Tennessee had not yet become a state when the Revolutionary War was fought, 1775-1783. At that time, most of what is now Tennessee was a part of North Carolina, although a few areas may have been thought to belong to VA. The area that became Tennessee was quite sparsely populated, so there were very few actual “Tennesseans” who fought in the war. Soon after the war, however, many people came into Tennessee because many veterans were awarded land in Tennessee for their military service.

In searching for records on your ancestor, you may need to check three different kinds of records one you have located him. Look for his service records, his pension records, and any relevant bounty land records.

FIRST	LAST	YEAR	COMMENTS
James	Anderson	1835	Private, Virginia Militia, $30.00 Annual Allowance $90.00 Amount Received February 28 1833 Pension Started Age 69 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
AMOS	BALCH	1835	Private-Sergeant, North Carolina Militia, $32.77 Annual Allowance $81.93 Amount Received July 3 1833 Pension Started Age 75 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
James	BASS	1835	Private, Virginia Militia, $60.00 Annual Allowance $120.00 Amount Received May 22 1833 Pension Started Age 74 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
John	BEARDEN	1835	Private, South Carolina Line, $63.38 Annual Allowance $148.33 Amount Received May 17 1833 Pension Started Age 79 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
William	BIGHAM	1835	Private, North Carolina Militia, $63.33 Annual Allowance $189.99 Amount Received October 17 1844 Pension Started Age 77 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
EZEKIEL	BILLINGTON	1835	Private, New Jersey Line, $53.33 Annual Allowance $159.99 Amount Received December 3 1832 Pension Started Age 75 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Jacob	BLETCHER	1835	Private, North Carolina Line, $96.00 Annual Allowance $00.00 Amount Received June 7 1828 Pension Started Age 74 Transferred from ORANGE NC September 4 1832 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Charles	BRANDON	1835	Private, South Carolina Line, $33.33 Annual Allowance $99.99 Amount Received November 2 1832 Pension Started Age 85 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
William	BRECHEN Sen.	1835	Rank Not Stated, North Carolina Line, $27.21 Annual Allowance $81.63 Amount Received May 17 1833 Pension Started Age 79 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
PHILIP	BRITTAIN	1835	Private, North Carolina Continental Line, $96.00 Annual Allowance $165.33 Amount Received April 16 1819 Pension Started Age 74 Dropped May 1 1820 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
William	Brown	1835	Private, New Jersey Militia, $30.00 Annual Allowance $90.00 Amount Received May 13 1833 Pension Started Age 82 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
John	BURNS	1835	Private, North Carolina Line, $25.66 Annual Allowance $64.15 Amount Received March 27 1833 Pension Started Age 81 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Solomon	Campbell	1835	Private, North Carolina Continental Line, $96.00 Annual Allowance $204.80 Amount Received January 16 1832 Pension Started Age 79 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Robert	CARUTHERS	1835	Private, North Carolina Line, $26.66 Annual Allowance $53.32 Amount Received May 3 1833 Pension Started Age 84 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
JOSHUA	CHERRY	1835	Private, North Carolina Line, $60.00 Annual Allowance $150.00 Amount Received July 20 1833 Pension Started Age 72 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
James	COFFEY	1835	Private, Pennsylvania Line, $70.00 Annual Allowance $175.00 Amount Received March 27 1833 Pension Started Age 75 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
John	CONNELLY	1835	Private, Virginia Militia, $20.00 Annual Allowance $60.00 Amount Received April 16 1833 Pension Started Age 74 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
HORATIO	COOP	1835	Private, Maryland Militia, $60.00 Annual Allowance $180.00 Amount Received September 11 1833 Pension Started Age 76 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Reuben	COWDEN	1835	Private-Lieutenant, North Carolina Line, $236.66 Annual Allowance $709.98 Amount Received September 27 1833 Pension Started Age 80 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
John	CULVER	1835	Private, Pennsylvania Line, $80.00 Annual Allowance $240.00 Amount Received June 1 1833 Pension Started Age 71 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
William	Cunningham	1835	Private, North Carolina Line, $20.00 Annual Allowance $50.00 Amount Received June 17 1833 Pension Started Age 85 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
John	Davidson	1835	Private, North Carolina Line, $30.00 Annual Allowance $75.00 Amount Received May 23 1833 Pension Started Age 75 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Jesse	Davis	1835	Private, North Carolina Line, $23.33 Annual Allowance $55.40 Amount Received May 3 1833 Pension Started Age 77 Died July 18 1833 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Jeremiah	DIAL	1835	Private, South Carolina Line, $80.00 Annual Allowance $240.00 Amount Received January 3 1833 Pension Started Age 76 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Thomas	DRAKE	1835	Private, Virginia Line, $80.00 Annual Allowance $680.00 Amount Received February 12 1829 Pension Started (1835 TN Pension Roll)
John	DYSART	1835	Private-Sergeant, North Carolina Line, $90.00 Annual Allowance $270.00 Amount Received July 20 1833 Pension Started Age 84 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
William	EAKINS	1835	Private, South Carolina Line, $20.00 Annual Allowance $60.00 Amount Received June 17 1833 Pension Started Age 68 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Richard	ELKINS	1835	Private, South Carolina Line, $43.33 Annual Allowance $148.33 Amount Received May 3 1833 Pension Started Age 73 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Alexander	EWING	1835	Private, South Carolina Line, $20.00 Annual Allowance $60.00 Amount Received July 20 1833 Pension Started Age 72 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Charles	FANE	1835	Private, North Carolina Line, $21.55 Annual Allowance $53.87 Amount Received July 20 1833 Pension Started Age 91 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
SHERWOOD	FOWLER	1835	Private-Corporal-Sergeant
Nathan	FRAZZLE	1835	Private, South Carolina Line, $40.00 Annual Allowance $120.00 Amount Received March 27 1833 Pension Started Age 75 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
John	GIBBY	1835	Private, Virginia Line, $54.66 Annual Allowance $163.98 Amount Received August 14 1833 Pension Started Age 78 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Thomas	GORE	1835	Private, South Carolina Continental Line, $96.00 Annual Allowance $1096.53 Amount Received June 18 1822 Pension Started Age 71 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Samuel	GRAY	1835	Private, North Carolina Line, $43.33 Annual Allowance $86.66 Amount Received May 16 1833 Pension Started Age 82 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Abraham	HELTON Sen.	1835	Private, North Carolina Line, $23.33 Annual Allowance $63.33 Amount Received July 18 1833 Pension Started Age 80 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Joseph	JACOBS	1835	Private, Infantry and Cavalry North Carolina Militia, $32.50 Annual Allowance $97.50 Amount Received March 6 1834 Pension Started Age 83 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Nathaniel	JOHNSON	1823-1835	OR JOHNSTON. Private, Infantry and Cavalry North Carolina Militia, $48.33 Annual Allowance $96.66 Amount Received February 28 1833 Pension Started Age 78 (1835 TN Pension Roll) See Johnson-Johnston Families
Thomas	JUSTICE	1835	Private, North Carolina State Troops, $80.00 Annual Allowance $00.00 Amount Received April 16 1833 Pension Started Age 69 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Edward	KING	1835	Private, South Carolina Continental Line, $96.00 Annual Allowance $70.40 Amount Received May 22 1820 Pension Started Age 62 Suspended May 1 1820 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Edward	KING	1835	Private, North Carolina Line, $80.00 Annual Allowance $720.00 Amount Received November 2 1829 Pension Started (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Samuel	Knox	1835	Private, South Carolina Line, $73.33 Annual Allowance $219.99 Amount Received April 16 1833 Pension Started Age 81 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Nathaniel	LAIRD	1835	Private, Pennsylvania Continental Line, $96.00 Annual Allowance $529.60 Amount Received January 12 1827 Pension Started Age 77 Died February 27 1832 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Benjamin	LENTS	1835	Private, North Carolina Militia, $66.66 Annual Allowance $166.65 Amount Received May 3 1833 Pension Started Age 79 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Jackson	LILE	1835	Private, North Carolina Line, $46.66 Annual Allowance $139.98 Amount Received November 19 1833 Pension Started Age 72 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Richard	LONG	1835	Private, Virginia Line, $80.00 Annual Allowance $240.00 Amount Received April 16 1833 Pension Started Age 76 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Nicholas	LOYD	1835	Private, North Carolina Militia, $26.66 Annual Allowance $79.98 Amount Received May 11 1833 Pension Started Age 81 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Edward	MAJORS	1835	Private, North Carolina Militia, $26.66 Annual Allowance $66.65 Amount Received March 27 1833 Pension Started Age 73 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
John	Marion	1832	(Pension S2747) served in the NC and SC Lines, was born 14 Oct 1760 in Lancaster Co, PA, and he lived in Mecklenburg Co, NC at enlistment, and shortly after the Rev War, he moved to Moravian Town SC [abt 1783?] and served in the Militia to the Cumberland Country [?] for 2 yrs [aft 1785], then moved to Williamson Co, TN [aft 1800?], then moved to Bedford Co, TN where he applied 7 Nov 1832 (Extracted by C. H ammett from Virgil D. White's Genealogical Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension Files)
John F.	Marion	1835	Private, Infantry and Cavalry North Carolina Line, $75.00 Annual Allowance $225.00 Amount Received December 18 1833 Pension Started Age 74 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Josiah	Martin	1835	Private, North Carolina Line, $46.66 Annual Allowance $139.98 Amount Received June 26 1833 Pension Started Age 77 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
MATT	Martin	1835	Private, Virginia Line, $49.33 Annual Allowance $147.99 Amount Received May 3 1833 Pension Started Age 71 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Hugh	McCRARY	1835	Private, Infantry and Cavalry North Carolina Militia, $79.16 Annual Allowance $237.48 Amount Received April 20 1833 Pension Started Age 76 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
George	McLAIN	1835	Private, North Carolina Militia, $73.33 Annual Allowance $183.32 Amount Received May 3 1833 Pension Started Age 74 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
John	McNATT	1835	Private, Delaware Line, $36.66 Annual Allowance $73.32 Amount Received May 11 1833 Pension Started Age 85 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Francis	McRAIMEY	1835	Private, North Carolina Militia, $26.00 Annual Allowance $78.00 Amount Received February 28 1833 Pension Started Age 76 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Daniel	MEADERS	1835	Private, Infantry and Cavalry North Carolina Militia, $23.38 Annual Allowance $58.45 Amount Received October 17 1833 Pension Started Age 70 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
John	MEDERIS	1835	Captain, 5TH Regiment North Carolina Line, $480.00 Annual Allowance $3840.00 Amount Received February 12 1829 Pension Started (1835 TN Pension Roll)
FREDERIC OR Frederick	Miller		OR Frederick (Pension S30589) served in the VA Line, was born in PA, and at age of 10 yrs [bef 1766] his father was killed by the Indians and he moved with his mother and family to the Shenandoah River in PA and later moved to Buckingham Co, VA where he lived at enl. [abt 1777?] and he lived there some 20 years then moved to Wilkes Co, NC [abt 1797?] for 18 yrs then moved to Bedford Co, TN for [abt 1815?] one year, then moved to Wayne Co, KY [abt 1816?] where he applied 25 Sep 1832 aged 80 "odd yrs." [born bef 1755] (Extracted by C. H ammett from (Virgil D. White, Genealogical Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension Abstract Files)
Henry	Moore	1835	Private, North Carolina Militia, $51.66 Annual Allowance $103.32 Amount Received April 9 1833 Pension Started Age 74 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
John	Moore	1835	Private, North Carolina Militia, $26.66 Annual Allowance $66.65 Amount Received February 28 1833 Pension Started Age 73 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
John	MORRISON	1835	Private, North Carolina Line, $26.11 Annual Allowance $65.27 Amount Received August 14 1833 Pension Started Age 69 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
James	MOSELY	1835	Sergeant, Virginia Continental Line, $96.00 Annual Allowance $1118.93 Amount Received October 25 1822 Pension Started Age 74 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Joseph	MULLINS	1835	Private, Virginia Militia, $21.66 Annual Allowance $64.98 Amount Received May 11 1833 Pension Started Age 95 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
James	NORSWORTHY	1835	Sergeant, North Carolina Continental Line, $96.00 Annual Allowance $95.73 Amount Received November 25 1819 Pension Started Age 65 Dropped May 1 1820 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
James	ORR	1835	Private, North Carolina Continental Line, $96.00 Annual Allowance $986.66 Amount Received June 30 1818 Pension Started Age 84 Transferred from CALDWELL Kentucky March 4 1820 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
John	PATTON	1835	Private, South Carolina Militia, $23.55 Annual Allowance $47.10 Amount Received February 28 1833 Pension Started Age 78 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Thomas	PETTERS	1835	Private, 25TH Regiment U S Infantry, $32.00 Annual Allowance $573.33 Amount Received September 25 1817 Pension Started Transferred from Virginia (1835 TN Pension Roll)
BAXTER	RAGSDALE	1835	Private, Virginia Line, $20.00 Annual Allowance $60.00 Amount Received May 3 1833 Pension Started Age 74 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
John	REED	1835	Private, North Carolina Line, $80.00 Annual Allowance $240.00 Amount Received January 3 1833 Pension Started Age 70 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
EZEKIEL	REYNOLDS	1835	Private, North Carolina Line, $53.33 Annual Allowance $159.99 Amount Received April 20 1833 Pension Started Age 74 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Joseph	ROGERS	1835	Private, South Carolina Militia, $24.88 Annual Allowance $74.64 Amount Received February 23 1833 Pension Started Age 84 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Samuel	SARRETE	1835	Private, North Carolina Continental Line, $96.00 Annual Allowance $143.46 Amount Received October 20 1819 Pension Started Age 66 Suspended May 1 1820 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
James	SHAW	1835	Private, Mounted Gun Men, $96.00 Annual Allowance $1584.00 Amount Received December 30 1820 Pension Started (1835 TN Pension Roll)
James	SLATON	1835	Private, Virginia Line, $43.33 Annual Allowance $126.66 Amount Received November 12 1833 Pension Started Age 75 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
William	Smith	1835	Private, 2ND Regiment Tennessee Militia, $96.00 Annual Allowance $1714.66 Amount Received December 10 1818 Pension Started (1835 TN Pension Roll)
George	Smith Sen.	1835	Private, North Carolina Line, $23.33 Annual Allowance $69.99 Amount Received May 3 1833 Pension Started Age 71 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Samuel	SPEARS	1835	Private, Virginia Line, $21.66 Annual Allowance $64.98 Amount Received May 22 1833 Pension Started Age 74 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Charles	TAYLOR	1835	Private, South Carolina Line, $60.50 Annual Allowance $121.00 Amount Received March 27 1833 Pension Started Age 80 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
William	TIPPER	1835	Private, North Carolina Continental Line, $96.00 Annual Allowance $104.26 Amount Received July 7 1823 Pension Started Age 65 Died February 4 1834 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
David	Tucker	1835	Private, Infantry and Cavalry, $68.33 Annual Allowance $204.99 Amount Received December 10 1832 Pension Started Age 80 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Richard	WALKER	1835	Private, Virginia Continental Line, $96.00 Annual Allowance $606.39 Amount Received October 2 1819 Pension Started Age 79 Suspended May 1 1820 Restored August 3 1825 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Robert	WALKER	1835	Private, Maryland Line, $80.00 Annual Allowance $240.00 Amount Received November 13 1832 Pension Started Age 77 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
Matthew	WALLIS	1835	Private-Sergeant, North Carolina Line, $90.00 Annual Allowance $225.00 Amount Received March 18 1833 Pension Started Age 71 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
John	Williams	1835	Private, Cavalry North Carolina Line, $25.00 Annual Allowance $75.00 Amount Received October 30 1831 Pension Started Age 72 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
James	Wilson	1835	Private, North Carolina Line, $53.33 Annual Allowance $159.99 Amount Received May 3 1833 Pension Started Age 76 (1835 TN Pension Roll)
John	WOOD	1835	Private, North Carolina Line, $27.43 Annual Allowance $147.50 Amount Received February 28 1833 Pension Started Age 82 (1835 TN Pension Roll)

There are many printed indexes and abstracts of pension records available. There are also microfilmed copies of records. Or you may obtain a copy of the records themselves from the National Archives.

The National Archives provides copies of many military service and pension records. In most cases, the cost for a copy of a file is $10.00. Contact the National Archives by writing:

National Archives and Records Administration
8th and Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20408