Revolutionary War Patriots
This list is not inconclusive. More descendants are attempting to document Revolutionary War Patriots known to have lived in Henderson County. Some of the following Patriots owned land or lived in what is today Henderson County, but are buried “across the line.” Some of the following Patriots have unknown burial sites. There are Revolutionary War Patriots who are buried in bordering counties or whose grave sites are unknown who have many descendants in Henderson County: Nix, David Dalton, Lankford, Dickey, and others.
1. Joel Blackwell (1755-1839) – One of first itinerant Baptist ministers in WNC. Revolutionary War marker is at Jones Cemetery in Upward. His actual burial site is unknown. He served in the N.C. Militia from Rutherford County and lived in present-day Polk County.
2. James Brittain (1750/55-1831/32) – Set aside land for first school and Presbyterian church in county, and represented Old Buncombe County seven times in state senate. His Revolutionary War marker is at Mills River Presbyterian Church. His actual burial site was in the Brittain Family Cemetery (destroyed). He served with Capt. Cook’s Co., 9th Regiment, under Col. John Williams.
3. William Capps (1761-1847) – Extensive land along Green River. His grave site is at the Fortune-Kuykendall Cemetery in Zirconia. He fought at the Battle of Cowpens under Gen. Daniel Morgan, and participated in scouting excursions.
4. Lambert Clayton (1755-1825) – Extensive land holdings in Henderson and Transylvania counties. Revolutionary War marker is at Davidson River Cemetery in Transylvania County. He fought at the Battles of Kings Mountain, Guilford Courthouse, and Eutaw Springs
5. John Peter Corn (1752-1844) – Owned land in the Tuxedo area, and later lived in Clear Creek community. His Revolutionary War marker is at Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery. He was wounded near Philadelphia in a skirmish against British guard, spent the winter quarters at Valley Forge, where he suffered from exposure and almost starved in the winter 1777.
6. William Dalton (1755-1852) – Owned land in area of Polk, Rutherford, Henderson counties. His burial site is unknown. He enlisted in Albemarle County, Va., in 1775, and re-enlisted in North Carolina and was a volunteer under Capt. Joseph McDowell at the Battle of Ninety-Six.
7. William Erwin (1754/55-?) – Owned land and lived in Etowah area. He is listed as a Revolutionary War pensioner in the county in 1840. His burial site is unknown. He served under Gen. Griffith Rutherford on Rutherford Expedition against Cherokee, and fought at the Battle of Ramsour’s Mill. His last tour was under Gen. William Davidson.
8. Joseph Henry (1760-1840) – Owned large amounts of land throughout the county. His Revolutionary War marker is at Old Beulah Baptist Church Cemetery in Etowah. He served under Col. William Graham and later under Capt. Lofton.
9. David Jackson (1759-1832) – Was one of first documented settlers in county. He lived in the Bright’s Creek area of today’s Polk County, and owned land at one time in both counties. He is buried at Jackson Cemetery at Bright’s Creek in Polk County. He served in the militia and fought at battles along the Catawba River under Capt. Fields and Col. Lewis. There is no Revolutionary War marker.
10. James Johnson (1761-1853) – Established Shaw’s Creek Campground, the site of one of the oldest Methodist meeting places in county. His Revolutionary War marker is at Shaw’s Creek Campground Cemetery. He served in the 2nd Regiment Southern Detachment under Gen. Nathaniel Greene, was wounded by a musket ball through thigh at Battle of Camden, captured by British at Battle of Eutaw Springs, and was a prisoner for 13 months and two weeks on a prisoner ship in Charleston harbor, “…fed on half rations, slept without bed or covering, and lived almost entirely without clothes.”
11. Noble Johnson (1758-1800) – Owned large tracts of land in Mills River and Horse Shoe. His Revolutionary War marker is at Shaw’s Creek Campground Cemetery. He was the brother of James Johnson.
12. Samuel King (1746-1828) – Owned large amounts of land along French Broad River in Rugby and Horse Shoe area. His Revolutionary War marker is at the King Family Cemetery off Finley Cove Road. He served in the 11th Va. Regiment under Col. Daniel Morgan, and was listed as a prisoner Oct. 14, 1777, either released or escaped. He served again in 1778, under Brig. Gen. Thomas Conway’s Brigade at Valley Forge.
13. Abraham Kuykendall (1719-c.1812) – Owned extensive acreage in today’s Flat Rock. He served on the Committee of Safety to govern North Carolina during war, was one of commissioners to select site and supervise erection of courthouse in Rutherford County, and donated land for Mud Creek Baptist Church. His Revolutionary War marker is at Mud Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, but the actual burial site is only known to be somewhere on his property. He was captain of militia in Old Tryon County.
14. Matthew Maybin (1756-1841) – One of first of the earliest settlers into county (prior to or during the war itself) and owned extensive land along Green River into Mountain Page. There is no Revolutionary War marker. He is buried at the Maybin Family Cemetery in Green River. He served in the Ninety-Six District of South Carolina under Capt. Thomas Gordon, Col. Lisle’s Regiment to “guard the frontier from the depredations of Cherokee Indians,” Col. John Earle’s station on North Pacolet River and spent much time scouting.
15. John Merrell (1757-1833) – Owned land in Fairview/Gerton area of Buncombe and Henderson Counties. His Revolutionary War marker is at Bearwallow Baptist Church Cemetery in Gerton, but the burial site is at the Merrell-Patton Cemetery in Fairview. He fought at the Battle of Briar Creek in Georgia under Gen. Rutherford, and later at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, where he was wounded in the head causing loss of one eye.
16. James Andrew Miller (1750-1808) – One of first settlers into the county during or immediately following the war, a land speculator owning large amounts of land throughout the county. His Revolutionary War marker is at Old French Broad Baptist Church Cemetery. He was a mounted gunman with South Carolina troops, served with Francis Marion ( “Swamp Fox”) in South Carolina, and fought at the Battle of Kings Mountain.
17. James Murray (1769-1857) – Family operated Murray’s Inn in Fletcher. He grave site is at the Freeman Family Cemetery in Tuxedo. There is no Revolutionary War marker. He served with his father William Murray in the 2nd S.C. Regiment under Gen. Francis Marion (uncertain as to where William Murray died).
18. Robert Orr (1749-1808) – Owned land in the Etowah area into the Little River community in Transylvania County. His Revolutionary War marker is in the Orr Family Cemetery in Little River. He received a pay voucher for militia service.
19. William Sentell (1756-1837) – Settled on Jeter Mountain near Big Willow Creek. His Revolutionary War marker is at the Sentell Family Cemetery in Big Willow. He served in the 1st N.C. Militia, fought in battles at Sullivan’s Island, S.C., and outside Savannah, Ga., was captured and held prisoner on English ship, part of a prisoner exchange, rejoined Patriot forces, and fought at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse.
20. Jacob Shipman (1746-1794) – His sons owned land in Clear Creek community. He lived in Rutherford County and died in Rutherford County, but his body was brought here for burial. His Revolutionary War marker is at Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery. He served with Quinn’s Co., 10th N.C. Regiment under Col. Abraham Sheppard.
21. James Stepp (1744-1821) – One of the earliest settlers in the county. His Revolutionary War marker is at the Stepp Family Cemetery – Red Hill in Dana. He received a pay voucher for militia service.
22. Elijah Williamson (1755-1837) – Early settler and large land owner. His Revolutionary War marker is at the Williamson-Patton Family Cemetery in Naples. He “policed” Cherokee frontier along Saluda and Reedy rivers in S.C. and upcountry of S.C. under Col. Levi Casey’s Regiment of mounted horsemen.
Jesse Rickman (1770-1860) – Gave land for Mills River Baptist Church. There is a Revolutionary War marker at the Rickman Family Cemetery in Mills River. Research indicates that he was in the Wilmington District in 1783 to 1784 (after the war was over). There is a serious problem with documentation regarding Jesse Rickman. Please note his age. It has also been proven that he was NOT the son of Dr. William Rickman, Charles City, Va., director of hospitals for the Continental Army. Dr. William Rickman did not have any children.