My Ancestor, William Humphries, a Patriot, Wounded at the Battle of Kings Mountain, October 7, 1780

Yesterday I told you that my sons and granddaughters are direct descendants of Col. Frederick Hambright, who fought in the Battle of Kings Mountain. 

Today, I am going to tell you about my ancestor who fought and was wounded in that same battle, so my sons and granddaughters are direct descendants of more than one Patriot who fought and was wounded in that battle.

My ancestor is not famous like Col. Frederick Hambright.  He was not a commander.  He was just a soldier fighting to protect his home, family, and way of life.  He was an honorable man. 

Most of us born and raised in and around Blacksburg, SC and/or Kings Mountain, NC probably have more than one ancestor who fought in that battle...just a matter of tracing the ancestry and making the connection.

I am a direct descendant of William Humphries, who fought in the Battle of Kings Mountain.

Here are the generations  from William Humphries to me. Some further  information follows:

• William Humphries (1750-1827) - Marianne Walker
• Samuel Humphries (1781-1849) - Nancy McCraw (1772-1850)
• Sylvester "Cill" Humphries (1830-1864) - Margaret Lemmons (1832- )
• John T Humphries (1851-1928) - Adalissa "Lissie" Lemmons Humphries (1853-1943)
• Janie Susan Humphries Batchelor (1891 - 1956) - Dawson Marcus Batchelor (1892-1927)
• Ruby Batchelor H. Batchelor (1917-2005) - Thomas R. Batchelor (1900-1962)
• Alice J. Batchelor Hambright (1955- )

William Humphries was born in Virginia about 1750 and died May 30, 1827. At some point in his life he migrated from Virginia to settle in Cleveland County, N.C. 

His war records describe his service in the Revolutionary War, and show that he served at different times under Colonels Campbell and James Williams in the South Carolina troops and was brigade quartermaster in General Sumter's brigade. The records also show that he was wounded at the Battle of Kings Mountain by a ball passing through his thigh.*

He served two years as a Patriot and was pensioned under claim No. W4000 (The number was partially illegible.  W4000 may be incorrect.)*

The site of his old residence is about one-fourth mile North of the North and South Carolina state line.  He was buried about one hundred yards west of the old home place, his grave being marked by a stone furnished by the War Department for Revolutionary War soldiers.  His grave and stone are no longer there though.  Please see below for why and where.

William Humphries was married twice. First to Marianne Walker, who was the mother of his son, John Humphries, born in 1768.

William Humphries' second wife was Francis Sarratt. 

Names of the known children of William Humphries are:

          (1) John
          (2) William II
          (3) Samuel
          (4) Jesse
          (5) David
          (6) Margaret
          (7) Francis
          (8) Susannah
          (9) Anderson
         (10) Jane

There is some discussion about which wife had which children.  Some records show Marianne as mother to the first five children and Francis the rest, but some records show Marianne as mother to the first eight children and Francis the last two, so I'm just listing the names of the children for you. 

I do know that Samuel, my ancestor, was Marianne's son.

William Humphries' Headstone Camps Creek Baptist Church, Cleveland County, NC
William Humphries' headstone is presently at Camps Creek Baptist Church in Mooresboro, Cleveland County, North Carolina. However, his remains are not there. They are still located at his home place, unmarked.

After William's home was sold the new owner plowed under the graves and discarded the tombstones in a ditch where members of the Humphries family found them and placed his headstone and his son William Jr.'s headstone side by side at Camps Creek Baptist Church.  May they rest in peace.

*Reference: "History of First Humphries Family Settling in No. 1 Township, Cleveland County, North Carolina" by J.C. Coleman Humphries