Enlisted Surry Co. (later Stokes) under brother Capt. Robert Hill. White, p. 1636-9.

In 1770 moved to Rowan County (the part that later became Stokes) at enlistment and application – White, p. 1639 [check to be sure same as Capt. Robert Hill

1820 Stokes co. census, p. *
Affidavits in files of Ephraim Banner and Joseph Banner that Robert Hill served with them under Capt. Richard Goode in expedition against Cherokee nation [1776].

Declaration of James Davis, Sr., states that he served under Capt. Robert Hill, Major Joseph Winston, and Col. Joseph Williams, all of Surry County, in expedition crossing the Big Yadkin River in pursuit of the Tories at Bryants Settlement.

Affidavit of Robert Hill and declaration of William Merritt in Merritt’s pension file states that Robert was a Lieutenant under Captains John Halbert and Meredith and General Rutherford and that Hill was badly wounded by the fall of a tree in a windstorm in Anson County, NC. Gen. Rutherford ordered Merritt and two others to stay and care for Hill and to convoy him home to Surry County.

Affidavit in file of George Kreger. Served “by the side of George Kreger in all the routs and towns mentioned by him” in his declaration.

Affidavit in file of Henry Smith. Served under Capt. Henry Smith on expedition to Savannah River and Battle of Briar Creek. Lived in Stokes Co., NC, 1832.

Affidavit in file of Frederick Binkley. Served by his side and in same tent on the expedition to Savannah, Georgia. [Jacob Hilsipeck by mark – an X with a hash bar on the upper right line

]

Declaration of Jacob Hilsabeck – 12 Sept. 1832 – Stokes Co., NC – Jacob Hilsabek, resident of Stokes County, aged 71 on June 9 next, stated that he entered service on October 10, 1777. He volunteered for five months. He started about that time to meet the British on the Savannah River. He was marched to the River at a place called the Two Sisters and entrenched on the South Carolina side. The enemy was within sight on the other side. He remained there for some time and then marched to Brier Creek in Georgia but the battle was over before he reached there. He was directly marched back to the Two Sisters, where he remained for some time. He was then marched a little way down the river and discharged on April 10, having served six months (one month longer than the enlistment term). This service was under Capt. Henry Smith, Lt. Peter Binkly, and John Strupe, ensign. He was occasionally placed under other others to perform special acts as directed. Col. Francis Locke commanded the regiment, under Gen. Rutherford. He took about twenty days to get home.

Jacob remained at home for about twelve months and then volunteered and Col. William Shepperd and Capt. Joseph Philips who commanded a cavalry company. He immediately went in putsuit of the Tories over the Blue Ridge. After pursuing them for some time and recrossing the mountains, they overtook the Tories at Ramseur's Mill on the Catawba or Broad River. Col. Cleaveland was with them at that time. They defeated the Tories at Ramseurs Mill, many of them taking the mill pond and drowning. Jacob was in this expedition about three months.

Jacob was only home a few days before he volunteered again under Col. William Shepperd and Capt. Joseph Philips. They rendezvoused at old Richmond, from which they were "driven by the Tories." They marched near what is now Germanton (Stokes Court House) where they were joined for the same night by Capt. Eccles and his company. The next day they pursued the Tories to the Shallow ford on the Yadkin River. The river was so full they could not cross it, but the Tories had crossed and were met on the other side and defeated by Col. Armstrong. They remained at the Shallow ford for about a week and then marched in pursuit of the Tories by Salisbury. About one or two days journey below Salisbury they joined Gen. Rutherford and Col. Locke again. They overtook and defeated the Tories at Coulsons, just on the other side of Rocky River. From here he returned home, after serving about three months.

Jacob also stated he served in several other expeditions of up to three weeks each.

Jacob Hilsabeck stated he was born in Pennsylvania in 1762 but was living in Surry (now Stokes) when he enlisted and had lived there ever since.

Jacob Hilsabeck signed by mark.

Affidavit of Fredrick Binkley – 12 Sept. 1832 – Stokes Co., NC – Fredrick Binkley stated that in 1777 he volunteered under Capt. Henry Smith, Lt. Peter Binkley, and John Strupe, ensign. Jacob Hilsabeck volunteered at the same time and there were in the service for six months together. Binkley remembered the march to the Savannah River and then to Brier Creek, where they arrived shortly after the battle, their march back to the Two Sisters, then down the river, and their discharge and return home. Binkley stated that Jacob Hilsabeck served as a soldier on several other occasions. Binkley also stated he had been acquainted with Hilsabeck ever since the Revolutionary War.

Affidavit of George Kreger – 12 Sept. 1832 – Stokes Co., NC –
George Kreger stated that in 1779 he volunteered in a company of cavalry under Col. William Shepperd and Capt. Joseph Philips. Jacob Hilsabeck served with him during the whole expedition. Kreiger recollected their being driven from Old Richmond by the Tories, being joined by Capt. Eccles on the same night, and then marching to the Shallow ford in pursuit of the Tories, and the defeat of the Tories by Col. Armstrong. He recollected their defeat of the Tories on the other side of Rocky River. George Kreger also recalled their march across the Blue Ridge and that they went to the lead mines on New River and carried back lead upon their horses. "Their privations were considerable."

Affidavit in file of George Kreger. Served "by the side of George Kreger in all the routs and towns mentioned by him" in his declaration.

Affidavit in file of Henry Smith. Served under Capt. Henry Smith on expedition to Savannah River and Battle of Briar Creek. Lived in Stokes Co., NC, 1832.

Affidavit in file of Frederick Binkley. Served by his side and in same tent on the expedition to Savannah, Georgia. [Jacob Hilsipeck by mark – an X with a hash bar on the upper right line]

Affidavit in file of John Quillin re tour to Savannah River.

[pension abstracted by Kenneth John Hauser, Jr., Alsation-American Family Hauser (Winston-Salem, NC: Hunter Pub. Co. 1977), p. 108 - 113.]

wife Magdalena Shore

Declaration of Magdalena Houser (age 78) – Stokes Co., NC, Feb. 28, 1838 -- She is widow of George Houser, who was Lt. In Militia in Rev. He enlisted in July - Aug. 1776 as Lt. under Capt. Henry Smith – marched to Mulberry fields in Wilkes Co. but failed to meet the S.C. army and was marched back to Surry after being gone 2 weeks. Again rendezvoused at Myers old fields near Surry Courthouse and again marched against Cherokees, serving 110 days as Lt. In Capt. Smith Co. under Col. Joseph Williams. After she married him, in 1778 he was in a company of minute men in Surry Co. – gone 3 weeks after the Tories toward the mountains in Capt. Meredith’s Company under Col. Williams. They were attacked by Tories at Surry Old Courthouse and had to flee when Capt. John Crouse was wounded. Several other tours ranging after Tories described; also guarded prisoners from Kings Mountain when brought to Old Moravian Town; guarded the magazine from Salem to Virginia. He put in one horse to haul his uncle George [Peter] Houser’s wagon; Joseph Houser was teamster. George returned a “few days or a week before the British Army marchd into Bethania where we lived.” The British found their hidden horses and wagon in a thicket outside of town and burned the wagon and took all the horses, and stripped them of almost everything they had. A daughter Catherine was born about ten days after this. The British took George a prisoner and guarded him while in Bethania but then released him because of her “feeble state of health.” People thought some Tory had told the British about her husband’s service in Rev. George had joined the Moravian Church shortly before the British came.

Magdalena married George Houser on March 3, 1777, at house of Matthew Brooks, J.P., then in Surry Co., NC. George died on Nov. 3, 1818.

Affidavit of Henry Shore – Stokes Co., NC, Feb. 28, 1838 – Brother of Magdalena Houser. He went with his sister (then Magdalena Shore) and George Houser from Bethania Town to home of Matthew Brooks, J.P., for marriage of Magdalena and George on March 3, 1777. George was a lieutenant under Capt. Henry Smith and served against the Tories and guarding as set forth in Magdalena’s declaration.

Affidavit of Susanna Strupe – Stokes Co., NC, Feb. 28, 1838 – Widow of Samuel Strupe, also witnessed the wedding of George Houser and Magdalena Shore.

Declaration of widow Magdalena Houser – Stokes Co., NC, June 27, 1838 – transcribing family Bible records:

Married George Houser March 3, 1777.
Anna Maria b. Mar. 19, 1779
Catherine Eliza b. Jan. 28 1781. Dead
John Henry b. Aug. 18, 1782. Dead.
Johna Soloma b. May 4, 1787. Dead.
Dead Born b. Sept. 15, 1791. Dead.
Saml. Thomas b. May 30, 1794
Mary Magdalena Soloma b. Apr. 8, 1796

[Soldier George Houser mentioned by widow Magdalena in Michael Spainhour file]

W9650. White, p. 1721.

affidavit in Michael Spainhour file [reference in file of William Underwood]

Robert Head enlisted on November 8, 1780, in Surry County and served in a company under Capt. Benjamin Humphries and Col. Joseph Phillips that guarded the British prisoners at Salisbury and to Virginia. A certificate signed by Humphries is in the Robert Head file.

Daniel Cockerham served in a company of Capt. David Humphreys of Surry

County.

William Southern pension declaration stated he was drafted as a private militia solder under Capt. David Humphries at old Richmond in Surry County not long after the Battle of Guilford. They marched to Guilford and joined Col. James Martin's regiment and then marched toward Wilmington, crossing Deep River and through several counties to a place called the Raft Swamp and to a brick house near Wilmington. Gen. Rutherford was commander-in-chief during this tour. Sometime in November 1781 we were ordered to form in a line and our officers came riding along the lines making proclamation aloud that the enemy had surrendered, Cornwallis was taken with his whole army by Washington; whereupon our officers ordered a salute to the glorious news by firing several rounds. This service lasted three months and can be proven by John Maib, Sr., Edwin Hickman, and John Quillin if living in Stokes County as he believes.

Daniel Cockerham declaration also states he served in a company of Capt. David Humphreys of Surry County.

Discharge signed by Capt. David Humphries is in Edwin Hickman pension file.

John Angel file indicates he served as a substitute for John Hutchins for six months under Capt. Minor Smith in September 1780.