Abraham Hill (1758 - 1840)

Born 29 Jan 1758 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Descendants

Died Nov 1840 at age 82 in Iredell County, North Carolina, United States

Biography

Abraham Hill served with Rowan County Regiment, North Carolina Militia during the American Revolution.

Abraham Hill was born on Jan 29, 1758 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Listed in the 1840 Census in Iredell County, North Carolina, age 83, and Revolutionary War Pensioner. He died in Nov 1840 in Iredell County, North Carolina.^[1]

Born: Jan 29, 1758^[2]

Daughters of the American Revolution Records

• HILL, ABRAHAM
• Ancestor #: A055598
• Service: NORTH CAROLINA - SOUTH CAROLINA Rank(s): PRIVATE
• Birth: 1-29-1758 BUCKS CO PENNSYLVANIA
• Death: 11- -1840 IREDELL CO NORTH CAROLINA
• Pension Number: *S7015
• Service Description: 1) CAPTS PURVIANCE,BICKERSTAFF; COLS LOCKE, 2) BREVARD; CAPT REID; COL HAMPTON
• SPOUSE: 1) PRUDENCE HALL

Parents

• Robert Hill and Margaret (Stephenson) Hill^[3]

Spouse

• Prudence Hall (1765-1835), daughter of Hugh Hall and Margaret King^[4]

Children

1. Robert Hall Hill (1798-1860) Sarah Adaline Hall
2. James A. Hill (1800-1866) married Elvina Adans
3. Adam Hill (1799-1886) married Ann Moberly

In 1800, Abraham Hill owned a small tub mill on a stream that flowed into the South Yadkin River, near the current Alexander County line.^[5]

Revolutionary War Service

State of North Carolina, Iredell County^[6]

Personally appeared in open Court Abraham Hill, this 26th day of August 1832, a resident of Iredell County, and State of North Carolina aged about 74 years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath, make the following statement, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.

-- That he entered the service (as well as he recollects) about the year 1779. In the Regiment then commanded by Colonel Francis Locke General Griffith Rutherford, Brigade, Captain James Purviance's Company. All the above described officers then resided in the aforesaid State of North Carolina, Rowan County of which County of Iredell now forms a part to which section of Country his Father removed when he was about seven years of age, and in which County he continues to live. His first service commenced in the service of the above named State about the time described as a volunteer, in what was then called the Cross Creek or Fayetteville expedition, and as well as I can now recollect, and which service continued as well as I now recollect about two calendar months.

The 2nd term of service which I performed took place in the same year, in the month of July as well as I now recollect, in what ought perhaps to be called a draft under the same General, Colonel and Captain and continued about three calendar months – we rendezvoused at what was then called Cathey's Fort on the head of the Catawba [River] in the State aforesaid, and which is now included in Burke County – we then proceeded westward – crossing the Mountains at the head of Swannanoa [River] in the Blue Ridge and on westwardly crossing various Fords until we reached the Valley Towns – the most westwardly point of the expedition. Our object in making the Valley Towns our point of destination was to form a Junction with the South Carolina Militia commanded by General Williamson, who had had a skirmish with the Cherokee Indians before we joined him – we then returned to our place of residence, above described.

The 3rd term of service commenced in the Militia of North Carolina as a substitute for John Montgomery. Commanded by the aforesaid General Griffith Rutherford, Colonel Francis Locke – Captain James Purviance and in the month of July 1780 as well as can be recollected we joined General Gates' Army at the place which is now called Sneedsborough [?]-- we then proceeded on towards South Carolina – crossing the Pedee [River] at the Cheraw Hill – crossing Lynches Creek – thence to Rugeley's Creek in South Carolina – where we encamped for some days – on the Tuesday before General Gates was defeated within _ [indecipherable number] miles from Camden, General Sumpter [sic, Thomas Sumter] sent a request to General Gates for a reinforcement – there was a part of each Company of Colonel Locke's Regiment placed under the command of the aforesaid Captain Purviance & detached accordingly, of which I formed a part – we were placed in the Regiment of Colonel Malmedy & marched immediately – crossed the Catawba River at Rocky Mount, & joined him shortly thereafter a little below: and was with General Sumter when he was defeated near the mouth of Fishing Creek in South Carolina. The length of this service I would suppose continued about two months – this was the only skirmish then I was in during the thus described term of Militia service: And I have no recollection that I ever received a discharge for either of those terms of service – I was not wounded.

The 4th term of service commenced in the Fall of 1780. It was ordered by Colonel Hugh Brevard a militia Colonel of the North Carolina line, that a company should be raised – called Rangers under the command of Captain John Bickerstaff [several words obliterated] my services as a volunteer, with all that formed he Company. We united on lower Little River in Burke County North Carolina, where we were employed our time principally for about three calendar months performing such service as was directed by the aforesaid Colonel Hugh Brevard-- principally in the County of Burke – State aforesaid – our object being principally to keep in check disaffected persons and affording security & protection to the Whigs inhabiting that Region of Country – we had no skirmishes during the tour: nor did I ever get a discharge to the best of my recollection

– I was subsequently, and relative to the performance of all the above described tours, a volunteer in a volunteer Company commanded by the aforesaid Captain James Purviance called minute men – we performed various short tours – no one of any considerable length or importance along this tour not embracing more than two weeks at one time: and in all I would not suppose more than two months. Sworn to, and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.

S/ Abraham Hill

[Stephen Frontis, a clergyman, gave the standard supporting affidavit.] We Robert Gracey1 and William Woodside2 residing in the County of Iredell and State of North Carolina, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Abraham Hill, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 74 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, that I Robert Gray was a volunteer in the same ten months as described above & in the same Or brigade, Regiment and Company, and that William wood sides, saw the said Abraham Hill in the hospital where he was confined in South Carolina: and they have a personal knowledge of the service performed by the said A. Hill.

S/ Robert Gracey

S/ William Woodside

State of North Carolina, Iredell County On this 26th day of August 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Iredell County now sitting, Abraham Hill, a resident of North Carolina, in the County of Iredell, and State aforesaid, aged about 74 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 as State Troops and served as herein stated in the Regiment of Cavalry commanded by Colonel Wade Hampton in April^[7] 1781 as a volunteer – Captain John Reed's [sic, John Reid's?] Company in the North Carolina line – Captain Reed was a native of South Carolina, and was a student in Rowan County (now Iredell County) and proposed under the direction of General Sumter and Colonel Hampton to raise a volunteer Company to go to the assistance of South Carolina, forming a part of that Company we set off from my place of residence in North Carolina on the 25th day of April as above stated we repaired immediately to the aforesaid State and rendezvoused at Friday's ferry on the Congaree River not far from where Columbia is now situated where we were introduced as State Troops in the service of the United States – General Thomas Sumter Commanded the Regiment, Colonel Wade Hampton commanded the Regiment of Cavalry – called the first Regiment and Captain John Reed commanded that Company we marched across the River and took several British Forts – one on Congaree at Friday's ferry, and one near McCord's ferry on the same River: and that Orange burgh where we had a slight skirmish with the enemy we then proceeded on towards Charleston, having a skirmish at Cooper River near Strawberry ferry having pursued the enemy from a Brick Church near Moncks Corner – we then marched in advance of Lord Rawdon towards Ninety Six, that we might form a Junction with General Nath'l Green [sic, Nathanael Greene], who had evacuated the place before we reached there – we then marched across the Country, having received an express to form a Junction as soon as possible which we affected within 12 or 15 miles of Ninety Six – we then marched on to Broad River. From Broad River back to Congaree – crossing the River at Middleton's Can [?] House – at this junction I took sick about the 8th of August – whence I was carried across the River in a canoe, and placed in the Hospital where Dr. Dyzart [sic, Dysart] him was the principal Physician – after I recovered near and about two months I joined my company on Edisto River – during which period the battle was fought at Eutaw Springs – the Regiment then proceeded on towards Savannah River where we lay in what's called Beech Island about six weeks – we then crossed the River and proceeded in to Ebenezer on the Ogeechee [River] which we crossed at Dollard's Ferry – the Regiment then proceeded on towards the Altamaha River – out of the immediate inhabitants for the purpose of checking & controlling the conduct of disaffected persons among the Indians. About this time our tour of service expired which was for the period of 10 months – we returned to Orangeburg and was discharged by Colonel Beaufort – I received my discharge from Beaufort, but have long since lost it.

I then returned to my adopted place of residence in Rowan County (now Iredell County) where I have uniformly resided, and continued to reside, I received no wounds during my term of service, nor any material injury. I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the pension Roll of any Agency of any State.

S/ Abraham Hill

In all 1st Service Term 2 2nd do 3 3rd do 2 4th do 3 5th do 2 6th do 10 22

State of North Carolina, Iredell County

Personally appeared before me Samuel King one of the Justices of the peace for the County of Iredell Abraham Hill for the purpose of amending a declaration setting forth his services in the Revolutionary War made the 26th day of August 1832 and sent on to the War department which has been returned to him with the following objections. That some of the Terms of service are not definitely expressed that the answers to the interrogatories were not written down and sent on to the War department with the declaration and that the certificate of the certifying officer named on a separate sheet was not attached to the declaration in the manner prescribed by the Rules of the Department and being Furnished with a printed Sheet containing the Rules aforesaid prescribed to make the following amendments Viz.:

That he entered the service in 1779 under Captain James Purviance Francis Locke Colonel & Brigadier General Griffith Rutherford and served two months the second Term of service I performed under the same Officers in the same year was three months the Third Term of service as a substitute for John Montgomery commenced under the same officers was not less than two months the Fourth Term of service as a Ranger I was three months As a Minute man served not less than two months & the last Term of Service in the Cavalry of State Troops was Ten months as set forth in the Declaration He further declares that he completed his 75th year the 29th day of January last. Interrogatory

1st: When and in what year were you born? Answer – The declarant says he was born in Bucks County in the State of Pennsylvania on January 29, 1758

2nd Have you any record of you age and if so, where is it? Answer – My age is recorded in my family library.

3rd Where were you living when called into service? Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live? Answer – When I first entered the service of the United States I lived in North Carolina, Rowan County, now (Iredell County) where I have uniformly resided and now live.

4th How were you called into service; were you drafted; did you volunteer, or were you a substitute and if so for whom did you substitute? Answer: I was first a volunteer, secondly drafted, thirdly substituted for John Montgomery, and fourthly and lastly a volunteer.

5th State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops where you served, such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service. Answer: -- I first served under General Gates, and was with him near Camden, when I was ordered off to reinforce General Sumter – 2 days before Gates defeat – I was subsequently under General Greene & Wayne – in the States of South Carolina and Georgia: and was a private during the whole of my service in the Army.

6th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service; and if so by whom was it given; and what has become of it? Answer: -- I was regularly discharged by Captain Bleaufort [sic] at Orangeburg South Carolina and which discharge I have lost or mislaid.

7th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify to your character for veracity and good behavior and your services as a Soldier of the Revolution. Answer – I have in my declaration stated two witnesses, and am happy to say could add any number as to my veracity. Sworn and subscribed before me Samuel King one of the Justices of the peace for the County aforesaid May 7th, 1833.

S/ Samuel King, JP

S/ Abraham Hill

[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $81.66 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831, for 22 months service as a private in the Infantry & Cavalry of the North Carolina militia.]

Research Notes

The above birth dates used above agree with the his Pension and DAR record, 29 Jan 1758, but the Find a Grave record of birth is 28 May 1774. Find a Grave has a date of death of 28 Feb 1841. I sent a note to the Find a Grave author to try to clarify. He is also listed as age 80 and pensioner in the 1840 Census for Iredell County. If born in 1774, he would have been too young to be in the Revolutionary War.^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ #C1840, #Pension, #C1790, #C1800, #C1810, #C1820, #C1840, #DAR
2. ↑ #Pension, #DAR, #C1840
3. ↑ #HeritageVolII p. 3
4. ↑ #DAR, he is buried next to her #FG, #HeritageVolII p. 3, #HeritageVolI Family 255
5. ↑ #Keever page 151
6. ↑ #Pension
7. ↑ Robert Gracey S8635 2 William Woodside S7960
8. ↑ #FG, #Pension, #DAR, #C1840

• https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A055598
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12924113/abraham-hill
• "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (Link: 21 November 2016), Abraham Hill, 1843; citing Iredell, North Carolina, United States, State Archives, Raleigh; FHL microfilm.
• "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHTV-3LT : 20 August 2017), Abram Hill, Iredell, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 215, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 363; FHL microfilm 18,094
• "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHG5-RRQ : 29 July 2017), Abraham Hill, Iredell, North Carolina, United States; citing 16, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 122; FHL microfilm 18,088.
• "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHGS-SJ6 : accessed 17 September 2017), Abraham Hill, Iredell, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 240, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 80; FHL microfilm 162,796.
• "United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHL9-7S8 : accessed 17 September 2017), Abraham Hill, Iredell, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 165, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 40; FHL microfilm 337,913.
• "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2M-9F4 : accessed 17 September 2017), Abraham Hill, Iredell, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 392, NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 7; FHL microfilm 568,147.
• Revolutionary War Pension Application for Abraham Hill
• Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed Dec 1, 2017), "Record of Abraham Hill", Ancestor # A055598.
• Iredell County, North Carolina, Will for Hill, Abram (6 Jul 1841, proved Nov 1842): Book II-251
• Find A Grave: Memorial #12924113 retrieved Jan 10, 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
• The Heritage of Iredell County, 1980, Family 255, published by the Genealogical Society of Iredell County, PO Box 946, Statesville, North Carolina 28677, ISBN 0-89459-087-1, 642 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.
• Iredell Piedmont County, by Homer M. Keever, with illustrations by Louise Gilbert and maps by Mild red Jenkins Miller, published for the Iredell County Bicentennial Commission by Brady Printing Company from type set by the Statesville Record and Landmark, copyright, November 1976, by Homer M. Keever. See Iredell, Piedmont County for more details.