History

On July 4, 2026, we will celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. A key part of that celebration will be remembering and honoring the first veterans, the Patriots of the American Revolution.

Each is an enduring link to Tennessee's early history and the generation that secured America's independence.

After the Revolutionary War, many veterans moved westward. By 1819, four had settled in Perry County. Between 1820 and 1830, their number increased to 17. In the 1840 Federal Census, ten remained. Of those, six were of the original 1820 cohort. (See chart of names)

Patriot Bend is a geographic site beside the Buffalo River. The name is symbolic. It began as an idea to remember a pioneer family. Instead, it became a way to honor the Revolutionary War patriots who settled in Perry County after that war.

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) is responsible for standardizing the place names of geographic features within the 50 states and other areas under the sovereignty of the United States.

Last August, the BGN received a proposal to name the area Patriot Bend. On April 9, 2026, the board approved the name. Patriot Bend will now appear on US Geological Survey maps of the area as well as other maps and graphics that use Federal names.

The name is unique. There are over two million names in the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). This is the only one that identifies a river bend. More importantly, it will help ensure future generations remember those Patriots, the first veterans of Perry County.

Roll Call of Patriots

Twenty-seven veterans of the American Revolutionary War settled in Perry County in the years after that war. Some later moved on. Others stayed. Nineteen received a pension for their service during the war. There may have been more. But these are the ones I found.

Beginning June 17th through July 4th, the application of one of those early pensioners will appear in alphabetical order on this page. Each is a unique view of the Revolutionary War and one veteran's role in it. Their stories are from the official pension records of the American Revolutionary War on file within the National Archives and Record Administration (NARA). Some are edited for brevity. A PDF of the original record is included at the end of each profile for those who wish to view it. Enjoy!

David Talley

Member, Perry County Historical Society

List of Pensioners

1. Aaron Arnold

2. Edward Box

3. Obedia Britt