Private John Carter (Caster): Verifying Claims in a Rejected Pension File (R1749)

Maria Williams-Cole,
SAR Grave Memorial Service, 2014

In 2014, at the culmination of my research for the North Carolina Society Sons of the American Revolution (NCSSAR), I wrote a post entitled, Private John Carter: Revolutionary War Pension File (R1749) He was honored on March 16th of that year at the Grave Memorial Ceremony at Harlowe Community Center in North Harlowe, North Carolina--in the community where my father-in-law, Chester Carter Sr., was born and raised. 

Vetting Sources
When I worked with the NCSSAR, I not only researched the list of Patriots names the group supplied me with, but I gave them my database of over 2,500 descendants of Paul and Hannah Carter and Peter and Joan George, the progenitors of the Carter and George families in North Harlowe, along with the intertwined branches of that tree, including the familiar surnames of those still living in the community:

Anderson	Andrews	Bannister
Battle	Becton	Bell
Black	Boone	Braddock
Bryan	Cannady	Carter
Chadwick	Coleman	Culley
Dove	Falls	Fenner
Fisher	Frazier	Gaskill
Gaudet/Godette	George	Hardesty
Harkley	Hickman	Hodges
Hoyt	Huskins	Hyman
Johnson	Jones	Lewis
Martin	Mitchell	Moore
Perkins	Pickett	Richards
Roberts	Robinson	Smith
White	Whitehead	Whittington
Williams	Willoughby	Woods

Now that I'm working on the Forgotten Patriots Project with SOFAFEA.org, I'm going back to my old work and vetting claims and sources. What does that look like? Last week I completed the 9-Part series, Isaac Carter: Determining Identity in Same Name Rev War Soldiers. Today I'll be looking at the claims made in a rejected pension file for Private John Carter (Caster).

Claims Made in the Declaration

The Service-Pension Act of 1818 offered financial assistance to those Revolutionary War Soldiers who had served a minimum of 9 months or to the end of the war "in a Continental military organization or in the U.S. naval service (including the Marines)."[1] These benefits continued for life. There were three types of pensions offered: "S" files were for survivors, "W" for widows, and "R" were rejected, and these letters were followed by a file number. 

The Act of 1820 added the eligibility requirement that the veteran prove financial need and describe the state of health for everyone in the household. 

The Act of 1832 lowered the length of service to a minimum of six months of service and added a provision for those who served in the State troops and militia. These servicemen's files were often incomplete because of the lack of state-level records proving service and discharge. Applicants had to appear in court and have a witness corroborate their service.

All three Congressional acts relating to the survivor's pension required the applicant to give a social history in open Court in their home county. Questions included the date and place of enlistment & discharge, the regiment, commanding officers, troop movements and engagements participated in, property owned, financial condition, spouse's and children's names, and health.[2]

As you'll see when I get into the analysis of John Carter's pension application, some trouble spots caused his case to be rejected.

The claims made in file R1749

Enlistment, Discharge, Service

John Carter applied under the Acts of 1818 and 1820. He declared that he "enlisted for the term of nine months on the [blank] day of [blank] in the year [blank] in the State of No Carolina in the company commanded by Capt Quinn--in the 10th Regiment commanded by Colo Davidson in the line of the State of North Carolina--on the Continental Establishment, that he continued to serve in the said Corps nine months. when he was discharged from the said service at Halifax in the State of North Carolina." Right off, we can see that there are gaps in his history. 

It was customary for Wiliam Hill, the Secretary of State of North Carolina, to Certify the service record of North Carolina pension applicants, about John Carter, he said, "It appears from the muster rolls of the Continental line of this State in the Revolutionary war that John Carter a private in Capt Quinn's Company of the 10th Regt was mustered on the 20th July 1778 for nine months. The date of his discharge is not mentioned."

Encampment, Engagements, Compatriots

John Carter's declaration states, "he was not in any encampment but was in some skirmishes near West Point and at Kings Ferry. He has no other evidence of his services in his power except the adjoined deposition of Asa Spelman." 

Verifying the evidence

Just as we did in the Isaac Carter identity series, we can use the clues presented for analysis. 

When I first started researching Revolutionary War history, my late husband's friend who was a SAR genealogist in Western North Carolina told me that even though the 10th North Carolina Regiment had been reassigned at Valley Forge and the regiment disbanded, enlistment officers continued to designate it on enlistment records. It didn't mean much to me then; but, years later, I fully commiserate! 

Our clues:

1. enlisted on July 20, 1778,
2. nine months,
3. Captain Quinn's company,
4. commanded by Colonel Davidson,
5. Skirmish near West Point,
6. Skirmish at King's Ferry.

One of my go-to sources for researching free black families is Paul Heinegg's Free African Americans of Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina (online database). The Revolutionary War page records an entry for the State Records of North Carolina (Vol. XVI: 1034). This is a "Roster of North Carolina Troops in the Continental Army (1791)," and the soldier's name was transcribed into the record as "John Caster." But you can also see on this page how many men who enlisted in this period didn't have a recorded discharge date. All the other facts (1-3) check out.

My next step, look up Captain Michael Quinn on Carolana.com, by J.D. Lewis. As you can see, from the Spring of 1778 to 1779 Captain Quinn was with the 3rd North Carolina Regiment New Levies, who were "nine-month men." 

In Colonel William Lee Davidson's bio, I learned that on June 1, 1778, he was transferred to the 3rd North Carolina Regiment--just 50 days before John Carter's enlistment--and that he commanded the regiment at the Battle of Monmouth on June 28, 1778.

Reckoning dates

So, now that we know that John Carter served in the 3rd North Carolina Regiment, it's time to compare notes and reckon dates. Compare notes? Yes. Two other soldiers I've researched, Private Isaac Perkins and Private Martin Black, served with the 2nd North Carolina Regiment and were also present for two skirmishes: 

• Near West Point: May 16, 1779, and 
• King's Ferry/Fort Lafayette: May 31, 1779.

Wonderful! But wait a minute. Wouldn't nine months from July 20, 1778, be in April 1779? And these skirmishes happened in May? 

Unit histories

Now it's time to check the unit history. Where was the 3rd NC Regiment in July 1778? On June 1, 1778, they were sent home from the Northern theater to recruit. So, it makes sense that John Carter enlisted as a New Levy in July. By late 1778, the unit was rejoined with Washington's main army, reassigned from the Middle Department to the Southern Department, only to be sent home again in April  1779. They weren't rebuilt again until November of that year.[3] 

Battle histories

J.D. Lewis records these skirmishes on his timeline, "North Carolinians Outside of North Carolina During the Revolution," but only records the NC Provincial, State Troops, or Militia involved in them:

• Skirmish Near West Point: "Col. Thomas Clark with the 5th NC Regiment and Col. John Patten with the 2nd NC Regiment skirmishes with 500 British Regulars."
• Skirmish at Fort Lafayette, NC: "Capt. Thomas Armstrong and 70 NC Continentals, remnants of the 2nd NC Regiment and the 5th NC Regiment forced to surrender to much larger British Army."[4]

Hugh Rankin in his book, The North Carolina Continentals, records the only details of the Skirmish near West Point that I've seen. "And it was Clark's First and Second North Carolina regiment that received the first spring thrust by the British." Two columns of about 500 soldiers crossed the Hudson River and marched toward New Bridge, their objective being Paramus Church. The British rounded up the cattle and pillaged the houses before falling back across the river.[5]

Fort Lafayette was situated at Verplanck's Point where the King's Ferry made river crossings between there and the garrison at Stony Point. On May 31, 1779, Clark spotted a large British force of about 6,000 disembark from 70 ships and 150 flat-bottomed boats on both sides of the river. Stony Point fell quickly; then, the British turned their force against Fort Lafayette.[6]

Analysis

There are issues with dates. The 3rd North Carolina Regiment had been sent home in April and these skirmishes didn't occur until May.

The troops present were recorded as being from the 2nd North Carolina and the 5th North Carolina Regiments. 

The survivors at Fort Lafayette had surrendered to the British. 

With three questionable items, Private John Carter was included in the SAR memorial, but I've decided not to include this soldier's service in the SOFAFEA Forgotten Patriots Project. 

Sources

[1] "National Archives Microfilm Publications, Pamphlet Describing M804, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land-Warrant Application Files." Washington, D.C., 1974.

[2]"Revolutionary War Veteran and Widow Pensions," National Park Service.

[3] J.D. Lewis, "Third North Carolina Regiment: Brief History of the Regiment," Carolana.com. 

[4] J.D. Lewis, "North Carolinians Outside of North Carolina During the Revolution," Carolana.com.

[5] Hugh Rankin, The North Carolina Continentals, UNC Press, 1971, p. 169.

[6] Hugh Rankin, The North Carolina Continentals, UNC Press, 1971, p. 170.

Private Martin Black: Revolutionary War Pension File (S41441), Part 1

Transcription

3749

Image 2 of 12

North Carolina

Martin Black, Private, North Carolina line In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War Inscribed on the Roll of North Carolina at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on  the 22nd of April 1818--

Certificate of Pension issued the 20th of October 1818 and Sent to John Lewis Tayler Esq. Judge Newbern Arrears of 4th of Sept 1818.....35:47

Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4th March 1819.....       40:--

                                                                                 $83:47

Revolutionary claim,

Act 18th March, 1818

Three Years

Continued

Newbern, Craven Co.

Declaration

United States of America

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State of North Carolina

Martin Black maketh Oath that he is at this time and always has been a resident citizen of the State of North Carolina. He enlisted as a Soldier in the Continental line of the State of North Carolina during the War of the Revolution. He enlisted at Newbern and was marched with others under the command of Colonel Ben Sheppard as part of the tenth Regiment as he believes to  Georgetown on the Potomack at 

which place the Soldiers were inoculated for the Small Pox.

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From Georgetown he marched to Valley Forge in Pennsylvania where the American Army were encamped under General Washington while the enemy were in Philadelphia. He was in the Battle of Monmouth, at the Storming Stony Point and at the Capture of West Point. From West Point he went with the Army to Albany & marched thence in the Brigade of General Hogun to Charleston. He was a prisoner at Charleston with the Army surrendered there but escaped on the seventh day & returned to Newbern North Carolina. From his first enlistment as above mentioned to his return to Newbern, he served three years. After remaining at home a few days he enlisted as a Soldier in Captain Benj Colemans Company as an Eighteen months man in the Continental line of North Carolina, marched to Charleston where he remained with the army there encamped until the Peace, where the Army entered the City as the British evacuated it. & in a few weeks after was discharged. His discharge is long since lost.

 At Valley Forge (during his first term of service) the men were distributed to make up deficiencies in the regiments & he [  ?  ] from the Tenth to the Second North Carolina Regiment, and from the Company Commanded by Silas Sears Stevenson to the Company Commanded by Captain Clem: Hall.

 Deponent believes he is now sixty seven years of age, he is in reduced circumstances, without property & depends on his labor for support. He needs the assistance of his Country, and will surely receive the benefit of the Act of Congress entitled “An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War.

Martin X Black [his mark]

22^nd April 1818.  Sworn to before me }

John Louis Taylor Ck Jur       }N. Carolina

 Affadavit of Isaac Perkins 

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Isaac Perkins of the County of Craven in the state of North Carolina, aged sixty one years maketh Oath that he knows Martin Black the deponent whose affidavit preceeds—That deponent himself was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, enlisted on the same day with the said Martin Black served with him as stated in the affidavit aforesaid Black until the Surrender of Charleston. They escaped from Captivity at the same time and traveled & returned together to Newbern, after a service of three years & twenty five days, said Black enlisted again, was marched he understood & believes to Charleston & did not return until the peace during this last period deponent was drafter & served in the Militia of the State & has no personal knowledge of Martin Blacks services under his last enlistment.

Sworn to in Open Court & signed                              
Jere^h Brown Clerk
 
United States of America
North Carolina District          

I Henry Potter District Judge of the U States for the Distsrict aforesaid do herby Certify that from the foregoing evidence I am satisfied, that Martin Black, the applicant for pension, there in named did serve in the revolutionary war against the common enemy for the term of nine months & longer, as stated, in the affidavit.

[--] at Newbern the 27^th April 1818.   H. Potter DJUS[-?-]

                                                    Isaac  X  Perkins [his mark]

 Affadavit of Thomas P. Ives 

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Thomas P Ives of the County of Rowan in the State of North Carolina, but heretofore of the County of Craven in said State maketh Oath, that he has known Martin Black from his (deponents) early infancy. he recollects that said Martin Black enlisted as a Continental Soldier in the North Carolina line & saw him repeatedly mustered as such at Newbern. Said Black was absent from home some years during all which time it was understood & believed & deponent believes he was in the Service of the United States and a Continental Soldier. deponent recollects that said Black returned from Charleston. It was understood he had escaped from the enemy—soon afterwards Said Black (at the instance of a days of deponents neighbors, who were to find one Soldier) enlisted as a Soldier in the Continental line of North Carolina for Eighteen months, & deponent believes served as a soldier until the peace.

22^nd April 1818           N. Carolina                 Tho^s P. Ives
Sworn to before me
John Louis Tayler Ch:Jus.

 

United States of America } United States District Court for the

North Carolina District    }  District of April Term 1818.

I Jer^h Brown Clerk of the United States Dist. Court, for the District aforesaid, do hereby Certify that the foregoing signature was signed in Open Court by the Honorable Henry Potter at the present Term. Given under my hand and Seal of Office at Newbern the day & year above written. Jere^h Brown  Clerk 

Declaration Sworn to and Subscribed 

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District of North Carolina  }    Court of 

Craven County                 }            Pleas and Quarter Sessions

                                                       September Session 1820
 

On this 12^th day of September 1820 personally appeared in open Court the said Court being a Court of record proceeding according to the Course of the Common law, having a Jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount keeping a record of its proceedings, and having known of fine and imprisonment, Martin Black who being first duly 

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sworn according to law, doth on his Oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows, in the company commanded by Capt. Clement Hall in the Second Regiment, North Carolina Line, Continental Establishment

That upon a Petition to the Secretary of War, he hath received a pension under the Act of Congress of 18^th March 1818. The number of his pension Certificate being 2749. His original Declaration being forwarded to the War Department date not recorded. And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18^th day of March 1815, and that I have not since that time by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provision of an Act of Congress entitled “An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War: passed on the 18^th March 1818: and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or security, contracts or debts due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed; and by me Subscribed. Viz One Old Dutch Oven. No income of any kind.

 

State of No Carolina

Craven County

I, James G Stanly Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of Craven County do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the records of the said court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said court that the amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is less than five Dollars. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court on the 12^th day of September 1820.

JG Stanly Clerk

of the Court of Pelas & Quarter

Sessions of Craven County

 

41441 

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INVALID

Revy

File No. 41.441

Martin Black

Pt Rev War

Act: 18^th March 1818

Index:--Vol. [J?or I], Page 19

[Arrangement of 1870.]

 

10^th Regiment Abraham Shepard Colonel

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Martin Black pt, Stevens Company, enlisted 16^th May 1777, 3 years

State of No Carolina, Secretary’s office 14^th October 1818

This is to certify that the above is a true abstract from the muster roll of the No Carolina Continental line in the Revolutionary War. Given under my hand at Office in Raleigh the date above.

Wm Hill Secretary of State

 

Isaac Carter: Determining Identity of Same Name Rev War Soldiers, Part 9

Compiled Service Records

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) didn't begin its database of Compiled Military Service Records (CMSR), beginning with Union Civil War veterans, until the 1890s. When I researched my husband's great-grandfather, Isaac Carter's United States Colored Troops (USCT) Civil War service, I ordered the file from NARA. All 175 pages of it. And yes, there are way too many Isaacs in the family.

But when the archives transcribed the Revolutionary War Service Records, the file contained the jacket and one muster roll card. It doesn't mean that other records don't exist out there. As researchers and authors, our job is to locate, compile, and analyze the extraneous pieces into a complete file. But how I wish for that one letter from the North Carolina Secretary of State authorizing our patriot's service found in other patriots' pension files.

So from here on out, I will create the compiled service record of Private Isaac Carter who lived on the South Side Neuse River, West Side of Clubfoot Creek in a community now known as North Harlowe in Craven County, North Carolina.

Carter, Isaac

Appears on a Roll

of Major John Tillman' s Company in the Craven County Regiment of Militia, commanded by Col. John Bryan.

(Revolutionary War)

Roll dated (account paid 1775-1776)

Craven County, State of North Carolina

40 days of service, paid 4 pounds [1]

1776, 1st August.

Isaac CARTER, Transportation.

No. in report: 34.

Specie dollars: 25.45. [2]

C.    2    NC

47. Isaac Carter

Appears on a Roll

of Captain Clement's Company in the 2nd North Carolina Battalion, Commanded by Colonel John Patten

(Revolutionary War.)

Roll dated: White Plains

September 9th, 1778

Time Enlisted,     17__.

Time Engaged for: [blank]

War, [blank]

Years, 3

Remarks: [blank]     [3]

Isaac Carter. 90009.

Regiment commanded by Colonel Thomas Clark,

Paid to November 15, 1783 [4]

Allowed Isaac CARTER for pay to 1st January 1782 including Interest to 1st August 1783 (4 months & 4 days unsettled)

22 pounds, 19 shillings, 10 pence [5]

Isaac Carter

Appeared on a Roll of Capt. Silas Stevenson's company, 10th North Carolina Regiment, commanded by Col. Abraham Sheppard. Enlisted 1 September 1777, for 3 years, W, deserted 13 June 1783 [6]

Isaac Carter

Found on Payroll No. 2325.

Voucher No. 4409 paid: 20 pounds, 5 shillings, 0 pence.

Dated: August 27, 1783, District of Wilmington.

For Militia Duty.

Paid: 21 pounds, 3 shillings, 0 pence. 

(2 holes, 2 payments redeemed) [7]

Isaac Carter

Voucher No. 2337 paid: 1 pound.

Dated: February 20, 1784, District of New Bern.

For Militia Duty.

(payment redeemed) [8]

1. Isaac CARTER, Private. 

Amount charged: 355.07.

Amount credited: 21.76. 

Balanced paid & charged by the state: 333.21.

Balance actually found due: 244.74. [9]

Analysis of Compiled Service Record

Two main things stand out for me: Continental Line vs. Militia dates. 

• If Isaac Carter served in the Craven County Regiment of Militia before the establishment of Fort Macon, it would have been between 1775 and 1776, for 40 days.
• If Isaac Carter served with Isaac Perkins and Martin Black in the 10th NC Regiment and the 2nd NC Regiment, he enlisted on September 1, 1777, and deserted on June 13, 1783.
• If Isaac Carter served in the Craven County Regiment of Militia at Fort Hancock, it would have been for a year between June 1, 1778, and May 4, 1780.

Martin Black was listed on the same Militia Roll as Isaac Carter and Joshua Carter, in Major John Tillman's Company, for 40 days.

In another Militia Roll, Isaac Perkins and William Dove served on the same Militia Roll, in Major John Tillman's Company, for 40 days.

These five men were neighbors. 

So, when I see Isaac Carter's name on the muster roll with Isaac Perkins and Martin Black in the 10th and 2nd North Carolina Regiment, I tend to believe it's the same person. 

When I examine a timeline of the Craven County Militia and the 2nd North Carolina Regiment and its officers, I find the following:

• Sep 1, 1775: 2nd NC Regiment formed
• Sep 9, 1775: Craven County Regiment of Militia formed
• 1776: Capt. Silas Stevenson, under Col. John Bryan, Craven County Militia
• 1776-1778: Maj. John Tillman commanded Craven County Militia
• Feb 27, 1776: 2nd NC Regiment assigned to Southern Department
• Feb 5, 1777: 2nd NC Regiment reassigned to Northern Department
• 1777-1781: Capt. Clement Hall, under Col. John Patten, 2nd NC Regiment
• Apr 17, 1777: 10th NC Regiment formed
• Apr 19, 1777: Capt. Silas Stevenson, under Col. Abraham Sheppard, 10th NC Regiment
• Jul 8, 1777: 2nd NC Regiment assigned to the NC Brigade, Northern Dept.
• Aug 1777: 10th NC Regiment marches Northward
• mid-Feb 1778: 10th NC Regiment reached Hanover County, Virginia. At Valley Forge the 10th was attached to the 2nd NC Regiment
• Jun 1, 1778: 10th North Carolina Regiment formally disbanded permanently
• 1778-1783: Colonel John Tillman commanded Craven County Militia
• Jul 19, 1779: NC Brigade & 2nd NC Regiment reassigned to Highlands Dept.
• Nov 11, 1779: NC Brigade & 2nd NC Regiment reassigned to Southern Dept.
• May 12, 1780: 2nd NC Regiment surrendered 301 men to British Army at the Fall of Charleston, SC
• Apr-Jul 1781: reconstituted 2nd NC Regiment detachment, under Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene, sent to South Carolina, added to NC Brigade
• Jan 1, 1783: 2nd NC Regiment furloughed at James Island, SC
• Nov 15, 1783: 2nd NC Regiment officially disbanded

And these are my conclusions:

1. It is plausible that Isaac Carter served for 40 days in the Craven County Militia under Major John Tillman in 1776. We have them together on the same payroll (Haun, Journal "A").
2. If Isaac Carter enlisted in the 10th NC Regiment on Sep 1, 1777, he could have been in Capt. Silas Stevenson's Company with Isaac Perkins and Martin Black.
3. If Isaac Carter enlisted in the 10th NC Regiment, he was transferred to the 2nd NC Regiment at Valley Forge, in Capt. Clement Hall's Company, under Col. John Patten.
4. If Isaac Carter was in the 2nd NC Regiment, he deserted on Jun 13, 1783, after 5 years 9 months 12 days service.
5. But, it is not possible that Isaac Carter could serve in both the 2nd NC Regiment and at Fort Hancock, because if he returned from the War in 1783, he would not have been available for service at the fort in 1778-1780. 
6. However, if we go by the criteria that is now in place by the DAR, we can only claim 40 days militia duty as there is no pension file to verify if the Isaac Carter on the muster roll in White Plains, NY is the same Isaac Carter of Craven County, North Carolina.

The problem of Isaac Carter's service will never be certified by the Secretary of State of North Carolina as was Isaac Perkins' and Martin Black's was because Carter never applied for a pension. 

Sources

[1] North Carolina Revolutionary Army Accounts, Journal "A", [158].

[2] North Carolina Revolutionary Army Accounts, Vol. IV, Journal "G", [1446]-304.

[3] "US Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783", Fold3 (https://fold3.org). NARA publication no. M246, record group 93, NARA catalog id: 602384, Isaac Carter, 9 Sep 1778.

[4] "Roster of Soldiers from North Carolina in the American Revolution," NCDAR,Ju 1932, p. 6.

[5] North Carolina Revolutionary Army Accounts, Vol. II, Book I, p. 168 [593].

[6] "Roster of Soldiers from North Carolina in the American Revolution," NCDAR, 1932, p. 113.

[7] "North Carolina Revolutionary Pay Vouchers, 1779-1782", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2WT-5YR1 : Fri Mar 08 21:03:03 UTC 2024), Entry for Isaac Carter, 27 Aug 1783.

[8] "North Carolina Revolutionary Pay Vouchers, 1779-1782", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2WT-5SM6 : Fri Mar 08 21:00:54 UTC 2024), Entry for Isaac Carter, 20 Feb 1784.

[9] North Carolina Revolutionary Army Accounts, Vol. III, Journal "B", [765]-51.

Isaac Carter: Determining the Identity of Same Name Rev War Soldiers, Part 8

Reckoning Dates 

Library of Congress, Special Collections.

Of all of Haun's North Carolina Army Accounts transcriptions discussed in Part 6 of this series, those from Volume II, Book 1 were the most helpful in establishing service dates. The other account ledgers prove that these men served, but not when because payment dates could be anytime after service--sometimes months or years later. So let's take a look at the language of these entries.

• In Vol. II, Book 1, Page 120 [545]: Allow'd William DOVE Soldier for pay and defy. of Cloathing [sic] of October 1780 Including Interest to August 1, 1783....127 pounds, 2 shillings, 0 pence.
• In Vol. II, Book 1, Page 124 [549]: Allowed Martin BLACK Soldier for pay and Defy. of Cloathing [sic] to 1st. June 1780 Including Interest to August 1st, 1783....119 pounds, 9 shillings, 5 pence.
• In Vol. II, Book 1, Page 124 [549]: Allowed Isaack PURKINS Soldier for pay & defy. of Cloathing [sic] to June 1780 Includg. Interest to August 1, 1783....119 pounds, 9 shillings, 5 pence.
• In Vol II, Book 1, Page 168 [593]: Allowed Isaac CARTER for pay to 1st. January 1782 including Interest to 1st. August 1783 (4 Months 4 Days unsettled)....22 pounds, 19 shillings, 10 pence.

Each of these entries follows this pattern:

[Soldier's Name]_"for pay to [date]"_"including Interest to [date]"_ [payment amount].

By looking at the "for pay to [date]" clause, we can determine a time frame for service. Let's take a look at an example:

"Isaac Perkins...for pay...to June 1780...."

From Isaac Perkins' Pension File (S41953), I know that he enlisted in May 1778 for a 3-year term, and following the Siege of Charleston (March 29-May 12, 1780), he returned to North Carolina and was drafted into the Militia. 

Therefore, the above payment was for service on the Continental Line.

When we find a payment for Isaac Carter, "...to 1st January 1782...," I can't cross-check dates with a Pension File. He never applied for a pension. But I can see how that fits into other dates I've found for him and the places where he was said to have served.

Fort Hancock at Cape Lookout: April 1778-May 1780

Little is known of this fort, the only one built in North Carolina during the American Revolution, and no ruins or artifacts remain. I started by rereading a blog post by Mary Warshaw on More Beaufort, North Carolina History that I found a while ago, entitled, "Carteret County during the Revolutionary Period." It's a transcription from Jean Bruyere Kell's book, North Carolina's Coastal Carteret County During the American Revolution: 1765-1785 (1976). 

While I don't have access to the original source, this transcription doesn't have source citations. But that should never prevent a researcher from finding the sources! The best place to find them is in Clark's State Records of North Carolina. By finding the dates and keywords, I tracked down the following.

On January 31, 1778, Cornelius Harnett wrote Richard Caswell:

"I fear our State have neglected Cape Look Out Bay and Cape Fear River. The latter is such a harbor as may at all times be safe for the enemy to enter, and ravage the country at will, more especially at this time when all our Continental Troops are at the distance of 600 miles from that place. Cape Look Out is one of the finest harbors on the American coast, and would be a noble Asylum for the Continental and private ships of war, to wood and water, as also a place of security for trading vessels chased by the enemy. I am distressed beyond measure to find our sea coast so much neglected to please (I fear) a few individuals who may be interested in the matter, I am as before your Excellency's most &c. &c." (Vol. 13, p. 22).

A petition from Denis Nicholas de Cottineau entitled, "Defending the Landing at Capt Lookout Bay," dated April 1778: 

"About fifteen days ago Captain Cottineau came to this Town, on this Town, on purpose to represent to the Governor of this State that his frigate, now lying in Capt Look-Out Bay, was not in Security, and that she run'd the greatest risk of being insulted by the enemies of America....

"Cape Look-Out fortifications could assure...that one...might find a good shelter against the Winds and the Enemies, this Bay been fortified should prove of a great advantage to this State, being the only safe harbour from Capt Henry to Cape Fear, where strangers may go in without danger and almost without Pilots. 

"Captain de Cottineau has proposed to furnish 80 men and his boats to build a fort at his own expenses...even to put some of the frigate guns upon it until the Assembly should sent some, and Monsieur Le Chevalier De Cambray, officer of artillery, who came in this country on purpose to serve under George Washington, has talked the trouble of building the said fort, and showed to his Excellency the Governor two different plans of the necessary fortification....

"I expect that you'll be so kind as to allow a strong guard to the fort....that a guard should be sent to the present fort with an American flag....I think that 50 or 60 men will be sufficient, together with 25 I could send, in case of a near attack, to stand against 250, if the Enemies was to land them there. I intend to build a watch house or a Corps de guard to give necessary notice to the Country Militia....

"In case you should meet with some Difficulties in regard of sending proper guns to the fort, I can afford to offer 6 to this state, of 4 pounders each, which I shall Leave here....

"...this fort...requires fifteen days' work with about 60 men to be perfectioned in its capacity... (Vol. 15, pp. 215-218)."

On April 30, 1778

"Conocurred with, Mr. Coor...reported as follows, to which that: That John Tillman, Esq., was appointed Captain of Fort Hancock, Zephaniah Pinkham, First Lieutenant, and that no person had a majority of votes as second Lieutenant (Vol. 12, p. 638)."

On May 1, 1778

"Resolved, that the men to be raised to garrison Fort Hancock and Fort Johnston be enlisted for the time of one year, which being read was concurred with....that all such persons as shall enlist in either of the garrisons aforesaid previous to the first day of June shall be exempted from the vote for persons to be raised to complete the North Carolina Continental Battalions (Vol. 12, pp. 643, 650)."

On June 6, 1778, William Bryan wrote to Richard Caswell, saying:

"Mr. Green from New Bern this day says an account is come to Town, of the arrival of a large ship from France in Cape Lookout, with dry Goods (Vol. 13, p. 149)."

On June 26, 1778, Willis Wilson wrote to Richard Caswell from Ocracoke:

"The enemy (one ship, two sloops and a brig) take a peep at us every now and then, but are not disposed to venture in....The Pilots of Ocracock [sic] have finally stopped bringing in or carrying out vessels... (Vol. 13, p. 171)."

June 29, 1778, John Easton to Richard Caswell from Beaufort:

"...money is likewise wanting for the Fort at Lookout. The cruisers are constantly hovering about our coasts. Futteridge with a brig. in company drove 2 vessels into a small inlet against Hunting Quarters last week (Vol. 13, p. 176)."

Captain John Tillman wrote to Richard Caswell on December 12, 1778: 

"We have purchased a Boat for the use of Fort Hancock, as our necessity was so great and we could not possibly do without Col. Thompson was kind enough to advance the money for him. My soldiers have received their money which gives them new spirits, but are suffering much for want of their cloaks, as I have never heard from Mr. Craid since at Beaufort (Vol. 13, p. 327)."

On April 1, 1780, Le Chevalier D'Anmours wrote Governor Caswell :

"...for the encouragement of the French trade in this state, the want of which, I perceive, has been ruinous to that carried by France at the beginning of the present War; and of course disgusted the foreign merchants from sending any more ships into the ports of North Carolina (Vol. 15, p. 366)." 

A resolution by the North Carolina General Assembly dated May 4, 1780 states:

"Resolved, That on the first day of June next the Garrison of Fort Hancock be disbanded & discharged...(Vol. 15, p. 389)."

Next steps in the analysis

So there it is. The lifespan of the fort was only two years. While several sources say that the fort never saw any engagements with the British, this minimalizes the effect of the fort, because its proposed purposes were to have a safe haven and to deter the enemy from getting too close to their shores.

Now we know that Fort Hancock on Cape Lookout, North Carolina, was garrisoned with 50-60 men, to be raised before June 1, 1778, for one year, served between that time and May 4, 1780.

I am now ready to make some educated assumptions and start putting the timeline for the militiamen's combined service record, but I'll leave that for next time.