Southern Campaigns American Revolution
Pension Statements & Rosters
Pension application of William Falls
S6834 f32NC
State of North Carolina,
Iredell County:
November Session A.D. 1832
On this 21st day of November 1832 personally appeared in open Court for a Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions now sitting William Falls a Resident of Iredell County North Carolina aged 69 years who being first 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. He first served in Cherokee Campaign under General Rutherford [Griffith Rutherford], Colonel Locke [Francis Locke] in the Company Commanded by Captain Falls [William Falls] his Father and Lieutenant Neil –
Was not old enough to be liable to draft but entered as a volunteer, his Father went to Cathey's Fort on the Catawba River was there Six weeks, and he returned with the Wagons which could go no further through the mountains – Was then a resident of Rowan (now Iredell County) North Carolina in the Summer of 1776.
His next tour was three months a volunteer under Captain Falls and Lieutenant Sloan the Company was Stationed at Davidson's Fort on the Catawba River guarding the frontier settlements from Indian invasion which was in the Spring of 1777 he thinks.
Was next out in what was called Cross Creek Expedition about Fayetteville against Tories General Rutherford and Colonel Posley [ sic, John Paisley?] he thinks of Guilford commanded. Was a Volunteer as before under his Father Captain Falls during the Fall of 1777 or '78. Served six weeks and was then sent an express to Salisbury with Letters.
Was next on a Scouting tour of three months through Lincoln and Rowan (now Iredell) [Counties] on the Catawba River guarding the Fords on said River under Captain Falls and Lieutenant Kerr [James Kerr]. And was in frequent tours of some kind afterwards a few days at a time dates not Recollected.
Was next out about the time of Ramsour's Battle in June 1780 [June 20, 1780], a week or so previous to it was in the Scout through Lincoln and when it was perceived that the Tories was embodied he rode express to General Rutherford between Charlotte & Salisbury who immediately detached Captain Falls and Lieutenant Byers [James Byers] with their Company which he joined as a volunteer – marched to Lincoln by Sherrill's Ford on Catawba River to a Camp on Mountain Creek – went to Ramsour's under Colonel Locke and Major Rutherford was present in the Battle in which his Father Captain Falls was killed, he then came home being in service about 20 days.
In the fall of 1780 as well as he now recollects he again Volunteered for three months, was selected with others to furnish the Army with Beef Cattle under the discretion of James Kerr purchasing Commissary. After this he was occasionally a guard on Catawba River under no regular command. On Cornwallis's appearance from South Carolina proclamation was made that all who would furnish themselves with a horse and serve for six weeks might claim service for three months on foot he joined a Company under Captain Byers with Colonel Davidson [William Lee Davidson], Col. Dixon, Colonel McCall and Colonel Perkins [sic, Andrew Pickens?] –
after Cornwallis crossed the Catawba in February 1781, they followed in after his Army to the vicinity of Hillsboro North Carolina and joined Colonel Lee [Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee] of the light horse near Hart's Mills eight miles from Hillsboro. They captured a Company of Tories and a British officer – Tarleton [Banastre Tarleton] came out with 311 men from Hillsboro in pursuit of which Colonel Lee marched us and followed for five days. They came up with Piles [sic, Dr. John Pyle] a Tory Colonel who was said to have 350 men in his attachment. Piles under the belief that it was Tarleton's Horse made no preparation to resist and in consequence the greater part of his men (265 it was said) was killed [Battle of Haw River or Pyle's Defeat, February 25, 1781]. We maneuvered in the neighborhood a few days during which there was a skirmish with a party of British on Alamance –
we shortly after joined General Green [Nathanael Greene] and maneuvered with him until our term expired. A short time before the Battle of Guilford in April 1781 [sic, March 15, 1781]. At other times frequently engaged in Scouting parties but dates can't be recollected. That in addition to these services he was often called out for short periods of time in the service of his County that he honestly and conscientiously believes that he was at the least Eighteen months in actual Service.
He was born in the State of Pennsylvania in Chester County on the ninth day of August 1763, as it is recorded in his father's Bible which is now in his possession at home. He was but a few weeks old when his father removed from the State of Pennsylvania to the State of North Carolina Rowan County (now Iredell) where he has lived ever since. That he has no Recollection of having received any written discharge. He refers to Joseph Sharpe & George L. Davidson. He has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no other person at present whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his Service except that attached hereto.
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 Year and day aforesaid.
S/ Wm Falls
(Above document transcribed by Will Graves)
- Was in the battle of Ramseur Mill's as a private with his father.
Children: Theophilus, John, Edwin, and Isabella
"Neighborhood in Constant Alarm": The Battle of Ramsour's Mill and Partisan Divisions in the Carolina Backcountry Communities During the American Revolution" by Austin William Smith --
William Falls, the fourteen year old son of patriot Captain Gilbreath Falls watched as his father was shot from his horse and killed by a loyalist neighbor. When the loyalist tried to steal from his the corpse of the elder Falls, the younger Falls took up his father‟s sword and drove it through the thief. Falls was deeply affected by the encounter and sought revenge later in the war when he took part in Pyle‟s Massacre, a slaughter
of several hundred surrendering loyalists
Contributor: Brandon Smith (49570074)
Pension Statements & Rosters
Pension application of William Falls
S6834 f32NC
State of North Carolina,
Iredell County:
November Session A.D. 1832
On this 21st day of November 1832 personally appeared in open Court for a Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions now sitting William Falls a Resident of Iredell County North Carolina aged 69 years who being first 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. He first served in Cherokee Campaign under General Rutherford [Griffith Rutherford], Colonel Locke [Francis Locke] in the Company Commanded by Captain Falls [William Falls] his Father and Lieutenant Neil –
Was not old enough to be liable to draft but entered as a volunteer, his Father went to Cathey's Fort on the Catawba River was there Six weeks, and he returned with the Wagons which could go no further through the mountains – Was then a resident of Rowan (now Iredell County) North Carolina in the Summer of 1776.
His next tour was three months a volunteer under Captain Falls and Lieutenant Sloan the Company was Stationed at Davidson's Fort on the Catawba River guarding the frontier settlements from Indian invasion which was in the Spring of 1777 he thinks.
Was next out in what was called Cross Creek Expedition about Fayetteville against Tories General Rutherford and Colonel Posley [ sic, John Paisley?] he thinks of Guilford commanded. Was a Volunteer as before under his Father Captain Falls during the Fall of 1777 or '78. Served six weeks and was then sent an express to Salisbury with Letters.
Was next on a Scouting tour of three months through Lincoln and Rowan (now Iredell) [Counties] on the Catawba River guarding the Fords on said River under Captain Falls and Lieutenant Kerr [James Kerr]. And was in frequent tours of some kind afterwards a few days at a time dates not Recollected.
Was next out about the time of Ramsour's Battle in June 1780 [June 20, 1780], a week or so previous to it was in the Scout through Lincoln and when it was perceived that the Tories was embodied he rode express to General Rutherford between Charlotte & Salisbury who immediately detached Captain Falls and Lieutenant Byers [James Byers] with their Company which he joined as a volunteer – marched to Lincoln by Sherrill's Ford on Catawba River to a Camp on Mountain Creek – went to Ramsour's under Colonel Locke and Major Rutherford was present in the Battle in which his Father Captain Falls was killed, he then came home being in service about 20 days.
In the fall of 1780 as well as he now recollects he again Volunteered for three months, was selected with others to furnish the Army with Beef Cattle under the discretion of James Kerr purchasing Commissary. After this he was occasionally a guard on Catawba River under no regular command. On Cornwallis's appearance from South Carolina proclamation was made that all who would furnish themselves with a horse and serve for six weeks might claim service for three months on foot he joined a Company under Captain Byers with Colonel Davidson [William Lee Davidson], Col. Dixon, Colonel McCall and Colonel Perkins [sic, Andrew Pickens?] –
after Cornwallis crossed the Catawba in February 1781, they followed in after his Army to the vicinity of Hillsboro North Carolina and joined Colonel Lee [Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee] of the light horse near Hart's Mills eight miles from Hillsboro. They captured a Company of Tories and a British officer – Tarleton [Banastre Tarleton] came out with 311 men from Hillsboro in pursuit of which Colonel Lee marched us and followed for five days. They came up with Piles [sic, Dr. John Pyle] a Tory Colonel who was said to have 350 men in his attachment. Piles under the belief that it was Tarleton's Horse made no preparation to resist and in consequence the greater part of his men (265 it was said) was killed [Battle of Haw River or Pyle's Defeat, February 25, 1781]. We maneuvered in the neighborhood a few days during which there was a skirmish with a party of British on Alamance –
we shortly after joined General Green [Nathanael Greene] and maneuvered with him until our term expired. A short time before the Battle of Guilford in April 1781 [sic, March 15, 1781]. At other times frequently engaged in Scouting parties but dates can't be recollected. That in addition to these services he was often called out for short periods of time in the service of his County that he honestly and conscientiously believes that he was at the least Eighteen months in actual Service.
He was born in the State of Pennsylvania in Chester County on the ninth day of August 1763, as it is recorded in his father's Bible which is now in his possession at home. He was but a few weeks old when his father removed from the State of Pennsylvania to the State of North Carolina Rowan County (now Iredell) where he has lived ever since. That he has no Recollection of having received any written discharge. He refers to Joseph Sharpe & George L. Davidson. He has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no other person at present whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his Service except that attached hereto.
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 Year and day aforesaid.
S/ Wm Falls
(Above document transcribed by Will Graves)
- Was in the battle of Ramseur Mill's as a private with his father.
Children: Theophilus, John, Edwin, and Isabella
"Neighborhood in Constant Alarm": The Battle of Ramsour's Mill and Partisan Divisions in the Carolina Backcountry Communities During the American Revolution" by Austin William Smith --
William Falls, the fourteen year old son of patriot Captain Gilbreath Falls watched as his father was shot from his horse and killed by a loyalist neighbor. When the loyalist tried to steal from his the corpse of the elder Falls, the younger Falls took up his father‟s sword and drove it through the thief. Falls was deeply affected by the encounter and sought revenge later in the war when he took part in Pyle‟s Massacre, a slaughter
of several hundred surrendering loyalists
Contributor: Brandon Smith (49570074)
Southern Campaigns American Revolution
Pension Statements & Rosters
Pension application of William Falls
S6834 f32NC
State of North Carolina,
Iredell County:
November Session A.D. 1832
On this 21st day of November 1832 personally appeared in open Court for a Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions now sitting William Falls a Resident of Iredell County North Carolina aged 69 years who being first 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. He first served in Cherokee Campaign under General Rutherford [Griffith Rutherford], Colonel Locke [Francis Locke] in the Company Commanded by Captain Falls [William Falls] his Father and Lieutenant Neil –
Was not old enough to be liable to draft but entered as a volunteer, his Father went to Cathey's Fort on the Catawba River was there Six weeks, and he returned with the Wagons which could go no further through the mountains – Was then a resident of Rowan (now Iredell County) North Carolina in the Summer of 1776.
His next tour was three months a volunteer under Captain Falls and Lieutenant Sloan the Company was Stationed at Davidson's Fort on the Catawba River guarding the frontier settlements from Indian invasion which was in the Spring of 1777 he thinks.
Was next out in what was called Cross Creek Expedition about Fayetteville against Tories General Rutherford and Colonel Posley [ sic, John Paisley?] he thinks of Guilford commanded. Was a Volunteer as before under his Father Captain Falls during the Fall of 1777 or '78. Served six weeks and was then sent an express to Salisbury with Letters.
Was next on a Scouting tour of three months through Lincoln and Rowan (now Iredell) [Counties] on the Catawba River guarding the Fords on said River under Captain Falls and Lieutenant Kerr [James Kerr]. And was in frequent tours of some kind afterwards a few days at a time dates not Recollected.
Was next out about the time of Ramsour's Battle in June 1780 [June 20, 1780], a week or so previous to it was in the Scout through Lincoln and when it was perceived that the Tories was embodied he rode express to General Rutherford between Charlotte & Salisbury who immediately detached Captain Falls and Lieutenant Byers [James Byers] with their Company which he joined as a volunteer – marched to Lincoln by Sherrill's Ford on Catawba River to a Camp on Mountain Creek – went to Ramsour's under Colonel Locke and Major Rutherford was present in the Battle in which his Father Captain Falls was killed, he then came home being in service about 20 days.
In the fall of 1780 as well as he now recollects he again Volunteered for three months, was selected with others to furnish the Army with Beef Cattle under the discretion of James Kerr purchasing Commissary. After this he was occasionally a guard on Catawba River under no regular command. On Cornwallis's appearance from South Carolina proclamation was made that all who would furnish themselves with a horse and serve for six weeks might claim service for three months on foot he joined a Company under Captain Byers with Colonel Davidson [William Lee Davidson], Col. Dixon, Colonel McCall and Colonel Perkins [sic, Andrew Pickens?] –
after Cornwallis crossed the Catawba in February 1781, they followed in after his Army to the vicinity of Hillsboro North Carolina and joined Colonel Lee [Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee] of the light horse near Hart's Mills eight miles from Hillsboro. They captured a Company of Tories and a British officer – Tarleton [Banastre Tarleton] came out with 311 men from Hillsboro in pursuit of which Colonel Lee marched us and followed for five days. They came up with Piles [sic, Dr. John Pyle] a Tory Colonel who was said to have 350 men in his attachment. Piles under the belief that it was Tarleton's Horse made no preparation to resist and in consequence the greater part of his men (265 it was said) was killed [Battle of Haw River or Pyle's Defeat, February 25, 1781]. We maneuvered in the neighborhood a few days during which there was a skirmish with a party of British on Alamance –
we shortly after joined General Green [Nathanael Greene] and maneuvered with him until our term expired. A short time before the Battle of Guilford in April 1781 [sic, March 15, 1781]. At other times frequently engaged in Scouting parties but dates can't be recollected. That in addition to these services he was often called out for short periods of time in the service of his County that he honestly and conscientiously believes that he was at the least Eighteen months in actual Service.
He was born in the State of Pennsylvania in Chester County on the ninth day of August 1763, as it is recorded in his father's Bible which is now in his possession at home. He was but a few weeks old when his father removed from the State of Pennsylvania to the State of North Carolina Rowan County (now Iredell) where he has lived ever since. That he has no Recollection of having received any written discharge. He refers to Joseph Sharpe & George L. Davidson. He has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no other person at present whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his Service except that attached hereto.
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 Year and day aforesaid.
S/ Wm Falls
(Above document transcribed by Will Graves)
- Was in the battle of Ramseur Mill's as a private with his father.
Children: Theophilus, John, Edwin, and Isabella
"Neighborhood in Constant Alarm": The Battle of Ramsour's Mill and Partisan Divisions in the Carolina Backcountry Communities During the American Revolution" by Austin William Smith --
William Falls, the fourteen year old son of patriot Captain Gilbreath Falls watched as his father was shot from his horse and killed by a loyalist neighbor. When the loyalist tried to steal from his the corpse of the elder Falls, the younger Falls took up his father‟s sword and drove it through the thief. Falls was deeply affected by the encounter and sought revenge later in the war when he took part in Pyle‟s Massacre, a slaughter
of several hundred surrendering loyalists
Contributor: Brandon Smith (49570074)
Pension Statements & Rosters
Pension application of William Falls
S6834 f32NC
State of North Carolina,
Iredell County:
November Session A.D. 1832
On this 21st day of November 1832 personally appeared in open Court for a Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions now sitting William Falls a Resident of Iredell County North Carolina aged 69 years who being first 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. He first served in Cherokee Campaign under General Rutherford [Griffith Rutherford], Colonel Locke [Francis Locke] in the Company Commanded by Captain Falls [William Falls] his Father and Lieutenant Neil –
Was not old enough to be liable to draft but entered as a volunteer, his Father went to Cathey's Fort on the Catawba River was there Six weeks, and he returned with the Wagons which could go no further through the mountains – Was then a resident of Rowan (now Iredell County) North Carolina in the Summer of 1776.
His next tour was three months a volunteer under Captain Falls and Lieutenant Sloan the Company was Stationed at Davidson's Fort on the Catawba River guarding the frontier settlements from Indian invasion which was in the Spring of 1777 he thinks.
Was next out in what was called Cross Creek Expedition about Fayetteville against Tories General Rutherford and Colonel Posley [ sic, John Paisley?] he thinks of Guilford commanded. Was a Volunteer as before under his Father Captain Falls during the Fall of 1777 or '78. Served six weeks and was then sent an express to Salisbury with Letters.
Was next on a Scouting tour of three months through Lincoln and Rowan (now Iredell) [Counties] on the Catawba River guarding the Fords on said River under Captain Falls and Lieutenant Kerr [James Kerr]. And was in frequent tours of some kind afterwards a few days at a time dates not Recollected.
Was next out about the time of Ramsour's Battle in June 1780 [June 20, 1780], a week or so previous to it was in the Scout through Lincoln and when it was perceived that the Tories was embodied he rode express to General Rutherford between Charlotte & Salisbury who immediately detached Captain Falls and Lieutenant Byers [James Byers] with their Company which he joined as a volunteer – marched to Lincoln by Sherrill's Ford on Catawba River to a Camp on Mountain Creek – went to Ramsour's under Colonel Locke and Major Rutherford was present in the Battle in which his Father Captain Falls was killed, he then came home being in service about 20 days.
In the fall of 1780 as well as he now recollects he again Volunteered for three months, was selected with others to furnish the Army with Beef Cattle under the discretion of James Kerr purchasing Commissary. After this he was occasionally a guard on Catawba River under no regular command. On Cornwallis's appearance from South Carolina proclamation was made that all who would furnish themselves with a horse and serve for six weeks might claim service for three months on foot he joined a Company under Captain Byers with Colonel Davidson [William Lee Davidson], Col. Dixon, Colonel McCall and Colonel Perkins [sic, Andrew Pickens?] –
after Cornwallis crossed the Catawba in February 1781, they followed in after his Army to the vicinity of Hillsboro North Carolina and joined Colonel Lee [Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee] of the light horse near Hart's Mills eight miles from Hillsboro. They captured a Company of Tories and a British officer – Tarleton [Banastre Tarleton] came out with 311 men from Hillsboro in pursuit of which Colonel Lee marched us and followed for five days. They came up with Piles [sic, Dr. John Pyle] a Tory Colonel who was said to have 350 men in his attachment. Piles under the belief that it was Tarleton's Horse made no preparation to resist and in consequence the greater part of his men (265 it was said) was killed [Battle of Haw River or Pyle's Defeat, February 25, 1781]. We maneuvered in the neighborhood a few days during which there was a skirmish with a party of British on Alamance –
we shortly after joined General Green [Nathanael Greene] and maneuvered with him until our term expired. A short time before the Battle of Guilford in April 1781 [sic, March 15, 1781]. At other times frequently engaged in Scouting parties but dates can't be recollected. That in addition to these services he was often called out for short periods of time in the service of his County that he honestly and conscientiously believes that he was at the least Eighteen months in actual Service.
He was born in the State of Pennsylvania in Chester County on the ninth day of August 1763, as it is recorded in his father's Bible which is now in his possession at home. He was but a few weeks old when his father removed from the State of Pennsylvania to the State of North Carolina Rowan County (now Iredell) where he has lived ever since. That he has no Recollection of having received any written discharge. He refers to Joseph Sharpe & George L. Davidson. He has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no other person at present whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his Service except that attached hereto.
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 Year and day aforesaid.
S/ Wm Falls
(Above document transcribed by Will Graves)
- Was in the battle of Ramseur Mill's as a private with his father.
Children: Theophilus, John, Edwin, and Isabella
"Neighborhood in Constant Alarm": The Battle of Ramsour's Mill and Partisan Divisions in the Carolina Backcountry Communities During the American Revolution" by Austin William Smith --
William Falls, the fourteen year old son of patriot Captain Gilbreath Falls watched as his father was shot from his horse and killed by a loyalist neighbor. When the loyalist tried to steal from his the corpse of the elder Falls, the younger Falls took up his father‟s sword and drove it through the thief. Falls was deeply affected by the encounter and sought revenge later in the war when he took part in Pyle‟s Massacre, a slaughter
of several hundred surrendering loyalists
Contributor: Brandon Smith (49570074)
Inscription
In memory of Major William Falls, who departed this life on the 1st day of February 1837, in the 74th year of his age.
Family Members
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