Pension Application of Charles Littleton W8255

The State of Alabama Lauderdale County

On this 4 day of June 1833 personally appeared before me Dennis W. House an acting Justice of the peace for said county Charles Littleton aged about Seventy three years a resident citizen of said state and county who Being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benifit of the act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832. that he entered in the Army of the united States in the year 1776 [sic] as near as he recollects in the State of South Carolina and under the following circumstances, viz: "The Tories were embodied on Reedy River (in Greenville County SC], on the Indian land, and for the purpose of dislodging them he was drafted for a three months Tour, they Tories were dispersed with but little Trouble ; he was in the company commanded by Captain [William] Gordon in the Regiment commanded by Col John Lile [sic: John Lisle] he served out the three months; the detachment was commanded by Genl. [Richard] Richardson. the Tour was general called the Snow Campaign [Dec 1775]. he was discharged By his Capt. Gordon. He had returned home but a very short Time when they Torris were embodied again in Georgia. Men were called for he volunteered, joined the Army who went in pursuit, the Tories made their escape to Saint Augustine ; the were pursued as far as Sait Marys River [sic: Saint Marys River]; finding it impracticable To over Take the Tories they returned. he was in this campaign under regiment of Capt. Gordon Col Lile. the Expedition was commanded by General [Andrew] Williamson next he was marched to Augusta the Brittish having possession of said place. the American Army was again discharged and returned home.

He was then called into service to repulse the Brittish at Stone and was in the attack on that place [sic: Battle of Stono Ferry SC, 20 Jun 1779]. under the same officers as before. the Americans were repulsed. from there they were marched Back; [illegible word] remained a Short Time at home until the Brittish took Charleston [12 May 1780] he was again caled into Service in order to repulse the Enemy and were unable to Effect their object he was there under the same officers at that Time except the General in this expedition Genl [Andrew] Pickens commanded. They were then marched towards Camdem [sic: Camden SC], where they Tories & Brittish had collected in large bodies. General Pickens finding himself unable to contend with the Enemy the Army was ordered to disperse & make the Best of their way to Save themselves. he arrived at home staid one night; a part of the company collected & marched towards North Carolina where they were joined by part of their officers & were there placed under Capt John Lile; James Lile [sic: James Lisle] was Elected a Colonel General Sumpter [sic: Thomas Sumter] commanded. under these officers he served during the Ballace of the war.

He was at the Battle of Rocky Mount [SC] which Took place on Sunday [30 Jul 1780]; and on the next Sunday at the Battle of Hanging Rock [6 Aug]; from there they were marched down To take possession of the Ferry at Camdem remained there four days. [Gen. Horatio] Gates was then defeated [Battle of Camden, 16 Aug]; they then retreated to the Catawba River On the Second day after Gates defeat, Col Tarlton [sic: Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton] pursued Sumpter and they Americans were defeated at Fishing Creek & they American Army dispersed. The Troops again collected in Charlotte in north Carolina on the third day after the defeat under same officers they Army reassembled at the fish dam on broad River from there they were marched to blackStock on Tiger River (the Blackstock Plantation on the Tyger River) and was in the engagement at that place against Tarlton [20 Nov 1780]. Genl Sumpter was there wounded. from there they were marched to Iron Works on Lawson fork [Lawsons Fork Creek near present Spartanburg] & were under General Pickens. he was then marched under Col Liles to the Cowpens and was in the Battle of the Cowpens [17 Jan 1781] The Regiment to which he belonged were ordered to Remain on the field of Battle in Charge of dead and wounded; from there he was marched To Earles Station [E of Tryon NC] on the frontier against the Indians and remained at that place and the neighbouring Country for two years untill peace was made with the Brittish & Indians.

He cannot state the precise Time he was in the Service of the united States having been a volunteer the whole Term except the first three months. But is Satisfied he served altogether as much as seven years against the British Indians & Tories. from the situation of the Tories & which during the war in Carolina It was imposible for a whig to remain at home with any kind of Safety & Being a young man he was nearly the whole Time in actual Service. He states that he received discharges for nearly all his Tours carried them with him home was only a short Time at home when a company of out lying Torris (in Edistoe Swamp [sic: Edisto Swamp]) Being much exasperated against him assembled and Burned all his papers & he was with difficulty able to elude them. they discharges wer Burned & so were all his other papers among which was a deed for a tract of land near (the now city of Washington) containing 150 acres called Sarrahs Delight. his deed being burned he came to the conclusion his Title was lost & as such never has yet asserted at law his right for said land

To the first interogatory to him propounded he says he cannot But thinks [he was born] about the year 1760 in Virginia Frederick County. to the Second he answers the record of his age was Burned By the Tories with all his other papers.

To the third he was living in South Carolina when caled into service in the district called 96 [Ninety-Six]; from there he removed to Tennessee Sumner county, remained there three years. from there he removed to Giles County Tennessee remained there 12 years from there to Lauderdale county Alabama where he has resided for the last Ten years & resides there at this Time.

To the 4th 5th & 6th he refers to his narrative To 7th he refers to John Swearingin, Thomas Dunut[?] Stephen Loary, Richard Darby, Phillip Darby and and Dr [first name illegible] D. Ealicat[?].

He hereby relinquishes ever claim to a pension whatever except the present and declares his name is not on the agency of any state of the united states.

He does not know of any Living Witness within his reach by whom he could prove his services except John Gordon [son of Capt. William Gordon] who Resides in the State of Tennessee & whose afidavit is herewith Transmited marked A he suppose was he able by riding into Carolina & the Southern part of Alabama he could procure other living Testimony. But does not know who. but his health is so bad & he is so old that he very seldom is able to Leave Home. He has no documentary evidence nor does he know of any living witness within his reach by whom he can prove his services except John Gordon who resided In Tennessee and whos afidavit is herewith annexed.

He hereby relinquishes every Claim whatever to a pension or anuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any state Sworn to & Subscribed before me this 15th day of June 1833. [signed] Charles Littleton

NOTE: On 5 Jun 1850 Elizabeth Littleton, 80, applied for a pension stating that as Elizabeth Henderson she was married to Charles Littleton by a Baptist minister in Newberry County SC in Aug 1795. A note on the pension certificate states that Littleton died 29 Mar 1848. Elizabeth Littleton also stated that she had the following children before 1800: Sarah Estes Littleton and David Lee Littleton. On 24 Jun 1856 she applied for bounty land, giving her age as 85. With her pension application she submitted a family record said to have been written by her husband and transcribed as follows

John Marquis [page torn] his Bible Father of[?] [page torn] 1802 he was born august 24 Day
Sarah Eastes Littleton Was born March 6th 1797
David Lee Littleton Was born December 21st Day 1798
Peter Boazeman Was born November 18th Day 1800
Samuel Holbrooks Littleton Was born June 13th Day 1803
Peter Brazzaman Littleton Was born in the year of our lord november the 18 1800
Peter B. Littleton
Rubin S. Littleton
Nancy H. C. Littleton
Mary M. Littleton
John M. Littleton his hand and pen.