John Lam, Sr.

John's brother, James Lam's descendents use the spelling Lamm

JOHN LAM Affidavit Revolutionary War Service State of Illinois, County of Gallatin

On the 4th day of September, 1832, personally appeared in open court before the Hon. Thomas C Browne, Judge of the Circuit Court for said county, now sitting, JOHN LAM, a resident of said County and State, aged seventy-three years on the 14th day of March next, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth his teste oath make the foregoing declaration in order to obtain the benefit of a recent act (of) Congress passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United State under the following named officers and served as herein stated. He states that he served four regular tours of duty as a Volunteer Private in the North Carolina Militia of three months each, besides four or five other tours of shorter duration.

He resided in Roan County (when) he first volunteered he thinks in February in the year 1776 for an indefinite term of service. The Legislature of the State of NC then having defined as he understood the duration of the service. His Captain in this first tour of service was Capt JOHN BRANNON belonging to Col. (LOC)KE'S Regiment under the command of Genl. RUTHERFORD -- he was in the march during this service from Salisbury to Cross Creek, now Fayetteville, but was not in any battle - was discharged in Salsburry by the same officer under whom he volunteered, a little short of three months but how much he can not recollect. He does not think there were any regular or continental soldiers in service during this time.

He volunteered for a second term of three months, he believes, in July in the same year under the same officers throughout and served between 16 and 17 weeks or about four months against the Cherokee Indians. He entered the service at Roan County near Salsbury as before - was in the service on foot during the whole time but in no battles although in hearing of one fought by General WILLIAMS with the Indians near Cow-we-she where Genl RUTHERFORD's army then was. Their march had been from Salsbury over the Blue Ridge of Mountains about 300 miles - at the end of this term of service he was again discharged in Roan County - no Continental or regular troups were assigned with them.

The third time he volunteered for three months to serve in South Carolina and served the whole time there, and the time of marching to and returning from S. C was not computed as any part of the three months., His officers this time were Capt. WILLIAM ARMSTRONG & LT. KNOX, under whom he marched to Beach Island on Sabina river between Georgia & South Carolina where CAPT ARMSTRONG was made major & Lt. KNOX, Captain -- here there was a beating up for volunteers to form a rifle corps, and he turned out and served under CAPT. WHITE, belonging to the 1st Bat. of Infantry commanded by Col. MALBERRY, Frenchman. Gen BUTLER was the chief command here and marched us down the river on the S. Carolina side to Stone where they joined Gen. LINCOLN'S army in the face of the enemy, the British, where they lay for some time, He was in the severe battle which ensued called the BATTLE OF STONE on the 20th of June in 1777, he believes - He was discharged at (Cien?) about 5 miles from Stone's Point by Genl. BUTLER in July, his 3 months being out, and the enemy having gone into John's Island not far from Charleston. He volunteered the 4th time at Roan County, N. C., in the spring 1780 for the same term of 3 months in the Light Horse under CAPT. BRANNON , the same officer under whom he first volunteered, in C. C. LAYTON'S (?) Regiment of horse with which he served until discharged, sometimes near Genl. GREEN'S Army, but most commonly scouting in advance.

He was in the Battle of Charlotte, where Ensign or Cornel SHACK(?) LOFFIS of his company was killed. MATTHEW BRANNON, brother of the Capt., was appointed in his place. His scout was ARCHIBALD STOAVE. He was discharged on the 6 mile Creek in S. Carolina, he believes, at the duration of two months from the time of leaving the State of N. C. , his impression being that 2 months service in the Horse was equivalent to 3 months on foot. There are the four regular tours.

The next time he volunteered to guard the road from Charlotte to Salsbury, which former place was then in the possession of Lord Rawdon, who was expected up to Salsbury. He remained on this ground about 10 days until Genl. RUTHERFORD got his men into order to pursue the tories to Ramsours Hill.**** He was under Capt. GRAY while guarding the road, but when GENL. RUTHERFORD marched against the tories at Ram Sours Hill, he joined the company under his old Captain BRANNON and remained in service either four or five weeks, and was discharged at Ramsours Hill after the Battle which was fought there in which the tories were defeated -- this was in May 1780.

Again he volunteered under the same Captain in the same year to join Gen. DAVIDSON to guard the Catawby River against Cornwallis who was expected down from R.........(obliterated) to cross it. He was absent from home .......(obliterated) he believed between three and four weeks, Corn...…..having crossed the river and pressed(?) on to little .....(obliterated) was discharged. Gen. DAVIDSON was killed (?)......where.......Battle .....(obliterated. He further states that he .........(obliterated) time during 1779 and 1782 …(obliterated) time. Indeed for proof....(obliterated) .he might and will have been ..... ... of these two years .... he has made ..... part of his service, his papers being lost many years ago, and he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension role of the Agency of any State. (signed) JOHN LAM

BENJAMIN BRUCE, Clergyman of County of Gallatin, State of Illinois, and MOSES PIERCE, also Clergyman, County of White, certify their acquaintance with JOHN LAM, and believe him to be seventy -three years of age -- and reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier in the Revolution.

Certified on 4th day of Sept. 1832 Typescript by Grace Lamm Nezworski from photocopy of the original in the National Archives R 6094. Original spellings preserved. Punctuation and spacing added for clarity. Signature scanned from photocopy.

• * The clerk writes Hill, but it should have been Ramsours Mill.

Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements Pension application of John Lamb (Lam) R6094A Comfort fn33NC Transcribed by Will Graves 10/9/08 [Methodology: Spelling, punctuation and grammar have been corrected in some instances for ease of reading and to facilitate searches of the database. Also, the handwriting of the original scribes often lends itself to varying interpretations. Users of this database are urged to view the original on footnote.com and to make their own decision as to how to decipher what the original scribe actually wrote. Blanks appearing in the transcripts reflect blanks in the original.] State of Illinois, County of Gallatin

On this 4th day of September 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Honorable Thomas C. Browne Judge of the Circuit Court for said County now sitting John Lam a resident of said County and State aged 73 years on the 14th day of March next 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 7, 1832: -- That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. He states that he served for regular Tours of duty as a Volunteer private in the North Carolina Militia of 3 months each, besides 4 or 5 other Tours of shorter duration. He resided in Roan [sic, Rowan] County and first volunteered he thinks in February in the year 1776 for an indefinite term of service. The Legislature of the State not then having defined as he understood the duration of the Service. His Captain in his first term of service was Captain John Brannon belonging to Colonel Locke's Regiment under the Command of General Rutherford he was in the March during this service from Salisbury to Cross Creek now Fayetteville but was in no battle -- and was discharged in Salisbury by the same officers under whom he volunteered a little short of 3 months but how much he does not recollect, he does not think there were any regular or Continental Soldiers in service during this time. He volunteered for a 2nd Term of 3 months, he believes in July in the same year under the same officers.

Throughout and served between 16 and 17 weeks or about 4 months against the Cherokee Indians. He entered the Service at Rowan County near Salisbury as before and was in active service on foot during the whole time but in no battles although in hearing of one fought by General Williams [sic, General Andrew Williamson] with the Indians near Cow-we-che -- where General Rutherford's Army then was. Their march had been from Salisbury over the Blue Ridge of mountains about 300 miles -- at the end of this term of service he was again discharged in Rowan County -- no Continental or regular troops were engaged with them. The 3rd time he volunteered for 3 months to serve in South Carolina and served the whole time there in the time of marching to and returning from SC was not computed as any part of the 3 months. His officers this time were Captain William Armstrong & Lieutenant Knox under whom he marched to Beach Island on Sabina River [sic, Savannah River] between Georgia & South Carolina where Captain Armstrong was made Major & Lieutenant Knox Captain -- here there was a beating up for volunteers to form a rifle Corps and he turned out and served under Captain White belonging to the first Battalion of Infantry commanded by Colonel Malberry [sic, Malmedy] a Frenchman. General Butler had the chief command here and marched us down the River on the South Carolina side to Stono, where they joined General Lincoln's Army in the place of the enemy (the British) where they lay for some time. He was in the Severe Battle which ensued called the Battle of Stono on 20 June in 1779 he believes -- he was discharged at Camp about 5 miles from Stono Point by General Butler in July his 3 months being out and the enemy having gone into John's Island, not far from Charleston.

He volunteered the 4th time in Rowan County NC in the spring of 1780, for the same term of 3 months in the Light Horse under Captain Brannon (the same officer under whom he first volunteered) in Colonel Taylor's Regiment of Horse with which he served until discharged sometimes near General Green's [sic, Nathanael Greene’s] Army but most commonly scouting in advance. He was in the battle of Charlotte where Ensign or Cornet Lock of his company was killed -- Matthew Brannon Brother of the Captain was appointed in his place – his Lieutenant was Archibald Sloane. He was discharged at the 6 mile Creek in South Carolina he believes at the expiration of 2 months from the time of leaving the State of North Carolina his impression being that 2 months service in the Horse was equivalent to 3 months on foot. These are the 4 regular Tours. The next time he volunteered to guard the road from Charlotte to Salisbury which former place was then in possession of Lord Rawdon who was expected up to Salisbury. He remained on this Ground about 10 days & until General Rutherford got his men embodied to pursue the Tories to Ramsour's Hill [sic, Ramsour's Mill]. He was under Captain Craig while guarding the road but when General Rutherford marched against the Tories at Ramsour's Hill he joined the Company under his old Captain Brannon and remained in service until 4 or 5 weeks and were discharged at Ramsour's Hill after the battle which was fought there in which the Tories were defeated -- this was in May 1780.

Again he volunteered under the same Captain in the same year to join General Davidson [William Lee Davidson] to guard the Catawby River [sic, Catawba River] against Cornwallis who was expected down from Ramsour's Hill to cross it. He was absent from home on this occasion between 3 and 4 weeks, Cornwallis having crossed the River and passed on to little York -- he was discharged. General Davidson was killed at the crossing where a smart Battle was fought in which he was. He further states that he was called out several other times during 1779 and 1780 but generally for short times -- Indeed for any purpose of quiet at home [sic?] He might as well have been in the Army the whole of those 2 years. He has no documentary evidence of any part of his services his papers being lost many years ago and he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services. He hereby relinquishes every Claim whatever in a Pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. day & year aforesaid. S/ John Lam S/ Leonard White, Clerk [Benjamin Bruce, a clergyman, and Moses Pierce gave the standard supporting affidavit.]

[On March 4, 1844 in White County Illinois, Abraham L. Armstrong filed a claim on behalf of his wife and the other shorter in of, stating that he is the son in law of John and Comfort Lam, both deceased; that John Lam was a pensioner of the United States at the rate of $45 per year; that John Lam died November 15, 1842; that he has reason to believe that Comfort Bellah married John Lam in the year 1779 in Rowan County North Carolina; that Comfort Lam died March 11, 1843 survived by the following children: James Lam, John Lam, Elizabeth Pearce, Polly Armstrong, Elias Lam, Thomas Lam, Elisha Lam and Nancy McClelan; he also states that there is no family record to his knowledge of the marriage or dates of birth of the above named children, except a book formerly in the possession of Reuben Bellah, a nephew and sonin-law of said Comfort and in the hand writing of said Reuben Bellah containing the true register to the best of his knowledge of the births of all the children of John and Comfort Lam; that Reuben Bellah has been dead about 18 years and that the register has been in the possession of his sons since that time.]Register Record

“The age of john lams childring Caty was B. November 18, 1780 James was B. Sept 27 1782 Ginny was B. Aprile 22 1784 John was B. Frabr 18 1786 Moses was B. January 16 1788 William was B. janu 2 1790 Walter was Born Aprile 12 179[last digit obliterated] Elisabeth was B. Sept 2 [?] 179 [last digit obliterated] Polly was B. jan 10 1796 Elias was B. june 31 1798 Thomas was B. jan. 25, 1801 Elisha was B. Fabr 25 1803 Nancy was B Apr. 20 1805 Samuel Bellah sinor was B y 1752 Jane his wife was B [text torn and missing] e 28 1763 Moses his son was Born january 6 1773 Elisabeth was B. November 29, 1774 Reuben was B. Sept 27 1775 Samuel was B. Nov. 11 1778 James was B. june 13 1788 Robert was B. sept 10 1790 Robert was B. Decem 7 1792 Tempy was B. janu 23 1795 Reachel was B Aprile 21 1797 Morgan was B Novm 24 1799 Pegy was B August 15 1801 Walter Steel was B. March 17 18[digit torn out]4”

Legal Notice in Gallatin County Newspaper 1855 , Gallatin, Illinois

reads: Friday Morning, April 13, 1855

LEGAL NOTICE: State of Illinois, Gallatin County. B.Bruce, guardian, final settlement of the estate of John Lam, dec'd., intends to give up guardianship to some other person. April 12, 1855.

from Gallatin Illinois Newspapers, Vol. I, 1841 -1843, compiled by Shirley Cummins Shewmake, Harrisburg, Illinois, 1994.

(The B. Bruce is presumably Rev. Benjamin Bruce)

He was only 14 when his father died and was apprenticed to Timothy Brown. " Nov.4, 1774-John Lamb, son of Manassa Lamb deceased,apprentice to Timothy Brown until twenty-one, now being fifteen, is to be given the loom and tackling and fifteen pounds

American Revolutionary War When the Revolutionary War started John, then 16, joined the local militia and took part in several battles over the next few years.

• Updated from MyHeritage Match via wife Comfort Lamb (born Bellah) by SmartCopy: Oct 5 2014, 11:32:19 UTC