|
a.
|
Note: Jonas Bedford and Mercy Raymond: Jonas moved from New Jersey to Pennsylvania prior to the Revolutionary War. He and his wife lived near Carlisle until they escaped during the Indian Wars when a massacre occured in the area. Jonas and Mercy later moved to the Rutherford area of North Carolina prior to the Revolutionary War. Jonas Bedford was appointed to His Majesty's Commission under the Great Seal of the Province in 1769 through 1771. Jonas, who had served in the Colonial Militia, and had held office in the colonial government, felt that he owed loyalty to the king. When the American Revolution came to the Carolinas, he remained a Loyalist, finally having to flee to England for safety. However, his wife Massa, and son Raymond Bedford are listed in the DAR Patriot Index, p. 49 as giving patriotic service to thenewly-formed nations, the United States of America. Because of this service, Mercy was able to save the family property from confiscation by the State of North Carolina. Thus, when Jonas Bedford returned to North Carolina after the Revolution, he found awaiting him, his wife, his family, and his acres of farm land. - as written in The Heritage of Rutherford County, by Carolyn M. Backstrom. Lt. in French-Indian War 1758; Residence Essex, New Jersey; Cumberland, Pennsylvania 1763-1768; Mecklenburg, North Carolina 1768; Tryon, North Carolina 1769; Burke, North Carolina 1778 In a letter to C. Kenyon Withrow dated May 19, 1975, Mills Y. Bridges (Sweezy family researcher from Carrboro, NC) states that, according to Rutherford County, NC court records (Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions, CR.086.301.2) from January 1783, Jonas Bedford was charged with treason and his estate was confiscated. In a letter to Mills Y. Bridges dated Jun 11, 1975, C. Kenyon Withrow (local historian from Ellenboro, NC) says: "Jonas Bedford was definitely a Tory. We have a large pile of papers in which he was in London trying to get money for serving the King. Believe they gave him 600 pounds. His wife Mercy descends from the Mayflower."
|