On October 7, 1780, the foundation that would forever change the world was established. 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. Benjamin Newton was one of those Heroes.

His participation in the Battle of King's Mountain was documented by his Application for Revolutionary War Pension, S16493. Will Graves transcribed the application.

Southern Campaign American Revolution
Pension Statements & Rosters
Pension application of Benjamin Newton
S16493 f13NC

Transcribed by Will Graves
State of Kentucky,
Mercer County

On this 2nd day of October 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Justices of the county court of Mercer now sitting Benjamin Newton of said county & State in the 80th year of his age and 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, viz:

I Benjamin Newton now in the 80th year of age and a resident citizen of Mercer County do hereby solemnly declare that I was born in the county of Caroline and State of Virginia and at the age of fifteen I moved with my father to Orange County, North Carolina and on it division I fill into Caswell County of said state where I resided when the revolutionary war commenced and I was called into the service of my country as follows:

In the month of August 1778, in Caswell County, I volunteered in Capt. Micajah Bullock's company of Col. Folsom's [Israel Folsome's] Regiment of North Carolina militia for three months, and we marched to Cross Creek and into the neighborhood of Cape Fear [river], against the Tories and captured a number of them and suppressed others, and we sent many of them to Hillsborough Jail; we then returned to Cross Creek where I was honorably discharged

and again in the month of August 1780 I volunteered in Capt. John Douglas's company of Col. Williams' [James Williams'] regiment of North Carolina regiment and we marched to the Cowpens where we met the militia under Colonels Campbell [William Campbell], Cleveland [Benjamin Cleveland], Shelby [Isaac Shelby] and others and from thence we marched to King's Mountain where Col. Campbell was selected as commander and I was engaged in the Battle of King's Mountain where we captured the British and beat Ferguson—after the battle we marched the prisoners to the Moravian town in North Carolina where we were stationed until my time expired which was three months and a few weeks when I was honorably discharged and

soon after I again volunteered for three months in Col. John Williams' Regiment for three months and was employed in collecting & escorting provisions for the army and faithfully discharged my duty & was honorably discharged at Caswell Court house in Said county.

I further state that I have no documentary evidence of my services having long since lost my discharges and I further do no know of any person now living by whom I can prove my services, but it is known to my neighbors that I have always spoken of my services in the revolutionary war and I would name Claiborne Bradshaw & Scott Graves who can attest this fact.

I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a
pension or annuity except the present and I am not now on the Pension Roll of the United States or of any state.

Witness my hand
this 1st day of October 1832.
S/ Benjamin Newton, X his mark

[Jesse Head [?], Claibourn Bradshaw, William Wood & Scott Graves gave the standard supporting affidavit.]

[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $30 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831, for service as a private for 9 months in the North Carolina militia.]

The actual burial site for Benjamin Newton has been lost to history. Nevertheless, we have placed a Memorial Stone in his honor in the Cantrell Gilliand Memorial Garden. May this memorial serve as an expression of the gratitude we owe him for risking his life and braving the unknown to help build a new country: our America.