Charles Word Jr. (1740 - 1780)

Born 9 Jul 1740 in Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Sarah (Adams) Hooper — married 1768 in Halifax, Virginia

Descendants

Died 7 Oct 1780 at age 40 in KIngs Mountain, Cherokee County, South Carolina, USA

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Cynthia Russo [send private message] and David Graham [send private message]

Biography

Charles was born 9 Jul 1740 in Virginia, USA. He was the son of Charles Word and Sarah Collins

Military Feb 1755 • Virginia, USA -- He volunteered with the "Virginia Blues" under the command of General George Washington. They guarded the frontier against the French.

Military May 1755 • Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, USA -- Took part in the battle of French Fort Duquesne (modern-day downtown Pittsburgh) where General Braddock was defeated. Under Washington, he covered the retreat of Braddock. He was one of only 30 Virginia Blues to escape

Marriage 1768 • North Carolina, USA --To Miss Elizabeth Adams (1753–1834).

Charles and Elizabeth had 7 children:

1. Thomas Adams Word 1768–1831
2. Martha Word Humphreys 1770–1843
3. William Word 1772–1826
4. Robert Word 1773–
5. Joshua Word 1775–1853
6. Mary "Polly" Word Hooper 1777–1836
7. Elizabeth Adams Word Hooper 1779–1858
   

   Charles Word Jr. served with North Carolina Militia during the American Revolution.
   

   Charles Word Jr. is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
   NSSAR Ancestor #: P-324703
   Rank: Private
   

   Charles Word Jr. is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A130410.

Military Mar 1778 -- He was serving in Col. William Grayson's Regiment as a Drummer/Fifer

Death 7 Oct 1780 • Blacksburg, Cherokee, South Carolina, USA. He was killed in the battle of Kings Mountain during the Revolutionary War

Burial: Blacksburg, Cherokee, South Carolina, USA -- Kings Mountain Battleground Cemetery^[1]

Last Will and Testament

According to the N.B. at the bottom of his will, Charles was wounded and lay dying when he dictated his will, after the Battle of Kings Mountain.

He leaves the bulk of his estate, after expenses and debts for the use of his much loved wife. After her death or remarry, the remainder is to be divided among his children equally. They are not named individually.

He names his "good friends" Joshua Addams and John Addams as his sole executors. The will was witnessed by James Cook and James Griffins.

Charles Word Jr - Last Will and Testament

Battle of Kings Mountain

The Battle of Kings Mountain lasted 65 minutes.

Those 65 minutes changed the course of this great nation's bid for freedom from the tyranny of the Crown.

The Loyalists suffered 290 killed, 163 wounded, and 668 taken prisoner. The Patriot militia suffered 29 killed and 58 wounded. The Patriots had to move out quickly for fear that Cornwallis would advance to meet them.

In The Winning of the West, Theodore Roosevelt wrote of Kings Mountain, "This brilliant victory marked the turning point of the American Revolution."

Thomas Jefferson called it, "The turn of the tide of success."

President Herbert Hoover at Kings Mountain said,

"This is a place of inspiring memories. Here less than a thousand men, inspired by the urge of freedom, defeated a superior force intrenched in this strategic position. This small band of Patriots turned back a dangerous invasion well designed to separate and dismember the United Colonies. It was a little army and a little battle, but it was of mighty portent. History has done scant justice to its significance, which rightly should place it beside Lexington, Bunker Hill, Trenton and Yorktown."

Sources

1. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #127969811

• Source: S2852711167 Repository: #R2852704208 Title: Public Member Trees Author: Ancestry.com https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/5111977/family
• Detail SAR Membership Number: 84830 ; Source Information Title U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970, Author Ancestry.com; Publisher Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Publisher Date 2011; Publisher Location Provo, UT, USA
• "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9GJ-FBTG?cc=1911121&wc=Q643-JRZ%3A1590102855%2C183410401%2C1590110518 : 25 October 2016), Surry County > W > image 11 of 11; State Archives, Raleigh.
• "North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:SQWF-DWXQ-9?cc=1867501&wc=32L2-K6D%3A170003101%2C170777901 : 21 May 2014), Surry > image 161 of 204; county courthouses, North Carolina.
• Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed December 8, 2016), "Record of Charles Word", Ancestor # A130410.
• King's Mountain And Its Heroes: History Of The Battle Of King's Mountain, 1780, And The Events Which Led To It – by Lyman C. Draper (Author); Publisher: Kessinger Publishing, LLC (September 10, 2010) Language: English; ISBN-10: 1163310042; ISBN-13: 978-1163310045
• Dameron, J. David (2003). Kings Mountain: The Defeat of the Loyalists, October 7, 1780. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-306-81194-4.
• Over Mountain Victory
• The Winning of the West Complete - by Theodore Roosevelt; Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; ISBN-10: 1523768452 ISBN-13: 978-1523768455

Acknowledgments

• WikiTree profile Word-65 created through the import of The Sammons Family Tree.ged on Jun 9, 2011 by Steve Sammons.
• WikiTree profile Word-77 created through the import of ANDREW21June.GED on Jun 21, 2011 by David Graham.
• Biography and Last Will and Testament document contributed by Alana Morgan