Daniel O’Rear (no. 75) was son of John O’Rear (no. 26) of Faquier County, Virginia. He was a pensioner under the Act of 1832. His application for Pension recounts his service with the Virginia Militia and later with the North Carolina Militia after the family moved to Wilkes County, North Carolina in 1779. His pension application dated March 4, 1834 states in part.
After the expiration of his last term of service, he removed with his father’s family, of which he was a member to Wilkes County North Carolina. In a short time after their removal to North Carolina as he believes about the 1st of September 1779, there was a call upon the militia and he volunteered to serve a term of 3 months in the company commanded by Captain Richard Allen, The company was formed at Wilkesboro and about the last of December was called upon to Charleston, V. Carolina. On the march we passed through Charlotte in Mecklinberg County, Camden, S. Carolina and Monk’s Corner and at Charleston we joined a regiment which he thinks was called Hampton -- the army was commanded by Genl. Lincoln. Here he remained until his three months expired and was regularly discharged. During this term a detachment from the army at Charleston was sent up Ashley River to the ferry 12 miles above the City, he belonged to the detachment and they had at that place a skirmish with the enemy.
The term of service of several of the militia regiments having expired, about the time of his last discharge at Charleston he volunteered after his discharge as above to serve 3 months longer and served as orderly or 1st. sergeant in the company commanded by Captain John D. Lawman, and was attached to the regiment commanded by Col. William Loyble. Here he remained in service until the city and Army was surrendered to the enemy on the 11th of May, 1780. On the 20th he was paroled and permitted to return home -- about which time the three months expired and was voluntarily discharged.
In 1780, after his return home from Charleston he volunteered tho a prisoner on parole to serve for an indefinite time in a company commanded by Capt. Martin Gamble, without any particular organization. We were engaged 5 or 6 weeks in marching about the country under the command of Col. Cleveland. During this time we several slight skirmishes with the tories.
In the month of October 1780 while a prisoner as above, his father’s house was attacked and robbed by the tories. His discharge and parole papers were in his father’s trunk, which was taken, and in that way all his discharges were lost.