Amos Church lived most of his adult life on a 150 acre farm that was adjacent to the site of the dam built in recent years to control the flood waters of the Yadkin river. It was the land originally granted to the Moravians,fought over in numerous court battles, and finally paid for at least twice by Amos and his decendants. Fifty two graves still remain in the old cemetery that spreads down the slope towards the new dam. It is through Amo's pension application, and related documents that we learn much regarding the early years of the Church family in western North Carolina. The importance of the first document is such as to merit inclusion herein in its entirity. It follows. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA WILKES COUNTY On the 19th. day of October,in the year of our lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirity Three personally appeared before me James Wellborn, a Justice Of The Peace, and for the County of Wilkes and State aforesaid, Amos Church, resident in said County who being duly sworn according to law (for the purpose of obtaining a pension, under an act of Congress pass'd June the 7th. 1832). Deposeth and saith that he has no written evidence of his age, but believes that he was born in the State Of Virginia in the year 1758, being so informed by his parents, removed to Rowan County, North Carolina where they lived about thirteen years as this affiant was informed, and believes. They then moved to Wilkes County where this affiant has liv'd ever since. This affiant states that in the spring of the year 1778, he volunteered and was called into service for three months under the command of Colonel Benjamin Cleveland, Capt. John Cleveland, and Lieu. Gambill, as a Private, was marched from Wilkes across the Blue Ridge to the head of New River where a division of the Company took place and Lieu. Gambill took command of the company to which this affiant was attached as Capt. We march'd down New River in pursuit of the Torries through Cox's settlement,where we captured a Tory and executed him. We then pursued them to the Virginia line and captured several of them, but did not have any engagements, we then returned home to Wilkes County where we discharged having served about five weeks, which discharge this affiant has long since lost. This affiant futher states that in the summer of 1778 he was drafted and called into service for three months under the command of Col.Benjamin Cleveland, and Cap. Richard Allen. was marched up the Yadkin River out at its head into Burke County to what was called Criders Fort in pursuit of a Company of Tories under the command of a Tory Col. by the name of Roberts. On arriving at the Fort we were informed that the Tories had retreated towards the Catawba River. We pursued them on. When we reached the river we continued our march on down the river, and we had not gone many miles before we were fired upon by the Tories from the cliffts. The Captain of our light horse, Cap. Larkin Cleveland, was shot through the thigh. When the Tories retreated we remained along said river for several days, scouting, and guarding the country. Then we were marched back to Wilkes County and discharged for three months by our Captain. Which discharge this affaint has lost: He futher states that in the month of October 1779 he volunteered and was called into service for three months under the command of Captian Reuben Stringer, and Lieut. Brown. We marched from Wilkes County across the Blue Ridge to Cove Creek, crossing the Stone Mountain to the Watauga River in pursuit of the above named Col. Roberts,a Tory, and his Company;.. The tories retreated before us,some miles as we understood. When our Company arrived at the Watauga River we remained there some days, engaged in scouting expeditions, and gaurding the country. Then we marched back to Wilkes having served one month, which discharge of our Captain this affiant has lost:...He further states that in the month of November 1779 he volunteered and was called into service for three months under the command of Capt. Robert Cleveland, marched across the Blue Ridge to the South Fork of the New River at a place called The Old Fields, in pursuit of a Company of Tories: who had captured Col. Benjamin Cleveland . We pursued them across the mountains near the North Fork of said river, where we overtook them, and fired upon them, wounded one Tory, and made three prisoners, and rescued Col. Cleveland. We then returned to the Old Fields and remained a few days and returned home in ten days from the day we started... He further states that in the month's of July, or August he served a short tour after the Indians. Commanded by Capt. Benjamin Greer, and Lieut. William Stringer... That in the month of August , or September he volunteered and was called into service for three months under the command of Col. Benjamin Cleaveland, and Capt. George Morris, marched to the Calloway Settlement on New River in pursuit of Tories,and then returned to Wilkes. This was in 1780.- He received no discharge:.. This affiant further states that in the fall of the year 1730 he volunteered for three month's and joined headquarters at Salisbury,North Carolina , under the command of Col. Lark,and Capt. William Glenn , of Virginia..We were stationed at Salisbury, Rowan County for some time when an express came on for the troop to march to Mecklenburg County where there were a number of British prisoners to guard. We were stationed there for some time when the prisoner's were taking sick, and several died... We then marched back to Salisbury, guarding the prisoner's... We were discharged by our Capt.for three months service, which discharge this affiant has lost. ..He further states that he did not return home to Wilks before he volunteered and was called into service for three months under the command of Capt. William Fletcher... There being no commanding Col.(as well as I recollect) to guard the Tory prisoners in the stockade(or kind of fort)in Salisbury,where he remained stationed for three months and received a discharge from Capt. Fletcher, which he has long since lost....This affiant further states that in the spring or summer of 1781 he volunteered, and was called into service for three month's under the command of Capt. Joel Lewis, and marched from Wilkes County through Rowan, crossing Yadkin at the trading ford below Salisbury, passing through Randolph County to some creek,( as this affiant understood) to join Gen. Greens Army... Our Company was stationed at Cane's Creek for some time when news came for them to be marched back to Wilkes, where we were discharged for three month's, having served altogather Two years,and three month's under orders which discharge this affiant has lost...This affiant further states that he has no documentary evidence of his service,except his brother John Church who served several tours with him... He further states that his name is not on any pension rolls of any State,and that he relinquishes all pension claims whatsoever, save that stated in his declaration.....His X..Amos Church.. mark... Sworn to and subscribed before me a Justice of the peace for Wilks County and State aforsaid, this 19th.day of October, A.D. 1883-J.Wellborn,J.P. ************************************************************* STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA****Wilkes County.********* WE, Hugh Brown, and Thomas Fletcher, being a clergyman, do swear and depose, and say that we are aquainted with Amos Church who lives in our immediate neighborhood, that he has always been reputed to have been a Whig, and soldier of The Revolutionary War,and we believe he was so, and that his veracity is unimpeach'd...Sworn to, and subscribed before me this 19th.day of October,A.D.1833..J. Wellborn,J.P..Hugh Brown..Thomas Fletcher (Clergiman) ************************************************************* STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, Wilks County.***************** This day came before me, James Wellborn, as justice of the peace, in, and for,the County of Wilkes,and state aforsaid,John Church, and made oath that his age is about seventy three years, that he served in the Revolutionary War with his brother Amos Church, was with him in the expeditions to Coxs settlement,The Catawba River,and Criders Fort. To Cove Creek, and The Watauga River, against the Indians, and to the Calloway settlement. That they parted during the services, but he believes said Amos Church was frequently, if not constantly in service to the close of the war.******Sworn to and subscribed this 19th. day of October,A.D.1833. His*John X Church *Mark
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