Samuel Gray - Veteran of the American Revolutionary War
Samuel Gray: Born 22 April 1752, probably in Amherst County, Virginia - Died 23 March 1837, Marshall County, Tennessee. My 4th great grandfather.
I have a number of ancestors who fought in the American Revolutionary War, some were Loyalists and some were Patriots.
Samuel Gray was a patriot. He served on the North Carolina line.
Some Background
As most people will know, the American Revolutionary War arose from growing tensions between residents of Great Britain’s thirteen North American Colonies and the colonial government that represented the British Crown in North America. Some people were in favour of independence while others were loyal to George III and Great Britain.
The armed conflict began with a confrontation between British Troops and local militia on 19 April 1775 and ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on 3 September 1783. The Treaty of Paris saw the British Crown acknowledge the United States existence as free, sovereign and independent.
That is what Samuel Gray was fighting for.
Samuel's War Service
On 6 November 1832, at the age of 81, Samuel appeared in open court before the Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions in Bedford County, Tennessee to make declaration, under oath, about his Revolutionary War Service. He did this in order to obtain a pension under the 7 June 1832 Act of Congress1.
What I know about Samuel's War service is limited to what is contained in his declaration; a declaration made on the basis of his memory of events that occurred many years before.
What follows is a transcript of Samuel’s war service in his own words:
“I entered the service of the United States as a volunteer, for the term of six months under Captain Jesse Walton, some time in the month of November 1776 as well as now recollected; in the County of Wilkes in the State of North Carolina; soon after my enlistment we were ordered to the frontiers to guard the Settlements against the Cherokees – Captain Walton's Company was marched into the Cherokee Nation, or the most of them myself with a few of those was attached to Captain Joseph Herndon's Company of Rangers or Spies who were on constant duty in guarding the frontier settlements of Wilkes and Burke County on the Yadkin River. After my time of service had expired we were permitted to return home from this term of service I received no written discharges.
My next term of service was in the year ___ [blank in original but would have been 1780] as well as I now recollect I was drafted for three months and was attached to Captain Richard Allen's Company who was attached to Col. Cleveland's Regiment and were ordered to take up the line of march for King's Mountain; we were joined at the Pleasant Gardens on our route to King's Mountain by the Command of Colonel Campbell [William Campbell], from the head of Holston [River?] from which place we marched direct to meet Colonel Ferguson [Major Patrick Ferguson?]; my company was in the engagement, but I was on the morning of the engagement detained with a few others on duty at Camp and did not join my Company until after the engagement was ended – from this place we were ordered to guard the prisoners that was taken at the Battle of King's Mountain we took them to Salem or the Moravian Town where I remained as a guard until the expiration of my term of service where I was discharged.
Soon after my return we were ordered to join General Rutherford, term of 30 days, under Captain Beverly. We joined the Commanding General near Salisbury at the mouth of little Rocky River, we remained here on duty until the expiration of our term of service when we were permitted to return to our homes in Wilkes County.
Some time in the summer of the year 1778 or 79 as well as now recollected, I was drafted for a term of three months. I was attached to Captain Joel Lewis's company who was attached to the Command of Major Hartgroves who marched us through Salem on to Cross Creek where we remained in that section of the County, guarding against the Tories who were extremely troublesome this season and that Section of the State and in the edge of South Carolina.
I was discharged at the end of my term of service and received a written discharge for this term of service from Major Hartgroves which is lost or mislaid so that I cannot have now the benefit of it.
Some time after I volunteered under Captain Richard Allen who was Commanded by Colonel Cleveland. They marched to New River against some Tories and horse thieves, under the Command of a certain Captain Cajlo [?], we drove him out of that part of the County; he was soon afterwards taken by our party and hung – this expedition lasted about 10 or 15 days – I was on duty one or two other short trips but the time or particular service I cannot now recollect the whole term of service which I can distinctly recollect was upwards of thirteen months.
I know of no regular officer except those mentioned and I am now unable to say that they were, I mean I was at different times under Colonel Cleveland, Campbell, Major Hartgroves and General Rutherford, I have no written discharges of my services. My brother John Gray and old Captain Smith of Franklin County. They give their certificates as to my Service, my brother testified to all my Service having been with me, and Smith to one or two campaigns”.
A handwritten copy of Samuel’s declaration can be viewed in my family history archive here.
Samuel was granted his war pension. An entry in the Tennessee Pension Roll of 1835 states as follows:
Samuel Gray. Bedford. Private. North Carolina Line. $43.33 Annual Allowance. $86.66. Received May 16 1833 Pension Started Age 822.
Battle of Kings Mountain
To digress slightly …
By his own testimony, Samuel was not directly involved in the Battle of Kings Mountain but he was most definitely there amongst those that did. Consequently, it was one of the places I wanted to visit while on a short trip to the United States. The site of the Battle is preserved within the Kings Mountain National Military Park. I went there in July 2015 and walked the trail.
The Battle of Kings Mountain took place on 7 October 1780, 9 miles (14 km) south of the present-day town of Kings Mountain, North Carolina in an area that is now rural Cherokee County, South Carolina. The Patriot militia achieved a decisive victory over the Loyalist militia that day. The Battle is considered to be an important turning point in the Revolutionary War3 4.
More about Samuel
Samuel was born on 22 April 17525 to James Gray and Elizabeth 'Betsy' Parks. He was most probably born in Amherst County, Virginia and moved, with his family, to Wilkes County, North Carolina during his childhood.
At the time of the Revolutionary War, most of what is now Tennessee was a part of North Carolina. The area that became Tennessee was quite sparsely populated then. Tennessee became a state on 1 June 17966.
When he commenced his military service, Samuel was living in Wilkes County, North Carolina. He later moved to Bedford County, Tennessee. Soon after the war, many veterans were awarded land in Tennessee for their military service.
Later records show Samuel living in Marshall County, Tennessee. It is likely, though, that this is not because he moved residence but, rather, because he was living in the area of Bedford County that was absorbed into Marshall County, Tennessee when Marshall County was created in February 1836. The County was made up from parts of Giles, Bedford, Lincoln and Maury Counties7.
Samuel died in Marshall County on 23 March 18378.
Samuel is my 4th great grandfather.
This post draws on information in my family history archive on the WeAre.xyz platform.
The act approved 7 June 1832 (4 Stat. 529) liberalized the pension program to allow any veteran with six months service to be granted a pension without showing need. See: Claire Prechtel-Kluskens Revolutionary War pension files—an introduction PDF via ngsmagazine 2006-04 (April/May/June 2006) at twelvekey.com.
Information from 1835 TN Pension Roll via Tennesseans in the Revolutionary War - TNGenWeb Project [Website]. Accessed 20 April 2022.
Battle of Kings Mountain via Wikipedia [Website]. Accessed 20 April 2022.
National Military Park via National Park Service [Website]. Accessed 20 April 2022.
This date is from the transcript of Samuel Gray's diary found on Ancestry.com - Lincoln County Tennessee Bible Records, Vol. 5 - Bible of Samuel Gray
Tennessee State Museum How Tennessee became a State [Website] Accessed 8 October 2022.
Marshall County via TNGenWeb Project [Website]. Accessed 30 August 2022,
This date is from the transcript of Samuel Gray's diary found on Ancestry.com - Lincoln County Tennessee Bible Records, Vol. 5 - Bible of Samuel Gray
Oh, Jane! This is fantastic. I've just been talking to folks at the Daughters of the American Revolution, a legacy society for families related to Revolutionary War Veterans. It makes me crazy that they haven't prioritized storytelling for each of these individual Patriots, on which their organization is founded. Reading a story this way, complete with maps, makes the story so much more compelling.
You've done a beautiful job. I'm now inspired to tell the story of my 5th great-grandfather, William Coffin (1720-1803), who supported the Continental Army at the Battle of Guilford County Courthouse. There's something quite magical about making these connections with friends. 🥹
Oh yes, and you know what? Your fourth great-grandfather is my fifth cousin, six times removed. Your most recent common ancestor is William Carter, 1599-1655 (my 10th great-grandfather, or so FamilySearch says.)
Wow I love this post Jane! What a story! I was drawn to it because my maiden name was Gray - I wonder if I am distantly related to Samuel? I admit I don't know too much about the Revolutionary War, but this really brought it to life for me. It's amazing that these accounts still exist and in such great detail.