Display Patriot - P-247493 - John Thomas Washington MEDEARIS/MEDARIS
John Thomas Washington MEDEARIS/MEDARIS
SAR Patriot #:
P-247493
The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
State of Service: NC
Qualifying Service: Major / Patriotic Service
Photo by permission: James Ervin McKinney, TN Society SAR
The Joseph Greer Chapter of the TNSSAR conducted a grave marking ceremony honoring Capt. John Medearis on Oct. 29, 2016
Short Bio on Find-a-Grave
TN historical Maker 3G 12 for John Medearis home (Liberty) at 35.385115, -86.646662 - Cemetery is on the property
Directions to Cemetery / Gravesite:
Photo: 1 of 1
Author: James Edward Mitchell
John Washington Medearis (aka John Medearis) was born 22 Feb 1744 in Essex County Virginia (VA), a son of John Thomas Medearis (1703-1788) and Rachel Davis (1715-1795).
During approx. 1750, John Medearis’ parents resettled with their family to Halifax Co., NC. On 16 Apr 1776, John was commissioned a Lieut. in the (5th) NC Rgt. and was elevated to Captain on 23 Dec 1777.
During the American Revolution, John Medearis claimed to have loaned seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) to support the Continental army. Medearis was made Asst. Deputy (NC) Quarter Master General between 1780 and the close of the Revolutionary War. He was finally awarded for his financial contributions to the Cause of Independence -three thousand eight hundred and forty (3,840) acres of land recorded in the Land Office at Nashville.
The John Medearis family tract was situated in present day Marshall Co., Tennessee (TN). He married on 20 Dec 1780 a widow, Sarah Hicks Bell (1746-1820) at Wake Co., NC formed in 1771 from parts of Orange County. Sarah’s parents, Robert and Sarah Reeves Hicks (1713-1788) resided at Granville Co., NC during 1746. Sarah’s first spouse was Thomas Bell, born in Scotland during 1728 and died in Wake Co., NC.
John and his wife, Sarah settled upon his tract (Belfast, TN) that he named, “Liberty” Valley. His Holy Union with Sarah produced two sons and two daughters: Washington Davis Medearis, born 20 Sep 1783 in Tennessee (TN); Benjamin Whitehead Medearis, born 25 Jul 1784-1841; Martha Jerusha Medearis, born 22 Jul 1786 and Mary “Polly” Medearis Smith, born 18 Aug 1788-1876.
He served as an officer in the Revolutionary War. John Washington Medearis (NC) applied for a U. S. Pension (S.2823), which was approved and recorded on 15 May 1828. John stated on his application that he was commissioned during 1776 as an officer, Captain within the (5th) NC Continental Rgt. after resettling to TN at Bedford Co. and served in the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War.
For his Revolutionary War services John initially received $480.00 annually based on his military service in the _Rgt. NC Line. He died 31 Mar 1834 at his rural home then set along Liberty Valley Road, Belfast, Marshall Co., TN, and Latitude: 35.419837 and Longitude: -86.702324.
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