Andrew Evans Sr. (1759 - 1840)

Born 28 Sep 1759 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

Husband of Elizabeth (Fain) Evans — married 1781 in Jonesborough, Washington, Tennessee, United States

Descendants

Died 5 Dec 1840 at age 81 in Harrison Township, Owen County, Indiana, United States

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Biography

Andrew Evans was born 28 Sep 1759 in Anson (as of 1763, Mecklenburg) County, North Carolina, the son of David Evans. In 1782, in the recently-founded town of Jonesborough, later to become the county seat of Washington County, Tennessee, he married Elizabeth Fain. Together, they had twelve children.^[1]

1. David Evans (1783-1823)
2. Nathaniel Evans (1785-abt.1837)
3. Jesse Evans (1787-1875)
4. John Fain Evans (1789- )
5. Elizabeth Taylor (Evans) Wilson (1791-abt.1837)
6. Nancy (Evans) Morgan (1793-abt.1838)
7. Samuel Evans (1795-1875)
8. Andrew Evans, Jr. (1796-1858)
9. Mary (Evans) Richardson (abt.1799-1871)
10. William Evans (abt.1803-1866)
11. James Evans (1804-1866)
12. Rachel (Evans) Couchman Burcham (1805-1885)

Andrew and Elizabeth lived in Washington County until probably late 1795, when they moved to Pulaski County, Kentucky.^[2] About 1824, Andrew and Elizabeth moved to Owen County, Indiana.^[3]

Andrew died on 5 Dec 1840, in Harrison Township, Owen County, Indiana. He is buried with his wife Elizabeth, who lived a decade longer, in Asher Graveyard, Owen County, Indiana.

Captain Andrew Evans Sr. served with 2nd Mecklenburg County Regiment, North Carolina Militia during the American Revolution.

Andrew was a Revolutionary War veteran. He fought with Col. Campbell's Virginia volunteers, and participated in the Battle of King's Mountain (17 Oct 1780), and the Battle of Cowpens (17 Jan 1781), both in South Carolina. The story is told, of the Battle of King's Mountain, that:^[4]

Benjamin Sharp, of Campbell's regiment, who witnessed this scene, thus describes it: "At the close of the action, when the British were loudly calling for quarters, but uncertain whether they would be granted, I saw the intrepid Shelby rush his horse within fifteen paces of their lines, and command them to lay down their arms, and they should have quarters. Some would call this an imprudent act; but it showed the daring bravery of the man."

Andrew Evins, a member of Captain William Edmondson's company, of the Virginia regiment, was, with others, still firing on the demoralized Tories, when Colonel Campbell came running up, and knocked up the soldier's gun, exclaiming—"Evins, for God's sake, don't shoot! It is murder to kill them now, for they have raised the flag!" Campbell, as he rushed along, repeated the order—"Cease firing!—for God's sake, cease firing!"^[5]

His military service, for a total of over seven months, included also his service under Col. Sevier to fight against the Cherokees.

Research Notes

1. ↑ Unless otherwise noted, the information reported here is consistent with the text "Descendants of Andrew Owen", found at the Owen, Putnam & Morgan Counties website.
2. ↑ In the 1850 census, Samuel, born in Apr 1795, claims Tennessee as his birthplace, while Andrew, born Feb 1796, claims Kentucky. The "Descendants of Andrew Evans" information sheet gives the date of the move as "about 1797".
3. ↑ There are two versions of this move, both found in the "Descendants of Andrew Evans" information sheet. One, found also in an unsourced note at Find a Grave, suggests that Andrew and Elizabeth moved to Owen County in 1924 to live with their son Jesse, who had already settled there. This version accords with the account in his petition for military pension, in which he is affirmed to have lived in Kentucky for 27 years. The other version is that the parents moved in 1818, together with all or some of their sons. What does seem certain is that at least two of his sons, Jesse and Samuel, had moved to Owen County in 1818, a date recorded in biographies of two of his grandsons: John M. Evans, the son of Jesse (Duncan, et al., 1901, p. 157); and Jesse L. Evans, the son of Samuel (Blanchard, 1963 [1884], p. 952). At another point in Blanchard (Archer, 1884, p. 566), it is said that Jesse Evans and Andrew Evans (mentioned in that order) arrived in Owen County in 1818, among its first settlers. That could of course refer to son and father, but it could also (more probably) refer to the two brothers, Jesse and Andrew (ages 31 and 22 at the time).
4. ↑ Draper, 1881, p. 282-283.
5. ↑ These words were attested to by Evans himself, in May 1823, in support of Colonel Campbell. (Draper, 1881, p. 590).

Sources

• Archer, James W. "History of Owen County", p. 551-615. In: Charles Blanchard (Ed.), Vol. 1. (Tales of Pioneer Series). Spencer, IN: Spencer Chamber of Commerce, 1963 [1884].
• Blanchard, Charles (Ed.). History of Owen County, Vols. 1 and 2. (Tales of Pioneer Series). Spencer, IN: Spencer Chamber of Commerce, 1963 [1884].
• "Descendants of Andrew Evans". Miscellaneous notes on Andrew Evans (1759-1840) and descendants. Author unknown. Available in DOC form from Rootsweb and SweetOwen.
• Draper, Lyman C. King's Mountain and its heroes : history of the the battle of King's Mountain, October 7th, 1780, and the events which led up to it. Cincinatti, OH: Peter G. Thompson, Publisher, 1881.
• Duncan, L. Wallace, and Charles F. Scott. History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas. Iola, KS: Iola Register, Printers and Binders, 1901.
• FamilySearch Details page for Andrew Evans (1759-1840).
• Find A Grave: Memorial #38657219 for Andrew Evans
• Indiana Daughters of the American Revolution. A Roster of Revolutionary Ancestors of the Indiana Daughters of the American Revolution, Vol. I. (Commemoration of the United States of America Bicentennial, July 4, 1976). Evansville, IN: DAR, 1976, p. 202.
• Linthicum Families Throughout the Years, Personal Information page for Andrew Evans (1759-1840).
• US Federal Census, Indiana. FamilySearch database with images.
  • 1830, Owen County, Wayne and Montgomery Twp, sheet 259 (image 165), line 16:Andrew Evans Sr. (NARA M19 roll 29). Household composition: 1M5<10, 1M10<15, 1M15<20, 1M20<30, 1M70<80 [Andrew, 70], 1F10<15, 1F15<20, 1F20<30, 1F60<70 [Elizabeth, 66].
  • 1840, Owen County, Wayne Twp, p. 123 (image 4). Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services, line 2: Andrew Evans (81). (NARA M704 roll 89). [Living in the household of William Evans, p. 127 (image 7), line 29.]
• White, Katherine Keogh. The King's Mountain Men: The Story of the Battle, with Sketches of the American Soldiers Who Took Part. Santa Maria, CA: Janaway Publishing, 2010.

Andrew Evans pension records:
Owen County, Indiana Court, October 16, 1831

On this 16th day of October, A.D. 1831, Andrew Evans, Sr., appeared in open court before the honorable Amory Kinney, president judge and Circuit Court of the said county of Owen, the same being absent, of the record, now sitting, Andrew Evans, a resident of the said county being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration for the purpose of obtaining the benefit of the Act of Congress drafted on June 7, 1832.

That he entered into service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. His first service was a volunteer in the Virginia Militia under a Captain William Neil from Montgomery Co., Virginia, this applicant entered this service from Washington County, Virginia that being the place of residence. Captain Neil was under Col. Campbell and the service lasted for about two weeks during which time the body of troops to which this applicant belonged was in search for the pursuit of the Tories in the New River below Peppers (?) Ferry the town and of the county of Montgomery County, and as well as this declarant recollects, and he is pretty certain he is correct, it was in the month of May next before the Battle of Kings Mountain.

His lieutenant's name was Lyon. His ensign's name the thinks was Doherty (?). After this short time the troops were marched back and discharged verbally in Surry Co., North Carolina. This declarant was afterwards ordered out by the Col. of Washington Co. to aid in guarding a Tory Captain by the name of James Carr on his way to Richmond as far as Hau's (Haw?) Meadow, in which the service that he was employed about one week. This was a short time after his former service. The custody of the said James Carr was given to David Kincaid of Washington County.

This applicant was afterward in the month of July called out by Col. Wm Campbell to go with a body of troops to the mountains bordering North Carolina against the Tories who were there residing, His captain was Jacob Stephens, and his lieutenant the same (looks like Nash, not Neil). They marched from Washington County to Montgomery to the said Moravian Town and traversed the county from there to Allen Iron Works and on to the town fork of the Dan River and to the shallow ford of the Yadkin.

From thence they returned to the Moravian town where they were stationed about a month. After they had continued there short length of time, they went to the waters of the Dan River again. After this they returned home with orders to be in readiness at a moment's warning to again take to the field. This tour lasted about 7 or 8 weeks, he thinks he may safely say seven weeks.

In about ten days after this applicant returned home, another call was made on the county of Washington where this applicant still lived as well as the surrounding counties. This declarant again entered the service as a volunteer under Captain Wm. Edmondson; the lieutenant's name was also Edmonson.

Shortly after the company met, being a voluntary, they were marched to Abingdon, Virginia in the same county and joined the company of Col. Wm. Campbell who marched into Sullivan and Washington (then North Carolina, now Tennessee) where they joined Evan Shelby, and the three colonels some short time after joined Cleveland. This junction was followed by the Battle of Kings Mountain in which this applicant took part. He recollects that Capt. Edmondson and his lieutenant were both killed on the field. Major Lewis was wounded and died the third day. He saw Col. Ferguson after he fell and saw his wounds, the one which proved fatal was received by the ball which struck him in the face.

He recollects the name of Mills, a Tory colonel, hung afterwards. He also remembers the name of the captain of the Tories of the name Inman who was pursued some distance but not taken. After the battle this applicant continued in the service so as to make in all the period of two months that he was out in this tour. He thinks a little over, but he considers himself safe in saying two months. He was discharged verbally but honorably as one of them who fought bravely at Kings Mountain. He thinks he got home in November after the battle.

Immediately after his return, this applicant went into Washington County, North Carolina (now Tennessee) and volunteered under Col. Sevier to go against the Indians, Cherokees. This tour lasted three months which he performed and was at the end honorably discharged. One of the major's names was Tipton (Jonathan). The captain this applicant was under the name of David Edmondson, a relative of him who was killed at King Mountain.

He returned home from this campaign in the close of the winter or the beginning of spring following, dates not recollected. The troops of Sevier marched into the Cherokee country and had turning the campaign one small engagement in which about sixteen Indians were found dead and a number wounded. He recollected they took their Christmas dinner in the Indian town called Old Chota.

This campaign ended this applicant's service in the Revolution. From all which appear that he is entitled to pay for 1-one tour of two weeks; 2-one tour of one week. 3-one tour of seven weeks, one tour of two months, one of three months or five months, 70 days, equal to seven months and 10 days.

He has no written documents to prove his service having never received a discharge in writing, but he solemnly upon his oath declares that he faithfully served his country as he has herein set forth, He has no living witness by whom he can prove his service and must rely upon this declaration and this testimony of his neighbors hereto amended. He states that he served in each tour as a volunteer.

He was born in Mechlenburg Co., North Carolina. He has lived since the Revolution, 13 years in Tennessee, 27 years in Pulaski County, Kentucky and nearly 8 years in the said county of Owen, State of Indiana aforesaid where he now resides. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state in the union.

Signed and sworn to the day and year aforesaid.
(signature)
--Andrew Evans, Sr.

We Thomas C, Johnson, a clergyman residing in the county of Owen and Elijah Lacy, and John McCullough, who resides in the same, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Andrew Evans who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 73 years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier in the Revolution and we concur in the opinion.

(Signatures)
Thomas C. Johnson
Elijah Lacy
John McCullough