On October 7, 1780, brother met brother, neighbor met neighbor, Patriot met Loyalist on a battlefield in rural South Carolina. The battle lasted an hour: the brevity belied the import. Thomas Jefferson proclaimed the Battle of King's Mountain turned "the tide of success which terminated the Revolutionary War, with the seal of our independence."

Fewer than one thousand American Heroes, through skill, luck, and the leadership of cunning strategists, defeated Patrick Ferguson, a brilliant star of the British military might. Jacob Barnett was one of those Heroes. He was one of the twenty-eight killed in the battle.

His participation in the Battle of King's Mountain was documented by S11508, the Application for Revolutionary War Pension, that William Willbanks, DAR Ancestor Number A202606 submitted. Will Graves transcribed the application.

Southern Campaign

American Revolution Pension Statements

Pension application of William Wilbanks1

R11508 (widow) Abarilla fn34SC

Transcribed by Will Graves

State of South Carolina,

District of Pickens

He served in the war with his brother Gillam Wilbanks, Isaac Barnett, Jacob Barnett, James Putnam, John Sparks & Charles White, all of whom are now dead; Jacob Barnett was killed in the Battle of King's Mountain. She lived with her Father in Bute County N. C. and was published in Church to be married to William Wilbanks, and was to him married as she thinks before the year 1774, though she cannot recollect positively what time it was, though she is positively certain it was before the War commenced in that part of the Country: shortly after their marriage they moved to Union District in this State, where her husband entered the service.

S/ Abarilla Wilbanks, V her mark

Practically nothing was known of this man - only a sentence made by a comrade in arms. That, however, does not diminish the importance of the role he played in American history. May this memorial serve as an expression of the gratitude we owe him for making the ultimate sacrifice to help build a new country: our America.

From the Virginia, Biographical Encyclopedia:

"The British had 1,103 men under Ferguson, and the Americans 923, mostly Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. The ground of the battle is 600 yards long, 250 wide at base, 60 to 120 wide on top, and 60 feet above the country level. The English held the eminence. The Americans were in two columns, two men deep on the right of the mountain, under Campbell and Servier, and two on the left under Cleveland and Shelby. Cleveland made a ringing appeal, and the attack was begun with yells. The battle raged all around the mountain; Cleveland's horse was disabled, but he fought on foot until remounted. Several times the Americans were forced down the ascent, only to rally and gamely retrace their steps. Ferguson tried to break through but fell with eight wounds. The British finally surrendered, having lost 157 killed, 153 wounded and 706 prisoners, and over 1,200 arms. The Americans had 28 killed and 62 wounded. It was a complete victory and crushed the English cause in the South. It withdrew the Carolinas from Tory domination, and was the forerunner of Cowpens, Guilford, Eutaw, Yorktown and Independence."