Rev. War Veteran
Caldwell Co., Ky.
Patriot Ancestor of Kenneth E. Gilkey
For more information email
Transcribed by Ken & Peggy Gilkey
Series M805
Microfilm Roll # 287
Heritage Quest Online
NC Service #S.12811
Joseph Dunn of Caldwell County in the State of Kentucky who was a Pr, Inf, Cav in the company commanded by
Captain Porter of the regt commanded by Col Pickens in the NC ma line for 22 mo Cav; 3 mo ma
Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky at the rate of 93 dollars 33 cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of March 1833 and sent to Thos Haynes Princeton, KY
State of Kentucky Caldwell County.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 --- $ 186.66
Semi-anl. Allowance ending 4 Sept 1833 ---$ 46.66
(Total) $233.32
Revolutionary Claim Act. June 7, 1832
Recorded by W. L. Williams clerk
Book E Vol. 7 Page 7
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Brief in the case of Joseph Dunn County of Caldwell In the state of Kentucky
Act 7th June, 1832
1. -- Was the declaration made before a court or judge ? ------- A court
2. -- If before a judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity ? -----
3. -- How old is he ? ----- 77
4. -- State his service, as directed in the form annexed ----
Period - Drafted in 1778 -- Duration 3 months -- Rank Private -- Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served
Capt. Porter -- Col Hampton
Period - Vol. 1779 Light Horse -- Duration of Service 22 months -- Rank Private -- Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served
Capt Hampton -- Col Pickens -- Col Hampton -- Gen McDowell
5.-- In what Battles was he engaged ? -------- Skirmishes only
6. -- Where did he reside when he entered the service ? ----- Rutherford Co. NC
7. -- Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls ?
----- Traditionary evidence
8. -- Are the papers defective as to form or authentication ? and if so, in what respect ? ---- Correct
I certify that the forgoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned
(S) Dyer Astor examining clerk
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State of Kentucky, Caldwell County SS: On this 20th day of August 1832
formally appeared in open court before Martin A Rucker, James C Weller, Samuel M Asher, John W Marshall, justices of the county court for the county aforesaid, now sitting,
Joseph Dunn, a resident of said county aged seventy seven years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth cast his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of congress passed June 7th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated:
That in the year 1778 (to the best of his recollection) he was drafted as a private in the militia of North Carolina from Rutherford County for a tour of three months and was mustered into service
under Captain Robert Porter and Lt James McFaddin.
That we were ordered to march down towards Cross Creek and joined the other companies raised for the expedition. After the junction of the troops Gen
Rutherford took the command, over the Regiment to which Capt Porters company belonged was commanded by Col Hampton. That in a few days afterwards we attacked a party a party[?]
of Tories and Brittish near Cross Creek and gained a victory, taking a good many prisoners, the most whom were afterwards released upon taking an oath to be true to America,
or not to be found again in arms against us.
That he continued in this service for the full term of these months and was regularly discharged by his Capt (Porter).
That about the beginning of spring of the year 1779 he volunteered as a private from the same county and joined a light horse company commanded by Captain Adam Hampton (son of Col Hampton) and soon
After marched towards Georgia through South Carolina and joined Col Pickens near his own farm in South Carolina on Sinico River, who was then collecting all the force in his power to oppose a body of
Tories collected in the back parts of South Carolina with an intention of proceeding to Augusta (or was said) to join the Brittish. After Col Pickens had assembled all the troops he could, he began his march
and came up with those tories (consisting of six or seven hundred) at Kettle Creek and there defeated them with considerable loss and Colonel Boyd their leader was among the killed. Several who escaped
were afterwards taken and tried as traitors and five (he thinks) were executed. Some of these tories however reached the enemy and joined them. The defeat broke the spirit of the tories for awhile and preserved
the grist of the entire part of the country.
After this battle we returned to North Carolina and in a short time we were ordered (our Company of light horses) out under Col Hampton and General McDowel who
was then stationed in the neighborhood with two or three hundred men. After joining McDowel the light horse was ordered to scour the country and if possible to intercept a party of Tories then in the country.
The night after this detachment was ordered out a party of Tories & Brittish from Ninety Six made an attack on McDowels camp, and several were killed on each side. In the morning the horse were recalled and
ordered to pursue the enemy which was promptly obeyed and we came up with them at a house about nine miles distant, where we surrounded them and made a charge upon them and killed as many as nine
or more and dispersed the others. After which we returned to Camp.
In the attack on McDowel's camp the preceding night, Andrew Dunn the first Lieutenant of the horse was one of the killed (he was the brother of this applicant).
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That shortly afterwards the tories and Indians broke out on the head of Brodie river and we marched to that quarter.
After remaining there some time expecting the arrival of Major
Dunlap, a Brittish officer, some of the light horse (having been on active service some time) were permitted to return home for
a few days on parole. But the same evening Dunlap made his appearance, and instantly attacked
McDowel & Hampton and gained some advantage. Those permitted to return home, hearing of the affair, immediately
returned but not in time to aid in the conflict, which was on a stream called Caney.
After this we marched to the head of Holstein to join in the expedition against Colonel Furguson who was conducting a Brittish detachment through the country.
We joined Colonels Clark & Shelby on Holstein and marched into North Carolina. The horse separated from the main army just after passing the mountains and were to meet again at a given point and at a certain time.
This was so ordered by the Commanding officers for certain purposes. However before the time appointed to meet, the main army finding it necessary to hasten the march to come up with Ferguson passed the place
of meeting before the time, and came up with Ferguson at Kings Mountain where an engagement was fought and Ferguson killed, and many prisoners taken. The horse arrived in a short time after the action and
were ordered to take charge of some of the prisoners and conduct them to the Catawba River which was done, and from there they were carried northward.
This battle was fought in the fall of 1780 as well as he recollects.
From Catawba the light horse of Captain Hampton proceed to other quarters of the country against parties of tories & Brittish, and continued in this service until the end of the War in the south, and that he with others of the
company was discharged in the latter part of the year 1781 having continued in this volunteer service from the spring 1779 to the latter end of 1781. He cannot fix the exact length of service, but he can safely say, it was as
much as twenty two months having served in all twenty five months. In the times of the Revolution and particularly during the year 1780 & 1781 the whigs in the Carolina’s had to embody themselves under
various officers and keep constantly in the field against the tories & Brittish, and the country, notwithstanding all our exertions were much exposed. He further states that in the light horse, he served with his two brothers
Sam'l & Andrew Dunn, Noah Hampton and James McFaddin & others whose names he could mention but he does not believe that any of them are now living.
And he declares, that he knows of no person living who could prove his said service, and that he has not now any documentary evidence in his possession
or knowledge which would go to prove his service, having lost his discharge long ago.
The said court propounded the following questions to the said Dunn
Question by the court
Where and in what year were you born ?-----
Answer -- I was born in Guilford County, state of North Carolina in the year 1755 as I have often been told by my father.
Quest 2 -- Have you any record of your age, and if so where is it ? ----
Answer -- I have no record of my age and only know how old I am from information given my by my father.
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I have a record of the age of my brother Andrew (who was killed at Caney Creek) and from that record I can tell very nearly my own, which must be now about seventy seven.
Question 3 -- 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 in the County of Rutherford when I entered the service in the state of North Carolina.
After the war I lived several years in North Carolina and moved to Georgia where I lived about 14 years and then moved to this county where I have lived ever since.
Question 4 -- how were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and a substitute for whom ?---
Answer -- In the first tour I was drafted, but in all my after service I was a volunteer.
Question 5 -- State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops when you served; such Continental and militia Regiments,
as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service.
Answer ----I served with no regular troops that I remember of - my whole service was with militia.
I will remember the regiments of Colonels, Clark, Sevier, Campbell and Shelby in the King's mountain expedition and of Col Hampton while I was with Genl McDowell.
Question 6 -- Did you ever receive a discharge and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it ?
Answer -- Yes, I received a discharge from Captain Hampton, but whether I did from my first tour of duty I have forgot.
The one I did get has long since been lost and worn out.
Question 7 -- State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify, as to your
character for necessity, and of their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution ?
Answer -- I have lived a long time amongst my neighbors and I reckon all of them would give me a good name.
I will name the Hon C. Lyon, Michael Freeman, Wm Mercer, David F Bigham & A Harpending ;..
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declare that his name is not on the pension roll of the Army of any state whatever
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Joseph Dunn (X his mark)
We Timothy McMan, a clergyman residing in the county of Caldwell, State of Kentucky, and William Mercer and William Holland residing in the same,
hereby certify that we are well aquainted with Joseph Dunn.
Back to Caldwell Co., Ky. Cemeteries
For more information email
Transcribed by Ken & Peggy Gilkey
Series M805
Microfilm Roll # 287
Heritage Quest Online