In the Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Volume 25, November 1987, Number 4, page 3, Carolyn Copeland Bland offers the following:

"Genealogy requires analysis as well as research.  In this most precise work, mistakes are inevitable, and it is every researcher’s responsibility to question the work of others.  The serious genealogist insists on the citation of sources.  He goes to the trouble of checking these for accuracy.  He weighs conflicting evidence carefully, one source against another.  Finally, he must base his conclusions on the preponderance of the evidence.
    Without this caution, inexperienced researchers are misled sometimes by foolish genealogical claims.  Then they go on to repeat these claims in many places and, with amazing success, they build up a crooked structure of ‘disinformation’ which is no small job to dismantle."   

This is the unhappy problem for the genealogists reading a newspaper article sent to the Laurens County Library in Laurens, SC. The article has an account of a group of men called the Sullivan Independent Company of Volunteers.  This group has been referred to as the Sullivan’s Scouts by Mrs. Sara Sullivan Ervin. Many Sullivan descendants have credited Ervin as their source for Sullivan genealogy, undeterred by the absence of proof of sources.  This article gives a roster of 132 men who allegedly served in this company.  The following research article is done to investigate whether the "Sullivan Scouts" did exist at all.

The following research material was done by Mrs. Mildred Brownlee in 1991 and given to A. Deason Smith in 2005.

SULLIVAN’S COMPANY ROSTER
INTRODUCTION

William D. Sullivan (1838-1929), in a journal he called "Family Register", stated:  "After the commencement of the Revolution, the Sullivan family moved from Virginia to Georgia to get away from the fighting.  They settled on the Ogeechee River near Louisville.  (Now in Jefferson County)  In Georgia, they were harassed by Tories and hostile Indians.  They served initially under Captains Game (Blassingame) Harvey, Irvin, and Twiggs.  They then moved to Laurens District, SC and settled on Little River where Samuel Wharton lived.  While living there, they served under Col. (Joseph) Hayes.  The Sullivans had been on leave at the time of the massacre and were returning to their post.  They met Claiborn Sims who was fleeing and warned them.

Samuel and Maud (Maudeline) Sullivan Wharton came to SC before the other Sullivans and settled on Little River in the Odell neighborhood."

    The above was taken from page 223, of the "Family Register" by Wm. D. Sullivan.  Words in parentheses were inserted by compiler.

From Laurens County legal documents: 
Samuel Wharton and wife, Maudeline Sullivan were in Laurens County (Ninety Six District, then) by 8 April 1777, when Samuel purchased 150 acres on Cane Creek (near present Waterloo, SC).  (Deed Book A, p. 140)  The other Sullivans moved into the Little River area sometime after 12 May 1780, the fall of Charleston.  The unit under Col. Joseh Hayes was at Hayes’ Station on Simmon’s Creek, a tributary of Little River, on 18/19 November 1781.  Tory Capt. William (Bloody Bill) Cunningham and his troops came upon them there and massacred a number of Hayes’ unit, including Col. Hayes.

With the Patriot victory at Cowpens, 17 January 1781, the tide of war began to turn against the British.  In July 1781, the British under Col. John H. Cruger, evacuated Ninety Six, burning the fort as they left.  The raid through the back country by Cunningham and his troops was a last effort at revenge against some of his former neighbors.  By this date, the most ardent Loyalists had left the back county.  They had gathered at Ninety Six and followed Col. Cruger’s troops to Orangeburg and then had gone on to Charleston.  From there, a number migrated to Nova Scotia; some to the Bahamas; some to England; and some of the less obnoxious eventually returned to their homes in the back country.

The Sullivan family continued their residence in the Little River-Cane Creek area for the duration of the war.  Laurens County Deed Book B, p. 27 shows that on 3 March 1784, Charles Sullivan and Hewlett Sullivan were witnesses when Wm. Dendy purchased a tract of land on Little River.  Deed Book B, page 96 shows Charles Sullivan still in the area on 15 December 1786.  Evidently Charles and Hewlett Sullivan did not purchase land in Laurens County.  On 30 January 1790, Moses Sullivan purchased 150 acres on Beaverdam Creek (of Little River).  (Deed Book C, page 181)  On 20 July 1791, Moses Sullivan and wife, Milly, now of Greenville County sold this 150 acres to Jeremiah Glenn of Virginia. (Deed Book F, page 37)  Moses Sullivan appears on the Greenville County census for 1790.

Although the Treaty of Hopewell, by which South Carolina obtained the counties of Pendleton and Greenville from the Cherokee Indians, was not effected until November 1785, the State began issuing warrants of survey for land grants there in 1784. On 21 May 1784, Charles Sullivan obtained a warrant for 400 acres on Reedy River, a branch of Saluda River.  (Plat Book A, page 38)  On same date, Hewlett Sullivan obtained a warrant for 200 acres on branches of Reedy River.  (Plat Book A, page 42)  Charles Sullivan also got a warrant of survey for 200 acres on Line Creek of Saluda River.  (Plat Book A, page 331)  Both Charles and Hewlett Sullivan appear on Greenville County Census 1790.

The newspaper clipping of the SULLIVAN ROSTER (A. Deason Smith has a copy ) is the first and only item from the Jefferson Sullivan papers that has been obtained by the Laurens County Library as of April 1991.  This clipping indicates that Sara Sullivan Ervin had possession of the "Sullivan Roster". And from South Carolinians in the Revolution, Sara Sullivan Ervin, page 133 we find the following:

According to the family tradition:  "Hewlett Sullivan (age 18), with his father’s help, organized in the fall of 1781, a company of scouts and rangers, composed of relatives and friends.  They caught and hung many Tories and cleared their section of Red Coats."

Using Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution by Bobby Gilmer Moss; DAR Patriots Index; Accounts Audited and Stub Entries to Indents, SC Archives; and Petitions for Pension submitted by the soldiers or their widows, effort has been made to document service of the men named on the SULLIVAN ROSTER.

After an extensive search of authentic Revolutionary War documents and accounts, there is no evidence of a "SULLIVAN’S COMPANY of SCOUTS".  In none of the available reminiscences written by old soldiers regarding their war service is there any mention of a troop of Sullivan’s Scouts.  The documented service records of the 132 men mentioned as members of Sullivan’s Scouts cast doubt that there ever was such a company.  If the company were so active in catching and hanging so many Tories and in clearing their section of Red Coats, surely some would have been proud to mention this as part of their service.

Actually, the roster appears to have been compiled many years after the war was over by someone who had no basis in fact but who held a romantic and exaggerated notion of their ancestor’s role in the Revolutionary War.

The clipping states:  "…a copy of the roll of the company was made by Capt. Hewlett Sullivan.  This paper passed to Capt. Sullivan’s son, Jefferson (1807-1868), and to his son and then to other relatives.  It is now in the possession of a niece, Ms. Sara Sullivan Ervin…"

1. Hewlett Sullivan – served after the fall of Charleston. (Indent U, no. 357.)  No reference found as Captain.  He was 18 in 1781.

2.  Thomas Hamilton – pension petition states he served first in VA.  While residing on Reedy Creek, he enlisted in March 1782 under Capt. George Martin and Col. Casey. (Moss)

3.  Capt. John Ridgeway, Sr. – killed by Tories on Dirty Creek, September 3, 1781.  Served under Col. Joseph Hayes. (Moss)

4. John Camp – served under Col. Roebuck.  Indent X, no. 3424.

5.  Joseph Dunklin – Moss does list Rev. Service for him.  His will was admitted to probate in Charleston, February 12, 1784, dated May 7, 1776, St. Matthews Parish, Berkeley Co., Charles Town District. 

6.  Oen (Owen) Sullivan – served in the militia and was killed November 7, 1791.  (Annuitants Claims, SC Archives)

7.  Moses Sullivan – served in the militia after the fall of Charleston.  (Indent U, no. 358, Moss)

8.  James Sullivan – not listed on Moss’ SC Roster.  Evidently moved to Laurens County in 1784, after the Revolution.  He purchased his first tract of land October 6, 1784 with "Va." money. (Deed Book A, p. 208)  He settled near his brother in law, Samuel Wharton, near Waterloo, SC and died there in 1809.

9.  John Calhoun – Pension petition states that he was born in Mecklenburg Co., NC in 1757.  He enlisted in 96 District, SC in November 1775 under Capt. John Rodgers and Maj. Williamson.  He was at the battle of Lindley’s Fort; in 1777 he was under Capt. John Chew; in 1778 he was under Capt. John Rainey; in 1780 he was under Capt. Thos. Price and Col. Brandon; in 1781 he was under Cols. White and Thomas and Gen. Twiggs of Ga.; and during 1782 he served under Capt. Collins.

10.  William Choice – Not listed in Moss’ Roster.  DAR Index says he served as 1st Lt. in VA.

11.  Benjamin Arnold – Served under Capt. Ford and McDowell and Cols. Cleveland and Thomas Taylor. (Moss; Indent X, no. 338)

12.  Stephen Sullivan – Not included in Moss’ Roster.

13.  Hedrick (Hendrick) Arnold – Lived in Amherst County, Va. during the war.  His nephew, Benjamin Arnold, served in his place. (Benjamin Arnold’s pension petition)

14.  Thomas Arnold – Pension petition; served under Capt. John Ridgeway until Ridgeway was killed.  In 1783, served under Capt. George Martin and Col. Casey.

15.  William Holland – Served in Maryland; moved to Laurens County, SC after the war where he settled on Duncan Creek.  There is no connection found to Reedy River or the Lebanon Community.

16.  John Odell – He lived on Duncan Creek near the Newberry County line; not included on Moss’ Roster; no known connection to Lebanon Community.

17.  Clyborn (Claiborn) Sims – Served in the militia after the fall of Charleston.  Lived in Laurens County on Little River.

18.  Jerry Webb – Moss’ Roster:  Served in 1781 under Capt. Philemon Waters, Lt. Col. John Thomas, Jr. and Gen. Sumter.

19.  James Abercrombie – Not included on Moss’ Roster.

20.  Josiah Ferguson – No data.

21.  James Anderson – Moss’ Roster includes ten men by this name serving under variously named Captains, none of whom was a Capt. Sullivan.

22.  Benjamin Neighbors – Pension petition:  He was residing in Newberry District.  He enlisted and served under Capt. Jarod Smith, Cols. Williams and Pickens; also under Capt. Thos. Duggin, Capt. Isaac Grier and Col. McCreary.  He became a Baptist minister after the war.

23.  Robert Scott – Moss’ Roster includes several men by this name, none of whom served as a Sullivan Scout.

24.  John Davenport – Not included on Moss’ Roster. .

25.  John South – Not included on Moss’ Roster.  The Laurens County South family came from Virginia c1789 and settled on Walnut Creek.


26.  Charles Toney – Served in the militia under Col. Benjamin Roebuck.

27.  Claiborn Sullivan – Not on Moss’ Roster.

28.  Robert Akin – No data.

29.  Thomas Akin – No data.

30.  John Akin(s) – Enlisted in 3rd Regt. July 24, 1776. (Moss)

31,  John Arnold – No data.

32.  John Box – Not on Moss’ Roster but Laurens County deeds show one John Box living on Little River during the Revolution.

33.  William Baugh – Not on Moss’ Roster but he appears in Laurens County on the Jury List of 1779.  His will is recorded in 1787. (Laurens County Will Book A-1, page 21. 

34.   Rodger Brooks – Not on Moss’ Roster.  In 1788, Roger Brooks, blacksmith of Edgefield County, sold to Lewis Saxon, 200 acres in Laurens County on Reedy River which had been granted to said Brooks on September 3, 1787. (Deed Book B, page 370)

35.  Henry Burrow – Not on Moss’ Roster; living in Union County, SC in 1790.  In 1799 he purchased 296 acres on a branch of Reedy River and Rabon Creek.  Tract formerly known by name of Hickory Tavern, now New Market. (Deed Book F, page 503)

36.  Benjamin Camp – Does not appear on Moss’ Roster.  In 1789 Benjamin Camp of Rutherford County, NC purchased 200 acres on the north fork of Rabon Creek.  DAR Patriot Index shows NC service for Benjamin Camp.

37.  Nathan Camp – Does not appear on Moss’ Roster.  Received a land grant on Reedy River in 1786.

38.  Joel Chandler – Served in the militia under Col. Waters after the fall of Charleston. (Indents X, no. 734 and no. 2471)

39.  Ellis Cheek – Included on Moss’ Roster.  Pension petition states:  served under Capt. Charles Saxon and Lewis Duvall, Cols. McCreary and Brandon, and Maj. John Ford during 1781.

40.  Joel Callahan – While residing in NC, he served as Lt. with Col. John Sevier and under Col. James Williams at Kings Mt. (Heitman Register; Lyman C. Draper, Battle of King’s Mt.)  No indent for SC service.

41.  John Chorice (Choice ?) – No data.

42.  Cyrus Chorice (Choice ?) – No data.

43.  John Cook – Killed at Hayes’ Station on November 18/19, 1781.

44.  John Chandler – Moss’ Roster:  Newberry County, served under Capt. John Lyles, Col. James Lyles, Capt, Edward Kelly and Col. Waters, 1780-1782. (Indent X, no. 1893)

45.  Reuben Cox – Not on Moss’ Roster.  In 1784 he received a grant of land in Pendleton District which he sold in 1787.

46.  William Dacus – No data.

47.  Samuel DeWeese –No data.

48.  Thomas Davenport – No data.

49.  Samuel Fleming – No data.

50.  Moses Ferguson – Pension petition states he served under Capt. Wm. Alexander and Col. Wade Hampton. (Indent M, no. 217)

51.  Samuel Freeman – Pension petition states he served under Capt. Wm. Irby and Col. Farr.  Later he served under Capt. Isaac Tinsley.  His two tours were in 1780 and 1781.

52.  Alexander Ferguson – Served in 2nd. Regt. under Capt. Peter Gray.  (Accts. Audited 2350; Indent Y, no. 845)

53.  John Ferguson – Pension petition:  lived in Kershaw District and served under Capt. Charles McManus and Col. Winn.

54.  David Gregory – No data.

55.  Jeremiah Gregory – Served in the militia under Capt. Hughes and Col. Brandon from 1779 to 1781 alternately.  (Accts. Audited 3097; Indent X, no. 2350)

56.  Isaac Gregory – Served in the militia under Capt. Hughes and Col. Brandon during 1782 and 1783.  (Accts. Audited 3096; Indent Z, no. 393)

57.  John Franklin – Moss’ Roster shows service for several men by this name, none of whom served in Sullivan’ Company.

58.  James Gambrell – No data.

59.  Tyree Glenn – Moved to SC after the Revolution with his father, Jeremiah Glenn.

60.  Thomas Gore, Sr. and Jr. – Served in the 3rd Regt. under Capt. Richard Winn.  (Accts. Audited 2989)

61.  John Hill – Moss’ Roster shows several entries for the name John Hill; service under Gen. Marion, Col. John Baxter, Capt. Thomas Pinckney, and one served in an independent company at Fort Rutledge in 1779 and in 1783.

62.  William Hill – Moss’ Roster includes one who served under Col. Waters, one who served under Capt. James Giles, Col. Hill and Gen. Sumter.  One was Col. William Hill of York Co.

63.  John Hughes – Moss’ Roster includes four men by this name, none of whom served in Sullivan’s Co.

64.  John Harrison – Served in the 6th Regt. under Capt. John Buchanan. 
       John Harrison – Served under Capt. Peter Youngblood and Capt. Mayes in the militia during 1781 and 1782.  (Moss’ Roster; Accts. Audited 3380; Indent O, no. 347 and Indent R, no. 185.)

65.  Philip Harvey – No data.

66.  Thomas Holland – Served under Capts. Thomas Weems, Joseph Pickens, Wm. Strain, Cols. Pickens and Anderson.

67.  William Hicks – Moss’ Roster:  Enlisted in the 6th Regt. in 1776.

68.  Richard Hicks – No data.
69.  Stephen Huff – No date.

70.  James Johnson – Moss’ Roster shows five entries under this name, none of whom served in Sullivan’s Co.

71.  James Kirk – Service under this name.
            1.  Served in 1st Regt. – deserted Jan. 26, 1783.
            2.  Served 12 months under Col. Maham, State Cav.
            3.  Served as Ensign under Col. Hammond in 1778.
            (Moss’ Roster)

72.  William Kelly – Moss’ Roster shows four entries under the same.  Served under Cols. Brandon and Roebuck, 1780-1783.

73.  Reuben Kelly – No data.

74.  Henry Langston – Henry Langston of Laurens County was age 12 in 1781.  Moss has no entry for any Henry Langston.

75.  John Langston – Moss’ Roster shows he served in the militia under Col. Roebuck after the fall of Charleston.  (Indent X, no. 3585)

76.  James Lindley – Loyalist – Hanged at Ninety Six in April 1779.

77.  Thomas Lindley – Moss’ Roster shows no entry.  No Indent for Rev. service. (Would he have served after they hanged his father?)

78.  Joseph Mahon – No data.

79.  William Mitchell – Moss’ Roster:

1. While residing in Union Dist., he enlisted under Capts. Daniel Duff and Samuel Otterson. In 1781, he was under Capt. George Avery and Col., Kilgore.
2.  Served in 1781 in light dragoons under Capt. N. M. Martin, Lt. Col. Polk, Gen. Sumter.
3.  Capt. In the 4th Regt. – Killed at the fall of Charleston, May 12, 1780.

80.  Joab Mitchell – "History of Grindal Shoals" by J. D. Bailey, p. 72:  "moved to Tennessee before the war of Revolution."; (DAR Patriots Index:  Served in NC and died March 13, 1780)

81.  John McMahon – Served in the Rangers under Capt. John Caldwell and Col. Thomson.
82.  John McDowell – Moss’ Roster shows service in the 2nd Regt. under Capt. Peter Gray.

83.  Patrick McDowell – In 1781, he served in the light dragoons under Capt. Samuel Martin, Lt. Col. Wm. Polk and Gen. Sumter.

84.  James McDowell – Moss’ Roster includes seven entries for a man of this name, none of whom served in Sullivan’s Co.

85.  John McDonald – Moss’ Roster includes entries for nine men of this name, none of whom served in Sullivan’s Co.

86.  Mark Moore – Moved from VA to Laurens County, SC after the war.

87.  Thomas Moore – Moss’ Roster includes entries for eight men of this name, none of whom served in Sullivan’s Co.

88.  John Moore – Moss’ Roster has nine entries, none of whom served in Sullivan’s Co.

89.  Robert Moseley – Was Corp. in the 5th Regt. Supplied beef during 1781 and 1782.  (Accts. Audited 5373B, Indent T, no. 486)

90.  James Moseley – Served from Union Dist. Under Capts. Zach. Bullock, Gill and Thompson; Cols. John Thomas, Lacey and Farr; Gens. Williamson, Pickens and Sumter.

91.  John Norris – Moss’ Roster:  served in the 3rd. Regt. before and after the fall of Charleston.

92.  William Perritt – No data.

93.  Thomas Perkins – No data.

94.  William Powell – Moved from Culpeper County, VA to Laurens County, SC after the war.

95.  Joseph Pinson – Not on Moss’ Roster.

96.  Benjamin Powell – No data.

97.  John Reid – Moss’ Roster includes ten entries for this name, none of whom served in Sullivan’s Co.

98.  David Ragsdale – No data.

99.  Samuel Powell – Moss’ Roster:  enlisted in the 1st Regt.

100. Wm. Rutledge and Joseph Rutledge – No data

101. John Raburn – Moss’ Roster:  He served in NE St. David’s Parish Vol. Co. under Capt. Robert Lide and Col. Murphy.

102. John Rogers – Moss Roster:
            1. Served under Gen. Marion.
            2. Served in the militia during 1781 under Capt. Kilgore.
            3. John Rogers, Jr. served as a Capt. In the militia under Col. Williamson and fought against the Cherokee Indians in 1776 and 1777.  He also supplied a wagon and provisions for militia use. (Accts. Audited 6548; Indents T, no. 327, no. 328; X, no. 285)

103. Patrick Rogers – No data.

104. Thomas Rogers – Moss’ roster:  served in the Volunteer Militia under Capt. Benjamin Screven.

105. William Rogers – Moss’ roster:  eight entries under this name, none of whom served in Sullivan’s Co.

106. James Saxon – Pension petition states that he served six months in the rangers under Capt. Eli Kershaw and Col. Thomson; later served under Capt. Francis Boykin and Col. Thomson.

107. John Scott – Moss’ Roster:  eight entries under this name, none of whom served in Sullivan’s Co.

108. Amos Strange – Pension petition states that he served in NC; came to SC after the war. DAR Index shows NC service.

109. John Story – Moss’ Roster:  served aboard the galley, Carolina.

110. William Story – No data.

111 & 112 – Joseph South and John South – The Souths came to Laurens County after the war.  In 1786, Joseph South purchased 100 acres on the N side of Saluda River for 65 lbs. Virginia money.  The Souths do not appear on Moss’ Roster.

113. David Smith – Pension petition states service under Capts. Robert Maxfield (correctly "Maxwell"), John Laurens and Peter Burns; Cols. Wade Hampton and Andrew Pickens; Gen. Sumter.

114. Thomas Smith – Fourteen men of this name appear on Moss’ Roster, none of whom served in Sullivan’s Co.

115. Charles Simmons – Served 77 days in the militia during 1781 and 1782 after the fall of Charleston; he was a Lt. (Accts. Audited 6995; Indent O, no. 160; U, no. 347)

116. John Simpson – Moss’ Roster:
            1. Led a militia unit at Beckhamsville and Mobley’s Meeting House; in 1780, he joined Capt. Jno. McClure.
            2. Served 44 days in 1780 under Capts. Pagan and Mills; during 1781 he supplied a wagon and team under Col. Pickens.

117. William Simms – Moss’ Roster:  Served in the militia after the fall of Charleston.

118. Drury Sims – No data.

119. Charles Sullivan – Moss’ roster shows no entry.  DAR Index states "PS"-Patriotic Service.  Patriotic Service by definition of DAR does not include militia duty.

120. Larkin Sullivan – No entry on Moss’ Roster.  Larkin Sullivan was the son of James Sullivan, Sr. who came to SC after the war. (James Sullivan, Sr. bought 250 acres on a small branch of Little River of Saluda River.  Samuel Wharton was a witness to the transaction.)

121. John Sullivan – Moss’ Roster has six entries, none of whom served in Sullivan’s Co.

122. Nathaniel Sullivan – No data.

123. William Sullivan – No data.

124. John Tarrent – No data.

125. Reuben Tarrent – No data.

126. Joseph Terry – Moss’ Roster:  served 70 days from July 1782 as a Lt. under Gen. Marion. (Accts. Audited 7699)
 
127. William Terry – Moss’ Roster:  served in the militia after the fall of Charleston.  (Accts. Audited 7699; Indent U, no. 42)

128. David Watts – Pension petition:  born in St. Thomas’ Parish, SC; served under Gen. Francis Marion.

129. John Williams – Moss’ Roster:  Twenty entries under this name, none of whom served in Sullivan’s Co.

130. Thomas Williams – Moss’s Roster:  Six entries, none served in Sullivan’s Co.

131. James Williams – Moss’ Roster:  Five entries, none served in Sullivan’s Co.

132. Joel Webb – No data.

After an extensive search of authentic Revolutionary War documents and accounts, there is no evidence of a "SULLIVAN’S COMPANY of SCOUTS".  In none of the available reminiscences written by old soldiers regarding their war service is there any mention of a troop of Sullivan’s Scouts.  The documented service records of the preceding 132 men mentioned as members of Sullivan’s Scouts cast doubt that there ever was such a company.  If the company were so active in catching and hanging so many Tories and in clearing their section of Red Coats, surely some would have been proud to mention this as part of their service.

Actually, the roster appears to have been compiled many years after the war was over by someone who had no basis in fact but who held a romantic and exaggerated notion of their ancestor’s role in the Revolutionary War.

The clipping states:  "…a copy of the roll of the company was made by Capt. Hewlett Sullivan.  This paper passed to Capt. Sullivan’s son, Jefferson (1807-1868), and to his son and then to other relatives.  It is now in the possession of a niece, Ms. Sara Sullivan Ervin…"

Source:

Deason Smith.  SULLIVAN’S COMPANY ROSTER AND THE PROBLEM OFENTRENCHED DISINFORMATION, 1/28/05  email - adeasons@earthlink.net

S. C. Revolutionary History  ||  Return to Elroy's Family Index || Ancestoral Chart #1

______________________________________________________________________________________

All information and photos included within these pages was developed by the help of hundreds of researchers. The information here is for the express purpose of personal genealogical research and is freely offered as long as this site is listed as a source. It may not be included or used for any commercial purpose or included in any commercial site without the express permission of Elroy Christenson. Copyright Elroy Christenson 1998-2010.

web pages created by Elroy Christenson- elroy@next1000.com - last updated 8/10/10