Ancestors in the Revolutionary War

I am in the process of researching relatives who fought in the Revolutionary War or performed civil service during that time period. Information comes from a variety of sources, including the DAR Genealogical Research Databases, ancestry.com, family history sources, and the books "King's Mountain and Its Heroes" by Lyman Copeland Draper and "One Heroic Hour at KIng's Mountain" by Pat Alderman.

What you see here are the ancestors I have come up with so far:

Benjamin Biggerstaff
Benjamin Biggerstaff and his brother Aaron fought for the Loyalists at the Battle of Kings Mountain and elsewhere.

Their father, Samuel Biggerstaff (sometimes spelled Bickerstaff), was born in England and was founder of the American Biggerstaff line. He married Elizabeth Moore in Pennsylvania, and they bought land in Mecklenburg and Rowan counties in North Carolina. Later, Elizabeth bought land from Thomas Robinson in Rutherford County, N.C.

Aaron and Benjamin took an active part in public affairs of Rutherford County both before and during the war. Benjamin, for example, served as a constable. His civil service is why he is listed as a viable ancestor by the DAR.

Aaron, who commanded a Tory company, was wounded at Kings Mountain. He was taken to Union County, S.C., and died at the courthouse there.

Benjamin survived the battle but not the war. His war records indicate that he died by Feb 1, 1782, probably on James Island near Charleston, S.C.

Family reports indicate that Benjamin and Aaron fought on both sides in the war, and that Benjamin died as a British captive on James Island after an attempt to relieve Charleston. His widow, Mary Vanzant, married twice after his death.

After the battle at Kings Mountain, the Patriots took their captives to the Biggerstaff land on Robertson Creek in Sunshine, N.C. On Oct. 14, 1780, they tried the Loyalist prisoners. Thirty-nine were sentenced to be hanged, and nine were hanged. During the night, friends of Capt. James Chitwood brought his body down to the house and asked Mary Vanzant Biggerstaff for permission to bury it in the family plot nearby. This was done. The Patriots received news that caused them to break camp early the next morning, and Martha Biggerstaff, sister of Benjamin, with the help of an old man working on the place, cut the eight others down and buried them.

Benjamin and Mary Vanzant Biggerstaff had a son, James Benjamin Biggerstaff, who married Susannah, last name unknown. They had a son, Kincheon N. Biggerstaff, who married Marilla Nettie Denton. Their daughter, Mary Martina Biggerstaff, married Jonathan Hampton Robertson, and they had a son, William Wheeler Robertson, who married Lucy Ann Frances McCurry. William and Lucy's daughter, Ina Sue Robertson, married Hiram Lee Farris.

Benjamin is DAR Ancestor No. A010076.

William Robertson
William Robertson was an early settler of Rutherford County, N.C., and was of Scottish descent.

He was a friend and neighbor of Col. Andrew Hampton and Andrew's son, Jonathan, an avid Whig.

William fought at Kings Mountain under Andrew Hampton. He was wounded, an account that was recorded in Lyman Draper's book "Kings Mountain and Its Heroes," seen below.

William is DAR Ancestor No. A044150.

William' and his wife, Elizabeth (last name unknown), had a son named Jonathan Robertson. Jonathan Robertson married a woman named Jane (last name unknown), and they had a son, James Robertson. James married Isabella Malinda Long, and their oldest son was Jonathan Hampton Robertson. He marred Mary Martina Biggerstaff, great-granddaughter of the aforementioned Benjamin Biggerstaff. Hampton and Mary were the parents of William Wheeler Robertson, who married Lucy Ann Frances McCurry. Their daughter, Ina Sue Robertson, married Hiram Lee Farris.

William Long
William Long was an early settler of Rutherford County, N.C. I know little about his war service, but he is listed with those who fought at Kings Mountain.

William's grandson, Rutherford County Sheriff Andrew B. Long (1808-1901), said of William in 1898: "He was a Scotchman, and shortly after marriage to a woman [named Sarah] emigrated to America, his first born being presented to him on the voyage across to the new world. He settled in Pennsylvania, and afterward, with many sturdy Scotch Presbyterians moved to North Carolina."

In October 1780, William Long was involved locally in the Revolution, according to Andrew Baxter Long and recorded in a letter from W.L. Twitty to Lyman Draper dated 19 October 1780 (Draper Manuscript Collection, State Historical Society of Wisconsin):

"... Mr. A.B. Long who had this revolutionary incident from his father John S. Long born 1766 (this date was taken from his gravestone) 14 years old in 1780 himself the son of William Long who was in the infantry which marched to Kings Mountain under a forced march reaching the battle ground only a short time after the fight closed."

William is not in the DAR database.

William Long's granddaughter, Isabella Malinda Long (sister of Andrew Baxter Long), married James Robertson, the grandson of William Robertson. Their oldest son was the aforementioned Jonathan Hampton Robertson, who married Mary M. Biggerstaff. Hampton and Mary were the parents of William Wheeler Robertson, who married Lucy Ann Frances McCurry. Their daughter, Ina Sue Robertson, married Hiram Lee Farris.

William Womack
William Womack was of English descent, and his ancestors had lived in Virginia since at least the 1630s. He was born in Rutherford County, N.C. His wife, Lucinda, was called Lucy. Her last name is unknown.

Their daughter, Sarah Rebecca Womack, married the Rev. Jeremiah Blanton. Jeremiah and Sarah's son Ransom and his wife, Anna Maria Painter, had a son named Franklin Keesler Blanton. Franklin married Nancy Emmylyn Hamrick, and their only child was Carrie Ludusca Blanton, who married the aforementioned Moses Miles Farris. They were the parents of Hiram Lee Farris, who married Ina Sue Robertson.

William served as a quartermaster in the 1st N.C. Regiment, Continental Line.

William is DAR Ancestor No. A127578.

William died in Tennessee in 1820.

Johann Georg Bender, a.k.a. George Painter
Johann George Bender, born in Lancaster County, Pa., in 1758 or 1759, was of German descent. He moved to Rockingham County, Va., with his parents, Johann Leonhardt Bender and Catharina Haug Hauch Bender.

He is listed in the DAR database for his military service in Virginia, which says he fought in the Continental Line under Capts. Craven and Coter [sic Coker] and Gen. Stevens. Family notes posted in a number of family trees add this information:

"In 1780, the British were defeated at Kings Mountain, N.C., (Georg missed this battle because he was in Captain Craven's company under the command of General Marion "The Swamp Fox") after the Battle at Guilford Courthouse. Georg was at Little York and later was marched to Amherst Courthouse in Virginia and discharged. It was in that same year the he married Eve Tanner. (He was 21, and she was 22 years old.)
Eve (Tanner) Panther died at age 66.

"Johann Georg (now called Panther) married his second wife on August 18, 1824, when he was 65 years of age. Her name was Rebecca Harris Freeman, the daughter of Benjamin and Catharine Freeman. Rebecca was born in 1797, and was 27 years of age, when she and Johann Georg were married. They then had three children.

"Some of Georg's children used the name Panther and some used the name Painter. There are some descendants in Rutherford County today that use the name Painter. None can be found today using the name Panther.

"Johann George Bender is listed as Georg Panter in the 1790 census of Rutherford County, North Carolina."

Johann George and Eve Tanner had a son named George Painter, born in Rutherford County, N.C., who married Sarah Pell. They had a daughter, Anna Maria Painter, who married Ransom Blanton, son of the aforementioned Jeremiah Blanton and Sarah Rebecca Womack. Ransom and Anna Maria Painter had a son named Franklin Keesler Blanton. Franklin married Nancy Emmylyn Hamrick, and their only child was Carrie Ludusca Blanton, who married the aforementioned Moses Miles Farris. They were the parents of Hiram Lee Farris, who married Ina Sue Robertson.

Johann George Bender is listed as George Painter in the DAR database. He is DAR Ancestor No. A121809. Below is his DAR marker at Brittain Presbyterian Church cemetery in Rutherford County, N.C.

John Barber
John Barber was among Covenant Presbyterians who sailed from Larne, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, to settle in York County, S.C., where he married Mary Agnew. Larne is now the sister city of Clover, S.C.

John Barber rented wagons to the troops of the State Militia in 1782. The DAR ancestor database lists Barber as having fought under Lt. Hollis, Capt. Martin, Col. Winn, Gen. Sumter, and as a waggoner. (No. 276, Roll No. 48, 15, S.C. STUB INDENTS. BOOK 0-Q P 273, BOOK Q #414, Revoutionary War Index, State Archives, Columbia, S.C.)

Barber's gravesite at Beersheba Presbyterian churchyard in Clover has a DAR marker. His granddaughter, Nancy E. Barber, married John Robert Faries of Smyrna, S.C., a Confederate veteran of the Civil War. Nancy and John Robert were the parents of George Templeton Faries and the grandparents of Moses Miles Farris, who married Carrie Ludusca Blanton. Moses and Carrie's oldest son was Hiram Lee Farris, who married Ina Sue Robertson.

John is DAR Ancestor No. A005872.

Adam Neal

Adam, of Irish descent, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., and settled in Lincoln County. He married Mary Beatty, and among their children was a son, John Neil. (The name is variously speeled Neal, Neil, Neill and even Neel.) John married Mary Ferguson, and among their children was a daughter, Elizabeth Anne Neil. She married the aforementioned George Barber of York County, S.C., and their daughter, Nancy E. Barber, married John Robert Faries. Nancy and John Robert were the parents of George Templeton Faries and the grandparents of Moses Miles Farris. Moses' oldest son was Hiram Lee Farris, who married Ina Sue Robertson.

Adam is DAR Ancestor No. A081714.

William Ledford
William Ledford was born in Lancaster, Lancashire, England, around 1722. William immigrated to Virginia in 1738 on the ship Walpoole with his brothers, Henry and John Ledford. They settled in North Carolina around Davidson, Forsyth and Rutherford counties and what is now Randolph County.

William performed patriotic service in North Carolina during the Revolutionary War by furnishing supplies (HAUN,NC REV ARMY ACCTS, VOL 1, BOOK 5, P 251).

William married Elizabeth McCurry. Both are buried at Abbotts Creek Primitive Baptist church in Davidson County, N.C. They had a daughter, Elizabeth Ledford, who married William F. McCurry. These two had a son, John McCurry, who married Sarah H. Guthrie. Their son, William B. McCurry, married Frances "Frankie" Mauney, and they had a son, Avery Javan McCurry. Avery married Susan Jane Campbell, and they had a daughter, Lucy Ann Frances McCurry, who married the aforementioned William Wheeler Robertson. Their daughter, Ina Sue Robertson, married Hiram Lee Farris.

William is DAR Ancestor No. A131385.

Robert Taylor
Robert Taylor was born around 1715 in Rutherford County, N.C., where he lived with his wife, Susannah Anderson.

Robert performed patriotic service in North Carolina during the Revolutionary War by furnishing supplies (NC REV ARMY ACCTS, VOL 11, P 55, FOLIO 2, #2233, ROLL #S.115.57.5; VOL 4, P 94, FOLIO 1, #1001, ROLL #S.115.57.2).

Robert died in 1807 in Rutherford County. Robert and Susannah had a son, also named Robert, who married a woman also named Susannah. They had a daughter, Mildred "Milly" Taylor. Milly married Jonathan Mauney, and they had a daughter, Frances "Frankie" Mauney. Frankie married William B. McCurry, and they had a son, Avery Javan McCurry. Avery married Susan Jane Campbell, and they had a daughter, Lucy Ann Frances McCurry, who married William Wheeler Robertson. Their daughter, Ina Sue Robertson, married Hiram Lee Farris.

Robert is DAR Ancestor No. A133463.

William McSwain
William McSwain, of Scottish descent, was born and died in Cleveland County, N.C.

William enlisted in 1782 as a private, joining Captain Brevard's Company of the 10th Regiment, N.C. Continental Line. He served for 18 months. 

His first wife, Judith Moore, had 12 children. Judith died in 1831. William then married Elizabeth. In 1855, Elizabeth was 76 and living in Cleveland County. She was allowed pension and bounty land on account of William's service.

William and Judith's daughter, Hannah, married Reuben Hamrick. This marriage resulted in descendants on both my paternal and maternal sides.

On my paternal side, Reuben and Hannah had a son, Berry, who married Catherine M. Hamrick. Berry and Catherine had a daughter, Nancy, who married Zecheriah Bridges. Zecheriah and Nancy had a son, Cicero Miller Bridges, who married Carrie Hawkins. Cicero and Carrie were the parents of Pauline Bridges, who married Ernest Victor Navey.

On my maternal side, Reuben and Hannah had a son, George, who married Mary Hamrick. George and Mary had a son, Jason, who married Sarah Anne Blanton. Jason and Sarah had a daughter, Nancy Emmylyn Hamrick, who married Franklin Keesler Blanton. Franklin and Nancy's daughter was Carrie Ludusca Blanton, who married Moses Miles Farris, and they were the parents of Hiram Lee Farris, who married Ina Sue Robertson.

William is DAR Ancestor No. A076504. The military plaque for William McSwain is located in the McSwain Family Cemetery on Highway 18 South in the Mount Sinai community of Cleveland County.

William B. Sherrill
William B. Sherrill was the oldest son of a well-known North Carolinian, Adam "The Pioneer" Sherrill. Adam, of English descent, is known as the first European to cross the Catawba River. Sherrills Ford in Catawba County, N.C., is named for him.

William enlisted in the military about 1780 in Catawba County, N.C. Upon hearing that Moore was rallying troops at Ramsour's Mill during the summer of 1780, the Salisbury leaders ordered troops loyal to them to converge on the camp. Francis McCorkle (another ancestor profiled below) and William Sherrill raised volunteers from the west side of the river. Fifty-six from both sides died in the battle at Ramsour's Mill. Two hundred Tories were captured, but only 86 Whigs remained organized enought to guard them.

William married Marie Agnes White. His younger brother, Samuel, married Mary Preston, and they had a daughter named Catherine, known as "Bonny Kate."
Bonny Kate Sherrill became the second wife of Col. John Sevier, and they later became the first governor and first lady of Tennessee.

John Sevier mustered his fellow frontiersmen to fight at Kings Mountain. They joined the South Fork command out of North Carolina that included his uncle-in-law, William, who fought there as a captain. (HAUN, NC REV ARMY ACCTS, BOOK A, PART 12, P 1662)

The South Fork command, which Francis McCorkle also fought with, comprised less than 10 percent of the Whig force at Kings Mountain. They stormed the steepest side of the mountain and suffered a fourth of the Whig casualties in the battle.

William is DAR Ancestor No. A103445.

Agnes White and Willam B. Sherrill had a son, Moses W. "Mode" Sherrill, who married married Martha Osborne. Their son, Jeptha Sherrill, married Elizabeth McCorkle, and they had a daughter named Eliza. Eliza Sherrill married William S. Litton, and they were the parents of Mary Litton. Mary married James Bryant Hawkins of Cleveland County, N.C., and they were the parents of Carrie Hawkins, mother with Cicero Bridges of Pauline Bridges, who married Ernest Victor Navey.

Agnes White and William B. Sherrill also had a son named Jacob, who married Margaret Lowrance. Jacob and Margaret had a daughter, Mary Sherrill, who married Elijah Litton. Their son, William S. Litton, married Eliza Sherrill, as stated above, with the line descending as such.

James B. Litton
James B. Litton was paid for services rendered in the war (HAUN, NC REV ARMY ACCTS, VOL IX, BOOK 14, PART VII, P 940), but that's all I know about his record.

James was of English descent. His forebears were from Devon, England, and buried at Ottery St. Mary Church. He and his wife, Sarah Osborne Litton, died together in 1798. Residents of Lincoln County, N.C., they drowned while trying to cross flooded Lytton Creek in a buggy.

Sarah Osborne and James B Litton had a son, Elijah Litton, who married Mary Sherrill. Their son, William S. Litton, married Eliza Sherrill. Their daughter, Mary Litton, married James Bryant Hawkins. James served for the Confederacy in the Civil War and was at the surrender at Appomattox Court House. James and Mary were the parents of Carrie Hawkins, mother with Cicero Bridges of Pauline Bridges, who married Ernest Victor Navey.

James is DAR Ancestor No. A070736.

Richard Brandon
Richard Brandon was born in Lane County, Pa., in 1722, and he moved to North Carolina. He married Margaret Locke, and they lived in Rowan County. He died on Oct 27, 1790, and is buried at Thyatira Prebysterian Church Cemetery, Terrell, Catawba County, N.C., with Margaret.

His patriotic service during the Revolutionary War consisted of providing material aid.

Richard and Margaret's daughter Elizabeth "Betsy" Brandon married Francis McCorkle. Francis and Betsy were the parents of Elizabeth McCorkle, who married Jeptha Sherrill. They were the parents of Eliza Sherrill, who married William S. Litton. Those two were the parents of Mary Litton, who married James Bryant Hawkins. James and Mary were the parents of Carrie Hawkins, mother with Cicero Bridges of Pauline Bridges, who married Ernest Victor Navey.

Richard is DAR Ancestor No. A131704.

Benjamin Newton
Capt. Benjamin Newton, of English descent, was supposed to be at Kings Mountain, but wrote that he instead "was sent as an express to Coddle Creek Mecklenburg to see General Rutherford. On my return I swam fourteen water courses, the last being the Catawba River."

A transcript of a part of Benjamin's pension application for himself and his wife, Nancy McCall Newton, in Rutherford County, N.C., can be found at http://rosters.tripod.com/index-23.html.

It's an interesting read. He participated off and on, including against Banastre Tarleton in Orange County, N.C. Many of the sites and names might be familiar to those of you who live in the Carolinas.

Benjamin married Nancy McCall, and among their children was a son, John McCall Newton. John married Jenny Erwood, and they had a son, Benjamin B. Newton, who married Millie Norman and was a Confederate veteran of the Civil War. Their daughter Susan Ann Newton married William Bumgardner, who served for the Confederacy in the Civil War. William and Susan's daughter was Sarah Ann Bumgardner, who married James Joshua Gillespie Navey, and they were the parents of Ernest Victor Navey, who married Pauline Bridges.

Benjamin is DAR Ancestor No. A083101.

Ebenezer Newton
Ebenezer Newton, of English descent, was the father of Benjamin Newton. Born about 1725 in Connecticut, he married Elizabeth Buchanan, who was the grand aunt of 15th U.S. president James Buchanan.

The Newtons moved to North Carolina, where they lived in Lincoln and Rutherford (formerly Tryon) counties.

Ebenezer served in the militia and provided supllies. He is listed as having served on the road committee, as a tax assessor and as a constable in Tryon County. He served as a juror in Lincoln County. (NC REV WAR PAY VOUCH, #3740, ROLL #68.50, FRAME 272; HAUN, NC REV ARMY ACCTS, BOOK A, #5545 P 1639, #6473 P 1658; HOLCOMB, TRYON CO, CT OF PLEAS & QR SESSIONS, 1769-1889, P 170, 171, 174, 178; MCALLISTER & SULLIVAN, LINCOLN CO, CT OF PLEAS 1779-1789 P 32)

Ebenezer and Elizabeth's son Benjamin married Nancy McCall, and among their children was a son, John McCall Newton. John married Jenny Erwood, and they had a son, Benjamin B. Newton, who married Millie Norman. Their daughter Susan Ann Newton married William Bumgardner. William and Susan's daughter was Sarah Ann Bumgardner, who married James Joshua Gillespie Navey, and they were the parents of Ernest Victor Navey, who married Pauline Bridges.

Ebenezer is DAR Ancestor No. A083121.

John McCall
John McCall was the father of Nancy McCall, who was married to Benjamin Newton. Born about 1730 to 1725, he married a woman named Jane, whose last name was possibly McCarver.

In North Carolina, John lived in Orange and Lincoln counties.

John served as a juror in Lincoln County.

John and Jane's daughter Nancy married Benjamin Newton, and among their children was a son, John McCall Newton. John married Jenny Erwood, and they had a son, Benjamin B. Newton, who married Millie Norman. Their daughter Susan Ann Newton married William Bumgardner. William and Susan's daughter was Sarah Ann Bumgardner, who married James Joshua Gillespie Navey, and they were the parents of Ernest Victor Navey, who married Pauline Bridges.

John is DAR Ancestor No. A074610.

Nicholas Chapman

Nicholas is DAR Ancestor No. A020943.

John Pruett
John was of English descent and was born in Virginia, where he served during the Revolutionary War.

He served in the 7th, 9th and 11th regiments, Continental Line, under Lt. Col. John Cropper and Capt. Thomas Parramor.

He and his wife, Eady Spencer, were the parents of Spencer Pruett. Spencer married Sarah Stockton, and they were the parents of Jemima Pruett. She married the Rev. John Bumgardner, and they were the parents of William Bumgardner. William and Susan's daughter, Sarah Ann Bumgardner, married the aforementioned James Joshua Gillespie Navey, and they were the parents of Ernest Victor Navey.

John died in Rutherford County, N.C.

John is DAR Ancestor No. A091943. His last name is spelled Pruitt in those records.

William Whiteside
William Whiteside was born in Armagh, Ireland, and died in Rutherford County (formerly Tryon County), N.C.

William was among the signers of The Tryon Resolves, a declaration adopted by the citizens of Tryon County in the Province of North Carolina in the early days of the American Revolution. In the resolves, the county vowed resistance to coercive actions by the British Empire against its North American colonies. The document was signed on August 14, 1775.

William married Elizabeth Stockton, and they had a daughter named Mary Elizabeth who married Davis Stockton, her cousin mentioned above. Mary Elizabeth and Davis were the parents of Sarah Stockton. She married Spencer Pruett, and they were the parents of Jemima Pruett. She married the Rev. John Bumgardner, and they were the parents of William Bumgardner. William Bumgardner was married to Susan Ann Newton. Their daughter, Sarah Ann Bumgardner, married the aforementioned James Joshua Gillespie Navey, and they were the parents of Ernest Victor Navey.

Whiteside is DAR Ancestor No. A124553.

William McKinney
William McKinney, of Scottish descent, served as a substitute for his father, Daniel, during the Revolutionary War. His pension application number is S9017 (NC); M804, roll 1691.

His pension says, among other duties, that he "served with the Horse of Col. Washington & General Lee to Charleston SC & took possession of the Town — the British had left the same morning the fires of the gard [sic, guard?] was still burning from there we went to St. James Island [sic, James Island] and some time in June I left on account of sickness 11 days before the soldiers were furloughed I started from home on the 7th day of August 1782 for an 18 months Tour & I got home on the 7th of July 1783 my father [indecipherable word] a class of 20 of their draft & sent me in his stead."
http://southerncampaign.org/pen/s9017.pdf

William is buried at the Willis McKinney Old Cemetery a mile west of Lattimore in Cleveland County, N.C. William's stone, pictured below, was replaced in the 1970s by the DAR. William's wife, Amy Susanna Duggar McKinney, is buried there with him.

William and Amy were the parents of Susannah McKinney, who married Edmund Jones. Their daughter, Cynthia Jones, married John Bridges, and they were the parents of Zecheriah Bridges, who served in the Confederacy in the Civil War and was married to Nancy Hamrick. Their son, Cicero Miller Bridges, married Carrie Hawkins, whose daughter Pauline Bridges married Ernest Victor Navey.

William is DAR Ancestor No. A077661. His name is spelled McKenney in those records.

James Mason Rawlins
The following was written by Mrs. H. E. Rawlins in 1892:

"James Mason Rawlins, who was of pure English descent, came with two brothers Charles and Roderick, from England to America some years prior to the Revolutionary War. James Mason Rawlings lived at the beginning of the War in Massachusetts, near Bunker Hill, with his family. They moved to North Carolina while the War was in progress. ... He was an adherent of the King of England, and fought on that side, while his brothers espoused the cause of the colonies. He was captured and imprisoned at Raleigh. During this were his two brothers Charles and Roderick, dropped the 'g' from their names, spelling it afterwards 'RAWLINS'. Subsequently the descendants of James Mason also discarded the same letter. ...

"1777 James Rawlins referred to as Rev. and mention made of his preaching. He was a Tory and supporter of the Church of England. 28 March 1777, Rawlins entered into Conspiracy with John [Carter] and William Lewelling while attending a muster at Plymouth, Martin County, North Carolina. Rawlins wrote their Constitution. ...

"Between 28 March 1777 and 6 August 1777 Rawlins and John Lewelling set out from Martin County, North Carolina to see General Howe. Rawlins testified he 'expected to see his father and friends' but they only got to Scotland Neck in Halifax County, North Carolina before turning back. ...

"August 6, 1777, Rawlins and family captured trying to escape by sailboat in Pamlico Sound, Lake Mattamuskeet, Hyde County, North Carolina, on coast of North Carolina (open to sea at that time, it is now a self-contained lake). ...

"September 11, 1777, Abstracts for North Carolina Gazette of New Bern, North Carolina 1751-59 and 1768-90 p. 41/42 (by Fouts) states:

'Advertisements. State of North Carolina, Craven County. SS. To all Sheriffs, Constables, and others, liege subjects of the said state. Greeting. Whereas complaint hath been made to me, one of the Justices of Peace for said state, by John Bryan, Esq.; High Sheriff of the same, that last night the public gaol (jail, compiler's note) of the said county was broke open, and the following persons made their escape from thence viz. James Rawlins for High Treason. He is a noted villain, and one of the principals in the late conspiracy against the state, has lived for two years past in Martin County and is very famous in the art of legerdemain; about 40 years of age, of a very black complexion, and had a cut on one of his cheeks ... Whoever apprehends and secures the above persons ... shall have 10 Pounds reward for Rawlins. ...'

"Between 11 September 1777 and 22 November 1777, Rawlins signed up to sail from New Bern with Captain William Pile but did not report. Pile testified 22 November 1777 that a Colonel White from Georgia had promised Rawlins a better situation and the last Pile had heard Rawlins was 'on the way to South Carolina in the company of Colonel White's wagons.' "

The account of James' capture and sworn statements in his own defense as well as the statements made against him are recorded in the North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 2 (975.6D26N), pages 398-404. He made several statements denying he was a Tory, but evidence seems strong that he, Carter and Lewelling feared the country was likely to be subject to popery.

James' wife, Priscilla Blount, was born in Pitt County, N.C., and appears on the 1790 census in Rutherford County, N.C. She is buried at Sandy Run Baptist Church in Mooresboro, N.C., but there is no marker for her grave. Their daughter, Mary "Polly" Rollins, married Edward "Ned" Dycus Hawkins, and they are buried at the Rollins-Hawkins Graveyard in Cleveland County, N.C. Their son, Samuel Hawkins, married Jane "Jinny" Webb, whose son was James Bryant Hawkins, mentioned above as the father of Carrie Hawkins Bridges. Carrie married Cicero Miller Bridges, and they were the parents of Pauline Bridges, who married Ernest Victor Navey.