Our Valiant Men
Soldiers and Patriots of the Revolutionary War Who Lived in Williamson County, Tennessee.
By: Louise Gillespie Lynch
Joshua Pearre, the first son of Alexander and Sarah Pearre, was born 22 December 1757 in Maryland. He was living in Montgomery County, Maryland, when he was drafted as a militia man June 1776. He served in what was called the "Flying Camp" under Brig. Gen. Rizen Beall in Col. Charles Griffith's Regiment and in the company commanded by Capt. Phillip Marony and First Lt. Elisha Beall. He served with the following men: Harry Marony, (brother to Capt. Phillip Marony ), Basil Harding, John Marshall, William Jacops, William Sprigg, Samuel Sprogg, William Hutton, Thomas Kirk, William Barnett, Luke Barnett, William Cash, Edward Sallmon, John McCrary, Loseph Lew, Roger Caho, Absalom Fords, Jacops Roads, Elisha Roads, Robert Life, Charles Griffith, William Beatty, and Gary Harding.
They joined Gen. Washington's army in New York City in September 1776, and then marched to King's Bridge near Fort Washington where they remained for several weeks. They resumed their march to a place called Tuchahoe Heights where they were surrounded by the enemy. Under the cover of night they had to decoy the enemy to make an escape to White Plains in the State of New York. On October 30, 1776 the Battle of White Plains took place and Pearre's company, under Col. Charles Griffith, received orders to march and reinforce the troops engaged. After marching about one forth of a mile, they received word that the British had taken one of the "redoubts and had turned one of the cannon on the Americans." One ball struck the ground a few paces of where Joshua Pearre was and threw them into some confusion. By dodging or falling down to the ground when they heard it coming, it passed over or through the ranks with out doing any injury to anyone, except the fright it put in some. One man, by the name of William Scaggs, "broke his ranks and run quite into the camp before he stopped, of which he never heard the last of during the remainder of the campaign." A few days later, they marched to Fort Lee opposite to Fort Washington. They were on the Jersey shore when the Fort was taken and of the five men in Capt. Marony's Company, who were sent over to reinforce the Fort, all were taken prisoner. Four of the men were: John Marshall, William Jacops, Robert Life, and William Sprigg. From Fort Lee they were marched back through Jersey to Philadelphia. The six month term of Pearre had expired and he was discharged.
In September 1777 Pearre served with Gen. Washington's army in Pennsylvania above Germantown at a place called Chestnut Ridge for two months as a drafted militia man. He served as a Sargent during this tour.
Pearre continued to live in Montgomery County, Maryland until 1811. On November 10, 1811 he started with his family for the state of Tennessee and on January 1, 1812 they settled in Williamson County on the Big Harpeth, about six miles below the town of Franklin. After living there ten years, he moved "over Big Harpeth in the fork between Big and Little Harpeth and one and one-half miles above the mouth of the Little Harpeth.
Joshua Pearre married Margaret Woodard in Maryland and had the following children:
1. Joshua W.
2. Alexander
3. Mary
4. Priscilla
5. Margaret
6. Sarah
7. Elizabeth
8. Deborah
Joshua's first wife died and he married Milly Ann Arnold, October 30, 1828. They had one child, Charles Ridgley.
Pearre's obituary appeared in the Western Weekly Review October 30, 1847 as follows:
"Died on Saturday 9th inst. Mr. Joshua Pearre, aged about 90 tears. He was an upright and highly esteemed citizen, a gallant soldier of the revolutionary War, and for many years a pious and estimable member of the Methodist Church. He died calmly awaiting the messenger that called him to his heavenly rest, and has left many friends and relatives to rejoice over his good name and example and to follow him in the way that leads to heaven."
One source said Pearre was buried in "Pearre's Valley," but there is no known marked grave for Joshua Pearre. Milly Ann Arnold Pearre died November 4, 1853.
Williamson County, Tennessee Civil and State Cases, Minute Book 7-p, 325. Susie Gentry Scrapbook

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