Notes:
Captain James Dillard is on the 1790 census of Laurens County, South Carolina, with two males over 16 years of age, two males under sixteen years of age, three females, and three slaves. James volunteered his service as a private in the revolution to free his country from the oppression of the British. He served the entire war; although he was promoted to Major he is most commonly referred to as Capt. Dillard. His service record reports the following: 1775 - Private in the defense of Charleston; 3 Feb 1777 - 2nd Lieutenant 10th Virginia, Continental Army; 2 Jan 1778 - 1st Lieutenant Continental Army; 30 May 1778 - Resigned the Continental Army; Oct 1780 - Captain Virginia Militia at King's Mountain; 1781 - Major in South Carolina Militia.
Capt. Dillard was in battles at Kings Mountain, William's Fort, Cowpens, siege of Ninety-six, and other battles. He received wounds at Cowpens and Basto; and he received two sabre cuts while fighting Indians. Also, his home was burned twice by the British, once in retaliation for his wife's warning the Colonial troups of the approaching attack of the British. Even though he received many wounds during the war, he lived to the age of nearly 82. He is buried at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery, also know as the Duckett Cemetery on Duncan's Creek. This cemetery is in the eastern part of Laurens County near the Enoree River. He is buried beside his second wife Mary Puckett.
The following is a petition which was written in support of Colonel James Williams by the American Revolutionaries who served with him. You will note that Joseph Ramage (note: name spelled Rammage) and John Ramage signed the petition as did Mary Ramage's husband, James Dillard. The original item (item #5767) is housed in the Manuscript Department of the William M. Perkins Library at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. The petition pre-dates the Battle of Kings Mountain in which Colonel James Williams was killed.Signees were:
McCrery Jones Atwood Bourland Craige
McCrary Cunningham Robinson Atwood Craig
Davis Williams Adair Filby Howerton
Young Bean Finney Arther Stapleton
Greer Long Whitten Watson Willson
Owens Montgomery Gray Manford Goodman
Dillard Ewing Goodman Glenn
Huddleston Gamble Blake Jones
JAMES DILLARD, REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSIONER, OF LAURENS COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA
(from Research Note: Dillards of Culpeper County, VA, ... Dorothy Dillard Hughes)The picture of these lusty farmers rushing away from home to join the army for one battle typifies the American spirit. --John Hyde Preston, "A Short History of the American Revolution"
James Dillard, however, was in the War from first to last, even after the Peace of Paris in 1783; and his first wife, Mary Ramage, a Revolutionary War heroine, made an all-night ride to warn her husband's company that the British and Tories planned a surprise dawn attack. James Dillard was one of the South Carolina militia who marched into Charles Town (later Charleston) at dawn in June 1776 and then defended the half=completed palmetto log fort on Sullivan's Island (later Fort Moultrie) with such deadly result that the English fleet of twenty ships sailed away to repair itself, taking with it the last English governor of South Carolina. This was one of the bloodiest sea battles of all time. It took place six days before the Declaration of Independence was signed, 4 July 1776. He also fought in the Battle of King's Mountain on 7 October 1780, said to be the turning point in the war, as well as other battles and skirmishes. (James Dillard's pension application; DAR Magazine LXX:9, pp 933-934; Fort Sullivan Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, Battle of Fort Sullivan: Events Leading to First Decisive Victory.)
James Dillard was born in Culpeper County in 1755 or 1756 and died 4 December 1836. He was said to have gone to Ninety-Six District, later Laurens County, in up-state South Carolina when he was 17. In 1773 he witnessed a will in Loundoun County, created in 1757 from Fairfax County, before he left Virginia. From 1775 until 1785 he fought in many of the battles of the Revolutionary War, this last post-Revolutionary War battle against the Cherokees in northeastern Georgia. In South Carolina he married (1) Mary Ramage and (2) Mary Puckett and had seven children by each wife. In 1833 he was awarded a Revolutionary War pension.
Because of errors published about wives of this James Dillard, it is necessary to set the record straight; hence this account will include information about James Dillard and his family after he left Culpeper County, VA. From Lyman C. Draper, "King's Mountain and Its Heroes, p. 468. References to Major James Dillard are on pp. 269, 468; and to his wife Mary (Ramage) Dillard on pp.74, 102, 468. The next items refer to James and Mary Ramage Dillard during the Revolution.
James Dillard served as a Private in 1775 and in 1776 in the defense of Charleston. In 1778, he went on the Florida Expedition as Sergeant Major and served in the frontiers in 1779. He was chosen Captain in Williams' Regiment in August 1780, serving at Expedition against the Cherokees. His heroic wife, Mrs. Mary Dillard, gave Sumter notice of Tarleton's approach toward Blackstock's. He became a Major in the Militia and died December 4, 1836.
LETTER FROM DAUGHTER NANCY DILLARD BOYCE:The following 1873 letters to Lyman Copeland Draper from the surviving children of James and Mary Puckett Dillard from Katherine Reynolds, "The Dillard Family", Vol. 1, pp. 19-21, which also in the Draper Manuscripts, prove that James Dillard had two wives, (1) Mary Ramage and (2) Mary Puckett.
VV 11-13 Rev. W.P. Jacobs ---- Laurens Co., S.C.,
Dear Sir;In reply to yours of 2nd inst. and to Mr. Draper of Madison, Wisc., Mrs. Duckett and Mrs. Bird and myself, the surviving children of my father James Dillard the following facts were elicited.
My father Maj. James Dillard was born in Culpeper co., Va. moved to this state and county when about 17 years of age before the war from American independence, married Mary Ramage and settled near South Fork creek in the Eastern portion of this Lauren co. He volunteered his services as a private in defense of his country. He volunteered his services as private in the army and served a good portion of the time as a major but was never commissioned as such in consequence of commission being lost before captured before it reached him. He served through the war under gen'l Sumpter and Greene was with General Sumpter at the Battle of Eutaw Springs and lost his brother William Dillard who was killed in that battle. He served Gen'l Greene as a scout in this portion of the county on one occasion he together with his friend and comrade Matthew McCrary while on a (p.20) Letter continued: scouting expedition were suddenly halted by two British officers who began to question them and in a few moments the British army made its appearance when my father and Mr. McCrary immediately drew their guns on the officers and ordered them to halt the army and to "about face" themselves which they did giving my father and Mr. McCrary an opportunity to escape. He served during the whole time of the war for American independence. Died in this, Lauren co, near the Enoree River at the advanced age of ninety years, leaving a large family of children only three of whom are now living, Mrs. Narcissa Duckett, Mrs. Sarah S. Byrd and myself. Mrs. Mary Dillard, wife of my father Maj. James Dillard born and raised in the Eastern portion of the Laurens co. and died near the place of her nativity at about the age of 35 years. While her husband was serving with Gen'l Green in the American Army at Musgroves Mill, a party of British Soldiers visited her house and ordered supper w3hile serving them she gained the information that the British army was moving on the camp at Musgroves Mill for the purpose of attacking it that night. She immediately mounted a fleet horse not even taking time to saddle it and carried the information twelve (12) miles to Gen'l Greene who immediately moved camp and made preparations for the battle which came off in a short time afterward. Mrs. Dillard upon her return found the house burned to ashes and the property destroyed. Maj. Dillard's house was burned twice during the war. At another time by the direction of her husband (who was on furlough). She numbered the British army while marching the road near the house, by counting the men in each file and then counting the men in the files. She gave this information to her husband who immediately carried it to the commander of the American army.
The above are the facts as we remembered them told by our father.
Yours very truly
Nancy E: Boyce
In addition to the above I would state the tradition that Mrs. Dillard was a beautiful young woman and remarkably little and active.
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My dear Sir: You will find within all the information that I have been able to gather on the subject you referred to me. Mrs. Nancy E. Boyce an aged Aunt of my wife's and daughter of Mr. James Dillard. This family are among the best in our county but as you may perhaps know up country South Carolinians are very careless about the preservation of historical records so that I cannot give you any lengthy account. I believe the within to be perfectly accurate.
Yours truly
Clinton, S.C. Wm. P. Jacobs
(husband of Mary Jane Dillard, granddaughter of James Dillard)________________
Another Letter dated May 22, 1873.
Dear Sir: It has always been the opinion of Mrs. Boyce that it was to Blackstock on Tygen River that Mrs. Dillard carried the intelligence of the approach of the British but she gave up to the opinion of an older sister who was of the opinion that it was to Musgrove's Mill. If it was the former place the distance was 18 miles. Major Dillard was married twice and they are daughters of the 2n wife none of the children of the 1st wife being alive which accounts for the conflicting recollections they remember only what they have heard their father tell them when they were quite young. Major Dillard died December 4, 1836 on Enoree River in the Eastern portion of Laurens co. His record was burned during the war but to best of his recollection he was about ninety years of age. Mrs. Boyce begs that you be thanked for the book you sent.
Yours respectfully,
A. B. Byrd
JAMES DILLARD'S WILL:
Laurens Co. SC Probate Court Estate Papers (index on FHL film 1,029,341 by packet; also from Martha Eastis 6/1986) Bundle 19, #5, proved 27 Feb. 1837; State of SC, will of James Dillard Sr. of Laurens Dist., 6 Feb. 1836, weak and very much afflicted in body; all property be sold; money to: to children of my son George W. Dillard (deceased), to wit, James Dillard and Mary Dillard, $150 each; to child of my daughter Elizabeth Harris (deceased), to wit Mariah Shands, $150. Balance equally divided between wife Mary and children: John Dillard, Priscilla Garrett, Jane Burk, Samuel Dillard, Mary Garrett, Narcissus Duckett, Nancy F. Boyce, Thomas I. Dillard, James H. Dillard, Sarah E. Dalrymple and Charles H. Dillard. The share to son John Dillard to go to son-in-law John Boyce in trust for the support of John Dillard so it does not go to pay any of the contracts already made by him or hereafter made, except a note which John Boyce my son-in-law holds on him for $84 and some cents. At the death of son John Dillard, the remainder in trust to be divided equally amongst his children to wit James Dillard, the children of William Dillard deceased, James brother, Sarah Prather, Priscilla Dillard, Charles Dillard and Amanda Dillard. Appoint two sons James H. Dillard and Samuel Dillard executors. Wit. N. C. Vance, Wm. L. Craig, Samuel H. Murell. No probate date. (FHL film 1,029,346)
Notes:
Charles was married twice to a surname Norman and a surname Tarrant
Notes:
Fom the Genealogy of James C. DillardJohn Dillard, the fourth Culpeper County settler, said to be "of King and Queen", bought his land in 1749 after Culpeper County was formed from part of Orange County in 1748 and after a lawsuit determined that Lord Fairfax owned Culpeper County. Lord Fairfax owned all of the Northern Neck, millions of acres between the Rappahannock River and the Potomac River. This had been given to several who had supported Charles II after Charles I was executed. John thus was the first of the four to buy his land from Lord Fairfax. His land purchases included 300 acres, 23 June 1749, on the north side of the Hazel River in the Gourd Vine Fork and 166 acres, 4 November 1749, in the Gourd Vine Fork adjoining the first tract and running near the foot of the Grindstone Mountain. On 20 and 21 April 1753 John sold John Gayle and Thomas Poole 50 acres of the 166-acre purchase.
There is no conclusive proof that this John Dillard is the father of our James Dillard. He is, however, the most likely of the Dillard brothers of his generation to have been the father of Capt. James. Of those brothers, it could only have been John or possibly George that fathered this James. There was another James Dillard in Culpeper Co. at the same time who was probably a cousin to our James but neither do we know his father. John was generally thought to have died in Culpeper County but no will exists so we do not have that instrument to know his offspring. On 17 March 1761 Sophia Dillard and John Dillard witnessed a deed from one couple, Aaron Oliver and his wife Elizabeth to one John Campbell, and thirteen years later we have John Dillard and Sophia X Dillard as witnesses of the will of John Brown of Bromfield Parish. This implies that Sophia was John's wife. When John died, sometime after 1774, what then happened to his remaining land is still a mystery.
The following has been taken from the Research Notes: THE DILLARDS OF CULPEPER COUNTY, VIRGINIA written by the esteemed researcher, Dorothy Dillard-Hughes of Lubbock, TX and presented to the Dillard Family Association in Dillard, GA.
"John Dillard, who probably was born in King and Queen County, possibly about 1720, and died either in Culpeper County or in Bourbon County, Kentucky, some time after 1794, was the fourth of the Culpeper County Dillard settlers. No marriage record exists; but he may have married Sophia about 1745 or after 21 April 1753, since there is no release of dower in John's sale of 50 acres to John Gayle and Thomas Poole on 20 April 1753. This marriage is assumed, since the two witnessed a deed in 1761 and a will in 1774. Although George Dillard had a son John (born about 1740) who appeared in Culpeper County records, John Dillard, Jr.'s first record appearance was in 1760, when he was probably about twenty. Between Johns appearance as a witness in 1760 and the second time in 1774, records of a John Dillard could belong to either he or his son. However, since county court clerks were careful to assign "Junior" in one of its abbreviations to a younger man with the same given name, when he came of age or became taxable at 16, the John Dillard records before 1774 are assigned to this John. At that time "Junior" did not mean a son with the same given name as his father, but simply a younger man in the same area with the same name."Pages 161-162. The estate of John Bowmer, dec., to Philip Clayton, admor (tobo) (L) 1745 . . . To paid Thomas and John Dillard 0.11.9 . . . By cash of Edward Dillard 0.3.11." This is the first record of John Dillard in Culpeper County. (Dorman, Culpeper W.B. A 1749-1770, p. 39).
Dillard, John 23 June 1749 / Culpeper County 300 a on the North side of the Hazel River in the Gourd Vine Fork. Northern Neck Grants G, 1747-51, p. 213. (VSLAD, now LVA, NN Grants, card file indes.)
On 27 June 1996 Lucile R. Johnson sent an abstract showing that John Dillard was in the same neighborhood as the Olivers, who made the 1761 Deed witnessed by Sophia and John Dillard, and that the above land includes mention of Moores Mt., Grindstone Mt., and Francis Brown. "NN Land Grant Bk G., p. 213: John Dillard of Culpeper Co. 300A. in said NN Land Grant Bk G, p. 213: John Dillard of Culpeper Co. 300A, in said Co. Surv. Mr. Philip Clayton. On N. Side Hazel R., in gourd Vine Fork. Adj. Francis Brown, Red Oak Mt. alias Green, Moores Mt., Grindstone Mt. we June 1749. (Gertrude E. Gray, Virginia Norther Neck Land Grants, 1742-1775, Bol. II, Baltimore: GPCo., 1993)
"Dillard, John 24 Nov 1749 / Culpeper County 166a. In the Gourd Vine Fork adjoining Dillard and running near the foot of the Grindstone Mountain. Northern Neck Grants g, 1747-51. p/ 419 (LVA, NN Grants, card file index.)
The next 5 references for 1748-1752 are from St. Mark's Parish Vestry Book.)
p. 338. "To John Dillard for being Clk of the Church 1000"
p. 340. "To John Dillard for being Clk of the Church 1000"
p. 342. "To John Dillard by his Actt 00 276. . .
"To John Dillard for being Clk of the Church 1000"
p. 344. "To John Dillard for being Clk of the Church 1000"
p. 348. "To John Dillard for being Clk of the upper church 01040"(Note: John was not in 1753, 1754, 1756 records of St. Mark's Parish. In 1752 St. Mark's Parish was divided. Lucile R. Johnson discovered that John Dillard's land on the Hazel River fell into Bromfield Parish)
Deed of Lease and Release John Dillard to John Gayle and Thomas Poole, (p. 517). (This is an example of the "deed of lease and release," of which there are numerous examples in Culpeper County. Under early English Common Law, when land was sold, both buyer and seller had to be physically on the land. The seller picked up a clod and presented it to the buyer, who paid the agreed price and accepted delivery of the land. This was known as "livery of seizin" or "livery and seizin" ...in other words, delivery of the land and acceptance of ownership. To avoid the requirement that buyer and seller must be on the land, the deed of lease and release developed. Especially in the colonies, since often land was sold after the owner had moved to a distant county, the deed of lease and release was used as a legal fiction to allow the transaction to take place in the courthouse instead of on the land itself. Thus in a deed of release the owner leased the land for a nominal sum--in this case five shillings--and in the deed of release the actual price of the land was written.
DILLARD TO GAYLE &C: This Indenture made the Twentieth Day of April in the Year of our Lord One Thousand and Seven Hundred and fifty three Between John Dillard of Culpeper County of the on Part and John Gayle and Thomas Poole of the aforesaid County of the Other Part Witneseth that the said John Dillard for and in Consideration of the Just sum of five Shillings Current money of Virginia to him in Hand paid by the said John Gayle and Thomas Poole at or before the Sealing and Delivery of these Presents the Receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged Hath Granted, Bargained, and Sold and by these Presents doth Grant Bargain and Sell unto the said John Gayle and Thomas Poole their Heirs and assigns One Pi8ece or parcel of Land Containing fifty Acres being part of a Tract of one hundred and Sixty Six Acres Granted by Deed from the Proprietors Office to John Dillard and bounded as followeth (Viz) Beginning at one Red Oak and Hickory on the side of the Grindstone Mountain and in a Line of John Nalles and runs thence North Sixty four degrees West to one Red Oak and Poplar on the Hazel River by a spring thence down the said River the said river the several courses to one Poplar Pine and Red Oak on the said River by a spring thence North forty eight Pole to three Pines thence North twenty degrees West Eighty two north thirty Seven degrees East fourteen Pole to the Beginning And all the (etc.)... (p.518) ... To have and to hold the said Fifty acres of Land ... sealed and delivered, in the Presence of John Nalle James Dillard. Signed by John Dillard (LS)
At a Court held for the County of Culpeper on Thursday the 21st June 1753. this Indenture was acknowledged by John Dillard Party thereto and Ordered to be Recorded. ........Roger Dixon. ClkDILLARD TO GAYLE: This Indenture made the Twenty first... April...1753 Between John Dillard of Culpeper ... and John Gayle and Thomas Poole of (same) for 5 Pounds Current money of Virginia recpt ackd (Bargain & Sale) for one whole year by Indenture bearing Date the (p.519) day & the Proprietors Office to John Dillard (p. 519) and Bounded as followeth (Viz) Beginning (the same description as on p. 517) to the Beginning... (the Quitrents hereafter to grow due and Payable to the Right Honorable Thomas Lord Fairfax his Heirs and Successors for and in respect of the said Premises only excepted and fore prized). and Lastly that John Dillard... etc. Defend... In Witness whereof the said John Dillard hath hereunto sett his Hand and Seal the Day and Year first above written.
Sealed and Deliverd in Presence of)
John Nalle
James Dillard
At a Court held for the County of Culpeper on Thursday the 21st Day of June 1753. This Indenture was acknowledged by John Dillard Party thereto and Ordered to be Recorded
Teste Roger Dixon, Clk.
(End of Deed Book A, culpeper County, VA, LDS Microfilm No. 0738, Item 4, pp 517, 528-529.)James Dillard, one of the two witnesses above, was probably the son of Thomas Dillard, Sr. This deed was the first from Lord Fairfax to a Dillard. Thomas and George Dillard received patents from the colony of Virginia before a court case determined that the part of Orange County which became Culpeper County in 1748 was part of the Northern Neck Proprietary and belonged to Lord Fairfax.
Notes:
(Notes courtesy of Brenda Hawkins)
John Ramage, thought to have been born during the 1720's, settled in Laurens County, South Carolina during the mid-1760's. The earliest reference to him is in what is now Laurens County, South Carolina, where he made a petition on 2 December 1766 for 200 acres of land. In 1768, John Vaughn received 150 acres "butting and bounding to the south on land laid out for John Ramage." This land was located on Warriors Creek in the northern part of what is now Laurens County, South Carolina (Colonial Plats, Volume 14, page 534).Records in 1770, suggest that John Ramage never took procession of the land which had been surveyed for him on Warriors Creek. A Memorial of 500 acres presented to Edward Garrett in 1770 was described as being located in the forks between the Broad and Saluda Rivers including a "former survey laid out for John Ramage on a branch of Enoree River called Warriors Creek" (Memorials, Volume 10, page 299, from roll 881, AD 647).
In 1773, John received a Royal Grant consisting of 500 acres of land located near Duncan's Creek Presbyterian Church. The land had been surveyed in 1772 and the grant was signed in 1773. This land was also located near the land granted to Joseph Adair (Index to Memorial Grants, South Carolina Archives, Volume 28, page 112).
John Ramage's wife was named Jean (sometimes listed as Jane). She appeared on the estate settlement of Joseph Adair (ca. 1790) as being his daughter but we do not know the birth date of Jean (Jane) Adair Ramage. It appears that John and Jean had children during the 1750's (maybe as early as 1747) before they migrated to South Carolina. This has led some to wonder if Jean was John's second wife. Documentation has been found that indicating that the following were children of John Ramage: Mary Ramage Dillard, Benjamin Ramage, and Josiah Ramage. While it is thought possible that James Ramage and/or Capt. Joseph Ramage were sons of John Ramage, we have found no document that would substantiate this. Researchers are in hopes of finding a legal document which lists all of the children of John Ramage.
During the late 1980's, documents were found which prove that John Ramage of Laurens District, South Carolina was an American Patriot during the American Revolution. These documents confirmed that he was among the Laurens District Patriots who were part of the American invasion of East British Florida during 1778. Later John Ramage signed a petition to the Governor of South Carolina in support of his Colonel, James Williams, prior to the Battle of Kings Mountain. The family of John and Jean was listed on the 1800 Laurens County, South Carolina census. They were never listed on another census, which leads researchers to believe they both died during the first decade of the 1800's. At this time we have been unable to find a will or an estate settlement for either John or Jean Adair Ramage. In 1990, a monument in memory of John Ramage and his family was erected at the Duncan's Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Laurens County, South Carolina.
Notes:
She is also know as Leah Jane Adair.
Notes:
An alternate birth date of 8 Jun 1810 can be found for Unity Garrett.