Pam Lain cited several sources for Absolom's British service. Another is by Bobby Gilmer Moss, The Loyalists At Kings Mountain, 1998, Scotia-Hibernia Press, 519 Batchelor Dr., Blacksberg SC 92704. On page 4, Aughtry, Absolum (Autery) was commissioned lieutenant by Ferguson in July 1780 and was in the battle of Kings Mountain. Fanning appointed him lieutenent under Capt. Robert Turner on 12 July 1781 in the Randolph County Militia. At the evacuation of Charleston, he went to East Florida. [CO [Colonial Office] 5/560/406; NC State, XXII, 196; Butler, 40. I checked Florida records. St. Augustine is in St. John Co in FL. In 1783, when the Spanish took Florida back from the British, a complete census was conducted and records each householder's decision to stay (and swear allegience to the Spanish King and apparently convert to the Catholic faith) or go to other British territories or elsewhere (sometimes to GA). This census has been partially transcribed and generously placed on the Florida GenWeb site. Neither David Fanning nor Absolom is listed so I am assuming that their section of the census has not been transcribed. David fanning was in Canada by 1784. The reference to Absolom on the Balfour site is found in "Col. David Fanning's Narrative" in the chapter on the death of Col. Balfour and the later section on the descendants of Absolom Autrey. Part of the outrage at Col. Fanning and his men was perhaps due to the fact that Cornwallis had already surrendered and peace terms were being worked out.