Information Regarding Members and
Ministers
of Little Flock Church
Biographical Sketches of Pastors of Little Flock
Church
1. Journal of Elder Baxter Hale, pastor of Little Flock
Church.
2. Experience of Elder John Fanshier, 1815-1886, pastor of Little Flock Church.
3. Sketch and writings of Elder Cyrus Wright, 1806-1854.
(These two items are available at no charge, upon request.)
HOWELL SELLERS
Charter Member of Little Flock Church
An account of Howell Sellers' service in the Revolutionary War, as
related by himself before witnesses, when applying for a
pension:
State of Illinois
Sangamon County
On the 17th day of October in the year A. D. 1832 personally appeared in open court before Thomas Moffit, Reuben Harrison, and J. B. Smith, County commissioners of the county court of Sangamon County, now sitting,
Howell Sellers, aged seventy years next March, who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed 7th June 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated, to wit,
"I performed a tour of a little more than one month, as a volunteer militia man in the South Carolina Militia, under Captain Arthur ________ in the year (I think) 1776 - in May and June. We marched from Edgefield Co., S. C. to east Florida against the British and Tories. Our general was --- Williamson, our Cols. Beard and Winn and Major R--- Pickins. We were to have marched to St. Augustine, but a disagreement took place between our General and the regular General and we were ordered back. I also in the fall of the same year entered the service again as a volunteer in the South Carolina Militia, under the command of Capt. John Bryan, and remained in service under him until some time in July of the next year, some more than six months. During this tour we marched from Edgefield County, S. C. (my residence during all my service) to Savannah, Georgia, against the British, but before we arrived they had taken the place, and we met them on the way. We then turned back, marched to Augusta, Georgia, and there cross the River Savannah into South Carolina, and we camped opposite Augusta and saw the British enter the place. There we remained until a General Ash of North Carolina came to the same place. When the British left the place, and Ash followed them to Brier Creek in Georgia and was there defeated by them. During our incampment at this place I was one of a party of about 200 who was ordered against the Creek Indians in Georgia, and we had a battle with them on a creek called Rocky Comfort, in which 8 Indians were killed, and our Major Ross was wounded of which he died. We then marched from this incampment back to Georgia, towards Savannah, and crossed into South Carolina again at Summeralls Ferry, and from there to Stone's Ferry on Ashly River, where the British were encamped. There a battle was fought by General Lincoln, and General Williamson, against the British, who were protected by breastworks and intrenchments and we had therefore to withdraw. At this place I was taken sick and went home, I think in July 1777. I also performed two other tours, one under Capt. Nathan White, I think in the fall of 1777, of a little more than one month. During this tour we marched from Edgefield Co., S. C., to Savannah, and I was at the siege of that place by our troops while the British had possession of it. In an attempt to storm the place General Pulaski was killed; and the other under Captain James Corsey, in the year 1778. Under him I continued in service for about one month. During this tour we marched in pursuit of the British to Ashly River in South Carolina. There we joined General Greene's Army. In this service we had no fighting.
I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed this 17th day of October 1832.
Howell Sellers
We, Thomas Plaster, clergyman, resident of the county of Sangamon, and Cyrus Kerny, resident of the same county, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Howell Sellers, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be in his seventieth year of age, that he is reported and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in this opinion.
Thomas Plaster (mark)
Cyrus Kerny (mark)
Sworn to and subscribed this 17th day of October 1832.
