As many of you may remember, a couple of weeks ago several of us had a lenghthy discussion on this list about Samuel Shepherd, father of Micheal (who married Josiah Smith), Sally, and Nancy Shepherd (and likely others). There were several references to his being a Revolutionary War soldier, but no one seemed to have any primary documentation. I now have this documentation! Below is a transcript (transcribed by me) of the August 1832 Term of the Montgomery Circuit Court Clerk (despite being told by the Montgomery County archivist, among others that this term and this document didn't exist), in which Samuel Shepherd appeared in court to state his service in the war in a successful attempt to receive a pension for his service. I have scanned images of the entire pension package that I received from NARA (including this court document), as well as his Will on my website at: http://www.ramawam.com/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I4174&tree=roger I realize that this is all Montgomery County, but there are plenty of Stewart County descendants of this man, and the discussion started here, so I thought I'd finish it here. ----------------------------------- State of { Montgomery County Circuit Tennessee {Court August Term 1832 On the 28th day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand and eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court before the judge of the circuit court now sitting for Montgomery County, Samuel Shepherd a resident of Montgomery County in the State of Tennessee aged sixty nine years lacking one month 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 entered the service of the United States ender the following named officers and served as herein stated. At the time when the said Samuel Shepherd entered the service he was a resident of the state of North Carolina and of the county of Orange and lived about 18 miles from Hillsboro. He was born in the 28th day of September in the year 1763 as appears from a family record made by his father and now in his (the said Samuel's) possession, which he believes to be correct and true. He entered the service in the year 1780 and in the month of June as a drafted soldier in the North Carolina line of militia and at the time he was drafted he lived with Edward Trice who is now living and a resident of this county and will swear to many of the facts which I shall state in this declaration. He was drafted for a 3 months tour under Capt Ray, who was afterwards either broke or resigned and was succeeded by his 1st Lieutenant Horton in the command of the company. He was ordered under a major who as well as he recollects was by the name of Nalls or Nawls, into South Carolina under the command of General Gates and arrived at Rugeley's Mills near Cambden about a day before the defeat of Gates. When that disastrous battle took place he was not in the battle in consequence of his being detached to guard the baggage waggons. But as soon as the defeat took place, a general retreat was ordered and the rest of this sad disaster is but too faithfully recorded in history. After returning home and his term of service being expired, he was again drafted immediately to suppress and hold in check the tories in South Carolina. His captain's name was Mark Patterson and his General Malbandy or some such a name. He was a Frenchman or of French descent. This was a horse company and the tour only of 2 months duration. Whilst out on this tour there was a battle at Lindley Mill between the whigs and tories in which he (the said Samuel) had a brother killed, but he was not in it himself. He was in a skirmish which took place between the whigs and tories at Cocke's Mills a short time after the battle at Lindley's mills in which he took an active part and in the pursuit of the Tories he was very near capturing the Tory Col. whose name was Fanning. He pursued him more than a mile but the Col's horse proved the fleetest and he escaped. Cocke's mill sootd on Deep River and Lindley's on Hawe River. Then he served another tour as a drafted soldier under Captain Benjamin Herndon the object being the same to hold the tories, who were very numerous in check. The Major's name and Col's not recollected in this tour of 2 months (Colonel O'Neal was an officer whilst he was on duty upon the first 2 months tour mentioned which he did not recollect at the time of speaking about it.). There was no fighting that he could recollect whilst under Capt. Herndon. The next and last tour he served in a troop of horse under Capt. Billy Douglas and seldom were out of Orange County, the tories being so numerous there that als the time of the troop was occupied in keeping them in subjection. This also was a 2 months tour and he was drafted soldier. No fighting took place of any note. The company was however continually on the alit[?] reconnoitering the county and frustrating the schemes of the Tories. The county through which he marched was principally upon Haws and Deep Rivers. He while under General Malbandy arrived at Guilford Courthouse the evening after the battle between Cornwallis & Greene. This officer was his General in the two first named 2 months tours as well as he now recollects. The other orricers names now remembered is the Baron de Globuck and General Butler. He states that Malberdy did not join Greene at Guilford but that he might have been of [?] service to him if [?] done so. He was no documentary evidence to prove[?] his service and no discharge. The facts stated are true but his recollections of the dates of service after the first tour of duty is very indistinct owing to the great lapse of time that has intervened and the belieft that it would never be necessary. His only witness now living, that he knows of is Edward Trice who served with him one tour and knows of his having served all for he was in the neighborhood and a part of the tour his house was his home. He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or amnesty[?] except the [?] and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any States or Agency of any States. Samuel Shepherd Sworn to and Subscribed in open Court the day & year afsd. D ? Man Clk. We Rbt. McCorkle, Clergyman residing in the county of Montgomery & State of Tennessee, and Edward Trice residing in the same are well acquainted with Samuel Shepherd who was subscribed and sworn to the above declarations that we believe him to be 69 years of age lacking one month. That he is reported and believed in the neighborhood where he lives to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn to and subscribed in open ct.Robert McCorkle This day & year afsd. D ? Man ClkEdward Trice _\|/_\|/_\|/_\|/_\|/_\|/_\|/_\|/_\|/_\|/_\|/_\|/_\|/_\|/_\|/_\|/_\|/_\|/_ | Roger L. Smith Phone: 662-325-3625 | | Sr. Systems Administrator FAX: 662-325-7692 | | roger@ERC.MsState.Edu http://WWW.ERC.MsState.Edu/~roger | | Mississippi State University | |____________________________________ERC__________________________________|