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| Author Larry Van Horn visits with Jesse and Margaret McCarter-Neville in Walhalla, SC in 2013. |
Jesse Neville, my 5th great grandfather, was born Jul 5, 1759, in Fauquier County, Colonial Virginia. His father was Captain William Neville and mother was Winifred Oldham. He married Margaret McCarter (her third husband) ca 1778 in South Carolina. She was the daughter of Alexander McCarter (mother is still unknown).
Jesse died March 4, 1842, in Walhalla, Oconee County, South Carolina, and was buried on their land on a hill in what was then the family cemetery next to Margaret. She died in Oct 1838. Their Find A Grave numbers are 33282250 and 33281836 respectively.
Based on a variety of source I believe that Jesse and Margaret had eight children. Margaret had four other children from her first two husbands: William Motley and John Lynch.
Jesse and Margaret's children:
1. Ester Neville (b. ca 1785) married John Hurt. Both John and Ester died before Jesse and Margaret and had moved away from SC to Lincoln County, TN. Neither are mentioned in probate records. Based on the wedding gift Margaret gave the couple in 1806 and atDNA evidence we are able to tie Ester to Jesse and Margaret. They are my 4th great grandparents.
2. William Neville (b. 1787, d. 1877)
3. Rebecca Neville (b. 1788, d. 1879) m William Price (both died in Rabun Co GA)
4. James Neville (b. 1789)
5. Elizabeth Neville (b.1790, d. 1879) m General Edward Coffee
6. Winiford Neville (b. 1792, d. 1849) m Solomon Beck
7. Alexander McCarter Neville (b. 1796, d. 1880) m Nancy Jones
8. James B. Neville (b. 1797, d. 1877) m Elizabeth Burns
Jesse's claim to fame was his service during the
Revolutionary War and commitment to the American patriotic cause. Jesse Neville was a Private who participate at Kings Mountain and many skirmishes during seven different enlistments during the American Revolutionary War. He truly was a Rev War Patriot.
While residing in Tyron (later Rutherford) County, North Carolina, Jesse Neville, entered the service as a volunteer on July 6, 1776, the day after his 17th birthday, under the following officers, General Rutherford, Colonel Graham, Captain George Paris. He took up arms in Rutherford, North Carolina, and assisted with building the fort at the head of White Oath Creek in Rutherford, then a part of Tryon County, where he then resided. He was actively engaged in scouting about the mountains after Indians and remained in active service during his first enlistment for a total of six months.
He next entered the service in South Carolina under Captain John Earle and was stationed at Jamison's Fort on the South Pacolet River for some time. His unit then marched to Seneca station in Pendleton South Carolina, and was under General Williamson, Captain Tutt and Colonel Williamson. This service under militia Captain Earle was where he and his unit engaged Indians on the frontier. The Indians finally made some treaties, and Jesse was in the service this time for four months. He was discharged in 1777.
His third enlistment started in 1778. He entered the service this time in North Carolina at Mills Gap, Rutherford or Tryon, under Captain Porter and Colonel Graham. He was engaged in scouting and even caught some Tories. This tour lasted seven months.
Next, he entered the service, for a fourth time, at Francis Williams under the following officers, Colonel Brenan [sic, Thomas Brandon?] who it is believed was under General Sumter, and Captain Wood. While garrisoned at Williams, Jesse was engaged in keeping down the Tories. His unit marched into North Carolina and captured 30 Tories (among them Colonel Mills). They took the Tories to Salisbury, North Carolina. He remained in the service this time for three months.
Jesse entered the service for a fifth time as a volunteer, as before, under Captain Carruth who was under Colonel McLain and Lt. Colonel Hampton. He was engaged this time in ranging and scouting the country for Indians and Tories. During one engagement with the Indians, eight men from his unit beat off 55 Indians at Mills Gap and killed some. He was in the service this time for three months.
Jesse's sixth time as a volunteer was under Captain Edward Hampton, Colonel Branan, and General Sumter. His unit was in an engagement with Tories and British at the head of North Pacolet River. They killed a good many and chained them down to Princes. He remained in service this time for four months.
Finally, for the seventh time, he enlisted under Capt. Miller whom he was with from his beginning as an Ensign until he was a General. He entered in service at Rutherford North Carolina, was stationed there some time, was attacked and bore upon by the British under Colonel Ferguson. His unit retreated into Burke [County] where they joined General McDowell, then marched down again into Rutherford and met the British and was beaten in engagement with Ferguson. They then marched to Watauga and remained there till Colonel Campbell, Colonel Sevier and Colonel Shelby raised forces and joined with them. Those forces then set upon the British and gained the Battle at King's Mountain. Miller was promoted to a Colonel, and Jesse said his Captain was now Musick. While under Captain Musick they marched into the Indian nation on Eastatoe and Tennessee, killed and took a good many Indians under Big Acorn Chief. His service this time was for 12 months. In total, Jesse Neville served his country and the cause as a soldier for 40 months.
Private Jesse Neville was allowed pension, his application executed 2 October 1832, while residing in Pickens District, South Carolina. FPA S21899, PL. Here is a transcribed copy of his Rev War pension from the Southern Campaigns Revolutionary War Statements and Rosters website at
http://revwarapps.org/.
Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements - Pension application of Jesse Nevill (Neville) S21899 fn36NC. Transcribed by Will Graves received 30 Jan 2009.
[Methodology: Spelling, punctuation, and grammar have been corrected in some instances for ease of reading and to facilitate searches of the database. Also, the handwriting of the original scribes often lends itself to varying interpretations. Users of this database are urged to view the original and to make their own decision as to how to decipher what the original scribe actually wrote. Blanks appearing in the transcripts reflect blanks in the original.]
[fn p. 34]
State of South Carolina Pickens District
On this the 2nd day of October in the year 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Honorable Richard Gantt, in the Superior Court of Sessions and Common Pleas, now sitting at Pickens Court House, Jesse Nevill a resident of the State and District aforesaid, aged 73 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed the 7th of June 1832.
To wit: That he entered the service as a volunteer on the 6th July 1776, was 17 years old on 5th July 1776, under the following officers, General Rutherford, Col. Graham, Capt. George Paris. Took up arms in Rutherford NC and assisted to build the Fort at the head of White Oath Creek, Rutherford, then a part of Tryon County, where he then resided, was engaged in scouting about the mountains after Indians. Remained in active service this time for 6 months. Next, entered the service in South Carolina under Capt. John Earle, was stationed at __ or Jamison's Fort on the South Pacolet River some time, then marched to Seneca station in Pendleton SC was under General Williamson (thinks also Col. Wood) Capt. Tutt was the regular Capt., though I entered the service under a militia Capt. Earle was engaged against the Indians on the frontier. The Indians made some treaties, was in the service this time 4 months and was discharged: this was in 1777. Next, in 1778 he entered the service the 3rd time in North Carolina at Mills, Rutherford or Tryon, under Capt. Porter and Col. Graham as I believe, was engaged in scouting and caught some Tories, remained in service this time 7 months. Next entered the service, the 4th time, at Francis Williams under the following officers, Col. Brenan [sic, Thomas Brandon?] who I believe was under General Sumter and Capt. Wood. Kept a Garrison at Williams was engaged in keeping down the Tories, marched to North Carolina and carried 30 Tories taken in North Carolina to (among them Col. Mills) Salisbury NC remained in the service this time 3 months and was disbanded as before, the service being done for the time. Next for the 5th time, entered the service as a volunteer as before, under Capt. Carruth who was under Col. McLain & Lieut. Col. Hampton, was engaged this time in ranging and scouting the country for Indians & Tories, was in an engagement with the Indians, and with 8 men who beat off 55 Indians at Mills Gap, and killed some, was in the service this time 3 months. Next entered the service the 6th time as a volunteer under Capt. Edward Hampton, Col. Branan & General Sumter, was in an engagement with Tories & British at the head of North Pacolet, killed a good many & chained them down to Princes, remained at this time 4 months in the service. Next for the 7th time, and enlisted under Capt. Miller whom I was with from his being Ensign until he was a General, entered in Rutherford NC, was stationed there some time, was attacked & bore upon by the British under Col. Ferguson. Retreated up into Burke [County] joined General McDowell, then marched down again into Rutherford and met the British and was beaten in engagement with Ferguson. Then marched to Watauga and remained there till Col. Campbell, Col. Sevier and Col. Shelby raised forces and joined us. The whole forces then set upon the British and gained the Battle at King's Mountain. Miller was now promoted to a Colonelcy, and my Capt. was now Musick, while under Capt. Musick marched into the Indian nation on Eastatoe & Tennessee, killed & took a good many Indians under Big Acorn Chief, this time the deponent remained 12 months in the service. The whole number of months served as an actual soldier in the cause of America was 40 months and now resides in Pickens District South Carolina. And hereby releases every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any State. Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open Court S/ William L. Keith, Clerk S/ Jesse Nevill [Jacob Lewis, a clergyman, and John C. Kilpatrick gave the standard supporting affidavit
The State of South Carolina, Pickens District
Personally appeared Before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace &c Jesse Neville who being duly sworn Deposeth and Saith that he did not know it necessary to state that he had no documentary evidence of his Services, but he has none now. That he knows of no person now living who served with him during all his services, but there are now as he is informed & believes several persons living who were a part of the time with him, he served one tour each he is informed that Captain John McLean [sic, John McClain]1 lives in Rayburn County Georgia and Burt Moore,2 Samuel Earle3 and Col. John Kilpatrick of this Pickens District S. C. with each of them he served one tour, and Stephen Fuller4 either of Anderson or Pickens & he this deponent believes there were many others yet living who were in the Service with him at some time during the Revolutionary War. This deponent is unable by the disease to go to procure the testimony of these men, but will get some friend if possible to procure the testimony of two of them --
1. This deponent saith he was born on the 5th July 1759 in Fauquier County Virginia, he was informed.
2. His age was set down or recorded in his Father's Family Bible which he took with him to Kentucky.
3. When called into service he lived in Tryon County N. C. which was afterward divided & that part was called Rutherford, on Green River - after the Revolutionary War he lived there till he moved to Pendleton Districts S. C. which has been divided & he has lived in that part now called Pickens where he has lived near 43 years & for the last 38 years at the place he now lives.
7. He does not know any man who would refuse to testify to his character for veracity, but the most noted or influential are General Earle the Adjutant General of the Militia. General Joseph Whitner Brigadier General Colonel McKinney who commands this Regiment he lives in---Col Grisham, Col Anderson, Col Kilpatrick who has known him from infancy and Samuel Earle who has also been acquainted with him from childhood and could name many others but thinks it unnecessary. Sworn & subscribed to this 23rd day of May 1833 before me. S/ S. C. Miller, JP S/ Jesse Nevill SEAL [fn p. 27]
State of South Carolina
1 John McClain (McLean)(McLain) S31853
2 Burt Moore W2155
3 Samuel Earle S21174
4 Stephen Fuller S37949
Before me personally came Burt Moore of Pickens District & made Oath, That he was well acquainted with Jesse Nevill during the War of the Revolution -- Nevill lived in Rutherford County, NC and Deponent lived in Spartanburg County South Carolina about 10 miles apart -- Deponent was often at William Nevel's Mill the Father of Jesse Nevill & with whom he lived on White Oak Creek or Green River the plantation was on to River. The said Nevill was with this deponent had several skirmishes, one at Hampton's in Rutherford -- at the Iron Works on Lawson's Fork with Col. Cruger in which Cruger was driven back to the Main Army -- They were together with each other against the Indians & did much spoil in their Country -- By breaking up towns & driving the Indians -- This deponent does know that Jesse Nevill was one of the most active -- Efficient, bold & useful men in the upper part of the Carolinas and there is no man deserves more of his Country. This deponent has known the said Jesse Nevill since the War there is no more worthy or respectable Citizen, his word is unimpeachable.
Sworn to 5th of October 1835
S/ Joseph Grisham, Not. Public S/ Burt Moore, X his mark
State of South Carolina
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Quorum for Pickens District in the State aforesaid Col. John C. Kilpatrick and Stephen Fuller persons to me well-known & residents in the neighborhood, who being duly sworn duly depose and say that is to say the said J C Kilpatrick saith that he is now in the 70th year of his age, that he was raised & resident in Spartanburg District about the time of the Revolutionary War, that from the time he was 12 or 15 years of age he was acquainted with Jesse Neville, the son of Capt. William Neville of Rutherford County in North Carolina a part of the time he lived in South Carolina & afterward he lived 20 or 25 miles distant, but after Mr. Neville moved; We began in a few years to take part in the War of the Revolution. The said John C. Kilpatrick was intimately & well acquainted with Jesse Neville & his Family & connections who were all true, zealous & active friends to the American cause & The said Jesse Neville was much out in fact he was generally out in the Service; He was on the frontier and active against the Indians & Tories & he was ready & willing at every call, which was frequent. This deponent was in the service with the said Jesse Neville one tour he went with him under Capt. Parson, down on a scout near Ninety Six during the siege And afterward, they went into the Cherokee Nation went to the Indian towns, Estatoe, Jocapee &c &c and the said Jesse Neville himself took the Big Acorn a prisoner at Estatoe. The said J C Kilpatrick does know that the said Jesse Neville was one of Bravest most active & efficient soldiers on the frontiers of South & North Carolina. And he this deponent does know from the common report as well as his own knowledge that the said Jesse Neville was a man who rendered many services to the Country. That he has always supported the character of Honesty & Industry as has the good opinion of his neighbors & acquaintances. The said John C. Kilpatrick cannot state the dates & times of the services from the great length of time & loss of memory &c.
And the said Stephen Fuller saith on his Oath, that in the year 1779 or 1780 after the first siege of Augusta Georgia he this deponent went with Col. afterwards General Clark [sic, Elijah Clarke], into Rutherford County in North Carolina, where this deponent got acquainted with Jesse Neville and from September till May they the said Neville and Fuller were much of the time in the service of the Country in Scouting parties. This deponent did duty under Clarke & went with him back to the 2nd siege of Augusta. After the 2nd siege of Augusta in June or July after the capture of the Works, Storm of Grayson's Fort [sic, Fort Grierson] this deponent went back to North Carolina where he engaged again against the Tories, Indians &c and was there well acquainted with Jesse Neville who was one of the bravest & most efficient men of the frontiers, as all his connections was true to the cause of America. This deponent cannot state the particular Officers or dates of the Services when Neville & deponent were in the Services. The great length of time his age (80 years) & consequent loss of memory prevents his stating as many facts & occurrences as he otherwise would do.
Sworn to first of June 1833 Before me
S/ William May, J. Q. S/ J. C. Kilpatrick
S/ Stephen Fuller
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| Neville Family Cemetery looking towards hill where Jesse and Margaret Neville are buried |
