October 31, 1907
An Old Deed.
STATE OF KENTUCKY, }
Livingston County, }
On the 9th day of August, 1832, personally appeared in Court before C. Haynes, J. Watts, James Cruice and William Stewart Esq., the Court of Livingston County now setting, James Sullinger, a resident of Livingston county, in the State of Kentucky, aged 68 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, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated to-wit:
That he was born 30th December, 1764, in Chatham County, State of North Carolina, and was raised in Guilford County, same state, where he at the age of about 15, volunteered in a company of minute men, commanded by Capt. Gillispie (which was sometimes called Guilford Draggoons.) That the time of his joining his company was just after the defeat of Gates, and at the time the British were on Dan river. This is as nigh the time as he can remember, and continued in the service until the war ended which he thinks was between two and three years. That during this time the company was constantly patrooling [sic] the country and in suppressing the tories, moving from one point to another as occasion required, that they often pursued the celebrated Colorado Farming [sic probably should be Col. Fanning] and constantly watched his movements. That at the time of the battle of Whitsells mill, he was a pilot for Col. Lee's men to the iron works at Troublesome Creek.
That after the battle of Guilford, we joined Green's army and proceeded down toward Wilmington as far [as] deep river and there left the pursuit, having been there ordered to turn back and guard some baggage wagons going from Hillsboro to Statesboro loaded with bacon for Green's army, which duty was performed, and we marched down on little Pedee where the Tories had built a Fort, and who got an item of our approach, fled into the sand hills after setting fire to the fort. That we then joined Col. Isaacs (from Burk County) on deep river near the Buffalo ford and remaining with him about two month's when the country was cleared of the Tories and peace was declared. That he knows of no person in this country (save his brother Peter,) who can prove his service.
There is a Thomas Hamilton in Sumner County, Tennessee, who served with him, and who was living this last spring, but it is impossible to procure his evidence here in this court. That he came to the western country in 1802 and has lived here ever since thought not all the time in this county. That he knows of no clergymen whose attendance he can procure without great trouble and expense. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the role of the agency of any State. Sworn to before me and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open Court.
JAMES SULLINGER.
We, William D. Dorris, Timothy O'Neal and Peter Sullinger, residing in the County of Livingston and State of Kentucky, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Sullinger who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be sixty-eight years of age, that he is reputed 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 the day and year afix [sic] in open court.
TIMOTHY O'NEAL,
PETER SULLINGER.
Peter Sullinger came personally into court and being duly sworn, deposes and says that he will be sixty-three years of age in September next. That the above named James Sullinger, and that he the said James did serve as a minute man under Gillespie as he has stated in his declaration and from his the (said Peter's) knowledge of the facts related in his declaration he does not doubt the truth of everything he has related. That he the said Peter was not old enough himself to know of the service of his brother.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogations prescribed by the War Department, that the above name applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that William D. Dorris, Timothy O'Neal and Peter Sullinger who has signed the preceding certificate are residents in the county of Livingston and State of Kentucky, and credible persons, and that in their opinion it would be difficult and too much trouble for the applicant to procure a clergyman to vouch for his standing and character.
Source: Crittenden Record=Press. (Marion, Ky.) 1907-1909, October 31, 1907, Image 2 - Chronicling America - The Library of Congress.
[My comments are in brackets.]
