Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31905, for John Philips, North Carolina
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(8-1776)

SERVICE
N.C.

Philips, John

NUMBER
S. 31905

CONTENTS
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1194
Kentucky
John Philips
of Christian in the State of Kentucky
who was a private in the Compy commanded
by Captain Lopp. in the Regt commanded
by Col Locke in the N. Carolina
line for 8 months 28 days from
1778-
Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky at
the rate of 29 - Dollars 66 Cents per Annum 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 29th day of October 1832 and such to Abr. Stites
Hopkinsville, Ky
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4th March 1833
44.49 plus 14.83 = $59. 32
   Revolutionary Claim,
⎨ Act June 7, 1832.      ⎬
Recorded by Nathan Rice, Clerk,
Book D Vol. 9 Page 55
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9930
John Philips
Kentucky
private eight months 28 days
$29.66
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9930
Brief in the case of John Philips
of Christian County in the State of Kentucky
(Act 7 June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 98
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period:  The year is not recollected.
Was drafted & served;   5 months, 14 days; private; Col. Frank Locke
Again draft & service;  3 months, 14 days; private; Capt. John Lopp
Total 8 months and 28 days ; private; Genl Rutherford, Col. Locke

5.  In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Rowan County N. Carolina
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  Traditionary
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?  The certificate of the Clergyman & is not precisely in the form laid down in the regulations. It says he is generally reputed to have to been
a revolutionary soldier, but does add "in the neighborhood" 
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case
above mentioned.
F. Waugh Examining Clerk
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State of Kentucky
Christian County ⎬
On this third day of Sept personally appeared in open court before the justices of the Court of Christian County now sitting John Philips aged Ninety Eight years a resident of the County of Christian and state of Kentucky who being first duly sworn according to law doth, on his oath make the following declaration in order that he may obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7 1832.
    John Philips states that he was born May 7th 1734 in Cecil County Maryland & has the record of his age in his house. When young moved to Frederick County same State and from thence moved to Rowan County State of North Carolina - was there drafted by Col Frank Locke, Capt John Lopp (the year he does not recollect) & marched to the river Savannah & camped or stationed at Toobly white House who was a Presbyterian minister, thinks the distance marched was near two hundred miles during this service he was employed scouting up & down the river & had a slight squirmish with the British but the river was between and does not know that any injury was done, was out five months & two weeks on this trip. At a subsequent period he was drafted & taken by General Rutherford & Col Locke down to Salisbury to guard some prisoners & was in this service 3 months & 2 weeks. During the time the prisoners were exchanged and he was discharged - He never got any other discharge than the verbal declaration of his officer.
During the first time he was in service he performed the office of Butcher when in camp & was promised a recommendation for 5 months labour(sic) but never received a cent
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of pay of any kind
He is well known in the County and particularly in his neighborhood 15 miles from the seat of Justice and his character for veracity & presumptive evidence of his being
a soldier of the revolution he will prove by Alexander Brazier, Stephen Bobbett & John Armstrong.
He hereby relinquishes all claims whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in the United States.

Sworn & subscribed to the day & year aforesaid.

John Phillips

The John Bobbett a clergyman &
John Armstrong do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Philips who
has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration and that he is generally reputed and believed to have been a
soldier of the revolution & we concur in this opinion.  We are both residents of Christian County & State of Kentucky

John Armstrong
[illegible] W.H. Tegarden
John Bobbett
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And the said Court do hereby declare their
opinion after the investigation of the matter
and after putting the interrogations prescribed
by the war department that the above
named applicant was a revolutionary soldier
and served as he states- and the Court further
certified that it appears to them that John Bobbitt
who has signed the preceding certificate is a
Clergyman resident in the County of Christian aforesaid and that John Armstrong who
assigned the same is also a resident of the County
of Christian aforesaid and is a credible person
and that their statement is entitled to credit
Abraham Stites Clerk of the County
Court of the County of Christian do hereby certify
that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Phillips for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 6th day of September 1832 
in the [illegible] year of the Commonwealth
Abram Stiles
CCCC
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This Bureau can furnish the military
record of only such Revolutionary soldiers
as were pensioned or whose widows were
pensioned for their services.
Such of the original muster and pay rolls 
of the Revolutionary War and the
War of 1812 as are now in the possession
of the Government are on file in the
Record and Pension Office, War Department. Original rolls and other records pertaining to service in the Revolutionary War may also be found on file in the
archives of many of the original States.
O. W. & N. DIV.
REVOLUTIONARY.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C.,
March 27, 1899.

Madam:
    In response to your recent communication you are advised that one John Philips made an application for pension on September 3rd, 1832, at which time he was 98 years of age and residing in Christian County, Kentucky, and his pension was allowed for eight months and twenty-eight days' actual service as a private in the North Carolina troops, Revolutionary war. He enlisted in Rowan County, N. C. and served under Capt. Lopp and Col. Locke.
    There are a great many Phillips or Philips upon the Revolutionary war pension records and it would be impracticable for this bureau to furnish the list you indicate.  Your attention is invited to the note in the upper corner of this sheet.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Mrs. J. W. Heavey,
Opelika, Alabama.
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31905
Revy INVALID
31905
John Philips
Rev War  INVALID
File No. 31905
John Philips
Private Rev. War 
Act: June 7th 32
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 321
[Arrangement of 1870.}

March 27, '99
Mrs.  J W Heavey
Opelika, Ala
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Philips which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason
assigned for his not doing so?
IV.  Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? No the
year is not mentioned - not recollected
V.  Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he
served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension
he is entitled?  yes
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?  yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguish from any other seal? It is & it has
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2
Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
XII.  If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtain it?
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least
one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? No
XIV.  If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who
administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
XV.  Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an
age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes
XVII.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered? yes

EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how
long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being
duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he
cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection
he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For   _____ year _____ months, and _______ days, I served as a   ______ ;                
and for such service I claim a pension."
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3
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served,
and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of
the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too
indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he
must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits
the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as
the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer
the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not
written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the
certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must
pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly
attached to the certificate.
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Opelika, Ala.
Feb. 20th 1899
Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir,
I'm in trying to trace Revolutionary
Records of the Phillips family North Carolina
I am referred to you as one likely to give me valuable information.  
    I wish to find out if any person named Phillips 
has ever been given a Land Grant or
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Pension as a result of the Revolutionary War or the 
war of 1812 as we are uncertain of the Christian name
(though we think John)
I will request that you mention all you find on record
as it may assist us in tracing the proper one.  
We are sure that we had an ancestor named Phillips who served in the Revolution under  Anthony Wayne and this is all the information I have so far.
   I will be so grateful for any information you may give.
Respectfully,
Mrs. J. W.  Heavey