William Voyles

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William Voyles (also Voiles, Vowells or Vowell) (1741–January 1798) is best known for being a Revolutionary War hero who enlisted to fight against the Kingdom of Great Britain on the same date as the signing of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. He fought with the 1st Battalion of the North Carolina Militia and then reenlisted in 1779.

He served under the command of General Francis Marion, who was called the “Swamp Fox,” and also General Nathanael Greene and Major General Horatio Gates. He was captured by the British after a disastrous defeat under the leadership of Gates at the Battle of Camden, but was able to escape. He then went on to fight both in the Battle of Kings Mountain, which was a victory for the Patriots, and the Battle of Cowpens, which was a turning point in the war.

He was paid nine pounds four shillings in May 1782 for military service and in May 1783, he was paid nine pounds two shillings.

Land Grants

William entered a land grant on the west side of big Coldwater Creek on March 6, 1779 for 150 acres (60 ha). It was not granted until August 1787 after the close of the war. On May 22, 1794, he entered the second grant for another 150-acre (0.61 km²) tract.

In between fighting battles, he and the other militiamen would return home to their families and it’s believed that he and his family lived on the land even before the land was deeded over to them. This was important because when not working as a soldier, William was a cotton farmer.

Contents

[edit] Indentured servitude

Originally from Pembrokeshire, Wales, William Voyles came to America around 1755 with his Father, Jacob, and his brothers John and James who were twins, and Thomas. Because they were not an affluent family and could not have afforded the trip otherwise, at the tender age of 14 William was to become an indentured servant also known as voluntary indenture or bonded labourer to the ship’s captain for four long years.

When the ship was docked in Wales, he would spend his time with his Uncle David and about ten years later, he succeeded in convincing his uncle to immigrate with him. Because William was upset with his father, after he returned to America he chose to make his home in North instead of the Province of South Carolina, which was one of the original 13 Colonies.

[edit] Family life

He met and married Hanna Rhodecia Bundi in 1772 in North Carolina. Hanna was born in 1748 in Italy and died in 1807. Her death was caused by an allergic reaction to the sting of a Potter wasp on her ear that she received while pulling dead bark from a nearby tree to start the fire that was used to boil dye in a coloring pot. Together they had raised 11 children.

Records show that in the United States Census, 1790, John was still in South Carolina, but Thomas and William were settled in Mecklenburg County and James was in Rowan County, North Carolina.

His brothers followed him to Cabarrus County, Province of North Carolina, which was formerly a part of Mecklenburg County.

[edit] Death

William died at his home in what is now Cabarrus County in North Carolina and was buried in the family burial ground on the old farm. His wife Hanna was later buried alongside him.

Name Born Died
William Joseph Voyles February 01, 1773 1790
Rachel Voyles July 23, 1775 1842
Rolin Voyles July 14, 1778 1833
Andrew Voyles April 09, 1790 1790
Thomas D. Voyles September 25, 1782 1861
Able Voyles June 20, 1785 1865
David D. Voyles January 31, 1787 1882
Moses Voyles June 22, 1790 1840
Daniel B. Voyles November 08, 1792 1867
Hannah Voyles February 14, 1795 1836
Mary Voyles February 02, 1797 1865

[edit] References