Grave of Revolutionary War Solider James Ferguson Recognized 

The Following Bio is courtesy of Jacob Ellis, President of the Rhea County Historical and Genealogical Society. 

JAMES FERGUSON BIOGRAPHY
1759 - 1842

James Ferguson was of Scotch-Irish decent, born April 5, 1759, in Nottingham County, Pennsylvania, the son of Robert Ferguson. Robert had migrated to the New World with his father, John Ferguson, circa 1738, from Ulster Province in Ireland. Prior to the American Revolution, The Robert Ferguson family migrated southward via Rowan County, North Carolina and York County, South Carolina, eventually settling in Lincoln County, North Carolina, where the family was living at the beginning of the Revolution.

On March 10, 1789, James Ferguson married Sarah Barnett in Lincoln County, North Carolina. Sarah was born 1772 at Crowders Creek in Tryon County, North Carolina. According to the 1790 U.S. Census of North Carolina, James and Sarah are living in Lincoln County with a son listed under the age of 16 years. This is likely an infant born at the end of 1789 or the beginning of 1790, and probably their oldest child, Robert.

In September of 1792, James is granted 80 acres of land on Little Long Creek in Lincoln County, which was entered into county records in August 1795. It is presumed James and Sarah remained on this land raising their children until their move to Rhea County, Tennessee, prior to 1830. The U.S. Census for that year finds James and Sarah living in Rhea County with one son, likely their youngest child, Samuel.

The 1840 U.S. Census for Rhea County identifies Samuel as the head of household, but no appropriately aged female is listed as James’s wife. Sarah presumably died between 1830 and 1840 and is buried here in DeVaney Cemetery.

In 1842, at 83 years of age, James followed Sarah in death. The will of James Ferguson was recorded in February of 1842 in Rhea County, and identifies Robert, James, Levi, Russell, and Samuel B. as his children. The will also identifies a granddaughter, Emeline Ferguson, the daughter of Elias Ferguson. Elias is likely another child of James who likely preceded James in
death.

James Ferguson was an active participant in the war for American independence. He volunteered on January 1, 1777 and became a private in Captain John Barber’s North Carolina horse company. During this service, he was engaged in guarding the frontier from attacks by Indians. He next volunteered on August 1, 1777, as private in Captain John Caruther’s North Carolina horse company and skirmished with the Tories at Blue Ridge. In the winter of 1778, he became a private in Captain Isaac White’s horse company and continued his skirmishes with the Tories. In October of 1779, he became ill and was granted permission by his commanding officer to return home, only to re-enlist a year later with Captain Isaac White’s Company with whom participated in the battle of King’s Mountain as a part of William Graham’s North Carolina regiment (October 7, 1780).

In December 1780, he volunteered as a private in Captain John Murray’s Company commanded by Col. Joseph McDowell during the Battle of Cowpens (January 17, 1881). Immediately after the battle, he volunteered and served in Captain Hambright’s company of spies observing the movements of Cornwallis in North Carolina.

For his service to the cause of the American Revolution, and while a resident of Rhea County, James Ferguson’s Revolutionary War pension application was approved and executed by the U.S. Government on September 25, 1832. From that date until his death, he received $77.33 per year - an amount equal to $2500 in 2021.

See the complete ceremony in the video below.