Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4323, William Griffis, S.C.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
S. C
CONTENTS
Griffis, William
NUMBER
R. 4323
Page 2

Declaration of William Griffis -  in order to obtain  the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th June AD 1832. 
State of Illinois, Fulton County
On this sixth day of June AD 1836, personally appeared before the County Commissioners Court of Fulton County and State of Illinois, William Griffis aged eighty five years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of congress passed June seventh AD 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year AD 1775 (this declarant cannot recollect the year) at Ninety Six, or as it is sometimes called Cambridge, in the Abbeville District South Carolina in the company of Captain Samuel Tayler, one William Hammonds was also Lieutenant of the same company. That he resided near Ninety Six or Cambridge at the time he enlisted and that he enlisted for two years. (He) does not recollect the name of his colonel or regiment particularly but believes his colonel's name was Washington and knows that Morgan was the general. (He) was in the battle at Ninety Six and at the battle of Cowpens, and after having served two years was honorably discharged at the Cowpens in the summer (the year he does not recollect )
by Samuel Taylor who was his captain during the whole of the said two years. In the fall of the same year that he was discharged from Taylor's company he again enlisted at or near Halifax in the State of North Carolina for five years or during the war he enlisted in the company of Captain John Lewis, or his Captain's name was John Lewis, William Perdew or Pirdue was his Major but this declarant does not recollect the colonel or regiment.  His company was with General Green.
Page 3

He was in the battle at Kings Mountain Guilford, Barn Towers Mill, also at Camden, Rocky Mount, & Eutaw Springs. This declarant was severely wounded at Guilford Court House in the head and at Kings Mountain he was wounded in his right shoulder and a bayonet was run through his leg at this place, and at Eutaw Springs a ball perforated his body by reason of which he has even now to wear a truss. Two of his brothers were killed at Eutaw Springs. He was marched through different parts of North and South Carolina but during the whole 5 years was most of the time, so far as he can now recollect, in those two states.  He was honorably discharged at Eutaw Springs after having served five years. This declarant states that his Captain's name under whom he served was John Lewis.  He has lost his discharges by the misfortune of having his house burnt and all his papers, about fourteen years ago in Pendleton District, South Carolina.  That he resided in Edgefield District, South Carolina and Pendleton District until about ten years ago when he removed with his family to the County of Vandeburg (Vanderburgh) in the State of Indiana where he resided until the month of September, AD 1835 at which time he removed to Fulton County and State of Illinois - that he is at this
time in very feeble health and is in indigent circumstances.  He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state.   William Griffis

Subscribed and sworn to in open court this sixth day of June, 1831
Stephen Dunny,  Clerk
Page 4

We John Holcombe a clergyman residing in the County of Fulton and State of Illinois and Samuel Cozad residing in the same County and State hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Griffis who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be eighty five years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and we concur in that opinion
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
John Hoolcombe
Samual Cozad
Subscribed and sworn to us in this court this Sixth day of June 1836 Stephen Dewey, Clerk
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Wil John Holcomb who signed the preceeding certificate is a clergyman resident in the County of Fulton and State of Illinois and that Samual Cozad who has also signed the same is a resident also of the same County and State and is a credible
Page 5

person and that their statement is entitled to credit
Johah Marchant
Joseph Brown
John McNeil
I Stephen Dewey Clerk of County Commipianens Court of Fulton County and State of Illinois do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of application of William Griffis for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal and said Court this Sixth day of June 1836
Stephen Dewey Clerk
[added to the bottom left side of the page a Fulton County Court Seal which illegible]
Page 6

On this seventh day of September AD 1836 personally appeared before the Honorable County Commissioners Court of the County of Fulton and the State of Illinois William Friffis a resident of the County of Fulton and State of Illinois aged eighty five years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on this oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of congress passed June the 7th AD 1832 That  he enlisted in the army of the United States in AD 1776 with Captain Samuel Taylor at the Cowpens in South Carolina and served in the Regiment (the number of the Regiment this declarant does not collect) commanded by Col. William Washington of the Continental line under the following officers, to wit, General Morgan Col Washington Captain Samuel Taylor Lieutenant William Hammond, that he arrived two years, left the service in the fall of 1778 by being honorably discharged at the Cowpens in the fall of 1778 after having served two years; and this declarant further states that in the same fall of 1778 after being discharged from Taylors company in Washington Regiment, and Morgans Army, that he went into North Carolina to see two brothers who were in Greens army under Captain John Lewis (to wit) J G Griffis and J L Griffis who were stationed with the army near Hallifax on between Hallifax and the Hoffields, that after seeing his brothers he enlisted there in on Captain John Lewis Company for five years or during the war and served under the following named officers (to wit) Captain John Lewis, Major William Perdue or Perdew (his colonels name this declarant does not recollect) General Green was the commanding General, that he was in the
Page 7

battle at the Hoffields, and at Guilford Court House and at the latter place was wounded in the head the scar of which is very visible at present and at Kings Mountain was in the battle at Raventowns Mill, also at Campden went to Campden immediately after Gates' got defeated, was in the battle at the Rocky Mount and als at the Eutaw Springs where he was wounded in the lower part of his bowels by means of which has to wear a truss- at the battle of Kings Mountain before mentioned was wounded in the his right shoulder and had a bayonet sever through his right let the scars of which are both visible continued in service until after the peace and was honorably discharged by Captain John Lewis at the Eutaw Springs sometime in July that the lived in Edgefield District South Carolina at the time he first enlisted about six miles below Cambridge on the Saluda River and returned there after the close of the war.  Removed from there into Pendleton County of District about four miles from the old Pendleton Court House and resided there two years with his family and while residing there he and his family went to a   meeting on one Sunday about four miles from where he lived and to [illegible] until Monday and on his return home [illegible] found his house burnt and all his household goods and all his papers, and among them were his discharges from Captain Samuel Taylor and from Captain John Lewis- this declarant further states that he know of no person is now living, who can testify to his being in the army- that he was informed unless he could produce his discharges he could not procure a pension which is the reason he has not applied before He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll.
Page 8

of [illegible] of any agency in any State- this declarant states that he removed from Pendleton District to the State Indiana in Vandeburg County about ten years ago and removed from Vandeburg County Indiana to Futon Count Illinois about a year ago where he at present resides 
[signature: William Griffis]
Question by the Court {Did you ever receive a discharge from the service area if so by whom was it given- and what-has become of it
Answer {I did receive two discharges one from Samuel Taylor and one from John Lewis as mentioned in the body of my declaration
[signature: William Griffis]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states and that it is inconvenient for him at this late period of the Court to prove the persons who are acquainted with him
[signatures: Wm Johnson, James Lyon and Charles Newcomb]
I Stehpen Dewey Clerk of the County Commissioners Court of Fulton County and the State of Illinois do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Griffis pension
In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court at Lewistown this Seventh day of September AD 1836
Stephen Dewey  Clerk
[illlegible: seal of the couth in the lower left-hand side of page]
Page 9

Washington August 26th1833
Honorable S. P. Waldo
Court of Pensions
Sire, I here with submit a power of attorney from Robert McDermot, heir at law of William Griffis, a revolutionary soldier who applied for a pension under act of June 1832 & is suspended, from the State of Illinois, Fulton County.  You will please present me to examine the papers on file.
Very respectfully, 
[Signature: H. C. Spalding, atty]
Page 10

William Griffis Illinois
Suspended
lot: 30th July 1836
John P. Boice
do. 11 Oct. 1836
4323
Page 11

S.C.
Griffis, William
R. 4323
Page 12

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873 [typewritten, crossed out]
4323 
P.O. [typewritten} William Griffis [handwritten}
Service: Enlisted _______, 18 [typewritten]
Discharged: _____, 18 [typewritten]
Rejected [black stamp]
Application filed: ____, 18 [typewritten}
Alleges: ______[typewritten]
Re-enlisted: _______[typewritten]
Attorney: _____ P.O. ___________ Recognized. _____ Contract. ________Cert. of Dis. Searched for ______, 18 . [typewritten]
Page 13

Know all men by their presence that I Robert McDermont, heir at law of William Griffis of the county of Fulton and state of Illinois, have made constituted and appointed, and by their presence do make constitute and appoint H.C. Spalding of the city of Washington and District of Columbia my free and lawful attorney for me and in my name place and stead to take all measures that may be necessary and lawful to waive the presentors of a claim for a pension by the heirs of William Griffis deed, giving and granting unto my said attorney full power and Authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about the essence of said claim, as fully to all interests and purposes as I might or could do if personally present with full power substitute him and selection hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said attorney or his substitute shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof. In witness wherof I have hereunto let my hand and seal this 19th day of August 1853.
Sealed and delivered in prescence of A. L. Robertson                Robert McDermont
Page 14

July 1
Original
US.
Lewis -------
June 13
from
J.L. Edwards
War Department
Washington City
Page 15

Lewistown Fulton County June 13th 1834

Sir,

If it is possible for the old gentleman to obtain a pension he certainly ought to have one - he has more scars which he says he received in the Revolution than any man I ever saw. William Griffis requested me to do his writing and in drawing up he declaration if it should be informal or otherwise defective please write to John P Boice Esq of Lewistown, Illonois. 

JL Edwards                                    JP Boice
Page 16

Lewistown Sep 14


JL Edwards 
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
DC
Page 17

Lewistown Sept. 14th 1836

Enclosed is another declaration of Wm. Griffis certified by our county court supplying at least two of the defects pointed out in his former declaration. I drew his declaration and as it was the first case of the kind any defect as to former is my fault not his - I can only say the means of detecting the imposition if he is an imposter are ample, he states. I had two of this brothers here in the army also, JG Griffis and JL Griffis in Captain John Lewis company; of the Colonel under his second tour of duty he says he does not recollect but the Major, name was Maj Perdue or Perdew. I know very little of his myself but he certainly has the appearance of having been wounded in the head in the shoulder and in the leg and also in the body which I have examined. He is very infirm was brought into town in a waggon on the evening before our County Court adjourned and I was compelled to write his declaration in as much haste as I could get him to detail it for me. His neighbors speak well of him and I know it is the universal belief here that he served as he states - but as there has been so much imposition I suppose the caution [unknown] to detect will in some cases prevent those meritorious from receiving - If his name is found on the muster rolls of Captain Samuel Taylor Company - Where Washington was the Colonel he says but the no of the Regiment ledger not recollect and there should be any defect that you think of it is probable he could supply by being informed of it I will render him any service I can but think it very doubtful whether he will live to receive any benefit from is as he is exceedingly feeble now

yours John P Boice