MATTHEW KUYKENDALL

(Oct 24, 1758 - 25 Sep 1845)

Matthew Kuykendall, the son of Peter and Mary Kuykendall, was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina on Oct 24, 1758.

The family lived in York District, South Carolina at the beginning of the Revolutionary War and were early settlers of the Catawba frontier during the mid 18th century.

Matthew Kuykendall entered the military service in York District in the summer of 1776 as an infantryman in Col. Joseph Hardin's Company and joined in General Rutherford's Cherokee Expedition. In his pension application, he stated "… that during this expedition he was in no battle, the Indians always avoiding them but they killed some, and took some prisoners. There was no Continental companies on this expedition, being entirely militia men."

After the Cherokee Expedition, Matthew moved from York District to Burke County, North Caroline and remained there as a resident until after the Revolution.

In 1780, he re-entered service joining the Burke County Militia under Joseph McDowell and took part in the battle of Ramsour's Mill (Matthew served under John Hardin, a younger brother of Joseph Hardin, mentioned above)on June 20, 1780.

Following this, he was with the McDowells in the summer campaigns of 1780 which ended with the skirmish at Cane Creek on September 12, 1780. The Burke County troops retreated to Cathey's Place on the upper Catawba and then over the Blue Ridge to the Watauga settlements. Matthew later returned across the Blue Ridge with the remnants of the Burke Militia, which had joined with the 'Over Mountain Men' of Watuga and Virginia. Arriving in Burke County, Matthew took time to be with his family and as a result, he arrived at King's Mountain the day after the battle on October 7, 1780.

Later, Matthew served Capt. Murray's company of McDowell's Battalion in 1781. On January 17, 1781 he fought in the battle of Cowpens (Cowpens was the final battle scene in the movie The Patriot, starring Mel Gibson) in South Carolina. During this battle, he received a wound to his right shoulder, which left him partially disabled for the remainder of his life, ending his military career).

After the war, he married Jane Hardin, daughter of Capt John Hardin, his commander at the Battle of Ramsaur's Mill.

After the revolution, he moved to Washington County, North Carolina for 3 or 4 years; and, then moved to Davidson County, Tennessee for 8 or 10 years. He then moved west to Logan County, Kentucky, where he became the first sheriff, the part of which became Butler County, Kentucky.

While living in Butler County, Kentucky, at the age of 74, he began receiving a pension of $50.00 per year.