Davidson's Fort Historic Park
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A sutler or victualer is a civilian merchant who sells provisions to an army in the field, in camp or in quarters.
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Pension Applications

Beginning as early at 1776, the Continental Congress recognized the benefit of extending pension and bounty land benefits to the men who fought for America’s independence from Great Britain. Initially aimed at creating enticements to recruit and retain the services of the men serving in the Continental Army and Navy, over time the scope of these acts were expanded to extend benefits to more of the veterans of the Revolution including men whose served in the state militias and privateers and, eventually, to their widows.

To avail themselves of the benefits of these acts, the veterans and their widows were required to file applications detailing their services and other information about themselves and their families. These applications tell the compelling stories of the men and women who risked their lives and property to lay the foundation of the United States of America. Unfortunately, most of the documentation relating to the earliest of these acts (those pre-dating 1818) was destroyed by fires in Washington D. C. in the early part of the Nineteenth Century. The documentation that survives and the documentation from the later acts, however, provide a wealth of information of interest to both historians and genealogists.

While most of our historical data comes from these pensions much of the information we obtain is from published material, we would like to thank the following people or websites for their historical publications:

Culture & Heritage Museums Historian Michael Scoggins Daily Life During The American Revolutions, Dorothy Denneen Volo and James M. Volo
(Example of a pension application)

WILLIAM BRITTAIN Born February 7, 1762 in Orange County, NC. Enlisted there under Col. McCauley as 2nd Sergeant and was at the capture of Hillsborough and the taking of Gov. Burke by the Tories.
He removed to Burke County, NC and enlisted there under Col. Joseph McDowell and went into the battle of Cowpens and served a three month tour at the upper Fort near the head of the Catawba River in Burke County under Captain Daniel Smith and Samuel Patton was in this tour with him. He lived in Burke County until about 1789 then moved to Buncombe County, NC. In 1832, age 72 years
His pension papers were witnessed by Nathan Harrison (clergyman), Samuel Davidson, Samuel Patton, William Kimsey (clergyman), and James M. Smith. He is buried near Dula Springs, north of Weaverville, NC.
/s/ Willyam Brittain

Click on the PDF Icon next to the name to open the file and read these soldier's story thru their Pension Application. All 36 of these soldiers served at Davidson's Fort during the American Revolution

IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO SERVED AT DAVIDSON’S FORT 1776-1781

1776 Captain William Alexander
Philip AnthonyOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Volunteer John BaldwinOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Joseph BallewOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Richard BallewOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Steven BallewOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Humphrey BatesOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Daniel BlevensOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Volunteer Josiah BrandonOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
William BrittainOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
1779 Private Robert Brown Indian
Spy Under Captain Caldwell		Opens a PDF in a new page or tab
Lieutenant Robert Browne (pilot)
under Cpt Smith
Captain Caldwell
Captain John Conley 1781 DF
Richard CrabtreeOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Adam CrumOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Substitute John DavidsonOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Capt. Samuel Davidson
1778 John DuckworthOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Draftee George EarnhartOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
1778 William FallsOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Militia Volunteer Joseph FordOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Draftee Private John Franklin also served as ToryOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Nicholas FryeOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Timothy GauneyOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Draftee John GibbsOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Volunteer Jacob GriderOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Militia Private John GriderOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Jacob GrindstaffOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
1782 Joseph HancockOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Light Horseman John HawkinsOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Volunteer Samuel HillisOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
James JacksonOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Capt. Thomas LytleOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Volunteer Samuel MackeOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Private Arthur McFalls also Tory
sentenced to hang		Opens a PDF in a new page or tab
Captain McFarland
Light Horseman James McDanielOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Spie Joseph McPetersOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Thomas MilfordOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
William MorrisOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Volunteer Andrew NeillOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Lt. Samuel Patton ensign under
Daniel Smith DF commander		Opens a PDF in a new page or tab
1781 Andrew ShookOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
1781 Jacob ShookOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Militia Capt. Daniel Smith
1781 DF commander		Opens a PDF in a new page or tab
1778 Moses Stepp
Private John SpeltsOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Private Isaac ThompsonOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Henry Wakefield KIA at DF 1780
Volunteer Thomas WelchOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Volunteer William WilliamsOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
Spie Belfield WoodOpens a PDF in a new page or tab
The Davidson’s Fort Historic Park, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under the regulations of the
Internal Revenue Service. All contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law.
© Copyright Davidson's Fort Historic Park, Inc.
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