From "The Greenville Mountaineer" April 8, 1842

Mr. John King departed this life on March 25, 1842 at his residence near Rich Hill in Spartanburg District, having lived 84 years. The subject of this notice was born in Louisa County, Virginia, on January 12, 1758. He entered the list of his country's defenders in his 18th year, and attached himself to the Virginia Regiment. His fidelity, his patriotic devotion, and inflexible courage procured his removal from the Virginia Regiment to the highly responsible and honorable station of Life Guard to the great George Washington, in which capacity he served his country amidst all the varied scenes of that eventful period. He was the first to hail the approach of the immortal Frederick Steuben to the tent of Washington, and under the instruction of that great friend to freedom, received much of that skill which gave to his leaders so much confidence in him. In the memorable battles fought at Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth, he shared largely in the perils to which the friends of the Republic were exposed. He was sent with Lafayette through Virginia, and though his person was the special object of pursuit by the British, one of whose officers was heard to say, "the boy should not escape him", he nevertheless made good his escape, and the next intelligence the enemy had of John King, he was with Washington, dealing out destruction to the enemies of his country. He was oftern heard to regret that when Cornwallis delivered up his sword at Yorktown, he was prevented from participating in the joy of the occasion by severe illness which had well nigh cost him his life. Inasmuch as he had witnessed the reverses of his General, he always spoke of it as a great bereavement that he was prevented from witnessing his General's success at that moment.

Mr. King emigrated from Virginia to Spartanburg District where he has enjoyed the peace and quiet of domestic life for the last half century. He married Sarah Lemaster of Spartanburg District who still lives to regret for a season the absence of him with whom she has so long and so happily lived. He has left a large and very respectable family, all of whom sedulously imitate the virtues of their progenitor. Always unpretending in his disposition, Mr. King never asked for an office, but rather chose to gain his living as he had gained his liberties; by the sweat of his brow. Agriculture was his favorite pursuit, by which he earned a very comfortable competency. His whole life was characterized by an untiring fondness for perusing the Holy Scriptures, to which we can attribute his happy and peaceful departure from this world. Mr. King is perhaps the last one of the chosen band who shared so largely in the confidence of the great George Washington. A very large circle of friends attended the corpse of the venerable patriot to his final resting place.

John King (6), b. 12 Jan 1758 at Louisa Co, VA, d. 25 Mar 1842 at SC, bur. 25 Mar 1842 at Spartanburg District, SC

+Sarah LeMaster (91), b. 17 Sep 1774 at Amherst Co, VA, m. 02 Mar 1790 at Spartanburg District, SC, d. 01 Oct 1850 at Spartanburg Co., SC

├── Edmund King (92), b. 01 Dec 1790 at Spartansburg District, SC
│ +Nancy Emberson (93), m. 30 Jan 1830 at TN

├── William King (94), b. 19 Mar 1792
│ +Rhoda Smith (95), m. 1825

├── Mary King (96), b. 08 Mar 1794

├── Ann King (97), b. 07 Nov 1796

├── Lucy King (98), b. 15 Nov 1798
│ +James W. Cooper (99), m. 15 Dec 1816

├── Elizabeth King (100), b. 06 Sep 1800
│ +John Easly (101), m. 30 Jan 1823

├── Martha King (102), b. 20 Oct 1801
│ +John Gosset (113), m. 15 Dec 1830

├── Philip W. King (104), b. 22 Oct 1803
│ +Dolly Browning (105), m. 01 Aug 1829 at TN

├── Sarah King (106), b. 22 Jan 1806
│ +HIram White (107), m. 11 Nov 1828 at SC

├── son King (108), b. 06 Dec 1808, d. 1808

├── Margaret King (109), b. 02 Nov 1809
│ +David Reid (110), m. 11 Oct 1827

├── John Madison King (111), b. 28 Mar 1812
│ +Sarah Hammett (188), m. 01 Nov 1842 at SC
 

Letter from J.W. Cooper to His Son (Wm King Cooper)

SCMAR, Vol. XIV, Winter 1986, No. 1, p.33

Your Grandfather King was a Virginian. I know nothing of his ancestry farther than that he was of good family. When the Revolutionary war came on he was a young man, not of age. he went into service as a substitute served out his time, went into the army again for some time. I think not long until he inlisted during the war. In the darkest period of the Revolution he was taken from the ranks and attached to Gen. Washington's life guard, he served in that capacity until the close of the war. He was an eye witness to the distress of the army about Valley forge, and many other places where their foot prints were marked with blood. He was standing sentry at Gen. Washington's Markee when Stuben the Prucian officer came. The life guard was soon placed under his training, ‘till they became as well acquainted with military tactics as the opportunities offered. He was never in a general engagement; when ever one was expected, he was one of the company that was sent to guard the Generals effects. When the british army was moving down towards York Town in Virginia, the American army was also moving on. He got a permit to go by home for a few days: while there he was taken sick. After some little time he thought he could travel, the first day he walked Forty miles, he was so anxious to join the army before the general engagement; but was again taken sick, was taken home, lay a long time, never saw the army any more, before his recovery the army was disbanded. He has often said it was one of the most painful scenes in his life. After so much distress and trouble, not to see the British Lion bow in subjection to the American Eagle, The haughty Briton deliver up his sword to the worn soldier of American independence. After the revolution he formed an acquaintance with Sarah Lemaster (also a Virginian) Miss Lemaster's Father moved to South Carolina, Spartanburg Dist. and settled near Tollesons old place (now called Buzzards roost). Mr. King came to this county about a year after and married miss Lemaster about the year 1789 or 1790, and settled near Rich Hill Spartanburg Dist. he lived in the same neighborhood until his death, which took place March 25 1842, Aged 84 years and two months. I will give you all the ages of the family taken from the family record. John King sen was born in Louesy Co. Virginia Jan 12th 1758. Sarah Lemaster was born in Amherst Co. Virginia Sep 17th 1774. They were married by Genl Hugh Means Esq. March 2nd 1790. Edmond King 1st son of J. & S. King was born in Spartanburg Dist. S. C. Dec 1st 1790. William King 2nd son was born March 19 1792. Mary King 1st daughter was born March 8th 1794. Ann King 2nd daughter was born November 7th 1796. Lucy 3rd daughter was born Nov 15 [or 16th as shown in other records and on tomb stone] 1798. Elizabeth 4th daughter was born September 6th 1800. Martha 5th daughter was born Oct 2 1801. Philip W 3rd son was born Oct 22nd 1803. Sarah 6th daughter was born January 11th 1806. (infant) King 4 son was born Dec 8 1808. Margaret 7th daughter was born Nov 2 1809. John M. King 5 son was born March 28 1812. Minvera King 8th daughter was born May 25th 1815. John King & Sarah Lemaster was married in Spartanburg S. C. March 2nd 1790. James W. Cooper & Lucy King 3rd daughter of J. & S. King was married Dec. 16, 1817. John Easley and Elizabeth King was married Jan. 30, 1825. William King and Rhoda Smith was married in Tennessee in the year 1825. David Reid & Margaret King was married Oct 11th 1827. Hiram White and Sarah King was married Nov 11 1828. Philip W. King and Polly Browning was married in Tennessee August 1st 1829. Edmund King and Mary Emberson was married in Tennessee January 30 1830. John Gossett and Martha King was married Dec 15 1830. John M King and Sarah Hammett was married Nov 1st 1842.