This information has been donated by the listed contributors and compiled by Brian Kelly Madaris for the
*Information in this Document Will Change as information is located and updated*
Many of the members of our family at the age of 20 - 40 probably served in the Revolutionary War. Many of the records however were destroyed during the attacks on Virginia by the Union Army during the Civil War. Just because there is no listing here or in the Archive Records, does not mean they did not serve. However, there is equally no proof that they did.
(Click on the appropriate Soldier to Jump to their info)
| Brevet Major John Medearis (5) | Private Abraham Medaris (5) | Private Massey Medaris (5) | Private Rice Medaris (5) | Private Henry Maderias (7) | Records of Revolutionary Soldiers with unknown connections |
The Records of John Medearis (5)
Revolutionary War Dept., Accountants Office 02-13-1795 Statement of Claims - Settlements.
02-25-1795, 6483 John Meaderis, Capt. 2nd Regiment, Continental Line of North Carolina, under command of Col. Alexander Martin Commuta, 03-22-1783 $2,400.00
Military land Warrants, Continental Line. A list of warrants for land granted the officers and soldiers in the Continental line out of the Secretaries office.
American Revolution Roster, Fort Sullivan (later Fort Moultrie) 1776 - 1780
John Medaris H.R.: 387; SR:1110; PI 22 Feb, 1744 - 31 March 1834
Roster of North Carolina Soldiers in the American Revolution, Guilford County, North Carolina
County dodged British invasion
- By Roy Parker Jr.
- Contributing editor
It appeared that they, and all of North Carolina, had dodged a bullet, at least for the time being.
The threat of a British invasion, which had so alarmed the previous six months of the fifth year of the American War of Independence, abated.
The month of May 220 years ago brought welcome news that the British and their Loyalist allies were falling back from a short-lived siege of Charleston, returning to their base at Savannah, which they had seized in December of 1778 as part of Britain’s new “southern strategy” for victory over the Patriots.
But June brought a sobering footnote promising that the war was far from over in the South.
Gen. Benjamin Lincoln’s little army of Continentals and militiamen, marching on the heels of the British force, was badly bloodied by the Redcoat rearguard in a sharp fight at a river crossing known as Stone’s Ferry.
In a quirk of history, the British heroes at Stone’s Ferry would become a household word in Cumberland County.
They were men of the 71st Highland Regiment, a unit that in the next 30 months would fight across the Carolinas, march through Cross Creek with Lord Cornwallis in 1781, and surrender at Yorktown.
Forty years later, a township in Cumberland would be named in honor of the kilted Redcoats.
The British presence in the South was doubly threatening to Patriots of Cape Fear, who rightly surmised that simmering Loyalist sentiment would flare into open defiance as it had three years earlier, only to be thoroughly suppressed at the Battle of Moore’s Creek.
Some Loyalists from the area were already in the fight.
The British forces in Savannah included units of Loyalists, among them the North Carolina Royal Regiment under Lt. Colonel John Hamilton.
Some men from the Cape Fear region were serving under Hamilton’s royal flag, and may have taken part in the shootout at Stone’s Ferry.
The threat of British invasion turned Cross Creek into a busy staging point for North Carolina militia units called out by Gov. Richard Caswell and ordered south to join Benjamin Lincoln’s army.
Cross Creek merchants acting as commissary officers did a brisk business provisioning units marching from as far away as the Chowan River valley.
The operations of the provisioning system were evident in a letter that Caswell wrote in June to Cross Creek merchant Peter Mallett: “Find enclosed a warrant from the Treasury for $5,000 which I request you immediately apply to purchasing flour, grain, for the Continental Troops and militia who may make your way to the southward.
“You will also be pleased to provide them flesh provisions from the public stock.
“I should have wrote you on this subject sooner, but it was til very lately altogether uncertain if these articles would be necessary at Cross Creek.
“Let me to entreat you to give every assistance in your power to the troops on their march.
“Col. Lamb, with a party of men hired by the militia will, I suspect, be with you in a few days.”
The summer of 1779 saw a return to less hectic times for the village’s few hundred residents.
The county government, holding its quarterly session in July, attended to an agenda of mostly peaceful pursuits, such as laying off roads and approving tax collectors for the various “captain’s districts.’’
There was even time to levy a fine of five pounds on one John Murphy “for being drunk on jury duty.”
Until he paid up, Murphy was to be “taken into custody.”
But there was also war-related business. The court proceeded to prove that Patriots were still firmly in control of local affairs in Cumberland.
Even with the Loyalist rumblings under way across the Carolinas, the Patriot county government proceeded to enforce a “confiscation act’’ seizing the property of Loyalists who had already left the county.
Perhaps meeting in a new courthouse on Maiden Lane in “Upper Campbellton’’ (the new official name for Cross Creek), the justices of the peace who comprised the local county governing body appointed three notable Patriots as “commissioners of confiscated property.’’
They were taverner George Fletcher, merchant Pat Travers, and planter Thomas Armstrong. The latter, who did not live in Cross Creek, failed to make it to meetings, and was replaced in October by John Matthews.
By August, the alarms from South Carolina were so muted that a body of mounted militiamen stationed at a “camp near Cross Creek” since earlier in the year was disbanded.
Its commander, Lt. Col. James Thackston of Orange County, reported to his superior, Brig. Gen. Jethro Sumner, on his collateral duties organizing militia units for the southward march.
He wrote:“I have just finished discharging all the soldiers whose time has expired on the first and fifth of this month.
“Those whose times does not expire until December next, and the old soldiers, we by order of Gen. Lincoln, formed into companies, officered and sent to Charleston, a return of which, together with a return of the Brigade for the last month, you will receive withall.
“All arms and accouterments in possession of the men now discharged have been sent to the assistant quartermaster general in South Carolina, except for about 30 stand that were went with the prisoners (apparently deserters) to Salisbury.
“By order of Gen. Caswell, the whole brigade was mustered out and paid off, up to the last day of this month. I will send (muster rolls) to you. In the hurry of business, Lt. Col. Lytle, who was appointed muster of the regiments (when he left me), carried them off with him.
“I was under the necessity when before I left headquarters of applying to Gen. Lincoln for money, on the account of this state, to purchase necessaries for the officers on the march home, which was cheerfully granted, to the amount of $4,180, which sum I put in the hand of Col. Madearis, to enable him to furnish the requisites.
“I have had a very troublesome and tiresome time of it since you left, but I have at length got through with it, I hope to your satisfaction.
“I have given orders to all the officers to come in with the men now discharged to be diligent in apprehending deserters who may be lurking in the counties adjacent to the places where they are until they receive further orders from you.”
With that, the 1779 Cross Creek military establishment of the War of Independence shut down for the season.
The Records of Abraham Medaris (5)
Pierce's Register, Volume X, page 265
No.: [p. 265] 1536
The Records of Massey Medaris (5)
Roster of North Carolina Soldiers in the American Revolution, Guilford County, North Carolina
Transcript of the Revolutionary War Pension Application of Massey Medaris
Transcribed here by Brian Kelly Madaris from a copy of the original document obtained by Lester Medearis donated by David Medearis (credits 00, 28, 61 ).
The Records of Rice Medaris (5)
This Transcript of the Pension application of Rachael E. (Mcpheeters / McPeters / McFeeters) Medarisis transcribed from the original document by William Clinton Madaris, Jr. and Betty McGarity. It was published in "The Med(e)aris/McDaris Miner" by Charles Carrow Cabiac in Volume I, Numbers 3/4, October, 1987. The spelling is presumed to be accurate to the original documents.
Pension Application Of Rachael E. McDaris
State of North Carolina)
Buncombe County ) Section Act 4th July, 1836
On This the 17th day of August, personally appeared before me the undersigned, an acting justice in said county; Rachael E. McDaris a resident on Big Ivey in said county and state of North Carolina, aged ninety-three years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doeth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by an act of congress passed July 4th 1836: That she is the widow of Rice McDaris, who was a private soldier in the company of North Carolina Militia commanded by Capt. Silas Martin whose company belonged to the Regiment of militia commanded by Colonel Benjamin Cleavland. That her husband McDaris was drafted the first time on the 13th day of June in the year A.D. seventeen hundred and seventy-seven(the widow is not certain whether it was 77 or 78 but is of opinion it was seventy-seven when her husband entered the service.) and was at the time of his being drafted, a citizen of Wilkes County and state of No. Carolina.
This term of service(she thinks) was four months, and was expressly for the Cherokee Indian war, and was marched directly into the country inhabited by said Indians, and was gone from the time he entered said service until he returned home four months and sixteen days. She thinks that his return home was about the beginning of November, and year above mentioned. She further says that her husband, the afore mentioned Rice McDaris, was at home something like four weeks when an express again arrived for the men in Wilkes County again to enter the Service, That her husband was again drafted, and served a tour of six weeks under one Captain Allen, still belonging to Colonel Cleavland's Regiment of Militia which expedition was against a body of Tories, which were then collecting not far from said county, She further says that if he was in any battles this time that she does not now remember it. The said Rice McDaris was at home but a short time when he was again drafted (or, as she says, pressed into service, and under the same officers, being Capt, Allen and Colonel Cleavland) for the term of three months, and was during this period of service in a battle called The Hanging Rock but in what county said battle was fought she is not certain, or even the month when it was fought. This time their time expired and the said Rice McDaris again came home and remained there but a short interval until he was again called out.
The applicant further says, that her husband, the afore said Rice McDaris, served another tour of three months, and was drafted again, belonging to Captain Lewis Company and belonging to Col. Allen's Regiment; the same Allen she thinks who before a Captain and under whom her husband served his first tour of service: That During this period of service the said Rice McDaris was in another battle called The Gum (?) Springs, and is of the opinion that this battle was with the Tories, and perhaps a portion of British with them, She further says that her husband was again drafted for the term of three months under Captain Allen, and Colonel Ben Cleavland: That during this tour of service the said Rice McDaris was in the battle of Kings Mountain, after which he returned home as did all, the men In Capt. Allen's company who were not killed.
She further says that her husband, Rice McDaris was again drafted (and which was his last tour) for the term of five months, and was under Captain Martin and Colonel Allen.
She further states that her husband was away this term of service stationed in the town or Charleston, South Carolina three months and twenty-one days; after which the said McDaris finally left the service in the month of March, seventeen hundred and eighty-two. She further says that her husband the afore mentioned, Rice McDaris was engaged under the above mentioned Officers at different times and periods the whole time that he was basted in the Southern States, that the above mentioned towns or periods are all that she can now remember distinctly, and these officers (Captains and Colonels) she does remember well. The widow further says that she has no documentary evidence in support of her claim; but that her husband the afore said Rice McDaris had discharges from the officers underwhom he served for each of his tours of service which were consumed by fire in his house in the state of Virginia and that was the reason why application has not been made heretofore for a pension. She further says, on her oath that had the house of Rice McDaris (in which were destroyed his discharges by fire) was in Russell County and state as mentioned heretofore.
She further declares that she was married to the said Rice McDaris on the 18th day of June in the year A.D. one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five and that her husband the afore said Rice McDaris, died on the 22nd day of July eighteen hundred and twenty-four and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as Will more fully appear from the proof annexed.
Rachael E.(her X mark) McDaris
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and the year above mentioned, before me the undersigned, an acting Justice in said county.
N. Blackstock
State of No Carolina)
Buncombe County )
I, N. Blackstock, an acting Justice in said county do hereby certify that 1 have qualified Rachael E. McDaris to the foregoing declaration, and that she has signed the same as the law directs; and I believe the same to be the truth to the best of my knowledge, as well as, that she is a woman of good standing in society, where she is known. I also certify that the said Rachael E. McDaris is, from bodily infirmity, incapable of attending at the place where our Courts of Record are held; being from Asheville the county site fifteen miles. In testimony of which I have hereunto set my hand and seal on this the 17th day of August A.D. 1850
N. Blackstock
State of No. Carolina )
Buncombe County )
On this the 17th day of August, 1850 personally appeared before me the undersigned, Oliver McDaris, Polly McDaris, and Malinda Buckner, three credible witnesses who being first duly sworn according to law say on their oaths, that Rachael E. McDaris a has remained a widow ever since the death of her husband, Rice McDaris, who died the 23rd day of July eighteen hundred and twenty four and that she is now a widow.
Oliver McDaris
Polly McDaris
Melinda Buckner
Sworn to and subscribed before me day and yr. above written
Blackstock, Justice of the Court of Buncombe
I, N. Blackstock, an acting justice in the county above mentioned, do hereby certify that Oliver McDaris, Polly McDaris and Malinda Buckner, who have signed the foregoing affidavits on credible witnesses and that their testimony may be relied upon, in testimony of which I have set my hand and seal, on this the 17th day of August A.D. 1850
N. Blackstock, J.C.B
State or N. Carolina ) County Court Office the 8th October A.D. 1851
Buncombe County )
I, Robert Nance, Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions (a court of Records) for said county and state, certify that N. Blackstock, Esqr., whose proper signature appears to the foregoing declaration and affidavits, is one of our Said Court, duly commissioned and qualified according to law. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of Said Court, at office in Asheville, date above written.
R. B. Nance, Clerk
State of North Carolina)
Yancy County )
On this the 15th day of October AD 1850 personally appeared before me the undersigned, an acting Justice of a Court of Records for said county, Elizabeth Randolph of Yancy County, aged one hundred and one years who being duly sworn according to law, says on her oath, that sometime in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five, (illegible) cannot recollect the day and month, she was personally present when Rice McDaris and Rachael E. McPeters were married by Benjamin Cleavland, Esqr, afterwards one of the Colonels of No. Carolina Militia, and that at this time, which she thinks was in 1775, Rice McDaris, Rachael McPeters, and Benjamin Cleavland were all citizens of Wilkes County and State of No. Carolina. Whether they were married by license, or by the usual manner of publication, she does not know.
Deponent further says that Rice and his wife, Rachael, were both decendants of families who were afterwards strong Whigs and that Rice was after this a soldier in the Revolutionary war, but that she knows nothing of the length of times which he served.
Elizabeth (her x mark) Randolph
Sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written.
Jno. Ledford Justice
State of No. Carolina)
Yancy County )
I, John Ledford, one of the acting Yancy County Justices of Court of Records in and for the county above mentioned do hereby certify that Elizabeth Randolph who has sworn to and subscribed to the foregoing affidavit as the law directs, is of good character, and, I have confidence in what she has said. I also believe her to be one hundred and one years of age. In testimoney of which I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 15th day of October AD 1850.
Jno. Ledford, JCR
State of No. Carolina)
Buncombe County )
On this the 13th day of August, 1850 perpersonally appeared before me, the undersigned, an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the county and state above mentioned. Ephrian Elder (doubtful spelling) who being first duly sworn, according to law, says that he was acquainted with one Rice McDaris who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, that he first knew him as a soldier he was drafted out of the neighborhood the Adkin(Yadkin?) and was under one Captain Martin, and under the command of Colonel Cleavland who had charge of the Militia from that section of the country. He further says that this tour lasted for four or five months, and was against the Cherokee and Catawba Indians.
Deponent further says that the said Rice McDaris was in another expedition or five months, but is of opinion that he was a volunteer, and thinks that he was marched into South Carolina, and perhaps to Charleston, that he left Wilkes County under Capt. Martin, and thinks that he was not under a Colonel until he got below Wilkesboro near 100 miles where the companies from other counties were joined and one Col. Allen took the command.
He further says that the said Rice McDaris served two other tours of three months each, but thinks that he was under said Capt. Martin and Col. Cleavland, both times. Be further says that he will not think of mentioning the dates when these different services were performed, as they all were rendered from the beginning of troublesome times in No. Carolina until they finally ceased a peace was made. Deponent further says that he himself was engaged during the war in hauling salt from Virginia and provisions for the people; that he frequently saw the said Rice McDaris in the service, and under the above named officers. He Further says that the above named Rice McDaris was engaged in some other small skirmishing parties, and he thinks under the same officers.
Ephrim (his x mark) Elder
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me.
John Keith, J. P.
State of North Carolina)
Buncombe County )
I, John Keith, an acting justice of the Peace do hereby certify that Ephrian
Elder who has signed the above declaration, is a man of truth and good character and what he says may be relied upon. I also certify that I believe the said E. Elder to be ninety-three gears of age.
In testimony of which I have hereunto set hand and seal on this the. 13th day of August A.D. 1850.
John Keith, J. P.
Stace of North Carolina) County Court Office the 8th October
Buncombe County ) A.D. 1350
I Robert B. Vance, Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for said county and state certify that John Keith, Esqr., whose proper signature appears to the foregoing, is and was at the date thereof, an Acting Justice of the Peace for said county, duly commissioned and qualified according to law.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court, at office in Asheville, day and date above.
Robert B. Vance, Ck.
The Records of Henry Maderias (7)
Henry Maderias
(Henry 7, James 6, John 5, Charles 3)
Graves of Revolutionary Soldiers
These soldiers are not connected to
our family, but tie into the Madara line who came into
Philadelphia in 1749. I have included them here as
researchers will no doubt come upon information on these men and
feel they are connected. For more information on them
contact Larry Madara