Transcript of Samuel Mayfield's Pension Application

On 13 October 1832, Samuel Mayfield submitted a sworn declaration as part of an application for a Federal Government pension for his service during the Revolutionary War. [See Revolutionary War Pension Application, File Number S16930.] A transcript of his declaration is as follows:

Declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress of June 7th 1832

State of Alabama, Tuscaloosa County & Circuit Court

On this thirteenth day of October, A. D. 1832 personally appeared in Open Court before Anderson Crenshaw Judge of the Tuscaloosa Circuit Court now sitting, Samuel Mayfield resident of the said circuit in the County of Tuscaloosa and State of Alabama, aged 73 on the 23rd day of May last, [Comment: This would establish Samuel's date of birth as 23 May 1759] who being 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 into the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.

That he was born in North Carolina near the Virginia line, he thinks in the County of Halifax.  [Comment: the NC county records for his father, Robert Mayfield, would imply that Samuel was actually born in Granville County, then located just across the Roanoke River from Halifax County]  When a small boy his father removed to South Carolina, Union County & he lived there until he was about twenty-five or thirty years of age and it was during the last mentioned time, while a resident of South Carolina, he was called into service. When in his 17th year he was drafted upon a two-month tour against the Cherokees to protect the frontier. The Captain commanding over Nathaniel Jeffries, Lieutenant [and] John Thompson, Ensign not remembered.

On this service he completed all that was required of him though he was not out the full two months - the Indians not presenting so much danger as required their staying the whole two months.

Your applicant thinks the American Revolution was only in its beginning at that time. The Cherokees were restrained [?] and after his return home he was not again called upon for service for about two or three years. And then he was called upon to fight against the British on a draft of three months. The expedition was to repair to Savannah for the purpose of expelling the British, who then had occupation of that city. And he was one of the soldiers engaged in that courageous but unsuccessful attempt to recover it under the commanders of the American forces - General Greene, General Pickens and General Sumter, the concerned superior officers. The Captain that commanded him at this battle was named Gilky (he thinks his first name Jonathan) ... In the attack on Savannah he received no wounds but many of his comrades fell around him. After this service was over he was disbanded and went home.

He was afterwards drafted for three months. Capt Montgomery, Lieutenant named Montgomery also and Hugh Taylor, Ensign were the officers of the company to which he belonged. This three months tour was ... during the Siege of Ninety-Six, and he was at that siege from the beginning to the end.

After this he removed from Union into Fairfield County, & there he was drafted for two months, to keep back the British & Tories & was stationed at Four Hole Bridge. This service tour performed, he received his discharge.

Between the times when thus engaged under a specific draft, he was many times out against the Tories - rather as [a] Minute [man] ... and a few days would accomplish the object of the expedition.

After the Siege of Ninety-Six he removed to Fairfield County, South Carolina & lived there until the War was closed. He then removed again to Union county where he had formerly resided [Phil Norfleet Comment:  It should be noted that the counties of Union (Ninety-Six District) and Fairfield (Camden District) were not formed until 1785. Samuel presumably means that he resided in those areas which later became counties] and from thence to this state [Alabama] about seven years ago last October [Comment: That is, in about October 1825] & settled in this county where yet he resides.

That there is no one in this county [Tuscaloosa] that he knows of [who] could prove his services.

There is an old lady - Squire Jones's Mother who knows of her husband having gone to the War along with the applicant but would not be capable of proving anything more.

As to his age, he has no Register thereof, he has his age by knowing from his father information that he was twenty years old when he married, since which time his own family Register of the birth of his children ... makes him now the age he has above stated.

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.

                /S/  Samuel Mayfield (His Mark)

Sworn to in open court this 13th day of October, 1832.

                /S/  John M. Jenkins, Clerk

The following certification was provided in support of the above statement of Samuel Mayfield:

I Joab Pratt Clergyman residing in the County of Bibb, State of Alabama and George Cobb & Robert Garner of the County of Tuscaloosa hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Samuel Mayfield who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 73 years of age, that he is reputed and beloved in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.

                /S/  Jacob Pratt George Cobb Robert Garner

Sworn and Subscribed in open court this 13th day of October, 1832.

                /S/ John M. Jenkins, Clerk