Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7,130, for John Laquir, North Carolina
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
N. C.

Laquir, John

NUMBER
S. 7.130

carded
CONTENTS
Page 2

17.611

John Laquair
Rutherford Co
N. C.

1 6 mos no not alld

Admit as Private
18 mo $60

5.11.12.13.14
Intg. 7.
P.328

Entd

Prepare Reply
Include
NC
["Th F Birchett" crossed out] clk
["Rutherford Co" crossed out] NC
Page 3

[printed form, handwritten responses]
BRIEF in the case of John Laquair
County of Rutherford in the State of North Carolina
(Act 7th 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? [page damage]

3.  How old is he?  77

4.  State his service, as directed in the form annexed.  

{column headings:  Period.  Duration of Service.  Years, Months, Days.  Rank. As a.  Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.]

vol in 1775 he thinks.  "half of his time in actual service for more than twelve months."  Private.  Gen. Sumpter.  Col: Hamwright.Col: Caruth or Graham

drafted about 1776. 5+ [mos].  Private.  Gen: Rutherford.

Sub not stated.  3 [mos].  Capt: Alexander.

Enlisted not stated.  10 [mos]. Capt: Loftin Col: Middleton Capt: Waters

5.  In what battles was he engaged?  None

6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Tryon Co. N. C

7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by
incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  Traditionary evidence

8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
No clergyman

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
mentioned. 
Chs W Forrest
Examining Clerk.
Page 4

23.060
North Carolina.
John Laquire
of Rutherford in the State of N. Car:
who was a pr: in the [blank] commanded
by Captain [blank] of the Regt commanded
by Col: Middleton in the N Ca
line for 
18 mos

Inscribed on the Roll of N Carolina
at the rate of 60 Dollars -- Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 31st day of Oct: 23.
and Such P. Roberts.
Lincolnton, N. Car.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833.          150.--
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 34    30
[total]                                                 $180--

{Revolutionary Claim,  }
{Act June 7, 1832.        }
Recorded by Nath: Rice Clerk
Book E  Vol. 6th Page 64
Correct name
John Lequir
Records OK.  A.O.T.
Page 5

State of North Carolina  )
Rutherford County         )
On this 23d day of October 1832
personally appeared in open Court before the Justices
of the Court now setting John Laquair a Resident of the United States
in the County of Rutherford and State of North Carolina aged Seventy
Seven years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his
Oath make the declaration in Order to Obtain the benefit of the Act of
Congress passed the 7th of June 1832 That he entered the Service of the
United States under the following named Officers and served as
herein Stated
He sayeth to the best of his Recollection about the year 1775. he was
living in Tryon County N Carolina the times became very Boisterous
and all the men capable of Bearing Fire Arms had to take sides I then---
became a Volunteer under Col Hamright for the purpose of keeping
those that was against the Independance [Independence] of the Country from embodying
themselves and having a strong hold on us by calling the Indians to
there assistance in keeping them scattered we was frequently
called on and sent to disperse them I am not able to say how much
time was spent in this Service but would suppose that I was the full
half of my time in Actual Service for more than Twelve Months
I was I think in the year 1776. Drafted for five Months under
Captain Robert Alexander we march on a southern Town under
Coln Lock to the 10 Mile House on the Charleston Road when
we Joined the Army under the Command of General Rutherford we
was stationed at that place for some time from that place we was
Ordered on to Savanah we was ["Halted" is crossed out] at a place called Purrysburg
Just below the Two Sister Ferry we was sent up the River opposite Briar
Creek where we Remained but a short time before 
the Battle was fought where Genl
Ash was Defeated I was not in the Battle was on the oposite [opposite] side of the
River as one of the Guard over the waggons [wagons] we was shortly after
Discharged our Term of service expired and I Returned home my next
Service was a Substitute for Three months for a man by the name of
Murphey under Captain Loftin and under the Command of Col
Caruth or Col Wm Graham has not Recollect which we
went on to hear the British Army and was placed at the
Tuckaseige ford to prevent them from Crossing at that place
Page 6

they crossed the River above us from that place we was ordered
on to Guilford from that place my Term of Service expired and
I Returned home in the next Service I enlisted for Ten Months 
in the State Troops under Captain William Twitty I was immediately
placed under General Sumter Col Middleton and Captain
Waters had the Command of this Town I belonged to the Horse
Service Orangeburg was our head quarters we scouted all
through that Section of Country we was stationed some time
at a place called the 4 holes we passed frequently from Boats
on to the Cypress my term expired about Orangeburg I was
Discharged and Returned home to Rutherford County North
Carolina I am Illiterate it is Impossible for me to give
Dates I recd Discharges at the Different places where I left
the Army but did not take care of them they are entirely lost to
me I am late and have a very Helpless Family to support and
no way to support them only by my dayly [daily] labour I spent the prime
of my life in the defence [defense] of our liberty I am a Frenchman by
Birth my Father came to the Colonies when I was about Eight years
of age and his lessons to me when a child and after the Troublesome
times and I had grown to manhood is expressed on my hand and
will be there as long as I live the expression was something like
this John I left France in Search of Liberty now the Call is
liberty or Death he gave the charge and I obeyed it am now poore
Indeede and call on a generous publick to give me something
to soothe my Drooping Spirits that when time is no more
it may be said that John Laquier has done his duty he hereby
Relinquishes every Claim to a pension except the present and
Sayeth that his name is not on the pension Roll of the Agency
of any state whatever
Question 1st by the Court Where and in what year were you born
Answer 1-- all the Information I have on that Subject is this
I Recollect that I have heard my Father say I was born in
Page 7

France in the year 1755
Question 2nd-- Have you any Record of your age if so where is it
Answer I have no perfect Record of my age only what I have been
told by my parents and that from the time they came to this Country
Question 3--Where were you living when cal'd in to service where have you
lived since the Revolutionary war and where do you now live
Answer I was living when Called into service in Tryon County
now Rutherford County N. Carolina in the neighbourhood of
where I now Reside and have Resided in the same place ever since
Question 4th.  How were you called into Service were you drafted
did you volunteer or were you a Substitute and if a Substitute for
whom
Answer I was first a Volunteer I think in the year 1775 from some
Circumstances I was continued in that situation for something like
18 months During that time I perform
considerable duty in Scouting
parties after the Indians and keeping the Tories from embodying the
time I was out on duty I cannot say only that I done nothing else
untill Drafted say this is 6 months
I was then Drafted for a man by the name of Murphey 3 months
I then enlisted in the State Troops for
10 Months
[total] 24 Months
I think I served more than 30 months but am not able to give a more
Detailed account of my service at this time
State the names of some of the ["General" is crossed out] Regular Officers where you served
such Continental ["Officers" is crossed out] and Militia officers as you Recollect
I Recollect General Rutherford & General Sumter that I served under
Also Col Middleton and Col William Graham and Col Caruth
State the names of some persons to whom you are known in your neighbor
-hood who can Testify as to your character for veracity and good behaviour your
Services as a Soldier in the Revolution

Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open Court
John [illegible] (seal)
Witness
Thos F Birchett clk
Page 8

We John Roberts & Geo. Cabaniss Residing in the County of Rutherford
and state of North Carolina and residing in the same
County and State do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John
Laquain who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration that we believe
him to be Seventy Seven years of age that he is Reputed and believed in the neighbourhood
where he Resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in
that opinion
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open Court
John Roberts (seal)
Geo Cabaniss (seal)

Tho P. Birchett M clk

And the said Court do hereby Declare there opinion after the Investigation
of the Matter and after putting the Interogatories [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 John Roberts who has signed the preceeding Certificate
["is a Clergyman Resident" is crossed out] in the County & state aforesaid and that George
Cabaness who has also sign'd the same are both credible persons
and that there statement is entitled to Credit
I Tho. F. Birchett Clerk of the County Court of the County
of Rutherford and State of North Carolina do hereby certify that the
foregoing contains the Original proceeding in the Matter of the Application
of John Laquair for a pension In Testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of Office this 31st day of October AD. 1832
Tho F. Birchett Clk

John Laquair
[illegible]
17611
V
Page 9

Rev War
7130
INVALID.

File No. 7130

John Laquir
priv. Rev. War

Act: June 7th 1832

Index:--Vol. 1st, Page 215

[Arrangement of 1870.]
correct name
John Lequir
Records OK June 16-1904 [illegible]
Page 10

John Laquire
Page 11

[printed form, handwritten comments]
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 Laquair 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?  Yes

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 amout [amount] of pension
he is entitled?  No

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 distinguished 
from any other seal?  Yes
Page 12

[printed form, handwritten responses]
2

XI.  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 revolu-
tionary service?  No clergyman or two credible citizens

XII.  If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtain-
ing it?  No

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.  [single bar cross] If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of the military service, has he produced a witness
or witnesses as to his service?  No
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath,
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the 
regulations direct?

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.  [double bar cross] 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? 7

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 recol-
lection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:  For ________
year ________ months, and ________ days, I served as a ________ For ________ months
and ________ days, I served as a ________; and for such service I claim a pension.
Page 13

[printed form]
3

It is important in all case 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 in-
definite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.  Some persons who apply for pensions
merely state 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 objection-
able.  It must in every case be clearly shewn 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 an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either
in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not em-
ployed in any civil pursuit.
[single bar cross] QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is ot 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 official character and signature of the magis-
trate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[double bar cross] 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 cer-
tificate 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.
[pointing hand] In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has not 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.

Must prove his service while he enlisted
Page 14

State of North Carolina  )
Lincoln County               )
July the 24th AD 1833

On this 24th day of July 1833 personally
appeared before me George Hoke an acting
justice of the peace in and for the County of Lincoln and
State of North Carolina Joshua Roberts of said County
who being first duly sworn according to Law.  Saith
that he was acquainted with John Lequire of Rutherford
County, in the war of the revolution, and Knows that he served
as he states for five months in the army of Genl. Rutherford
["and that" is crossed out] for he was present with him for that length of time
Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year
before said
Joshua his x mark Roberts
G. Hoke J.P.

I George Hoke an acting Justice of Peace for Lincoln
County certify that Joshua Roberts who made the above affidavit
is entitled to credit
July 24th 1833
G. Hoke J.P.
Page 15

State of North Carolina  )
Lincoln County               ) Ss
I Vardry McBee Clerk of the Court of plea
and quarter Sessions in and for the County of Lincoln,
do hereby certify that George Hoke and John Tucker
who have certified as to the veracity of Joshua Roberts
and Charles Thompson and who have signed the
foregoing affidavits of said Joshua Roberts and Charles
Thompson are acting justices of the peace in and for
said County of Lincoln duly appointed and sworn,
and the signatures purporting to be the signatures of the
said George Hoke, and John Tucker are genuine, and
are entitled to credit.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my name and affixed the seal of my office at
Lincolnton the 11th day of September AD 1833
Vardry McBee
Page 16

State of North Carolina )
Lincoln County              )
June the 4th AD 1833
On this 4th day of June 1833 personally
appeared before me John Tucker an acting justice of the
peace in and for the County of Lincoln aforesaid, Charles
Thompson a resident of said County, who being first duly
sworn according to Law, makes the following statement
relative to the service of John Lequire of Rutherford County
& State aforesaid in the war of the revolution. He says that he 
same said John Lequire at different times in the army of
General Sumpter during the ten months service at which
time he (Thompson) was a soldier in Sumpter army, that
he did not belong to the same company with Lequire, neither did he know positively at that time that Lequire was a
soldier but supposed that he was, that he has been acquainted 
with said Lequire ever since & from conversations that he
has had with him at different times since the Revolution
& from descriptions of the places through which they marched
& from the description of various incidents that occurred in the
army during that time, which have been related to him by
said Lequire he has reason to believe he served as he states
he also believes said Lequire to be a man of truth and that he has
always been to considered in the vicinity in which he resides.  
Sworn to and subscirbed the day & year aforesaid
Charles his x mark Thompson
Jo Tucker JP
Page 17

State of North Carolina  )
Lincoln County               )
June the 4th 1833
I John Tucker a justice of the peace
for the County of Lincoln aforesaid hereby certify that
Charles Thompson, who has sworn to the foregoing affidavit
relative to the services of John Lequire is considered a man
of truth in his neighbourhood, and I also consider him as
such, and that his statement on oath is entitled to credit
Jo Tucker JP
Page 18

State of North Carolina )
Rutherford County        )
June the 2nd day AD 1833
Personally appeared before me the under
signed a justice of the peace in and for the said County of
Rutherford John Lequire, who being first duly sworn according to
law makes the following statement on oath amendatory
to his former declaration for a pension dated the 23d day of
October 1833. That he cannot state with absolute certainty
the precise period of his service under Col Hamright mentioned
in his former declaration but knows that he did not serve less 
than five months, that he served five months in the service in
which Robert Alexander was his Captain, that he served three
months as a substitute for a man the name of Murphy under
Capt Loftin before mentioned, & that he served ten months as a
[en]listed soldier in the army of Genl Sumpter under Capt Waters
as before stated, making in the whole not less than twenty three
months that he was in actual service, during which time he not
employed in any civil occupation, but was either in the camp or in the
field - in defence [defense] of his country-- that since the time of his making
his declaration before mentioned he has been able to procure the
testimony of Charles Thompson and Joshua Roberts who prove
some part of his services- that he is well acquainted with John
Roberts & George Cabaness who live in his present neighbourhood
and who have testified as to his character for veracity and given
their opinion as to his Service in the revolution, and that he has
been acquainted with them for a large number of years - that there is
no Clergyman living in his neighbourhood, and that from the
situation of his family he has been confined at home very closely
and therefore is unable to procure the certificate of a Clergyman
That from the infirmity of old age he is unable to go to the Courthouse
without subjecting himself to very great hazzard [hazard] and inconvenince
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above written
John Lequir
JW Roberts JP
Page 19

State of North Carolina )
Rutherford County        )
June the 2d day AD 1833
I Martin Roberts one of the justices of the peace
in and for the County of Rutherford & State of North Carolina
hereby certify that I have been acquainted with John Lequire
whose name is signed to the preceding declaration and amen
datory declaration, for the space of thirty five or forty years and
that I have lived a near neighbor to him, that he has always born
the character of an honest man and a man of truth in his
neighbourhood, and has always been reputed and believed to
have been a soldier of the revolution- I also certify that
there is no Clergyman living in his neighbourhood
and that from the infirmity of old age and the distance
he lives from the Courthouse that he could not travel to the
Court house without subjecting himself to
hazzard [hazard] and inconvenience-- Given under my hand and
seal the day & year above stated
J W Roberts JP
State of North Carolina  )
Rutherford County         )
I Theo F Birchett Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions in
and for said County of Rutherford, do certify that Martin
Roberts Esqr. who has certified herein to the people character & the
nieghborhood [neighborhood] opinion of the revolutionary services of John
Lequire and who has also certified to the making of the
affidavit herein before him, by John Lequire, is as
Magistrate of said County, duly appointed & proved 
and the signatures purporting to be his are believed to be
genuine and are entitled to credit-
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name
and affixed the seal of my office of Rutherford NC
the 28th day of August AD 1833-
T. F. Birchett Clk