Our Southern Relatives in the War

. . .serving from the fall of 1779 until after the defeat of Charleston which was in the spring of 1780 which defeat cast a Gloom over the American Army. . . ~ From Walter Leak's pension application

I was able to find a short list of our Southern relatives that fought in the Revolutionary War. Doubtless there were many more but, due to records lost in the Civil War, information is hard to come by for that area. Many of these men will be covered in more depth in future posts.

COVINGTON

JOHN COVINGTON (5GGF) b. 1733

Our grandfather, John Covington (5GGF) was born in Queen Anne's County in 1733. Ca. 1770, he moved to the Rockingham area of North Carolina. From a pay voucher he received for his service, we know that John served in some capacity, probably not combat, for North Carolina during the war:

John Covington

Maryland Service: NORTH CAROLINA Rank: PATRIOTIC SERVICE Birth: (CIRCA) 1735 QUEEN ANNES CO MARYLAND Death: (CIRCA) 1808 RICHMOND CO NORTH CAROLINA Service Source: NC REV WAR PAY VOUCHERS, ROLL $115.79 Service Description: 1) PAID FOR SERVICES RENDERED

WILLIAM COVINGTON (4U) b. 1735

Our grandfather John's brother, William Covington (4U) served in the Continental Army as a lieutenant. He enlisted in March of 1777. After 13 months in the army, William's "service was terminated by death 13 April 1778." We have no details as to the cause of his death. The military subsequently granted him 2,560 acres of land in what later became Sumner County, Tennessee.

William evidently had no wife or children when he died at age 43 so his brother John was named heir to his estate. The original land warrant for 2,560 acres must have been lost because records show that, in 1785, a duplicate was issued "in place of the original warrant lost in June" to "‘The Heir of William Coventon a Subaltern in the line of this State. . . within the limits of the lands reserved by Law, for the Officers and Soldiers, in the continental line of this state." On the back of the duplicate, John Covington wrote:

I John Covington of Richmond County in the State of North Carolina Heir at Law of Wm Covington deceased, my younger brother, late a Subaltern in the Line of this State do indoresed & assign my full right and title to the within Land Warrant to Henry Willm Harrington. . ." The document was duly signed by John.

Note: A subaltern is an officer below the rank of captain, in William's case a lieutenant.

HENRY COVINGTON (4U) B. 1736

According to records on John Caldwell's South Carolina 3rd Regiment, Our uncle Henry Covington fought as a private in both the siege of Savannah in 1779 and the siege of Charleston in 1780.

JOHN COVINGTON (1C6X) b. 1757

Our cousin John Covington (1C6X) was also a first cousin of our grandfather John Covington. According to our fantastic researcher cousin, Lou Poole (5C), the younger John was often referred to as Jr. to distinguish between the two men in various North Carolina records.

John, Jr. married our cousin Elizabeth Thomas (1C5X), a great-granddaughter of our immigrant ancestor Tristram Thomas (6GGF). John settled on the north side of the Little Pee Dee River while his brothers remained on the south side.

Note: Many of our relatives in the Covington, Wall, Thomas and Raiford families settled on the banks of the Great and Little Pee Dee Rivers. More on that in a future post.

Evidently John's neighbors on the north side of the river were mainly Loyalists which caused him some trouble. We discussed the heated division of loyalties in North Carolina in our post "The War Moves South." According to family lore:

John's sympathy with the Patriot cause soon made him an object of dislike to his Loyalist neighbors, who stripped him of his means of living, and left him with nothing but his family. Leaving his wife and babie with her friends he sought his revenge in the ranks of the Patriot army. His war record was found in the Archives of History, Raliegh N.C.

John was paid for his war service by a voucher from the State of North Carolina: "This certifies that John Covington exhibited his claim and was allowed two lbs. sixteen shillings specie." Later he filed another claim for 54 pounds, 5 shillings and 6 pence.

When the war ended, John moved to South Carolina where his brother-in-law, our cousin Nathan Thomas (1C5X), had settled.

MATTHEW DOCKERY COVINGTON (3U)

Matthew Covington (3U) was the son of our grandfather John Covington (4GGF) and his first wife Hannah Dockery. Matthew married his (and our) first cousin Hannah Covington (1C5X), daughter of our grandfather John's brother Henry (4U) Matthew began his service as a private in the North Carolina troops in 1775 when he was only 15 years old.

From his pension application in 1832:

That he “That he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer at the age of 15 in the month of October 1775 in Anson County and served as a guard at Anson Court-house. .

Note: In two years time, that part of Anson County where most of our Covington relative lived would be split into Richmond County.

Matthew also participated in the Cherokee Campaign. We covered that action in our "The War Moves South" post. After battling the Natives, Matthew returned home to Richmond County where he remained until the fall of Charleston when he moved his family to the safer Wake County.

Matthew then saw service in South Carolina driving cattle to General Green's army and participating in the Battle of Piney Bottom. 17 days after Piney Bottom, Matthew was captured by the British and remained a prisoner for seven months. We have those stories in our "The Southern War Continues" post.

Captain William Hunter

William Hunter was married to our aunt Mary Covington (4A), sister of our grandfather John (4GGF). William was captain of the Salisbury District Minutemen in 1775 and also served as captain for the rest of the war in Anson and Richmond County regements. William served early in a Troop of Horse. Under him in that company was Thomas Everett, husband of Mary and John Covington's sister, Elizabeth (4A). Also serving under Captain Hunter at the skirmish at Beattie's Bridge were John's son Matthew Covington (3U) and our uncle William Thomas (3U), son of our grandather William "Billy Ram" Thomas (4GGF)

THOMAS

WILLIAM "BILLY RAM" THOMAS (4GGF) b. 1741

Our grandfather, William Thomas, represented Anson County at the Assembly of the state of North Carolina in 1774 and 1775. The meeting of that assembly was the first move by the people of North Carolina to oppose the British government.

TRISTRAM THOMAS (4U) b. 1752

Tristram Thomas was the brother of our grandfather William "Billy Ram." In July of 1775, he was commissioned sergeant in a company of rangers. In 1780, he was promoted to captain and, in 1781, to major. In the summer of 1780, Tristram commanded a company that captured a British expedition at Hunt's Bluff on the Pee Dee River in South Carolina. We wrote about that event in our "The Southern War Continues" post. In 1973, the Marlboro County Historic Preservation Commission placed a marker commemorating the event:

After the war, Tristram held the rank of brigadier general of the Ninth Brigade from 1794 to1804.

PHILEMON THOMAS (4U) b. 1756

Another brother of our grandfather William "Billy Ram" Thomas was our uncle Philemon. He served as a sergeant in the North Carolina militia.

WILLIAM "SILVER HEEL" THOMAS, JR. (3U) b. 1762

Grandfather William's oldest son, William Jr. volunteered for service in the North Carolina militia in 1780. From his pension application, we know that William provided his own horse for his service. He also stated that he was "wounded in a battle at Betty's bridge, and was taken at ? own house by the Tories and chopped in the head with a sword..." Family tradition says that he was called "Silver Heel" from the wound he received in his foot at Beattie's Bridge on 4 Aug 1781. We wrote about the Battle of Beattie's Bridge in our "The Southern War Continues" post.

STEPHEN THOMAS (3U) b. 1765

Grandfather William's second oldest son, Stephen, was 22 years old when he served in the war. His thigh bone was broken when he was hit by a musket ball in the Battle of Eutaw Springs, one of the final conflicts of the war. In 1787, Stephen received a disability pension as a result of his wound. In 1833, he was awarded another pension for serving at least twelve months in the North Carolina militia from 1780-81. Stephen served both in the infantry and as a sergeant in the Cavalry.

THOMAS RATLIFF (1C5X) b. 1760

Our cousin Thomas Ratliff (1C5X) was the son of our aunt Susannah Thomas Ratliff (4A). Susannah was one of our grandfather William "Billy Ram" Thomas' sisters. Thomas enlisted in the North Carolina militia in February of 1776 and took part in the Loyalist vs. Patriot Battle of Moore's Creek. Although it was a fairly minor battle early in the war, 850 Loyalists were captured, most shortly released on parole. The major coup in this battle, however, was acquiring 1,500 muskets, 300 rifles and $15,000 of Spanish gold for the American cause.

POYTHRESS

DAVID POYTHRESS (3C6X) b. ca 1757

In December of 1776, David Poythress entlisted in the Continental army for a three year stint. He served in the 15th Virginia Regiment of Foot (infantry). In early 1778, The 15th marched north to join General George Washington for the battles at both Brandywine and Germantown in Pennsylvania. In September, 1778, shortly before Germantown debacle, David became ill. Though he stayed with the army, even spending a miserable winter at Valley Forge, he never recovered from his ailment. David died at Valley Forge on May 11, 1778.

THOMAS POYTHRESS (3C6X) b. ca 1756

Thomas Poythress was an Impressment Officer for the County Commissary after the war with his service documented for the year 1783. It appears that he was involved in allocating property that had "been taken for public service," most probably from the Tories and Natives. Thomas died ca. 1800 but, for his service in the war, his sons were eligible to participate in the Land Lotteries in Georgia to redistribute confisicated Cherokee lands.

KIRBY POYTHRESS (2C6X) b. ca. 1757

Kirby was a private, who enlisted for three years in the 15th Virginia Regiment of Foot (Infantry). His service began in February 1778 so he probably served under Washington at Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth. An affidavit by William Oney stated that Kirby was also at the Siege of Yorktown, Virginia until the surrender of British General Cornwallis on October 19, 1781.

FRANCIS POYTHRESS (3C5X) b. 1760

Francis began his army in 1778 as a private. He was subsequently promoted to Corporal, then sergeant. He served in the 3rd Troop of Horsemen and in the 1st Regiment of Light Dragoons. The Dragoons were under the command of Major William Washington. In March of 1780, the company fought in South Carolina and had some success at Bacon's Bridge and Rutledge's Plantation. On the night of April 14, however, The Dragoons were routed by the British, losing 15 dead, 17 wounded, and 100 captured, along with 83 horses.

Washington and his remaining troops fled across the Santee River to escape capture.

Francis continued his service until Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown in October of 1781.

ROBERT POYTHRESS. (1C7X) b. ca. 1724

Robert Poythress, Jr. was born in Prince George County, VA. Robert, Sr. died in 1743 when Robert, Jr. was about 19. The elder Robert left his son 1,391 acres of land and nine negroes (Tom boy, Mingo, Charles, Judy, Bett, Jenny, Sarah, George and Boatswin). Thirty years later, it seems Robert was the defendant in a lawsuit involving another slave. From an ad in the Virginia Gazette on 9 Jul 1772:

. . .taken away, on the 28th of May last, from Northumberland Courthouse, by one Robert Poythress, from Amelia County, a negro slave, named Dick, belonging to the subscriber; he is a black fellow, about 20 years of age, five feet seven inches high, very likely and sensible, has been brought up in the house as a waiter, is very skillful in the care of horses, and a good rider. He is well known by many Gentlemen and in all the towns in Virginia, as he always waited on me whenever I went from home, and is also known by some in Carolina, but is much grown since he was there. The said Robert Poythress pretends that he bought him; but his not having either a Bill of Sale or a receipt for the money, sufficiently proves it to be false. This is to forewarn all persons from purchasing or entertaining him, as they may expect to have the law put in execution to the utmost extent. I do likewise offer a reward of £10 to any person that brings the said slave to me, in Lancaster, if taken in this Colony, and £20 if out thereof. John Wormeley.

After Robert's death in January of 1782, it appears the slave Dick then went to Benjamin Hicks. Dick's original owner, John Wormeley, then filed suit against Hicks probably to recover either the slave or payment for him. From a witness in the case, Benjamin Williams, we learn another side to the story:

as well as he can remember, in May, 1772. . .Robert Poythress, and John Wormley entered into card playing and the said Robert Poythress won of John Wormley a large quantity of tobacco to the amount of twenty or twenty two thousand. . .and in a few days after in my presence, John Wormley offered his negro man, Dick, for sale to Robert Poythress in discharge of the said tobacco. . .Soon after that at Muse’s Store. . .the said Poythress asked the said negro, Dick, whether he would be willing to serve him, as his master had offered him for sale, Dick agreed to go if he was to be sold; after that Robert Poythress applied to John Wormley to buy the fellow that he had offered and in my presence John Wormley made answer, you shall have the fellow as I proposed pointing towards the negro, Dick, and said there he is, he is yours. . .

When the Revolutionary War began, Robert was a captain in the Continental Service doing recruiting work for Captain William Scott of the Georgia Continental Regiment. It appears Robert wasn't too choosy about who he enlisted into Scott's company. From an ad in the Virginia Gazette on 6 Dec 1776:

Contrary to my desire, and express order, my servant man, James Bullock, enlisted with Mr. Robert Poythress, an officer, he says, under Captain Scott, of the Georgia service; upon which I demanded my servant of the said Poythress, without effect. This is therefore to request of Captain Scott to have my said servant returned to me without delay or farther expense, or I shall certainly prosecute him according to law. James Anderson.

And another ad in the Virginia Gazette on 2 Feb 1777:

Deserted from my troop of light horse, about the 1st of November last. . .James McCallion, upwards of 6 feet high, born in Newcastle, Pennsylvania, has dark hair and blue eyes, stoops in his shoulders, and is 24 years old. The said McCallion, I am informed, has enlisted under one Robert Poythress, who was recruiting for the Georgia service under Captain Scott. I therefore forewarn the said Scott or Poythress from carrying him out of this colony, and will give 20 dollars reward to any person who will secure the said deserter and deliver him to General Lewis, or his Excellency the Governour in Williamsburg. . .Richard Call.

Robert continued his recruiting service in the Southern Regiment until the beginning of 1781. While still in the army, he died of unknown causes in January 1782.

WILLIAM POYTHRESS (1C7X) b. ca 1737

William Poythress, brother of Robert, was a Lieutenant in the Continental Army.

WILLIAM POYTHRESS (1C6X) b. 1753

William Poythress was a Captain in the Continental Army in the American Revolution who served from March 1777 to November 1783. He was with Washington at Monmouth and then reassigned to the Southern theater in April of 1780.

After his retirement from the military, William was paid £417 for seven years service. He was also "entitled to the proportion of land allowed a Captain Lieutenant of the Artillery in the Continental line who served seven years." The "proportion of land" William received for his service was a whopping four thousand acres.

We'll have more of our Southern relatives in the war in our post.