Joel (Callaham) Callahan (1754 - 1847)

Born 1754 in Pittsylvania County, British Colony of Virginia, North America

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1847 at about age 93 in Greenville District, South Carolina, United States

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Biography

Joel (Callaham) Callahan served with North Carolina during the American Revolution.

Joel Calliham was born in 1754 in Pittsylvania County, British Colony of Virginia, North America, the son of David Calliham and Elizabeth Unknown. ^[1][2]

Joel's Revolutionary War Pension indicates his wife's name was Sarah and that she died about 30 years before him in Greenville District, South Carolina, United States.^[3] Joel and Sarah had at least the following children:

1. John Callahan
2. Catherine Callahan married Robert Compton (d. 1852)^[4]
3. Gresham Callahan

Joel married Malinda Unknown who is mentioned in the probate of his estate.^[5]

Timeline

• 1754 Joel was born in Pittsylvania County, British Colony of Virginia, North America
• 1777-1781 Joel lived in Watauga West Tennessee (then British Province of North Carolina) while he served in the Revolutionary War
• 1777- Joel was fighting Indians on the Tennessee River (note:served under Col. Evan Shelby)
• Joel and John were on the 1778 Washington County, TN tax list
• 1780 - 1781 Fought Indians on the French Broad River (near Spartanburg Greenville) (note: served under Col. William Campbell)
• 1781-82 Was made Captain by Colonel Sevier - fought Indians at Nolichucky River served under Colonel Sevier, Colonel Robinson and Major Walton down to the High Hills of Santee, (Sumter, South Carolina)
• 1781 -82 September - January joined General Francis Mario was under General Marion three months
• 1785 - Joel received 31 may 1785 300 acres on Georges and Daddey's Creek, Saluda River 96 Dist. 8 Jul 1785 John Callahan received 300 acres adjacent.
• 1790 - Joel was in the Spartanburg area of District 96, South Carolina at the time of the 1790 Census.
• 1800 - He was in Pendleton District, South Carolina in the 1800 Census Hi
• 1832 - Joel applied for a pension as a resident of Greenville District, South Carolina stating he lived in SC since his military service ended. In 1832 his signature is as Joel Callahan.
• 1840 - He was in Spartanburg District at the time of the 1840 Census
• 1847 - Joel died in Greenville District, South Carolina
• 1850 - Catherine Callahan Compton is in the Greenville Census

On this the tenth day of October in the year of our Lord 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court in of Common Pleas and General Sessions now sitting Joel Callahan a resident of Greenville District and State of South Carolina aged seventy-eight years who being first duly sworn according to law doth 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 – he thinks he entered the service for the first time in the fall of '77 under Captain Goode [Richard Goode] Colonel Christie [sic, William Christian], Colonel Williams [Joseph Williams] and Major Winston were also in command – he went against the Cherokee Indians on Tennessee River -- the first time he was gone under the above named officers about eight weeks – he marched in the Spring following against the Indians under Colonel Shelby [Evan or Isaac Shelby] and Colonel Robinson down the Chickamauga Nation, burnt the Indian towns, we destroyed their property and took their livestock – was gone on this expedition about eight weeks – came home again and in the year '80 [1780] or '81 [1781] Colonel Sevier [John Sevier] raised men and this applicant was one of them and marched against the Cherokees-- crossed French Broad [River] about 4 miles, came across a party of Indians and killed a parcel of them – then retreated back into “Big Island” and lay until Colonel William Campbell came up – then marched against the Indians again and killed some and destroyed their houses &c was gone about eight weeks in this expedition – After coming home in the year “'81” [1781] or “'82” [1782] Colonel Sevier gave this applicant a commission of Captain and wrote to him to raise men and meet him on Chucka [sic, Nolichucky River] at what was called the greasy Cove – he met there and had but five men -- went to the Valley Towns on the head of Tennessee [River], was gone two weeks, killed 20 or 30 Indians and took a good number prisoners he then returned home – was again written to by Colonel Sevier to raise a number of men out of so many companies and if the men could not be raised otherwise to draft them, then marched under Colonel Sevier, Colonel Robinson and Major Walton down to the High Hills of Santee, joined General Marion [Francis Marion] was under General Marion three months – went in September and returned home in January, served a three months tour – He thinks he served all together one year and suffered a great deal – He lived in Watauga West Tennessee [sic, then North Carolina] when he entered the service – He volunteered every time he went out – He was in no battles of any importance – he marched through Camden and the Waxhaws – and whilst with General Marion, Col. Mayum [Hezekiah Maham] and Colonel Horry [probably Daniel Horry, but possibly Peter Horry or Hugh Horry] commanded the Horse - He has no documentary evidence – knows of no one whose testimony he can procure, except Mr. Abner Thompson [sic, Absalom Thompson1] who served with him in the second campaign against the Indians. 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. He was born in Virginia Pittsylvania County about the year '54 [1754] – has no record of his age – has lived since the revolution in South Carolina –has received a discharge but lost it-- was given by Colonel Sevier – did receive a commission from Col. Sevier but it is lost – did serve as a Captain about four or five months – besides serving as a Captain at Beans' fort--[illegible first name] Pickett, Mr. Blythe, Mr. Russell and others of his neighbors can testify as [to] his character for truth and good behavior.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

S/ Joel Callahan^[6]

Joel Callihan's Probate Records

Click Any Image Tile to Enlarge

Sources

1. ↑ Callahams from Pendleton County, South Carolina Robert Z. Callaham
2. ↑ Archives Callahan
3. ↑ Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pension Application, p 17: Other records in the file refer to John Callahan's wife as being named Sarah and that she predeceased him, dying 'some 30 thirty ago' in Greenville District South Carolina at John McAfee's I[n affidavit dated January28, 1853 and given by Portman Howard]
4. ↑ Reference: War of 1812 pension application for Robert Compton and his widow
5. ↑ Probate of Joel Callahan page 1
6. ↑ Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pension Application.

See also:

• United States Census, 1790 database with images, FamilySearch, Joel Callaham, 1790.
• Kings Mountain Men
• The Holcombes: nation builders ; their biographies, genealogies, and pedigrees / by Mrs. Lewin D. (Hannah Elizabeth Weir) McPherson. Author McPherson, Hannah Elizabeth (Weir) 1878-Call Number GENE WYO 929.2 HOLCOMB M Publication Date 1947
• William Holcomb (1650-aft.1705) and Simon Gross (b.1711) - Their Families and Decendants" by L. Margaret (Holcomb) Wellborn, P.O. Box 259, Lake Lure, NC 28746 - Ward Publishing Company, 1992
• Waldrop Family Database
• A History of the Callaham and Carwile Families by Anna Deihls Callahan, Delmar Publishers, 1976. Full text from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, Digitized Jul 3, 2007
• Waldrop Family Research Joel Callahan