Pension application of Benjamin Sasser S7446
Transcribed by Will Graves State of North Carolina, Columbus County: County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions: August Sessions 1832:
Present the Worshipful Josiah Nye Armlan Bryan Esqrs. Ephraim Branton
On this the 14th day of August in the year of our Lord 1832 personally appeared in open Court before Josiah Nye, Armlan Bryan and Ephraim Branton, Esqrs. the County Court of Columbus County now sitting Benjamin Sasser a resident in the County of Columbus and State of North Carolina aged seventy seven years 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 under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That he first served under the command of Captain William Taylor of the Duplin Militia (James Kenan being Colonel) that he does not recollect the year when he entered the service it was however the first Militia that was called out in that part of the Country in which he then lived, that he marched to Rockfish in Cumberland County, that at Rockfish he was with a Company of regulars under the command of Captain John Walker, that General Ashe (John Ashe) of the Militia was also there with a Regiment of Militia – while at Rockfish it was reported that McLeod the Commander of the Tories had passed down the opposite side of the River (Cape Fear) he was marched to Elizabeth Town in Bladen County, that while at that place he heard of the battle of Moore’s Creek in which McLeod was defeated and killed, that from Elizabeth Town he was marched to Negro Head Point near Wilmington N. C. and was shortly afterwards discharged and returned to his home in Duplin County, that in this service he was a volunteer and that it lasted about twenty days – Shortly afterwards he was ordered to Wilmington by Col. Kenan for two months, that while at Wilmington he was occasionally ordered to Town Creek, that a British naval force of some sort was at Old Brunswick having on Board as he understood Governor Tryon – that while at Wilmington he saw Captain Walker of the regular Army and another Captain whose name he does not recollect, that he served out his term, was discharged and returned home. That after remaining at home a short time he volunteered for two months under Captain Landers Outlaw, that he again marched to Wilmington, thence to Town Creek the regulars at this time had marched to the North, that James Moore was Major of the Militia. From Town Creek was ordered to a place called Jumping Run in __ [blank in original] County, that after his Term of two months expired, he was drafted for one month, and remained at Jumping Run until Colonel Hogan [sic, James Hogun] marched from Halifax with his Regiment, that he joined Hogun’s Regiment and was stationed at a place below Wilmington called Caswell’s Camp and at the expiration of that Term was discharged and returned to Duplin, that after remaining at Home three or four years, he marched under the command of Major Abraham Molton against Craig of the British Army who was then as he understood at that time at a place called Rutherford’s Mills, that he marched to New River Chapel and was gone fifteen days he believes this service was performed in June 1781 about the last of July in the same year he volunteered under the Command of Colonel Axum [Benjamin Axum] of Wayne County to March against Craig who was understood to be making his way towards Halifax, that he remained at a place called Spring Bank on Neuse [River] about ten days, that news being brought that Craig had turned his Corps to towards New Bern was discharged and returned home – he does not know of any person who can prove his actual service. Questions propounded to Benjamin Sasser the applicant for a pension –
1st Where and in what year were you born
Answer – I was born on Stony Creek in Dobbs County N. C. (then called) on the seventh day of May in the year 1755.
Question 2nd Have you any record of your age if so where is it?
Answer. I have a record of my age it is in a family Bible now in possession of my son Frederick Sasser of Columbus County
Question 3rd Where were you living when called into service – where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live
Answer. I was living in Duplin County N. C. when called into service since the revolutionary war I lived one year in the County of Johnson County the rest of the time in Wayne County until about thirty four years ago I removed to the White Marsh in Columbus County where I now reside
Question 4th How were you called into service were you drafted did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom —
Answer. The first three terms of service I was a volunteer the fourth I was drafted for a month to make up the three months the two last expeditions against Craig I was a volunteer
5 th State the names of some of the regular officers were with the troops where you served such Continental and militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service
Answer. I do not recollect seeing any officer of the regular Army except Captain Walker before mentioned and the other officers whose names I do not remember General Ashe was at Rockfish with a Regiment and General Moore commanded at Wilmington —
Question 6th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it
Answer. I was discharged by Captain Taylor the first two terms of service without any writing afterwards in the same manner by Major Abraham Molton
7th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a Soldier of the revolution
Answer I am known in my present neighborhood to Charles Baldwin Esq. the clerk of this Court and to William Lewis Esq. who can testify as to my character for veracity and their belief of my services as a Soldier of the revolution.
The said Benjamin Sasser 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.
S/ Benjamin Sasser