Revolutionary War Pension Declaration of Richard Rushing

State of Tennessee
Perry County

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On this 31st day of July 1834 personally appeared in open Court before the worshipful County Court of Perry County now sitting Richard Rushing, a resident of Perry County in the State of Tennessee aged seventy six 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 7th 1832.

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That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.

That sometime in the year 1778 he volunteered near the Yadkin River in North Carolina under Captain James Martin and Lieutenant Callahan. He marched from there to Black’s [or Blake’s] River where they joined General Rutherford’s troops and marched against the Tories. They marched through the country and after some time returned home. He believes he served about three months in this tour.

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That in the year 1779 he again volunteered under Captain James Martin and Lieutenant Callahan and marched against the Tories and British. They marched to the vicinity of Camden in South Carolina and continued there some time. He recollects there being a considerable body of troops under General Rutherford and others. He served in this tour about three months and returned home.

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That sometime in the year 1780 he volunteered again under Captain James Martin and marched to join General Gates near Clermont [possibly Cheraw or another locality difficult to read]. He states that after Gates’ defeat the troops retreated and were much scattered. He remained in service for some time afterwards and was in several skirmishes with the Tories and British. He served in this tour about three months.

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He further states that at another time he served under Captain Philip [or Phillip] [Rushing?] against the Tories and was engaged in scouting and ranging through the country. He believes this service amounted to about six months in all.

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The declarant further states that he has no documentary evidence of his service and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service except his brother Philip Rushing who served with him part of the time.

He 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.

[signed]
Richard Rushing (his mark)

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open court.

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Supporting Affidavit

William Williston [or Willingham], a clergyman, and Robert [surname unclear], residents of Perry County Tennessee, certify that they are well acquainted with Richard Rushing who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration.

That they believe him to be seventy six years of age and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that they concur in that opinion.

Sworn to and subscribed this 31st day of July 1834.

[signed]
William Williston
Robert [illegible]

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Clerk’s Certification

State of Tennessee
Perry County

I, [name unclear], Clerk of the County Court of Perry County, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Richard Rushing for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court this 31st day of July 1834.

[signed]

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Pension Office Summary Letter (1930)

July 31, 1930

Miss Edna Rushing
924–38th Street
Sacramento, California

Dear Madam:

You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S21457, that Richard Rushing was born in 1749 in North Carolina.

While residing in Anson County, North Carolina, he served with the North Carolina troops as follows:

In 1778, from about 1st April to about 1st July, he served as private under Captain James Martin, Lieutenant Callahan, and against the Tories, marching with the troops between Wadesboro and Company’s Line.

In 1779, he served from 1st June to 1st September under the same officers and against the Tories and British in South Carolina.

He was in skirmishes on Black River, Bates Bridge, Lynch’s Creek, Richardson’s Creek and Thompson’s Creek.

He was allowed pension on his application executed July 31, 1834, at which time he was living in [Lassing/Linden?] Creek, Perry County, Tennessee, having moved there fifteen years.

He stated that his brother Philip served with him most of the time.

There is no reference to wife or children.

Very truly yours,
H. W. Morgan
Acting Commissioner

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Pension Certificate Abstract

Richard Rushing
State of Tennessee
Perry County

Private, Captain James Martin, North Carolina militia.

Pension commenced March 4, 1831.
Certificate issued April 11, 1833.
Annual allowance: $80.00.

Recorded Book C-2, Volume [unclear], Page 10.

Additional Notes from File

• Richard Rushing’s pension number: S21457.

• The file includes later correspondence from descendants in California requesting information on Richard and Philip Rushing.

• One notation states Richard was living on “Lassing Creek” (likely Lick Creek or a similarly named creek in Perry County, Tennessee) about fifteen years before the declaration, placing his move to Perry County around 1819.

• The file repeatedly references service under Captain James Martin and campaigns against Loyalists (“Tories”) in North and South Carolina.

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