Christopher P. Garlington, V

A Patriot of the American Revolution for SOUTH CAROLINA - VIRGINIA with the rank of Private. DAR Ancestor # A044032

Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements

Pension application of Christopher Garlington S6874 fn49SC

Transcribed by Will Graves modified 9/14/08

State of Mississippi, Amite County

On the 17th day of June, 1833, personally appeared in open court before the Court of Probate now sitting Christopher Garlington a resident of Amite County, in the State of Mississippi, aged 76 or 77 years on the 17th day of December last, having lost the record of his age, he is not certain which, who after being first duly sworn according to the law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832.

That at the time he entered the service of the United States he resided on Lynch’s Creek, near Pee Dee River, Darlington District (he believes) South Carolina. He was drafted for six weeks and marched to Charleston. This was the first draft in the part of the country he resided. Soon after his return home he was drafted again and marched to Seewee [sic, Sewee] Bay. This tour was for six weeks, also. He served under Captain Witherspoon, and his Colonel’s name was Giles. He supposes both tours were performed in the year 1777, the last perhaps in 1778. In January or February 1779, he thinks, he enlisted in the Second Regiment South Carolina Line for sixteen months. He joined the regiment at Fort Moultrie, under the command of Colonel Marrion [sic, Francis Marion], his Major’s

name was Mott [sic, Charles Motte], and his Captain’s Daniel Mazeck or Mazick [sic, Mazyck]. His regiment, soon after he joined it, was marched to Charleston for the defense of that city against the British. He recollects seeing several skirmishes between the Cavalry and the British horses, the American Cavalry were commanded by Pulaski [Casimir Pulaski], Horry and, he thinks, Washington. There was some firing from the lines but no regular battle. One of Pulaski’s officers, a Colonel, he thinks, was killed in one of these encounters. When the British retreated, his regiment was marched to Savannah. He was sick in the hospital when his regiment marched, but on getting better he followed his

Captain, to whom he was much attached, and joined him at Zubley’s Ferry on the Savannah River. From there he marched to Savannah with his regiment. Being in bad health he was detailed to guard the baggage wagon during the attack on the town. A cannon ball passed near him, shook some spokes from the wagon wheel and killed a horse. He recollects that the French Troops attacked on the right and the

Americans on the left. They were repulsed with great loss. Many of his regiment were killed, amongst them his Major Mott. Pulaski was wounded with a cannon ball and died soon after. From Savannah the troops retreated to Sheldon Hill near Port Royal, where they remained during the winter. General Lincoln [Benjamin Lincoln] was the Commanding General. There were French officers with them, but he does not recollect their names. In the spring they were marched to Charleston, where he remained until the British took the city in May 1780, as he is informed from his historical records, and from his

recollection believes to be true. After the fall of Charleston he was confined in the “Barracks” or “Bull Pen” as the soldiers called it, for some time; he was then removed on board a prison ship, first the Esk, then the King George. From here he was taken on board the brig Wirtly, and carried to Jamestown in Virginia, where he was exchanged. Just before getting into the river, the brig was struck by lightening and the mast much shivered. He thinks he was landed in the latter part of July or first of August, 1781,

as he recollects he got a few peaches which were beginning to ripen, making a period of 28 or 30 months from the time of his enlistment until he was discharged. He enlisted as a private soldier, and served as in the same capacity during the whole term of his enlistment and imprisonment. After landing at Jamestown he was marched to Williamsburg. On his way he saw a number of Wayne’s [Anthony Wayne] men in a church who had been wounded in action a few days before. At Williamsburg he got a pass to draw provisions and pass ferries free on his way home. But in Sussex County they substituted to go against Cornwallace [sic, Charles Lord Cornwallis]. He took the place of a man by the name of Sandifer. His Captain’s name was Mirick or Merick. He crossed the James River

at Swan Point and again passed Williamsburg. He was in no regular engagement, was in several skirmishes, but the Militia always run, and he had to run amongst the rest. He says his Captain was a soldier and a gentleman. His tour was out, and he returned to Sussex County a few days before Cornwallis surrendered. He then went to Philadelphia to get his pay and some clothing, but getting nothing and being nearly naked he hired on a wood shallop, being on the river in a very cold spell he got much severely injured by cold. At length, through the kindness of Generals Moultrie and Macintosh of Georgia, and a Lieutenant whose name he has forgotten, he got some clothing. He then engaged to

travel home with Major McCall, as a waiter. A part of the way they traveled with Major Moultrie and family. They crossed at Georgetown, and went to Marion’s camp at Murray’s Ferry on the Santee River, where he got a regular discharge, from General Marion. From there he went to Green's [sic, Nathanael Greene's] camp, stayed a few days and returned home to his father on Lynches Creek.

Some time after his return he married and moved to Wasmasaw [Wassamassaw], about 40 miles from Charleston. He lived there about six years and moved to Barnwell District, remained there one year, and moved to Coosawatchie, remained there two years and returned to Barnwell District where he resided sixteen or seventeen years. He then moved to Amite County, Mississippi where he has resided ever since.

He has no Education, and kept no memorandums of events of his life, and as he finds that

names of places, and many of his comrades and officers which he remembered for many years after the war of the revolution has passed from his memory, he may be in error as to the order of some of the events which he has stated, and the times mentioned, but his statement in substance is true. He lost his pocket book in moving to Wassamassaw, and his discharge in it. He has no home at present, being nearly blind and unable to work, he lives amongst his children and friends. He knows one man he understands lives in Copiah County by whom he could prove his service, but he is unable to go to him

to procure his testimony from blindness and infirmity. He relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension, and declares that his name is not on the roll of the agency of any state.

S/ Christopher Garlington, x his mark

Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 17th day of June 1833

R. M. Neilson, Clerk Probate

Interrogatories propounded by the Court of Amite County State of Mississippi to Christopher Garlington who is an applicant for a pension.

Interrogatory 1st : When and in what year were you born?

Answer: I was born in North Carolina on the stream called Big Contuckey [sic, Contentnea], the County I do not recollect as my Father moved from thence when I was a child and I do not now recollect ever hearing him name the County, though I recollect hearing him state that I was born on the stream as named above. As well as I can recollect I was born on the 17th of December 1756 or 1757 making me 76 or 77 years of age last December.

Interrogatory 2nd : Have you any record of your age, and if so where is it?

Answer: I have none. I had my age in a Bible as set forth by my Father but the Bible after being in use a great while is now totally destroyed.

Interrogatory 3rd: Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live?

Answer: I was living on Big Swamp which empties into Lynches Creek between Lynches Creek and Big Pee Dee [sic, Pedee River] in Darlington District, I believe, State of South Carolina. After the war, I returned to the same place and married. I remained there a year or two, moved to Wassamassaw about 40 miles from Charleston, lived there about six years, moved to Barnwell District, stopped there a year, moved to Coosawatchie, remained there two years, returned to Barnwell, resided there 16 or 17

years then removed to Amite County in this State where I have resided ever since.

Interrogatory 4th: How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? It's a substitute, for whom?

Answer: I was drafted and went to Charleston with the first Troops that went to that place from the part of the Country in which I lived. I remained six weeks, that being the tour for which I was drafted. Soon after my return home I was drafted again and marched under Captain Witherspoon and Colonel Giles to Sewee Bay. This two were was six weeks also. Some months after the expiration of this tour, I enlisted for 16 months in the second Regiment, South Carolina line. I joined the Regiment at Fort Moultrie, under Colonel Marion, Major Motte, Captain Mazyck. I was at the attack on Savannah, was taken prisoner at the fall of Charleston, was a prisoner for more than a year in the Larix and on board the prison ship's, was landed at Jamestown in Virginia a few months before Cornwallis was taken at little York, from Virginia I went to Philadelphia to get pay and close and from there returned home.

Interrogatory 5th: State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served, such Continental and militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service.

Answer: I first served under Captain Witherspoon of the militia, our colonel's name was Giles. The commander of the American forces was General Lincoln. The celebrated General Marion was my Colonel, my Major's name was Motte who was killed at Savannah. There were many French officers whose names I do not recollect. I recollect Pulaski, Horry, Colonel Washington, Captain Dunbar &c were with us in the South. I have detailed the general circumstances of my service in my declaration in

which I refer.

Interrogatory 6th: Did you receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it?

Answer: I received a discharge from General Marion, which I lost with my Pocket Book as I was moving to Wassamassaw. I refer to the following persons for my character for veracity&c: viz. Rev'd Jesse Young, Judge Ed South, John Obier, Andrew Gray, William Gardner, Alfred White, Thomas Gordon, Hezekiah Harrington, Esquires.

S/Christopher Garlington, X his mark

Sworn to and subscribed before me the 17th day of June 1833.

S/ R. M. Nielsen, Clerk Probate

[Jesse Young and Wm Gardner gave the standard supporting affidavit.]

[facts in file: Christopher Garlington held pension certificate No. 19948; that he died in Amite County on April 10, 1843, leaving a widow named Sarah Garlington who died in August 1843; their estates were administered by Wilson Clark; the veteran and his administrator both make reference to there being children of Christopher and Sarah Garlington, but they are not named in the file.]

A Patriot of the American Revolution for SOUTH CAROLINA - VIRGINIA with the rank of Private. DAR Ancestor # A044032

Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements

Pension application of Christopher Garlington S6874 fn49SC

Transcribed by Will Graves modified 9/14/08

State of Mississippi, Amite County

On the 17th day of June, 1833, personally appeared in open court before the Court of Probate now sitting Christopher Garlington a resident of Amite County, in the State of Mississippi, aged 76 or 77 years on the 17th day of December last, having lost the record of his age, he is not certain which, who after being first duly sworn according to the law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832.

That at the time he entered the service of the United States he resided on Lynch’s Creek, near Pee Dee River, Darlington District (he believes) South Carolina. He was drafted for six weeks and marched to Charleston. This was the first draft in the part of the country he resided. Soon after his return home he was drafted again and marched to Seewee [sic, Sewee] Bay. This tour was for six weeks, also. He served under Captain Witherspoon, and his Colonel’s name was Giles. He supposes both tours were performed in the year 1777, the last perhaps in 1778. In January or February 1779, he thinks, he enlisted in the Second Regiment South Carolina Line for sixteen months. He joined the regiment at Fort Moultrie, under the command of Colonel Marrion [sic, Francis Marion], his Major’s

name was Mott [sic, Charles Motte], and his Captain’s Daniel Mazeck or Mazick [sic, Mazyck]. His regiment, soon after he joined it, was marched to Charleston for the defense of that city against the British. He recollects seeing several skirmishes between the Cavalry and the British horses, the American Cavalry were commanded by Pulaski [Casimir Pulaski], Horry and, he thinks, Washington. There was some firing from the lines but no regular battle. One of Pulaski’s officers, a Colonel, he thinks, was killed in one of these encounters. When the British retreated, his regiment was marched to Savannah. He was sick in the hospital when his regiment marched, but on getting better he followed his

Captain, to whom he was much attached, and joined him at Zubley’s Ferry on the Savannah River. From there he marched to Savannah with his regiment. Being in bad health he was detailed to guard the baggage wagon during the attack on the town. A cannon ball passed near him, shook some spokes from the wagon wheel and killed a horse. He recollects that the French Troops attacked on the right and the

Americans on the left. They were repulsed with great loss. Many of his regiment were killed, amongst them his Major Mott. Pulaski was wounded with a cannon ball and died soon after. From Savannah the troops retreated to Sheldon Hill near Port Royal, where they remained during the winter. General Lincoln [Benjamin Lincoln] was the Commanding General. There were French officers with them, but he does not recollect their names. In the spring they were marched to Charleston, where he remained until the British took the city in May 1780, as he is informed from his historical records, and from his

recollection believes to be true. After the fall of Charleston he was confined in the “Barracks” or “Bull Pen” as the soldiers called it, for some time; he was then removed on board a prison ship, first the Esk, then the King George. From here he was taken on board the brig Wirtly, and carried to Jamestown in Virginia, where he was exchanged. Just before getting into the river, the brig was struck by lightening and the mast much shivered. He thinks he was landed in the latter part of July or first of August, 1781,

as he recollects he got a few peaches which were beginning to ripen, making a period of 28 or 30 months from the time of his enlistment until he was discharged. He enlisted as a private soldier, and served as in the same capacity during the whole term of his enlistment and imprisonment. After landing at Jamestown he was marched to Williamsburg. On his way he saw a number of Wayne’s [Anthony Wayne] men in a church who had been wounded in action a few days before. At Williamsburg he got a pass to draw provisions and pass ferries free on his way home. But in Sussex County they substituted to go against Cornwallace [sic, Charles Lord Cornwallis]. He took the place of a man by the name of Sandifer. His Captain’s name was Mirick or Merick. He crossed the James River

at Swan Point and again passed Williamsburg. He was in no regular engagement, was in several skirmishes, but the Militia always run, and he had to run amongst the rest. He says his Captain was a soldier and a gentleman. His tour was out, and he returned to Sussex County a few days before Cornwallis surrendered. He then went to Philadelphia to get his pay and some clothing, but getting nothing and being nearly naked he hired on a wood shallop, being on the river in a very cold spell he got much severely injured by cold. At length, through the kindness of Generals Moultrie and Macintosh of Georgia, and a Lieutenant whose name he has forgotten, he got some clothing. He then engaged to

travel home with Major McCall, as a waiter. A part of the way they traveled with Major Moultrie and family. They crossed at Georgetown, and went to Marion’s camp at Murray’s Ferry on the Santee River, where he got a regular discharge, from General Marion. From there he went to Green's [sic, Nathanael Greene's] camp, stayed a few days and returned home to his father on Lynches Creek.

Some time after his return he married and moved to Wasmasaw [Wassamassaw], about 40 miles from Charleston. He lived there about six years and moved to Barnwell District, remained there one year, and moved to Coosawatchie, remained there two years and returned to Barnwell District where he resided sixteen or seventeen years. He then moved to Amite County, Mississippi where he has resided ever since.

He has no Education, and kept no memorandums of events of his life, and as he finds that

names of places, and many of his comrades and officers which he remembered for many years after the war of the revolution has passed from his memory, he may be in error as to the order of some of the events which he has stated, and the times mentioned, but his statement in substance is true. He lost his pocket book in moving to Wassamassaw, and his discharge in it. He has no home at present, being nearly blind and unable to work, he lives amongst his children and friends. He knows one man he understands lives in Copiah County by whom he could prove his service, but he is unable to go to him

to procure his testimony from blindness and infirmity. He relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension, and declares that his name is not on the roll of the agency of any state.

S/ Christopher Garlington, x his mark

Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 17th day of June 1833

R. M. Neilson, Clerk Probate

Interrogatories propounded by the Court of Amite County State of Mississippi to Christopher Garlington who is an applicant for a pension.

Interrogatory 1st : When and in what year were you born?

Answer: I was born in North Carolina on the stream called Big Contuckey [sic, Contentnea], the County I do not recollect as my Father moved from thence when I was a child and I do not now recollect ever hearing him name the County, though I recollect hearing him state that I was born on the stream as named above. As well as I can recollect I was born on the 17th of December 1756 or 1757 making me 76 or 77 years of age last December.

Interrogatory 2nd : Have you any record of your age, and if so where is it?

Answer: I have none. I had my age in a Bible as set forth by my Father but the Bible after being in use a great while is now totally destroyed.

Interrogatory 3rd: Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live?

Answer: I was living on Big Swamp which empties into Lynches Creek between Lynches Creek and Big Pee Dee [sic, Pedee River] in Darlington District, I believe, State of South Carolina. After the war, I returned to the same place and married. I remained there a year or two, moved to Wassamassaw about 40 miles from Charleston, lived there about six years, moved to Barnwell District, stopped there a year, moved to Coosawatchie, remained there two years, returned to Barnwell, resided there 16 or 17

years then removed to Amite County in this State where I have resided ever since.

Interrogatory 4th: How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? It's a substitute, for whom?

Answer: I was drafted and went to Charleston with the first Troops that went to that place from the part of the Country in which I lived. I remained six weeks, that being the tour for which I was drafted. Soon after my return home I was drafted again and marched under Captain Witherspoon and Colonel Giles to Sewee Bay. This two were was six weeks also. Some months after the expiration of this tour, I enlisted for 16 months in the second Regiment, South Carolina line. I joined the Regiment at Fort Moultrie, under Colonel Marion, Major Motte, Captain Mazyck. I was at the attack on Savannah, was taken prisoner at the fall of Charleston, was a prisoner for more than a year in the Larix and on board the prison ship's, was landed at Jamestown in Virginia a few months before Cornwallis was taken at little York, from Virginia I went to Philadelphia to get pay and close and from there returned home.

Interrogatory 5th: State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served, such Continental and militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service.

Answer: I first served under Captain Witherspoon of the militia, our colonel's name was Giles. The commander of the American forces was General Lincoln. The celebrated General Marion was my Colonel, my Major's name was Motte who was killed at Savannah. There were many French officers whose names I do not recollect. I recollect Pulaski, Horry, Colonel Washington, Captain Dunbar &c were with us in the South. I have detailed the general circumstances of my service in my declaration in

which I refer.

Interrogatory 6th: Did you receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it?

Answer: I received a discharge from General Marion, which I lost with my Pocket Book as I was moving to Wassamassaw. I refer to the following persons for my character for veracity&c: viz. Rev'd Jesse Young, Judge Ed South, John Obier, Andrew Gray, William Gardner, Alfred White, Thomas Gordon, Hezekiah Harrington, Esquires.

S/Christopher Garlington, X his mark

Sworn to and subscribed before me the 17th day of June 1833.

S/ R. M. Nielsen, Clerk Probate

[Jesse Young and Wm Gardner gave the standard supporting affidavit.]

[facts in file: Christopher Garlington held pension certificate No. 19948; that he died in Amite County on April 10, 1843, leaving a widow named Sarah Garlington who died in August 1843; their estates were administered by Wilson Clark; the veteran and his administrator both make reference to there being children of Christopher and Sarah Garlington, but they are not named in the file.]