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.
Enoch Pearson, Whig militia company raised as a Private in (2nd) Spartan Regt., South Carolina (SC) under command of Col Thos. Brandon before 12 May 1780, the British siege and the surrender of Charleston; Enoch Pearson born Bucks County, PA (1718-ca1780) died, in Ninety Six District, South Carolina (SC); see, DAR Ancestor Search for Enoch Pearson, Ancestor #: A087025
Harry K. Windland published a biographical ‘sketch’ within the Nat’l. Society Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) Patriot Research System; see, SAR Patriot #: P-267334, that identified Enoch Pearson, born in Bucks County (Co.) Pennsylvania (PA) on 25 May 1718. Windland’s writing stated that Enoch’s father (unnamed) worked his son in their family operated lime factory, presumably located within Bucks Co., PA.
Enoch was introduced to Tabitha Jacocks (aka Jecocks; identical to DAR Ancestor #: A087025) of Shrewsbury, New Jersey (NJ)., He married (m.) Tabitha during 1751. Enoch Pearson, his spouse and two sons -Thomas born (b.) 1754 and William Pearson (1761-1844; identical to SAR Patriot #: P-267398) removed from their home in Bucks Co., PA to resettle within western South Carolina (SC) about 1765 as a surveyor. Earlier (1749) he was introduced upon the Atlantic coastal plain, frontier to practical surveying with George Washington (GW, age 19); sources, Find A Grave Memorial # 38389335 -Enoch Pearson, II and, see: Washington: The Indispensable Man, etc., The Illustrated Edition, Copyright 1969, James Thomas Flexner publ., by Sterling Signature, New York, N.Y., 387 Park Ave., South, pgs 7-11.
SAR Compatriot Windland researched information relating that approximately in 1765, with the migration of Quaker Friends, Enoch a few years shy of age 50, moved to Tryon Co., SC backcountry formed, 1785 as Union Co. He purchased over 1000 acres of land mapped now, within the community of Sedalia. This western SC area lies generally within the Sumter National Forest. Windland wrote that records show Enoch Pearson, was the Deputy Surveyor on 16 October 1768 and other later, dates.
By the early 1770s, Enoch’s Quaker family shared ‘Friends’ congregational membership at Padgett’s Creek Church located in the Cross Keys community. This area was fairly quiet until (1780) British military activism. Families generally had a pacifist notarity, care for acts of charity and, even some backcountry loyalist support. Windland pointed out in his writings that despite Enoch’s aged, enlistment as a Whig militiaman in a company raised for Tryon Co., and neighboring [Spartanburg Co., ( battle of Cowpens, 17 Jan 1781)] he voluntarily served in the (2nd) Spartan Regt., serving under the command of Col. Thomas Brandon, a
Finally, I conclude Enoch’s supplemental biographical work for the purpose of identifying Enoch and Tabitha Pearson’s son, William, age 14, as initially reported to be intercepted and held by Massachusetts -New England (Whig) militiamen staging for Bunker Hill. A mighty youthful, William Pearson was sent to Pennsylvania and he resided there for a period with his grandfather, as Harry K. Windland wrote.
Importantly, for a future biographical work William Pearson’s return home after observing Americans fortifying Charlestown overlooking Boston Harbor, he turned increasingly toward “Freedom Trail’ and joined a company as a private for Capt. Teach Francis and the (1st) Bttn., Philadelphia City militia; source, SAR Patriot #: P-267398.
Author: Harry K. Windland
Enoch Pearson was born in Bucks Co., PA on 25 May 1718. He disliked working in his father’s lime factory and relocated to Winchester, VA where young George Washington was teaching men to become surveyors. George Washington introduced Enoch to Tabitha Jacocks of Shrewsbury, NJ. Enoch and Tabitha married in 1751 and, because of Indian hostilities in Virginia he moved back to Bucks before returning to in Frederick Co., VA, where, in 1754, he leased land. He entered a second lease there in 1755. In January 1756 Major Washington came to Winchester to organize defense against the Indians. After his meeting with the city council Major Washington adjourned to the home of Enoch Pearson. Around 1765 with the migration of Quaker Friends he moved to Tryon Co., SC (later became Union Co.) where he purchased over 1000 acres of land in the Sedalia section of Union Co., SC. SC records show him as the Deputy Surveyor on 16 October 1768 and other later dates.
When war broke out Enoch was already in his late 50s, too old for military service. His Quaker beliefs were pacifistic, but due to his friendship with George Washington he joined the fight and fought under General Benjamin Lincoln, in Brandon’s Regiment, in the defense of Charleston. He was wounded during that siege and eventually died from those wounds.
Some of Enoch’s sons sided with the British. His son William, age 14, was captured by the Americans at Bunker Hill and sent to live with his grandfather in PA where he eventually relented and joined the Patriots to the end of the war.
His home and property were near the Tyger River in Union Co., SC where he died on 21 April 1780. He is buried in the Pearson Cemetery located on a high hill south of Padgett’s Creek just west of Sardis Road, and about ¼ mile north of the intersection of Sardis Road with Old Buncombe Road, in what is now the Sumter National Forest.
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Additional Information:
From NSDAR: WILLIAM'S WIFE, SARAH JONES, WAS THE WIDOW OF A JACKS. PAY RECEIPTED ON 6-27-1786 BY WIFE TABITHA JECOCKS PEARSON A087201