Cannon County Family Record
John TURNLEY Rev. War Record

     The following record was furnished in 1938 by Miss Grace BROWN, a teacher in the High School at Woodbury, Tennessee.  It was then copied by Mrs. Gladys Stacey PITTARD, Woodbury, Tennessee--1938.

     John TURNLEY is buried on Warren SMITH's farm in the 6th District of this County, one and one half mile from Woodbury, on the Manchester Highway.
     John TURNLEY enlisted Feb. 8th, 1776 in his native County of Spottsylvania, State of Virginia, and served in Cap't. Oliver TOWLES and AVERY's Co. in Colonels BUCKNER and SIMMS sixth Va. Regiment.  He fought in the battle of Long Island Aug. 27, 1776, crossed the Ice Floe in the Delaware River Dec. 25, 1776.
     He was in the following battles:
                         Trenton                 Dec. 26, 1776
                         Brandywine         Sept. 11, 1777
                         Germantown        Oct. 4, 1777
     He was one of the 300 men sent to defend Fort Mifflin, who endured the bombardment of HOWE's fleet of ships and four batteries all day on Nov. 16, 1777 and escaped that night after nearly every general in the fort had been put out of ________________ (not legible).
     This was one of the forts on the Delaware river site at Mud Island.  He went into winter quarters with the army at Valley Forge Dec. 11, 1777.  He was honorably discharged at Camp Valley Forge Feb. 13, 1778.  He reinlisted and participated in the seige of Yorktown Sept. 30, 1781 under the command of General Lafayette.  He was present at the surrender of Cornwallis Oct. 19, 1781.  He was allowed a pension Sept. 18, 1821.  At that time he was living in what was then Warren County, Tenn. (now Cannon County) and was 65 years old.  He died Dec. 7, 1832.
     He married Elizabeth SPINDLE Oct. 12, 1778.  His wife, Elizabeth TURNLEY, died June 23, 1850 at the age of 97 years.  She was the daughter of John and Elizabeth SPINDLE.  Their children were Edmund, Martha, Mary, Catherine, John, Nancy, Powell, Elliot and Temple.