Thomas Philpot Pension Application
Submitted by: James R. Philpot -6 May 2001
This is a summary of the Revolutionary War pension application of THomas Philpot. It begins:
"Be it remembered...." Clay County, State of Ky. Apr. 4, 1837.. Thomas Philpot appeared before the Clay Circuit Court; as a resident aged 74 to apply for a pension per Act of Congress 1832. He stated that he entered the service of the Rev. War the same year of the Battle of 96 District in the State of South Carolina, Laurens County under Capt. Daniel Williams and after scouting with him several months , marched by him to the Island Ford of the Saluda River and there joined Col. Waters who lived near the said river. Then Marched to the siege of 96. (JRP Note: this big battle was named for the court district and court house in SC. ) There joined Gen'l Greene (Nathaniel) . Crossed out was a reference to the British General Cruger. Philpot continued with Gen'l Greene during the siege and when information arrived that (British General)Rawdon was coming to aid Gen'l Cruger, Gen'l Greene raised (stopped) the siege. Then marched to Bobb's Mill on Bush River crossing the Saluda at the said Island from whence we met with a call to go to the aid of Col. Hayes on the Little River at Edgill's Station. Waters was engaged with the Tories under (Bloody Bill) Cuningham a Tory captain. Here they were all taken prisoner and Philpot was paroled. Militia man scouting and scouring the counties of Lauren, Abbeville and Greenville. He was told by Capt. Williams that if he did not turn out(volunteer) he would be drafted & being acquainted with Williams, he volunteered with him as long as the district required and continued with him not less than 11 months before the siege (of 96)scouring the country and had several engagements with the Tories; one at a creek called Long Cane. At Long Cane he had a brother killed and had another killed at White Hall. This service was before the battle of 96. He was continually in service for a day or two at a time. He would serve with Capt. Williams & perhaps not be stationed but a few hours or days until they would have to go out again. He states that including his services under Greene & at Edgills Station he is certain he did not serve less than fifteen months before he was paroled . He was never home during the whole service. When he went to aid Col. Hayes he went as an enlisted soldier for not less than 13 months and was taken prisoner and paroled not more than one month from the time of enlistment. He received 3 guineas at the time of enlistment to go to the aid of Col.Hayes. He said he was well acquainted with Gen'l Greene. He was born in Laurens County SC the 17th day of Aug. 1763. He has lost the record of his age. His discharge papers were burnt. He made a similar declaration 3-4 years ago but it was sent back for more proof. He found Brazel Eastis after his first claim . He signs by his mark X.George Stivers a Clergy man and Brazel Eastis both of Clay County made the following statement upon oath: That they were well acquainted with Thomas Philpot and that he is an honest man but sometimes drinks too much ardent spirits. The said Eastis further states that he knew the said appl. at the siege of 96 and knows he was in the service of Capt. Williams. After the war they became neighbors and often talked over their service. After the war they moved to different parts of the world and never saw each other until lately. George Stivers Clerk of Court 5 Apr, 1837. Signed by George Stivers.
As GGGgrandpa Tom's claim wound its way around the bureaucracy, it was met with many refusals but he never gave up until his death and then wife Nancy started her own petition.
Refusal record : Suspended per letter June 1837 to JA Moore and Senator (US Senator from Clay Co.) Hon. John White. It seems JA Moore of Mt. Vernon Ky was TP's attorney.
Our Tom persists and gets another witness:
Mar. 25, 1841 - Knox County, KY appeared Obadiah Hammonds said he served with Philpot at the siege of 96 under Gen'l Greene and saw him there. Tom was called an illiterate man in another letter. Letter by JA Moore from Mt. Vernon KY Nov. 12, 1842. "I am much annoyed by the poor old man Philpot of Clay county Ky about his pension." $20 was per month was asked. Moore wrote another letter in 1845 saying that Tom was in a "suffering condition". Moore said he wanted to finish his pension business before the anti-pension president took office. Wife Nancy Philpot's claim: Feb. 7, 1952 Nancy appeared before Daniel B. Stivers acting JP. ...Nancy States she is the widow of Thomas Philpot and that he never received a pension for his service during the Revolution and asks it be granted her. Her Attrorney was Isaac Trabue of Frankfort. That she was married to Thomas Philpott on the 15th of June 1792; that her eldest child is in his 60th year. That her husband served under Daniel Williams and others in SC. That Thomas Philpot died Aug. 6, 1847.