SIMON HAGER was our 5X Great Grandfather through the Gibbar/Belsha/Hager line. Simon was born at Hager's Ferry, Tryon (Lincoln) County, North Carolina in 1763, the son of George Hager and Crete Killian. He died on January 28, 1835. He is buried in the Stroup-Hager family cemetery in Bessemer City, Gaston County, North Carolina alongside his wife, Elizabeth Hager who was born in 1766 and died March 1, 1842

It it very important to note that there were two Simon Hagers, both of whom served in the Revolutionary War and both from Lincoln County, North Carolina. To confuse matters further, they both may have married women with the surname, Lawing. The two men were more than likely related as our Simon and "Big" Simon (as he was called) were possibly first cousins ("Big" Simon being the son of William Hager, likely brother to George).

Simon was a very common name in the Hager family and the Lawing name was also prevalent in Lincoln County. It is interesting to note that even as recently as 1920 there has been a marriage in Lincoln County between a Simon Hager and a Nancy Lawing. In order to distinguish the two Hagers, one needs only to compare Wills, which both men left in which they name their wives and heirs, as well as pension records, battles engaged in and burial locations and dates. Records for both Simon Hagers are often combined, allowing for additional opportunities for confusion. 

​A Brief Historical Sketch of the Hager Family of Lincoln County, North Carolina, was written in 1902 by A. Nixon, a direct descendent of the original pioneer Hagers. As he lived in the region and at a time when he had access to individuals who had primary knowledge of the people in question, his work is essential in detangling the Simon Hager knot. In his book, Nixon is very specific in distinguishing Simon (the son of George) from "Big" Simon (the son of William). Of Simon (son of George) he says:

"This Simon was likewise a patriot soldier in the Revolution. At the age of 17 he enlisted in Capt. William Hutchinson's company, Col. Polk's regiment and served ten months. He served principally in South Carolina and was engaged in the Battle of Monk's Corner and Eutaw Springs. He died January 28, 1835, age about 72 years. His will contains the names of the following children: Frederick [our 4X Great Grandfather], Catherine, John, William, Barbara Elders, Sarah Frost and Mary Rudisell, wife of John Rudisell. The witnesses and executors indicate that he lived in the Long Island section of Gaston County."​

The statement by Nixon above is supported by documentation, seen below, including the Will of Simon Hager, as well as pension applications both by himself and, after his death, by his son, William, and statements and affadavits by actual people that he served with in battle (Capt. Hutchinson). All of these clearly distinguish him from his probable cousin, "Big" Simon."

Revolutionary Claim Act, June 7, 1832

The last, and most liberal of the service-pension acts benefiting Revolutionary War veterans, this act (4 Stat. 529) extended to more persons the provisions of the law of May 15, 1828. The act provided that every officer or enlisted man who had served at least two years in the Continental Line or State troops, volunteers or militia, was eligible for a pension of full pay for life. Naval and marine officers and enlisted men were also included. Veterans who had served less than two years, but not less than six months, were eligible for pensions of less than full pay. Neither the act of 1832 nor the one of 1828 required applicants to demonstrate need. Under the act of 1832 money due from the last payment until the date of death of a pensioner could be collected by his widow or by his children.

The following pension documents link us to Simon Hager through his son and named heir, Frederick. They also establish Elizabeth as his widow to further distinguish between the two Simons, as well as give us a detailed record of his service in the Revolutionary War. The following document is a Service Declaration given by Simon Hager as documenting his service in the Revolution and a description of his discharge with an explanation of the disappearance of his discharge papers.

The following affidivit was sworn by William Hutchinson, who was Simon Hager's commanding officer, that he did, indeed, serve under him for 10 months, primarily in the state of South Carolina. The date in which he served corresponds to the enlistment age of 17 as given by A. Nixon in his book, ​A Brief Historical Sketch of the Hager Family of Lincoln County, North Carolina.

After Simon's death, however, the family had difficulty obtaining pension monies owed to their widowed mother and themselves. The claim of Elizabeth Hager (Simon's widow) was rejected, with the reason being that the magistrate that administered the oaths did not certify the credibility of the witnesses. Below are some of the many documents that have been preserved that show the Hager family's attempts to secure Simon Hager's pension.

State of North Carolina

Lincoln County

Court of Pleas and Quarters session December term 1845 on the 2nd day of December 1845 personally appeared before the court of Lincoln County William Hager a resident of Lincoln County who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of congress passed July the 7th, 1832 [en----] and act granting half pay to pensions of certain widows that he is the son and one of the heirs at law of Elizabeth Hager who was the widow of Simon Hager who was a private in the militia of North Carolina in the war of the revolution and was a pensioner under the act of congress of 7th June 1832 and was entered on the pension list of the [entire line illegible] April 1833 at the rate of $33.33 cents per annum and this claimant further declares from information that Simon Hager and Elizabeth Hager his father and mother was married sometime in the year 1780 and that his father Simon Hager died on the 28th day of January 1835 and that his mother Elizabeth Hager was not married to the aforesaid Simon Hager prior to his leaving the service but that the marriage took place previous to the first day of January 1794 and was at the above stated time and that this claimant further declares that his mother the aforestated Elizabeth Hager died the 1st of March 1842 and this claimant further sayeth that the names of all the children or heirs at law of Elizabeth Hager his mother living on the 7th day of July 1838 are as follows. Frederick, Barbara who intermarried with John Elders, Mary who intermarried with John Rudicel, Katherine who intermarried with David Smith, John and William sworn to and subscribed in open court before

R. Williamson C.C.C.

William Hager (seal)

State of North Carolina

Lincoln County

Court of Pleas and Quarters sessions December session 1845 I Robert Williamson Clerk of the court of Pleas and Quarter sessions do certify that it has been shown by proof to the satisfaction of the court that Elizabeth Hager widow of Simon Hager died on the 1st day of March 1842 and that it has also been shown and prooved [sic] to the satisfaction of said court that Frederick Hager, Barbara Elders, Mary Rudicel, Katherine Smith, John Hager and William Hager are the children of Elizabeth Hager widow of Simon Hager.

In testimony whereof I have here unto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said court at office the 3rd day of December 1845.

R. Williamson, Clk.

What must have been an incredible legal nightmare for the Hager family is a boon for us in that through these documents we can clearly ascertain Simon Hager's service in the war and relationships to his heirs so specifically that there can be no doubt which Simon he was, nor that he was our ancestor (through son, Frederick Hager).​ Unfortunately, there is no definitive resolution to the issue that is apparent through examination of the documentation. One can only hope that the family of Simon Hager did, indeed, receive the remainder of his duly earned pension.

According to the documentation outlined above, Simon Hager participated in the following battles during his service in the Revolutionary War.

The Battle of Monck's Corner, also known as Battle of Biggin Bridge or Biggin Church, occured on April 14, 1780 in Berkeley County, South Carolina, outside the city of Charleston, which was under siege by British forces under the command of General Sir Henry Clinton.

From ten o'clock on the night of April 13, 1780, a swift silent march was undertaken along the road to Monck's Corner by Lt. Colonel Banastre Tarleton and his men. They encountered no American scouts or patrols. When they reached Monck's Corner, they caught the Americans completely by surprise. Not only had there been no patrols, but General Huger had placed his cavalry in front of his infantry.​

Lt. Colonel Tarleton led a charge right at the Americans since swamps on either side precluded a flank attack. The British easily dispersed the militia defending Biggins Bridge. Most of the Americans were able to escape, including General Isaac Huger and Lt. Colonel William Washington, who had suffered yet another defeat by Tarleton. 

American casualties included 14 killed, 19 wounded and 64 captured. The biggest prize was the capture of the horses belonging to the American officers and cavalry.

The Revolutionary War Battle of Rugeley’s Mills occurred in the early morning hours of August 16th, 1780. At near 7:30 or 8 AM, Col. Banastre Tarleton and his 180 horsemen had pursued soldiers (mostly militia), from the Camden, South Carolina battlefield north to Rugeley’s Mill.

There, on a hilltop at the south side of Grannie’s Quarter Creek, patriot Col. Charles Armand (French), with his small band of cavalry, made one last stand against the British legion.

Armand’s men consisted of Hessian deserters, Frenchmen & other foreign volunteers and what militia he could quickly organize, that had fled the Camden battlefield. Col. Armand, being heavily outnumbered, fought an intense and valiant fight, but shortly broke and retreated toward the Waxhaw Road.

The Battle of Four Holes Bridge occurred on July 12, 1871 when Col. William Harden, with 70-100 mounted men, surprised and captured 26 Loyalists who were being drilled by an unknown captain. Harden and his men marched on towards Barton's Post.

On September 8, 1781, the Battle of Eutaw Springs was fought near Charleston, South Carolina, between British troops under Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Stewart and American forces commanded by General Nathanael Greene.

Greene wished to prevent Stewart from joining General Lord Cornwallis in the event of that leader’s retreat south from Yorktown. About 2,000 American troops, many ill-clad and barefoot, were slightly outnumbered.

In the early fighting the British were more successful; on September 9, however, Stewart withdrew his forces to Charleston, where they remained until the end of the war. The Battle of Eutaw Springs was one of the hardest fought and bloodiest battles of the Revolution and proved to be the last major engagement of the war to take place in the South.