Muhlenberg County Kentucky
Military Records
John Hunt Pension Transcription
File S38053 NC
Series M805, Roll 455, Image 758
Certificate 26701
John Hunt, Muhlenburg in the State of Kentucky was a private in the company commanded by Captain Moon [Moore?] of the rgt. commanded by Col. Locke in the N. Carolina line for six months.
Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky at the rate of 21 dollars [0] cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 1st day of May 1834 [to] Charles F. Wing, Greenville.
Arrears to the 4th of March -> $60.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending [illegible] -> $10.00
[Total] -> $70.00
Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by [illegible], Clerk
Book C [or E] Vol. 7 Page 45
Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832
Commonwealth of Kentucky
Muhlenberg County Sct.
On this 5th day of March in the year 1834 personally appeared John Hunt Sr. before the undersigned a Justice of the said county. As the said John Hunt from bodily infirmity is unable to attend the Court of the County, and he being sworn by me upon his oath makes 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 under the following named officers and served as herein stated under Captain Robert Moore, Mereck Davis, Lieutenant Joseph Cunningham Ensign in the County of Roan [Rowan] in the State of N. Carolina. Our Commander in Chief was General Retherford, Col. Frances Lock, Maj. Berringer. In July 1776, he believed, he was marched to Buck Creek at the fort where we joined the main body of Genl. Retherford's brigade. We then went against the Cherokee Nation of Indians when we came to the first town we found the Indians had fled to Overhest Town. We pursued them there where we killed a few Indians and took some Negroes and Whites, destroyed their houses, grain, etc., and after ranging through and scouring the country, which occupied three months, we were discharged by our officers verbally after giving us credit for three months tour.
In 1778 or 1779, I think in June, I entered the service under Ensign Cunningham and joined General Retherord and his troops and marched to a place called Colstons, the place of rendezvous of Tories & British. Here our provisions failed and my company was ordered out in search of beef and other provisions. We obtained some beef cattle after taking one or two Tories and driving our cattle near our troops. When an express met us informing us that Genl. Davidson had engaged the Tories & British and that Davidson's situation was a critical one and as hungry as we were we was obliged to leave our beef and push as fast as we could to the assistance of Davidson. After traveling some miles we met some of Davidson's troops who informed us that the battle was over. The British and Tories had fled. We were then ordered to go and occupy Coltons farm. We lay there one day during which time the British & Tories made their appearance. We formed the order of Battle. And a light horse troop that was attached to our Army pursued them and the British fled before them. Col. Lock then ordered Maj. Barringer with his battalion (to which I was attached) to march to Browns Creek where we were informed the Tories were gathering. We obeyed the order and scoured the country but found no enemy, thereafter returning to Colstons and continuing there some days. We were discharged. The length of time that he was engaged in this service but believe it was in October 1779 when he got home. He cannot recollect (if) he received any written discharge.
After Gates defeat he was called on by his Ensign Cunningham two or three times to scour the country on account of the depredations of the Tories. And he was also called on by Lieut. Davis about as often in the same service but the number of days he does not now recollect. He has no documentary evidence and he knows of no person whose Testimony he can procure who can testify to his services.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever 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. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
James Taggart JP MC, John (his x mark) Hunt Sr.
We Benjamin Tolbert, clergyman in the county of Butler, and William Jenkins, residing in the same, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Hunt Sr. who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be 83 or 84 years of age and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
James Taggart JP MC, Benjamin Tolbert,
William (his x mark) Jenkins
And I do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after pulling the interrogatories as prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states; that it appears to me that Benjamin Tolbert who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman and that William Jenkins who has also signed the same is a resident of Butler County and is a creditable person and their statements are entitled to credit.
James Taggart JP MC
1. Where and when were you born?
Answer: I was born in New Jersey in the year 1750 or 51
2. Have you any record of your age?
Answer: My father kept my age in the family Bible which has been destroyed.
3. Where were you living when called into service? Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live?
Answer: I lived in Roan [Rowan] County, State of N. Carolina when I entered the service and continued to reside there until the year 1808 when I removed to Muhlenberg County where I now reside.
4. How were you called into service?
Answer: I was drafted.
The regular officers I was acquainted with were Genl. Davidson, Genl. Morgan & Genl. Gates.
I never recd. any written discharge from any offier.
I am now acquainted with Capt. J.S. Baker, Maj. John Howell, Wm. Abbot, Joel Jenkins & David Harper.
James Taggart JP MC, John (his x mark) Hunt Sr.
I also certify that the above named John Hunt from bodily infirmity is unable to attend court in consequence of which I have taken this declaration at his place of residence.
Given under my hand this 5th day of March 1834. James Taggart JP MC
Notes
[Not part of the pension application:]
Muhlenberg County KY Court Order Book 2 Page 311
11 May 1812. John Hunt Sr. exempt from paying county levies and poor rates in the future, he being aged and infirm.
Muhlenberg County KY Court Order Book 4 Page 19
27 September 1830. A power of attorney from John Hunt Sr., and Charity, his wife, to John Hunt Jr. proven by the oaths of Jonathan Hunt and William Williams.
Muhlenberg County KY Court Order Book 4 Page 147
30 June 1834. Proof was given in open court on the oaths of Jacob S. Baker & Jonathan Hunt that John Hunt, late a pensioner of the US, departed this life, 30 April 1834, that said John Hunt was the identical person named in the original certificate, now here shown to the court, dated 01 May 1834…granting said John Hunt a pension of $20 per annum, No. 26701, and it is further proven that Charity Hunt is the widow of John Hunt decd., that she is now living.
Updated November 25, 2015