestic concerns in some order he believes he was in active service as such Captain about Eighteen months before peace was concluded in 1782 -- He has no discharge and thinks he never received any either when acting as a private Lieut. or Capt. -- when he was promoted to the Captaincy he received a commission or appointment in writing through his Colonel and before examining his papers in his own hands and the hands of connections, he believes he had documentary evidence to show the time he served as captain the two last years of the revolution; he has changed his places of residence five or six times and has not been in a situation to keep his papers safe from the weather.
He would further state that the want of any regular civil or military authority in that part of South Carolina, the theatre of his action in the revolution as above stated, precluded all regular military promotion for a greater part of the time.
Frequently officers belonging to his regiment became disaffected or abandoned the cause of Liberty & others, without ceremony, were selected to fill their places. This applicant however has been able to find among his papers one order issued to him by his Colonel in 1783 and a commission to him as captain from govenor Moultrie in 1785 which this applicant is proud to state is somehwat expressive of his attachment to the cause of Liberty & Independence both of which are hereto attached & marked (A) & (B).
He does not recollect the names of any other officers or Regiments of the state or continental lines than as above named, nor does he recollect of seeing any than as above stated.
This applicant knows of no person living who has a personal knowledge of his service as a soldier or officer of the army during the revolution except one George McKinsey who accidentally came into the county of Clinton some short time since on a visit to his children -- that McKinsey was a resident of Newbury County South Carolina in the year 1781 and this applicant then knew him, however McKinsey never served as a soldier with this applicant but believes he was a private in a company of militia and with that company came once to the upper or lower station. At the time this applicant met with McKinsey & took his affirmation marked (C) & hereto attached. he was unacquainted with the particular provisions of the act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832 and never had seen the instructions from the war department --
that he pracured McKinsey to go before a Justice of the peace in order to take his disposition -- that he relied on the Justice to take the same in form, who was incapable of writing it as it has since proved and he even forgot to date the informal instrument here exhibitied, that he does not know whether said McKinsey can give a detail statement of this applicants services as they did not serve together nor never met but once as he recollects while he was commanding as Captain -- that McKinsey has returned to Warren County, State of Ohio & in consequence of his bodily infirmities & pecunary circumstances it would be very difficult for him if not impossible to make a Journey in person to see McKinsey at this time --
the place of this applicants present residence in Clinton county is about forty miles distance and from the recent settlement of that county he knows no person at this time residing there who has the necessary instructions & capable of making out his application
that he has had but about two years residence in that county and is better & more extensively known in the county of Marion than in Clinton as he resided in Marion County about one year and among many of his old neighbors who knew him in South Carolina as well as in Ohio previous to his removal to Clinton (insert: This applicant was born in Frederick County Virginia) When very young & before the Revolution a school master made a record of his birth & age in a bible belonging to him -- that is the only record ever made of his age, the bible he gave to a daughter who was then married but is since dead -- & the bible has been lost or passed into other hands not in existence to his knowledge
This applicant would refer to Thomas Neel of Marion County & one of the present commissioners of that county who can testify as to his character for veracity and his belief as to his services as a soldier of the revolution that he the said Neel has been personally acquainted with this applicant for more than thirty years.
and he would also refer to William Reagin who has known him about the same time who can testify to the same facts (?) this applicant would further state that he does not know of any clergyman within can testify as to his character -- But is acquainted with one John Harlin (Harland) -- a clergyman in the county of Clinton as also one Mordica(i) McKinsey residing in that County who can testify as to his good character if the Court requires it but his acquaintance with said Harlin has not been more than a month last past.
After the close of the revolution and he believes in the year 1790 he left Newbury County with his family and moved to Broad River, Berk (Burke) County in North Carolina where he resided about two years and returned again & resided in Newbury County until about the year 1804 then he moved to Hamilton County Ohio and resided until about the year of 1812 when he again removed with his children to Warren County Ohio and in the year 1829 he left Ohio and came to the county of Marion Indiana where he resided about one year -- then with one of his sons he went to live in Clinton County where he now resides -- That he is destitute of means of support and dependent on one of his sons for a living who has supported him and his wife for the last fifteen years
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 whatever
sworn and subscribed to this day
& put first above written
in court as above
SIGNED
Thomas Regin
Teste -- James M. Ray
Clerk of the Marion Circuit Court
Mr. Thomas O Neal & William Ragan residents of the County of Marion and State of Indiana, (being first duly sworn according to law) do hereby certify, that we have been well acquainted with Thomas Reagan who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, for upwards of thirty years; we believe him to be about Eighty three years of age, that he was reputed and believed to be a captain in the Revolutionary war during all the time we have known him, & he has always been reputed and believed in the several Neighborhoods in which we have known him in South Carolina, in the State Ohio, and in this State to have been a Captain & soldier in the revolution and We concur in that Opinion -- We are also personally acquainted with Character of George McKinzie who it is said has made his affidavit which to this declaration is attached, and we can say that he as always been esteemed and reputed to be a man in good standing and of veracity -- We further State from our acquaintance with Thomas Reagan at this time and his circumstances he is unable from old age & such circumstances to go or sent to McKinsey for a more detailed Statement of his Services than is set forth in said Affidavit before mentioned and hereunto Attached --
SIGNED
Thomas oneal
SIGNED
William Reagin
Sworn & subscribed this 24th day
of September -- AD 1832
in open Court
Teste
J. M. Ray Clerk
And this said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatives prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary Soldier, and served as he States. And the Court further Certify, that it appears to them, that Thomas ONeal and William Reagin, who have signed the preceding Certificate, and residents in this County of Marion, and are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit.
James M. Ray, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Marion County, being a Court of Record, do hereby certify, that the foregoing Contains the original proceedings of this said Court, in the matter of the application of Thomas Ragin for a pension --
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this September 24th AD one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
SIGNED
James M. Ray
SEAL