Capt. William "The Tory" Deaton, IV

Burial record:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/134054622/william-deaton

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Deaton: Capt. Deaton William (son of Thomas Deaton Sr. and Mary Corrington) was born Abt. 1736 in Henrico County, Va., and died September 13, 1781 in Cane Creek, Chatham, N.C.. He married Sarah Jackson on Abt. 1764 in Virginia.

Includes Notes' From Ancestry Folks

Notes for Capt. Deaton William: William was sued by his brother John for debts owed to John and "for the poor of Raleigh's Parish." The suit, which was dismissed for "reasons of the Court", perhaps was generated partly by friction between John, who supported the fledgling feelings of American independence and William, who clearly backed the British Crown.

Captain William Deaton also fought at Lindley's Mill, 26 miles from Hillsborough, North Carolina. William Deaton was a local Chatham Co., N.C. land owner, holding property on Bear Creek, southwest of Chapel Hill. The Deatons were old time English colonists, having been in America since the 1640's. The inhabitants of North Carolina were more partial to the English King than any other colony. Part of Williams's land was confiscated after the war.

September 13, 1781. Colonel McNeil was ambushed at Cane Creek (Lindley's Mill) by General Butler. Fanning secured his prisoners at Spring Friends Meetinghouse, then flanked the Whigs and forced Gen. Butler's militia to retreat. Fanning was severely wounded in the left arm. The battle lasted 4 hurs and was one of the largest of the war in North Carolina. 250 men were killed, captured, or wounded of the forces engages.

One family report says that Capt. William was a "giant devoted to the Church of England." Another report says he was a "pegleg cobbler". Another says he died gloriously in battle. And another report says Capt. William was a Tory captured at Cane Creek and executed by "Whitehorse Harry" Lee's Cavalry. It would seem that the "pegleg" report is a fabrication.

From Rob Thornton,

On the 5th of July, 1781, David Fanning, Esq., was appointed to be Colonel of the Loyal Militia of Randolph and Chatham Counties. This appointment, signed by J.H.Craigg, Major, Commanding the Kings Troops and Given at Wilmington, authorized Fanning to grant commissions as necessary for his different companies. On the 1st of September, 1781, William Deaton was one of several men commissioned as Captains for the companies of Chatham County. A copy of the oath was included in Fanning's narrative:

By: David Fanning Esq., Colonel of the Loyal Militia of North Carolina

To: William Deaton

Greetings

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Having received sufficient testimony of your loyalty and zeal for his Majesties Service, and relying on your courage and good conduct, I do hereby appoint you to be Captain of a Company in the District of Chatham County. You are therefore diligently and carefully to discharge the duty of such, obeying all orders and directions which you may receive from time to time from any superior officers in his Majesties service and all others, the inferior officers of his Majesties subjects of that and every other company are directed and requested to obey you as Captain of said Company. Given under my hand at Coxes Mill this 1st of September 1781 - - - - -- -

This information was taken from "A Journal of Col. David Fanning's Transactions During the Late War in America, from the year 1775 - - - commencing 1st of May until the Peace" This writing is a first hand account of certain activities and has been researched along with other writings of the time which corroborate these accounts.

William Deaton is only mentioned this one time and it relates that he was killed in battle at the Battle of Lindley's Mill.

Deaton participated in the Battle of Betli's Bridge on Drowning Creek. This was the 1st of September 1781, and was a serious Whig defeat and a stunning victory for the Loyalist. This battle is actually recorded as the Battle of McPhaul's Mill and lead directly to the raid on Hillsborough. On the 12th of September, 1781, Fannings's Regiment conducted the raid on Hillsborough. This is considered Fanning's most daring exploit. In this raid, two other regiments joined in and assisted in killing 15 rebels, wounding another 20, and capturing more than 200, including Governor Burke. On the 13th of September, 1781, Fanning marched on to Lindleys Mill to attack General Butler and his party of Rebels. The attack on Lindleys Mill was a devastating 4 hour battle that continued until Butler and his Rebels retreated. Fannings lost 27 men killed, including Captain William Deaton, 60 men wounded so badly they couldn't be moved (presumably they too also died), and another 30 slightly wounded. This battle was fought by the 950 men in Fanning's Regiment and the unknown number of men in the two regiments that had joined Fanning. Respectfully submitted, Your most humble servant, Rob (Thornton), Private, Colonel David Fanning's North Carolina Loyalist Militia re enactor. Event: History Revolutionary War Note: A Tory

More About Capt. Deaton William and Sarah Jackson: Marriage: Abt. 1764, Virginia.

Children of Capt. Deaton William and Sarah Jackson are:

   Nathan Deaton, b. Abt. 1765, d. date unknown.

   +John D. Deaton Sr., b. Abt. 1766, Amelia County, Va., d. Abt. 1848, Breathitt County, Ky.

   Mathew Deaton, b. February 14, 1768, d. date unknown.

   William Ebby Deaton, b. Abt. 1770, d. date unknown.

   Levi Deaton, b. Abt. 1774, d. date unknown.

   Eldridge Deaton, b. Abt. 1775, d. date unknown.

   Molly Deaton, b. Abt. 1776, d. date unknown.

   Burrell Deaton, b. Abt. 1777, d. date unknown.

   Margaret Deaton, b. April 01, 1779, d. date unknown.

   Elijah Deaton, b. December 01, 1781, d. date unknown.

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GEDCOM Note

<p>William Deaton and Sarah Jackson</p><p> </p><p>William Deaton, the youngest of Thomas and Mary's children was born in 1736. He had seven brothers, Thomas Jr., James, Sr., John, Elijah, Jabez,George and Nathan. His sister was named Elizabeth. William married Sarah Jackson around 1758, and they had twelve children, 8 boys and 4 girls. William had apparently settled in North Carolina. His first three children were born in Wake County North Carolina, one was born in Cumberland County, one in Moore County, and the last three were born in Chatham County, Southwest of Hillsborough and present day Raleigh. There are property records which show William with land on Bear Creek.</p><p> </p><p>William and Sarah's last son, Elijah, was born in December of 1781, in Chatham County, three months after his father was killed at Lindley's Mill. </p><p> </p><p>Captain William Deaton in the American Revolution</p><p> </p><p>When the Revolutionary War began, William sided with the colonists who favored continued ties and governance by England, the Tories or Loyalists. By 1781 he was a captain in the Tory forces of Colonel David Fanning who operated in North Carolina and Virginia in cooperation with the British regular forces.</p><p> </p><p>On June 25, 1781 the North Carolina assembly had elected Thomas Burke as governor of North Carolina. For the first two monthsBurke had performed the duties of office in Halifax until he received information that the Tories of Orange County were planning to rise and plunder their Whig (Patriot) neighbors. Coupled with thiswas the news that David Fanning, the notorious partisan leader, was operating in the vicinity of Hillsborough, attacking and plundering fortified plantations, sometimes executing the defenders. The latest word was that Fanning planned to sack Hillsborough. In September Burke made plans to return to Hillsborough, which was his home, to organize an extensive campaign against the loyalists. (North Carolina Continentials, p. 363)</p><p> </p><p>As the Governor was making his plans, the Patriot General John Butler, with a small body of militia, was encamped on the south side of Haw River, west of Hillsborough. Within three days of his arrival in Hillsborough, Governor Burke's heard that Fanning was operating in cooperation with the loyalist Colonel Hector McNeil and the two were planning to surprise General Butler. The Governor sent a messenger to Butler with a warning and orders for him to move to a place of greater security. Butler retreated toward Hillsborough and Fanning followed.</p><p> </p><p>During the course of these movements Fanning learned that Governor Burke had returned to Hillsborough and was protected by only a small guard. The possibility of capturing the governor excited Fanning's ambition and he marched toward the town.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>William participated in the Battle of Betli's Bridge on Drowning Creek. The battle was on the September 1,</p><p>1781, and was a serious Whig defeat and a stunning victory for the Loyalists. This battle is actually</p><p>recorded as the 'Battle of McPhaul's Mill' and lead directly to the raid on Hillsborough, North Carolina.</p><p>On September 12, 1781, Fanning's Regiment conducted the raid on Hillsborough. The raid was considered</p><p>Fanning's most daring exploit. In this raid, two other regiments joined in and assisted in killing fifteen</p><p>rebels, wounding another twenty, and capturing more than two hundred rebels, including Governor Burke.</p><p>On September 13, 1781, Fanning's marched on to Lindley's Mill to attack General Butler and his party of</p><p>rebels. The attack on Lindley's Mill was a devastating four-hour battle that continued until Butler and his rebel troops retreated. Fanning lost twenty-seven men killed including Captain William Deaton, sixty men</p><p>wounded so badly they couldn't be moved (presumably they too died), and another thirty slightly wounded.</p><p>This battle was fought by the 950 men in Fanning's Regiment and an unknown number of men in the two</p><p>regiments that had joined Fanning's forces.</p><p> </p><p>During this RevolutionaryWar period, William was sued by his brother, John, for debts owed to John and</p><p>"for the poor of Raleigh's Parish." The suit, which was dismissed for "reasons of the Court", was perhaps a</p><p>result of friction between John, who supported the fledgling rebel independence movement, and William,</p><p>who fought for the interests of the British Crown.</p><p> </p><p>Fanning's forces movedall night and approached Hillsborough in the early morning darkness. A heavy fog obscured the movements of his five hundred men as they slipped into town by different roads early on that Wednesday morning, September l2. By the time that the townspeople were alerted to their danger, there was no opportunity to organize resistance. The majority of the men chose to remain in their homes to defendtheir families. The steady fire of the invaders kept them separated and from going to one another's aid. (The N.C. Continentals, p. 364)</p><p> </p><p>The Tories gradually converged on the eastern part of the town where Burke's home was located. The governor put up a vigorous defense, aided by his aide de camp, Captain Reid, his secretary, John Huske, and an orderly sergeant of the Continental Line. They were soon overpowered, but Burke refused to surrender his sword because of the hostile posture of the Tories. Only after a British officer accompanying the loyalists assured him that no harm would come to him did the governor give up his weapon.</p><p> </p><p>General Bulter learned that Fanning and his prisoners were heading South out of Hillsborough and crossing the river and that he planned to go down on the west side to reach the Tory region to the East. Butler decided to get there before them and occupy a favorable position to attack.. The ground at John Alston's mill, a little above or below what is now Lindley's mill, appeared the most suitable and that is where they chose to make their stand. The number engaged in the subsequent battles of Moore's and CaneCreeks is not known exactly, but according to the best traditional accounts, the Tories had about six hundred and the Whigs about three hundred.</p><p> </p><p>As the Tories were crossing the creek,and advancing through a hollow or strip of low ground along the road, the Whigs opened fire from the brow of the hill, on the south side of Cane Creek with tremendous effect. The Tories were taken by surprise and quite a number were killed and wounded. Before the firing began, Captain McLean halted his men and prisoners in the rear and they all sat down to rest. On hearing the first fire ofthe Whigs, Governor Burke, and most of the prisoners, jumped to their feet and looked about; but the Captain told them to be quiet; for if they attempted to escape they should every one be shot down;and they had to obey. (Archibald McMahan was one of the prisoners being held by Captain McLean)</p><p> </p><p>Tory Colonel McNeill, on seeing so many of his men cut down by the first fire, ordered a retreat, but then changed his mind and attempted to proceed. At the next volley of the Whigs, five or six balls entered the Colonel's body and he fell dead on the spot, So did several others, and many more were wounded.</p><p> </p><p>Amid all this success on the part of the Whigs, and all this disaster and confusion among the Tories, Colonel Fanning decided to cross the stream at another place, and then, after making a little circle, he attacked the Whigs in the rear. The Whigs were taken by surprise, ".....and thrown into momentary confusion, but quickly recovered; and, for a short time, the contest was fierce and bloody. Nearly every Whig who was killed during the action fell at this time, and in the course of ten or twelve minutes. The charge of Fanning was furious until his arm was broken by a rifle or musket ball , and he was carried off the field. Viewing their situation as now desperate, considering the disparity of numbers, General Butler ordered a retreat, andcommenced it himself. The men, in obedience to orders, were following his example, when Col. Robert Mebane got before them, and by arguments and remonstrances. so far inspired them with his own heroic spirit that enough of them returned to renew the battle and keep the ground. It seems to have been at last a drawn battle; for neither party claimed the victory, and neither appears to have kept theground for any length of time. The Tories were glad to get away with their prisoners, and the Whigs became willing to let them go." (The Old North State, p. 51) William Deaton was killed at the battle of Lindley's Mill (Sometimes called the Battle of Cane Creek.</p><p> </p><p>Neither Whigs nor Tories really kept the ground and attended to the burying of the dead, but the next morning the neighbors met there and buried thirty-two in one pit. Besides these, according to the concurrent tradition of both parties, many of the dead were carried away by their friends and buried in the neighborhood. Of the wounded, some got away themselves and others were carried away by their friends and acquaintances. A number are known to have died of their wounds soon after. Between the foot of the hill and the creek the dead and dying were strewed about in every direction, and some of them were lying in the water. (Old North State, p. 53)</p><p> </p><p>On July 5, 1781, David Fanning, Esq., was appointed as 'Colonel of the Loyal Militia of Randolph and</p><p>Chatham Counties in North Carolina'. The appointment, signed by 'J.H. Craig, Major, Commanding The</p><p>Kings Troops and Given at Wilmington', authorized Fanning to grant commissions as necessary for his</p><p>different Tory companies. On September 1, 1781, William Deaton was one of several men commissioned as</p><p>captains for the companies of Chatham County.</p><p>A copy of the oath was included in Fanning's narrative:</p><p>"By David Fanning Esq, Colonel of the Loyal Militia of North Carolina'</p><p> </p><p>"To William Deaton'</p><p>"Greeting

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</p><p>Having received sufficient testimony of your loyalty and zeal for his Majesties Service and relying on your</p><p>courage and good conduct I do hereby appoint you to be Captain of a Company in the District of Chatham</p><p>County. You are therefore diligently and carefully to discharge the duty of such, obeying all orders and</p><p>directions which you may receive from time to time from any superior officers in his Majesties service and</p><p>all others, the inferior officers of his Majesties subjects of that and every other company are directed and</p><p>requested to obey you as Captain of said Company.'</p><p>'Given under my hand at Coxes Mill this 1st of Sept 1781."</p><p> </p><p>The above information was taken from "A JOURNAL OF COLONEL DAVID FANNING'S</p><p>TRANSACTIONS DURING THE LATE WAR IN AMERICA, FROM THE YEAR 1775 --</p><p>COMMENCING 1ST OF MAY UNTIL THE PEACE" The writing is a first hand account of certain</p><p>activities and has been researched along with other writings of the time which corroborate these accounts.</p><p>William Deaton is only mentioned this one time and the writing relates that he was killed in battle at the</p><p>Battle of Lindley's Mill.</p><p> </p><p>William's descendant, Barbara Fox Ward, discovered two deeds for William that were dated October 23,</p><p>1782, over one year after William's death on September 13, 1781. Therefore, there are questions about why</p><p>the deeds were generated posthumously.</p><p> </p><p>Here are some possible answers:</p><p> <p>Chatham County, North Carolina, Deed Book C, page 12 dated November 11, 1783, stated that "William</p><p>Deaton Late of Chatham County attached himself to the enemies of the State and the United States and his</p><p>Estate thereby becoming forfeited." The two October 1782 deeds were therefore constructed apparently to</p><p>set fines that had to be paid by the estate because of William's Tory background--just in case the reports of</p><p>William's death were not factual. In fact, if William failed to register the deeds within twelve months of</p><p>October 23, 1782, his estate was apparently forfeited.</p><p> </p><p>Here is one of the two deeds, which are referenced above (the second deed covered four hundred more</p><p>acres; the language is almost identical):</p><p>"Chatham County North Carolina Deed Book C, Page 27, State of North Carolina 558--</p><p> </p><p>"Chatham County North Carolina Deed Book C, Page 27, State of North Carolina 558--</p><p>Know Ye that We for and in Consideration of the sum of fifty shillings for every hundred acres hereby</p><p>granted paid unto Our Treasury by William Deaton have given and granted and by these presents do give</p><p>and grant unto the said William Deaton a Tract of Land Containing three hundred acres lying and being in</p><p>Our County of Chatham on both sides of Cedar Creek. Beginning at Hickory and Turning North one</p><p>hundred and sixty poles to a post Oak then West three hundred poles to a Turkey Oak then South one</p><p>hundred and sixty poles to a Post Oak thence East three hundred poles to the Beginning as by the plat</p><p>hereunto annexed doth appear togeather with all Woods Waters Mines Minerals Hereditaments and</p><p>appurtenances to the said land belonging or appertaening. To hold to the said William Deaton his heirs and<p>assigns forever yielding and paying to us Such Sums of Money yearly or otherwise as Our General</p><p>Assembly from time to time may direct. Provided always that the said William Deaton Shall Cause this</p><p>grant to be Registered in the Registers office of our said County of Chatham within Twelve Months from</p><p>the Date hereof otherwise the same shall be Void and of no Effect. In Testimony whereofWe have caused</p><p>Our Great Seal to be hereunto affixed. Witness. Alexander Martin Esquire Our Governor Captain General</p><p>and Commander in Chief at Fairfield the Twenty third day of October inthe seventh year of our</p><p>Independence and in the year of Our Lord. One thousand Seven hundred and Eighty Two. By His</p><p>Excelly's Com. J Glasgow Sec</p>Alex. Martin"