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View Tree for John KitchensJohn Kitchens (b. Abt. 1745, d. Bet. February 14, 1845 - October 22, 1848)

John Kitchens (son of Charles Kitchens and Jane Unknown) was born Abt. 1745 in South Carolina, and died Bet. February 14, 1845 - October 22, 1848 in Monroe County, Mississippi. He married Sabrina Unknown on Aft. 1783 in Monroe County, Mississippi.

 Includes NotesNotes for John Kitchens:
Private John Kitchens {Captain Henry Hampton's Company, Colonel William Henderson's South Carolina Regiment} enlisted in South Carolina in February 1779. Taken prisioner May 1780 at Second Battle of Sullivan's Island. Released after war. Pension executed at Monroe County, Mississippi October 4, 1825 (67 years old). {Per US Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Pensions, dated April 15, 1927, re: reference 3-1865}.

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6th South Carolina Regiment:

Divided between the Tories (loyalists) and the Revolutionaries, South Carolina had its fair share of internal strife during 1775-1776. Port trading with the British homeland had become profitable for the Southern Colony, thus creating a natural division between mercantilists and plantation owners receiving the brunt of the British taxing authority and prohibitions against selling their goods to the Spanish and French. Like South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina also waited for Congressional support before risking military action and raising and their armies. Congressional action was not far behind. On 4 November 1775, Congress directed South Carolina to raise three Regiments. Dubbed the 4th, 5th (Riflemen), and 6th South Carolina Regiments they were hastily raised and placed into service prior to the beginning of 1776.

Originally formed under then-Major Thomas Sumter the 6th South Carolina was actually a "short" Regiment. While the standards of military practice had called for each Regiment to raise seven (7) musket companies, three (3) riffle companies, and two (2) armory battalions, the 6th South Carolina had only five (5) mixed rifle and musket companies. The 6th was arranged with a Headquarters Staff of a Major, Quartermaster, Adjutant, Paymaster, Surgeon, Surgeon's Mate, Laboratory Sergeant, Armorer, Assistant Armorer, Sergeant Major, and Quartermaster Sergeant. Each of the five (5) companies had a Captain, First Lieutenant, Second Lieutenant, 2 Lieutenant Fireworkers, 4 Sergeants, 4 Corporals, 1 Drummer, 1 Fifer, 10 Gunners, and 86 Privates (Riflemen and Musketeers).

Major Sumter was no stranger to battle. Born on the Virginia frontier he had served during the French and Indian War as part of the Virginia militia located in western Pennsylvania and Ohio. He next served as a militia sergeant in the Cherokee War in 1760-1761. Although, he did not see action, he became involved in bringing word of the treaty, first to the Indians and then to London. Upon returning from London to Virginia and was imprisoned for an old debt. He escaped and returned to South Carolina where he bought land and flourished.

The call-to-arms actually came for Sumter and the original members of the 6th South Carolina in late 1775, where they participated in what was known as "Snow's Campaign" against Tories. It was not until the first Battle of Fort Sullivan, June 1776 that Sumter was commissioned Major and the 6th was pressed into complete Continental service. In September 1778, Sumter resigned his commission. He remained out of the war until May 28, 1780, when the British Dragoon Lt. Colonel Banastre Tarleton came after him seeking revenge for Sullivan's Fort.
Tarleton's Dragoons rode to Sullivan's Fort and engaged the now defending 6th South Carolina Regiment and attacked in May 1780. In had not been until February 1779, Issac (James) Land and John Kitchens mustered into 6th South Carolina, likely replacing a fallen Company of men. Land had been elected Captain by his neighbors and his friend John Kitchens served as a Rifleman within the same Company. It is not clear how Captain Land died - two (2) stories emerged - one claims that he was killed in battle, and the second claims he was ambushed by Tories while returning from furlough to visit his family. In either case, Kitchens faced Tarleton's Dragoons and British Regulars at the Second Battle of Sullivan's Fort (Battle of Sullivan's Island). Unlike the first Battle, the 6th South Carolina was overrun and John Kitchens was taken prisoner.


More About John Kitchens:
Burial: Unknown, McKinney Cemetery, Monroe County, Mississippi or Lann Cemetery, Monroe County, Mississippi.
Military service: Bet. 1779 - 1883, South Carolina, 6th Regiment, Revolutionary War.

More About John Kitchens and Sabrina Unknown:
Marriage: Aft. 1783, Monroe County, Mississippi.
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