John Fields Pensio
Excerpts from the Revolutionary Pension application of John Fields, Carolina Line, File #R3529 Microfilm Roll # 791
NOTE: By Submitter, The following is from the Revolutionary Pension application of John Fields of Perry Co. Kentucky. John's application was eventually rejected, largely it seems because John's exact length of service could not be established. In the process, however, a great deal of material was generated. I have selected those parts that I believe contain significant genealogical information, provide useful historical context or which gives insight into understanding John the man. While all this material is from John's own file, I should point out that information on John's application is also to be found in the file of William Cornett (and possibly those of other men from the Perry Co. area). Apparently, the same man, William Fulkerson, who assisted John's family was also helping other families and some letters he wrote refer to several cases. The documents in the file are written in long hand by several different people and are sometimes very difficult to read. I have tried to some extent to preserve the original gammer and spelling but for the sake of clarity have made some changes. In cases where I could not read complete words I have replaced them with {?}. Parts of words that were unclear are replaced with blanks. When I have some doubt but think I have deciphered the word, it is followed with (?) John and Polly were my four times great grandparents. I descend through their son Stephen who gave statements below. Stephen married Elizabeth Baily. Their oldest son was Mahlon who married Mary Ann Fetzer. Their eldest son was Anderson. His first wife was Clerinda Hall. They had eight children before she died, one of whom was my grandfather, Corneilus T. Fields. He married Laura Belle Hart and one of their seven children was my father William Pearl Fields.
Statement of John Fields: State of Kentucky Perry County
On this 8th of February 1852 personally appeared before me Probate Judge of Perry County and state of Kentucky John Fields a resident of said county and state aforesaid age eighty seven years old who has been duly sworn according to the law, doth on his oath make the following deceleration to obtain benefits of an act of congress passed on the 7 th day of June 1832. {?} {?} {?} {?} That he mustered and entered the service of the United States in February seventeen hundred and eighty one and served until the 10th October 1784, seventeen hundred eighty four, and that he served all the time under the following officers. Thomas Vincens was the captain of his company, Samuel Brasheres was the Lieutenant of his company and Andrew Hamma was {?} of his company. Col. Sevier had the entire command of all the soldiers and men in that country and at that time. My captain Thomas Vincens discharged me at Bell __________in North Carolina. That he at the time of entering the service was a resident of squabble state, State of North Carolina. Squabble State was that part of the territory that laid between what was called Walkers Line and Henderson's Line and if there was any country covering it at that time, he does not recollect it. That the company he belonged to was made up and left the neighborhood some months before he joined it. That their operation was mostly confined to the valley of the Holstin River as that was then the western frontier. Added also that forces under the command of Col. Sevier was dispatched to the settlements for the protection of the immigrants, that they moved from one place to another and in building block houses and forts. That they built (?) Shelby's Fort and Bledsoes (?) Fort. That the enemy consisted of Indians, Tories and fragments of Ferguson's army. That there was a certain general as he called himself that the settlers despised more than any other. He was a half-blood white and Indian and was called by the name of General Binge and that this is the same person who took Elizabeth Livingston, wife of Peter Livingston and after {?} taken to little Stony Gap. After the skirmish with Binge and the Butcher soldiers at Chicamago(?) there was recruits sent out for more men attached to col Sevier as we learned there was a great many of his men killed. That he volunteered to serve! throughout the war and entered the service as before stated. that he learned from Brashear that his captain Thomas Sawers had been killed early on in the fighting and that he, Brashear, acted as Captain until it was over That he was in the lookout mountain battle upon the bluffs of the Tennessee River and after that day Col. Sevier had the command, Col. Martin(?) also Samuel Brashear, S____N____Elliott and Buttler (?). Captain Buttler (?) was killed and so was Elloitt, that this battle was fought in the Fall (?) of 1783. Col. Sevier was in the action and was entirely victorious and this was the last battle of any note that was fought for some years. That he was not all the time engaged in the regular military forts and defense line but was in detached portions defending the different neighborhoods and families and the base of operation included from Shelby's fort to the Tennessee river, from 150 miles to 2 hundred miles backward and forward as the {?} demanded. That his captain discharged him at Bell_______n in the state of North Carolina but that if he did give him a written discharge he don't now recollect. That he is of the impression that he never got any a!s they had little to do with books papers or writing and there was but little mustering done and but little military display. That he entered the service in his 16 th or 17 the year and was born in the year 1765 and as to the record of his age, he has none now nor to his recollection never had any {?}{?}{?}{?}{?} He hereby relinquishes(?) any claim whatever to a pension or annuity (?) {?}{?}{?} and he declares that he is not on the pension Rolls of any agency in the states of Kentucky, North Carolina that is for military service in the Old War or the Revolution. his John X Fields mark
Statement of Polly Fields: State Of Kentucky Perry County
Polly Fields states upon her oath that she has been the wife of John Fields for a great many years, that she lived with him sometime before the year 1800 until about fifteen years ago. She states from the time she married him that he often told about being in the old war and described very (?) frequently the battles, officers etc. He often spoke of Col. Sevier, Col Cleveland, Campbell Cristia and that he was in the battle of King's Mountain, Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga etc.. She states that Fields had a long scar on his head running back from his forehead lengthwise, perhaps 4 inches long. He claimed to have been wounded in the hip. That he had been palsied for at least twenty years and that the last 15 years of his life he had but little mind. She states that she has not lived with him for the past 15 or 20 years but she has lived about with her children. That she has not kept no record of her children's age --that she had by sd. Fields nine children and!2 are dead--that Stephen Fields, Her son is the oldest. That she has never paid no great deal of attention to his descriptions and tales about the war but knows very well that he always claimed to have been in the war before the battle of King's Mountain. That several years ago she got a divorce of said Fields owing to his condition and some other causes, therefore she states as she is informed she could have no interest in the claim of him as the court will not permit her to have part as she is not his wife. That he died in 1852. That he always spoke of Stephen Fields being out. Polly Fields
Personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice o the peace of Perry County Polly Fields and made oath to the foregoing statement as being true. That she is a woman of veracity and believes (?) would swear the truth, This 18 th of August 1853 Zachariah Morgan
Declaration as to the heirs of John Fields: State of Kentucky Perry County Oct.
I Jessie Combs clerk of the county and Circuit courts of the said county do hereby certify that the February term of the county court of this county held in the year 1853-- William Fulkerson of Proctor, Owsley County Kentucky was duly appointed the Administration of a John Fields late of said county deceased and said Fulkerson has filed a bond with sufficient security to perform the acts thereof and that on the 20 the day of July 1836 as appears in the record that Polly Fields the wife of John Fields deceased was by decree of the circuit court divorced and such divorce has been accordingly filed (?). That from satisfactory proof also filed John Fields left the following heirs to wit Stephen, William, Lucy, Esau, Jacob, Rachel, Sally, and James and no widow. In testimony Where of I have caused the seal office to be affixed this 26 th October 1853 and subscribed my name to the same. Jessie Combs, Clerk of the Perry Circuit and County Court
(Note: the following is not in the pension application but is from the Perry County Order Book 5, 1834-44, dated July 20, 1836.)
Polly Fields Complt vs In Clm for a Divorce John Fields Deft This day this cause came on to be heard upon the Bill and Deposition and the court being sufficiently advised of the previous orders and decrees that the Complainant Polly Fields be divorced from her husband the Defendant John Fields. First Statement of Stephen Fields: State of Kentucky,Perry County
Stephen Fields states upon his oath that he is 56 years old and that he has been a resident of Perry County Kentucky for 46 years. That his father John Fields filed papers for a pension in Feb. 1852 and died the 23 rd of July 1852, That he was present when Judge Brashear and the agent Wm. Fulkerson came to his father's house to prepare his father's papers. He states that his father was so low and palsied that it was impossible for him to talk plain and the Agent spoke at the time that it was impossible to understand what he said. That he asked when the Declaration of Independence was published and when he was told then spoke and said that it was about seven years after that the he entered the service. That he was wounded in the shoulder and was also shot through the hip by a bullet which made him a cripple all his life. That he always claimed to have served six years and served until peace was made. That he claimed to have been at the Moravian town when Cornwallis landed. That he claimed to have been at the battle of King's Mountain and often described how during the battle Furgerson was killed. Tha!t Furgerson was killed by Col. Joseph Lewis---and he took Furgerson's clothes and sword. That a woman Furgerson was keeping told the American officers that Furgerson had his sword in his left hand and had been wounded in his right arm before that time. That he always spoke of Col Cleveland and that he was present when Col. Cleveland had Daniel Wells hung as a Tory. That Captain Martin, Captain Cloud (?), Captain Knighting was gone from the neighborhood, the Tories came in, robbed (?) and killed a boy came and let the Whig Captains know and they then returned and caught Wells and hung him by order of Col. Cleveland.. That my father always claimed to have been used by the Col. of his regiment to bear dispatched from one place to another as he had been raised in the Indian country and was used to an Indian life. That Solomon Blair some years ago living in Alabama who was a soldier with my father, hearing that my father was intending to apply for a pension, made out a statement and swore to the same, which statement has been lost. That there has been many persons to see his father in order to attend to his business. He states that when he went to the Moravian town or some town called Hossertown (?) the Tories took his horse, a grey horse, and kept him a short time and returned him. That his father always told him when he was to bear a dispatch it was placed in his sock next to his foot and often searched(?) by the Tories but never found anything out. That he always told him his brother Stephen Fields was a soldier with him but not all the time in the same regiment. That his father had a very long scar on his head and he always said it was done by a sword. That for fifteen years he had been badly palsied and the last 2 or 3 years of his life so much so that he could not eat himself and was perfectly helpless as much as a child. And Judge Brashear when he signed his statement held his body and the agent his hand. That he has no hesitancy in saying that his father was not less than 90 years old when he filed his statement and at the time of his statement of Feb. 1852 he was wholly unable to tell anything correct. That he always claimed of entering into the service at fourteen years old and serving during the war which he said was six years. That he never had no record of his age nor his children. That he had nine children and seven living. That if all his father knew about the old war was published it would make a large volume. He always connected his brother Stephen with most all his facts. (25 th Jan 1853) Further Saith not his Stephen Fields X mark
Stephen Fields appeared before me Probate Judge of Perry County and swore to and made his mark to the above statement and also certify that he is a man that can be relied upon oath and also has no doubts as to John Fields' claim and that he served in the old war. That I was present when the Agent took his statement . He was too low to make a proper or correct statement. His voice was too weak and his speech had almost left him. I held his body while the Agent held his hand and would further state that he had been palsied for at least fifteen years and was a cripple, counting from my own recollection his children and othercircumstances I could not place him less than 90 years old when he died. Given under my hand this 25 th day of Jan 1853 R.S. Brashear Probate Judge Second Statement of Stephen Fields: State of Kentucky Perry County S Ct (?) This 10 th day of October 1854
Personally appeared before me the undersigned Probate Judge of Perry County Stephen Fields and made oath in due form of the law that he is a resident of said county and the son of John Fields late of this county who died the 23 rd of July 1852 and was an Applicant for a pension under the act of July 7th 1832. That he was present when the first agent took his statement in February 1852. That his father nor him ever saw the Agent before and that he and Judge Brashears was not there more than one hour and that he said the statement would be a great Accident if it proved to be correct as he was wholly in competent to give anything correctly as he could not hold himself still at no time or in no position whatever. His speech had been injured for years. That his father was scarified on his head, hip and hand. That one of his fingers was useless and for many years was disabled in his hip. He is very sertain that about twenty years ago his father had papers prepared for a pensi!on and he thinks it was done by Alexander Pontic Sen. But in this he is not Sertin. Pontic is now in Ilons(?) and has been for twelve or fifteen years. He recollects perfectly well that a man by the name of Blair(?) gave his affidavit in behalf of his father about the time of his first application. That he has never been in the condition to attend this business for at least 20 years before his death. That his father was a dissipated man and drank to excess whenever he could get it, this habit he said he acquired while in the army. He was all so a lover of the roads. That he was no scollor. He thinks one time he had a Record (?) written down of his fathers family but now it is lost. He thinks his father was born on the 28 the day of December in the year 1763 and he him self was born on the 20 th day of October in the year 1797. That the agent told him and his father while they was at his house when his fathers statement was taken and in the presence of Judge Brashear that he must ! not put in his declaration no opinions and no thinks sos but must fix a time when he entered and when he was discharged as the Law requires it. that he was present when his father appeared in the Perry county court and was examined by said court and was sworn to a declaration which was handed over to the clerk of this court. that this was in the spring of 1834 or 5. That he has reason to believer that the said declaration is in the clerks office and that said that he makes this Affidavit in order that the office in the town of Hazard may be examined to see whether his fathers old papers can be found or not as he has been informed that his fathers claim has been rejected on the account of his last statement not agreeing with the payments made to him that appear on th pay register at Raleigh N.C. that he is interested to the extent of {?}{?}{?}. That he humbly asks the commissioner of Pensions to receive and file this affidavit and if the old papers can be found of his fathers to receive and file them as well. his Stephen Fields X mark
Personally came before me the undersigned Probate Judge of the said county Stephen Fields and made oath to the four going statement and that I further sertify that he is a man of truth and is to be relied on under an oath. Given under my hand this 19 th day of October 1854 John Hyden P.J.P.C. Statement Of Margaret Brashers:
Margaret Brashers states upon oath that she is a pensioner of the United States at the rate of $ [this was left blank] dollars per annum and is a resident of Perry County and has been for many years. That she is the wife of Samuel Brashers a private in the Revolutionary War at one time and she understood at another time was a Lieutenant. That she was bon on the 18th of August 1762. That she has known John Fields deceased for a long time and that she has heard him very often speak of John Fields being a soldier in the old war and was out with him before {?}. That she lived in Squabble State, N.C. during the war, that part of the territory embraced between the Hinderson and Walker's line and that most of the people in that part of the country had to fort except those that was in the service. That all the boys that could hold up a gun was compelled to go in the service. That most all forted in Selby's fort on the Holstin River. That John Fields was generally considered to be the most talked of in those days in defending the frontier settlements from Indian degeridations (?), that he was considered the fastest man in the whole country so much so that the Indians could not catch him at all. That he was a spare made man, trim and active. That the first time she saw him was during the year that the Battle of King's Mountain was fought. That Fields came into the fort with some other men. That she recollected him always afterwards. She often heard her husband and Fields talk about the old war before she came to Kentucky 40 years ago. That she knew Fields from the time he came to Selby's fort until he died in Perry County KY. She is certain it was in the year 1780. That he was a cripple for years and badly palsied. That she has no doubt that Fields was about her age if not older. That he was a man of weak mind and prided in his activity and fun in his younger days. Further saith not her Margaret Brashers X mark
Statement of John McQueen: State of Kentucky (this 10 th of December 1853) Estill County
John McQueen states upon his oath that he is not less than ninety years of age but don't know the precise time he was born but was born on little river in the state of Virginia and removed to North Carolina by his father at a time when he was quiet young. That he has known John Fields of Perry County Ky since they was boys together. That his father lived on the north fork of the Holstin River close to the Fields and so lived until the close of the revolution. This John Fields applied for a pension several years ago as he understood and sent word for his statement on his behalf but he never got it. That John Fields was about the age of the affiant but he, Fields, entered the service before he did. That Fields at one time belonged to the company of Captain Sawyers and at another time to the company of Captain Vincens (?) and under Col. Sevier. That he belonged to the company of Captain North (George he thinks) and was under Col. Campbell or Camel and John _____land his captain. ! That he was in the battle of King's Mountain and so was John Fields. That Col. Ferguson was pointed out by someone who said he used his sword in his left hand and caused to be shot by order of Col. Campbell. That Campbell after the battle had all the Tories hung and killed and intended to kill all until prevented by the other officers. that John Fields who applied for a pension in the county of Perry and who died as he understands in the year 1852 went out 3 or 4 times in the service of the United States before the Battle of King's Mountain. That the reason he well knows the service is that most all the soldiers was mustered into the service at forte Shelby or Selby which was called before that time Old Block House afterwards rebuilt and called fort Selby after General Shelby or Selby. That this part of North Carolina was called Squabble State. That just before the Battle of King's Mountain there was forted in the old Block House the following families Hackers, Fields, Easker (?) ! Combs and Brasheres, the father of Samuel Brasheres. Samuel was out also. Question. State how long John Fields was out. I can't say the precise time but I can safely state that he was out in all not less than two years but his best impression is that he was out longer. That he at one time belonged to the same regiment that Fields did, that of Col. Sevier. He was acquainted with Col. Camel, Col Cleveland, Sevier, Shelby. That Fields was wounded on the head by a cutlass, a short sword, during the battle of King's Mountain. That he has had several persons to undertake to get him a pension but he has never been able to get the matter before the Commission. He therefore states that he has no interest in the claim of sd Fields whatsoever nor fee, nor reward nor is he akin to him. That he now resides in the county of Estill Ky but formerly resided in Clay & Owsley--they adjoin the county of Perry. He thinks he came to Kentucky about the time the first Constitution was formed and Isaac Shelby was the first Governor. Further saith not his John McQueen X mark Statement of Nicholas Combs: State of Kentucky Perry County
Nicholas Combs Senior states upon his oath that he is a resident of said county and that he is upwards of ninety years of age. He states that several years ago he had papers filed under the act of Congress [in margin: Act 1828] passed June 7 th 1832. That his papers were prepared by Elisha Smith and the he had his discharge and gave his discharge to James Love (?) to take to Washington City as he was then Congressman. He states that he always had his discharge up until he gave it to love and that the discharge read that he was discharged during the war and signed by capt William Lewis and Col. Matin Armstrong.
He states that he has known John Fields (who was a resident of this county) for many years and states the he has known him since they were young men when the Revolution was in progress he states that they were residents of North Carolina and he was in Dunsmoore County Virginia when Cornwallace was taken at Little York. That John Fields of this county has a short time ago applied for a pension and that he died, perhaps July 1852. That the same John Fields was to his own knowledge a soldier in the Revolutionary War and so was Stephen Fields his brother. That John had gained a considerable reputation in the war before the capture of Ferguson at King's Mountain. That said Fields was at the hanging of the Tories on the Yadkin river when Wells, Thomas Roberts and St____ine were hung. And this was before the Battle of King's Mountain were fought. Fields was a man who had a character for being an Indian fighter and tory. I understood from my associate soldiers that Col Lewis or Capt Lewis selected 5 or 6 of his best riflemen and pointed to Ferguson and told them he had to fall. They all shot and several balls hit him. Ferguson at that time used his sword in his left hand as he had been wounded previously in his right arm. He was close to the neighborhood when the battle took place. Fields claimed to have been in that battle and was wounded in the hip on that day. He was a cripple for several years of his life and originated in the hip. He was also badly palsied and remained so for a long time. That his wife left him perhaps fifteen years ago owing to his condition. That he has heard Fields very often give a history of his service in the old war and many long descriptions of his hardships, battles, officers, starvations, Indians, tories, etc. but I have forgotten a great deal of my past history and past events. That he would get drunk, cry and talk. He stated he did not belong to the same company with Fields but at different times saw Fields in the service! as they were defending the frontier from the Indians and Tories. That he has known Fields from that time until he died. That Fields some years ago as he learned applied for a pension and about that same time that defement(?) died. That Fields often spoke of Col. Cleveland as Cleveland had the tories hung on the Yadkin river. Spoke of General Campbell having the tories hung at King's Mountain after the battle was over. Spoke of Col. Sevier. Claimed Capt. Sawyer at one time being his captain and capt Thos Vencens at another * That Fields at his death was about the age of the despondent but had little mind of his later years and had entirely lost the use of himself. Don't know how long he was in the service nor don't know when he was discharged nor when he entered the service. He states he saw him in the service before the Battle of King's Mountain on several occasions. That he had gained considerable character about the time he saw him. He thinks the battle of King's mountain was fought in the year 1780. He states he is no relation to Fields nor has he any interest in the claim of Fields directly or indirectly This 17 th August 1853 His Nicholas X Combs mark
* [written in margin along the right side and top of page, presumably to be inserted at the *] and captain Shane(?) and capt. Stark at another. He thinks that Capt Shane was from Surry Co. The old Block house known as Selby's fort was in Wilkes County Squabble State embraces Wilkes and Surry and laid towards Salisbury(?) when at Jonesbourgh.