Shipman, James – (b. 13 Jun 1751 – d. 4 Jan 1844) Married Lucy Jane Lewis.  Buried Shipman Family Cemetery, south of Clarkton, southern Bladen County on Hwy 701, approximately two miles south of Bladen-Columbus County line on west side of Hwy 701 back of field.  Sign on highway.  GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 34.45217, Longitude: -78.70177 Grave marked by Major General Robert Howe Chapter.  (DAR Magazine, 1977, p 720, NSSAR Patriot & Grave Index Number P 289241)

Service:  Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements

Pension application of James Shipman W17810
Transcribed by Will Graves State of North Carolina, Bladen County: Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions February Sessions A.D. 1833 On this the 4th day of February 1833, personally appeared in open Court before the Worshipful
William H. Beatty, Alexander King and John I. McMillan Justices of the Peace in and for the County of
Bladen holding the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for said County now sitting, James Shipman, a resident of the County of Bladen and State of North Carolina, aged 81 years June 13th 1832, 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. He first served as a Sergeant in the winter of 1775 – '6, in two short expeditions – one to Rockfish in the Company commanded by Captain Maturin Colville, in order to attack a body of Tories,
who had embodied in considerable force, at Cross Creek (now Fayetteville) under General or Colonel
McDonald, and who were subsequently defeated by General Caswell at Moore's Creek Bridge; the other in a Company of Bladen Militia Commanded by Captain Thomas Amis, to Drowning Creek and the South Carolina line, in order to disarm and disperse the Tories collected at that quarter.  When, about the 1st February 1776, he again entered the Service as a Sergeant, in Captain Colville's Company. They rendezvoused at the Brown Marsh Bridge in Bladen County; and thence marched to Wilmington, in obedience (as was said) to orders from the Committee of Safety who apprehended an attack on that place from the enemy. Not long after the leading men of the Company being dissatisfied with Colville as their Captain, who was suspected of being disaffected to the Cause—Colville left the Company shortly afterwards joined the Tories, was appointed Colonel, and was subsequently killed by the Whigs. Upon Colville's leaving the Company, he (Shipman) was elected Captain. With the Company, he then joined the Bladen militia (of whom all the able-bodied men were called in to service) under Colonels Robeson and Brown, and was stationed three months at Wilmington and Jumping Run below that place – during which time he acted and was recognized as Captain all the Troops at that station: when on the 11th of June 1776, he received a Commission as Captain from the Honorable Cornelius Harnett, President of the Committee of Safety, the original of which Commission is hereunto annexed. With his Company, he then joined General Ashe's Brigade, and was attached to a Regiment of militia commanded by Colonel Brown, Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong, and Major Moore, of Duplin [County] – there was another Regiment of militia called the Second Regiment, commanded by Colonel Dozier, Lieutenant Colonel [illegible name, could be "Lee" or "Lea"] and (as well as recollected) Major Hogan [sic, James Hogun?]. He continued to act with the Brigade, until he and Captain Dozier of the Second Regiment, received orders to proceed with their Companies against the Tories, who had killed Captain Nathaniel Richardson a distinguished Whig in the upper part of the County. They joined at different places other portions of the Bladen Militia who were called out on the emergency of the occasion, all under the command of Colonel Brown; he continued on this service until about the 20th of August 1776, having been in service as a Captain six months. General Moore a Continental Officer and some other Continental Officers & regulars were at Wilmington but their names he does not recollect, or the number of the recruits. He continued to act as a Captain under the Commission received from the Committee of Safety, until the Government was reorganized when he received a Commission from the Governor and continued to serve as Captain in numerous expeditions against the Tories in various parts of the County, sometimes in South Carolina and occasionally in service with Colonel Thomas Robeson, Colonel Thomas Brown, Colonel Thomas Owen, Captain Peter Robeson, Captain Jared Irwin and Captain (afterwards, General) John Willis. South of the Cape Fear, as far as the Pedee River, the Tories were numerous and active. On the North side of the Cape Fear they were but few in number pressed on that side by the Whigs, and on the South by General Marion and his men, they made the County of Bladen (then comprising within its limits the County of Robeson & a large portion of the County of Columbus) their battle ground and the theater of their numerous robberies and murders. So obnoxious had he become to the Tories that there was but a small portion of his time when permitted to retire from active service, that he could sleep in his own house, and was under the necessity of removing from it all his valuable effects. On one occasion, the Tories believing that he was at home, came to his house, and cruelly murdered in the presence of his (Shipman's) wife, an unoffending young man by the name of Parish[?]; from his house, they went to his Brothers a short distance; ripped open all the beds, destroyed the furniture and set fire to the house; but having been alarmed before they could complete their work of destruction, the flames were extinguished after their departure. On another occasion they succeeded in taking him prisoner, but he fortunately made his escape. In the whole extent of Country now called Robeson [County], he knew of no Whigs, except General John Willis, and his Brother Daniel and the Barnes family. He received numerous orders and other communications from Colonel Thomas Robeson, and other Officers in service, but they have all been lost or destroyed, except an order from Colonel Robeson dated June 27th, 1789 (herewith sent) then recognizing his rank as Captain, which together with his Commission accompanying this he accidentally found a short time cents in an old worn out Pocket Book; but for the loss of those documents he could satisfy the Department, beyond a shadow of a doubt of the length and fidelity of his Services. He was commissioned in June 1776 and continued to serve as described, until hostilities ceased: but owing to his age, and the consequent decay of his memory (while there are many insulated [sic isolated?] circumstances which are vivid in his recollection) except the services already detailed, he cannot particularize any other than the following Viz., 1. In the winter of 1776--'7, he was engaged with his Company in obedience to orders from Colonel Robeson, on a tour of one month's service, against the Tories on Drowning Creek or Lumber River, and the South Carolina line. 2. About three or four months afterwards, he served another Tour of one month with his Company under Colonel Robeson, against the Tories. 3. About six months afterwards, he served with his Company, one month under Captain Thomas Owen, on an expedition against the Tories, on the South Carolina line. 4. Shortly after he served two months, on a similar expedition under Colonel Thomas Brown.

5. In the year 1781, near the close of the War, he served two months under Colonel Thomas Owen. The Bladen Militia joined General Butler who commanded a Corps of mounted men from the back Country of North Carolina, at Waddell's Ferry on the Cape Fear River. Colonel Butler after marching his force to Baldwin's Old Field on the Brown Marsh,( on the old Wilmington Road southeast of Clarkton, NC about two and one half miles) was there attacked at night, and defeated by the British and Tories under Major Manson.( Craig received intelligence that Butler and his army were gathered near Brown Marsh in Bladen County. Craig sent Major Daniel Manson and 180 Provincials from Wilmington to escort Colonel Ray as far as Brown Marsh.

Manson marched to Brown Marsh then divided the forces, and placed guides with each element. The three British groups were to strike at Butler's camp from different angles. The three elements were the Royal North Carolina Regiment, Duncan Ray's Anson County Militia, and Fanning's Regiment under the command of Captain Stephen Holloway.

This plan soon fell apart when the guides became lost in Brown Swamp. Manson and Holloway were able to move out of the swamp and get into position, but Ray's Loyalists were lost. The lost men could be heard moving through the swamp, breaking brush and getting tangled in the vines and bushes. Butler's men heard all this and set up a defensive position facing the swamp. Manson did not know any of this and ordered the attack to begin in the early morning darkness.

Butler was facing the swamp where they heard the noise, and did not expect an attack from his flanks. When Manson fired the first volley Butler assumed that the British had field pieces and ordered a retreat.
Colonel Robert Mebane did not retreat and did the same thing he had done at Cane Creek. He disobeyed Butler's order and continued to fight. Colonel Thomas Owen's Bladen County militia joined Mebane and fought until they were overpowered and had to retreat.

One of the men who was in the fight wrote in his pension "if it had not been for old Col. Mebane of the Orange Regt., we would have all been taken prisoner ... and a brave officer he was.")

In less than an hour the Loyalists were in possession of the camp. They had lost two killed and five wounded. The Patriots wrote that they lost three killed and two wounded, but Manson wrote to Craig that "The Rebels were completely dispers'd, leaving twenty dead & five & twenty prisoners. They had also a number of wounded who in the darkness of the night got off. We took between 30 & 40 horses but the militia the next day got upwards of a hundred more who were running loose in the woods."

The back Country men fled immediately. The Bladen Militia under Colonel Owen & the Sampson Militia under Captain Dodd, stood their ground until their ammunition was expended. A man by the name of Sigourner, a brave Soldier belonging to the Bladen Militia was killed; a lad by the name of Stephens belonging to his (Shipman's) Company was also killed by his side. One or two of Captain Dodd's men were killed & wounded. The Back Country Militia lost a great many of their horses. After General Butler had succeeded in rallying a portion of his men, he called on him (Shipman) to furnish a guide from his Company, but as he was well acquainted with the Country, he tendered his services, which were accepted, and he continued to act in that capacity, in General Butler's various excursions through the County. Generals Butler and Rutherford (who also commanded a Corps of back Country Militia) united their forces, a few Miles from Fayetteville, and shortly afterwards, attacked and defeated the Tories at McPhaul's Mills, in the upper part of Bladen (now Robeson) County; they shortly afterwards separated. General Butler marching down the Cape Fear, and General Rutherford towards the White Marsh. His Company was discharged at Elizabethtown. A Continental officer Colonel Mebane was with General Butler. He has no recollection of the number of the Regiments under General Butler & Rutherford. In the intervals of service above detailed, he was engaged in frequent short expeditions, but cannot as already stated describe them with any particularity. He does not hesitate to say, that during the time he held the Commission of Captain he was in active Service more than two years. He resigned to his Commission as Captain after the termination of the war and if he did not return it to Colonel Thomas Owen, then the Commanding Officer of the blatant Militia who has been dead long since, it has been lost or destroyed. If he ever received any written Certificates of discharge for the various services in which he was engaged (of which he has now no recollection), they have also been lost or destroyed. He has no documentary evidence of his services, except that within forwarded; and no living witnesses, whose testimony he can procure, except those 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 day & year aforesaid. S/ James Shipman Answers to the Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department as propounded to the Applicant by the Court. 1. I was born on the Brown Marsh in Bladen County North Carolina at June 13, 1751. 2. I have a record of my age in my family Bible. 3. I have resided within 5 miles of where I now reside, on the Brown Marsh in Bladen County ever since I was born. 4. I was called into Service most generally by the Commanding Officers of the Bladen militia, and sometimes I engaged with my Company on short expeditions, without orders, from any Superior Officer. 5. For answers to this question, I beg leave to refer to the body of my declaration. 6. For answer to this Question, I also beg leave to refer to the body of my declaration. 7. James Kelly, James Campbell, Aaron Lewis, Sr., Aaron Lewis, Jr., John McKeithan, Samuel Swindal, John Wingate, James B. McKay, Daniel Shipman & others, were it necessary to name them. [Standard certificate of reputation for veracity, age and revolutionary service given by James Swindal, clergyman, and William James Cowan.] State of North Carolina, Bladen County: Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions February Sessions 1833 Personally appeared in open Court this the 4th day of February 1833 before the Worshipful William H. Beatty, Alexander King and John Iver McMillan, Justices of the Peace for said County, holding said Court, John Wingate, who after being duly sworn according to Law, Deposeth and saith. That he served as a Private (the time not recollected) in a Company of Bladen Militia, Commanded by Captain James Shipman (the Declarant), who were called into service, to Wilmington and were stationed there and at Jumping Ron below that place. The militia were called into service on a tour of six months – but the different companies were divided into classes, & the privates were relieved every month. Further this Deponent saith not. Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid. S/ John Wingate State of North Carolina, Bladen County: Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions February Sessions 1833 Personally appeared in open Court, this the 4th day of February A.D. 1833, before the Worshipful William H. Beatty, Alexander King and John Iver McMillan, Esq., Justices of the Peace holding said Court, James Campbell, who after being duly sworn according to Law, deposeth and saith. That he served in a company of Bladen Militia commanded by the Declarant Captain James Shipman on an expedition against the Tories on the South Carolina line. He does not recollect the time, or the length of their Tour – Colonel Thomas Owen commanded the Troops – and Captains Irwin, McDaniel and Powell also commanded Companies – after taking some Tories, they were discharged. He further swears that he was in two other short expeditions against the Tories on the other side of Drowning Creek under Captain Shipman but does not particularly recollect the time & circumstances.

Sworn to and Subscribed the day & year aforesaid. S/ James Campbell State of North Carolina, Bladen County: Court of Pleas and Court or Sessions – February Sessions 1833 Personally appeared in open Court this the 4th day of February 1833, before the Worshipful William H. Beatty. Alexander King and John I McMillan, Justices of the Peace for said County – holding said Court – John Darrach, who after being duly sworn according to Law, deposeth and saith. That he served in a Company of Bladen Militia under Captain James Shipman (the Declarant), and Lieutenant James Moorehead. That he joined the Company at Wilmington – and marched with it on the expedition into Robeson (now Bladen) against the Tories, who had killed Captain Nathaniel Richardson & that after completing their tour of duty, they were discharged at Elizabethtown Bladen County. Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. S/ John Darrach An order to Captain James Shipman to have his men appear at Elizabethtown on Monday, July 6, in order to march, signed Thomas Robeson, June 27, 1778. Also in order to Captain James Shipman to take charge of the cattle in Mr. McKee's care on Cape Fair [sic, Fear] River and proceed with them to the Grand American Compt., signed Joseph Green, A. C. P., dated Bladen County, October 17, 1778, have been removed from this case to be forwarded to the War Department. Sent to War Dept. Jan. 16, 1913 North Carolina In the Council of Safety These may Certify that Mr. James Shipman is appointed Captain of a Company of the Wilmington Brigade of militia in actual Service commanded by Brigadier General Ashe this 11th day of June 1776.
By Order S/ J Glasgon, Secty. S/ Com. Harnett, President