Pension Application of Joseph Johnson (Johnston): S31782
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris
State of Indiana}
Monroe County} On this the twelfth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared in open Court before me Amory Kinney President Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit of our state of Indiana aforesaid and Stephen P Seall and Abram Rusthik[?] Associate Judges of our said Court for the said County of Monroe being a Court of Record now sitting Joseph Johnston a resident of said County in said state aged seventy eight years the twentieth day of October next 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.
That he was born in the County of Frederick in the State of Virginia on the twentieth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and fifty five, where he resided untill fourteen years of age when his father removed to New River in Virginia and settled within a few miles of Englishes Ferry [sic: Ingles Ferry near present Radford] on said River where he resided six or seven years, when he removed to Clinch River what county if any at that time unknown in Virginia [Fincastle County 1772 - 1777, then Washington County]. When his Father removed with him as above last mentioned to Clinch River he was about eighteen years of age it was in the spring season of the year he feels pretty certain There were but a few settlers there then: – This Declarants family and a few other. – He resided there untill and at the time of entering the service. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated to wit
That in the month of July in the Year seventeen hundred and seventy four he volunteered in a Company of Foot men under Captain Walter Crocket [Crockett] in the Militia of the State of Virginia in the service of the United States in the War of the Revolution. There was no Regiment formed there. He was rendezvoused under said Captain at New River, and marched to the Levels of Greenbrier Virginia there joining other troops was in said Company put in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Lewis his first name he thinks was Charles not certainly [Charles Lewis, killed at the Battle of Point Pleasant]. He was marched in said Regiment of Virginia Militia from the said Levels of Greenbrier under the said Colonel in said Company down New River on the east side crossing Gauly Mountain [sic: Gauley Mountain in present Fayette County WV] to the mouth of Kenawa [sic: Kanawha] River into the Forks of said River and the Ohio, where was fought the Battle called the Shawnee Battle [Battle of Point Pleasant] on the 10th day of October Seventeen hundred and seventy four Previous to arriving at that place Colonel Lewis was the highest in command. upon such arrival this Applicant & said Colonel Lewises Regiment was under the command of a general officer whose name he has forgotten [Gen. Andrew Lewis]
Before reaching said Battle Ground Col. Lewis had preceeded with three or four companies leaving Captain Crocket’s Company and this applicant in the rear with the Beeves and Baggage and Colonel Lewis was to have left canoes at Gauly River for said Capt Crocket and other three or four rear companies but from some cause no canoes being so left this applicant and said near companies were delayed a whole day in swimming their beeves and getting their baggage over on rafts. Said rear companies under the command of a Major Christy [sic: Christian] and this applicant in consequence of said delay did not engage in said Battle. The next day after crossing Gauly in the evening a couple of runners came from Colonel Lewis stating that the Battle had been fought and that the Indians threatened to fight them again – Major Christy then commanded that the Beeves and baggage be left and a forced march commenced which was done, and this applicant in said company joined Colonel Lewis; but no further fighting took place. The Celebrated Cornstalk an Indian Chief as this applicant understood commanded at said Battle on the side of the Indians An Expedition from said Battle Ground was commenced but meeting a flag and the Indians suing for peace, said expedition being intended against their Towns, they this Applicant and his troops returned to and completed the Fort in the forks of said Rivers called Fort Pleasant, the spot being previously called Point Pleasant. He was employed in building said Fort & was there several weeks after said Battle. He had volunteered to go in said Expedition against said Indians but not to serve any particular period At the request of his officers and as a duty he voluntarily served in said Expedition four months; when at said Fort he was dismissed and started home about the latter part of October seventeen hundred and seventy four. He received no discharge in writing. All said services he rendered cheerfully faithfully and satisfactorily to his officers.
He remained at home untill the year next after his said expedition under Colonel Lewis the year seventeen hundred and seventy five
In said year seventeen hundred and seventy five in the month of April as near as he is able to state living at the County of Montgomery in the State of Virginia he volunteered in the Militia of said State in the service of the United States as an Indian Spy under an engagement with Major Robison whose first name he has forgotten. He was employed as such spy principally against the Shawnee Indians in company with James Whitton also an Indian Spy. This applicant spied through the country about Sandy and Clinch Rivers.
He engaged to serve three months or as long as there was a necessity in the opinion of said officer for his said service. He served at least five months in said campaign faithfully and satisfactorily to his said officers. He was by the promise of said Officer to have been paid by him or his paymaster one dollar per day which he never received. He was dismissed in said County in the latter part of Summer or fall of said seventeen hundred and seventy five. He received no discharge in writing.
☞ In the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy six on the eighteenth day of May he married and it promising a troublesome year he was prevailed on by his father in law and family to go with them to New River And after reaching New River at the request sent him by an Uncle living on Roanoke River he went down with his wife to stay the season with him. But when he got to his Uncles two of his sons had drafted and this applicant volunteered in the same company commanded by Hugh Crocket Captain, brother to the Captain Crocket under whom he had formerly served. (He can not recollect the name of the County where he volunteered it was near said Roanoke River. no town near [Botetourt County].) in the Regiment commanded by Colonel William Christy [sic: Christian] in the Militia of the State of Virginia. Said Company was of Footmen. He volunteered as above either in June or July in said year seventeen hundred and seventy six for the period of three months to go a Campaign against the Cherokee Indians he rendezvoused in said Company at Jacob Kents near Colonel Rawleigh Madisons and marched and joined Colonel Christy at the Long Islands and Holstein River (Tennessee) [sic: Long Islands of Holston River at present Kingsport TN, then North Carolina] and proceeded to the Indian Towns, and burned and destroyed them, except two of them belonging to friendly Indians and Traders. After being in the Cherokee Indian country about two months (being about one month going and returning or upwards) they set out on their return. In said Expedition he served upwards of and at least three months He was dismissed on his march homeward about the first of October in said year 1776. he does not know in what county it took place At that time the territory which composed one county now making several He received no discharge in writing nor did any of his comrades within his knowledge and memory
☞ In the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven at said County of Montgomery Virginia in the early part of summer he volunteered in the Militia of said state to serve as an Indian Spy under an engagement with Major Robison before mentioned for and during said summer and as long as in the opinion of said officers necessary against the Shawnee Tribe of Indians as well as the Mingos, Wyandots &c (in the service of the United States) through the country about Sandy [probably Big Sandy] Guian [probably Guyandotte] and Cold Rivers. He served in company with Richard Prey[?]. He was to have received one dollar per day which he received from his paymaster through the hand of his said Major. He was dismissed in said County about the end of said summer without any discharge in writing. He served in said engagement three months.
☞ In the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight still living at said County of Montgomery in said state of Virginia in the early part of summer of said year he volunteered as an Indian Spy in company with John Sharp his fellow spy under an engagement with (Major) Walter Crockett who was at one time Colonel he does not know whether then or afterwards, against the before mentioned tribes of Indians for a period of three months or as long in said season as in the opinion of said officers necessary. He served in the country about the before-mentioned Rivers of Sandy &c. He was to receive one dollar per day which he never got. He was dismissed in said County about the end of said summer without any discharge in writing. Said service was in the Militia of the said state of Virginia and the United States. He served faithfully and to the satisfaction of said officer constantly three months at least
☞ In the year seventeen hundred and seventy nine whilst living at said County of Montgomery in said State of Virginia he volunteered about the first of summer of said year in the Militia of said state and the service of the United States as an Indian Spy in company with his partner in the former season John Sharp under and engagement with Major Thomas Mastin to serve during said Summer season, and to receive one dollar per day. He spied in the country about Sandy and Cold Rivers against the Shawnee, Wyandots Mingos &c Indians. He served constantly and faithfully and satisfactorily to his officer during said summer and probably longer but at least three months. He was dismissed in said County without any discharge in writing. He received no pay for said service. He was dismissed sometime about the end of said summer or beginning of the Fall of said year probably in September not certain
☞ In the year seventeen hundred and eighty whilst living at said County of Montgomery in said State of Virginia he volunteered in the spring or beginning of summer of said year in the Militia of said state in the service of the United States as an Indian Spy in Company with Archibald Prater under an engagement with said Major Thomas Mastin to serve during the need or said season at one dollar per day He spied about said last mentioned Rivers against said last mentioned Indians He served faithfully and constantly and satisfactorily to his said Officer at least three months and dismissed about the end of said summer without any discharge in writing. he received no part of his said pay.
He still continued to reside in the County aforesaid untill entering the following Service.
☞ In the year aforesaid of seventeen hundred and eighty he thinks in the month of December in said year he entered the Service of the United States in the Militia of the state of Virginia as a Volunteer in the company of Fort commanded by Captain Robbin Moffett in the Regiment commanded by Colonel — Preston whose first name he has forgotten [William Preston]. He rendezvoused in said company near the head of Clinch River and marched and joined other companies at Harboards Ferry just below (four or five miles) the Lead mines [near Fort Chiswell in Wythe County] and fell under the command of said Colonel at or near New River thence they marched to Moravian Town [near present Winston-Salem] in North Carolina, and thence joined General [Nathanael] Greene near Guilford Court House, thence marched down to Hawe [sic: Haw] River. They were at Hawe River, the Hanging Rock, and many other places some of which forgotten scouting & traversing the country like playing prisoners baste[?]. He so entered the service for the period of three months which he served out and which expired a few days (perhaps three) before the Battle of Guilford [Guilford Courthouse, 15 March 1781]. He was not in said Battle being dismissed at the end of said period without any discharge in writing. He never has received one cent of pay for said tour. He served faithfully and to the acceptance of his officers. He was dismissed at Guilford Court House in the first part of march in the year seventeen hundred and eighty one
☞ In the same said year seventeen hundred and and eighty one he removed to Powells Valley leaving his family behind untill the Fall season in said State of Virginia he does not recollect the name of the County [Washington] if any formed at that time (now Lee County) At said Powells Valley in said year last mentioned of seventeen hundred and eighty one he entered the service of the United States in the Militia of the State of Virginia as an Indian Spy under an engagement with Colonel Charles Cox at one dollar per day in company with Alexander McFarland his partner Spy in the spring of the year aforesaid. He spied in said Valley down to Hickory Gap on Yellow Creek and Cumberland Waters and on Goose Creek Waters. He served constantly and faithfully during said season at least for three months. He was employed in this spying against the Cherokee Indians He was dismissed at Colonel Coxes in the Valley aforesaid near Cumberland Gap. He received his pay for said services duly He received no written discharge for said tour of spying. He served as a volunteer.
In the year seventeen hundred and eighty two at said Powells Valley in Virginia he entered the service of the United States in the Militia of the State of Virginia as an Indian Spy to serve during the summer season of said year or longer if requested as necessary by his officers. He commenced service in or about the beginning of said summer or latter part of the spring of said year and spied about the same Rivers and country spied in his former last mentioned spying and against the same Indians (Cherokees) in company for his partner spy with Dan’l Coulson He was dismissed at Colonel Coxes aforesaid in said Powells Valley about the latter part of said summer and received his one dollar pay per day by the hand of said Colonel having served constantly and faithfully to the acceptance of his officers. He received no discharge in writing. He served in said service at least three months.
He served as a volunteer in such tours as well as all his other tours heretofore stated. He has no record of his age; many years ago the last he knew of it, it was in the possession of a sister Elizabeth Monday of Kentucky. Upon reflection he thinks he got a discharge in writing from his Captain Hugh Crocket for the Cherokee Campaign herein described.
He never received any pay other than herein mentioned for any of said services. His memory is much impaired and where in his declaration he has omitted anything it is on account of such failure of memory. He has no documentary evidence of any part of his said services nor does he know of any person or persons whose testimony he can procure of his services except those whose certificates are herewith annexed.
He hereby relinquishes every claim 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.
After the War of the Revolution he continued to live four or five years in said Powells Valley, then removed to Knox County Kentucky where he resided fourteen years or upwards, then he removed to Hawkins Ohio and lived there two years or about it then he lived five years or about it in Jackson County Indiana, then he resided five or six years and now resides in Monroe County in the State of Indiana He resided formerly a short time in Owen County in Indiana. He is known to his brother David Johnston [pension application S32349] who served with him in the tour to Guilford North Carolina and is known to Cornelius Cox and William Followell who can testify the said David as to services and the others to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution Whatever is omitted of dates circumstances and events is by reason of old age, & a remote backwoods life where he has not had the learning or books to refresh his memory, which has failed greatly. Joseph hisXmark Johnston
State of Kentucky Fleming county Sct.
I Ebenezer Johnson of Fleming county Kentucky aged Eighty one years do state on oath that Joseph Johnson who has made the foregoing declaration is my brother and that I had not seen him for seventeen or eighteen years untill he moved from Indiana to this state in the fall of 1841. I also state that I served with him in the company command by General Broadhead [sic: Col. Daniel Brodhead] I think the year 1779 [August]. the detachment marched from Pittsburg [sic: Pittsburgh] up the Alleganie [sic: Allegheny] river to some Indian Towns which were destroyed together with their growing corn &c. I am certain he served at least three months on this campain, of the field officers I recollect Col. Campbell Maj. Byrum and Maj. John Finley. Capt. Ross command the company to which we were attached. Genl. Broadhead and the other field officers mentioned were officers of the Regular army. Capt. Ross commanded a company of Militia which was attached to the regulars.
That in the spring of the year 1780. said Joseph Johnson was drafted and attached to the company of Capt. Andrews and served as a Spye and Ranger a tour of three months garding the frontier along the Ohio river and in the neighbourhood of Holladays Cove [sic: Hollidays Cove at present Weirton WV] – I was serving in another part of the country at the time he was with Capt. Andrews, but in the next year (I think it was in 1782) said Joseph and myself ware both drafted and attached to the company of Capt. Reed in the month of March of that year, and was actively engaged as a Spye guarding the frontier on the Ohio River untill the month of October or November following. I know said Joseph Johnson also served a tour of three months as a substitute for William Conyears. he was engaged in guarding country on the Ohio river from Holladays cove to Mingo’s bottom. Capt Andrews commanded the company on this tour as well as the one before mention. I know he was attached to some other companies but cannot state the particulars. Ebenezer hisXmark Johnson [3 Nov 1843]