Rutherford County, North Carolina marriage records shows that he married on 7 Nov 1785 to Christian Paris. They had at least nine children.
He served as a Private in the Virginia line during the Revolutionary War. He applied for and drew a pension during the last years of his life. Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements Pension application of Freeman Jones W7900 Transcribed by Will Graves State of Alabama, Pickens County, to wit: County Court first Monday in July 1833 On the first day of July, 1833, personally appeared in open court before the honorable George H. Houston, the presiding judge of said court, Freeman Jones, a resident of the County & state aforesaid, aged Sixty nine or seventy 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832; that he entered the service of the United States under the following officers, viz., his Colonel was Andrew Hampton, who was Colonel at that time of Rutherford County in the State of North Carolina, his Captain was William Nevill or Nevilles, that he volunteered & joined the company of said Nevill as well as he recollects in the fall of the year 1779, before the battle of King's Mountain and went with said Nevill for the purpose of guarding the Indian line, which was at that time not far distant, and served with said Nevill in that service three months. In the following year, to wit, 1780, he volunteered and served three months under the following officers, to wit, General McDowell [Charles McDowell] of Burke County, North Carolina, Colonel Andrew Hampton before mentioned, Major Richard Singleton of said County of Rutherford & Captain Adam Whitesides, all officers of the North Carolina militia; that Genl McDowell had at that time some five or six hundred men under his command as well as deponent recollects composed entirely of militia volunteers – that he marched into the State of South Carolina about 30 miles over the line near where a brother of Wade Hampton's lived, named Ned Hampton, with said officers & others and there encamped, and at night was surprised & routed by a company of British cavalry about one hundred strong, commanded by Captain Dunlap, as it was said; and also a few Tories who had joined them – that at that time it was generally believed that the British were enabled to surprise Genl McDowell by some Tories who had that day fallen into his hands & afterwards on the same evening made their escape, and gave the British information of his situation – that Genl McDowell & Col Hampton were panic stricken and retreated with the foremost of those who fled – Major Singleton took advantage of a cross-fence [?] In the rear of the army, and rallied as many of his men as he could and this prevented the slaughter of the men from being very great – That in this affair not more than four or five of our men were killed & about thirty wounded, chiefly with saber cuts & six or eight prisoners – The British had about the same number killed, but lost no prisoners, that this affiant never ascertained how many they had wounded. The next morning Major Singleton with something the size to of a hundred men (Captain Whitesides & affiant being of that number) commenced the pursuit and going about five or six miles, overtook the Tory part of the British Army if it may be so called & retook the prisoners & killed some four or five of the Tories – that from thence he returned with Major Singleton & rejoined those who had retreated with the Genl McDowell and marched back to the upper part of North Carolina, and did nothing worthy of notice, until the Army was disbanded and this affiant discharged. After this affiant returned home, he was in a few days taken a prisoner by a band of Tories four or five in number led by one David George, and was carried into Colonel Ferguson's [sic, Major Patrick Ferguson's] camp on Green River four or five miles below Paris [?] Ford & remained with him a prisoner of war until he marched in a few days to King's Mountain, where he was released by his countrymen by the battle there fought, the Americans being commanded by Colonels Campbell [William Campbell], Sevier [John Sevier], Shelby [Isaac Shelby] & Cleveland [Benjamin Cleveland], after this this affiant returned home. That afterwards in the year 1780 this affiant again volunteered for 12 months and served that length of time with the 12-months men who had been drafted and were under the command of Genl Green [sic, Nathanael Greene] – that this affiant was enrolled however by Captain Beattie, a militia officer, and was marched by him with some others who had been drafted or had volunteered with this affiant for the purpose of joining the 12-months men then being drafted to the headquarters of Genl.
Greene where this affiant joined the regular Army under Genl Greene, for the purpose of serving out his time as aforesaid. That he was attached to the company commanded by one Captain Lytle, in Colonel Armstrong's Regiment, with one Curtis Ivy, adjutant of that Regiment, and all were under the command of General Greene as aforesaid. That at the time this affiant joined Genl Greene's Army, its headquarters was stationed near old Cherokee Ford, on Broad River in South Carolina – that some time after the Army marched to the High Hills of Santee [river] where this affiant with the Army remained the greater part of the summer, and next marched to the Eutaw Springs where the battle of that name was fought, and this affiant was in that battle. After this battle the British retreated to Charleston & were closely pursued by Genl Greene, who pursued them near to Bacon's Bridge, about 25 miles from Charleston, where Genl Greene halted for the purpose of blockading the British in Charleston & preventing them from foraging the Country, and supplying themselves with provisions. At this station the Army remained till the news arrived of General Washington's victory at Yorktown over Cornwallis. Some little time previous to hearing of the victory at Yorktown, Genl Greene received information that a boat or small vessel loaded with provisions was descending the Stono River for the British in Charleston and detached Col Armstrong with fifty man, among them this affiant, to intercept her; they had succeeded in taking the boat & fastened it to shore, with 15 or 20 prisoners at a place where there had been an old station, and some remnants of breastworks when a British vessel carrying three guns on each side came in sight & attempted to recapture the boat – they fired on us several times but only killed one drunken soldier who exposed himself imprudently; whenever they fired on us we fell down behind our breastworks at the signal of the commanding officer's sword and would be nearly covered with sand – but in no danger – so soon as the enemy fired, and before they could load and fire again or turn their vessel round we rose and fired on them and killed most of their men, and believe that if the tide had not been descending they would have been imprudent enough to have waited and continued firing on us until we should have taken that vessel also – we remained here about a week guarding the large quantity of provisions until they could be carried off by the wagons to the main army, which we rejoined, and was some time afterwards discharged, having served out our 12 months, near a place called the Four Holes about thirty miles from Charleston as well is he now recollects and he believes in the fall of the year 1781. That he was born and lived in Brunswick County Virginia until he was 12 or 14 years of age when his father was killed as he was informed in some skirmish with the British early in the war in Virginia, when his mother & family & himself moved to Rutherford County aforesaid where he remained until he went the first tour to guard the Indian line as before stated. After his discharge at the Four Holes, he returned to Rutherford County again & there lived for 12 or 14 years, then removed to near Knoxville, Tennessee and lived there about four years, then moved to near Bowling Grain, Warren County Kentucky, and lived there about seven years, thence to Smith County Tennessee near Bletcher's Lick & there lived about four years, then moved to Madison County, Alabama about 8 miles from Huntsville and lived there about 10 years, then moved to St. Clair County Alabama and lived there about seven years, thence to this County (Pickens) where he has lived about six years and where he now lives, but as to these periods he cannot be exact nor can he be in regard to his age, no record of his age having been kept by his father or mother as far as he knows or believes, was much as they could neither read nor write, nor can he himself read or write – that he received written discharges from all the officers under whom he served & kept his discharge for his 12-month service for 10 or 12 years, when he began to think it of no value, and permitted it to be lost – that they are also now lost. That he has no documentary evidence to prove his service as aforesaid or any part thereof nor does he know of any living witness by whom he can prove said services or any part thereof. He is acquainted with the following persons in his neighborhood who can testify to his character for veracity, to wit: Dr. Richardson Owen, a preacher of the Gospel and James Stanton. He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or and an annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll or agency of any state. Sworn to & subscribed the day & year first mentioned. S/ Freeman Jones, X his mark Interrogatories propounded by the Court to the said Freeman Jones: 1. Where & in what year were you born? Answer: In Brunswick County in Virginia and from the best information he had from [his] parents in the year 1763. 2. Have you any record of your age, and if so where is it? Answer: I have none – nor know of any. 3. Where were you when called into service, where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live? Answer: When called into service, I lived in Rutherford County North Carolina, where I live 12 or 14 years after the war, afterwards about four years near Knoxville Tennessee, then about seven years near Bowling Green in Kentucky, then about four years in Smith County, Tennessee, then about eight years in Madison County, Alabama, then about 10 years in St. Clair, Alabama, & since in this County about six years. 4. How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a Substitute – and if a Substitute for whom? Answer: I was always a volunteer but the last time volunteered for the limited time of 12 months. 5. State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served, such Continental & militia regiments as you can recollect & the general circumstances of your services. Answer: In my two first tours of three months each stated above, there was no regular officers, nor any Continental or militia regiments of them than those I have stated in my declaration, together with the circumstances of my service. In the last tour there were a regiments from Virginia, Maryland and perhaps from other states, as there were several regiments, all under Genl Greene among the militia there was Colonel Sumter's [sic, Thomas Sumter's], Marion [Francis Marion] & Morgan's [Daniel Morgan's] Regiments but this affiant cannot recollect any of the officers. Colonel Lee [Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee] & Colonel Washington [William Washington] commanded regiments of Cavalry-- Col Washington's horse was killed at the Eutaw Springs and he taken prisoner. The general circumstances of my service in this tour I have also already stated. 6. Did you ever received a discharge from the service – if so by whom was it given and what has become of it? Answer: In my first tour, I received a discharge in writing from Captain Nevill, and the second I received one from Captain Whitesides & in the third one from Captain Lytle, signed by those officers respectively, but they are now lost or destroyed. 7. State the names of persons to whom you unknown in your present neighborhood and who can testify to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the revolution. Answer: I refer to Dr. Richardson Owen & Mr. James Stanton.
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court. S/ Freeman Jones, X his mark.
He was on the Mississippi Territorial census of 1810 in Madison County, Flat River township.
On 1 June 1826, he bought from the U.S. Government, 76.24 acres of land, through the land office at Huntsville, in Pickens County, Alabama, Section 34, twp 20-s, rg 15-w. This deed was signed John Quincy Adams.
Migration route; Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama.
He served as a Private in the Virginia line during the Revolutionary War. He applied for and drew a pension during the last years of his life. Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements Pension application of Freeman Jones W7900 Transcribed by Will Graves State of Alabama, Pickens County, to wit: County Court first Monday in July 1833 On the first day of July, 1833, personally appeared in open court before the honorable George H. Houston, the presiding judge of said court, Freeman Jones, a resident of the County & state aforesaid, aged Sixty nine or seventy 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832; that he entered the service of the United States under the following officers, viz., his Colonel was Andrew Hampton, who was Colonel at that time of Rutherford County in the State of North Carolina, his Captain was William Nevill or Nevilles, that he volunteered & joined the company of said Nevill as well as he recollects in the fall of the year 1779, before the battle of King's Mountain and went with said Nevill for the purpose of guarding the Indian line, which was at that time not far distant, and served with said Nevill in that service three months. In the following year, to wit, 1780, he volunteered and served three months under the following officers, to wit, General McDowell [Charles McDowell] of Burke County, North Carolina, Colonel Andrew Hampton before mentioned, Major Richard Singleton of said County of Rutherford & Captain Adam Whitesides, all officers of the North Carolina militia; that Genl McDowell had at that time some five or six hundred men under his command as well as deponent recollects composed entirely of militia volunteers – that he marched into the State of South Carolina about 30 miles over the line near where a brother of Wade Hampton's lived, named Ned Hampton, with said officers & others and there encamped, and at night was surprised & routed by a company of British cavalry about one hundred strong, commanded by Captain Dunlap, as it was said; and also a few Tories who had joined them – that at that time it was generally believed that the British were enabled to surprise Genl McDowell by some Tories who had that day fallen into his hands & afterwards on the same evening made their escape, and gave the British information of his situation – that Genl McDowell & Col Hampton were panic stricken and retreated with the foremost of those who fled – Major Singleton took advantage of a cross-fence [?] In the rear of the army, and rallied as many of his men as he could and this prevented the slaughter of the men from being very great – That in this affair not more than four or five of our men were killed & about thirty wounded, chiefly with saber cuts & six or eight prisoners – The British had about the same number killed, but lost no prisoners, that this affiant never ascertained how many they had wounded. The next morning Major Singleton with something the size to of a hundred men (Captain Whitesides & affiant being of that number) commenced the pursuit and going about five or six miles, overtook the Tory part of the British Army if it may be so called & retook the prisoners & killed some four or five of the Tories – that from thence he returned with Major Singleton & rejoined those who had retreated with the Genl McDowell and marched back to the upper part of North Carolina, and did nothing worthy of notice, until the Army was disbanded and this affiant discharged. After this affiant returned home, he was in a few days taken a prisoner by a band of Tories four or five in number led by one David George, and was carried into Colonel Ferguson's [sic, Major Patrick Ferguson's] camp on Green River four or five miles below Paris [?] Ford & remained with him a prisoner of war until he marched in a few days to King's Mountain, where he was released by his countrymen by the battle there fought, the Americans being commanded by Colonels Campbell [William Campbell], Sevier [John Sevier], Shelby [Isaac Shelby] & Cleveland [Benjamin Cleveland], after this this affiant returned home. That afterwards in the year 1780 this affiant again volunteered for 12 months and served that length of time with the 12-months men who had been drafted and were under the command of Genl Green [sic, Nathanael Greene] – that this affiant was enrolled however by Captain Beattie, a militia officer, and was marched by him with some others who had been drafted or had volunteered with this affiant for the purpose of joining the 12-months men then being drafted to the headquarters of Genl.
Greene where this affiant joined the regular Army under Genl Greene, for the purpose of serving out his time as aforesaid. That he was attached to the company commanded by one Captain Lytle, in Colonel Armstrong's Regiment, with one Curtis Ivy, adjutant of that Regiment, and all were under the command of General Greene as aforesaid. That at the time this affiant joined Genl Greene's Army, its headquarters was stationed near old Cherokee Ford, on Broad River in South Carolina – that some time after the Army marched to the High Hills of Santee [river] where this affiant with the Army remained the greater part of the summer, and next marched to the Eutaw Springs where the battle of that name was fought, and this affiant was in that battle. After this battle the British retreated to Charleston & were closely pursued by Genl Greene, who pursued them near to Bacon's Bridge, about 25 miles from Charleston, where Genl Greene halted for the purpose of blockading the British in Charleston & preventing them from foraging the Country, and supplying themselves with provisions. At this station the Army remained till the news arrived of General Washington's victory at Yorktown over Cornwallis. Some little time previous to hearing of the victory at Yorktown, Genl Greene received information that a boat or small vessel loaded with provisions was descending the Stono River for the British in Charleston and detached Col Armstrong with fifty man, among them this affiant, to intercept her; they had succeeded in taking the boat & fastened it to shore, with 15 or 20 prisoners at a place where there had been an old station, and some remnants of breastworks when a British vessel carrying three guns on each side came in sight & attempted to recapture the boat – they fired on us several times but only killed one drunken soldier who exposed himself imprudently; whenever they fired on us we fell down behind our breastworks at the signal of the commanding officer's sword and would be nearly covered with sand – but in no danger – so soon as the enemy fired, and before they could load and fire again or turn their vessel round we rose and fired on them and killed most of their men, and believe that if the tide had not been descending they would have been imprudent enough to have waited and continued firing on us until we should have taken that vessel also – we remained here about a week guarding the large quantity of provisions until they could be carried off by the wagons to the main army, which we rejoined, and was some time afterwards discharged, having served out our 12 months, near a place called the Four Holes about thirty miles from Charleston as well is he now recollects and he believes in the fall of the year 1781. That he was born and lived in Brunswick County Virginia until he was 12 or 14 years of age when his father was killed as he was informed in some skirmish with the British early in the war in Virginia, when his mother & family & himself moved to Rutherford County aforesaid where he remained until he went the first tour to guard the Indian line as before stated. After his discharge at the Four Holes, he returned to Rutherford County again & there lived for 12 or 14 years, then removed to near Knoxville, Tennessee and lived there about four years, then moved to near Bowling Grain, Warren County Kentucky, and lived there about seven years, thence to Smith County Tennessee near Bletcher's Lick & there lived about four years, then moved to Madison County, Alabama about 8 miles from Huntsville and lived there about 10 years, then moved to St. Clair County Alabama and lived there about seven years, thence to this County (Pickens) where he has lived about six years and where he now lives, but as to these periods he cannot be exact nor can he be in regard to his age, no record of his age having been kept by his father or mother as far as he knows or believes, was much as they could neither read nor write, nor can he himself read or write – that he received written discharges from all the officers under whom he served & kept his discharge for his 12-month service for 10 or 12 years, when he began to think it of no value, and permitted it to be lost – that they are also now lost. That he has no documentary evidence to prove his service as aforesaid or any part thereof nor does he know of any living witness by whom he can prove said services or any part thereof. He is acquainted with the following persons in his neighborhood who can testify to his character for veracity, to wit: Dr. Richardson Owen, a preacher of the Gospel and James Stanton. He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or and an annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll or agency of any state. Sworn to & subscribed the day & year first mentioned. S/ Freeman Jones, X his mark Interrogatories propounded by the Court to the said Freeman Jones: 1. Where & in what year were you born? Answer: In Brunswick County in Virginia and from the best information he had from [his] parents in the year 1763. 2. Have you any record of your age, and if so where is it? Answer: I have none – nor know of any. 3. Where were you when called into service, where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live? Answer: When called into service, I lived in Rutherford County North Carolina, where I live 12 or 14 years after the war, afterwards about four years near Knoxville Tennessee, then about seven years near Bowling Green in Kentucky, then about four years in Smith County, Tennessee, then about eight years in Madison County, Alabama, then about 10 years in St. Clair, Alabama, & since in this County about six years. 4. How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a Substitute – and if a Substitute for whom? Answer: I was always a volunteer but the last time volunteered for the limited time of 12 months. 5. State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served, such Continental & militia regiments as you can recollect & the general circumstances of your services. Answer: In my two first tours of three months each stated above, there was no regular officers, nor any Continental or militia regiments of them than those I have stated in my declaration, together with the circumstances of my service. In the last tour there were a regiments from Virginia, Maryland and perhaps from other states, as there were several regiments, all under Genl Greene among the militia there was Colonel Sumter's [sic, Thomas Sumter's], Marion [Francis Marion] & Morgan's [Daniel Morgan's] Regiments but this affiant cannot recollect any of the officers. Colonel Lee [Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee] & Colonel Washington [William Washington] commanded regiments of Cavalry-- Col Washington's horse was killed at the Eutaw Springs and he taken prisoner. The general circumstances of my service in this tour I have also already stated. 6. Did you ever received a discharge from the service – if so by whom was it given and what has become of it? Answer: In my first tour, I received a discharge in writing from Captain Nevill, and the second I received one from Captain Whitesides & in the third one from Captain Lytle, signed by those officers respectively, but they are now lost or destroyed. 7. State the names of persons to whom you unknown in your present neighborhood and who can testify to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the revolution. Answer: I refer to Dr. Richardson Owen & Mr. James Stanton.
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court. S/ Freeman Jones, X his mark.
He was on the Mississippi Territorial census of 1810 in Madison County, Flat River township.
On 1 June 1826, he bought from the U.S. Government, 76.24 acres of land, through the land office at Huntsville, in Pickens County, Alabama, Section 34, twp 20-s, rg 15-w. This deed was signed John Quincy Adams.
Migration route; Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama.
Rutherford County, North Carolina marriage records shows that he married on 7 Nov 1785 to Christian Paris. They had at least nine children.
He served as a Private in the Virginia line during the Revolutionary War. He applied for and drew a pension during the last years of his life. Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements Pension application of Freeman Jones W7900 Transcribed by Will Graves State of Alabama, Pickens County, to wit: County Court first Monday in July 1833 On the first day of July, 1833, personally appeared in open court before the honorable George H. Houston, the presiding judge of said court, Freeman Jones, a resident of the County & state aforesaid, aged Sixty nine or seventy 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832; that he entered the service of the United States under the following officers, viz., his Colonel was Andrew Hampton, who was Colonel at that time of Rutherford County in the State of North Carolina, his Captain was William Nevill or Nevilles, that he volunteered & joined the company of said Nevill as well as he recollects in the fall of the year 1779, before the battle of King's Mountain and went with said Nevill for the purpose of guarding the Indian line, which was at that time not far distant, and served with said Nevill in that service three months. In the following year, to wit, 1780, he volunteered and served three months under the following officers, to wit, General McDowell [Charles McDowell] of Burke County, North Carolina, Colonel Andrew Hampton before mentioned, Major Richard Singleton of said County of Rutherford & Captain Adam Whitesides, all officers of the North Carolina militia; that Genl McDowell had at that time some five or six hundred men under his command as well as deponent recollects composed entirely of militia volunteers – that he marched into the State of South Carolina about 30 miles over the line near where a brother of Wade Hampton's lived, named Ned Hampton, with said officers & others and there encamped, and at night was surprised & routed by a company of British cavalry about one hundred strong, commanded by Captain Dunlap, as it was said; and also a few Tories who had joined them – that at that time it was generally believed that the British were enabled to surprise Genl McDowell by some Tories who had that day fallen into his hands & afterwards on the same evening made their escape, and gave the British information of his situation – that Genl McDowell & Col Hampton were panic stricken and retreated with the foremost of those who fled – Major Singleton took advantage of a cross-fence [?] In the rear of the army, and rallied as many of his men as he could and this prevented the slaughter of the men from being very great – That in this affair not more than four or five of our men were killed & about thirty wounded, chiefly with saber cuts & six or eight prisoners – The British had about the same number killed, but lost no prisoners, that this affiant never ascertained how many they had wounded. The next morning Major Singleton with something the size to of a hundred men (Captain Whitesides & affiant being of that number) commenced the pursuit and going about five or six miles, overtook the Tory part of the British Army if it may be so called & retook the prisoners & killed some four or five of the Tories – that from thence he returned with Major Singleton & rejoined those who had retreated with the Genl McDowell and marched back to the upper part of North Carolina, and did nothing worthy of notice, until the Army was disbanded and this affiant discharged. After this affiant returned home, he was in a few days taken a prisoner by a band of Tories four or five in number led by one David George, and was carried into Colonel Ferguson's [sic, Major Patrick Ferguson's] camp on Green River four or five miles below Paris [?] Ford & remained with him a prisoner of war until he marched in a few days to King's Mountain, where he was released by his countrymen by the battle there fought, the Americans being commanded by Colonels Campbell [William Campbell], Sevier [John Sevier], Shelby [Isaac Shelby] & Cleveland [Benjamin Cleveland], after this this affiant returned home. That afterwards in the year 1780 this affiant again volunteered for 12 months and served that length of time with the 12-months men who had been drafted and were under the command of Genl Green [sic, Nathanael Greene] – that this affiant was enrolled however by Captain Beattie, a militia officer, and was marched by him with some others who had been drafted or had volunteered with this affiant for the purpose of joining the 12-months men then being drafted to the headquarters of Genl.
Greene where this affiant joined the regular Army under Genl Greene, for the purpose of serving out his time as aforesaid. That he was attached to the company commanded by one Captain Lytle, in Colonel Armstrong's Regiment, with one Curtis Ivy, adjutant of that Regiment, and all were under the command of General Greene as aforesaid. That at the time this affiant joined Genl Greene's Army, its headquarters was stationed near old Cherokee Ford, on Broad River in South Carolina – that some time after the Army marched to the High Hills of Santee [river] where this affiant with the Army remained the greater part of the summer, and next marched to the Eutaw Springs where the battle of that name was fought, and this affiant was in that battle. After this battle the British retreated to Charleston & were closely pursued by Genl Greene, who pursued them near to Bacon's Bridge, about 25 miles from Charleston, where Genl Greene halted for the purpose of blockading the British in Charleston & preventing them from foraging the Country, and supplying themselves with provisions. At this station the Army remained till the news arrived of General Washington's victory at Yorktown over Cornwallis. Some little time previous to hearing of the victory at Yorktown, Genl Greene received information that a boat or small vessel loaded with provisions was descending the Stono River for the British in Charleston and detached Col Armstrong with fifty man, among them this affiant, to intercept her; they had succeeded in taking the boat & fastened it to shore, with 15 or 20 prisoners at a place where there had been an old station, and some remnants of breastworks when a British vessel carrying three guns on each side came in sight & attempted to recapture the boat – they fired on us several times but only killed one drunken soldier who exposed himself imprudently; whenever they fired on us we fell down behind our breastworks at the signal of the commanding officer's sword and would be nearly covered with sand – but in no danger – so soon as the enemy fired, and before they could load and fire again or turn their vessel round we rose and fired on them and killed most of their men, and believe that if the tide had not been descending they would have been imprudent enough to have waited and continued firing on us until we should have taken that vessel also – we remained here about a week guarding the large quantity of provisions until they could be carried off by the wagons to the main army, which we rejoined, and was some time afterwards discharged, having served out our 12 months, near a place called the Four Holes about thirty miles from Charleston as well is he now recollects and he believes in the fall of the year 1781. That he was born and lived in Brunswick County Virginia until he was 12 or 14 years of age when his father was killed as he was informed in some skirmish with the British early in the war in Virginia, when his mother & family & himself moved to Rutherford County aforesaid where he remained until he went the first tour to guard the Indian line as before stated. After his discharge at the Four Holes, he returned to Rutherford County again & there lived for 12 or 14 years, then removed to near Knoxville, Tennessee and lived there about four years, then moved to near Bowling Grain, Warren County Kentucky, and lived there about seven years, thence to Smith County Tennessee near Bletcher's Lick & there lived about four years, then moved to Madison County, Alabama about 8 miles from Huntsville and lived there about 10 years, then moved to St. Clair County Alabama and lived there about seven years, thence to this County (Pickens) where he has lived about six years and where he now lives, but as to these periods he cannot be exact nor can he be in regard to his age, no record of his age having been kept by his father or mother as far as he knows or believes, was much as they could neither read nor write, nor can he himself read or write – that he received written discharges from all the officers under whom he served & kept his discharge for his 12-month service for 10 or 12 years, when he began to think it of no value, and permitted it to be lost – that they are also now lost. That he has no documentary evidence to prove his service as aforesaid or any part thereof nor does he know of any living witness by whom he can prove said services or any part thereof. He is acquainted with the following persons in his neighborhood who can testify to his character for veracity, to wit: Dr. Richardson Owen, a preacher of the Gospel and James Stanton. He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or and an annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll or agency of any state. Sworn to & subscribed the day & year first mentioned. S/ Freeman Jones, X his mark Interrogatories propounded by the Court to the said Freeman Jones: 1. Where & in what year were you born? Answer: In Brunswick County in Virginia and from the best information he had from [his] parents in the year 1763. 2. Have you any record of your age, and if so where is it? Answer: I have none – nor know of any. 3. Where were you when called into service, where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live? Answer: When called into service, I lived in Rutherford County North Carolina, where I live 12 or 14 years after the war, afterwards about four years near Knoxville Tennessee, then about seven years near Bowling Green in Kentucky, then about four years in Smith County, Tennessee, then about eight years in Madison County, Alabama, then about 10 years in St. Clair, Alabama, & since in this County about six years. 4. How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a Substitute – and if a Substitute for whom? Answer: I was always a volunteer but the last time volunteered for the limited time of 12 months. 5. State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served, such Continental & militia regiments as you can recollect & the general circumstances of your services. Answer: In my two first tours of three months each stated above, there was no regular officers, nor any Continental or militia regiments of them than those I have stated in my declaration, together with the circumstances of my service. In the last tour there were a regiments from Virginia, Maryland and perhaps from other states, as there were several regiments, all under Genl Greene among the militia there was Colonel Sumter's [sic, Thomas Sumter's], Marion [Francis Marion] & Morgan's [Daniel Morgan's] Regiments but this affiant cannot recollect any of the officers. Colonel Lee [Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee] & Colonel Washington [William Washington] commanded regiments of Cavalry-- Col Washington's horse was killed at the Eutaw Springs and he taken prisoner. The general circumstances of my service in this tour I have also already stated. 6. Did you ever received a discharge from the service – if so by whom was it given and what has become of it? Answer: In my first tour, I received a discharge in writing from Captain Nevill, and the second I received one from Captain Whitesides & in the third one from Captain Lytle, signed by those officers respectively, but they are now lost or destroyed. 7. State the names of persons to whom you unknown in your present neighborhood and who can testify to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the revolution. Answer: I refer to Dr. Richardson Owen & Mr. James Stanton.
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court. S/ Freeman Jones, X his mark.
He was on the Mississippi Territorial census of 1810 in Madison County, Flat River township.
On 1 June 1826, he bought from the U.S. Government, 76.24 acres of land, through the land office at Huntsville, in Pickens County, Alabama, Section 34, twp 20-s, rg 15-w. This deed was signed John Quincy Adams.
Migration route; Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama.
He served as a Private in the Virginia line during the Revolutionary War. He applied for and drew a pension during the last years of his life. Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements Pension application of Freeman Jones W7900 Transcribed by Will Graves State of Alabama, Pickens County, to wit: County Court first Monday in July 1833 On the first day of July, 1833, personally appeared in open court before the honorable George H. Houston, the presiding judge of said court, Freeman Jones, a resident of the County & state aforesaid, aged Sixty nine or seventy 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832; that he entered the service of the United States under the following officers, viz., his Colonel was Andrew Hampton, who was Colonel at that time of Rutherford County in the State of North Carolina, his Captain was William Nevill or Nevilles, that he volunteered & joined the company of said Nevill as well as he recollects in the fall of the year 1779, before the battle of King's Mountain and went with said Nevill for the purpose of guarding the Indian line, which was at that time not far distant, and served with said Nevill in that service three months. In the following year, to wit, 1780, he volunteered and served three months under the following officers, to wit, General McDowell [Charles McDowell] of Burke County, North Carolina, Colonel Andrew Hampton before mentioned, Major Richard Singleton of said County of Rutherford & Captain Adam Whitesides, all officers of the North Carolina militia; that Genl McDowell had at that time some five or six hundred men under his command as well as deponent recollects composed entirely of militia volunteers – that he marched into the State of South Carolina about 30 miles over the line near where a brother of Wade Hampton's lived, named Ned Hampton, with said officers & others and there encamped, and at night was surprised & routed by a company of British cavalry about one hundred strong, commanded by Captain Dunlap, as it was said; and also a few Tories who had joined them – that at that time it was generally believed that the British were enabled to surprise Genl McDowell by some Tories who had that day fallen into his hands & afterwards on the same evening made their escape, and gave the British information of his situation – that Genl McDowell & Col Hampton were panic stricken and retreated with the foremost of those who fled – Major Singleton took advantage of a cross-fence [?] In the rear of the army, and rallied as many of his men as he could and this prevented the slaughter of the men from being very great – That in this affair not more than four or five of our men were killed & about thirty wounded, chiefly with saber cuts & six or eight prisoners – The British had about the same number killed, but lost no prisoners, that this affiant never ascertained how many they had wounded. The next morning Major Singleton with something the size to of a hundred men (Captain Whitesides & affiant being of that number) commenced the pursuit and going about five or six miles, overtook the Tory part of the British Army if it may be so called & retook the prisoners & killed some four or five of the Tories – that from thence he returned with Major Singleton & rejoined those who had retreated with the Genl McDowell and marched back to the upper part of North Carolina, and did nothing worthy of notice, until the Army was disbanded and this affiant discharged. After this affiant returned home, he was in a few days taken a prisoner by a band of Tories four or five in number led by one David George, and was carried into Colonel Ferguson's [sic, Major Patrick Ferguson's] camp on Green River four or five miles below Paris [?] Ford & remained with him a prisoner of war until he marched in a few days to King's Mountain, where he was released by his countrymen by the battle there fought, the Americans being commanded by Colonels Campbell [William Campbell], Sevier [John Sevier], Shelby [Isaac Shelby] & Cleveland [Benjamin Cleveland], after this this affiant returned home. That afterwards in the year 1780 this affiant again volunteered for 12 months and served that length of time with the 12-months men who had been drafted and were under the command of Genl Green [sic, Nathanael Greene] – that this affiant was enrolled however by Captain Beattie, a militia officer, and was marched by him with some others who had been drafted or had volunteered with this affiant for the purpose of joining the 12-months men then being drafted to the headquarters of Genl.
Greene where this affiant joined the regular Army under Genl Greene, for the purpose of serving out his time as aforesaid. That he was attached to the company commanded by one Captain Lytle, in Colonel Armstrong's Regiment, with one Curtis Ivy, adjutant of that Regiment, and all were under the command of General Greene as aforesaid. That at the time this affiant joined Genl Greene's Army, its headquarters was stationed near old Cherokee Ford, on Broad River in South Carolina – that some time after the Army marched to the High Hills of Santee [river] where this affiant with the Army remained the greater part of the summer, and next marched to the Eutaw Springs where the battle of that name was fought, and this affiant was in that battle. After this battle the British retreated to Charleston & were closely pursued by Genl Greene, who pursued them near to Bacon's Bridge, about 25 miles from Charleston, where Genl Greene halted for the purpose of blockading the British in Charleston & preventing them from foraging the Country, and supplying themselves with provisions. At this station the Army remained till the news arrived of General Washington's victory at Yorktown over Cornwallis. Some little time previous to hearing of the victory at Yorktown, Genl Greene received information that a boat or small vessel loaded with provisions was descending the Stono River for the British in Charleston and detached Col Armstrong with fifty man, among them this affiant, to intercept her; they had succeeded in taking the boat & fastened it to shore, with 15 or 20 prisoners at a place where there had been an old station, and some remnants of breastworks when a British vessel carrying three guns on each side came in sight & attempted to recapture the boat – they fired on us several times but only killed one drunken soldier who exposed himself imprudently; whenever they fired on us we fell down behind our breastworks at the signal of the commanding officer's sword and would be nearly covered with sand – but in no danger – so soon as the enemy fired, and before they could load and fire again or turn their vessel round we rose and fired on them and killed most of their men, and believe that if the tide had not been descending they would have been imprudent enough to have waited and continued firing on us until we should have taken that vessel also – we remained here about a week guarding the large quantity of provisions until they could be carried off by the wagons to the main army, which we rejoined, and was some time afterwards discharged, having served out our 12 months, near a place called the Four Holes about thirty miles from Charleston as well is he now recollects and he believes in the fall of the year 1781. That he was born and lived in Brunswick County Virginia until he was 12 or 14 years of age when his father was killed as he was informed in some skirmish with the British early in the war in Virginia, when his mother & family & himself moved to Rutherford County aforesaid where he remained until he went the first tour to guard the Indian line as before stated. After his discharge at the Four Holes, he returned to Rutherford County again & there lived for 12 or 14 years, then removed to near Knoxville, Tennessee and lived there about four years, then moved to near Bowling Grain, Warren County Kentucky, and lived there about seven years, thence to Smith County Tennessee near Bletcher's Lick & there lived about four years, then moved to Madison County, Alabama about 8 miles from Huntsville and lived there about 10 years, then moved to St. Clair County Alabama and lived there about seven years, thence to this County (Pickens) where he has lived about six years and where he now lives, but as to these periods he cannot be exact nor can he be in regard to his age, no record of his age having been kept by his father or mother as far as he knows or believes, was much as they could neither read nor write, nor can he himself read or write – that he received written discharges from all the officers under whom he served & kept his discharge for his 12-month service for 10 or 12 years, when he began to think it of no value, and permitted it to be lost – that they are also now lost. That he has no documentary evidence to prove his service as aforesaid or any part thereof nor does he know of any living witness by whom he can prove said services or any part thereof. He is acquainted with the following persons in his neighborhood who can testify to his character for veracity, to wit: Dr. Richardson Owen, a preacher of the Gospel and James Stanton. He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or and an annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll or agency of any state. Sworn to & subscribed the day & year first mentioned. S/ Freeman Jones, X his mark Interrogatories propounded by the Court to the said Freeman Jones: 1. Where & in what year were you born? Answer: In Brunswick County in Virginia and from the best information he had from [his] parents in the year 1763. 2. Have you any record of your age, and if so where is it? Answer: I have none – nor know of any. 3. Where were you when called into service, where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live? Answer: When called into service, I lived in Rutherford County North Carolina, where I live 12 or 14 years after the war, afterwards about four years near Knoxville Tennessee, then about seven years near Bowling Green in Kentucky, then about four years in Smith County, Tennessee, then about eight years in Madison County, Alabama, then about 10 years in St. Clair, Alabama, & since in this County about six years. 4. How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a Substitute – and if a Substitute for whom? Answer: I was always a volunteer but the last time volunteered for the limited time of 12 months. 5. State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served, such Continental & militia regiments as you can recollect & the general circumstances of your services. Answer: In my two first tours of three months each stated above, there was no regular officers, nor any Continental or militia regiments of them than those I have stated in my declaration, together with the circumstances of my service. In the last tour there were a regiments from Virginia, Maryland and perhaps from other states, as there were several regiments, all under Genl Greene among the militia there was Colonel Sumter's [sic, Thomas Sumter's], Marion [Francis Marion] & Morgan's [Daniel Morgan's] Regiments but this affiant cannot recollect any of the officers. Colonel Lee [Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee] & Colonel Washington [William Washington] commanded regiments of Cavalry-- Col Washington's horse was killed at the Eutaw Springs and he taken prisoner. The general circumstances of my service in this tour I have also already stated. 6. Did you ever received a discharge from the service – if so by whom was it given and what has become of it? Answer: In my first tour, I received a discharge in writing from Captain Nevill, and the second I received one from Captain Whitesides & in the third one from Captain Lytle, signed by those officers respectively, but they are now lost or destroyed. 7. State the names of persons to whom you unknown in your present neighborhood and who can testify to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the revolution. Answer: I refer to Dr. Richardson Owen & Mr. James Stanton.
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court. S/ Freeman Jones, X his mark.
He was on the Mississippi Territorial census of 1810 in Madison County, Flat River township.
On 1 June 1826, he bought from the U.S. Government, 76.24 acres of land, through the land office at Huntsville, in Pickens County, Alabama, Section 34, twp 20-s, rg 15-w. This deed was signed John Quincy Adams.
Migration route; Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama.
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