Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4655, Jesse Harris, N.C.
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(3-1776)

SERVICE
N.C.  
Harris Jesse 

NUMBER
R. 4655

CONTENTS
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No. 39,070
Jesse Harris
Georgia
June 7, 1832
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a true coppy of the certificate from the clerk of the court of oglethorp, Co.

Copy of the marriage license of Jesse Harris, and Charity Napp

Georgia Oglethorp County }
To any Judge Justice of the inferior court Justice of the Peace or minister of the gospel you are hereby Authorised to Join in the Holy state of matrimony Jesse Harris & Charity Napp According to the Co[n]stitution an laws of this state and for so doing this shall be your Sufficient License  
Given under my hand this 3rd day of may 1804
[signed] Matthew Zainoy C.C.O.

State of Georgia Oglethorp County }
I Henry Britain ordinary and Exofficio Clerk in and for said county in said state do hereby Certify that the above and foregoing Coppy License is a true transcript and Coppy of the marriage License issued out from this office to Jesse Harris and Charity Napp on the 3rd day of May 1804 and I  further Certify that I have made diligent search for the Certificate of marriage of the above named parties in this office but I am unable to find the certificate of the marriage of those parties owing to the fact that there is no certificate of marriage recorded in this office further back than 1806 that being about the time the Law Requiring certificates of marriages went into effect and hence you see the reason why I cannot furnish the marriage Certificate and that the entry of the names of the above parties is all that is to be found on the records of my office
Given under my hand and seal of office at Lexington this 10th day of January 1856
[signed] Henry Briten ordinary of oglethorp co.
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A true coppy of the affidavit of Temperance Sylvey. 
Polk County Georgia }
Before me Thomas A Chisolom a Justice of the Peace in and for said county of Polk personally came Temperance Sylvey and being duly sworn according to to law deposeth and saith that she is sixty years old and that she knew Jesse Harris prior to his death in ogethorp County in said State that he died about the year Eighteen hundred & seven in said county of oglethorp, and that this Deponent went to live with his widow Charity Harris in a few months after her husband's death and continued to live with her until the year Eighteen hundred & fifteen.  
She knows certainly that the said Jesse Harris died about the time stated and that his daughter Perninah Allcorn the wife of James Allcorn from the best information is his the said Jesse Harris's only surviving heir, and that she now lives in the adjoining county to this to wit Floyd County Georgia.
She further saith that Jesse Harris & Charity Harris the parents of Mrs. Perninah Allcorn lived together as husband & wife prior to the death of the said Jesse Harris and were regarded as such by the entire community in which the lived, and her acquaintance with Charity Harris continued up to her death which was in Eighteen hundred and forty and that she continued a widow up to that time, she further states that Jesse Harris was always regarded as and bore the reputation of having been a Captain in the Revolutionary war and was so esteemed among all his neighbours and acquaintances in the region of country where he lived and that she has known his daughter Perninah now the wife of the said James Allcorn from the time she was a sucking child and that she has allways bore the highest character as a lady of worth and respectability.
[right] her
[right] Temperance   X   Silvey [X is her mark in lieu of signature]
[right] mark
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the said Jesse Harris's only surviving heir, and that she now lives in the adjoining county to this to wit Floyd County Georgia.
She further saith that Jesse Harris & Charity Harris the parents of Mrs. Perninah Allcorn lived together as husband & wife prior to the death of the said Jesse Harris and were  regarded as such by the entire community in which the lived, and her acquaintance with Charity Harris continued up to her death which was in Eighteen hundred and forty and that she continued a widow up to that time she further states that Jesse Harris was always regarded as, and bore the reputation of having been a Captain in the Revolutionary war and was so esteemed among all his neighbours and acquaintances in the region of country where he lived and that she has known his daughter Perninah now the wife of the said James Allcorn from the time she was a sucking child and that she has always bore the highest character as a lady of worth and respectability.
Temperance (her X mark) Silvey
Sworn to & subscribed before me the 8 day of May1845
Thomas A Chisolm, J.P.
Georgia
Polk County
I William T. Witcher Clerk of the Superior Court of the County of Polk do hereby certify that Thomas A. Chisolm  Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit was made is and was at the time of taking the same an acting Justice of the peace in and for said county duly commissioned and qualified and that his signature above is genuine in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office this 8th day of May 1845
William T. Witcher Clk
Sup. Court
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A true copy of the affidavit of Temperance Sylvey.
Polk County Georgia
Before me Thomas A Chisolm a Justice of the Peace in and for said county of Polk personally came Temperance Sylvey and being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith
That she is Sixty years old and that she knew Jesse Harris prior to his death in Oglethorp County in said State that he died about the year Eighteen hundred & Seven in said county of Oglethorp, and that this deponent went to live with his widow Charity Harris in a few months after her husband's death and continued to live with her until the year Eighteen hundred & fifteen.  She knows certainly that the said Jesse Harris died about the time stated and that his daughter Perninah Allcorn the wife of James Allcorn from the best information is his the said Jesse Harris's only surviving heir, and that she now lives in the adjoining county to this to wit Floyd County Georgia.
She further saith that Jesse Harris & nCharity Harris the parents of Mrs. Perninah Allcorn lived together as husband & wife prior to the death of the said Jesse Harris and were regarded as such by the entire community in which the lived, and her acquaintance with Charity Harris continued up to her death which was in Eighteen hundred an forty and that she continued a widow up to that time. She further states that Jesse Harris was always regarded as, and bore the reputation, of having been a Captain in the Revolutionary war and was so esteemed among all his neighbours and acquaintances in the region of country where he lived and that she has known his daughter Perninah now the wife of the said James Allcorn from the time she was a sucking child and that she has allways bore the highest character as a lady of worth and respectability.
Temperance (her X mark) Silvey
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the said Jesse Harris's only surviving, heir and that she now lives in the adjoining count to the west Floyd County, Georgia.
She further [illegible] that Jesse & Charity Harris the parents of Mrs. Perninah Allcorn lived together as husband and wife prior to the death of said Jesse Harris and were regarded as such by the entire community in which they lived, and her acquaintance with Charity Harris continued up to her death which was in Eighteen Hundred and forty and that she continued a widow up to that time.  She further states that Jesse Harris was always regarded as, and bore the reputation of having been a Captain in the Revolutionary War ans was so esteemed among all his neighbors and acquaintances in the region of the country where he lived and that she has known his daughter Perninah now the wife of the said James Allcorn from the time she was a suckling child and that she has always bore the highest character of a lady of worth and respectability
Temperance Silvey X her mark
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 8 day of May 1856
Thomas A. Chisolm
Georgia & William J. Witcher Clerk of Court Polk County the Superior Court of the County of Polk, do hereby certify that Thomas A. Chisholm Esquire before whom the forgoing affidavit was made is and was at the time of taking the same as acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county duly Commission [illegible] and that his signature & boss is genuine in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office this 8th day of May 1856
William T. Witcher Clerk
Sup. Court
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Floyd Co Ga July 26th 1856

Mr. L.P. Waldo Commissioner of pensions
Dear Sir  I thank you for your kindness for answering my letter in July 1855 you wrote me that I must describe my father's service by examining this certificate you will find the proof you required of me. I will now give you a true coppy of all the proof I am in possession of The reason I have not sent it sooner is on account of my pecunary circumstance as it is a hard matter for me to get money to pay for these certificates the Compt General at Raleigh N.C. charges me five dollars and they others in proportion I still continue my petition before you, hoping you will assist me, as I have no one that is able to give me any information. There are several persons that would attend to it for me, but as I suppose that this law  was intended for the benefit of those children whose fathers served their country and bore the heat and burden of that trying day, I am unwilling to pay out such a part as they require, and if you will be so kind, as to give me the necessary assistance, it will be a favour that will ever be kept alive in the bosom of one that kneeds such asistance, and I hope you will consider the proof I have made sufficient as you no it would be imposable for a child to prove every particular  please write to me as soon as you receive this whether to send on any proof or not
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nothing more but remaining your petitioner
Perninah Allcorn

I will now send you a true coppy of all the certificates also the compt letter that accompanied his certificate to me

State of North Carolina
Comptrollers office
I Geo W. Brook Comptroller of the public accounts in and for the state aforesaid do hereby certify that it appears of record [blank] was office among the payments made by said state to sundry persons for military service in the Revolutionary War as follows
Jesse Harris Captain
[blank] or Ck certified, No 797  36 Salisbury Dis Sep 1782
" " " "
" " " "1768 22"/ Deth  April '84
" " " " 5016  17" 9 Deth  '84
Book No 19 $ 76.60
In testimony whereoff I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of my office this 4 June 1855
Geo W Brook, Compt.
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Rev. and 1812
Wars Section
R 4655
MMHF:MLB
June 23, 1930
Jesse Harris 4655
Hon. Thomas L. Blanton
House of Representatives
My dear Mr. Blanton:
I have your letter of June 19, 1930, in behalf of Mr. J.C. Allcorn, Bangs, Texas, in regard to Revolutionary War Soldier, Jesse Harris.
I advise you that the Revolutionary War records of this bureau that statement appears that Jesse Harris of North Carolina served as a captain in the War of the Revolution.
He married in 1804, Charity Napp. The marriage license was obtained May 3, 1804 in Oglethorpe County, Georgia.
Jesse Harris died in 1807, in Oglethorpe County, Georgia and his widow Charity, died in 1840.
Their daughter Perninah, of Floyd County, Georgia, wife of James Allcorn, applied on July 26, 1856, as the only surviving heir of Jesse Harris, for pension on account of his service as captain in the Revolutionary War.
She was advised on August 12, 1856, that both the soldier and his widow died before the passage of any act of Congress, that would have given either of them title to pension; that there was no law which would entitle children to such pension, and that it was not necessary to present the original papers.
On December 17, 1865, Mrs. M. J. Young of Silver Creek, Floyd County, Georgia, wrote to this bureau inquiring in regard to the claim made by Mrs. Perninah Allcorn and was informed on December 23, 1865, that Mrs. Allcorn's claim had been rejected and given the cause of rejection.
Ther is now no provision of law that would entitle the descendants of soldiers of the Revolution to pension or bounty land.
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The papers in private claims presented to Congress do not constitute a part of the Revolutionary War archives of this bureau.
The letter to you from Mr. J. C. Allcorn is herewith returned.
Very truly yours
E.W. Morgan
Acting Commissioner

[handwritten underneath]
This letter [arrow drawn to Mr. Allcorn's letter referenced above] contained approximately the same information as is contained in the letter of W. Luther Simmons of Nov 27, 1929 which is in claim.
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Pension Office
August 19 1856
Madam
I have carefully examined the copies of the affidavits attached to your letter of the 26th and regret to state that there is no law or regulation under which you are entitled to a pension, arrears of pension, or any other gratuity for the services of your father, Jesse Harris in the war of the Revolution.  It appears that he died in 1805, at which time there was no law or [blank] granting [blank] for term of service rendered by him. The first act providing for it passing was [blank] the 7th June 1832, and which entered as such officers and soldiers as were then living; and until Feb 3rd 1853.  There was no law granting pensions to widows of Revolutionary soldiers, unless they were named prior to 1800. [blank] your mother died in 1840 and was not named until 1804. Then, as noted
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[blank] on either page, and it is not necessary to present the original papers.

Mrs. Perninah Allcorn
Rome
Floyd Co. Geo.
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No. 39.070
Jesse Harris
Geo.
M. P. Allcorn Aug. 13/36
[blank]
Rejected
4655
June 7, 1832
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[top of page appears torn cutting off name listed in Fold3 File--typed here as reference]
Mr. P. Allcorn

July 18/55
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Pension Office
July 18 1853
Madam
I enclose some forms for declarations for pension. I can give no instructions other than is contained in the forms unless I have more particular information. You must describe your father's service, show how long he served, when he died, when he was married, when his widow died and what children now survive her.

Olobock

Mrs. Perninah Allcorn
Rome
Georgia
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1885 Dec 22, Mr. M.J. Young that the soldier this & his widow died before the passage of a law under which either could be entitled to [illegible] pension was authorized to the children or other heir, Mrs. Allcorn was a [illegible]Aug 12th 1856 [illegible] her claim was rejected
1921 June 20 Data to Mr. J  AW
1921 June 24 Data to Hon Gordon Lee AW
1930 Jan 15- Data to Mr. Luther Simms
1930 June 20- data do Hon J. L. Blanton
4655
P.O. Jesse Harris
Service:_____________
Enlisted:_____________,18
Discharged:___________, 18
REJECTED
Application filed:_________, 18
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P.O.
Recognized.  _______________Contr
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Rev.&1812 Wars Section.
MMHF
R. 4655

January 15, 1930.

W. Luther Simms,
Lindale,
Georgia.

Dear Sir:
I advise you that on July 26, 1856, Mrs. Perninah Allcorn, the daughter of Jesse Harris of North Carolina, applied for pension on account of her father's service as a Captain in the War of the Revolution.
It was stated that Jesse Harris married Charity Napp in 1804, that he died in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, in 1807, and that she died in 1840, leaving Perninah the wife of James Allcorn as the only surviving heir.
She was advised on August 13, 1856, that both the solidier and his widow died before the passage of any act of Congress, that would have given either of them title to pension, that there was no law which would entitle children to such pension and that it was not necessary to present the original papers.
On December 17, 1885, Mrs. W. J. Young of Silver Creek, Floyd County, Georgia, wrote to this bureau inquiring in regard to the claim made by Mrs. Perninah Allcorn and was informed on December 23, 1885, that Mrs. Allcorn's claim had been rejected and given the cause of rejection.
There is no provision of law that would now entitle the descendants of soldiers of the Revolution to pension or bounty land.
The papers in private claims presented to Congress do not constitute a part of the Revolutionary War archives of this bureau.
Very truly yours,
EARL D. CHURCH
Commissioner.

[handwritten beside letter closing]
Copied from letter of June 20, 1921 without review
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June 24, 1981.

Hon. Gordon Lee,
House of Representatives.

My dear Mr.. Leo:
In response to your letter of the sixtenth instant, and the enclosed letter of Messers. Mundy and Watkins of Cedartown, Georgia and the copy of an undated letter from Mrs. Mary J Young, addressed to the Congress of the United States, I have the honor to advise you, that on July 26, 1856, Mrs. Perninah Allcorn, the daughter of Jesse Harris, of North Carolina, applied for pension on account of her father's service as a Captain in the War of the Revolution.
It was stated that Jesse Harris married Charity Napp in 1804, that he died in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, in 1807, and that she died in 1840, leaving Perninah the wife of James Allcorn as the only surviving heir.
She was advised on August 12, 1856, that both the soldier and his widow died before the passage of any act of Congress, that would have give either of them title to pension that there was no law which would entitle children to such pension and that it was not necessary to present the original papers.
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On December 17, 1885, Mrs. M J. Young of Silver Creek, Floyd County, Georgia, wrote to this Bureau inquiring in regard to the claim made by Mrs. Perninah Allcorn and was informed on December 23, 1885, that Mrs. Allcorn's claim had been rejected and given the cause of rejection.
There is no provision of law that would now entitle the descendants of soldiers of the Revolution to pension or bounty land.
The paper in private claims presented to Congress do not constitute a part of the Revolutionary War archives of this Bureau.
The Honorable William J. Harris, United States Senate was advised as above on June 20, 1931, in Messers. Mundy and wakins behalf.

Very truly yours,
H.M. Vandervoot
Acting Commissioner.
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Hon. William J. Harris,
United States Senate.

My dear Senator:
In response to your letter of the sixteenth instant, and the enclosed letter of Massrs. Mundy and Watkins of Cedartown, Georgia and the copy of an undated letter from Mrs. Mary J. Young, addressed to the Congress of the United States, I have the honor to advise you that on July 26, 1856, Mrs. Perninah Allcorn, the daughter of Jesse Harris of North Carolina, applied for pension on account of her father's service as a Captain in the War of the Revolution.
It was stated that Jesse Harris married Charity Napp in 1804, that he died on Oglethorpe County, Georgia, in 1807, and that she died in 1840, leaving Perninah the wife of James Allcorn as the only surviving heir.
She wsa advised on August 13, 1856, that both the soldier and his widow died before the passage of any act of Congress, that would have given either of them title to pension, that there was no law which would entitle children to such pension and that it was not necessary to present the original papers.
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On December 17, 1885, Mrs. M.J. Young of Silver Creek, Floyd County, Georgia, wrote to this Bureau, inquiring in regard to the claim made by Mrs. Perninah Allcorn and was informed on December 23, 1885, that Mrs. Allcorn's claim had been rejected and given the cause of rejection.
There is no provision of law that would now entitle the descendants of soldiers of the Revolution to pension or bounty land.  The papers in private claims presented to Congress do not constitute a part of the Rev. War archives of this Bureau.
Very truly yours,
Washington Gardner
Commissioner
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Hon. E. W. Morgan,
Assistant Commissioner of Pensions,
Department of the Interior,
Washington D.C.

My dear Mr. Morgan:
I am enclosing herewith letter just received from one of my constituents, Mr. J.C. Allcorn, whose address is Bangs, Brown County, Texas.
I will ask you to please have carefully investigated the facts mentioned by him in said letter and write me fully and in detail just what are the rights, if any, of Mr. Allcorn under the law.
Thanking you for your usual prompt and efficient attention, I am
Sincerely yours,
Thomas L Blanton
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Commissioner of Pensions,
Department of the Interior,
Washington, D.C.
My dear Mr. Commissioner:
The enclosed letter from Messers Mundy & Watkins, of Cedartown, Georgia, together with a copy of a letter from Mrs. Mary J. Young, concerning her claim for pension, are self-explanatory.
I would thank you to furnish me with the information requested by Messrs Mundy & Watkins, returning the enclosures with your reply.
Very sincerely yours,
Wm J Harris
2 papers returned
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SIXTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
GILBERT N. HAUGEN, IOWA, CHAIRMAN.
GORDON LEE, GA.
JAMES G MCLAUGHLIN, MICH.
SYDNEY ANDERSON, MINN.
EZEKIEL S. CANDLER, MISS.
WILLIAN W. WILSON, ILL.
CHARLES B. WARD, N.Y.
J. THOMAS BEFLIN, ALA.
WILLIAM E McKINLEY, ILL.
THOMAS L. RUSKY, MO.
ELIJAH C. HUTCHINSON, N.J.
JAMES YOUNG, TEX.
FRED S. PURNELL, IND.
H. M. JACOWAY, ARK.
EDWARD VOIT, Wis.
JOHN V. LESHER, PA.
M. O. McLAUGHLIN, NEBR.
J. N. TINCHER KANS.
CARL W. RIDDICK MONT.
JOHN W RAINEY, LL.
WILLIS J.  HOLINGS, PA.
J. KUHIO R
KALANIANACLE, HAWAII.

[initials on corner] Sav JC
Committee on Agriculture
House of Representatives U.S.
Washington, D.C.
June 16, 1921.
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Commissioner:

Please advise me whether or not, under
existing laws, such a claim as set out in the
enclosed paper could be paid.
Very sincerely,
Hon Gordon Lee
Enc.
two papers returned
to Hon Gordon Lee
they were exactly same as those
which came with letter of Hon Wm J. Harris. Au
[stamp] CONGRESSIONAL
[STAMP] PENSION OFFICE U.S. JUN 18 1921
[stamp] LAW DIVISION RECEIVED JUNE 21 1921
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June 22, 1921 [illegible]

Respectfully referred to the
Chief of Revolutionary War Section
for consideration of and reply to attached letter from Hon. Gordon Lee; or, if the papers are returned to Law Division with necessary data to make proper answer to the inquiry, reply will be made in Law Division.
[illegible] Willey
Law Clerk
Page 27

Lindale, GA
Nov 27th, 1929
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:-
I beg leave to lay the following matter before you and respectfully ask your opinion in regard to same.
The records of the War Department show that one Jesse Harris served in the War of the Revolution as a private of the 4th Company of the North Carolina Regiment, regiment not indicated. His name appears on the company muster roll dated December 12, 1782, which shows: Term of enlistment, 14 months, date since last muster or enlistment, August 1, 1782, remark "Inlisted." No further record of his service has been found of any other man similarly named. 
This same Jesse Harris neither
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received pay for his service during the war not drew his bounty afterwards.
Several years later Congress passed an act which in such cases, allowed children of deceased veterans to draw all money due. He had only one child, who was then Mrs. Perninah Alcorn. She accordingly pu in her claim for the money either between the dates of 1849 and 1852 or about that time.  Mrs. Alcorn employed Gen A.K. Patton, of Rome, G.A. to attend to the matter, giving him the power of attorney to draw the money.  She had furnished all proof that the law required, received and signed the necessary papers when Patton got into difficulty and left Rome, taking her papers with him.  She immediately notified the Pension Office not to honor the papers or power of attorney if presented. She then made all her proof over again
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and her papers were approved and returned to her with instructions to apply in person at the Pension Office and receive the money. (According to some old letters in my possession this was by a special act of Congress in 1859 or 1860 about that time.) There was confusion and [illegible] disagree-meant between North and South at this time and friends advised her to wait until this was settled before attempting the trip to Washington. Instead of becoming a quiet matters grew worse and the Civil War followed. Mrs. Alcorn died during the war, July 4, 1864,
Mrs. Perninah Alcorn had nine children.  Once of her Sons, John C.C. Alcorn, of Texas was in Memphis and became acquainted with a Senator Alcorn who told him that if he would send the papers to him at Friars Point, Miss he would investigate the matter when he
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[illegible] to Washington.  He mailed papers to the Senator, but they never reach their destination.
Is it possible for the heirs to obtain this money upon submitting sufficient proofs? Would interest be paid on the money up to the present time? If you think it possible to get this money please instruct me as to how to go about it.  I believe an examination of the Pension Officer records will substantiate the facts as I have given them.
Any consideration will, I assume, be very greatly appreciated. Jesse Harris was my Great-great- grandfather.
Respectfully yours,
W. Luther Simms.
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R 4655 Silver Creek Floyd Co. G.A.
August 12, 1856
Dec 17th 1885
Commission of Pensions
Sir
You will confer a great favor if you will give me all the information  an concerning a pension vlaim in favor of Mrs. Perninah Allcorn which claim she had established due her for her father's service in the Revolutionary War of 1776.  her father's name was Jesse Harris and served as [illegible] in said war: if there is any certificates from records or affidafis from individuals; or any papers of any kind concerning the matter filed in the Pension office with in the
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dates of, 1852: and 1860. You will please let me know as soon as possible if any information can be found within said dates concerning the matter. please let me know as soon as possible and tell me what your fee is and I will send it to you:
yours with respect
Mrs. M. J. Young
Silver Creek
Floyd Co. G.A.