Anthony Dickey was born Nov. 29, 1745, in Chester County, Pa. He was living in today’s Rutherford County in the late 1760s. In 1773, he was in Richmond County, Ga., living near his brother. In 1782, he and his wife had returned to Rutherford County. They were in Lincoln County (Gaston) in 1790, but were back in Rutherford County within a couple of years. His land in Rutherford County was located near Mountain Creek. Many of his descendants live today in Henderson County.

In 1832, Anthony Dickey applied for a Revolutionary War pension. His application is interesting because it demonstrates both sides of the issue surrounding the fighting between the settlers and the Cherokee. It demonstrates the brutality of war from both sides. The story surrounding his service in the Revolutionary War is long and extensive.

Here are excerpts from his application:

“I believe in May about the 12th 1778, my brother George Dickey was killed by the Indians on Honor Creek over the mountains (from Rutherford). I raised men and went to search for him. It was late in the day when we got near the place. We made a search but did not find him. The Company was timerous and would not stay all night to search. The next day I raised men the second time and went out and found his bones. The varmints had eaten his flesh. With assistance I gathered his bones. Put them in a sheet. (Next sentence is somewhat unclear but appears the meaning is the ground was soft in a sinkhole where the bones were found, and it was difficult to retrieve the remains.) We saw by the tracks of his horse where they came up with him. He was a soldier. He fought. We followed the trail up the hill and down the hill, around the hill. I think the distance was not less than 400 yards where they overcame him. They took two scalps of his head and struck a war club in his bare head and broke his skull behind with a tomahawk and his right thigh bone in two. There was three killed and two wounded out of seven. After this there was from Burke County and here seventy volunteers agreed to go to the nation (Cherokee Nation) and give the Indians their own play and return quick as possible. We set on our journey to the towns on the Tucksey (Tuckasegee River). When we got to the town there was no Indians to be seen. The overmountain men had been there the week before and have given the Indians a sore stroke; three of their bodies lay — looked as if they was roasted. I believe this was when we took a new trail. The trail led us up to the mountain. I went back to check on the pack horses and keep closer to the men as I had given the orders. I heard the guns let loose. I did not follow the trail by myself. I went straight up the mountain. As I got up I saw one Indian running. I rode about one hundred yards. My horse gave out. I left my horse and went on foot 100 yards. I had got ahead of the Indian in readiness to shoot. At that instant a man shot the Indian. He fell. (I) was the nighest; I ran to him; I gave him the tomahawk and scalped him where he was grinning. We set off to try our luck at the Lower Town 12 miles below us. We marched up Indian file. We could march no other way. Our passage was too narrow. Our flankers came across two Indians and shot at them and did not hit. I heard the guns. I thought we was attacked. I turned from the bluff and went up the hill. There I met Major McDowell and Major White, both men on the race. I went in. About a quarter (of a mile?) from that we overtook the Indian. He turned and begged for quarter. McDowell took him over the head (with his sword). He did not fall. White put a load of shot not far from his heart. We left him there for the varmints to bury and proceeded on our march. We (got?) one Indian at the Lower Town. We were afraid the Indians would gather on us. We turned and made our way homeward… We found our own horses and provisions. There was part of three days we had nothing to eat. We got off the Indians parched Meal, about a gill of it, mixed it with water and drank it in the morning. That was all we had for the day. Three days we lived that way and all arrived home safe.”