Revolutionary War Pension Declaration

State of Tennessee
Perry County

NOTE: Initially rejected for insufficient evidence of service. 

 

On this 5th day of April personally appeared before the Circuit Court for said County of Perry Stephen Snell a resident of said County in Tennessee and State of Tennessee aged about 76 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 the 7th 1832.

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

This declarant entered the service in the State of North Carolina in Duplin County and was mustered into service under Capt. Daniel Williams. Thomas Lanier was his major, Newton Gavel [or Gawel] was his ensign, John Griffin was his orderly sergeant. He was mustered into service at Duplin Court House and from thence was marched to Fayetteville which was then called Cross Creek, thence to Henderson’s Old Fields near the Seven Hills. We lay at that place three days. We marched from the North to that place. Declarant recollects that Genl. Davidson gathered part of Gates’ scattered militia on our return home about the [close] of January. Declarant served this tour three months.

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Declarant entered the service again in the spring year about the first or tenth of January under Capt. John Carr. Lieutenant Jordan Hollis. James Pippin was his ensign and was mustered into service at the same place as before, from thence marched to Ramsour’s Bridge near Wilmington and was there about three days. He knows not what battle this was save the town at the battle at Guilford Court House. From Ramsour’s Bridge we were marched to Lockhart’s Folly. From thence declarant returned home. Declarant served this tour three months.

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He then entered the service directly after his return home about the first of June in the same year under Capt. Michael Kenan and was again mustered into service at Duplin Court House for six months. Declarant was engaged at the siege on the confines of his county and without hard marching. This tour declarant was again discharged after a three months tour.

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The next tour was performed under Capt. Dodd. He was mustered into service at the same place of muster and again marched to service at Wilmington, from thence to the Bladen [County] line, Battle from thence to Old Town. Building about three o’clock in the morning of the 1st of October 1781 the enemy then attacked at that place. We lost three killed. We staid until our ammunition gave out. We had then to retreat and returned home. We served this tour three months.

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The next time declarant entered the service under Capt. William Dick and commenced 1782 in June. Declarant was employed in garrison and battle for the most he served this tour three months. At these short tours were served as a volunteer mounted gunman.

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He has no documentary evidence by which he can prove his services, nor does he know of any person by whom he can prove the above short tours except the surviving officers every claim without reserve or concealment and declares his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.

Sworn to and subscribed in open court this 5th day of April 1838.

Stephen Snell

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The supporting witness statement reads in part:

We, Adam Hembree [or Hampton] and Samuel [—], residents of Perry County, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Stephen Snell who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy six years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Revolutionary soldier and that we concur in that opinion.

Subscribed this 5th day of April 1838.

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The court questionnaire portion includes:

Where and in what year were you born?
Answer: “In Duplin County in the year 1762.”

Have you any record of your age and if so where is it?
Answer: “I have it in an old testament.”

Where were you living when called into service?
Answer: “I lived in Duplin County where I entered the service. I have since then removed and lived in Tennessee State and now live in Henderson County Tennessee.”

How were you called into service?
Answer: “I volunteered on each tour as a mounted gunman.”

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