Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7407, for John Morriss, South Carolina
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( 3 - 1776 )

SERVICE
S. C

Morriss, John

NUMBER
R. 7407

CONTENTS
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The State of South Carolina
Anderson District
on the eighth day of March
the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared John Morris before me an acting Magistrate for said district who being duly sworn on oath makes
the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
This applicant by reason of his infirmity is unable to attend at the Court House of this District for the purpose of undergoing an examination in open Court without great personal inconvenience and probable risk
He was born in East Jersey on the first of April 1744 a record of his age was made but lost during Cherokee war. He resided in Ninety Six District and that part now called  Abbeville District when he entered the service and continued throughout the
war he entered the service in 1775 as a volunteer under Capt James McCall & Major [Andrew] Williamson &
marched to 96 Fort and was in the engagement at that place with the Tories under [Captain] Patrick Cunningham. he served 2 months on that tour -- he volunteered first
July 1776 under Captain Baskins [William Baskin], Colonel Pickens [Andrew Pickens], General Williamson and marched on an expedition against the Indians and an engagement with them at Seneca Old Town .  He then returned & was stationed on the line to protect the
frontiers -- A tour of 4 months -- August 1777 he entered under Captain Baskin, Colonel Pickens as a spy and served 14 months after that he was discharged but has lost it since -- in 1778 he was discharged -- he again volunteered in 1778 under Captain Baskin & Colonel Pickens to go on an expedition against the Indians & British -- & was in an engagement with them & the Negroes at Governor Wright's plantation on the Ogeechee River -- he was at Buck
Island when the British crossed the Savannah River on their way to Charleston and from which place he started to the Ogeechee -- he was in service this tour 3 months
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when he returned he was discharged & went home, he has not his discharge -- he again volunteered about Christmas 1780 under General [Daniel] Morgan  & during that expedition he was at the Battle of the
Cowpens -- [Colonel Banastre] Tarletons Defeat - he was in service that tour 4 months and a half -- he was again a 2 months tour down to Bacon's Bridge near Charleston though in no engagement -- he has received no compensation for his services -- and has no discharge -- and no other proof but what is here offered -- And he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any State S/ John Morriss
Sworn to & Subscribed this eighth day of March one thousand eight
hundred & thirty three-
Sworn & subscribed Before me
AJ Lidell JQ
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South Carolina in the name of god amen. Anderson District. I John Morriss Being of sound mind but weak in body and knowing it is appointed for all men to die. Do seek and ordain this my last will and testament. I allow my wife, Surrah, to keep possession of the house and place where I now live together with the use of all the Negroes except two boys Harry and Frank together with all the beds and furniture and all the kitchen furniture also all my stock of cattle to be and remain in her possession. So long as she may live and at her death the above property to be divided if the same can be done without sale if not to be sold and divided as below. Give and allow unto my daughter Margaret Cornelius an equal share of the above property except the two boys Harry and Frank. After the said Margaret reducts the amount of two hundred dollars Which I have paid her in the price of a negro girl Selah. I give and allow unto my son Adam an equal share of my personal property except as above Harry and Frank after deducting from Adams part the amount of one hundred and twenty dollars part of which I paid John Turner and Christopher Hargroves and [James Hart for my son. I give and allow unto my daughter Jenny Holly an equal part of my personal property except the two boys above named after deducting from her part the amount of two hundred dollars which I have paid her in the price of a negro girl Liza. I Give and allow unto my son Amos an equal share of my personal property except the two boys within named after the said Amos Deducting from his part or paying
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the amount of two hundred and thirty dollars which I paid for him to Ferabee Cox for him- I give and allow unto my son John the plantation
and tract of land whereon he now lives which has been designated to him in the presence of Matthew
Clark, James Rosmond and Thomas Thomas amounting to something like seventy acres be the same more or less for ever. Also give him an Equal share of my personal property Except the two boys above named and after
deducting from his part of the Estate one hundred and nineteen dollars which money I paid for him to James
Wood, John Gentry & Henry Cox -
I give and allow unto my son Wm the plantation and tract of land whereon he now lives, which lines has been
designated in the presence of Matthew Clark, James Rosmond & Thos Thomas Containing Seventy five acres be the same more or less forever, also an Equal share of my
personal estate with the exception of the two boys Harry & Frank above named- I give and allow to my Son James the plantation & tract of land whereon he now lives, which lines has been designated in the presence of
Matthew Clark James Rosemond & Thos Thomas Containing about seventy five acres be the same more or less also an Equal share of my personal property with the Exception of the two boys Harry & Frank above named. I give and allow unto my son David Jr the plantation & tract
of land whereon I now live which lines has he designated in the presence of Matthew Clark James Rosemond & Thos Thomas at the death of my wife, also the two boys above named, Harry & Frank, also an Equal share of my personal property, after all my just debts are paid and any Expenses that may occur on my death or burial and for Carry my will into effect I do nominate & appoint
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James Morriss & David J. Morriss my two sons my Executors of my last will Revoking all others in witness
whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal in the presence
A. J. Liddell, Mary Liddell, James G. Clark April 27th 1830
(Signed ) John Morriss

South Carolina Anderson District
I Herbert Hammond Ordinary of  Anderson District do hereby certify
that the foregoing writing is a true copy of the last Will & Testament of John Morriss decd admitted
to probate before John Harris Esqr Ordinary for the District aforesaid on the 16th day of March 1835, as appears on Record in my office and Recorded in Will Book B. page 8. and that the records further show
that on the same day James Morriss and David J. Morris qualified as Executors
Given under my hand and seal this
9th day of June A.D. 1856
s/ Herbert Hammond OAD

State of South Carolina
Anderson District
Personally appeared Elias Earle & Elijah Webb before me and made oath that they were well acquainted with John Morris Deceased in his lifetime who died just before the probate of the will of which the above and foregoing is a certified Copy
[Illegible] about the last of February 1835 and that he was reputed and indisputably believed in the Community in which he lived to have been a Revolutionary
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Soldier: That he left no widow surviving him, but leaving only four children now surviving him, Namely
David Morris his Executor James Morris, Amos Morris and as we are informed and believe Mrs Margaret
Cornelius, we [Illegible] swear that we have no interest in this claim
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 10th day of June Anno Domini 1856 s/ JT Whitfield M.A.D.
Elias Earle, Elijah Webb

State of South Carolina
Anderson District
I Joseph T. Whitefield a Magistrate for Anderson District in said State, do certify that the above and foregoing
affidavit was sworn to before me by two credable witnesses and that I am entirely disinterested and have no interest whatever in the claim of John Morriss heirs for a Pension for services rendered by John Morris deceased s/ JT Whitfield MAD
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State of South Carolina
District of Anderson  It is hereby certified by the undersigned Judge of the Court of Ordinary in & for said District and which is a Court of
Record, that satisfactory evidence has this day been submitted to this Court by the certified copy of the Will of John Morris deceased late of this District and by the affidavit
of Elias Earle and Elijah Webb
all of which are hereunto attached that said John Morris died in this District about the 26 or 27th February AD 1835, leaving no widow but leaving only four children now surviving him namely, David J Morris Executor of his last will & testament, James Morris, Amos Morriss
& Mrs Margaret Cornelius. And it is further certified that said John Morriss bore the undisputed reputation of having served in the Revolutionary war and I further certify that I am wholly disinterested in
giving this Certificate. In testimony whereof are hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this
the 10th day of May A.D. One thousand Eight hundred and fifty six
s/ Herbert Hammond
Judge of C.O. A.D.
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Samuel Earle makes oath before
accordingt o Law that he was acquainted with John Morris during the War of the Revolution, knows that he was in the whig Service as this Deponent served with him, said
Morris was always reputed in his neighbourhood to have been
faithful and devoted to the Cause
of American Independence
s/ Samuel Earle
Sworn to & Subscribed March 1833 Before me s/ Joseph N. Whitmer
Not Pub & J.Q W. Ex Off

Personally appeared before me John
Morriss and makes oath that he was well acquainted with

State of South Carolina
Anderson District
I Elijah Webb Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions
in & for said District do hereby certify that Andrew J Liddell Esq before whom the two preceeding affidavits
were subscribed was at the time an acting Justice of the Quorum duly commissioned & sworn & that the
foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine, and I further certify that Joseph N. Whitner Esq before whom the above affidavit was subscribed was at the time thereof
an acting Notary Public & Ex officio Justice of the Quorum in & for said District duly commissioned & sworn
& that the above signature purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my seal of Office and subscribed my name at Anderson Court House in said District this Seventeenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand
Eight hundred and fifty five.
s/ Elijah Webb C.C A.D
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[Illegible] Lawrenceville, Ga
Mary Files 1791
application for Pension
for John Morris S. Carolina
June 7, 1832
J.A. Black Columbia South Carolina

State of South Carolina
Anderson District on this Seventeenth day of September AD one thousand Eight hundred and fifty five personally appeared in open Court before the undersigned Judge of the Court of Ordinary in & for said District & which is a Court of Record, David J Morris Executor of the estate of John Morriss deceased as shown by the last Will of said deceased on file in the court the fact of which is hereby certified and also that it appears from the probate of said Will that the same was had in this Court on the 16th March Eighteen hundred & thirty five who that is said David J Morris being duly sworn declareth that his said Father said John Morris Senr deceased died on the 26th or 27th of February 1835 in this District and was the same John Morriss who had signed the within Declaration of his services under the Act of 7th June 1832 which his agent the present Judge JN Whitner had neglected to send to the Pension office during the life of deponents said father. That the
only now living children of his said father are this deponent, James Morriss, Amos Morris & Margaret Cornelius. That his said father said John Morriss did not leave a widow his wife this deponents mother having died prior to his father the
husband. That said Deponent as such son Executor makes this claim as set forth by his father for the benefits of said Act and he further swears that Mrs Mary Foils widow of John Foils killed in the Revolutionary War as he learned was a sister in law of
Deponents said father & lived in his neighborhood in deponents early boyhood, deponent being now nearly sixty five. s/ David J Morris  Execr Est of John Morriss
Sworn to subscribed before me & in testimony of all which I have set my hand & seal of said Court the day & year aforesaid. Interlined above before signing s/ Herbert Hammond Judge of Ordinary
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Comptroller Genl's office
Columbia So Ca 25 Oct. 1835.
No 510 Lib T
Issued the 28th June 1785 to John Morris for twelve pound fourteen shillings and three pence farthing Sterling for Militia duty per account audited Principal L12.16.3¼
Annual Interest L0.17.9  No. 60

T 510 No 60 June 28th 1785 John Morris's account of duty in the militia as private since the reduction of Charlestown amtg to Curry L89-
Stg L12:14:3¼

State So Carolina to M
Jno. Morris for duty Col Anderson's
return - L89 -
Stg L12.14.3¼

I do hereby authorize and empower Mary Foils to draw and receive my
indents for services done to the publick of the State of South Carolina
agreeable to return made to the auditor's office by Col Robt. Anderson
Given under my hand this 30th day of Sept 1785 (Signed ) John Morriss

I do hereby certify that I saw Jno. Morris sign the above order (signed)
John Harris J.P. 510 T. October 15 1784 and recorded larg book AAAA
and in page 94 search if the Indents is paid and if not pay them.

Received 31 Octr 1785 from the Commissioners of the Treasury full satisfaction for the within in an Indent No. 510 by an order 
witness T.Nicholls, The mark of
Mary Files"

No 1532 Lib X Issued the 26th of January 1786 to Mr John Morris for forty two pounds five shillings & eight pence sterling for duty as spy in 1779 as pr account passed by the Commissioners
Principal L42.5.8 ½ Int L2.19.2 No. 75

1532 X 75 John Morris for 148 days duty as Spy in 1779 amot L42.5.8 ½ 

The State of South Carolina to John Morris Dr. for doing duty as spy in
Captain Wm Baskin's Compy of Militia from Jany 9 1779 till June 5th  & allowing both days included being 148 Days @ 60/ L444
148 days @ 40/ L296
L42.5.8 ½ Stg
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I do certify that John Morris acted as Spy the time above mentioned at 60 pr day & rations was to be found him. Given under my hand this 16th Sept. 1779 (Signed ) Wm Baskin

The above account certified 24th Novr 1779 (signed) Andw Pickens Col.

Gentleman Please deliver to Mr James King the Indents due me from the public of South Carolina for duty done as a spy in Col Leroy Hamman [Hammond] Redgt Millitia and Gentlemen Youle greatly oblige yr most
Obt Servant (Signed ) John Morris

To the Commissioner of the Treasury Charleston the above done in presence of Acquilla Miles J.P. this 15 day of May 1788. 12.36.60.66.75
Recd 23 May 88 full satisfaction for this acct in Indent No 1532 Book X
" pr Order (Signed) James King"

I do hereby certify the foregoing to be true copies as taken from the Records of this office s/ Thos P Walker Deputy Comp Genl
(No Seal of Office)
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Columbia So. Ca.
Oct. 27th 1855
Hon. J Minot
Commr of Pensions
Dear Sir
I send herewith the original declaration of John Morris decd Act 7th June 1832 & supplemental
declaration of his son Executor David J. Morriss- This declaration had not been sent in his lifetime he died 26th or 27th FebI 1835 by reason of the neglect of his Att rney. David J Morriss [Illegible] that Mary Foils (or Files as tis written in one place on Comptroller's Record ) was his fathers sister in law & to her by virtue of an order the first Indent in Comptrollers certificate herewith was paid, this shows
his identity with the soldier of that Record & the latter record of 148 days duty as spy at 60 shillings per day under Capt Wm Baskin & certified by
Col. Pickens corresponds with a part of his service claimed as such. This 60s per day was the pay of Captain of Infantry and should be so allowed in this claim
Very respectfully
Yr Obt Sert.
James A Black
for Dd J. Morriss Exor
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Columbia S.C. 14th July 1856.
Hon J Minot
Commr Pensions
Dear Sir
In your report of John Morriss
claim act 7th June 1832 dated Nov last you call for evidence of the identity of David J Morriss the son of the John Morris whose declaration
I had forwarded your Department accompanying which was proof of said John's identity with the
soldier shown by the Comptroller's Records by the testimony of Capt Saml Earl & Andrew Liddell revolutionary characters & comrades of Morriss
On 21st ult  I sent such evidence together with a copy of John Morriss will & proof of his now living children which in your report of 7th inst you term "merely cumulative". Having
fully as I think proved that David J. Morris is son & Executor of said John Morris who made the Declaration
I confess I do not comprehend your meaning in your last report, and would ask for an explanation.
Do you mean that Imust show that David J. Morris is John Morris' son by a lawful marriage, or is it that the John Morris who claimed is not identified with the John whose
service is shown by the Comptrollers certificate, surely the proof of Earl & Liddell & the facts stated by Morriss
being corroborated by the Comptroller's records in several partticulars ought to establish his identity as the soldier
whose service we claim. There are other John Morriss
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services on the Comptroller's Records but we only
claim those of which you have certified copies.
Please state as early as convenient
what you require & oblige
Very respectfully
Your Obt sert
James A Black
for D. J. Morris Exec
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No 39.066
John Morris dcd
S.C.
let J.A. Black Nov 6/55
Same Jul 7. 1856
Same Jul 28/56
7407
June  7, 1832
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7.407
John Morris
REJECTED
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Andrew
Liddell Junr
Affidavit in favor of
John Morrys Senr
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The State of So Carolina
Anderson District

Came personally Andrew Liddell Junr Before me who after being sworn on his oath sayeth that he was acquainted with John Morris Senr
During the Revolutionary war, this deponant sayeth that he was acquainted with him before the war and was with him requently in the time of the war he served with him under Capt Baskins in Abbeville South Carolina but cannot recollect whether
they was in any battle together or not. But knows that he was a firm friend to the whig cause from the Commencment to the End of the war and both belonged to one Lieut Company & has lived within three miles of him in Pendleton Dist for forty years or upward & he has always supported the Charter of an honest man & man of truth
s/ Andrew Liddell
Sworn & subscribed this 5th day of March 1833.
 A. J. Liddell
J. Q