Pittsylvania County, Virginia was formed in 1767 from Halifax County. In 1777 the western part became Henry County.
The Battle of Kings Mountain was a decisive battle of the American Revoluton. It took place on October 7, 1780, nine miles south of the present-day town of Kings Mountain, North Carolina. The Patriot militia defeated the Loyalist militia commanded by British Major Patrick Ferguson.
Henry Blevins was born about 1752 in Virginia. His father may have been Daniel Blevins. He wrote in his pension application
I was born in Henry County, state of Virginia, on Smith River...I have no record of my age, the same being destroyed when the Indians burned my father's house in Sullivan County near Shelby’s Fort.
Nancy Blevins (1784),
John Blevins (1790),
Sarah Blevins (1794),
Pleasant Blevins (1796),
Abraham Blevins (1801, married Nancy Williams and Martha Jane), and
Elizabeth “Betsy” Blevins (1802).
In 1777, he enlisted in Capt. James Robertson’s company in Col. Arthur Campbell’s regiment. He fought in the battle of Long Island Flats.
Henry Blevins, of Hawkins Co., East Tenn., Feb. I8th, 1823, certifies: That I was a private in Capt. Elliott's company, in Shelby,'s regiment, at King's Mountain. I was not in the action, but in the rear guard with the baggage.
I know, however, that it was the general talk in the army on the next day, that Col. Campbell was not in the action, after they were first beaten back down the mountain, and that he himself admitted it, and said that he could not tell how it happened. I recollect to have heard him told of it once, by Gen. Sevier.
The way in which this took place was this - there were about thirty Tories condemned to be hanged; nine only were executed. They were executed three at a time, near to Sevier's tent; while it was going on, Campbell came up, and demanded in an angry manner, why they did not hang all these damned rascals at once? Sevier laughed and replied,
Why, Colonel, if we had all been as much in earnest in the action, I think we should have killed more, and had fewer of them to hang.
I also heard it thrown up to him by two men who were wounded, Willam Cox and Moses Shelby. I heard Sevier say, at different times afterwards, that if he had acted as Campbell did in the action, he would not have blamed his men to have killed him. It has been the general talk amongst those whom I have heard speak on this subject at different times since, that Campbell did not act with his usual bravery on that occasion. (from King's Mountain and It's Heroes).
In 1833 Henry testified in Moses Johnson's pension application that he was acquainted with a him in a campaign against the Indians in 1776 and 1777.
Henry died on September 12, 1847 in Hawkins County, Tennessee.
Died on the 12th at his residence in Hawkins county, Tennessee, Henry Blevins, in the 96th year of his age. The deceased was born on the 6 of January 1752 in a fort or blockhouse built by his father, Thomas Wallen, and others, on Smith’s River, Henry County, Virginia.
He was a Whig in the Revolution and continued so through life. He was a patriot and gallant soldier. During the struggle for our liberty, he participated in many skirmishes and battles with the Indians and the Tories, and fought at the battle of Kings Mountain.
He had lived upwards of fifty years in Hawkins county and was respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He has left an aged widow and a long list of relatives, among whom are many great-grandchildren to mourn his loss, while he, in ripe old age, is gathered to his fathers. Hawkins County Tennessee.
Halifax County, Virginia was established in May, 1752 from Lunenburg County. The counties of Henry, Patrick and Pittsylvania and part of Franklin were formed out of Halifax.
During the American Revolution a Tory or Loyalist was used in for those who remained loyal to the British Crown.
Henry Blevins (b. 1753; d. Sept. 12, 1847) was born in Henry County, Va., and died in Hawkins County, Tenn. In 1777, he enlisted in Capt. James Robertson’s company in Col. Arthur Campbell’s regiment. At the time of his enlistment, Blevins lived in Sullivan County, along the Holston River. He fought in the battle of Long Island Flats and later volunteered again to serve under Isaac Shelby at the battle of King’s Mountain. Blevins married Catherine in September 1786, and they were the parents of a daughter, Nancy Blevins.
According to Sullivan County deed records, an indenture was recorded on Jan. 2, 1812, between Gatewood Blevins, an heir to William Blevins, and John Blevins, son of William Blevins. Gatewood Blevins relinquished his share of the estate of land then in possession of Ann Blevins, widow of William. . .
In the 1850 census of Sullivan County, William Blevins, 72, was a farmer who owned 1,500 acres. The following were members of his household: Elizabeth, 30; William, 35; John, 27, Lucy, 25; Mary, 23; Alfred, 22; Hiram, 21; Juneral, 20; and John, 19.
Another William Blevins, 46, was also listed in the census of 1850. Members of his household included: Elizabeth, 70; Sarah, 60; Priscilla, 30, Lucinda, 36; Mary, 13; Martha, 10; Louisa, 8; Martha, 6; Sarah, 4; and Jacob, 1.
