Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 47930, for John Liles, Georgia
Page 1

Liles, John S 47930
Page 2

Florida 31,553
John Liles of Escambia in the State of Florida who was a Capt in the (blank) commanded by Captain [illeg] of the [illeg] commanded by Liles in the Ga line 13 May 26
Inscribed on the Roll of Tallahassee at the rate of 337 dollars 33 cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the Nov 14, 1838 ? ? to Bay ? and Pensacola
Arrears to the 4th of Sept    $ 2529.99
Semi-anl allowance ending      168.66
                                            --------------
                                             $ 2,698
Revolutionary Act June 7
Recorded by A Burdice
Book E2   Vol 9

Cir to Pen Agt 21 Feb 1840
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6th April 1838 from 4 Sept 1838 to 4 March 1839. Agr notified 10 March 1840

Date of death not on A.B.
Page 3

John Liles
Florida
Act 1832
admitted
1 mo 26 da Caf Inf     37.33
1 yr Caf ?                $ 300.00
                                -----------
                                $ 337.33

Benj J Wright
[illeg]
Page 4

Territory of Florida  Escambia County  SS
On the fourth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand and ?? and thirty eight before me Chales Evans Judge of the County Court of Escambia County in said Territory, personally appeared John Liles (Siles?) commonly known as John Lyless at his residence, about fifty miles from
the city of Pensacola in said county
said Liles being a resident of said County and aged about eighty three years; who being first day 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 severed as herein states.
At the age of eighteen, he
belonged to a company of Horse, engaged in open ? against the Cherokee Indians when the north war broke out, he was among the ? (as
they ever called) and was appointed a captain of Infantry, having been drafted into the militia before the British got possession of any part of South Carolina. He was then stationed at Augusta Georgia under Gen Williamson James Liles eldest brother of this declarant being the Colonel of the Reg. Other field officers not remembered. The only company officer remembered is the younger brother
of declarant, named Henry. Declarant served
three months in this corps until the battle of
Page 5

stone under Gen Lincoln. He was soon after   appointed to Captain of Cavalry and served as such
for two years and a half; after which he was
promoted to a major. In this role(?) he served until the end of the war when he Sumpter took the field against the British, Col James Liles was
appointed Colonel of the Regiment to which declarant belonged. The other field officers not remembered .Henry Liles brother of this declarant ?? in command in his company. Declarant was born at Ninety Six District South Carolina, about 180 miles from Charleston, June 15, 1755, and was living then when he was first drafted into the Infantry. He has a record of his age but it is not with him. It is with a member of his family in Alabama. He volunteered in the County. While in the Infantry he was in the battle of Stone (Store?) under Lincoln aftered he was in the battle of the Range in Rock under Sumpter, in the battle of the Cowpens under Morgan  and in the battle of the Eutaw Springs under Greene. He was in several other battles and skirmishes of less importance. He never served out of South Carolina except as Captain of Infantry at Augusta. There were no continental troops serving with the Corps to which declarant belonged, except of the battles above named. Said corps was employed in ? over South Caroline and keeping down
the Torries, and was never embodied with the
Continental troops. After the battle of Stones(?)
Page 6

the declarant went home and was there a month or more before he again entered the service. After this he remained in the service during the whole of the war until the battle of the Eutaw Springs. Declarant has no documentary evidence of his services.
Until within ten or twelve years past he had
many letter and several commissions which might have proved such service, but as they ?
supposed to be of use, they have been ?
and destroyed. There is no person whose testimony there can now procure to prove said services. When the declarant was first informed that the Pension law of 1832 had him passed, he made an application which turned out to be informed. In support of that application by procured evidence.
The papers were forwarded to Washington and this declarant has not been able to get them since or ascertain where they are.
Since the Revolutionary War declarant
has lived mostly in the State of Georgia. About
thirty years ago he moved to the state of Alabama and last fall come to this county where he now resides. He ?  two commissions
in the Cavalry-- one as captain and one as
major both signed by Geo (Gvr?) Rutledge. They have both been destroyed as above states.
Declarant refers to John Saxon G.A
Gage and Jesse(?) Donaldson as witnesses of his truth and veracity(?) and of his being reputed to have been a revolutionary officer
Page 7

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever
or to a pension or annuity except the present
and declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of any agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed
this day & year ?
John Liles -
Charles Evans
Judge County Court (Es?) (perhaps Escambia?) Co
John Dixon & Jesse Donaldson as
residents in the neighborhood of the above named John Liles of lawful age and known to me as a man of character and being duly sworn say that they are well acquainted with the said John Liles (or Siles) - that they believe him to be a man of truth and veracity and to be of the age he represents and that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood to have been a revolutionary office and that they concur in that opinion and further that there is no clergyman living in this vicinity.
Sworn to & subscribed
before me the day & year of ?
John B. Sison (Siscon?)
Jesse Donaldson
Charles Evans
Judge County Court
Es Co
And I the said Charles Evans Judge
as aforesaid do hereby declare it as my opinion
after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War De
Page 8

(De)partment that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he stated and I do further certify that there is no clergy man living in the vicinity of the residence of said
applicant and further that John B Dixon and Jesse
Donaldson are two of the nearest neighbors of
said applicant, are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit - and further that the said applicant appears to me to be too infirm in body to attend the Court at the usual place of holding Court
Charles Evans
Judge C.C.E.C.
 I, Micajah Crapper Clerk of the County
Court of Escambia County do hereby certify that Charles Evans who has signed the foregoing opinion and Certificate is the Judge of the County Court of Escambia County and that the signature thereto is genuine.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this seventh day of
September 1838 at Pensacola.
M. Crapper
Clerk
Page 9

February 4, 1913
Honorable Wyatt Aiken,
House of Representatives,
Washington, D. C.
My dear Mr. Aiken
In response to your request of this date, requesting information for Mr. A. A. Dickent, of Newberry, S. C.
I have the honor to advise you that John Liles, S. File No. 477930
Revolutionary War, was allowed pension on his application executed
September 4, 1838, at which time he resided in Escambia
County, Florida Territory, about fifty miles from Pensacola.,
He stated that he was commonly known as John Lyless and
was born June 15, 1755, in Ninety Six District, S. C., about
one hundred and eighty miles from Charleston, where he resided
when he was first drafted in the Infantry.
That at the age of eighteen years, he belonged to a
company of Horse engaged against the Cherokee Indians, and when
the Revolutionary War broke out, he was drafted in the Militia
before the British got possession of any part of South Carolina,
and was appointed captain of a company in which his younger
brother, Henry, was an officer, in the regiment commanded by his
eldest brother, Colonel James Liles, and was stationed at Augusta
Page 10

John Liles. S. F. 47, 930.
Georgia, under General Williamson; he was in the battle of Stono
and served for three months.
About a month later, he was appointed a Captain of Cavalry, his brother, Henry, being the second officer of his company, in Colonel James Liles' regiment; he was in the battles of
Hanging Rock and Cowpens, and served until the battle of Eutaw Springs (in which he was engaged), two years and a half as a
Captain and the rest of the time as a Major.
There is no other family data.
For the date of the soldier's death and name of the person to whom the arrears of his pension were paid, application should be made to the Auditor for the Interior Department, U. S.
Treasury Department, giving all of the following data: "John
Liles. Ctr. 31,553, issued November 4 1838, under the Act of June 7, 1832, at the Florida Agency."
The Revolutionary War records of this Bureau fail to afford any information in regard to Philomen Waters.
Very respectfully,
J.L. Davenport
Commissioner.
Page 11

1913 Feby. 4. Hist to Hon. Wyatt Aiken 
1936 Dec 5 - Hist to Mrs(?) H.C. Constant
(see ? in ? W.C. 32418 of John M. Liles

Invalid
File No. 47.930
John Liles
Capt Geo. Revy War
Act 1832
Index: Vol.
Page
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 12

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873
Revy

P.O.
John Siles (Liles)
Page 13

John Syless (Liles)
Florida
Suspended
Page 14

Hon. C. Downing
30-Jan. 1839
GC
Record 1/8 page 27
Page 15

War Dep.
Pension Office
Jan 30 1839
Sir,
The certificate of John Siles, corrected, is herewith enclosed.  The letters which you left here are also returned.  I have instructed the Agent to pay the money so soon as the vouchers may be presented, and to alter the name on his Books, from Siles to Liles.


Hon. C. Downing
House of Rep
Page 16

War Dept Pen Office
Jany 8, 1839
Sir
In reply to your letter of inquiring of the 6th ? in the case of John Siles, I have to inform you that his claim was admitted 14th November last and his pension certificate sent to Benj. D. Wright Esq at Pensacola, Florida.
Page 17

Pensacola/Fl/Sept 10 1828
Sir
I send you herewith the
evidence of the service of John Siles (Liles)
in the Revolutionary War taken in
support of his claim for a
pension.
As the applicant resides
at a place remote(?) from any post
office, he desires me to ask
that his pension certificate, if
granted, may be sent to me at
this place.
I am very respectfully yours
Benj L Wright
J.L. Eounds
Pension Commissioner
Washington
Page 18

To the Hon Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled
Respectfully shows John Lyless of Escambia
County in the Territory of Florida that he was
duly commissioned as a Captain and also 
Major in the South Carolina line of hooks
and served as such during the war of the Revolution that he is now about eighty four years of age, in indigent circumstances and requires the assistance of his country. That he has applied for a pension under existing statutes and the Court to whom the same was submitted duly certified that your petitioner had served in the Revolutionary War according to the requisitions in such cases but your petitioners claim was rejected as he is informed because the period of service was not stated according to the regulations in such cases and your petitioner states that before he could
Page 19

procure the testimony of his time of service
with sufficient accuracy the Witnesses deceased,
from this and other causes he has not been able
to exhibit the evidence required by the regulations in such cases at the Pension office. But your petitioner believes he can produce competent evidence to prove that he is entitled to the bounty(?) of his country. He therefore prays for such
consideration and relief in his case as may
seem just and liberal amount
your petitioner
John Lyless
Pensacola Mar 1 1838
Page 20

War Department
Pension Office
March 30, 1835
Sir, I herewith return the petition
of John Lyless and the letter to you
and have to state that it does not
appear from our records that he ever
applied for a pension from Alabama
under Act of June 1832, nor are there
any papers here in support of his claim
If he served in South Carolina proof
thereof may perhaps be obtained by applying to William E. Hayne, Esq Comptroller
General of South Carolina at Columbia
I am, respectfully
you, Ob Servant
J.L. Edwards

Hon C. Downing
House of Representatives
Page 21

House of Representation
21. Apl. 1858
Mr. Downing has the honour
to enclose the papers of Mr.
Lyles, and with that the
certificate of the Comptroller
Genl of S. Carolina will
?. Mr. Edwards will
confer a favor by his early
attention to this ?(matter?)
Page 22


War Dept. Pen Office
April 23 1838
Sir
The Petition of John Syless and the 
certificate of the Comptroller Gen'l
of S. Carolina of service for fifty six
days as Captain of Infantry and
three hundred and sixty five days
as a Captain of Calvary received from
you have been filed in this office
It does not appear that he ever made 
an application for a pension under
act of June 1832, nor are there any papers
in this office in support of his claim
under said act excepting the sixty. In order therefor to obtain a pension he should make
declaration drawn up in conformity.
The enclose blank from and the
regulation thereto attached. He should
state in his declaration the particulars of
his former application
Hon. G. Downing

Florida
Page 23


War dept. Pen Office
In reply
May 21 1838
Sir
In reply to your letter referencing
the case of John Lyles of Florida. I have
inform you that a letter was addressed to you
in relation to his claim on the 23rd ?
at a copy of which is herewith enclosed
Hon G. Downing

Florida
Page 24


Tallahassee Feb 17 1840
Sir
It is now upwards of a month since I took the liberty of addressing(?) you a note accompanying the power of Attorney and other papers prepared in order to draw the pension of Capt John Liles due for the last year. If any thing be wanting to make these papers complete will you please inform me of it. I thought they were complete; but the Agent here, who is new in the office had a notion (not a very clear one as I thought), that as more than a year has elapsed since the time up to which the pension was last paid, therefore he could not pay without a special order and this in the
face of the fact that his first power of attorney was prepared in December 1838 and
the Second in September 1839.
I beg him to suggest that the
arrangements for paying pensioner in Florida
are far from being satisfactory or convenient. The most of the pensioners live in West
Florida, 150 miles from this place. A citizen in West Florida, myself, I was charged
last winter and this winter with the collection of the sums due to a number of the
pensioners there, and although the papers were all correctly made and I may truly say I never had half the difficulty in
Page 25

transacting other business, that I have had in collecting these shall sums. If some person in Pensacola could be appointed for
that part of Florida it would be a great convenience. At present, a small pensioner there, might almost as will relinquish
his claim as he has the trouble and expense of obtaining his money from Tallahassee. It will be much (sh?) and an early reply to the first part of this letter.
I am in with (get what year??)
Benjamin Lewight


J L Edwards 
Court of Pensions
Page 26

6 Jany

Dear Sir
As well as I remember the difficulties
in the case of Liles, many at first, were nearly if not entirely removed. Pray let me know
now it stands-
C Downing
John Lyles of Escambia Florida
Page 27

Comptrollers Office
South Carolina 

I certify that the following Indents were issued to John Lyles ?
In Book X  No. 1819 - Issued March 4th 1786 to John
John Lyles for $206.10. for duty as a Captain of Horse in the Militia. Account audited $206 10p
On referring to the account it appears that it was presented for 75 days of service on foot and 398 days
on Horseback. The Commissioners reduced the same
and issued the Indent for 56 days service as Captain of foot and 365 days as Captain of Horse.
in Book X No 3320. Issued 1811 July 1786 to John Lyles for $9.19 for forage for Cont and Militia as ? from the Commissioners -
Given under my hand and Seal at Charleston S.C. this 16th April 1838
Wm Ed. Hayne
Comptroller Gen'l
Page 28


TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Second Comptroller's Office
February 29th 1840
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.
John Siles(Liles) a Pensioner on the Roll of the Tallahassee, Fl. Agency, at the sum of Three hundred & 37 Dollars and thirty three Cents
per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1852
has been paid at this Department, from the
to the 4th Sept 1838 to the 
4th of March 1839.
Respectfully, yours
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions
Present.
Page 29

Mrs. H. C. Constant
714 West 6th Street
Ottawa, Kansas

December 5, 1936
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/MMHF: MLB

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letters in which you request the Revolutionary War records of Henry Lyles of Maryland, Colonel
John Lyle of South Carolina, Captain Robert Lyle of South Carolina,
Colonel John Walker, 1 " North Carolina Regiment, the War of 1812
record of John Lile whose widow, Margaret Witt Lile, received a
pension, and the Civil War record of George Groseclose, Company M,12 " Missouri Cavalry.

There is no claim for pension on file based upon service in the Revolutionary War of a Henry or a Robert Lyle, Lyles or other
spelling, nor of a Captain John Walker, 1" North Carolina Regiment. Such claims are the source of Revolutionary War data furnished by the Veterans Administration.

The record has been found of only one John Liles, or similar spelling, of South Carolina, who served as an officer in the Revolutionary
War. His record, and that of John M. Lile, widow Margaret, are furnished herewith.

Your letter, in which the Civil War record of George Groseclose his requested, has been referred to the proper official for reply.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 30

Mrs. H. C. Constant
714 West 6th Street
Ottawa, Kansas


John Liles, S 47930
John M. Lile, W.C. 32418
BA-J/MLB

Dear Madam:
The Revolutionary War record of John Liles and the War of 1812 record of John M. Lile are furnished you herein.
JOHN LILES
S. 47930
The data herein are found in the papers on file in pension claim, S. 47930, based upon service in the Revolutionary War of John Liles.

John Liles, commonly known as John Lyless, was born June 15, 1755, in Ninety Six District, South Carolina, about one hundred eighty miles from Charleston. The names of his parents are not given.

While a resident of Ninety Six District, South Carolina, John Liles
at the age of eighteen years, belonged to a company of horse engaged
against the Cherokee Indians, and when the Revolutionary War began,
was drafted into the militia stationed at Augusta, Georgia, before the
British got possession of any part of South Carolina; he was appointed
Captain of a company of infantry, in which his younger brother, Henry
Liles, was an officer, in Colonel James Liles' South Carolina regiment
(their older brother), served three months on this tour and was in the
battle of Stono. After that battle he went home and in a month or more,
entered the service, was appointed Captain of cavalry, his brother,
Henry Liles, being second officer in command in Colonel James Liles' South Carolina regiment, and John Liles being later promoted to Major. During his service he was also in the battles of Hanging Rock, Cowpens,
and in several other battles and skirmishes the location of which he did not give, and in the battle of Eutaw Springs, after which he was
discharged. He stated that he served two and one half years as captain and the remainder of the time as major.

After the Revolution the soldier resided in Georgia until about 1818 when he moved to Alabama where he lived until about 1837, thence to Escambia County, Florida
Page 31

John Liles was allowed pension on his application executed
September 4, 1838, at which time he was residing in Escambia County,
Florida Territory, about fifty miles from Pensacola.
No reference was made in the claim to wife or children.
In 1838, the soldier referred to a member of his family living in
Alabama, but did not designate the name or relationship.
In order to obtain date of last payment of pension, the name of
person paid and possibly the date of death of this soldier, you should
write to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records
Division, this city, and cite the following data: John Liles,
Certificate No. 31553, issued November 14, 1838, rate $337.33 per annum,
commenced March 4, 1831, Act June 7, 1832, Florida Agency.
JOHN M. LILL
W. C. 32418
The record follows of John M. Lile as found in pension claim,
W. C. 32418, based upon his service in the War of 1812.
John M. Lile (whose surname appears also as Lyle) was born
December 25, 1795; the names of his parents are not given.
John M. Lile enlisted at Winchester, Kentucky, and served from
February 8, to March 7, 1815, as a private in Captain John V. Bush's
company of Kentucky militia.
The soldier married Margaret Witt August 15, 1819, in Howard
County, Missouri. The date and place of her birth and names of parents
are not given. In 1851, he was a resident of Schuyler County, Missouri,
where he was still living in 1855. He died June 26, 1870, in Macon
County, Missouri, and his widow, Margaret, was still living in that
county in 1878, with post office at Tullvania.
Soldier's widow, Margaret Liles, was allowed pension on her application
executed December 27, 1881, at which time she was aged eighty-one
years and living within one mile of Tullvania, Macon County, Missouri,
where she was still living in 1882. She died June 22, 1885, in Jewell,
Jewell County, Kansas, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John Bevington,
whose given name was not stated
Page 32

The following names of children of John M. Lile and his widow, Margaret, are shown in the claim:
Daniel Lile, born February 26, 1821
Linda Lile, born March 29, 1823
W. H. Lile, born February 14, 1825
Elizabeth Lile, born March 24, 1827
Elisha B., born January 24, 1829
Missouri Lile, born November 22, 1831
Mary Ann Lile, born January 22, 1834
John M. Lile, born April 11, 1836
Cathrine Lile, January 21, 1839
Margret I. Lile, born January 17, 1841

In 1881, one John Lane, aged fifty-four years, and Cathrine Lane,
aged forty-eight years, were residing in Tullvania, Macon County,
Missouri, and made joint affidavit in behalf of soldier's widow, Margaret,
but did not state any relationship.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator