REVOLUTIONARY PENSION APPLICATIONS
LOFTIS R. MUNNERLYN
Declarations made by Loftis R. Munnerlyn in making application for a
Revolutionary War pension under the act of Congress passed June seventh, 1832.
Loftis R. Munnerlyn made two declarations in applying for his pension.
Because his military records were destroyed by a wind storm in 1822 it was
necessary that the applications take the form of depositions or declarations
recorded in a State and District Court.
The first was made in October, 1833. For some unknown reason it was not acted on.
After waiting three years and eight months he made a second one.
Shortly after the second application the pension was approved but was based on
the first Declaration and bears the identification number S-18136. It was for
eighty dollars per annum commencing with retroactive date March 4, 1831.
The content of the two are much alike in substance. In some places they complement
each other. They reflect good retention of facts and events, without the benefit
of historical documents, after a lapse of over sixty years.
FIRST DECLARATION (wording, spelling, structure, and punctuation same as original manuscripts).
THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA -
On this the sixteenth day of October Anno Domini 1833 personally appeared in
open court Loftis R. Munnerlyn, before me, Richard Gautt, one of the circuit
Judges of the said State and presiding Judge in the Court of Common pleas in
and for the District of Marion and State aforesaid who being duly sworn maketh
oath to the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of
Congress passed on the seventh of June, 1832. That he was born in the District
and State aforesaid and is now and ever has been a citizen resident in the same
District and State - that he was born on the thirteenth day of July, 1753 and
was eighty years old last July.
When the Milita was drafted into three Classes for the purpose of being called
into service he was drafted in the first but by whose order he is unable to state.
Some time in the spring of that year he was marched off under the command of
Capt. Jacob Buckholts and at Lynches Creek his company was joined by Capt. DuBose
company from Darlington District - they were marched to See-Wee Bay to prevent
the landing of the British who were hovering on the coast - He remained there
two months when he was discharged and returned home - the detachment was commanded
by Major Thornly and it was shortly before the attack upon Fort Moultrie near
Charleston. He remained at home two months when he was again ordered to march
to Charleston and did so under the command of Capt. James Munnerlyn (his brother)
Majr. Thornly and Col. Sam Benton. Upon reaching Haddrills point Col. Benton
returned home and declarant was stationed in Charleston two months performing
principally guard duty - at the expiration of that time he was discharged and
returned home where he remained two months when he was again drafted and marched
to Lynchs Causeway under the command of Capt. John Munnerlyn - Thornly was his
Major, Benton his colonel and the whole under the command of General McIntosh and
the troops were at Lynches Causeway when Charleston was taken by the British - he
had been at that place one month when Charleston was taken by the British - they
were then ordered to march in the direction of Camden to form a junction with
Gates Army - a great many soldiers deserted on the march and some discharged which
reduced the detachment from 600 to about 60 and at the time of Gates defeat he was
of the few who were faithful and was in hearing of the firing. On the day after
the battle Gen. McIntosh having learnt the result of the engagement discharged
his men. He returned home. Many of the Militia had to march off to No. Carolina
but he did not go but remained lying out in the swamps and woods in Marion District.
Some time after his return hearing the Francis Marion was raising a party he with his
four brothers and three others joined Marion and were among the first who assisted
in forming "Marions Brigade" at the time he joined Gen. Marion he was commanded by
his Brother John Munnerlyn Thornly for Majr and John Ervin was the Colonel he
remained with Marion for about Nine months when he returned home on furlough but
did not remain at home more than one or two hours when he returned to camp. His
family lived in midst of Tories and he was safest in camp his fathers house was
unroofed by the Tories and Genl. Marion sent a group of thirty men who removed
Declarants father and mother who were aged in the vicinity of the redoubt which
is situated on the right bank of the PeeDee river opposite Snows Island from the
time of the formation of Marions Brigade to the time he was dischared and the
Brigade disbanded he was continually in the service with Marion as a private soldier
and never absent from duty, except for short periods when on furlough which were
rarely asked for or desired, the camp being the only place of safety. During the
time the Declarant was with Marion he was in the following engagements and
skirmishes, Viz: The first was with the Tories at Blue Savannah in Marion District
the Tories were commanded by Capts. Right Wall and Benj. A. Lewis and Majr. Micajah Gainey
in which the Tories were entirely defeated and routed. The second was with the Tories
in the fork of Black river declarants Regiment was then commanded by Col. John Boucher,
the third was with the British at Smiths bridge below Quimby and declarants party was
commanded by Colonels Richardson and Screven, a part of Lees Cavalry and a part of Mayhews
were of the party and they were commanded by Major Giles. The fourth was the attack and
capture of the Fort at Monks Corner a small detachment from Marions Brigade of which
declarant was one, was commanded by Majr Estes. The fifth was an engagement with the
British at Cooshatchee bridge in which the Americans were compelled to retreat. the
sixth was the attack and capture of Fort defiance on the Congaree river in the night
time. The seventh engagement was with the British at Eutaw Springs. The declarant
further states that during the war he was commanded by Capains James and John Munnerlyn,
John Rogers, DuBose, Black. Majors Thornly, Richard Green, Jno James and Hugh Horry.
Colonels Benton, Ervin, Screven, Richardson, Swinton, Barber and Peter Horry but
declarant is unable to state with anything like certainty the particular times he was
commanded by these Services or the years in which these services that the declarant
is without Education can neither read or write and that he from old age and consequent
loss of memory is unable to state more particularly than he has done. The Declarant
states positively and unequivocally that he was in actual service more than three years
during the American Revolutionary War. The Declarant further states that he does not
know that any of the soldiers who served with him in Marions Brigade are now alive and
whose attendance can be procured to attend but John Booth. He hereby relinquishes any
claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity, except the present and declares that his name
is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State whatsoever.
his
Loftis X Munnerlyn
mark
The foregoing Declaration sworn to and subscribed before me in open court the day and year above written
Richard Gautt
(John Booth makes his sworn statement that he was acquainted with Loftis R. Munnerlyn
and that he was with Marion and Munnerlyn was with him in severals of the engagements
and that he knew his four brothers who were also with Marion. There are also statements
from Benjamin Holt,a Clergyman and William Woodberry stating that they are well acquainted
with deponent and believe him to be of the age he claims and that he is reputed in the
neighborhood and believed to have been a soldier of the Revolution. Edw. B. Wheeler makes
statement that the foregoing contained the original proceedings of the court.)
SECOND DECLARATION
South Carolina
Marion District
On this the 28th day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
thirty seven before the Honorable Josiah J. Evans, one of the Judges of the Court of
Common Pleas and Session in and for the Said State, personally appeared Loftis R. Munnerlyn
in open court who upon oath made the following declaration in order to obtain a Pension
under the act of Congress passed the 7th day of June in the year of our Lord Eighteen
hundred and thrity two viz: That he has no record of his age, that it was recorded in a
large Bible in his father's house but that during the war the Tories robbed his father's
house and took every thing pretty well off, the Bible amongst the rest when they even
ripped the bed open and let out the feathers and carried away the ticks, that he can
give no correct and certain statement as to the date of his birth but thinks he is
eighty six years old, That he was born in this Marion District in said State where
he has always lived up to this time, That the first service he rendered in the
Revolutionary War was to volunteer for one month, and served at SeeWee Bay near
Charleston under one Captain Thornwell he does not certainly recollect any other
company officers but believes one DuBose was an under officer that Major James was
there, that at the time he so volunteered he was not quite sixteen years old, That
not long after he returned from SeeWee bay he was drafted for two months and served
that time principally at Hadrill's Point, sometimes at Cane h--p and other places in
the neck. That the Captain of his company was John Munnerlyn the brother of the
applicant, That one Windham(?) was a Major then, that he cannot now recollect any
other officers That not long after he returned from Hadrell's point he was drafted
again for two months and served that time mostly in Charleston. The he cannot recollect
any company officer certainly but thinks Daniel Dubose was Captain. That they were put
under a Major in Town whose name he does not recollect. That at or about the expiration
of the said two months he and others continued for two months longer without any draft
and were marched out under one Col ----- to Lynch's Causeway between the two Santees
that there was apprehension that the town would be besieged and that they could not
get out. That when they arrived at Lynch's Causeway he was put under Col. Baxter and
General McIntosh. That when the British took the Town he was marched toward Camden
and arrived within eight miles but before they got farther they learned that the British
had possession of the Town and had fought Gates and defeated his troops, that he heard
the cannon at the Battle of Camden and when his commanding officer heard of Gates' defeat
they discharged their forces and told them that every man would have to shift for himself;
That he was in the service at last aforesaid four months in all. That after he returned
home General Marion undertook (to) raise a parcel of men to try to prevent the British
from scattering out from Charleston and doing mischief about the country. That he
volunteered his services and went with Marion, that the first engagement he was in
with Marion was at Blue Savannah near where this deponent lives against the Tories.
It was a small engagement in which but one Tory was killed named Matthew Allen.
That a few days before the said engagement the Tories had taken this deponents father
and had him prisoner, that upon hearing where they were embodied and had his father,
himself and four brothers went to General Marion and told him and desired him to assist
them in getting their father, that Marion replied he had but sixty men and that there
was said to be about five hundred Tories. That upon himself and his brothers expressing
a determination to get their father Marion said he would go with them with what men he had.
That upon arriving at said Blue Savannah about day break the Tories were sitting and lying
around their fires, that the said Matthew Allen was sitting at the fire smoking a pipe when
Marions men fired on them and he got shot. The Tories then dispersed and broke into the
swamp. That Marion then on the same day marched his men and this deponent with them about
three miles to McFadden's old field where there was a body of Tories stationed commanded
by one Capt. Ben Lewis and Major Garvey(?) and attacked them in the day time, fell upon
them and dispersed them, killed none but wounded several. That the first engagement the
deponent's father was recovered when the Tories were fired upon (he) ran to Marion's
company. Thereafter that he stayed with Marion constantly being afraid to go home. If he
were so disposed for he knew that the Tories would kill him. That he was with Marion at
the retaking ------ of Georgetown. That Marion accomplished that as follows: The
day ---- before he had cart wheels on which he mounted peeled --- logs already blackened
so as to resemble cannon, threw up an intrenchment on the east (or out) side of town by
the aid of plantation negroes (amongst whom was a yellow fellow who was said to have
furnished cattle and provisions to the British, upon which Marion had him hung) That
upon the British discovering the embankment and long cannon they took a fright supposing
it to be large cannon and fled from the town, that General Marion then sent this deponent
as the commander of a detachment of men to take possession of their fort which he did and
guarded when (where?) they found several barrels of English peas and rice poured out of
the barrels and ----also a good deal of meat, that the British went aboard of their
vessels and sailed off down toward the island and remained there some time. That from
then he went under Marion and was with him in taking a fort made by the British called
Rebel's defiance. That afterwards he went under Marion and was with him in taking
Monks Corner and returned back on Santee, back to Snows Island, from there he went
on to near about Georgetown, kept a guard about them but could not do any thing.
He was in the following battles at the battle at Coosahatchie Bridge under the command
of James Munnerlyn (and) of John Munnerlyn who were Captains in the service under
General Marion, but he was changed about so often that he cannot now recollect with
certainty in which of the two companies he was at time. He was in the Battle at
smiths (?) Bridge commanded by Major Giles here the Americans were defeated, Company
dispersed, Deponent thrown from his horse and injured and was taken prisoner. He did
not remain long a prisoner but upon the first opportunity mounted his horse and made
his escape the enemy firing upon him as long as he was within gun shot. Had a brust
with the British at a place called Chooby-finney (?) where some of the British were
killed, the Americans had to retreat finding the enemy had received a reinforcement.
He was engaged in a fight with the Tories in the fork of Black River where they had
a big dinner cooked. When we took them on surprise they were hooping and holloing
and were saying they wished they knew where Marion was they'd make a riddle of his
hide; we made them fly and took their dinner from them, with guns, saddles and
bridles. Some of them were (?) in the river and drowned. He was at this time under
the command of John Rogers as his Captain. He was then in a battle at Quimbee (?)
Bridge with the British under Capt. John Munnerlyn in Genl. Marion's command, and
about the same length of time he was a commissary. He had discharges at sundry
times, but in a great gale or storm in the year 1822 his trunk was blown away with
all his papers. He has no documentary evidence of his services and does not recollect
the names of any other officers beside those which he has mentioned. He has lived in
Marion District from his birth to the present time and he is now unable to work for
himself. He hereby releases all claim to any pension from the United States Government
except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any agency
of any State.
his
Loftis R. X Munnerlyn
mark
Sworn to in open court
before me March 28, 1827*
Ed. B. Wheeler
*Evidently this date was a clerical error. It was 1837.
