Revolutionary War pension of David Childers in the State of Tennessee

Submitted by Donna Bray

Private in the regiment commended by Colonel Pannill of the Georgia line for the term of 3 years.

Certificate of Pension issued the 5th of Feb. 1819 and Sent to Hon. J. Rhea, House of Representatives

Arrears to 4th April 1818, $52.38 Revolutionary Claim Act 18 March 1818

Evidence for Pension Made this 19th day of August 1818, in term of Georgia Line By Capt. Pannill; Adm. 1775 – 3 year

State of Tennessee, Sullivan County
August sixteen 1818. There personally appeared in open Court DAVID CHILDERS, age 57 years and in pursuance to an act of Congress of the United States, entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land or Naval Service of the United States and subscribed the following Declaration: to wit that the said Childers enlisted into the Continental service of the Revolutionary war in the year 1775 as now recorded in Charlotte Co., State of Virginia for a Term of three years under a Captain Worton who was a recruiting officer, and that said Worton resigned his commission and this Deponent was taken from the place of enlistment by a Lt. Littlebury Mosby into the State of Georgia and put under Ephraim John George of the 2nd Regiment of the Georgia Line, which regiment was commanded by General Elbert of Colonel Pannill’. And that after the deponent joined said Regiment he served in the same nearly three years in the state of Georgia and South Caroline until in an engagement with the British at Sunbury in Georgia this deponent was taken prisoner, and was conveyed on board a ship and kept in close confinement for six months, as a means of coercing him to enlist into the British service, and finding no alternative but remain in prison, he at length through stratagem did enlist and in about two months he deserted from said service that being the first opportunity he had of so doing, at which time his period of enlistment expired, and on his return after deserting the British he met with the Lt. Mosby whom he was originally under, and for this security he gave him a discharge
As he had no opportunity of obtaining a discharge from a superior officer, being in a state of imprisonment when his term of servitude expired. He also states that he again after his release and discharge from service, volunteered at the time the British were making inroads through the County and in the Battle of Guilford and several other engagements and continued in service for one year at as a volunteer.

He also state that he has lost his discharge and has it not in his power now to produce the same but actually served for three years close servitude in the continental line, except the 8 months during which he was imprisoned by the enemy and was in almost the whole of the southern battle at the Eutaw Spring and elsewhere. He also stated that he has resided in Sullivan County twenty-six years, and in the United States ever since he left the army and from his reduced circumstances in life, he stand in need of the assistance of the County for support.

Sworn to and subscribed in Open Court this 19th August 1818.

David (his mark) Childers

Sullivan County, State of Tennessee: August 1818
I, Matthew Rhea, clerk of the Court of Pleas for said county did certify that the forgoing declaration was duly made by subscribed and sworn to in open court on the day of this date thereof. I also certify that from the knowledge of the court, said applicant is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of the Country for support, and ordered by the Court to be certified to the Honorable Secretary of War.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the Court in open Court this 19th August 1818

Matthew Rhea, Clerk

Sullivan County, State of Tennessee 19 Aug 1818
I Joseph Wallace Chairman of the Court of Pleas and for the said County do certify that Matthew Rhea who made the foregoing certificate is and then was acting clerk of the County and that said duplicate was made in pursuance to the Judgment of order of the Court in testimony whereof have hereunto set my hand in open court this day above. Joseph Wallace, Chairman of Sullivan County Court.

DESCENDANTS OF DAVID CHILDERS

1. David Childers was born about 1761 in Culpepper Va., married Lucy Gaines in 1787, in Culpepper Va. Virginia. He died in 1849 in Sullivan County, Tenn.
2. His son Edmund Pendleton Childers was born in 1802 in Sullivan Co., Tennessee, and married Louisa Stewart in 1834 in Rhea Co., Tennessee
3. Their daughter Sarah Elizabeth Childers was born in Rhea Co. Tennessee in 1842 and Married Cagen Joshua Thomas about 1859 in Tennessee. Sarah Childers Thomas died Dec 12 1882 in Wright Co., Missouri
4. Their first son was George Pendleton Thomas, born 1861 in White Co., Tennessee.

Sources:

Revolutionary Pension File, David Childers, Claim No. 39298, National Archives, Kansas City, Mo. 1840 Census of Revolutionary Pensioners, Sullivan Co., Tennessee

Sims Index of West Virginia Patents

State of Georgia, Office of the Governor, Act of the Georgia Assembly, Opening Land Office Feb., 1783