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On this day personally appeared George M. Ray before me Silas C Cornwell one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid and made oath in due form of law that from the record kept by his father in the family Bible a copy of which he had now his possession taken corretly from said family bible more than thirty years ago he is now sixty two years of age and was to the best of his recolection at the time his father Joseph entered the service in the War of the Revolution about seven years old. He recolects verry well when his father was drafted it was about the first of September or last of august 1780 his captains name was Lowe was attached to the Brigade under General Butler they drafted for what was called twelve months men they were marched to Hilsboro and from thenc to big Pee Dee and there Stationed he served to the month of December and was taken sick he actd part of this time as issuing Comissary upon his taking sick his father made and arrangement with his Captain and got a furlough to come hom and furnished a man in his place to serve out the eight month ballance of the time but his father was to be responsible until the service was compleated; he returned home but was still sick and lived but a few days when he died. He died on the last of December and was burried on the first January 1781. The Substitute continued to serve out the Term of twleve months and was paid by his mother, about the 16th of february Lord Cornwallis and the Brittish encamped ^Joining^ upon his fathers Plantation and lay there one week and took all the Stock of Cattle and horses and every thing else except one milch cow, his mother was confined in child bed at the same time with her fifth child—and always when any of the British would come there would be a Sergeant who would place a Sentinel at each door to keep the Hesians from taking the only bed and close his mother lay on after the battle British lefts there he recolects the day of the battle of Guilford which took place the 15th of March following; his aunt Jane Ray was out in the yard and She came in saying to his Mother "Aunt Lydia it is clear and I hear thundering most powerful" That he now resides in Jackson County State of Tennessee and has came over into Smith County to make this affidavit

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 11th day of September 1837

Test
Silas C Cornwell JP
Justice peace

State of Tennessee
Smith County}
I John J Burnett Clerk of the County court of said Smith County hereby certify that Silas C Cornwell and Patrick Fergusson whose names are subscribed to the foregoing certificates and affidavits of George M Ray and James Wilson are now and was at the time of executing the Same acting Justices of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid constitutionally ellected and duly qualified and commissioned to act as such that full faith and credit are due and should be given there official acts and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be theres are genuine

In testamony wheroff I have herunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at office in Carthage the 10th day of October AD 1837 and of the imdependance of the United States the sixty second year

John J Burnett clerk
of Smith County Court

Testamony in behalf of Lydia Ray