Known Revolutionary War Soldiers

James Butler was born 5 June 1758 in Hanover County Virginia, the son of Zachariah Butler and Sarah Bowe. He married Sarah "Sally" Christopher and by 1780 the family had moved to Mecklenburg County Virginia and it was from here that he entered the Revolutionary War and served twenty-two months during 1778-1781. He was in the Battle at "Wood’s Point" on the James River and was awarded a land grant in Wilkes County Georgia for his service. On 21 January 1833 in Elbert County Georgia he applied for a pension, number S-16-674. In 1836 he relocated to Shelby County Alabama to be near his children who were already living in the area. He was enumerated in the 1840 Shelby County Alabama census records. James Butler was twice married and was the father of a total of twenty-one children.

James Butler was buried in what later became known as Jones-Bailey Cemetery on land belonging to Jordan Jones, 1798-1877, approximately four miles north of present Calera, at U.S. 31 Highway mile marker 248 North. This cemetery is listed on the State Historical Registry. Dr. C.A. Shepherd, President of the Alabama State Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, presided over the dedication of a new monument at James Butler’s gravesite on 16 October 1983, the first such dedication ever held by the Alabama S.A.R. Chapter.

William Hughes, often spelled Hughs, was born in 1752 in Bladen District South Carolina, died in Shelby County Alabama on 24 April 1833. In 1776 he enlisted as a Private in the North Carolina Militia and applied for a pension on 20 August 1832. About three years after the close of the war his marriage was in Columbia County Georgia to Sarah Eades.

William Hughes was buried in Old Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery, south of Wilsonville in Shelby County Alabama.

His estate was probated in Shelby County Alabama in 1834, Abner A. Hughes was appointed to serve as Administrator of the estate. William Hughes (Jr.) was appointed in Shelby County Alabama to serve as Administrator of the estate of Sarah Hughes. On 24 March 1857 her final settlement report was made and it indicated that Sarah Hughes was "the widow of William Hughs, deceased, who had been a revolutionary pensioner..."  and listed the heirs to her estate (1) Henrietta Powell, wife of Cader Powell, (2) Mary E. Chapman, wife of Simeon Chapman, (3) Abner A. Hughes, and (4) William Hughes.

William Jennings was born 26 February 1761 and died 17 August 1840 in Shelby County Alabama. He was buried in Harpersville Cemetery in Shelby County Alabama.

He enlisted as a Private in the Virginia Troops and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis. On 7 June 1832 he applied for a pension, number W-27-144. In January 1840 he indicated that he had resided in Shelby County Alabama for four years and had previously resided in Tennessee.

On 18 January 1787 he married Polly Kidd, born 4 November 1771. She was a sister to John White Kidd. Polly Jennings had lived in Claibourne Parish Louisiana for three years prior to the last payment of her widow’s pension. They had twelve children.

John Mahan was born 1750 in Virginia, died 27 April 1820 at the age of 70 years. His wife was Mary Scott, niece of General Winfield Scott. They are buried in Mahan-Smith Cemetery, now located in Bibb County Alabama, just south of Montevallo. He served as a Lieutenant in the Virginia Continental Line.

On June 13, 1956 his grave was marked by David Lindsay Chapter, D.A.R.

John Mahan was enumerated in the 1820 Shelby County Alabama census records.

The last will and testament, dated 4 August 1820, for Mary Scott Mahan was recorded on 26 June 1823 in Perry County Alabama, Will Book A, page 7. They had six children.

John Neely was born 1762 in Ireland, died 20 March 1838 in Shelby County Alabama. His wife, Rebecca Edwards, died in Shelby County Alabama on 1 February 1845. They are buried in Mahan-Smith Cemetery, now located in Bibb County Alabama, just south of Montevallo.

He served as a Private in the South Carolina Militia and applied for a pension in September 1834, number S-11-140, at which time he mentioned his brother, but did not give his name, who was in the battle of "Hayes Defeat."

His last will and testament, dated 2 April 1836, was filed and probated in Shelby County Alabama, Will Book D, pages 237-241. The Executors were John Neely, Jr., Densmore Neely, and Joseph Neely. John Neely was appointed to serve as Administrator of the estate of Rebecca Neely, filed 10 May 1845.

Their children were (1) John Neely, Jr., (2) Densmore L.M. Neely, (3) Joseph D. Neely, (4) Elizabeth Neely, wife of William W. Jordan. Her second marriage in Shelby County Alabama on 14 September 1845 was to Gabriel Barnes.

John M. Wallace was born 22 December 1728, died 18 June 1847 in Bibb County Alabama. He was buried in Wallace Cemetery, behind Wallace Store at Six Mile, located in Bibb County Alabama, just south of Montevallo. His grave was marked on October 19, 1929 by David Lindsay Chapter, D.A.R., the first such dedication ever held by the David Lindsay D.A.R. Chapter. (Shelby County Reporter,, dated Thursday, October 17, 1929, "The David Lindsay Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, of which Mrs. E.H. Wills of Montevallo is regent, will mark the grave of John M. Wallace, former Revolutionary soldier buried at Six Mile, midway between Montevallo and Centerville, Saturday October 19, at 3:00 o'clock P.M. More than 3000 descendants and relatives of this former soldier have been traced, according to a statement made by Mrs. Wills, many of whom will be present on Saturday. A special ceremony will be that of unveiling the bronze marker inlaid on the marble slab, a feature in which Mrs. Watt T. Brown, of Birmingham, State Regent, will take part.") However, in 2003 his grave was moved and interred in Six Mile Cemetery (next to Six Mile Baptist Church, established 1860) on Bibb County Hwy. #2 (West Ashby Road). His marker reads John Wallace, N.C. Troops, Rev. War (no dates).

He enlisted as a Private while living in Sullivan County North Carolina, was in the Battle of King’s Mountain and Cowpens, and was discharged 22 January 1781. At the age of 73 years, his pension, number S-32-372, was filed 14 August 1832, at which time he stated that he lived in Bibb County Alabama.

John Wallis was enumerated in the 1820 Shelby County Alabama census records.

As noted in the Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers and Patriots in Alabama by Louise Milam Julich there were other Revolutionary War soldiers who lived and died in Shelby County Alabama, and some who resided here but moved to other counties and states.  (1) James Armstrong was enumerated in the 1830 Shelby County Alabama census records. His burial place is unknown. It is said by descendants and reputed by neighbors that he was a Revolutionary Soldier as he had his musket and uniform.  (2) Daniel Blankenship, died 29 June 1849 in Coosa County Alabama. His burial place is unknown. Living in Shelby County Alabama, at the age of 85 years, he applied on 26 July 1841 for his pension, number S-10-390.  (3) Reuben Blankenship was a Private in the Virginia Militia. He was enumerated in the 1830 Shelby County Alabama census records and resided in Coosa County Alabama on 1 June 1840, aged 73 years. He was buried in Popular Springs Church Cemetery in Coosa County Alabama.  (4) Dennis Carroll was enumerated in the 1820 Shelby County Alabama census records. His burial place is unknown. His name appears on the list of pensions rejected in Shelby County Alabama.  (5) Jonathan Clower was born 3 December 1763 in Burk County Pennsylvania, (his original grave marker indicates in error that he was born "Dec. 3rd. 1703"), died 19 September 1837 in Shelby County Alabama. He is buried in Cavaniss Gardens cemetery, now located in Chilton County Alabama. When he enlisted as a Private in the North Carolina Continental Line he was residing in Orange County North Carolina. On 20 October 1831, at the age of 69 years and residing in Bibb County Alabama, he applied for a pension, number W-22802. He married in Pennsylvania on 25 October 1791 to Mary Shuler, born in October 1774. His widow, Mary Clower, aged 70 years, applied for a pension in Shelby County Alabama on 8 November 1844. They had 10 children. The estate of Jonathan Clower was probated in Shelby County Alabama in 1848, Andrew Cavaniss was appointed to serve as Administrator of the estate. Andrew Cavaniss married Lurana Rush Clower in Bibb County Alabama on 23 January 1825 by consent of her father, Jonathan Clower. On 19 October 2008 the members of the Cahaba-Coosa Chapter, Alabama Society, Sons of the American Revolution marked his burial spot in northern Chilton County Alabama with a veterans marker. Descendants who attended the dedication were Bob Latham, Scott Martin, Dena Hamby, Alice Gazaway, Ervin Clower, Grady Greene and John David Glasscock. (6) Obediah Farley was enemerated in the 1820 and 1830 Shelby County Alabama census records. His burial place is unknown. His name appears on the list of pensions rejected, number R-3437.  (7) James Gassaway was born 19 April 1757 in Maryland, died 10 December 1839 in Shelby County Alabama. He enlisted in October 1775 as a Private in the Virginia Troops. His burial place is unknown.  (8) Henry Gragg was born May 1763 in Fairfield District South Carolina, died 1846 in Shelby County Alabama. His burial place is unknown. He enlisted in June 1778 in the South Carolina Troops and served as a substitute for his brother, John Gragg. Later, he was elected to Lieutenant in Captain John Bell’s Company. At the time he applied for a pension, number S-10-773, he mentioned his "aged parents" and "affectionate sister" whom he left when he served in the Revolutionary War. His estate was probated in Shelby County Alabama in 1846, Vincent J. Gragg was appointed to serve as Administrator of the estate.  (9) Vincent Jones was born 1762 in North Carolina, died 28 September 1839 in Shelby County Alabama. His burial place is unknown. He enlisted as a Private in South Carolina and on 20 August 1832 his pension, number S-32-343, was executed in Shelby County Alabama. His last will and testament, dated 20 February 1839, was filed in Shelby County Alabama, which he had appointed Thomas Edwards to be the Executor of his estate, and the heir was his second wife, Patty Jones, the daughter of Zachariah Nettles from Fairfield District South Carolina. On 14 November 1841 in Shelby County Alabama Jacob Mink married Patty Nettles. Martha "Patty" Mink died in Shelby County Alabama in about January 1856. In an interrogatory dated 4 May 1859, William Page indicated that he first knew Vincent Jones "on Yellow Leaf in Shelby County Alabama. He moved from Yellow Leaf somewhere up about the Cross Road in this county ... and I think he died up in there."   (10) Isaac Mitchell died 1827 in Shelby County Alabama, served in the South Carolina Troops as Captain in the regiment of Colonel James Williams. It is said that he came to Shelby County Alabama in about 1819 with John Pool, another Revolutionary soldier, and other members of the Mitchell and Williams families. Isaac Mitchel was enumerated in the 1820 Shelby County Alabama census records. His burial place is unknown. Recorded 7 January 1828 in Shelby County Alabama, Orphans Court Record, page 118, "that one Isaac Mitchell late of our county died interstate...."  (11) John Pool was a Private in the South Carolina Militia under Captain Isaac Mitchell. At the time of his enlistment in the Fall of 1777 he was living in Newberry District South Carolina. John Pool was enumerated in the 1820 Shelby County Alabama census records and was a resident of Perry County Alabama at the time he applied for his pension on 25 October 1832. His burial place is unknown.  (12) Cornelius Quinlin was born 20 September 1764 in South Carolina. His burial place is unknown. On 9 October 1835 he applied for his pension, number R-8554, at which time he stated that he was a resident of Shelby County Alabama. However, his pension was rejected because he did not serve six months.  (13) David Roberts was born October 1745 near boundary between Virginia and North Carolina, died 23 February 1840 in Shelby County Alabama. His burial place is unknown. His pension, number S-32-487, was issued 12 March 1834. Prior to his death he stated that he had lived in Shelby County Alabama for sixteen years. His last pension payment was made on 25 April 1836.  (14) Mathew Stroud was born in 1747 in Brunswick County Virginia. He was enumerated in the 1830 Shelby County Alabama census records. His burial place is unknown. He enlisted as a Private in the North Carolina State Troops and was a resident of Shelby County Alabama at the time he enrolled for his pension, number S-3980. However, in 1836 he was residing in McMinnville, Tennessee.  (15) William Tabor was born 4 January 1761 in Orange County North Carolina, died 4 June 1844 in Winston County Mississippi. His burial place is unknown. He enlisted in the Summer of 1780 in the North Carolina Regiment. Before moving to Winston County Mississippi in about 1824 his residency was in Shelby County Alabama and Bibb County Alabama. On 5 July 1781 in Rutherford County North Carolina he married Susannah Tubb, 1761-1852. She was the daughter of George and Mary Tubb. She applied for the widow’s pension in Winston County Mississippi on 1 February 1847. They had 11 children.  (16) Lewis Turner was born in Frederick County Virginia, died 10 October 1834. He was enumerated in the 1830 Shelby County Alabama census records. His wife, Nancy, died 11 February 1847 in St. Clair County Alabama. He enlisted as a Private in the South Carolina Militia and was in the Battles of Savannah and Blackstocks. His pension, number W-11-667, was issued 3 January 1833. His burial place is unknown.  (17) George Wilder, at the time he enrolled for his pension on 5 March 1833 was a resident of Shelby County Alabama, aged 73 years. He was enumerated in the 1820 Shelby County Alabama census records. His burial place is unknown.

David Lindsay, A Revolutionary War Soldier In Shelby County Alabama ~ By Bobby Joe Seales

William Whitefield/Whitfield, enlisted "for a term of one year" on 16 February 1778 in Goochland County Virginia, Private Virginia Continental Line. When living in St. Clair County Alabama he enrolled for pension S-38-468, executed 25 November 1829. He stated that he had "reared twelve children, all married but one who had lately died." He was born January 1751, married Mary Towler on 14 December 1772. In 1832 William Whitfield made two land transactions in Shelby County, Alabama; Deed Record Book A-E, pages 543 and 544. As noted on page 334, Virginia History and Whitfield Biographies, by Vallie Jo Fox Whitfield, "On 14 December 1835 the pensioner certified that he had resided in Shelby County, State of Alabama, for a space of 17 years; and that previous thereto resided in Pendleton District, State of South Carolina."

Mrs. Shirley Ann (Truitt) Whitfield, 1932-2015, did an extensive local research on the Whitfield and related families. Mrs. Whitfield stated, "The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution has accepted David H. Whitfield as a son of William Whitefield."

Solomon Massengale, Continental Line, Revolutionary War ... 1760 - 1830. In October 2014 his grave marker was discovered in the Reynolds Cemetery, a.k.a. Richardson-Randall Cemetery in Montevallo, Shelby County, Alabama. It had been completely covered for many years with dirt and grass.

As noted in the Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers and Patriots in Alabama by Louise Milam Julich indicates "Name (Solomon Massengale) appears on a Huntsville Monument erected in 1939 by Twickenham Town Chapter, DAR." this same information appears in The Alabama Historical Quarterly, Winter Issue 1944, Page 609. On September 27, 2016 the Twickenham Town Chapter, DAR dedicated "the celebratory reunion [after being removed from the old courthouse and lost for several years] of the 1939 Revolutionary War Memorial Plaque and her companion boulder" in the Huntsville Veterans Memorial Park.

Tabitha Cobb married Solomon Massengale in Tennessee. The 1840 census indicates that it was probably Tabitha living in household in Autauga County Alabama with John Massengale and family. The November 4, 1850 census indicates Tabatha Massengale, age 82 years, born in Virginia, was living with her son John and his wife Jane Massengale in Pine Flat, Autauga, Alabama census. Tabitha Massengale is probably buried in Deatsville, Elmore County, Alabama. The 1830 Madison County Alabama census indicates Solomon and Tabitha Massengale were living, next household to Stokeley D. Massengale and family, in Madison County Alabama. (Stokley D. Massengale, was the son of John Massengale and Jane Rogers Massengale. S.D. Massengale marker indicates that he was born in 1819 in Shelby County Alabama and died in 1899 in Coosa County Alabama.) The 1820 and 1830 census indicates John Massengale and his wife and children were living in Shelby County Alabama. The grave marker indicates John Massengale, 1792-1866, and is buried in Holtville, Elmore County, Alabama.

Documents in the Shelby County Museum & Archives indicates Solomon Massengale, died June 12, 1830. Solomon was visiting his son John Massengale in Montevallo, Shelby County, Alabama when he died. Solomon Massengale is buried in the Reynolds Cemetery, a.k.a. Richardson-Randall Cemetery in Montevallo, Shelby County, Alabama.