Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11047, for James Mc Connel, North Carolina
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
N. C. 

McConnel, James
or
McConnell

NUMBER
S. 11047

carded
CONTENTS
Page 2

[printed form, handwritten responses]
Alabama 31528

James McConnell
Marshall Co. in the State of Alabama
who was a private in the compy [company] commanded
by Captain Reed of the regt [regiment] commanded
by Col Sumpter in the ["S. Carolina" is crossed out]
line for 8 months
James McConnell 
N.C. Line. 
[illegible]
Records corrected

Inscribed on the Roll of Mobile, Alab
at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 18 day of Septr
1838 & sent to Louis Wyeth, Esq
Claysville, Alabama

Arrears to the 4th of Septr '38           $200.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar '39   13.3 [page damage right side]
[total]                                                  $213.3 [page damage right side]

{Revolutionary Claim, }
{Act June 7, 1832.       }
Recorded by D. McCurdy Clerk
Book E2. Vol. 8. Page 103
Page 3

Paid at the Treasury [un]
-der the Act of the 6th
April 1838 from 4 March
1881 to 4 Sept 1838--Age [page damage]
Notified 19. Aug 1839.

["Letter to Pens 4 Nov 1839.
do [ditto] to B. T. Moore 26 Dec 1839.
Letter to Hon R. Chapman of Al
to Pen Agt [pension agent] 24 March 1840
Letter to Hon R. Chapman 13 April '48" is crossed out]

To Huntsville from 4 Sep
1838. 29. April 1840

Paid as above from 4 Sep 1838
to 4th Sep 1839. Agt [agent] notified
21. July 1840
Page 4

The State of Alabama  )
Marshall County          ) Ss
On this fourth day of June 1838
personally appeared in open Court before the orphans
Court of Marshall County now sitting it being a Court
of Record expressly made such by the laws of the state
creating it, James McConnell a resident of the County
of Marshall & State of Alabama aged eight years and
nine months who being first duly sworn according to
law doth on his oath make the following declaration
in order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress
passed June 7, 1832:
That he entered the service of the United States
under the following named officers and served as
herein stated.  In the fall of the year 1779 he volunteered
as a minute man for the term of nine months under Capt Osborn
and served under him with the exception of the time here-
-inafter stated until after the taking of Lord Cornwallis,
During his service under Capt Osborne that officer several 
times placed him under the Command of other officers
once under Capt David Reed when he went to fight 
at Rocky Mount in the State of South Carolina under
Colonels Sumpter & Irvine _ this deponent was engaged
in that battle which lasted between two & three hours
the force of the americans at that place consisted of
five or six hundred men under the command of
Sumpter & Irwin the latter of Mecklenburg County North 
Carolina the force of the British & Tories he does not
know, these were in a large farm house stoccaded [stockaded] 
round from which the americans tried to drive them
but without success as they were unprovided with can-
-non.  After this Battle & under the command of the
same officers he proceeded to Hanging Rock in the
state of South Carolina when about two weeks after
the battle of Rocky Mount was fought the battle of the
Hanging Rock, the British were commanded by Rawdon
this deponent believes and the Tories with them from
Page 5

about the adkin were under the command of one Bryan
his rank as an officer not now remembered by this
deponent the Americans left the British & Tories on the
field of Battle-- the Americans lost in killed & wounded
about twenty five men & took about eighty prisoners
the loss of the other party was estimated as much greater
at this battle this deponent states that he was wounded
in the right arm by a bayonet thrust by which he was
much injured in the use of his right hand. After the
Battle of Hanging Rock he was marched marched back
& placed under the command of Capt Osborne
under whom he served until the next fall after the
Battle of Hanging Rock, during which time he was
out scouting being sometimes permitted to return home
for a day or part of a day In the fall of 1780 this
deponent was drafted into the militia company of
Captain McNight who served under Major Graham Colonel
Irwine & General Davidson he remained in the service
as a drafted militia man three months when he was
discharged this discharge he lost when moving from
North Carolina to Kentucky more than thirty years
ago, Immediately after his discharge from the militia
about the month of December 1780 he returned to the
company of Capt Osborne, while with him this deponent
in company with two others when lying in ambush on one
occasion at Macanpens Creek at Molly Ormonds ford fired
upon a body of Tories about one hundred in number
who immediately turned & fled leaving eleven killed &
wounded-- A few days after this deponent with the same party
of ten went to the house of Mr Wallace in Mecklenburg County
who were first rate whigs for the purpose of hearing the news
and of getting something to eat. The British at that time
lay at Charlotte and a marauding party of them was
expected at the house the next day, this deponent went
with his companions the next day & lay in ambush for
them near the house. When the British came they were
fired upon and in a few minutes retreated they
were pursued a short distance leaving a good many
Page 6

of their party killed. and next day they left Charlotte be-
-fore even sun up.  The next battle in which this deponent
was engaged was fought at Cowens ford (as this deponent
thinks the place was named) on the Catawba when the
British were in pursuit of Morgan sometime after
the Battle of Cowpens--the Americans were stationed
on one side of the Catawba the British approached on
the other the latter rushed into the water and were
shot down in great numbers, they fired in return and
General Davidson commanding the Americans was
killed --the Americans retreated and were pursued as
far as the house of the Widow Torrence on the road leading
to Salisbury this was early part of 1781--as soon as
Capt Osborne had gathered his company which occupied
four or five days they marched back to the neighborhood
of Charlotte, But a few days after this deponent got home
he marched with the permission of Capt Osborne, under
Capt Penny into South Carolina on which tour he was
out four or five months and on the fifteenth day of
August 1781 he received three sword wounds two on the
back part of his head and one on his left should blade
in an engagement near Bacons Bridge on Goose Creek
South Carolina--the British & Americans met near a bend
in the road and were close together before they saw each
other--all were on horseback & used swords both parties
rushed on and after cutting through each other's
ranks would wheel & pass back again --this deponent
was cut down while cutting his way through for the third
time--after he fell he understood the British fled--this 
deponent was carried by some of his comrades from
the battle ground to a private house in the neighborhood
where he remained until he so far recovered as by slow
journeys he was able to get back towards home--shortly
after he got home news was brought that Cornwallis
had surrendered, and shortly after this sometime in the close
of October 1781 his company was discharged This deponent
then received his discharge as orderly sergeant of the
Page 7

company of Capt Osborne which post he had filled during
his time of service with him. This discharge was also lost
at the same time with the other mentioned before and
in this manner--when removing more than thirty years since
from the state of North Carolina to Kentucky all his
papers were destroyed the rain during a long spell of
wet weather he having to convey them a great distance
on pack horses & having no good method of preserving them
This deponent states that at the time he entered the
service he was residing about four miles from Charlotte
in the County of Mecklenburg North Carolina that he served
as a volunteer for the space of one year & few months as
above stated and three months as a drafted Militia-
-man & that he marched into South Carolina several
times--that altho [although] he never served in the continental
army he on one occasion acted with them to wit when
General Greene lay in winter quarters at six mile creek
Mecklenburg County North Carolina  This deponent
knew General Green Col. Morgan & Col. Wm. Washington
of the light horse & has seen Generals Francis Marion &
DeKalb and served under Sumpter as has been before
stated--this deponent saith that he has no documentary
evidence of these transactions.  During the time speci-
-fied as being in the service this deponent saith that he
attended to no civil service whatsoever never pretend
-ing to raise a crop or do any thing but attend to his
military duties which required all his time  This de-
-ponent says that he was born on the fifteenth of
August 1757 in County Downe Ireland that his parents
removed to America when he was four or five years
of age & settled on Big Saluda river South Carolina
whence they removed to Mecklenburg County North Caro-
-lina some years before the revolutionary war--he has
no record of his age whatever but speaks from what
his parents told him about his age--He lived in Meck-
lenburg when he entered the service of the United States 
and resided there after there after the close of the war
Page 8

until the year 1800 when he removed to Rutherford
North Carolina where he resided until 1806 and then
removed to Knox County Kentucky where he lived until
1809--thence he removed to near Duck River in Tennessee
& resided there and in other places in Tennessee until
the year 1825--then he removed to the state of Alabama
in several counties of which he has been residing
until January 1838 when he removed to the county of
Marshall where he now resides. The first discharge
he received this deponent states was given by Capt
Robert McNight--the second he received from Capt
James Osborne both of which have been lost as stated
This deponent does not know any living witness
by whom testimony he can prove all the facts stated
above altho [although] he has often made enquiries after
his comrades of Capt Osbornes Company  This deponent
further states that John W. Coal of the County of
Marshall knew him when he resided in Mecklenburg
County North Carolina and that he believes the said
John W. Coal will testify to his character for veracity and
his belief of this deponents services in the war of the
revolution--that Thomas T. Doty of Marshall County
has known him for some time and will also
certify as Mr. Coal.  And that Isaac Doty of Living-
-ston Overton County Tennessee is partially acquain
-ted with the services rendered he having know this
deponent when in the drafted Militia company 
of Captain Robert McNight
He here by relinquishes every claim whatsoever
to a pension or annuity except the present and
declares that his name is not on the pension
roll of the agency of any state
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
before me in open Court
James McConnel
Washington G. May
Judge of the Orphans Court
Page 9

Mr. Stephen W. Donathan a clergyman residing in
the county of Jackson near the Marshall County line State of Alabama and John
W. Coal residing in the county of Marshall hereby certify that we
are well acquainted with James McConnel, who
has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration
that we believe him to be about eighty years of 
age; that he is reputed and believed in the
neighborhood where he resides to have been
a soldier of the revolution and that we concur
in that opinion
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
before me in open court
Stephen W. Donathan
John W Coal
Washington G. May
Judge of the Orphans Court

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion
after the investigation of the matter and after putting
the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department
that the above named applicant was a revo-
lutionary soldier and served as he states, and
the Court further certifies that it appears to
them that Stephen W. Donalthan who has signed the
preceding certificate is a clergyman resident
in the county of Jackson near the Marshall county line and that John
W. Coal is a credible person; and that their 
statement is entitled to credit.
Washington G. May
Judge of the Orphans court
Page 10

34.531
James McConnell
Alabama

admitted for
8 mo. Private
$26 66/100

Louis Wyeth
Claysville
Abe

Hon. R. Chapman
H.R.
Page 11

State of Alabama )
Marshall County   )
I Richard S Randles Clerk of the
Orphans Court of Marshall County Ala
hereby that the foregoing contains the original proceedings
of the said court in the matter of the application of James
McConnel for a pension
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and affixed my private seal not having a public
seal of office at office in Claysville this fourth day
of June 1838 and of American Independence on the
62nd year
Teste R S Randles Clk CC

Washington City June 18th 1838
I Reuben Chapman Representative in Con=
=gress from the first Congressional district in
the State of Alabama which includes the
County of Marshall do certify that Rich'd [Richard]
S. Randles who made the foregoing certif-
=icate is Clerk of the County Court of said
County
R Chapman
Page 12

June 30, 1939

BA-J/MCS  own
James McConnel, S.11047

Mr. C. V. Compton
Route 8, Box 363
San Antonio, Texas

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your request for information relative to
James McConnell, a Revolutionary War soldier who was pensioned from
Limestone County, Alabama.

The data which follow were taken from papers on file in pension
claim, S.11047, based on the military service of James McConnel (per-
sonal signature), the only soldier by that name (searched under all
spellings) that is found in the Revolutionary War records of this office.

James McConnel was born on August 15, 1757, in County Down, Ireland.
When he was four or five years of age he came to America with his parents
(their names not given) and settled on the Big Saluda River, South Carolina.
Some years before the Revolution he moved to Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.

While living in that county, about four miles from Charlotte, he
enlisted in the fall of 1779 and served until late in October, 1781,
Amounting to twenty-five months in all, as private and orderly sergeant
with the North Carolina troops under Captains James Osborne, David Reed
and Robert McNight and Colonel Irwin. He was in the battle of Rocky Mount;
he received a bayonet wound in the right arm during the battle of Hanging
Rock; he was in the battle of Cowan's Ford; on August 15, 1781, during an
engagement near Bacon's Bridge on Goose Creek, South Carolina, he received
three wounds, two on the head and one on the left shoulder blade; he also
was in various skirmishes with the British and Tories.

He stated that in 1800 he moved to Rutherford, North Carolina, in
1806 he moved to Knox County, Kentucky, in 1809 he moved to near Duck
Page 13

River in Tennessee and lived there and in other places in Tennessee
until 1825 when he moved to Alabama and lived in several counties in
that state until January, 1838, when he moved to Marshall County,
Alabama.

James McConnel was allowed pension on his application executed
June 4, 1838, at which time he was living in Marshall County, Alabama.
He was living there in 1840.

The papers in this pension claim contain no further data relative
to the soldier's family.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension of James
McConnel, the name and address of the person to whom it was paid and
possibly the date of death of this soldier, it is suggested that you
address the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records
Division, Washington, D.C., giving the following data:

James McConnel, Certificate 31528, issued September 18, 1838,
commenced March 4, 1831, rate $26.66 per annum, Act of June 7, 1832,
Alabama Agency.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 14

1933. Aug. 9. hist. to Mrs.
Jas. W. Anderson. through
Mr. Sam Jared. W.C.S

1939. June 30. hist. to Mr.
C. V. Compton.  W.C.S.

Rev War
11047
INVALID.

File No. 11.047
James McConnel *
Priv Rev War

Act:  June 7th 1832
Index:--Vol. R  Page 247
{Arrangement of 1870.}

McConnel*
Records corrected. Mch 24/05
[illegible]
Page 15

James McConnell
Alabama

Suspended

let, 21. June
1838 Hon R. Chapman

Admitted for 8 mos
priv
26.66 per ann.
Page 16

State of Tennessee  )
Overton County      )
This day personally
appeard [appeared] Isaac Dotey Sen before the
undersigned a Justice of the peace
for Said County & made oath in due
form of Law. That James M Connell
of Marshall County Alabama is as he
believes most positively is without a
doubt the Identical same James
McConnel who was a private in
Capt. McNaght Company, who was
under General Davidson & John Liddy
was quartermaster Sergeant at Six
Mile Creek the above Statements
I believe from circumstances detailed
by him, which happened in our youthf
ul days the said Doty has no
doubt of his being the same James
McConnel above refers to Sworn
to & Subscribed before
me this 20th of March 1838
Isaac Dotey
Doak H. Capps Justice 
of the peace
Page 17

State of Tennessee  )
Overton County      )
I John Daugherty
Clerk of the County Court for the County
aforesaid Do hereby Certify that Doak
H. Capps is an acting Justice of the peace
as above, and that the Signature to the
above [illegible] are genuine.
In Testimony Whereof
I have hereunto set my
Name and affixed the
Seal of our Said Court
at Office this 27 day of
March 1838.
John L. Daugherty Clk
Page 18

[printed form, handwritten responses]
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Second Comptroller's Office,
August 12th 1838.

Sir:

Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838 entitled "An
act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain
Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury
of the United States," James McConnell,
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Mobile, Ala. Agency, at
the rate of Twenty Six Dollars and Sixty Six Cents
per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has
been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March, 1831,
to the 4th Sept., 1838, 7 1/2 years
Respectfully, yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
Page 19

[illegible]
Oct 74
Honl. J L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
DC
Page 20

Huntsville Ala. October 2. 1838
Sir--
I this day made application in
person to the Pension Agent at this place for
my pension due me the 4 of September & was
informed by the agent that my pension was
not inscribed on his roll & of course could not pay
me__ As my pension certificate No 31528 and
act 7 June 1873 shews me to be a pensioner that
should be inscribed on the roll of this place, you will
be pleased to have this omission rectified as soon as
possible, or should it not be done before the 4
day of November it will compel me to make
application to Washington for my pension__  I have
need my pay to the 4 Sep 1838 by a draft from the
Treasurer__  I am Respectfully Your obt Servant
James McConnel
Hon J. L. Edwards
Washington City
over
Page 21

In order to save me the trouble of making
application again to the pension agent before
he is authorized to pay me, you will have
the goodness to advise me directed to Cottonsville
post office Marshall Ala.
Your Respectfully
JM

Sir
On examination of my roll which was
reced [received] from Decatur the nem of J L McConnell
is not inscribed on it
Respectfully
Your Obt Sert
for R. M. Lowe
pension agent
J. A. [illegible]

Honble. J. D. Edwards
Commr of Pensions
City of Washington
Page 22

Dec. 23 1839

[round date stamp]
HUNTSVILLE
DEC
11
[illegible]

Free

Hon. Joseph L. Edwards
Comr. of Pensions
Washington City
D. C.
Page 23

Huntsville, Alabama
9th December 1839

Joseph L. Edwards, Esq
Comr. of Pensions
Washington City

Sir
During the last year Pensions were
granted to James McConnell, a Revolutionary Pensioner and to Thomas
T. Doty, as an Invalid Pensioner and they were inscribed upon the
Pension Roll of the Mobile Agency__ They wish to be paid at the Agen
cy at Huntsville, in said State, they live within the bounds of the Hunts-
ville Agency, being citizens of the County of Marshall, a County compos-
ed of portions of Jackson and Blount Counties at its organization, since
which time some small portion of Madison has been annexed to it, the
whole of Marshall County and of then Counties from which it was taken
is in the Huntsville Agency, but at the time Pensions were allowed
to the previous above named, Pensioner were not paid either at 
Decatur, or at Huntsville, to which latter place the Agency was remov-
ed from Decatur.  The Pensioners above named cannot make ap-
plication under the form presented for a transfer, because they can
not say that they have removed within the bounds of the Hunts-
ville Agency from any other, as they lived within the bound of the
said Agency at Huntsville, at the time they made their declarations
for Pensions and do state and have
Page 24

Office and show to your satisfaction that the County of Marshall
is within this Agency, that it was taken from the Counties of
Jackson and Blount, since these Counties with others were
placed in the Agency at Decatur. The agency at Decatur
was established on the 27 June 1834. The County of Marshall
was established on the 9 Jany 1836. If they should be ["found" is crossed out]
["on the" is crossed out] transferred to the Huntsville Agency, you can so advise
thereto by letters directed to Cottonville in this State.
I am, Sir, very respectfully
Your Obedt. Servt.
B. T. Moore
Page 25

26 Decr 1839
["Hon" is crossed out]
B. T. Moore
G.C.

Record 749 Page 130
Page 26

War Department
Pension Office
26 Decr 1839.

Sir

In answer to your letter of the 9th
inst. in the case of Thomas T. Doty and
James McConnell, I have to inform you
that by complying with the enclosed
instructions, their names will be transferred
to the Huntsville Agency.
Jam H

B T Moore Esq
Huntsville
Alabama
Page 27

Mar 23 1840
Mr. Evan

Hon:  J L Edwards
Comr. of Pensions
Washington

Hn R Chapman
HR
Page 28

H. of Rep - Washington
March 21st 1840
Sir,
I beg leave to enclose you the papers
relating to the application of James McConnell
of Marshall Co. Ala, a pensioner for a change
of his place of receiving his stipend from
the agency at Mobile to that at Huntsville
in said State
Respectfully
your ob. st.
R Chapman

Hon J. L. Edwards   )
Comr. of Pensions  )
Page 29

24 March 1840
Hon R. Chapman
G. C.

Record 749 Page 362