Revolutionary War
Pension Statements - John Painter
[fn p. 13]
State of Illinois Greene County
Be it remembered that on this Tenth day of September 1835 personally appeared before the County Commissioners Court, the same being a court of record of said Greene County now in session JOHN PAINTER GREE a citizen of said County & age at this time eighty-one years, who being first duly sworn according to law in open Court, doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he was born the 2nd of February 1754 & that he entered the service of the United States as a private & a volunteer in the Revolutionary war sometime in the year 1776, and served in the war against the Indians in North Carolina under the command of Captain John Robinson, our Colonel's name was Joseph McDowell, and our General Charles McDowell, in which service I remained about one year. -- we fought the Cherokee Indians on French Broad River and its branches, -- After which I served under the same Captain & Colonel and our General was Davidson we marched from Burke Court house in North Carolina to Ramsour's Mills in Lincoln County in the summer of 1780 where we had a battle with the Tories under the command of General John Moore in which battle we killed & took the whole Tory forces, -- From thence we marched to Batey's Ford [Beatties Ford] on the Catawby [Catawba] River where we had a battle with the British troops where General Davidson fell in battle crossing the River to charge the enemy. -- After General Davidson was killed we recrossed the River and retreated back to Charlotte Court house in Mecklenburg County and State of North Carolina where we remained several days, here I was transferred under the command of Captain John Culvertson, of the rifle company and under General Marion, under General Marion we had a number of skirmishes with parties of British & Tories in one of those skirmishes we surprised and killed upwards of 20 Tories & took their Negroes & horses. -- after which in the fall General Gates & DeKalb took the command of our troops and we marched to Camden in South Carolina where we battle with the British troops under Lord Cornwallis. Here General DeKalb was killed and we retreated back upon Charlotte under General Gates. Here we remained until General N. Greene took the command of our troops; and then we marched into Virginia to recruit the Army here we were reinforced and, we then marched to Guilford Court house in North Carolina where we had a hard fought battle with the British under Lord Cornwallis, we then fell back a mile and a half from the town and formed in line of battle & a weighted the advance of Lord Cornwallis, but he retreated, and I will Army pursued the Enemy about 7 miles, And being worn down with fatigue made a halt, here we took care wounded and buried the Enemies dead, -- From here we marched to Camden in South Carolina where we had a battle with the British troops, and we then retreated a short distance and remained some days and then we marched to Ninety Six from thence if I recollect a right we marched to the Eutaw Springs where we fought a severe and successful battle, we then returned to Charlotte Court house where we remained some months and I was still in service when Lord Cornwallis was taken, and then I was discharged, but took no written discharge, I was in the service as before detailed from 1776 to 1781, nearly 5 years. I have a record of my age in my family Bible. I know of no person by whom I can prove the facts set forth in the foregoing declaration. -- I was a citizen of Lincoln County & State of North Carolina at the time I entered the service and after I left the service until about the year 1810 when I removed to Rutherford County & State of Tennessee where I have lived about 12 years, and then I removed to Madison County Illinois where I lived 4 years and thence to Greene County where I have lived for 14 years and now live. -- I am known to Charles Kitchens.
And the said John Painter hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present & he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any Agency of any State.
Subscribed & sworn to before the court aforesaid the year aforesaid.
S/ Moses A. Bledsoe, Clk S/ John Panter, X his mark
[Charles Kitchens, a clergyman, and Jacob Fry gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
State of Illinois, Greene County
On the 6th day of September one thousand Eight hundred and Thirty six, personally appeared in open court before the County Commissioner's Court, being a court of record of said County now sitting. John Painter, a resident of said Greene County and State aforesaid, aged eighty two 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 Seventh 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States in the year 1779 or 1780 (which year the deponent does not collect) under Captain John Robinson and served in the North Carolina Line from the time he entered the service until he was finally discharged by Genl. Green [sic, Nathanael Greene] at Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina in the year 1781 after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at York Town [sic, Yorktown]. This deponent says that at the time he went into the service under Capt. Robinson, William Davidson [William Lee Davidson] was Brigadier General-and Joseph McDowell was Colonel, under which officers this deponent served. Under the command of Genl. Davidson, Col. McDowell and Captain Robinson, I marched on to the Catawba River at Baties Ford [sic, Beatties' Ford] where we had a battle with the British Army under the command of Lord Cornwallis, where after a desperate defense of the Ford, General Davidson was killed and we were compelled to retreat, with some loss. This battle was fought by the Militia, and in the engagement Col. Hall of the British Army was killed-From this defeat, we were marched to Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina where we remained in camp until the spring (or summer) of 1780-when I was transferred to the Company of Captain Culberson,-- General Gates [Horatio Gates] and the Baron DeKalb were the General Officers. Under these officers, I was marched with the Army to Camden in South Carolina, where we fought a battle with the British troops under the command of Lord Cornwallis some time in August 1780-and we were defeated. Immediately after this battle, we retreated back to Charlotte, and soon afterward was under the command of Genl. Marion, until Genl. Greene took the command in the winter of 1780. I was still in Capt. Culverson's Company, and under the command of General Greene and was marched with the Army to the Cheraw Hills in North Carolina [sic, South Carolina]. From thence we marched into Virginia where we received reinforcements and then marched back to North Carolina and after a series of movements, we reached Guilford in March 1781 where we were encamped within a few miles of the British Army under Lord Cornwallis, and the next day the British Army advanced upon the American Army and after a hard fought battle General Greene order a retreat, and after falling back a few miles our army was again drawn up for battle, but the British Army did not pursue us, but retreated, and as soon as our Army got supplies of provisions, we pursued Lord Cornwallis as far as Ramsey's Mill where we were halted for about three weeks. From this place we marched back to Hobkirk's Hill near Camden, and soon afterward, we were attacked by the British Army under the command of Lord Rawdon and after a hard fought battle we were compelled to retreat. This battle was fought, as well as my memory serves me, in April 1781. From Camden, we were marched by Genl. Greene to Ninety Six, where we besieged the place for near four weeks, when we were ordered by Genl. Greene to take the Garrison by storm. This was a bloody business in which we lost a great many men in killed, and we were compelled to raise the siege and retreat. We were then marched over the Saluda [River] and we recrossed the Saluda and pursued Lord Rawdon, but we were unable to bring him into another engagement until some time in September we assembled all the American forces and attacked the British Army under Col. Stewart (if my memory serves) at the Eutaw Springs. There we were commanded by Gen. Greene, and I was under the same Captain Culverson. General Marion was also with us and Genl. Pickens who commended the commanded the North Carolina Militia to which I belonged. This battle was severe, and the day was excessively hot, and we had the satisfaction of claiming the victory, though at a loss of a good many of our brave men. We left the field of battle and encamped for the night about one mile off. The next day we marched over the battle ground in pursuing the British Army who had retreated toward Charleston. We followed the enemy to Monck's Corner, about sixty miles from Eutaw Springs, but the enemy eluded our pursuit since we saw no more of the enemy. We remained at Monck's Corner about three weeks, and then went back to Charlotte in Mecklenburg County North Carolina where we were encamped for seven weeks, and then we were disbanded and I returned home. I have omitted to state in its proper place that a battle was fought by the American forces under General Marion, in which I took part, after the suspension of Gates and before General Greene took command of the southern Army. This battle was fought by our Army with a part of Tories and British in South Carolina near a Tory plantation in the night where we killed forty three and took two hundred horses and their equipment, and as many guns.
This deponent says he was a citizen of Lincoln County North Carolina when he entered the service and lived on the south fork of the Catawba River. This deponent further says that he entered the service as a volunteer in the North Carolina Line, in 1779 - and remained in service as stated in the foregoing declaration until after the battle of Yorktown, and was at no time out of service except at short intervals to procure supplies of clothing. This deponent states that he was born in 1754 in Lincoln County North Carolina where he lived until 1785, when he removed with his family to Rutherford County, Tennessee where he lived 12 years. From thence he removed to Madison County, Illinois where he lived four years, and thence to Greene County where he now lives and where he has resided for the last fifteen years.
I have no record of my age here, but I believe there is one in my Father's family Bible in North Carolina, if it is not destroyed. I never received any written discharge, nor do I know of any person now living by whom I can prove my services in the Revolutionary War.
I entered the service of the Revolutionary War as a private and so continued through the war on three month tours; and, when the time of service expired, I uniformly volunteered again, and so continued without returning home until the war closed.
This deponent hereby relinquishes ever claim whatsoever 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.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
John Painter, X his mark
[Charles Kitchens, a clergyman, and Jacob Fry gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
[fn p. 17]
On this 28th day of July A.D. 1840.
Personally appeared in Open Court before the County Commissioners Court for the County of Williamson and State of Illinois John Painter aged 86 years on the 2nd day of February last past (1840) 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 entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. To wit early in the year 1779 but cannot recollect the month but believes it was in March 1779 as a rifle volunteer under Captain John Robinson and Colonel McDowell and (Parvard Major) he thinks and continued in said service until about 3 weeks subsequent to the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. The first engagement with the British that he was in was at Camden under General Gates my Captain was killed in Gates defeat. I then went under Captain John Culberson the same Colonel & Major was yet alive and with us. My Captain joined General Francis Marion and continued with him until General Greene came on we marched through the lower part of North & South Carolina & a small portion of Virginia. The 2nd engagement I was in was with Greene at Guilford Court house in North Carolina then Greene marched from Guilford Court house to Ramseys Mills from thence to Camden again & gave battle to Lord Rawdon near about the same ground that Gates defeat was, from thence to Ninety Six in South Carolina the next Battle I was in was at the Eutaw Springs (a hard fought battle was too) from thence to North Carolina again and from there until after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis the troops were then discharged Captain John Culberson was my Captain up to the last date. I have no documentary evidence of these facts. I know of no person whose testimony I can procure to testify to said service. = he the said John Painter 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 only on that of the agency of the State of Illinois.
Subscribed & sworn to the day and year aforesaid
S/ John Painter, X his mark
[John W. Calvert, a clergyman, and Byrd T. Ryburn gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
Rev. War Pension Application
State of Illinois
Greene County
On the 6th day of September one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six personally appeared in open Court before the County commissions Court, being a court of record, of said County now sitting JOHN PAINTER, a resident of said Green county and State aforsaid, aged eighty-two years, who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benifit of the Act of Congress 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States in the year 1779. (Which year the deponent does not recollect) under Captain John Robinson and served in the North Carolina Line from the time he entered the service until he was finally discharged by General Green at Charlott, Mecklenburg, County North Carolina in the year 1781 after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at York Town.--This Deponent says that at the time he went into service under Capt Robinson, William Davidson was Brigador General -- and Joseph McDownald was Colonel under which officer this deponant served. Under the command of Genl Davidson, Col. McDowell and Captain Robinson I was marched on to the Catawba River at Batrysford when we had a Battle with the Nortish Army under the Command of Lord Cornwall, when after a disperate defence of the ford. General Davidson was killed and we were compelled to retreat, with some loss.
The battle was fought by the Militia and in the engagement Col Hall of the British Army was killed.-- From theis defeat we were marched to Charlotte Meclinburg County North Carolina when we remained in camp until the spring or summer of 1780-----when I was transferred to the Company of Captain Culberson, General Gates and the Baron DeCalb were the General Officers. More than Officers I was marched with the Army to Camden in South Carolina where we fought a Battle with the British then under the command of Lord Cornwallis sometime in August 1780 and we were defeated--Immediately after the battle we retreated back to Charlotte, and soon afterwards was under the command of Genl Marion until Genl Green took the command in the winter of 1780-- I was still in Capt Culversons company and under the command of General Green and was marching with the army to Chrau-Hils in North Carolina. From there we marched into Virginia when we received reinforcements and then marched back to North Carolina and after a series of movements we reached Guilford in March 1781 where we were encamped within a few miles of the British Army under Lord Cornwallis and the next day the British Army advanced upon the American Army and after a hard fought battle General Green ordered a retreat and after falling back a few miles our army was again drawn up for battle, but the British Army did not pursue us but retreated and as soon as our Army got supplies of provisions we pursued Lord Cornwallis as far as Ramsey's Mills where we were halted for about three weeks. From the place, we marched back to Hobkins Hill near Camdin and soon afterwards we were attacked by the British Army under the Command of Lord Ra? and after a hard fought battle we were compelled to retreat. This battle was fought as well ad my memory served me in April 1781. From Camdin we were marched by Genl Green to ninety six where we besieged the place for near four weeks, when we were ordered by 'Genl. Green to take the Garison by storm. This was a bloody business in which we lost a great many men in Killed and we were compelled to raise the siege and retreat. We were then marched over the Saluda and we recouped the Sabuda and pursued Lord Rawdon but we were unable to bring his into another engagement until some time in September we assembled all the American forces and attacked the British Army under Col Steward. If my memory serves, at the Eutaw Springs==Then we were commanded by Genl Green, and I was under the same Captain Culverson==Gen Marion was also with us, and commanded the North Carolina Militia to which I belonged.
The battle was severe and the day was especially hot, and we had the satisfaction of claiming victory. Though at a loss of a good many of our brave men, we left the field of battle and encamped for the night about one mile off==
The next day we marched over the battleground in pursuing the British Army who had retreated towards Charleston, We followed the army to Monk's Corner about sixty miles from the Eutaw Springs, but the Army eluded our pursuit and we saw no more of the Army.
We remained at Monk Corner about three weeks and then went back to Charlott in Mecklenburg County North Carolina where we were encamped for seven weeks, and then we were disbanded and I returned home. I have omitted to state in its proper place that a battle was fought by the American forces under General Marion in which I took part after the suspension of Gates and before General Green took command of the Southeren Army. The battle was fought by our Arum with a party of Toris and British in South Carolina near a Tory Plantation in the night where we killed forty three and took two hundred horses and the equipage and as many guns.
The deponant says he was a citizen of Lincoln County North Carolina when he entered the services and lived on the South fork of the Catawba river. The disponanty furthur says that he entered the service as a volunteer in the North Carolina Line in 1779 and remained in service as stated in the foregoing declaration until after the battle os Yorktown, and was at no time out of service except at short intervals to procure supplies of clothing. The deponant states that he was born in 1754 in Lincoln County North Carolina where he lived until 1785 when he removed with his family to Rutherford County Tennessee where he lived 12 years, From thence he removed to Madison County Illinois where he lived four years and thence to Green County where he now lives and where he has resided for the last fifteen years.
I have no record of my age here, but I believe that there is one in my father's family Bible in North Carolina, if it is not destroyed. I never received any written discharge nor do I know of any person now living by whom I can prove my services in the revolutionary War.
I entered the services of the revolutionary war as a private and so continued through out the War. on three month tours and when the time of service expired, I uniformly volunteered again, and so continued without returning home until the war closed.
The deponant herby ----- ---------- 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.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
John X Painter
We Charles Hutchens a clergy man residing in the county and state aforesaid and Jacob Fry==of the same county hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Painter who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be Eighty 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 the opinion.
Charles Kitchens Clergyman
Jacob Fry
And the said County commissions Court aforesaid do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations required and prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states, And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Charles Hutchens who has subscribed that preceding certificate is a clergyman and resident.
This document was found in the Illinois State Archives in the Revolutionary War files. A Summary of Revolutionary War Pension Papers of John Painter by Charles Fern Painter. Original papers on file with the National Archives in Washington, D.C. (Beth Nelson has copies):
In 1779 John Painter volunteered for the Revolutionary War as a private in the Militia-North Carolina Line- which was a rifle company.
He served in North Carolina, South Carolina, and for a short time in Virginia. He was discharged in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina in 1781, somewhat near his home. His discharge was without paperwork which caused him trouble with a subsequent pension. He was discharged about three weeks after Cornwallis surrendered.
He fought in the following battles:
Catawba River at Beatties (sp?) Ford
1st Battle of Camden, SC- also the 2nd battle, later
Guilford, NC
Ramsey's Mill near Guilford
Hobkirk Hill near Camden
Ninety Six
Eutaw Springs
On June 7, 1832, when John Painter was 78 years old, Congress passed an act which provided for pensions for Revolutionary War soldiers. He first applied for this pension in 1835 when he was 81 years old. His first application was either lost or rejected, it appears the latter. He applied again in 1836. On January 7, 1837 a certificate of pension was issued at a rate of $20.00 per year. He was paid $110.00 back pension plus $10.00 for the then current half year for a total $120.00. Mr A. W. Cavasly (who appears to be a lawyer or an official who processed his requests) helped him with a touching letter dated December 10, 1836 to Mr. I. L. Edwards who was the Commissioner of Pensions in Washington. In 1839, or possibly sooner, John applied for an increase in his pension and another court deposition was made. In all, three depositions were made to County Court Commissioners on September 9, 1835, September 6, 1836, and July 28, 1840. In each of these cases John testified under oath as to the circumstances of his military service. There are some conflicting dates given and this was explained to be a result of his age and consequent infirmaries. In his first deposition, he claimed to have fought against the Cherokee Indians on French Broad River and it's branches as early as 1776. Two different clergymen and two other friends testified as to his honesty and integrity. The two men (Mr. Cavasly and Mr. Hay) who forwarded his applications also spoke highly of his morals and honesty.
The following is a summary of his military service according to his three depositions:
Deposition of September 9, 1835:
1776- Volunteered an served on year under Capt. John Robinson, Col.
Joseph McDowel, Gen. Charles McDowel: Fought Cherokee Indians on French
Broad River and its branches.
1780- -summer- under same Capt. and Col., but Gen. Davidson took over. From
Burke Court House in N.C. to Romans Mills in Lincoln County, where battle
with Tories who were led by Gen. John Moss.
-Beattie's Ford on Catawba River; battle with Gen. Davidson killed crossing
river
-Back to Charlotte Cout House; transferred to Capt. John Culverson and
General Marion.
-Fall of 1780; Gen. Gates and Gen. DeKalb took command.
-Camden, S.C.; battle with DeKalb killed.
-retreat to Charlotte; remained until Gen. Greene took over.
-to Virginia for reinforcements
-to Guilford Court House, N.C., battle-retreated-then advanced
-To Camden, S.C.; battle
-Ninety-Six
-Charlotte; some months, Cornwallis taken, discharged.
Deposition of September 6, 1836:
1779- -Entered service under Capt. John Robinson, Col. Joseph McDowell, Gen Davidson.
-Beattie's Ford on the Catawba River; battle with Gen. Davidson killed.
Col. Hall of British army was killed.
-Back to Charlotte; Gen. Greene took over; Capt Culverson still there.
-to Cheraw Mills; then to Virginia for reinforcements.
-March 1781; Guilford; battle-retreated.
-Ninety-Six; besieged the place for 4 weeks then stormed it.
-Crossed the Saluda River
-Eutaw Springs; battle
-To Moncks Corner; stayed for 3 weeks.
-Returned to Charlotte; for 7 weeks- then discharged
Deposition of July 28, 1840:
1779- -Early this year volunteered under Capt. John Robinson and Col.
McDowell
-To Camden, S.C.; under Gen. Gates; Capt. Robinson killed in Gate's defeat;
went under Capt. Culverson. Joined Gen. Francis Marion and continued under
him until Gen. Greene took over.
-Marched through lower part of N.C. and S.C. and small part of Virginia.
-Guilford Court House
-Ramsey's Mills
-Camden; 2nd battle
-Ninety-Six in S.C.
-Eutaw Springs
-Charlotte until discharge.
The depositions also claim he was born in Lincoln County, N.C. on the south fork of the Catawba River in 1754. He moved to Rutherford County, Tennessee; then to Madison County, Illinois; then to Greene County, Illinois; then to Williamson County, Illinois. Different depositions give different dates for his departure from North Carolina. The first one is 1810. The second is 1785. The most likely is about 1810. The lengths of time he states he spent in each place, don't add up properly. John is on the 1790 and1800 Censuses in NC, the 1810 in Rutherford Co., TN, and he shows up in Illinois first in 1818 in Madison County as John 'Paint'. Then in 1820 as John Painter. He is on the 1830 Greene Co., IL Census next to his son, Jacob and his son-in-law Sterling Thaxton who married Susan. He is last seen in Williamson County, IL, near Jacob, on the 1840 census.
(Note from Beth: Madison County, Illinois took up most of Illinois at one time. He did not move between 1820 and 1830...the county lines changed)
Contributed 05 Jan 2017 by Marjorie I Nichols from Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements.
