Skip to main content

The affidavit of James Anders of the said county taken to establish more fully his knowledge of the Revolutionary services of Col: Thomas Brown. This affiant being first duly sworn testafies and says—That he was raised near to Col: Brown and knew him before and during the Revolution and has continued to live near to him up to his death—

This affiant was first in service at Fayettvill under the command of Col Robinson and Lieut: Col: Thomas Brown as stated in my former affidavit we were drafted for Three Months. This service commenced between the first & fifth of January 1776, on our return from the expedition to Moores Creek we were marched to Wilmington and Col Brown took command of the Regiment, we were in service at that place and down the River to its mouth for nearly Three months more viz in the month of June we were marched first to Georgetown and thence to Charleston S. Ca: where we continued for the period of our enlistment which expired on the 15th of July. We were then suffered to return home; but Col: Brown remained with the men who took our places, and remained in South Carolina until about the 20th or 25th of November—In my former affidavit I have said that from the close of this service in 1776 up to the year 1780 that I did not serve with Col: Brown nor could I specify the service he rendered the reason is that we were minute men and called out upon short warning and were repeatedly called out for short periods of 10 & 20 day sometimes longer and sometimes shorter and at this distant period of time I cannot venture to state with precision the commencement or termination of these short periods of service. They were I well know frequent and in some of them I was serving; for instance I was with Col Brown when he fought the Tories at the Town of Elizabeth and killed and took a number of them; but in this expedition we were out but a few days—But on the return of the British to Cape Fear and their taking possession of Wilmington in January 1780 we were all called into Service and continued to serve near Wilmington up to the month of July of that year—Between those periods viz in March Col Brown was wounded at Big Bridge and was thaken a prisoner of War between the 1st and 5th of June of that year and confined in the Court House at Wilmington until the enemy evacuated the place on the 1st of January 1782.

To the following periods of service and facts connected with it I have the clearest recollection and knowledge of us I served all of it with Col. Brown—First I know that Col Brown was in service when the Battle of Moores Creek was fought for Three months—Secondly he was in service from the first of april 1776 for nearly three months in and near Wilmington and the balance of the time he served at Charleston until we were discharged on the 15th of July at that place. And Thirdly I know that Col Brown remained at Charleston until the 20th and 25th of November in the same year

Fourthly I know that Col Brown was in active service in and near Wilmington from the 20th of January 1780 up to the 1st of June when he was taken a Prisoner in a skirmish and from that period to the final evacuation of Wilmington in January 1782 he remained in close confinement as a Prisoner of War—That Col Brown rendered much more service than is here detailed this affiant is convinced of but as his memory does not serve him to state it he declines to do so; But in relation to the service here specified he knows he rendered it. In the expedition to Moores Creek I was under the command of Capt. James Anderson, and the balance of the service was under Capt. James Shipman.

Witness my hand this 7th day of June 1839.

State of North Carolina
County of Bladen}
This day personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace for the county above written Mr James Andres of the said County and subscribed & swore to the foregoing affidavit in due form of Law. I also certify that Mr Anders is a man of the highest respectability and truth.

Given under my hand & seal this 7th day of June 1839.

John B. Brown J.P.