On this 28 day of November 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of the Court of pleas and quarter Sessions for said county, now sitting John Dodson a resident of said county aged about eighty years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That he was born in the State of Virginia at a place near Staunton River, (he cannot now recollect the name of the county) in the year 1751 or 1752 – that afterwards his father moved into the county of Shenandoah Virginia and in the year 1775 about the 1st of July in that year he entered the service of the United States, under Captain Cravens [Robert Craven], as a volunteer, and was marched by said Captain with his company against the Shawnee Indians to the west fall station in Tigers Valley, on the River of that name in what is now called Greenbriar county, in western Virginia [sic: Westfall Fort in Tygart Valley on Tygart Valley River at Files Creek just south of present Beverly in Randolph County WV] and that this declarant remained at said station guarding the frontiers, for the term of three months, and about the first of October 1775 he returned home to Shenandoah. He cannot say whether he got a discharge or not, but thinks at that time it was not common with the Militia officers to give written discharges. He furthermore states that Captain Cravens company was the only one doing duty at said station at the time this declarant was in service as above stated declarant further states that again about the first of April in the year 1779 he entered as a Spy under Captain Joseph Wilson, for three months in what is now called Greene county in the State of Tennessee, on the waters of Nolachucky [sic: Nolichucky River] where this declarant then resided, (having removed from Virginia to the above place, which at that time was under the Governor of North Carolina & has resided in Tenassee ever since and this declarant continued to serve as an Indian Spy, in what is now called the counties of Greene and Washington that being his bounds – until about the first of July in the year 1779 when his engagement expired.
Again declarant states that in the month of August in said year 1779 he entered the said service of the United States under Col. John Sevier, the day he cannot state, as a volunteer and under Captain Landon Carter declarant then residing on the waters of Nolachucky as aforesaid, and equable to the orders of Col Sevier this declarant with about two hundred more met on Lick Creek a branch of Nolachucky, were thence marched to Big Creek, the Spies which were sent up Long creek being fired upon by the Indians returned to the army on Long creek & crossed French broad and encamped on Boyds Creek [Boyd Creek], and the next day the guard under Capt Stinson marched up Boyds Creek and about three miles distant discovered the Indian encampment. About three quarters of a mile from their camp the enemy fired upon the advance guard sent by Col. Sevier, from an ambuscade. The advance guard returned the fire and retreated to the main body. The Army was then formed into three divisions, commanded, severally, by Col Sevier Major Helton and Major Tipton, and marched on until they reached Cedar Spring, where they had a skirmish with the Indians, whom they compelled to retreat into a Swamp leaving behind them about twenty eight killed. The troops were then marched back to the great Island in French broad River and remained there until Cols. Campbell and Selby [sic: Shelby] joined them, with their men. The whole army then amounting to between five & six hundred men, marched on to the battle ground, then to Little River, to Town Creek to Nine Mile creek to Tennessee River, which they crossed at the Virginia ford, and into the towns of Timotha, thence to Tellico, thence to the waters of Highwassee [sic: Hiwassee River], and thence to the Town of Highwassee, where one of the spies shot one Indian. The army then marched to the chiccamauga [sic: Chickamauga] or Lookout Towns where they encamped & the next day marched into the Towns, where they took some negroes one squaw and children, and a captain Rogers they then marched to the waters of Coosa, thence by old Shoemach[?] town, & from thence returned home after burning many Indian Towns &c &c and when they got home this declarant was dismissed. He furthermore states that he did not receive any written discharge. In the last tour he served three months, having returned home sometime in November 1779.
Again declarant states sometime in the month of September in the year 1782 he again volunteered for three months under Col. Sevier and who rendezvoused the troops on Big Island in French broad River, this declarant then residing in Greene County. This declarant states that under Sevier the troops marched, in company with the troops under Col Anderson from Sullivan county, to the upper Cherokee Towns, from thence to Mills Town and to Tuckey Town [possibly Toqua], thence to Bell Town and to Reanas[?] Town, and thence by the Highwassee to Chestoe [probably Chestowee], and in this Expedition or tour they killed some Indians and burnt some of their Towns, and finally returned home after being absent about three months, not being discharged until the latter part of December in the year 1782 having in all served twelve months as above stated. That there is no clergyman residing in his neighborhood. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. And that he no documentary evidence & that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service other than that hereto annexed.
John his X mark Dodson

At the same time personally appeared in open court George Mooney aged about 64 years a resident of Hawkins County and being duly sworn according to law deposeth & saith that he is well acquainted with John Dodson who has sworn & subscribed to the above declaration and has been acquainted with him ever since the fall of the year 1781, and was at that time residing on the lower Nolachucky, in what is now called Greene county East Tennessee, that this affiant had a brother by the name of Thomas Mooney and an uncle by the name of John Roberts, both of whom are now dead, who served a tour under Col. Sevier in the fall of 1782 against the Indians, and that he saw his brother and uncle & the said John Dodson leave home under Col Sevier on said Expedition, in company with other troops as stated in the above declaration, and that he saw him on his return with the troops, and believes he served his tour out as stated by him. He also states that it has always been believed, that said Dodson served his other tours, and of this opinion is this affiant.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
[signed] George Mooney

We John Reynolds and Isaac Laudeback residing in the county of Hawkins and in the same neighborhood of the said John Dodson, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Dodson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be eighty years of age. That he is refuted and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid
John Reynolds – Isaac Laudeback