As I read through the petition for the Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statement S. 4119 that was submitted for Samuel Ridgway, I marvel at what this ancestor did for our country. It makes me proud to know that my Ridgway father and mothers fought to secure this land for us. Samuel’s narrative description of the battles he participated in left me with a certain amount of confusion. In order to follow his route over the 18 months and 15 days he participated, I searched out each place with Google. I would not guarantee that the numbered locations on this map our exactly precise but they are close. If you have any verifiable correction, please let me know and I will correct the map.
Samuel first describes his volunteering in Craven County in District 96. It seems that he and his father, Captain John Ridgway, both lived in Laurens County. Craven County has been divided into many, many little counties since it existed many years ago. It once existed to the Northeast side of South Carolina. District 96 was in the Northwest part of South Carolina just West of the Broad River. I have outlined Laurens county in red. This was Samuel’s base station. I believe he was part of the Militia of South Carolina for Lauren County. That is why you see items 1, 5, 15 and 16 located there. Most of his volunteering was done where he lived.
At the time Samuel participated in these little skirmishes or battles, he was only 22 years old. That would have been in the years 1779, 1780 and 1781. Samuel married Catherine Atwood, a year after he quit soldiering. If my information is correct, they had 10 children between them. She died in 1819.
Samuel first describes his volunteering in Craven County in District 96. It seems that he and his father, Captain John Ridgway, both lived in Laurens County. Craven County has been divided into many, many little counties since it existed many years ago. It once existed to the Northeast side of South Carolina. District 96 was in the Northwest part of South Carolina just West of the Broad River. I have outlined Laurens county in red. This was Samuel’s base station. I believe he was part of the Militia of South Carolina for Lauren County. That is why you see items 1, 5, 15 and 16 located there. Most of his volunteering was done where he lived.
At the time Samuel participated in these little skirmishes or battles, he was only 22 years old. That would have been in the years 1779, 1780 and 1781. Samuel married Catherine Atwood, a year after he quit soldiering. If my information is correct, they had 10 children between them. She died in 1819.
Samuel was joined by his brothers and his father. He even served one campaign under Captain John Ridgeway. Unfortunately, Captain Ridgeway was captured at Dirty Creek, SC and was executed with 10 of his men by the tories. Captain John left his wife a widow with two children under 12 years of age.
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