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AFFIDAVIT OF ROBERT PHILLIPS – 28 JANUARY 1850
AND DOCUMENTS PURSUANT THERETO AND SUPPORTIVE THEREOF
Being called on to make a Statement under oath, relative to the enlistment and
service of Gabriel Philips late of Hawkins County, Tennessee, deceased, in the war
of the revolution, I hereby State: – That I was born, in January Seventeen hundred
and Seventy Three, in Loudon County and State of Virginia. The above named Gabriel
Philips was my brother, and was Eleven years older than myself. We were living
with my father in Loudon County, Virginia at the commencement of the revolutionary
war in Seventeen hundred and Seventy five. My brother Gabriel was out from home,
on some errand, and while about from home, enlisted as a regular continental
soldier. The person who enlisted Gabriel was by the name of Joseph Baylie, but I
do not remember his grade as an officer, nor do I now remember with certainty the
length of the term of his enlistment. I am well satisfied, however, that it was
not for a less term than three years and I am confident he was absent from home
longer than three years, and with the American army as I fully believe. Gabriel
enlisted in Loudon County, Virginia in the winter of Seventeen hundred and Seventy
Six or Seventeen hundred and Seventy Seven, for I cannot be positive which.
I am confident of the truth of the above statement. I know that Gabriel did enlist
in Loudon County Virginia, I know it from memory as the circumstances of his
enlistment made a deep and lasting impression upon my mind. I know it from the
fact that our family was much grieved at his loss. I know it from the fact that my
father and Anthony Bewly, who afterward married my sister, went to see Gabriel's
officers to get him released on the plea that he was under age and failed. I know
it from the fact that my father succeeded in getting Baylie to take the Bounty
money back and that he (Baylie) made his return with Gabriel's name still on the
roll and compelled my brother to march with the company. I know it from the fact
that he sent a file of Eight men to my father's Barn, where Gabriel was threshing
wheat and compelled him to go and I know it from the fact that Gabriel marched with
his company Northward.
At this late day I do not remember the regiment in which Gabriel served, nor the
name of any of his officers except Baylie the enlisting officer, and I think was
under the command of Genl Morgan at first, but afterwards served under Genl Greene
or some one of the continental Generals who served in the South – Gabriel as well
as I can remember, belonged to the Virginia Rifles; and stated after he came home
that he served part of the time under Col Daniel Morgan as a foot Soldier. Gabriel
returned home to my father's house in the latter part of the Summer of Seventeen
hundred and Eighty one or Eighty Two, after an absence of near four years. He said
that he was direct from Charlestown in South Carolina and had been with the army
the whole time – that he was marched to the defense of the South and was under the
command of Genl Lincoln or Greene, that he was present at the siege of and
capitulation of Charlestown and was included in the surender of Genl Lincoln at
that place, that he with many others was closely confined by the British as a
prisoner on a prison ship, and was required by the British to take the oath to not
bear arms against the King of Great Britain, that in consequence of his refusal to
do so, he was threatened with severe punishment and Transportation.
That after much suffering and being nearly starved to death on the prison ship and
fearing transportation to a foreign country, he with others reluctantly took the
required oath, and was released from close confinement, but not at liberty to
return home, that a short time thereafter he with six other soldiers contrived to
make their Escape from the British, into the country, and present themselves at the
American camp, but were discharged from further service in consequence of the oath
they had taken, and that he then came home to Virginia.
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