Author: Steven Alexander Wilson
Powell, Absolom Sr. – (b.19 May 1752, Johnston, NC – d. 14 October 1831, Lake Waccamaw, Columbus County, NC) Married 7 Mar 1774 in Bladen County, NC to Mary Brown Stephens (b. 20 Jan 1755 Johnston, NC; d. 20 Jan 1844, Columbus County, NC) Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters Pension application of Absalom Powell R8401 Mary fn39NC Transcribed by Will Graves 9/18/09
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State of North Carolina County of Columbus: Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions November Term 1832

On this the 12th day of November 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Worshipful Moore Lennox, By the l Haynes and Lot Williamson Justices of the Peace, presiding in the said Court for said County now sitting, Absalom Powell, a resident of said County & State aged eighty years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated.

1. He entered the service as a Private in a Company of Bladen Militia commanded by Captain Thomas Amis, and of which John Yates was Lieutenant & Barnabas Stevens, was Ensign, in the month of March 1776, being shortly after the commencement of hostilities with Great Britain, & he then residing in that part of Bladen County, now called Columbus. The Company was called into service to prevent the Tories, who had collected in considerable force at Fayetteville (then Cross Creek) from making their way to old Brunswick below Wilmington, where a British Vessel of War, called the
Old Cruiser was stationed. The Company rendezvoused at Elizabethtown Bladen County, thence marched to Rockfish Creek, 7 or 8 miles below Fayetteville, and there joined a considerable body of Militia, all of whom were under the command of General Moore who was said to be a Continental Officer, has no recollection of any other Continental officers: there were one or more companies of Regular Troops, but has forgotten their names. By direction of General Moore, and entrenchment was thrown up on the North side of the Creek, a short distance from the Creek; and attacked by the Tories being apprehended. The Militia was stationed in the road, and the Regulars down the Creek. After remaining there 2 or 3 days information was received, that the Tories had crossed the River Cape Fear above Fayetteville, and were making their way towards Wilmington; but on their march were defeated by General Caswell at Moore's Creek Bridge on the North East River, and where it was understood one of their commanding officers, McLeod, was killed; while at Fayetteville, it was understood, that they were commanded by a General or Colonel McDonald. As soon as it was understood, that the Tories had crossed the River as stated, the troops at Rockfish returned to Elizabeth town; and thence marched down below the mouth of the River, and the night they arrived there, the battle at Moore's Creek was fought. He remained there a short time, and with the rest of the Company received a verbal discharge -- he was engaged in this expedition about a month.

2. Shortly after the service above detailed, he was again called into service, in the same
Company under the same officers, and residing in the same place, on an expedition against the Tories who had been previously dispersed, and again collected in a considerable number in the upper part of Bladen (now Robeson County), marched to the Raft Swamp -- met with no opposition from the Tories -- but many of them came in and took the oath of Allegiance. That service (in which he was employed but 4 weeks as a Sergeant) being performed, he was discharged and returned home.

3. Very shortly after that he same company under Captain Amis & Lieutenant Yates, He being then Ensign -- he marched with the company to Jumping Run below Wilmington, where most of theCompanies belonging to the Bladen Regiment under the command of General (then Colonel) Thomas Brown were stationed. They were called into service in consequence of an expected arrival of the British Fleet off the coast. As soon as they along from this cause had subsided the troops received a verbal discharge & returned home. He was engaged in this service about one month & then resided in Bladen County (now Columbus).

4. Shortly after this expedition, the Country was in such a trouble state, that the influence of the laws was scarcely felt, and no regular Commissions could be obtained -- one half, or nearly so, of the population of Bladen County, then embracing within its limits the Counties of Robeson & Columbus, and part of Cumberland, were disaffected. The Tories would frequently collected in large bodies, as the tide of affairs would take a favorable turn for them, plundering and murdering the peaceful inhabitants, who would not take sides [with] them; At that juncture, and about 3 years before the close of the War -- He received a brevet Commission as Captain of a Militia Company, in that part of Bladen, now called Columbus County, from a regimental Court Martial, which convened at Elizabethtown Bladen County, and as well as he recollects the Commission was signed by Colonel Thomas Robeson & Colonel Thomas Brown, Field Officers of the Bladen Regiment. In that capacity he was almost constantly engaged in active service -- sometimes for 2 or 3 weeks at a time, & sometimes for 3 or 4 days. He was frequently called into service by the Commanding Officers of the Regiment commanded by the officers above named, and for a while by Colonel Thomas Owen & Colonel James Richardson; he would sometimes order out the Company himself on short tours of duty, as the exigencies of the times might require. He was engaged in frequent expeditions against the Tories, in the County of Bladen, and the adjoining Counties of Brunswick and New Hanover, and on the South Carolina [border]; -- that he is now so old, and his memory so imperfect, that he has not such a distinct recollection of circumstances, as to be able to particularize them. He, however, is confident that he can with perfect justice, claim compensation from his Country, for 18 months active service as a Captain. The Brevet Commission mentioned in his declaration, he has lost. He has no documentary evidence of his service -- and no living witnesses of his service, except John Wingate
1 and Pierce Godwin,2 whose affidavits are hereunto annexed. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present -- and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the 12th day of November 1832.
S/ Absalom Powell
Buried in cemetery near Lake Shore, Lake Waccamaw, Columbus County. Service: Captain, Sergeant, Ensign, and Private in Captain Thomas Amis’ Company; served under General Moore. (NSDAR 1959-60 Report, NSSAR Membership # 76851 and 89039, NSSAR Patriot & Grave Index Number P 272705)