Pension Number R4037
Updated November 24, 2022
Overview:
Though the opening paragraph of this application states that Jordan GILLIAM was 105 years old in 1837, it is believed that this statement is in error. In fact, later in the application, Jordan states he does not know his age. If Jordan was 105 in 1837, that would mean that he would have been born about 1732, making him about 45 in 1777. This is on the old side for a Revolutionary War draftee. According to Jordan’s application he was born in Sussex County, VA and living in Rutherford County, TN before moving to Jackson County, AL. There is a Jordan in the 1830 Rutherford County, TN, age 80-90, making his birth between 1740 and 1750. This date is closer to the birth date of Jordan GILLIAM of Sussex County, VA whose birth is recorded in the Albemarle Parish Register. This Jordan was born 2 Oct 1757 to Charles and Mary GILLIAM. His godparents were David Clanton, David Magee and Lucy Dunn. It is believed that Jordan GILLIAM of Sussex County, VA is the Jordan GILLIAM of Jackson County, AL. It has been said that this Jordan GILLIAM married Ann Betts, daughter of Bannister Betts on 26 Feb 1787 in Sussex County, VA. It is believe that Ann Betts should read Ann Batte daughter of Bannister Batte. This Jordan should not be confused with the Jordan that married Mary McLemore on 6 Oct 1779 in Granville County, NC and settled in Fairfield County, SC.
State of Alabama, Jackson Co.
On this 4th day of October 1837, personally appeared before me Thompson M. Rector, Judge of the County Clerk in and for the County and State aforesaid, Jourdan GILLIAM, a resident of Jackson Co. and State of Ala. aged one hundred and five 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 provision made by the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 that he entered the service of the United States about the year 72. As well as his memory now serves him, he then being a citizen of the County of Sussex, State of Virginia, and served as herein after stated first about the year 72. he was drafted under Capt. Gray Gaskins[?] to serve a tour of three weeks to serve as a guard to prevent the British from plundering the Negroes again he was Drafted under Capt. Harney to serve a Tower of three weeks for the purposes above stated again he was Drafted under Capt. W Bethel for a Tower of six weeks which tower he served and marched to little York on York river in the State of Virginia and was stationed near the Bridge on little yourk The object of this was to prevent the British from coming out to plunder the settlement these three Towers was fully served out and he was Discharged by his officers though not in wrighting Shortly after he enlisted under Capt Thomas Mason at Sussex Courthouse in said state of Virginia for Three years and was mustered into service at old petersburg on Appomatox [sic: Appomattox] River from thence he marched to the white plains and there joined the main army Commanded by General G. Washington States that he was in the Battle at the White plains Jarmantown & Brandywine which followed each other in close succession. After these Battles was fought the Brittish moved to the South They were then a call for men to go to the South and he with others went and was Commanded by William Hardgrove Capt. they was marched to Mathews Bluff on Savannah River [in Allendale County SC] where the Brittish lay on the opposite side of the river in full view and there encamped for the night and during the night the Brittish marched off they pursued them until the came to the Bridge on Brier Creek upon which the Brittish had passed over and put fire to it by which the army was prevented from crossing there they remained three or four days during the time of their stay at that place the Brittish moved up the Creek and crossed over and attacked them on surprise. at this place we were commanded by General Nash [sic] who had Instructed us the evening before the attack to wash our clothes take of our gun locks and Barrels out of the stocks in order to clean them and put them in good order saying that on the next day they would take up the line of march The Generals orders were obeyed Some began to wash some to clean their guns and some to kook and in this unprepared condition we were attacked by the Brittish and defeated a good many of our men being killed on the ground Some Drowned in the attempt to cross the creek & others were taken prisoners & the remnants of our Army collected at Turkey hill [in Orange County SC?] and the British marched to and crossed[?] at Stona [Stono Ferry SC?]. In the last
engagement General Nash was strongly suspected of Treachery and I believe not without a cause and shortly after this we had a battle at Eutaw [Eutaw Springs?] in which battle I was, and we were successful The British were defeated and abandoned the place and shortly after this the Indians Broke out upon the frontiers of South Carolina & Georgia we were ordered to march a gainst the Indians My Company was Commanded by Capt Thomas Flack Our General was [Griffith] Rutherford & Oneal was our Col. Pastly was our Major those officers commanded until we Joined the Georgia & South Carolina Army in the Nation Then General Williamson took the Command of all the armys. but a few days pryor to the Junction of the Two armys we had a engagement with the Indians in which engagement we were successful Killed wounded and taken a great many of them prisoners and destroyed their Town & after the Junction of the Two armeys we also had a battle with the Indians in which we were successful I cannot recollect the names of the places where the Two Battles were fought it has been long since and was a perfect wilderness country and after this service was performed we were marched back into the white settlements. The next engagement we had was with the Brittish at Gilford Courthouse in which engagement I was also & many killed on Both sides in the battle I was still commanded by Capt. Thos. Flack from Gilford Courthouse I was marched Back to take the forts at Thompson Rugeleys & Ninety six still commanded by Capt. Flack Colonel Oneal Majr Pastley Lieutenant Campbell & Ensign Duffey. the first fort we marched to was Thompsons [Thomson’s Plantation?] and not having any Cannons to commence the attack with we commenced Ditching and entrenching by which we were enabled to get near the walls of the fort we were then ordered to prepare our ] selves with Bows & arrows made out of rich or fat Litewood [light wood] the ends of which we diped in Sulphur & lit them on fire and shot them on the roof of the fort by which means we set the fort on fire drew the Enemy out and took possession of the fort & the Enemy we took prisoners we then marched to Rugeleys Fort & sent in a proposition by one Jeremiah Furguson that If they would surrender they would be treated as prisoners of war [4 Dec 1780] Their reply was to an to cannon[?] They did not ask the Rebels any Acts[?] we were then ordered to cut and prepare pine logs in imitation of six pounders which we pealed and coulored with smoke and mounted them upon the wheels of our Baggage Waggons drove them up within proper distance and presented them at the fort & a gain sent in the same man to inform them that If they would not surrender we would Blow them a cross the Mill pond upon which the enemy marched out an surrendered as prisoners of war The officers here were the same that commanded at Fort Thompson. from that we were marched to the high hills of Santee where we lay until we received the Information of Cornwallace being taken and that we maught return home our respective Captains then gave us written discharges and we returned home. My first enlistment under Capt Mason was for Three years [sic] I then enlisted during the war which lasted Three years and Seven months making in all Six years & Seven months which I served as a regular in the united states service I hereby relinquish every claim what soever to a pension or an annuity what soever except the present and declair that my name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state
Jourdan [X] GILLIAM
Interrogatory
1st Where and in what years were you born
Ans: I was born on Nottoway River, Sussex Co., State of Virginia. I cannot distinctly recollect what year I was born but in the same year that General Washington was born.
2nd Have you any record of your age and if so, where is it?
Ans: I have no record of my age in my infancy I was christened by one parson Wyley at which time my age was registered in the Church Book from which I have since obtained a transcript and which I have since lost.
3rd Where were you living when called into service? Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you live now?
Ans: I was living upon Nottoway River, Sussex Co., State of Va., Camden District SC, Georgia Wilkes Co., Guilford Co., NC, Orange Co., NC, Madison Co., State of Ala., Jackson Co., Ala. Rutherford Co., Tenn. from there to Jackson Co., Ala. where I now live.
4th How were you called into the service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
Ans: When I first entered the service I was drafted for the first three tours as stated in my first declaration. I then enlisted for three years after that time expired. I then enlisted during the war.
5th State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served such continental and militia requirements as you recollect and the general circumstances of your services.
Ans: Capt. Thom. Mayson, Cap't. Bethel, Cap't. Flack, Maj. Pacely, Maj. Dickson Mays Scott & Maj. Lamb, Col. Mayson, Col. Eaton, Colonel Fisher, Col. Martin, Col. Raney. General Washington, Gen. Bateman, General Harris, Gen. Blewford, Gen. Green, Genl. Mulenburg, General Morgan. I belonged to the 10th Continental Regiment; it is the only one I can recollect.
6th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it?
Ans: I was several times discharged from the service as I before stated but the only written discharge as I ever received was from Capt. Flack on the high hills of Santee which I have since lost or so mislaid I cannot lay my hand on it.
7th State the names of the persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character as to veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the revolution.
Ans: Alexd. McFarland, Esq., James Williams, Doct. Lemuel GILLIAM, Colonel Hugh P. GILLIAM, Capt. James Doran, Senr., Author Long.
Jourdan [his X mark] GILLIAM
Sources
- HeritageQuest. Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land-Warrant Application Files. www.heritagequestonline.com
- Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements. Pension Application of Jourdan GILLIAM: R4037. Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris. www.southerncampaign.com