Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 9040, for William Morris, Maryland
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(3-1776)

SERVICE
MD

Morris, William

NUMBER 
S.9040

Carded

CONTENTS
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Ohio 25726
William Morris 
of Highland Co in the state of Ohio
who was a Pvt in the company commanded
by Captain Powell of the regt commanded
by Col Handy in the Maryland militia.

2 ys pr $80.00

Inscribed on the roll of Ohio at the rate of 80 dollars and blank cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 27th day of Decr 1833 and sent to Wm Scott, Hillsboro, Ohio

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 $200.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar '34 $40.00
$240.00

{Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by J T Sprague Clerk
Book E Vol 8 Page 17
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9040
Rev war

INVALID

File No 9040
William Morris Sr
Priv Rev War

Act: June 7th, 1832

Index Vol. [illegible] Page 264
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832

The state of Ohio Highland County

On this 28th day of October AD 1833 personally appeared in open court before the court of common pleas of said county now sitting William Morris a resident of said county of Highland aged 90 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 act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated:

The following questions were propounded by the court to said applicant to which the annexed answers were returned.

1st Question - Where & in what year were you born:
Ans: I was born in Worcester County in the state of Maryland on the 4th day of August AD 1744
2 Q - Have you any record of your age?
Ans - I have not.
3 Q - Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the revolutionary war & where do you now live?
Ans - I lived when called into service in the said county of Worcester - lived in the same county till 1816 when I moved to Highland County, Ohio where I have ever since resided.
4 Q - How were you called into service?
Ans - I was drafted
5 Q - State the name of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served; such continental & militia regiments as you can recollect of the general circumstances of your service.
Ans - I knew no officers besides those I served under except Colone Jospeh DeShields & Gen Cooper of the Maryland Militia. I was drafted for the Maryland Militia in the month of May AD 1777 in the company commanded by Captain John Purnell sixth regiment commanded by Colonel Samuel Handy. We marched soon after I was drafted to the town of Salisbury against some Tories who were collected in that place. The Tories amounting in number to about 900 men surrendered to our Colonel at Salisbury where we remained guarding them about a week when we were relieved by General Cooper who took charge of the prisoners. At Salisbury the men of our regiment were allowed b our officers to choose whether we should join the army of the United States under Washington or remain at home in readiness at all hours to be called out in defending the coast. I among others chose the latter service after which I was verbally discharged by my said Colonel & returned home - out this term not less than six weeks. In the month of September 1777, I was again called out under my former draft & joined the company commanded by Captain John Purnell at the regiment commanded by Colonel Samuel Handy of the militia of Maryland. We marched immediately after I was drafted to a place called Sinepuxent inlet in said county of Worcester where a British Privateer had run on the coast (this ship was called the Mermaid) we took the crew which consisted of about 308 persons prisoners & marched with them to Snow Hill where some of them took the oath & were dismissed & the rest were detained
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as prisoners. We remained at Snow Hill guarding said prisoners and guarding the coast near Snow Hill about two months when we were dismissed verbally by our said Colonel & returned to our homes after being in actual service this time not less than two months & a half. In the month of August AD 1778 the same company & regiment under the command of the same officers were called out to guard the coast. We marched soon after & joined said company to a place called musquito point on the shore of the Chesapeak bay - a large force of armed British vessel were then cruizing in the Chesapeak & threatened an invasion of the country. We remained at said musquito point & on the shore of the Chesapeak more than two months after which I was verbally discharged by my said Colonel & returned home after being in actual service s this tour not less than three months.

This applicant further states that he was in the service of the United States as a minute man & coast guard from the time he was first drafted as above in the year 1777 until the close of the Revolutionary war - that he was repeatedly called out during that time exclusive of the time he has mentioned above, but that by reason of old age & consequent loss of memory he cannot now recall to mind the exact number of terms he was called out by his said officers nor the length of time he served in those terms. That nothing ever occurred during his service in the war to fix the number of terms upon his memory except the circumstances related above in the first three times he was called out - but that he is confident he served in all not less than two years - As a minute man in actual service. 

6th Question. Did you ever receive a written discharge? 
Answer - I never received a written discharge - I was always verbally discharged by my Colonel & with condition that I should join my company upon the slightest notice whenever my services were needed.

7th Question. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood who can testify as to your character for veracity & their belief of your services as a soldier of the revolution.
Answer - Sovereign H Brown, Mariah Hiatt, David Mitchell, & many others will testify as is required.

This applicant further states that there is no clergyman in his neighborhood whose testimony he could procure as the Department have required - That he has no documentary evidence nor does he know of any living witness by whom he can prove his services in the revolutionary war. He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the present. I declare that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
William Morris Sen

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid - 
Samuel Bell Clk

We the subscribers residing in Highland County Ohio do hereby certify that all are well acquainted with William Morris who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration; that
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we believe him to be 90 years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion.
Allen Truiett
Jno Smith

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Saml Bell Clk

And the court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & afyrt putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department. That the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Allen Trimble & John Smith who signed the preceding certificate are residents of said county of Highland and credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit.

I Samuel Bell Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said County of Highland Ohio do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the Court in the matter of the application of William Morris for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this 4th day of November AD 1833
Samuel Bell Clerk of H. C. P. Ohio

The state of Ohio Highland County SS. Personally came before the subscriber one of the justices of the peace of said County William Morris named in the within declaration who made oath that since the within declaration was made he has recalled to mind several other tours of service in which he was engaged in the Revolutionary war. That he served in not less than six different tours as a minute man in the vicinity of Schassaxen inlet & Snow Hill in the State of Maryland. That his first tour of service at said inlet is mentioned in the written declaration where the regiment in which he served took the crew of the Mermaid prisoners - That in the spring of AD 1779 in the month of April as this applicant believes he was called out by his said Captain John Purnell & served in this tour under said Captain & under Colonel Samuel Handy guarding the Coast in the vicinity of the town of Snow Hill & Schassaxen inlet that he served in this tour not less than three months & was always on military duty during that time - That in the autumn (September) of 1777 this applicant was again called out by Colonel Joseph De Shields the head Colonel of the County to guard the coast near Snow Hill
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that he served in this tour not less than three months under Captain Purnell, Colonel Samuel Handy   & Colonel Joseph De Shields.  That most of this time was spent on the sea coast above [illegible] and at other points & they were occasionally stationed at [illegible] for a short period.  That in the spring of 1780 he was again called into service as a coast guard observer at about the same point & under the same officers.  That he served in this tour not less than two months.  That in September 1780 he was again called out on military duty [illegible] under the same officers & at the same point on the sea coast.  That he was in this tour not less than two months.
That early in the spring of 1781 this applicant was again called out on military duty & served under said Captain Purnell & Colonel De Shields & Handy that he served this tour under said officers guarding the coast near [illegible] inlet from the British vessels of [illegible] until after the British Army under General Cornwallis was taken in Virginia.  That he was in active service this tour not less than nine months.
That after all the [illegible] above names he was discharged verbally by his Captain & returned home.  That he was [illegible], served out the tours of duty he [illegible] & served in other part of the country but does not recollect them so [illegible] as to state them.  That by reason of age & consequent loss of memory he can not state the precise period during which he served in above-named tours but is positive that he did not serve less than the times [illegible] above stated & for all his time above & under names he claims a pension.  William Morris his mark  Sworn to & subscribed before me this 26th day of November AD 1833 Witness my hand & seal Wm Scott  JP Seal
The State of Ohio Highland County Set I Samuel Bell Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of said county do hereby certify that William C. Scott is a magistrate as above states & that the above signature purporting to be his is genuine.  Given under my hand & seal of the office this 27th day of November AD 1833  Samuel Bell Clerk of [illegible]
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25726
William Morris Senr
Oho
the word "Returned' is scratched out
Adm 2 years $80

William Scott
Hillsboro
Highland Co
Ohio
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WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office
15th Novr. 1833
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will fine marked in the margin with a brace, (thus:}). You will, when you return you papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them, and you will by compling with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A STATEMENT, shewing the Service of William Morris.
Period when the service as rendered. |Duration of the claimant's service. Years. Months Days| Rank of the claimant.| Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.| Age at present , place of abode when he entered the service.| Proof by which the declaration is supported.
May 1777  - 1. 12. priv  Cap. Purnell  Col Handy 90 years Worcester Co Md Traditionary

Sep 1777 - 2 15 priv Same officers 

Aug 1778 - 3 - priv Same officers 
[under months] 3 3 2 2 9
I am respectfully, Your obedient servant,
J.L. Edwards 
Commissioner of Pensions
this claim cannot be admitted for two years service, unless the tours & C are specifically pointed out in note s. There is no difficulty as to service of 6 months & 27 days.
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-2-
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832. 
The following regulations have been adopted: This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service. but not those who were occasionally employed with, the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service. Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law: 1. The Regular Troops. 2. The State Troops. Militia, and Volunteers. 3. Persons employed in the Naval service. 4. Indian Spies. As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record. DECLARATION, In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832. State, Territory, or District of County of }ss. On this day of personally appeared (a) before A.B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) 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 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers: [Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.] He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) 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, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. A. B. [And then will follow the certificate of the Court.] And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c. If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out. Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz: (k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 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 and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. [And then will follow the certificate of the 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 Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c. Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but it neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction. If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
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3

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore. these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case. The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia. 1. Where and in what year were you born? 2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it? 3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live? 4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom? 5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. 6. To a Soldier. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? To an Officer. Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? 7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant. The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates. The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject. Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court. Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace. the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature. No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter. [a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance. [b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule. [c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned. [d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served. [e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 bis 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 ; For mouths and days, I served as a and for such service I claim a pension." {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. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with au embodied corps called into service by competent authority that lie was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit. [f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable. [g] The opinion of the Court is always required. [h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case. [i] The Clerk must his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers. 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 papers 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. Proof of Service. [j] 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 claimant's 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 official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only. [k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases. [l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact. [m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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The National Archives

Bounty Land Warrant Record Card

Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

Name: Morris, William
Grade: Private
Line: Massachusetts
Warrant Number: 4685
Acreage: 100
Issued: Dec 3, 1789
to not shown

*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in the National Archives.