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. William Brimer, DAR Ancestor Number A129625, and his brother, Joseph, were two of those Heroes.
William Brimer's participation in the Battle of King's Mountain was documented by his Application for Revolutionary War Pension, S*W336. The application was transcribed by Will Graves.
(Parenthetically, historians, genealogists, and descendants owe thanks to Will Graves for his hours spent transcribing the pension applications of American Revolution veterans. These papers were fragile and difficult to read, so this was a most difficult task, but so many people benefit from his efforts. Thank you, Will Graves.)
Southern Campaign American Revolution
Pension Statements & Rosters
Pension application of William Brimer
W336 Elizabeth fn48NC
Transcribed by Will Graves
10/5/10
[Methodology: Spelling, punctuation and/or grammar have been corrected in some instances for ease of reading and to facilitate searches of the database. Also, the handwriting of the original scribes often lends itself to varying interpretations. Users of this database are urged to view the original and to make their own decision as to how to decipher what the original scribe actually wrote. Blanks appearing in the transcripts reflect blanks in the original. Folks are free to make non-commercial use this transcript in any manner they may see fit, but please extend the courtesy of acknowledging the transcriber — besides, if it turns out the transcript contains mistakes, the resulting embarrassment will fall on the transcriber. I use speech recognition software to make all my transcriptions. Such software misinterprets my southern accent with unfortunate regularity and my poor proofreading fails to catch all misinterpretations. I welcome and encourage folks to call those and any other errors to my attention.]
State of Tennessee
Sevier County: SS
On this 27th day of July 1832, personally appeared in open court before me Ewd [?] Scott one of the Judges of Law and Equity for the State of Tennessee and for the second judicial circuit in the Circuit Court for said County now sitting William Brimer a resident of said Sevier County in the County of Sevier and State aforesaid aged 73 years who 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 the 7th 1832,
that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. He lived in Wilkes County North Carolina he thinks in July 1777, he volunteered under Captain Jacob Free in Colonel Armstrong's Regiment in General Rutherford's brigade marched against the Cherokee Indians to the head of the Catawba River then to the middle settlements, at the Cowee towns, had a scrimmage there with the Indians and then to the upper Valley towns on the Hiwassee River had several scrimmages, killed some Indians in the Valley towns and other places thence down the Hiwassee River and back another way to Birmington [?] and little Chota then to the Cowee, served three months was honorably discharged at Scotch Creek in the neighborhood of Cowee – has lost his discharge.
Again he thinks in July 1778 living at the same place volunteered under Captain William Gilreath [sic, William Gilbreath?] in Col. Brevard's Regiment and in General Rutherford Brigade of NC militia marched to Sailsberry [sic, Salisbury and to the High Hills of Santee and to near Moncks Corner near Charleston SC then to near Savannah Georgia which was taken by the British before we arrived, we were in a scrimmage with the British at Savannah River at the mouth of Brier Creek Georgia General ash [sic, John Ashe] commanded. Then encamped on the other side of the River from the battle until our time were out served 9 months and was discharged at campters hill [sic, Camp Turkey Hill] the 9th of April 1779 – which discharge was signed by Captain William Gilreath, and countersigned by Hugh Brevard Colonel and is enclosed in this declaration.
Again, in Washington County NC now included in Tennessee, he thinks in September 1780 he volunteered under Captain Vol. Sevier [Valentine Sevier1] and Colonel John Sevier, marched to John's River near the head of Catawba River, thence to Kings mountain was in the battle of Kings Mountain General William Campbell commanded we killed and took prisoner the greater part of the Tories and British that was there, thence marched back to Catawba River and through Burke, Wilkes and Surry Counties with the prisoners, he thinks he did not serve quite 3 months, but was discharged for his full time served between 2 or 3 months, his discharge is lost and mislaid.
1 Valentine Sevier W6012
He has no documentary evidence but the discharge above stated, nor no person living as he knows of by whom he can prove his actual service. 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 states – He served between 14 and 15 months as a private soldier –
Sworn to and subscribed
the day and year aforesaid
Sworn to in open Court
July 27, 1832
S/ P. M. Wear, Clk
S/ William Brimer, X his mark
[Michael N. Wells, a clergyman, and Henry Hawk gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
[fn p. 23]
this is to Cartify that William Brimar a prevet in Capt. William Gilreaths Company in Colo. Brevards Regement in Genral Rutherfords Brigade of North Carolina Malitias hath Sarved as a faithfull Solder the time for which he was drafted and is here by Dischargd from the Sarvice of the same given under
My hand at Campt turey hill
10 April 1779
William Gilreath Capt.
Hu Brevard
[fn p. 34]
State of Tennessee
Sevier County: SS:
On this 4th day of December 1832 personally appeared in open Court Josiah Rodgers, John Mullindan & John Brabson three of the acting Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions now sitting William Brimer a resident of said County and State in the said County of Sevier and State of Tennessee who being first duly sworn according to law doth upon his oath make the following amendment to his declaration which was made in Circuit Court in and for the said County and State and there state July 27th 1832 and was numbered in the War Department No. 3064 and sent back for amendment.
That he is the same William Brimer that made the declaration above mentioned. He was born in the North part of North Carolina the name of the County not recollected, on the 1st day of February 1759 as his parents informed him. He has no record of his age.
He lived in Wilkes County North Carolina when first called into the service and in Washington County at the close of the war which is now Washington County Tennessee where he lived till about the year 1785 at which time he removed to Rutherford County North Carolina lived there till the year 1810 at which time he removed into Jefferson County Tennessee lived there till 1818 at which time he removed into the said Sevier County and has lived there ever since.
He never did receive a commission. He is known in his present neighborhood to Andrew Wills, Daniel Sizemore, Thomas Hill, George Fox all of whom he believes would testify that he is a man of veracity and that they believe he served as a soldier in the revolution.
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 day and year aforesaid.
S/ William Brimer, X his mark
[fn p. 14:
On March 4th, 1839 in Sevier County Tennessee, Elizabeth Brimer, aged about 75, made application for a widow's pension under the 1838 act stating that she is the widow of William Brimer; that she married him about the year 1784 and that he died July 16, 1834; she knows of no witness to her marriage nor of any record thereof.]
[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $46.66 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831, for 14 months service as a private in the North Carolina militia.]
William Brimer and his wife, the former Elizabeth Elgin, had several children. Five were documented by the DAR:
Sarah Brimer married William Gadd
Telitha Brimer married George Rogers
John Brimer married Sally Parrott
William S Brimer married:
1.) Hannah Veneable
2.) Elizabeth South
3.) Lavinia Finley
Vinyard Rhoten "Rip" Brimer married:
1.) Barbara Layman Lemons
2.) Falby Hall Edmonds
The actual burial site for William Brimer has been lost to history. 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.
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. William Brimer, DAR Ancestor Number A129625, and his brother, Joseph, were two of those Heroes.
William Brimer's participation in the Battle of King's Mountain was documented by his Application for Revolutionary War Pension, S*W336. The application was transcribed by Will Graves.
(Parenthetically, historians, genealogists, and descendants owe thanks to Will Graves for his hours spent transcribing the pension applications of American Revolution veterans. These papers were fragile and difficult to read, so this was a most difficult task, but so many people benefit from his efforts. Thank you, Will Graves.)
Southern Campaign American Revolution
Pension Statements & Rosters
Pension application of William Brimer
W336 Elizabeth fn48NC
Transcribed by Will Graves
10/5/10
[Methodology: Spelling, punctuation and/or grammar have been corrected in some instances for ease of reading and to facilitate searches of the database. Also, the handwriting of the original scribes often lends itself to varying interpretations. Users of this database are urged to view the original and to make their own decision as to how to decipher what the original scribe actually wrote. Blanks appearing in the transcripts reflect blanks in the original. Folks are free to make non-commercial use this transcript in any manner they may see fit, but please extend the courtesy of acknowledging the transcriber — besides, if it turns out the transcript contains mistakes, the resulting embarrassment will fall on the transcriber. I use speech recognition software to make all my transcriptions. Such software misinterprets my southern accent with unfortunate regularity and my poor proofreading fails to catch all misinterpretations. I welcome and encourage folks to call those and any other errors to my attention.]
State of Tennessee
Sevier County: SS
On this 27th day of July 1832, personally appeared in open court before me Ewd [?] Scott one of the Judges of Law and Equity for the State of Tennessee and for the second judicial circuit in the Circuit Court for said County now sitting William Brimer a resident of said Sevier County in the County of Sevier and State aforesaid aged 73 years who 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 the 7th 1832,
that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. He lived in Wilkes County North Carolina he thinks in July 1777, he volunteered under Captain Jacob Free in Colonel Armstrong's Regiment in General Rutherford's brigade marched against the Cherokee Indians to the head of the Catawba River then to the middle settlements, at the Cowee towns, had a scrimmage there with the Indians and then to the upper Valley towns on the Hiwassee River had several scrimmages, killed some Indians in the Valley towns and other places thence down the Hiwassee River and back another way to Birmington [?] and little Chota then to the Cowee, served three months was honorably discharged at Scotch Creek in the neighborhood of Cowee – has lost his discharge.
Again he thinks in July 1778 living at the same place volunteered under Captain William Gilreath [sic, William Gilbreath?] in Col. Brevard's Regiment and in General Rutherford Brigade of NC militia marched to Sailsberry [sic, Salisbury and to the High Hills of Santee and to near Moncks Corner near Charleston SC then to near Savannah Georgia which was taken by the British before we arrived, we were in a scrimmage with the British at Savannah River at the mouth of Brier Creek Georgia General ash [sic, John Ashe] commanded. Then encamped on the other side of the River from the battle until our time were out served 9 months and was discharged at campters hill [sic, Camp Turkey Hill] the 9th of April 1779 – which discharge was signed by Captain William Gilreath, and countersigned by Hugh Brevard Colonel and is enclosed in this declaration.
Again, in Washington County NC now included in Tennessee, he thinks in September 1780 he volunteered under Captain Vol. Sevier [Valentine Sevier1] and Colonel John Sevier, marched to John's River near the head of Catawba River, thence to Kings mountain was in the battle of Kings Mountain General William Campbell commanded we killed and took prisoner the greater part of the Tories and British that was there, thence marched back to Catawba River and through Burke, Wilkes and Surry Counties with the prisoners, he thinks he did not serve quite 3 months, but was discharged for his full time served between 2 or 3 months, his discharge is lost and mislaid.
1 Valentine Sevier W6012
He has no documentary evidence but the discharge above stated, nor no person living as he knows of by whom he can prove his actual service. 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 states – He served between 14 and 15 months as a private soldier –
Sworn to and subscribed
the day and year aforesaid
Sworn to in open Court
July 27, 1832
S/ P. M. Wear, Clk
S/ William Brimer, X his mark
[Michael N. Wells, a clergyman, and Henry Hawk gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
[fn p. 23]
this is to Cartify that William Brimar a prevet in Capt. William Gilreaths Company in Colo. Brevards Regement in Genral Rutherfords Brigade of North Carolina Malitias hath Sarved as a faithfull Solder the time for which he was drafted and is here by Dischargd from the Sarvice of the same given under
My hand at Campt turey hill
10 April 1779
William Gilreath Capt.
Hu Brevard
[fn p. 34]
State of Tennessee
Sevier County: SS:
On this 4th day of December 1832 personally appeared in open Court Josiah Rodgers, John Mullindan & John Brabson three of the acting Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions now sitting William Brimer a resident of said County and State in the said County of Sevier and State of Tennessee who being first duly sworn according to law doth upon his oath make the following amendment to his declaration which was made in Circuit Court in and for the said County and State and there state July 27th 1832 and was numbered in the War Department No. 3064 and sent back for amendment.
That he is the same William Brimer that made the declaration above mentioned. He was born in the North part of North Carolina the name of the County not recollected, on the 1st day of February 1759 as his parents informed him. He has no record of his age.
He lived in Wilkes County North Carolina when first called into the service and in Washington County at the close of the war which is now Washington County Tennessee where he lived till about the year 1785 at which time he removed to Rutherford County North Carolina lived there till the year 1810 at which time he removed into Jefferson County Tennessee lived there till 1818 at which time he removed into the said Sevier County and has lived there ever since.
He never did receive a commission. He is known in his present neighborhood to Andrew Wills, Daniel Sizemore, Thomas Hill, George Fox all of whom he believes would testify that he is a man of veracity and that they believe he served as a soldier in the revolution.
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 day and year aforesaid.
S/ William Brimer, X his mark
[fn p. 14:
On March 4th, 1839 in Sevier County Tennessee, Elizabeth Brimer, aged about 75, made application for a widow's pension under the 1838 act stating that she is the widow of William Brimer; that she married him about the year 1784 and that he died July 16, 1834; she knows of no witness to her marriage nor of any record thereof.]
[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $46.66 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831, for 14 months service as a private in the North Carolina militia.]
William Brimer and his wife, the former Elizabeth Elgin, had several children. Five were documented by the DAR:
Sarah Brimer married William Gadd
Telitha Brimer married George Rogers
John Brimer married Sally Parrott
William S Brimer married:
1.) Hannah Veneable
2.) Elizabeth South
3.) Lavinia Finley
Vinyard Rhoten "Rip" Brimer married:
1.) Barbara Layman Lemons
2.) Falby Hall Edmonds
The actual burial site for William Brimer has been lost to history. 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.
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. William Brimer, DAR Ancestor Number A129625, and his brother, Joseph, were two of those Heroes.
William Brimer's participation in the Battle of King's Mountain was documented by his Application for Revolutionary War Pension, S*W336. The application was transcribed by Will Graves.
(Parenthetically, historians, genealogists, and descendants owe thanks to Will Graves for his hours spent transcribing the pension applications of American Revolution veterans. These papers were fragile and difficult to read, so this was a most difficult task, but so many people benefit from his efforts. Thank you, Will Graves.)
Southern Campaign American Revolution
Pension Statements & Rosters
Pension application of William Brimer
W336 Elizabeth fn48NC
Transcribed by Will Graves
10/5/10
[Methodology: Spelling, punctuation and/or grammar have been corrected in some instances for ease of reading and to facilitate searches of the database. Also, the handwriting of the original scribes often lends itself to varying interpretations. Users of this database are urged to view the original and to make their own decision as to how to decipher what the original scribe actually wrote. Blanks appearing in the transcripts reflect blanks in the original. Folks are free to make non-commercial use this transcript in any manner they may see fit, but please extend the courtesy of acknowledging the transcriber — besides, if it turns out the transcript contains mistakes, the resulting embarrassment will fall on the transcriber. I use speech recognition software to make all my transcriptions. Such software misinterprets my southern accent with unfortunate regularity and my poor proofreading fails to catch all misinterpretations. I welcome and encourage folks to call those and any other errors to my attention.]
State of Tennessee
Sevier County: SS
On this 27th day of July 1832, personally appeared in open court before me Ewd [?] Scott one of the Judges of Law and Equity for the State of Tennessee and for the second judicial circuit in the Circuit Court for said County now sitting William Brimer a resident of said Sevier County in the County of Sevier and State aforesaid aged 73 years who 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 the 7th 1832,
that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. He lived in Wilkes County North Carolina he thinks in July 1777, he volunteered under Captain Jacob Free in Colonel Armstrong's Regiment in General Rutherford's brigade marched against the Cherokee Indians to the head of the Catawba River then to the middle settlements, at the Cowee towns, had a scrimmage there with the Indians and then to the upper Valley towns on the Hiwassee River had several scrimmages, killed some Indians in the Valley towns and other places thence down the Hiwassee River and back another way to Birmington [?] and little Chota then to the Cowee, served three months was honorably discharged at Scotch Creek in the neighborhood of Cowee – has lost his discharge.
Again he thinks in July 1778 living at the same place volunteered under Captain William Gilreath [sic, William Gilbreath?] in Col. Brevard's Regiment and in General Rutherford Brigade of NC militia marched to Sailsberry [sic, Salisbury and to the High Hills of Santee and to near Moncks Corner near Charleston SC then to near Savannah Georgia which was taken by the British before we arrived, we were in a scrimmage with the British at Savannah River at the mouth of Brier Creek Georgia General ash [sic, John Ashe] commanded. Then encamped on the other side of the River from the battle until our time were out served 9 months and was discharged at campters hill [sic, Camp Turkey Hill] the 9th of April 1779 – which discharge was signed by Captain William Gilreath, and countersigned by Hugh Brevard Colonel and is enclosed in this declaration.
Again, in Washington County NC now included in Tennessee, he thinks in September 1780 he volunteered under Captain Vol. Sevier [Valentine Sevier1] and Colonel John Sevier, marched to John's River near the head of Catawba River, thence to Kings mountain was in the battle of Kings Mountain General William Campbell commanded we killed and took prisoner the greater part of the Tories and British that was there, thence marched back to Catawba River and through Burke, Wilkes and Surry Counties with the prisoners, he thinks he did not serve quite 3 months, but was discharged for his full time served between 2 or 3 months, his discharge is lost and mislaid.
1 Valentine Sevier W6012
He has no documentary evidence but the discharge above stated, nor no person living as he knows of by whom he can prove his actual service. 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 states – He served between 14 and 15 months as a private soldier –
Sworn to and subscribed
the day and year aforesaid
Sworn to in open Court
July 27, 1832
S/ P. M. Wear, Clk
S/ William Brimer, X his mark
[Michael N. Wells, a clergyman, and Henry Hawk gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
[fn p. 23]
this is to Cartify that William Brimar a prevet in Capt. William Gilreaths Company in Colo. Brevards Regement in Genral Rutherfords Brigade of North Carolina Malitias hath Sarved as a faithfull Solder the time for which he was drafted and is here by Dischargd from the Sarvice of the same given under
My hand at Campt turey hill
10 April 1779
William Gilreath Capt.
Hu Brevard
[fn p. 34]
State of Tennessee
Sevier County: SS:
On this 4th day of December 1832 personally appeared in open Court Josiah Rodgers, John Mullindan & John Brabson three of the acting Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions now sitting William Brimer a resident of said County and State in the said County of Sevier and State of Tennessee who being first duly sworn according to law doth upon his oath make the following amendment to his declaration which was made in Circuit Court in and for the said County and State and there state July 27th 1832 and was numbered in the War Department No. 3064 and sent back for amendment.
That he is the same William Brimer that made the declaration above mentioned. He was born in the North part of North Carolina the name of the County not recollected, on the 1st day of February 1759 as his parents informed him. He has no record of his age.
He lived in Wilkes County North Carolina when first called into the service and in Washington County at the close of the war which is now Washington County Tennessee where he lived till about the year 1785 at which time he removed to Rutherford County North Carolina lived there till the year 1810 at which time he removed into Jefferson County Tennessee lived there till 1818 at which time he removed into the said Sevier County and has lived there ever since.
He never did receive a commission. He is known in his present neighborhood to Andrew Wills, Daniel Sizemore, Thomas Hill, George Fox all of whom he believes would testify that he is a man of veracity and that they believe he served as a soldier in the revolution.
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 day and year aforesaid.
S/ William Brimer, X his mark
[fn p. 14:
On March 4th, 1839 in Sevier County Tennessee, Elizabeth Brimer, aged about 75, made application for a widow's pension under the 1838 act stating that she is the widow of William Brimer; that she married him about the year 1784 and that he died July 16, 1834; she knows of no witness to her marriage nor of any record thereof.]
[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $46.66 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831, for 14 months service as a private in the North Carolina militia.]
William Brimer and his wife, the former Elizabeth Elgin, had several children. Five were documented by the DAR:
Sarah Brimer married William Gadd
Telitha Brimer married George Rogers
John Brimer married Sally Parrott
William S Brimer married:
1.) Hannah Veneable
2.) Elizabeth South
3.) Lavinia Finley
Vinyard Rhoten "Rip" Brimer married:
1.) Barbara Layman Lemons
2.) Falby Hall Edmonds
The actual burial site for William Brimer has been lost to history. 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.
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. William Brimer, DAR Ancestor Number A129625, and his brother, Joseph, were two of those Heroes.
William Brimer's participation in the Battle of King's Mountain was documented by his Application for Revolutionary War Pension, S*W336. The application was transcribed by Will Graves.
(Parenthetically, historians, genealogists, and descendants owe thanks to Will Graves for his hours spent transcribing the pension applications of American Revolution veterans. These papers were fragile and difficult to read, so this was a most difficult task, but so many people benefit from his efforts. Thank you, Will Graves.)
Southern Campaign American Revolution
Pension Statements & Rosters
Pension application of William Brimer
W336 Elizabeth fn48NC
Transcribed by Will Graves
10/5/10
[Methodology: Spelling, punctuation and/or grammar have been corrected in some instances for ease of reading and to facilitate searches of the database. Also, the handwriting of the original scribes often lends itself to varying interpretations. Users of this database are urged to view the original and to make their own decision as to how to decipher what the original scribe actually wrote. Blanks appearing in the transcripts reflect blanks in the original. Folks are free to make non-commercial use this transcript in any manner they may see fit, but please extend the courtesy of acknowledging the transcriber — besides, if it turns out the transcript contains mistakes, the resulting embarrassment will fall on the transcriber. I use speech recognition software to make all my transcriptions. Such software misinterprets my southern accent with unfortunate regularity and my poor proofreading fails to catch all misinterpretations. I welcome and encourage folks to call those and any other errors to my attention.]
State of Tennessee
Sevier County: SS
On this 27th day of July 1832, personally appeared in open court before me Ewd [?] Scott one of the Judges of Law and Equity for the State of Tennessee and for the second judicial circuit in the Circuit Court for said County now sitting William Brimer a resident of said Sevier County in the County of Sevier and State aforesaid aged 73 years who 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 the 7th 1832,
that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. He lived in Wilkes County North Carolina he thinks in July 1777, he volunteered under Captain Jacob Free in Colonel Armstrong's Regiment in General Rutherford's brigade marched against the Cherokee Indians to the head of the Catawba River then to the middle settlements, at the Cowee towns, had a scrimmage there with the Indians and then to the upper Valley towns on the Hiwassee River had several scrimmages, killed some Indians in the Valley towns and other places thence down the Hiwassee River and back another way to Birmington [?] and little Chota then to the Cowee, served three months was honorably discharged at Scotch Creek in the neighborhood of Cowee – has lost his discharge.
Again he thinks in July 1778 living at the same place volunteered under Captain William Gilreath [sic, William Gilbreath?] in Col. Brevard's Regiment and in General Rutherford Brigade of NC militia marched to Sailsberry [sic, Salisbury and to the High Hills of Santee and to near Moncks Corner near Charleston SC then to near Savannah Georgia which was taken by the British before we arrived, we were in a scrimmage with the British at Savannah River at the mouth of Brier Creek Georgia General ash [sic, John Ashe] commanded. Then encamped on the other side of the River from the battle until our time were out served 9 months and was discharged at campters hill [sic, Camp Turkey Hill] the 9th of April 1779 – which discharge was signed by Captain William Gilreath, and countersigned by Hugh Brevard Colonel and is enclosed in this declaration.
Again, in Washington County NC now included in Tennessee, he thinks in September 1780 he volunteered under Captain Vol. Sevier [Valentine Sevier1] and Colonel John Sevier, marched to John's River near the head of Catawba River, thence to Kings mountain was in the battle of Kings Mountain General William Campbell commanded we killed and took prisoner the greater part of the Tories and British that was there, thence marched back to Catawba River and through Burke, Wilkes and Surry Counties with the prisoners, he thinks he did not serve quite 3 months, but was discharged for his full time served between 2 or 3 months, his discharge is lost and mislaid.
1 Valentine Sevier W6012
He has no documentary evidence but the discharge above stated, nor no person living as he knows of by whom he can prove his actual service. 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 states – He served between 14 and 15 months as a private soldier –
Sworn to and subscribed
the day and year aforesaid
Sworn to in open Court
July 27, 1832
S/ P. M. Wear, Clk
S/ William Brimer, X his mark
[Michael N. Wells, a clergyman, and Henry Hawk gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
[fn p. 23]
this is to Cartify that William Brimar a prevet in Capt. William Gilreaths Company in Colo. Brevards Regement in Genral Rutherfords Brigade of North Carolina Malitias hath Sarved as a faithfull Solder the time for which he was drafted and is here by Dischargd from the Sarvice of the same given under
My hand at Campt turey hill
10 April 1779
William Gilreath Capt.
Hu Brevard
[fn p. 34]
State of Tennessee
Sevier County: SS:
On this 4th day of December 1832 personally appeared in open Court Josiah Rodgers, John Mullindan & John Brabson three of the acting Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions now sitting William Brimer a resident of said County and State in the said County of Sevier and State of Tennessee who being first duly sworn according to law doth upon his oath make the following amendment to his declaration which was made in Circuit Court in and for the said County and State and there state July 27th 1832 and was numbered in the War Department No. 3064 and sent back for amendment.
That he is the same William Brimer that made the declaration above mentioned. He was born in the North part of North Carolina the name of the County not recollected, on the 1st day of February 1759 as his parents informed him. He has no record of his age.
He lived in Wilkes County North Carolina when first called into the service and in Washington County at the close of the war which is now Washington County Tennessee where he lived till about the year 1785 at which time he removed to Rutherford County North Carolina lived there till the year 1810 at which time he removed into Jefferson County Tennessee lived there till 1818 at which time he removed into the said Sevier County and has lived there ever since.
He never did receive a commission. He is known in his present neighborhood to Andrew Wills, Daniel Sizemore, Thomas Hill, George Fox all of whom he believes would testify that he is a man of veracity and that they believe he served as a soldier in the revolution.
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 day and year aforesaid.
S/ William Brimer, X his mark
[fn p. 14:
On March 4th, 1839 in Sevier County Tennessee, Elizabeth Brimer, aged about 75, made application for a widow's pension under the 1838 act stating that she is the widow of William Brimer; that she married him about the year 1784 and that he died July 16, 1834; she knows of no witness to her marriage nor of any record thereof.]
[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $46.66 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831, for 14 months service as a private in the North Carolina militia.]
William Brimer and his wife, the former Elizabeth Elgin, had several children. Five were documented by the DAR:
Sarah Brimer married William Gadd
Telitha Brimer married George Rogers
John Brimer married Sally Parrott
William S Brimer married:
1.) Hannah Veneable
2.) Elizabeth South
3.) Lavinia Finley
Vinyard Rhoten "Rip" Brimer married:
1.) Barbara Layman Lemons
2.) Falby Hall Edmonds
The actual burial site for William Brimer has been lost to history. 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.
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