Pension application of James Cartledge S8167 f76GA

Transcribed by Will Graves rev'd 10/27/14

State of Georgia, Colombia County

On this 21st day of May 1833 personally appeared before me John Cartledge one of the Justices of the Inferior Court of Columbia County, James Cartledge, a resident of said County and State of Georgia, aged Seventy Seven years seven months and some days, 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 was **born on the 18th day of September in the year 1755 in the State of North Carolina **according to a record of his birth, which he now has in his Bible, and removed with his father when a boy to the then parish of St. Paul now Columbia County a part of said parish in Georgia. That he resided in said County until he went into Service in the Revolutionary War and has ever since resided in the same place except when absent in the war and the succeeding Indian War and still resides in the same place. That he was drafted on his first entering the Service in the Georgia Militia for the Term of six months in the month of **February **in the year 1778 as a private under Colonel John Stewart, Lieutenant Colonel Elijah Clark [sic, Elijah Clarke] and Captain Joseph Duncan. He marched with the **first Regiment *to Florida in which Section of Country he was constantly marching from place to place except for about one month, the Regiment was Stationed on St. Mary's River. At the expiration of six months in the Regiment returned home and was discharged. No written discharge was given to the best of his knowledge. He immediately went against the Indians (as a volunteer) who had committed depredations and murders upon the inhabitants. He was in service against the Indians three weeks, and drove them off, there were no officers, but the Citizens made it a common cause and acted in concert. He was soon after obliged to flee with the inhabitants to the upper part of Georgia onto the Savannah River & went near the Black Swamp in South Carolina. He entered the service again, at that time he cannot say but thinks it was in the* latter part of 1778, under Colonel William Stafford in the Company of Captain Henry Grindrat** [?]1. He marched to Savannah to prevent the British from coming into the Country and remained at that place one month and then marched to Beaufort Island and remained at that place one month in order to keep the British from landing. Then marched home.

He then marched under Major Smith and Colonel John Dooly to Burke County in Georgia a four months tour and then returned home and remained three weeks.

He soon after entered the service for four months under Colonel John Dooly, Lieutenant Colonel Elijah Clarke, Major Smith, and Captain George Dooly in the Georgia Militia this service commenced in the spring of 1779. He marched from Columbia County in said Regiment to Briar Creek in Burke County in Georgia. He was almost continually marching by day and night in the vicinity of Briar Creek during the term of four months to prevent the British from going into Augusta. The Regiment returned in the latter part of the Summer to Columbia County for the purpose of assisting in attacking Augusta then in the possession of the British. Colonel Dooly was killed by the Tories & Colonel Clarke had the command of the Regiment.

He was present and in the service at the attack on Augusta, according to the best of his recollection it was in September 1780. Not being able to retake Augusta we were obliged to retreat over the mountains and there remained during the winter under inexpressible suffering from want & sickness. In February he descended from the mountains, the Regiment being commanded by Colonel Williamson [Micajah Williamson] (Col. Clarke left behind sick of smallpox) and arrived in March at Butler's Creek near Augusta when Col. Clarke arrived & took the command. The Siege of Augusta [May 22-June 6, 1781] soon commenced and lasted until the forepart of June. The officers who commanded the American forces known to the declarant, Colonels Burnett, Clarke and Lee [Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee], Major Eaton [Pinketham Eaton] of Regular Army was killed, a term of Service from the 1st of February in 1780 until 1st June 1781, during which time he was in continual service, was not less than one year and four months. He immediately entered into a volunteer Regiment raised by authority of the State Commanded by Colonel Benjamin Few to serve against the Tories and British who were numerous and continually at war with the friends of the government & committing outrages and murders continually to the close of the war. He was appointed a Captain & had the Command of a Company under Colonel Few and served in that capacity to the close of the War. Colonel Few left the Regiment before the close of the war & for considerable of the time Colonel Green Berry Lee [sic, Greenberry Lee] had the command. His services were continual and constantly against the Tories in Georgia and South Carolina along the Savannah River. The Tories were increasing in their depredations & cruelties and acted in small companies and mostly by night which required constant service to protect the inhabitants and bring the Tories to justice. He was often in skirmishes whenever the Tories could be met or found. His warrant as Captain from Colonel Few he has not preserved. At that time commissions from the Governor was not actually given to subaltern Officers neither were there any regular discharges at the expiration of service in the illy organized Militia of Georgia. He does not recollect to have received any discharge or heard anything said on the subject. He cannot tell the precise time of service as he kept no account for the purpose of receiving remuneration, but Served for his Country and for the protection of himself & the unprotected against the British & Tories. His last term of service was not less than one year and a half.

He thinks the whole of his service to this time was not less than four to five years. This declarant then received a Commission from the Governor in the succeeding Indian War which he transmits to the pension Office by which it may appear that he received the approbation and confidence of the Governor of Georgia as a Soldier of experience and fidelity. He has no documentary evidence of his Service but believes he can procure the testimony of credible witnesses; to wit, Thomas Ayres, John Willson and Samuel Cartledge2 to prove some part of his Service and that he can prove by James Blanchard and Mariah Blanchard, who reside not far distant from him his Character for veracity & their belief of his Services as a Soldier of the revolution. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or annuity except the present & 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 before me.

S/ John Cartledge, J. J. C.

S/ James Cartledge, X his mark

[James Blanchard, a clergyman, and Uriah Blanchard gave the standard supporting affidavit.]

Georgia, Columbia County

Personally appeared before me a Justice of the Inferior Court in & for said County James Cartledge who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his Services, but according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades. For one year and six months as a Captain commissioned by Colonel Benjamin Few I served as a private the balance of my Service (with the exception of three months as a Volunteer) three years and upwards to the best of my recollection and for such Service I claim a Pension.

Sworn to & subscribed before me this 21st day of May 1833.

S/ John Cartledge, J. J. C.

S/ James Cartledge, X his mark

[p 9 & 35]

Georgia, Columbia County

Personally appeared before me John Cartledge a Justice of the Inferior Court Samuel Cartledge, who being duly sworn saith that the services of James Cartledge as set forth in his application of this date to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed 7th June 1832 is true, that he was in the Service with him, that I believe he entered the service to the best of my recollection in February 1778 in the Regiment commanded by Colonel John Stuart, Lieutenant [Colonel] Elijah Clarke & Captain Joseph Duncan and that his service was on a march to Florida and I believe the term of Service was as stated in his application, which I have heard read and examined and I further state that I believe the services as set forth at the different times are true. And I further swear that I know of my own knowledge of his being Commissioned by Colonel Benjamin Few as a Captain and his services in that Capacity was I think to the best of my recollection one year and upwards. I was a soldier under him and think his statement of one year & six months is correct.

And that his services were ended at the close of the War, and that he afterwards was Commissioned a Captain in the succeeding Indian War.

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 1st May 1833.

S/ Saml. Cartledge, X his mark

S/ Jno. Cartledge, J. J. C. of Columbia County

[p 9 & 39]

Georgia, Columbia County

Personally appeared before me John Cartledge a Justice of the Inferior Court John Wilson who being duly sworn saith that the services of James Cartledge as set forth in his application of this date to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832 is true, that he was in the service with him I believe he entered the service to the best of my recollection in February 1778 in the Regiment Commanded by Colonel John Stewart, Lieutenant Colonel Elijah Clarke & Captain Joseph Duncan, I cannot now say to what place he marched or at what time the tours were made but recollect perfectly of being with him and serving with him during the Revolutionary War as set forth in his application, which I have read and examined, the time he was in service I cannot now recollect but have no doubt that the time set forth in the application is true. I know that he acted as Captain in said war but can't say how long and that his services ended at the close of the war.

Sworn & subscribed to before me this 4 June 1833.

S/ John Wilson

S/ Jno Cartledge, J. J. C.

[p 29: Applicant gave a substantially identical statement of his services in an application filed October 22, 1835.]

[p 17: On May 30th, 1850, Juriah Harriss gave testimony in Columbia County Georgia that John Cartlidge [sic], Edmund Cartlidge, Thomas Cartlidge, James Cartlidge, Junior, Jane Adams formally Jane Cartlidge, Samuel Cartlidge, Benjamin Cartlidge, Jeremiah Cartlidge and Asenith Borum formerly Asenitt Cartlidge are the reputed children of James Cartlidge, Deceased and that they are all of the living children of the said veteran; that Ayres Cartlidge, Abram Cartlidge and Sarah Cunningham formally Sarah Cartlidge all deceased without children were also the children of the veteran.]

[p. 36 Fold3.com—applicant's Indian war commission]

[p 64]

State of Georgia the 2nd Battalion Richmond County

This is to certify that James Cartledge Capt. hath steadfastly done his duty from the time of passing the act at Augusta to wit, on the 20th of August, 1781, until the total expulsion of the British from this State; and the said James Cartledge Capt. cannot, to my knowledge or belief be convicted of plundering or distressing the Country; and is therefore under the said act entitled to a bounty of two hundred fifty acres of good land, free from taxes for 10 years.

Given under my hand at Savannah the 25 day of February 1784

/Signed / G. C. Lee Colo.

[p 65]

State of Georgia

This is to certify that James Cartledge was enlisted to serve as a Soldier in the Battalion of Minute-Men, raised for the defense of this State, by resolve of Assembly, passed the 3rd June 1777; and that said James Cartledge was not, at the time of his enlistment and inhabitant of this State, nor had he resided in any part thereof for six months preceding his enlistment and further that he was in service at the time the said Battalion was reduced by a subsequent resolve of March 1st, 1778.

Given under my hand at Washington this 1st day of April 1784

/Signed/ Elijah Clarke, Lt. Col.

[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $263.33 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831 4 13 months as a private and 11 months as a Capt. in the Georgia service. The pension ended April 9, 1845 when the veteran died.]