in 1779, he became a surveyor of the western parts of virginia and north carolina to establish borders for further explorations to come. the following year, in 1780, he became a justice of the peace for the newly created county of sullivan county, north carolina; in 1781 and 1782, he served as its state senator. in 1783, he was one of the surveyors of the north carolina military land grant reservation. the same year, in 1783, he became a justice of the peace for new davidson county, tennessee, named after north carolina general william lee davidson (1746–1781). during the american revolutionary war of 1775–1783, he served as a colonel over the davidson county regiment of the north carolina militia. units that he served in during the american revolution includef: