Spouse and Children

Jane Pickens John Norwood (1770-1798) Samuel Norwood (1774-1840) Andrew Norwood (1777-1798) Jane Norwood (1779-1850) Daniel Norwood (1784-1862) William Norwood (1788-1860) Theophilus Norwood (1788-1850)

Brothers and Sisters

Samuel Norwood (1753-????) Theophilus Norwood (1755-1789) Daniel Norwood (1756-1779) Richard Norwood (1758-1779) Thomas Norwood (1761-1836) Blakely Norwood (1765-1835) Elizabeth Norwood (-1814) Agnes Norwood (-1790) Mary Norwood (-1790) William Norwood (????-1814) Robert Norwood (????-1789) Joseph Norwood (????-1814)

At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, John and other men from the Ninety-Six District, sent a letter to the Council of Safety notifying them that they were forming a militia unit to defend their country.

John became a Captain under the command of Andrew Pickens. He was at the battles of Eutaw Springs, Kettle Creek and Cowpens as well as being in charge of a ranger company to protect the frontier against Indian attacks.

On the night of October 3rd, 1781 Loyalists and Cherokee Indians lead by Major William "Bloody Bill" Cunningham raided Pratts Mill and burned it to the ground. John was wounded but was able to escape with his men The company lost thirty 30 horses and saddles.

At the battle of the Cowpens, John took command of Andrew Miller's men after Miller was killed in action.

In 1782 John killed John Masterson, a Tory who was known to be "a notorious and mischievous enemy of the country". A female slave was confiscated from another Tory named Alexander Chavis and given to John as a reward for killing John Masterson. Chavis later petitioned South Carolina for compensation for the loss of his slave.

John continued living in Abbeville County after the war. Here he was a landowner and farmer of hundreds of acres. He remained part of the local militia, eventually being promoted to Brigadier General.

John was a delegate from the 96th district to the 1790 constitutional convention in order to establish South Carolina's first state constitution.

In 1792 John along with other citizens petitioned Abbeville County for stronger laws and penalties to prevent such behavior as profane swearing, drunkenness, and breaking the Sabbath.^{2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12}

Sources:

1. Will of General John Norwood Abbeville County, SouthCarolina dated 01-12-1798
2. Alexander Chavis Petition
3. Grand Jury Petition
4. Documentary History of the American Revolution
5. Revolutionary War Marker, Abbeville South Carolina
6. Roster Of South Carolina Patriots
7. Ancestry.com, U.S., Sons of the American RevolutionMembership Applications, 1889-1970
8. Revolutionary War Pension for John Miller, Fold3.com
9. Revolutionary War Pension for William Perry, Fold3.com
10. Revolutionary War Pension for Mathew Fox, Fold3.com
11. Ninety Six District Delegate Return
12. 1790 South Carolina Constitution (http://e-archives.sc.gov)