Richard Dillon; 1745 - 1833, Cooper & Soldier

Richard Dillon

7 October 1745 VA– 7 October 1833 MS

My 5x Great Grandfather

Richard Dillon was the son of James Theopilous & Mary Dillon. He was born in Norfolk, VA. [1],[2],[3],[4] "As a young child, Richard was taken by his parents … to Bertie County, N.C.”[5]  Richard was a boy in Bertie Co., NC in 1759 when he was apprenticed to Christopher Harrison as a cooper. The apprenticeship was to last until he turned twenty-one.[6] We know he was still in Bertie in May 1777 because he witnessed a will there.[7]

Richard served in North Carolina during the time of the Revolutionary War.[8] He was interviewed for his pension application.

He stated “that he was drafted under Captain John Faulk in Baxter County, North Carolina, marched from thence to Northwest River Bridge in the month of March, next to headquarters and placed under Colonel Bluntin Maginnis, but has no recollection of the names of any of the subaltern officers nor their places of residence, was also commanded by General Gregory Cloissiant himself, resided when drafted Edenton (can't read) Brater County, South Carolina, claimant entered the service in the year 1781 served in one battle under Gregory at the North West River Bridge and served one three months tour under him, received his discharge and returned home.  Afterwards in the summer of 1781 enlisted on Board of Privateer Greyhound commanded by Captain Samuel Butler and remained on Board until he was taken prisoner by Frigate Baloosa bearing 36 guns and commanded by Captain Kennedy a Scotsman, and has no particular recollection of the length of time he was a Prisoner of War but as well as he recollects nine months, and that paroled upon honor, can't recollect of any man living who can prove the services here referred to, has no documentary evidence at all, and herby relinquishes any claim whatsoever to a pension of annuity except the present, and declares that my name is not on the pension roll of any agency in the state.”[9]

There are several evidences of Richard in Bertie Co., NC. In August 1785 Richard & Ann Dillon sold land to Benj. Terlington.[10]  In February 1787 Fredk. James was bound to Richard Dillon as an apprentice to learn the trade of a cooper.[11] In November 1789 Richard & Ann sold land to Andrew Stanton.[12]

“Shortly before the taking of the 1790 census for North Carolina, Dillon and his family migrated southward to Barnwell County (District), SC, where he lived until 3/20/1897. Upon his departure for the west, or Amite Co., Miss., he left of his older sons in South Carolina – sons who possibly joined him in Mississippi at a later date. By 1810 Dillon was a resident of Amite County (listed in the 1810 census for that year). In that same year he obtained a land grant in Marion County in a portion of the county that later became Pike County. This was probably that land that became known as ‘Dillon’s Bridge.’”[13]

The 1816 Census of Pike Co., MS includes Richard Dillon along with his sons, Lawrence & Clarkson.[14]  The census shows him still in the county with sons Lawrence, Clarkston & Willis Dillon nearby.[15] The 1825 Tax List for Pike Co. includes Richard and his sons.[16]

1 Richard Dillon b: 7 Oct 1745 Norfolk, VA, d: 7 Oct 1833 MS

... + Anne Lawrence b: c 1762 Bertie, NC, m: c 1776, d: c 1830 MS

......2 Joanna Dillon b: 22 Aug 1778 Bertie, NC, d: Aft. 30 Apr 1821 Pike, MS

...... + Jeremiah Smith b: 23 Dec 1773 SC, m: 16 Dec 1798 SC, d: 1843 Pike, MS

.........3 Hollander Smith b: 08 Jul 1800 Pike, MS, d: Unknown

......... + Benjamin Morris Jr. b: c 1792 SC, d: c 1870

.........3 Martha P. Smith b: 25 Mar 1802 SC, d: 8 Aug 1861 Pike, MS

......... + Edwin Barksdale Alford b: 25 Nov 1792 NC, m: 20 Dec 1818 Pike, MS, d: 10 Mar 1878 Pike, MS

.........3 Eli Smith b: 21 Jan 1804 SC, d: 2 Aug 1838 Pike, MS

......... + Orpha Roberts

.........3 Jane Smith b: 9 Oct 1805, d: 1846

......... + Thomas Coulter Warner m: 25 Dec 1825

.........3 Edwin Smith b: 3 Jun 1807 Pike, MS, d: Unknown

.........3 Wyatt Smith b: 31 Aug 1809 LA, d: 16 Feb 1894 Pike, MS

......... + Euseba Fortenberry b: 3 Dec 1809 SC, d: 13 Oct 1878 MS

.........3 Eliza Smith b: 14 Feb 1811 Pike, MS, d: 06 Apr 1837

.........3 Calvin Smith b: 22 Sep 1812 Pike, MS, d: 22 Jan 1843 Pike, MS

......... + Sarah Brumfield b: 9 Apr 1824 Washington, LA, m: 1843, d: Unknown

.........3 Lidda Smith b: 06 Apr 1816 Pike, MS, d: Unknown

......... + Harris Harvey

.........3 Mehala Smith b: 15 Jul 1816 Pike, MS, d: Unknown

.........3 Milevey Smith b: 13 Apr 1818 Pike, MS, d: Unknown

......... + Don Harvey

.........3 Joanna Smith b: 05 Oct 1819 Pike, MS, d: Unknown

.........3 Jeremiah Smith b: 30 Apr 1821 Pike, MS, d: 31 May 1894 MS

......... + Pernecia Smith b: 26 Sep 1820, m: 15 Jul 1841, d: 04 Apr 1887

......2 Nancy Ann Dillon b: 26 Oct 1779 Bertie, NC, d: 28 May 1869 Pike, MS

...... + John Stallings d: 23 Sep 1851

.........3 James Stallings b: 21 May 1814, d: 23 Jun 1896

......2 Lawrence Dillon b: 21 Jun 1783 Bertie, NC, d: Unknown

...... + Martha Jackson

......2 Clarkston Dillon b: c 1785 Bertie, NC, d: Unknown

...... + Sarah Dillon b: SC

.........3 Richard Dillon b: c 1820 MS

.........3 James T. Dillon b: c 1823 MS

.........3 Adaline Dillon b: c 1829 MS

.........3 Mary Dillon b: Abt. 1831 MS

......2 Willis D. Dillon b: 31 Dec 1787 Bertie, NC, d: Unknown

...... + Mary Dillon b: 1783 SC

......2 Mary Dillon Morris b: 1793 NC, d: 4 Jul 1876 Hinds, MS

...... + Salathial Morris

......2 Theophilous Dillon b: 26 May 1796 NC, d: c. 1879 Washington, LA

...... + Peggy Pearson b: 1808, d: 05 Sep 1857

......2 Clara Dillon b: 1799 NC, d: Unknown

...... + George Smith Sr. b: 1775 SC, d: 1833

.........3 William Dorten Smith b: 14 Jan 1818 Pike, MS, d: 16 Nov 1906

......... + Lucreta Dykes b: 10 May 1825 LA, d: 14 Nov 1896 MS

......... + Lucretta Dykes

.........3 Nancy L. Smith b: 27 Mar 1830 Pike, MS, d: 22 Jun 1891 MS

......... + Densmore Winston Smith b: 21 Aug 1830 MS, d: 15 Jan 1894 MS

......2 Sarah Dillon b: 04 Feb 1804 SC, d: 12 Jun 1834

...... + Daniel Graves m: 18 Nov 1819

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[1] Pedigree Chart for Roy Brown; 1700's to 1948; Compiled by Zelda Marie Alford Fortenberry.

[2] Conerly,  Luke Ward, Source Records from Pike County, Mississippi; 1798-1910; 1798-1910; South Carolina, Southern Historical Press, 1989.

[3] Creel, Bevin J. A Patriot's Legacy: The Family of Richard Dillon and Ann Lawrence From Bertie County, North Carolina To Southern Mississippi and Louisiana. Franklinton, Louisiana: Privately Printed, 2002.

[4] Pension Application for Richard Dillon, #2959; State of Mississippi, Pike County; Copy from National Archives Record Group #15A, R. 2959.

[5] Conerly,  Luke Ward, Source Records from Pike County, Mississippi; 1798-1910; 1798-1910; South Carolina, Southern Historical Press, 1989. Notes: Information on Alfords, Brumfields, Elzey and more. Pages 117-119. 

[6] Haun, Weynette Parks. Bertie County North Carolina County Court Minutes 1740 thru 1743; 1758 thru 1762. Book II. North Carolina: 1977. From the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Charlotte, NC.

[7] Almasy, Sandra L. Bertie County, North Carolina Wills 1761 - 1780. Joliet, Illinois: Kensington Glen Publishing, 1990, page 124. From the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Charlotte, North Carolina.

[8] Daughters of American Revolution; Richard Dillon; Ancestor #: A036157.

[9] Pension Application for Richard Dillon, #2959; State of Mississippi, Pike County; Copy from National Archives Record Group #15A, R. 2959.

[10] Haun, Weynette Parks. Bertie County North Carolina County Court Minutes 1781 thru 1787. Book V, Durham, North Carolina: 1982, page 81.  From the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Charlotte, NC.

[11] Haun, Weynette Parks. Bertie County North Carolina County Court Minutes 1781 thru 1787. Book V, Durham, North Carolina: 1982, page 126.  From the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Charlotte, NC.

[12] Haun, Weynette Parks. Bertie County North Carolina County Court Minutes 1788 thru 1792. Book VI, Durham, North Carolina, page 46.  From the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Charlotte, NC.

[13] Conerly, Luke Ward, Source Records from Pike County, Mississippi; 1798-1910; 1798-1910; South Carolina, Southern Historical Press, 1989.

[14] Conerly, Luke Ward, Source Records from Pike County, Mississippi; 1798-1910; 1798-1910; South Carolina, Southern Historical Press, 1989.

[15] 1820 US census, MS, Pike, NARA Roll M33-58, page 110; ancenstry.com. Richd. Dillon family.

[16] Conerly, Luke Ward, Source Records from Pike County, Mississippi; 1798-1910; 1798-1910; South Carolina, Southern Historical Press, 1989.