Revolutionary War Pension and Battle Record for Richard Bearden
from 1760 to 1833 , McNairy County Tennessee, South Carolina
The pension of Richard Bearden is something of a gift to his descendants, as it reads like a personal family history of the Bearden family for a one hundred year period. For those of you who have seen the movie "The Patriot" starring Mel Gibson you will know that it is typical of Hollywood to take liberty with truth and history, however it also serves as a window into the past. Richard served with General Thomas Sumter in Sumter's brigade, Mel Gibson's character also served Sumpter, he was Col Francis Marion ( The Sumpter Swamp Fox ) and when you read Richard's Pension which I will attach at the bottom of this document you will see familiar names like Fort Congaree and congaree river as well as Nelson's Ferry on the Santee river. Richard also was at the Battle of Eutaw Springs as an out guard . He was a young man of twenty one years and in the heart of the southern campaign of the revolutionary war . His unit Joined General Nathanael Greene's army at the battle of Ninety Six which was a battle his brother John was involved with , a loss for the Patriot's which Greene later blamed on Sumter and Marion ( Read John Beardens Pension record also in this family tree) .
This pension will allow for the calculation of the Bearden family's movement's from Virginia to North and South Carolina to Kentucky then Tennessee Alabama and finally Georgia, which some have already done quite well, Also Richard's date of birth . This young man had lived the American dream, he watched this country go from one of King George's colonies to a free nation witnessed the war of 1812 and thirty years after giving this testimony for those of us who have a hard time grasping history, lived just down the road as a one hundred and one year old man when Scarlett O'Hara went to the ball at Ashley Wilkes plantation in northern Georgia .
I will enter each of the battles that Richard Bearden was involved with and also ask if any of you know the history of Richards family members Richard was the son of John Bearden 1717 and Lettice Winn , his eldest sister was Lettice Gowan ( Mrs Capt William Gowan) then Edmund Bearden the eldest brother whose line my mother in law descends from (Nora Bearden) and John whose Pension I also have , then Benjamin, his will I have read which contains no mention of any military service, Issac who lived long enough to give a pension (1832) but I cannot find one, William , Thomas, Humphrey , and Mourning Bearden ( wife of Major William Smith ) Richard also mentions wanting to procure an affidavit from John Blasingame , as I recall one of Richard's grandparents was a Blasingame, I also see an officer who is a John Blasingame ?. This pension transcribed by Will Graves ( who does excellent work ) gives an accounting of Richard's personal items and livestock which is rare . First onto the battle of the taking of Fort Congaree .
May 1, 1781 Ambush at Bush River, Newberry County, South Carolina - On May 1, Col. John Thomas, Jr. acting for Sumter, ambuscaded a group of loyalists. Thomas killed 3, while taking 12 prisoners, and capturing 4 wagons. Conclusion: American Victory.
The siege of Fort Granby ( Fort Congaree )2nd May 1781
On May 2, With about 400 to 500 men, Sumter laid siege to Ft. Granby, commanded by Maj. Maxwell, of the Prince of Wales Regt. Maxwell had 340 men, including 60 regulars (mostly Provincials, and including soldiers from Maxwell's own regiment the Prince of Wales Volunteers). As well with him were some loyalists, including a militia unit from the Orangeburg area, under Capt. Samuel Tolless. Maxwell's artillery at the fort consisted of 2 twelve-pounders, and 3 or 4 smaller cannon. Sumter had written Greene on May 2nd requesting a field piece and ammunition from Greene, and a six-pounder was immediately sent. He sent Greene 10 wagons of meal, and in a few days received back ammunition in those same wagons, plus the cannon. Sumter then took his main force, and the cannon, and moved against Orangeburg, while, at the same time, leaving a detachment, under Col. Thomas Taylor to besiege the fort.
The Surrender of Orangeburg May 10 and 11 1781
Col. Thomas Sumter commanded a group of about 350 partisans and tried to take Fort Granby. After finding the fort too strong for his force to successfully attack, he decided to move to Orangeburg and attack this settlement. Orangeburg is on the North Edisto River, some 50 miles south of Fort Granby, and was a British post. Earlier, Lt. Col. Francis Rawdon had sent orders to the post for the soldiers to abandon it, but the garrison never received this order.
On the night of the 10th, Orangeburg was placed under siege by Sumter's advanced forces, under Col. Wade Hampton, during the night. When by next morning Sumter with his six-pounder arrived, the garrison under loyalist Col. John Fisher surrendered by 7 am. 6 officers and 83 men (28 of them provincials), and many military stores and provisions, were captured as a result, and neither side apparently suffered any casualties. Sumter found Orangeburg well stock with supplies and after examining the fortifications wrote that he considered them extremely strong, adding that he believed the post could have put up a stout defense, had the garrison been so inclined. The prisoners were sent to Greene on May 12, but militia guards reportedly murdered a number of them along the way. After taking Orangeburg, Sumter moved up toward Ft. Motte, which he found Marion and Lee had already taken, he turned to putting loyalist in awe, and seizing horses and other means of transportation, and generally taking or moving supplies out of the region from Wassamasaw to Dorchester, and thereby hinder Rawdon's retreat. After doing this for two days he returned to Orangeburg, and following this moved back up to the Congaree.
The Quarter house engagement 15 July 1781
On July 15, Lt. Col. Wade Hampton and his Patriot force went to St. James church in Goose Creek. They surrounded the church, captured the Loyalist congregation, and then released them on parole. Hampton continued his ride to Charlestown until he neared the Quarter House, a large garrison of British troops located 5 miles north of the city. Part of Hampton's force charged into the house, chasing the Loyalists dragoons away. The garrison soon surrendered to Hampton. The Patriots also burned 4 ships that were loaded with supplies for the British army.
The Battle of Eutaw Springs , Defeat of Lord Cornwallis and the end of War
On September 8, Gen Nathanial Greene attacked the British again at Eutaw Springs, South Carolina. In the first part of the action, Greene was successful after a desperate conflict; in the pursuit, however, the Americans failed to dislodge the British from a stone house which they held, and their severe loss in both engagements was over 500 men. The British lost about 1,000, one-half of whom were prisoners.
Better success attended the American partisan operations directed by Greene and conducted by Francis Marion, Thomas Sumter, Andrew Pickens, Henry Lee, and William Washington. They fell upon isolated British posts established to protect the Loyalist population, and generally captured or broke them up. Rawdon found himself unable with his diminishing force to cover the country beyond Charleston; and he fell back to that place, leaving the situation in the south as it had been in the early part of 1780.
On the American side, Greene was hailed as the deliverer of that section. Seven years of British determination to bring South Carolina to her knees met failure.
By midsummer, 1781, the Continentals under Gen. Nathaniel Greene had gained virtual control of South Carolina. The retreating British. disillusioned and sick with summer heat, united forces under Col. ?? Stewart at Orangeburg and began their march to Charleston.
Early in September, the 2,300 well-equipped British camped in cool shade beside the gushing springs of Eutaw, little dreaming the Continentals were close upon their heels. Greene, hearing of Gen. George Washington's plan to encircle and embarrass the British at Yorktown, determined to prevent Southern aid from reaching the beleaguered Cornwallis.
Richard Bearden witnessed History in 1781 -82 , here is his testimony before the State of Tennessee Court of Pleas & order sessions aged 65 years at the March term 1825 and again in McNairy County TN at 76 years of age on 6th June 1836
On this 29th Day of March 1825 personally appeared in open court being a court of record of said county (Wayne ) is Richard Bearden aged 65 years last July resident in the county of Wayne & state aforesaid who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he served in the revolutionary war as follows to wit, that he enlisted under Captain William Smith in Spartanburg district state of South Carolina in the month of April 1781 for the term of ten months, that he continued to serve under Captain Smith in the 5th Regiment commanded by Colonel John Thomas of the South Carolina line in the Continental establishment until discharged at Orangeburg South Carolina by said Thomas about the last of March or first of April 1782 having served 12 Months or thereabouts which discharge he has long lost, that he was at the battle of Eutaw Springs & at the taking of Congaree and Orangeburg Fort's in Sumter's brigade that he has no other Testimony in the power of his service at this time but his own oath but he hopes that he can procure the affidavit of John Blasingame who knows of my said service & resides in the state of Alabama. That his Family consists of himself aged as aforesaid infirm& unable to support himself by labor & a farmer by occupation my wife named Sarah aged 56 and very infirmed & my son John aged 19 and able to work for his living That the reason he did not apply sooner for a pension was because he was informed that none could draw except those who had served for three years & it was not till very lately that he was better informed, that he has not deposed of his property since the 18th day of March in the year 1818 except to buy provisions for my family and I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 & that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any other manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provision of an act of Congress " entitled an act to provide certain persons engaged in the land and navel service of the United States in the Revolutionary war passed on the 18th day of March 1818 & that I have not nor has any other person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed & by my subscribed signed / Richard Bearden
Schedule
1 horse 15 or 16 years old $ 20.00
2 cows & Calves $ 20.00
2 sows 7 pigs & 10 Shoats (Goats?) $ 16.00
1 Spinning wheel 1 falling ax $4.00
4 chairs 1 pail & 2 peggins $ 1.75
3 blades 3 knives 3 forks $ 1.50
2 plows $ 2.00
I owe about fifty dollars & -------
Have about 15 dollars owing me $64.25
1. no former resident of South Carolina by that name filed an Application for a federal pension on account of alleged service in the Revolutionary war
State of Tennessee Giles County
Personally came before us John Laird and John B Armstrong, justices of the peace in and for the said county John Bearden and Brittain Williford, being in to the best of our knowledge of probity & respectability and made oath in due form that Richard Bearden was a regular soldier in the ten months service in the revolutionary war, in the year 1781 , and General Sumter's brigade, Colonel John Thomas's regiment & Captain William smith's company; and that said Richard Bearden enlisted himself in the said ten months service called the State Troops of South Carolina, in the latter part of the winter or the first part of the spring of the aforesaid date, and that they have no hesitation in saying that he is the said Richard Bearden served the full term of ten months aforesaid and that they know him to be the same Richard Bearden who did enlist served & come out of the aforesaid the service of ten months sworn and subscribed to before us this eighth day of Sept 1825 S/John Laird S/ John B Armstrong JP S/ John Bearden (Seal) S/ Britain Williford (Seal) Richard Bearden in his own words
State of Tennessee, McNairy County
On this sixth day of June in the year of our lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty six personally appeared in open court, before the justice of the County Court for said county now sitting Richard Bearden a resident of McNairy County and state of aforesaid aged Seventy Six years who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed on the seventh June 1832.
That he was born in Granville County state of Virginia on the 6th day of July in the year of our lord 1760. " When I was six or seven years old my father moved from Granville to Mecklenburg County North Carolina, There we continued to reside until I was Twelve years of age when I moved with my father and the balance of my family to Ninety Six district South Carolina.( this district afterword been divided.) I fell in the district called Spartanburg there I resided until the year 1781 When I volunteered about the 1st of March in the Dragoon service for the term of ten months under captain William Smith after the Company was organized . We Joined Col. John Thomas regiment of the Dragoons in ninety six district in South Carolina regiment of Dragoons a few days after Our junction with Col Thomas we marched down to near the Congaree River there we joined General Sumter ( sic Thomas Sumter ) from here we marched under genl Sumter to the Congeree fort then in possession of the British . We lay around for about two weeks . When Col. Washington (William Washington) joined us with his troops . Then we made an attack on the fort and took it with a number of prisoners the fort was taken as well as I now recollect the last of April or the first of May 1781, from here in a short time after the fort was taken we marched across the Congaree river and encamped at a place called Ankrums (sic Ancrum's ) here we lay about one month guarding the prisoners Col Washington having parted with us after taking of the fort. From the place called Ankrum's we marched under Genl Sumter to ninety six District of South Carolina . We there joined General Greene ( sic Nathanial Greene) army in a few days after we joined Genl Greene I was attacked by the small pox and was carried to the Camden hospital there I remained about one month before I recovered. From Camden I was sent with an express from Maj. Taylor then at Camden to Genl Greene On the Congearee river, here I joined my Company then under the command of Genl Greene. From here the whole army Marched to Orangeburg South Carolina where the British had fortified. Some Cannonading passed between the armies at this place. Col Wade Hampton's regiment and Col Thomas Regiment was ordered by Genl Greene to march down the Charleston road to the ten mile house we took some british prisoners from here we marched to to a place called the Quarter House five miles from Charleston, here we had a severe engagement the victory was on our side, here we took a wagon loaded with arms and clothing., from here we marched to Nelsons ferry on the Santee river not far from the Eutaw Springs, from here we marched a very short distance and again joined Genl Greenes army then encamped on the high hills of the Santee, here we lay until we marched to meet the British at the Ewtaw Springs which was in Sept 1781 as well as he recollects at the battle of the Eutaw I was stationed with my Captain as an out guard so I was not in the heat of the battle we stayed at this place a very short time after the battle. When Genl Sumpter and the whole of his troops marched to Orangeburg South Carolina where we lay until sometime in the Winter when we marched to some place called the four hole bridge on Edisto river, here we lay for sometime and we marched back to Orangeburg where I was discharged having served 10 months the time I volunteered for. I recieved a written discharge signed by Col Thomas but not believeing it would ever be of any benefit to me I used it so carelessly that it is now lost or destroyed. I have the record of my age now Recorded in a large family bible now taken from my father's register of ages. I have no documentary evidence to prove my services nor do I know of any person living who can prove said services by but he can prove by Captain John Henderson now of McNairy Co who was a captain in the revolutionary war that he was with General Sumter and aquainted with all the affairs above mentioned and that the history of my services mentioned in the declaritation did take place said Henderson will further state that he has now doubt of my services from circumstances which I have mentioned to him concerning the campains which I served in. Aaron Gage now of McNairy county and who served in Col Hammond's ( Leroy Hammond or Samual Hammond who both served as Col in the South Carolina Malitia after the fall of Charleston ) regiment in the revolution will state in substance the same as Capt Henderson I can prove my character for veracity and good moral demeaner by parson Francis Beard and James Campbell of my neighborhood they can also testify as to their belief and the neighborhood's belief generally of my being a soldier in the Revolution.
I Hereby relinquish every claims whatsoever to a pension or annuety except the present and declare that my name is not on the pansion roll of the agency of any state -" - This applicant applied for a pension a short time after the passege of the law of 1832 the paper was returned for some informality they have been lost so I can not return them back to the war office. After I was discharged I resided in Spartanburg district for about 20 years from there I moved to Warren county Kentucky and lived there about three years from there I moved to Livingston co Kentucky and lived there two years. From there I moved to Giles Co Tennessee and lived there for one year, from there I moved to Lauderdale county Alabama and lived there about four years from there to Wayne County Tennessee lived there seven or eight years from Wayne to McNairy County where he now lives given under my hand on the date above.
Sworn to & subcribed in open court the day and date above S/ Benjiman Jones Clerk S/ Richard Bearden
(Francis Beard a clergyman and James Campbell gave the standard supporting affidavit.)
We John Henderson and James Campbell both revolutionary soldiers do hereby certify that we served in the campain when the battle of Eutaw Springs was fought - that we personally did not know this this petioner but from the circumstances marches & etc which he has stated to us which he has stated to us concerning the Revoluton we have no doubt that he served in the campaign described in this declaration. Sworn to and subscribed in open court the day and year aforesaid S/Benjiman Jones Clerk S/ John Henderson S/ Aaron Gage X his Mark
Update: I have seen records for the Bearden brothers and fighting in the revolutionary war were at least Five Bearden men . Edmund fought at least two years, William fought and died in November of 1781( KIA), John SR, and John ( Same or different ?), Absolom Bearden ( I do not have any record of an Absolom ) and Thomas Bearden. most of these brothers fought in the same brigade during the winter and spring of 1781 according to the "Roster of South Carolina patriots in the Revolutionary war".

Testimony transcribed by Will Graves
If any Bearden family members have any Data on any other Beardens in this family or information about Richards brothers please email it to me at [email protected] my name is John McDonald. any Mistakes are surely my fault and should not be blamed on MR Graves. Our line of the Bearden family decends from Richard's older brother Edmund 1 , John 2, Marcus 3, John Hardin 4, Oren Bearden 5, all of Caldwell and Benton county Ky.
Question : Does anybody know if Richard married a Sarah Bennett or Sarah Blasingame?. There is a Nanch Benett who Married a Richard Bearden in the North Carolina Marriage bonds in 1793. This must be a different Richard as it is dated 12 years after the birth of his first child, and Richard does not live in N.Carolina in adulthood according to the above testimony. J McDonald
daddymac1961added this on 21 Aug 2010Last will and testament:

beloved daughter NANCY LIPHAM my negro woman Harriat and I also gave and bequeath to my beloved JOHN my negro man Reuben and also gave and bequeath to my beloved son AARON my negro woman ?Susa and I also give and bequeath to my beloved son ELIJAH my Negro gurl ?Eliz but he is not to dispose of her in any way for be it farely understood that I gave and bequeath the same Negro to the lawful heirs of ELIJAH BEARDEN. and I also gave and bequeath to my beloved daughter TILLITHY FINCH a negro boy by the name of Martin and I also gave and bequeath to my beloved daughter ELIZABETH GLASS a negro gurl by the name of Manday and I also gave and bequeath to my beloved grandson LOVIE SELF my negro woman Rachal and if my negro woman Harriat shall have another child he is to have it. but he is not to dispose of them in any way for it is fully inderstood that I gave and bequeath them to the lawful heirs of LOVIE SELF.
Contributor: cfenters (46996728) • [email protected]

Know all men by thease preasents that I RICHARD BEARDEN of the County and State a foresaid being of sound mind and memory do on this 10th day of June Eighteen hundred and thirty one make and ordain this my last will and testament. first I recomend my soul to god who gave it and my body to be buried in a christian like manner and as it Rehats? to the worldly goods with which god hath been pleased to bless me which I gave and dispose of in the following manner I gave and bequeth to my loved son SOLOMON on negro Boy by the name of Anderson and ?Paleagan ? fifth-to my beloved son EDWARD one negro boy by the name of Jorden and I also gave and bequest to my beloved daughter NANCY LIPHAM my negro woman Harriat and I also gave and bequeath to my beloved JOHN my negro man Reuben and also gave and bequeath to my beloved son AARON my negro woman ?Susa and I also give and bequeath to my beloved son ELIJAH my Negro gurl ?Eliz but he is not to dispose of her in any way for be it farely understood that I gave and bequeath the same Negro to the lawful heirs of ELIJAH BEARDEN. and I also gave and bequeath to my beloved daughter TILLITHY FINCH a negro boy by the name of Martin and I also gave and bequeath to my beloved daughter ELIZABETH GLASS a negro gurl by the name of Manday and I also gave and bequeath to my beloved grandson LOVIE SELF my negro woman Rachal and if my negro woman Harriat shall have another child he is to have it. but he is not to dispose of them in any way for it is fully inderstood that I gave and bequeath them to the lawful heirs of LOVIE SELF.