Matthew McPherson (1757 - 1843)

Born 1757 in Rowan County, North Carolina

Died 5 Aug 1843 at about age 86 in Iredell County, North Carolina, United States

Biography

Matthew McPherson served with Rowan County Regiment, North Carolina Militia during the American Revolution.

Matthew was born in 1758. He died on Aug 5, 1843. He is listed in 1840 living with James McPherson, head of household in Iredell County, North Carolina. The relationship to the head of household is not given.^[1]

Parents: Matthew McPherson (d. 1801), son of Robert and Elizabeth (Rusell) McPherson^[2]

Spouse: Elizabeth "Betsey" Briggs Wilson McPherson (1771 - 1856), married Sep 28, 1797 in Iredell County, North Carolina^[3]

Children:

1. Theresa Phoebe (McPherson) Bell (1807-1875)

Occupation: Proprietor of McPHERSON's Mill on Davidson Creek, Iredell Co, with his brother John McPherson and father, Robert McPherson [17??-1801]^[4]

Revolutionary War Service

AMERICAN REVOLUTION Veteran, served 1775,1776,1779^[5]

State of North Carolina Iredell County: Court of Pleas & quarter Sessions August Term 1832

On this twenty fifth day of August 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before H. Redman, Wm McFect & Jos. W. Murdoch the Court of Iredell County now sitting Matthew McPherson a resident of the County of Iredell and State of North Carolina aged 74 years, who being first duly sworn according to law does on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated:

-- This applicant maketh oath that the first campaign in which he was engaged, was in the year 1775. That he entered the militia service in December under the command of General Rutherford [Griffith Rutherford], Col. Locke [Francis Locke] & Capt. Graham [John Graham] being his officers

-- That he went to South Carolina near Ninety Six marched from Rowan County North Carolina through Charlotte NC; that he served in this Tour six weeks to the best of his recollection.

That he was discharged in January 1776.

This applicant further states that he served a second campaign under the aforementioned officers. That he left home in February or March 1776. That the soldiers rendezvoused at Salisbury North Carolina and marched from thence through Guilford County North Carolina to Fayetteville North Carolina against the Tories, that he was in the service at this time six weeks.

This applicant further saith that he served a short expedition as a volunteer against the Cherokee Indians at the head of the Catawba River North Carolina under the command of Capt. Graham that at this time he was in the service two weeks, that he entered it in July 1776

-- this applicant further saith in the first two campaigns above mentioned that the Country [sic, county?] was divided into classes and that he went into the service under this arrangement

-- This applicant further saith that he served of another campaign under General Rutherford, Col. Locke and Capt. Graham, that he entered the service this time in the month of July 1776 leaving home within two days after his return from the last mentioned expedition. That he served at this time three months. That he marched from Rowan County North Carolina directly to the Cherokee Nation crossing French Broad River, Pigeon River &c -- and that on this expedition the North Carolina Militia were joined by a company of Catawba Indians

-- This applicant further saith that he served another short tour of two weeks against the Tories, in Lincoln County North Carolina in the month of May or June 1779. That he marched from Third Creek in Rowan County North Carolina directly to Lincoln County North (1BLWt26055-160-55 Canceled BLWt34837-160-55) Carolina under the command of Capt. Wilson (William Wilson). That he served another short tour of a week under the command of Major Davidson (probably William Lee Davidson) & Capt. Houston (William Houston). That left home on the 10th of June in the year 1780.

This applicant further saith that he served another Tour against the Tories in Lincoln County of about two weeks continuous, that he was under the command of Major Davidson & he does not recollect the name of the Captain if there was any.

That he served another Tour in the (year) 1779 and in the month of June, near Salisbury North Carolina of a week continuance, that at this time he was engaged in guarding some Tories Prisoners some of whom were afterwards executed.

This applicant further saith that he was out in another expedition in the County of Mecklenburg, under the command of General Davidson (William Lee Davidson), Col. Locke and Captain Ramsy (sic, Ramsey?). That he marched directly from Rowan County North Carolina to the County of Mecklenburg North Carolina. That he rendered this service in the fall of 1780, and that he served three months.

This applicant further saith that he served in another campaign that he left home the last of September or first of October 1781 that he marched thence directly to Wilmington North Carolina, under the command of General Rutherford, Col. Locke & Capt. Bell (William Bell), that he served eight months and a half, and that during the rendering of this service the applicant resided in the County of Rowan and State of North Carolina and that he now lives in the County of Iredell North Carolina which has been stricken off from Rowan since the American Revolution.

Subscribed the day & year aforesaid

S/ Matthew McPherson

[Theophilus Falls & John McPherson gave the standard supporting affidavit.]

1st Answer I was born in Rowan County North Carolina in the year 1758

2nd Answer I have a record of my age at home

3rd Do. I sometimes volunteered and sometimes was drafted

4th Do. I was living when I was called into service Rowan County North Carolina I now live in Iredell County North Carolina

5th Do. To this Question this affiant cannot answer -- but the names of the militia officers I have stated in my own declaration as above

6th Do. I never received a discharge in writing

7th Do. I mention as persons well acquainted with my services & character & services Theophilus Falls & John McPherson.

Sworn & subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

[p 32] North Carolina Iredell County Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace for said County Matthew McPherson, who being duly sworn, deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades.

For six weeks as a private – that he was in the service at another time six weeks. That he served another Tour of two weeks as a volunteer. That he served at another time three months.

That he served another short Tour of two weeks. That he served another short Tour of a week. That he served another Tour of a week. That he served another Tour of a week’s continuance. That he served another campaign of three months. That he served another campaign of one month and a half and for such service he claims a Pension.

This applicant refers the department to his declaration which is herewith returned as containing the time precisely which he served that is he served at least the periods contained in his declaration as amended and also in these amendments stated and that he is confident that he has not overstated the time. That he rendered all this service as a private.

This applicant hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or an annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any Agency in any State or if any only that of the agency of the State of North Carolina.

This applicant states that there is no Clergyman whose evidence or affidavit he can procure as to his services.

Sworn and subscribed before me this 21st day of May 1833

S/ William Harbin, JP

S/ Matthew McPherson

[p 14: On December 31, 1850 in Iredell County North Carolina, Elizabeth McPherson, aged 79, filed for a widow’s pension as the widow of Matthew McPherson; that she was married to him on September 28, 1797; that her husband died August 5, 1843; that she has no family record showing either the date of her marriage or the births of her children but that her

• first child was born July one, 1799
• her 2nd child was born August 11, 1801;
• her 3rd child was born September 15, 1803;
• her 4th child was born November 29, 1806 and
• her 5th and last child was born January 4, 1809.

She signed her application with her mark.]

[p 16: Copy of a marriage bond issued in Iredell County North Carolina dated September 26, 1797 issued to Matthew McPherson and Samuel Fleming conditioned upon the marriage of Matthew McPherson to Elizabeth Wilson.]

[p 6: On August 21, 1855 in Iredell County North Carolina, Elizabeth McPherson, aged 83 years, filed for her bounty land entitlement as the widow of a revolutionary war. She signed this document with her mark.]

[p 34: this page contains a digital image of an actual bounty land warrant issued for 160 acres to the widow of this veteran.]

[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $39.88 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831, for service as a private for 11 months and 28 days in the North Carolina militia. His widow was pensioned in a like amount.]

Sources

1. ↑ #C1800, #C1810, #C1820, #C1830, #C1840, #Pension, #FG, birth 1757 #Centre
2. ↑ #FG
3. ↑ #Pension, #FG, #Centre
4. ↑ #FG
5. ↑ #Pension, #PensionPay, #FG, #Centre

• Find A Grave: Memorial #10886026 retrieved Nov 7, 2017
• "United States Revolutionary War Pension Payment Ledgers, 1818-1872," database with images, FamilySearch (Link: accessed 7 November 2017), Matthew Mcpherson, 04 Mar 1831; citing North Carolina, United States, NARA microfilm publication T718 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1962), roll 5; FHL microfilm 1,319,385. Note: Deceased Apr 4, 1843, hard to read
• "United States Census, 1800," database with images, FamilySearch (Link: accessed 7 November 2017), Matthew Mcpherson, Salisbury, Iredell, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 657, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 29; FHL microfilm 337,905.
• "United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (Link: accessed 7 November 2017), Matthew Mc Pherson, Iredell, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 184, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 40; FHL microfilm 337,913.
• "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (Link: accessed 7 November 2017), Matthew Mcpherson, Iredell, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 249, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 80; FHL microfilm .>/span>
• "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (Link: 29 July 2017), Matthew Mc Pherson, Iredell, North Carolina, United States; citing 64, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 122; FHL microfilm 18,088.
• "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHTV-M6D : 20 August 2017), James Mcpherson, Iredell, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 170, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 363; FHL microfilm 18,094. Note: I looked at the original census record and the pensioner is Mathew McPherson, who is listed with James McPherson Head of Household
• Pension Application for Matthew McPherson
• Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed Dec 1, 2017), "Record of Matthew McPherson", Ancestor # A076376.
• Revolutionary War Patriots Buried at Centre Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Mooresville, North Carolina, Link, Compiled December 2015 in commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of Centre Church. Shirley Wagers and June Robb, Feb. 5, 2018...this is an updated and complete list of the patriots and has the most accurate information, accessed Feb 26, 2018
• The Heritage of Iredell County, NC Vol II - 2000, published by the Genealogical Society of Iredell County, PO Box 946, Statesville, North Carolina 29866, LC # 00-110956, 574 pages with index, See also Space:The Heritage of Iredell County
• See also Space:Iredell County Revolutionary Soldiers for a comprehensive list of Iredell Revolutionary War Veterans.
• Revolutionary War Soldiers for NC and SC, Data provided by the website Carolana.