Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7612, for Jonathan Starkey, North Carolina
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(3-1776)
SERVICE
N.C.
Starkey, Jonathan
NUMBER
S.7612
carded
CONTENTS
[blank]
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4256
North Carolina
Jonthan Starkey
of Caswell in the State of N. Car. 
whowas a pri. Inf. & Ca. in the company commanded by Captain White of the Reg't commanded by Col. Sanders in the N. C. line for 11 mo: from 1778

Inscribed on the Roll of North Carolina at the rate of 39 Dollars 33 Center per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 17th day of Jan'y "33 and sent to Hon. A. H. Shepperd House of Reps.

Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1832  58.99
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 th Mar ' 33 19.67=
$78.66
[Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Nathan Rice Clerk,
Book D. Vol. 8. Page 44.
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North Carolina
Caswell County.
Jonathan Starkey's
Declaration
17651

I have certified &c
A. H. Shepperd
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I certify that Robert Martin and Elisha Evans who have made affidavit in the application of Jonathan Starkey are respectable persons & that their statement's entitled to full credit - I futher certify that I have examed the affidavits and declaration & and find all but the signatures in the hand writing of Paul A. Haralson Esq. a highly respectable individual a clerk of Caswell County  Court and I verily believe and so state that the papers are entirely genuine and altogether such as were before the court and intended to have been certified.
A. H. Shepperd 
5 Jan'y 1833
[Signature]
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Declaration
in order to obtain the Benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832-

State of North Carolina} Court of Pleas & Quarter 
County  of Caswell} Sessions October Term 1832.
On this eighth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court the court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of the County and State aforesaid before James Rainey, John P. Harrison and James McMullin esquires, now sitting Jonathan Starkey a resident of the County of Caswell and State of North Carolina aged Seventy Two years on the 11th day of March 1833, 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 7th June 1832 - "That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated that
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That he entered the service of the United States, in and with the militia of the state of N. C. some time in the month of Octo. 1778 under Capt. White in the Company Commanded by Col. James Sanders & in which company George Moore was Major that at that time I resided at or near the place where I now live in Caswell County, State of North Carolina, and was drafted in the company aforesaid. When he was but little over seventeen years of age, that he was marched with the militia of North Carolina to Hillsboro in this State, and from thence through the State by Guilford to Salibury where they joined Gen'l Rutherford and his troops from thence we marched to Camten [Campton] South Carolina, and thence through that State to Charlestown from thence he were ordered to Purrysburg on Savannah River to watch the movements of the enemy, and so continued our march watching and harrassing the enemy until we got to Augusta in Georgia, In Augusta we joined Gen'l Ashe and his brigade; and had some little fighting across the river; he drove the enemy from Augusta to a place on briar creek. Where we took possession and in a few days we were surprised by the enemy and defeated not on account of Cowardice of our troops but as I always did and do now believe on account of the misconduct of Gen'l Ash from thencce we recrossed the River and were marched ot a place on the Savannah River, called the Two Sisters where we remained until the 18th day of April 1779. When I was discharged after serving a tour of about or near six months; It is here proper to state that we were swindled out of Three months of our Time; for when we entered the service it was understood and so expressly stated that we had but three month months to  serve; but when we were in South Carolina we were held in service and kept as our officers stated
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for fear of an attack and for fear of the enemy doing too much injury and there was no chance of getting out of service without running away which I scorned to do so long as the enemy was in the field - my discharge which I now have is in these words.
"Apl. 18th 1779. Jonathan Starkey being drafted for the aid of South Carolina, hath served his time & is therefore discharged. George Moore Major"

On the 24th day of the December 1780 he was drafted again in Capt.  Spillsby Coleman Company commanded by Col. Farmer of HIllsboro & Maj. Arch'd. Murphy of this County; he (Jonathon Starkey) still a resident of Caswell county in said State of North Carolina has marched to Salisburg in said state and from thence to Cowans ford on the Catawba River. There we met the enemy under Lord Cornwallis and endeavoured to prevent their crossing the river at this place we had some hard fighting and our Commanding Officer one of the bravest officers of the Revolution was killed. (Gen'l Davidson} we were driven back and retreated to a place called Torrens. Lane where the enemy overtook us, here we again had some severe fighting and were defeated and retreated toward Salisbury and before we reached Salisbury we overtook Gen'l Green and his troops whom we joined and retreated through our State along the road by the door of my own house and across Dan  River over into Virginia, where we were reinforced by the  Virginia troops and made a stand. The enemy finding we were reinforced turned their forces by Hillsboro and up to Guilford Co. House we pursued them and followed on as far as a place
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called the High Rock, where my term of service expired and I was here discharged - after serving a tour of Three months - My dishcarge was lost, directly afterward , not recollecting to have seen it since about this time - & About this time I was much troubled in my mind owning to the most inhumane and brutal Capture of my old Father by the Tories and British and the unheard of and cruel Treatment which he rec'd from them and which resulted in his death. I am induced to believe that my situation about this time was the reason & cause I neglected to take that care of my discharge which, under other circumstances, I would  have done. - I think as well as I now recollect, I got home about the first of April or the last of March 1781 - Some short time afterwards and I think about the last of July I was promised, that if I would find my own horse and Gun and would volunteer my services in defence of my country, and continue in service for two months that in Consideration of finding my own horse and gun and serving the said two months that it should be considered as a service of a tour  of three months; and that I should have all the benefits and advantages of having served the tour of three months as aforesaid - accordingly, I volunteered in Capt. Herndon Haralson's Company of Light Horse and was marched by him through North Carolina and as far as Camdon in South Carolina where we joined Col. Lee.'s company of Cavalry, from thence we were marched to the Eutaw Springs where we found the enemy; here we had an engagement, and perhaps the hardest fought battle in the Revolutionary war; we fought like men ought to fight: we
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drove them; and as I think we finally cleared them out of South Carolina, by this signal action, It was our success here that in some degree I was comforted and consoled for the hardships and the troubles, which I had felt during our glorious Revolution; some short time afterwards my time expiring I was discharged after serving a tour of actual service of Two months, though for which I claim a tour of three months for the reasons before stated - 
Thus in the whole time of service in which he was engaged including the three tours as mentioned above, amont in all to Eleven months actual service rendered what may be considered of in the last tour as mentioned before and which fact I submit to the generosity of my country -
I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state and if any he has no knowledge of it.

Interrogatories propounded by the Court.

1st Where & in what year were you born? 
Answer: I was born in Baltimore County in the State of Maryland, on the 12th day of March 1781.

2nd Have you any record of your age and if so where
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where is it? 
Answer - I have a record of my age in my possession. It is the Family record of my family, commencing with the age of my Grand Father who was born in England in the Seventeenth Century - 

3rd Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, & where do you now live. 
Answer - At the time I was called into service I was living at or near the place where I now live in Caswell County and State of North Carolina - where  I have lived ever since and where I expect to live so long as I do live - 

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 - In the first tour which I served I was drafted in Capt. White's company - In the second tour I was again drafted in Capt. Coleman's company and in the last tour I was a volunteer in Capt. Herndon Haralson Company of Cavalry or Mounted militia.
 
5th State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops when you served, such continental & militia regiments as you can recollect, & the general circumstances of your service?
Answer - I could state the names of a great many regular officers & will content myself with naming Capt. Lytle, Capt. Donoho, Major, Nelson, Col. Henry Dixon, Col. Arch'd Lytle, Col. Malmedy, Col. Lee, Gen'l Lincoln, Gen'l Green, Gen'l Pickens, Gen'l Marion and the Brave Baron DeKalb. I was well acquainted with Col. Lytle's Regiments; I think it was the 42 or 44th
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I forget the name and numbers of the other regular regiments Col. Dixon; I don't recollect the number of nor do I that of Col. Malmedy's & Col. Lee's: only that they were Cavalry regiments: - There were regular Regiments
The Militia regiments that I knew were Col.. Farmers, Col. Sanders, Col. Locke & a great many others - The general circumstances of my service, I have in some degree before detailed. I suffered much from Cold, Hunger & fatigue, and fought not for money  (for that I got very little of) But for my Country alone which was the only feeling that fired my bosom, and revenge for the inhuman murder (by the enemy) of my poor old father.

6th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so by whom was it given & what has become of it?
Answer: I received discharges from my officers for every service which I served - The first I rec'd from Major Moore which is now in my possession and a copy of which is stated in this my Declaration - The next I rec'd from Gen'l Butler. which I lost in the Revolution the last I rec'd of Cap't Herndon Haralson, which I lost with my pocket book, together with a good many other valuable papers, soon after I left the service - 

7th State the names of persons, to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood & who can testify as to your character for veracity & their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution?
Answer
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Answer - I am known generally to the citizens of my county & to every body in my neighbourhood I will name James Rainey Esq'r. our presiding magistrate, Gen'l Barzillai Graves; Elisah Evans, Sen. Robert Martin, Rev'd. Richard Martin, any or all of whom will testify as to my veracity and good behaviour and some of whom will also testify as to my service in the revolution - 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Jonathan Starkey
[Signature]
Test. 
Paul A. Haralson, Clk
[Signature]

We Richard Martin a Clergyman residing in the county of Caswell and John McAden residing in the same county of Caswell and State of North Carolina, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jonathan Starkey who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be seventy 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
[Signatures]
Richard S. Martin
John McAden
Test Paul A. Haralson Clk

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 as he states - And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Richard Martin who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the said county of Caswell & State of North Carolina, and that Gen'l Barzillai Graves who has also signed the same is a resident of the same county and state and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
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State of North Carolina}
Caswell County} Sch.

I Paul A. Haralson Clerk of the Court of
pleas and quarter Sessions of the County of Caswell and State of North Carolina, do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of Jonathan Starkey for a pension
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and seal of office this 8th day of
October A D 1832
Paul A. Haralson Clk
[Signature]
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State of North Carolina} Court of Pleas and Caswell County} Quarter SessionsOctober Term 1832

Robert Martin of Lawful age appeared in open court and being sworn according to Law deposeth and sayeth as follows to wit; That he was a soldier and an officer in the Revolutionary War, and was well acquainted with Jonathan Starkey in said war. That he the said Jonathan Starkey was a volunteer in the company commanded by Captain Herndon Haralson the company being mounted militia or what was at that time called Light Horse, in which company this affiant was Lieutenant. That the said Starkey served in the Tour which went out to the south under the aforesaid Captain and belonged to the troops who went to and fought the Battle of Eutaw Springs; That so far as the conduct of the said Starkey came to the knowledge of the affiant he was an active and faithful soldier always ready and ever willing to be present when and where his duty called him - This affiant also states that he understood and believes that the said Starkey was also in service at other times and under other officers during the revolution has heard that he was in the South and at the Battle on Briar Creek.
Sworn to and Subscribed in open court this 8th day of October A. Domini [infinity sign] 1832.
Rob't Martin
[Signature]
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State of North Carolina}
Caswell County} I Paul A. Haralson Clerk of the Court of pleas and quarter sessions in and for the county and state aforesaid do hereby certify that the within affidavit of Robert Martin was duly subscribed and sworn to in open court at October Term 1832
In Testimony I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 8th day of October 1832 in Term Time at October Term 1832.
Paul A. Haralson Clk
[Signature]
[Seal]
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State of North Carolina} Court of pleas and 
Caswell County} quarter sessions October Term 1832 -

Elisha Evans Sen. of Lawful age; personally appears in open court and being duly sworn according to law deposeth and sayeth as follows; That he was a soldier of the revolutionary war, and well recollects that Jonathan Starkey was in the service and served with him that the said Jonathan Starkey was drafted in Capt. White's Company, was marched in South Carolina was with him at Purrysburg; that he was with the troops at the Battle on Brian Creek near Augusta, and served this tour out; This affiant being in the same compaign & Tour with the said starkey - He also states that said Jonathan Starkey was also drafted in Capt. Colman's company of the North Carolina Militia that he was marched to the Catawba River that he was in the battle on the Catawba River, was also at the Battle in Tarronees? lane & that he served out this tour or campaign - this affiant being also in the same company with the said Starkey - These facts this affiant well recollects and knows of his own knowledge - This affiant also states that he has heard and believes that the said Starkey was a volunteer in Capt. Harmon Haralson's company of Light hourse and was with the troops who faught the Battle of Eutaw Springs; This fact this affiant does not know of his own knowledge but from report & the infomation which he has rec'd he believes it to be true; And he further states that so far as the conduct of the said Starkey came to his knowledge he was an active, Brave, & faithful soldier.
Elisha Evans Sen.
[Signature]
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North Carolina} Court of Pleas an Quarter
Caswell County} Sessions October Term 1832

I Paul A. Haralson Clerk of the Court of pleas and quarter sessions of Caswell County & State aforesaid - do hereby certify that the within affidavit of Elisha Evans Sen. was duly sworn to & Subscribed in open court.
In Testimony where of I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 8th day of October 1832
Paul A. Haralson Clk
[Signature]
[Seal]
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Jonaothan Starkey
from 1778 Pri. of Inf. & Cav.
11 months.
$39.33



I have certified
Hon. A H. Shepperd
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Jonathan Starkey which require further proof or explanation. 

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? 

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? 
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 periods of the war when he served? 

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?

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under who he served, in conformity with the regulations?

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? 

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?

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?
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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 revolutionary service? 

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, as he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? 

XIV. +If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service has the magistrate who administered the oath certified tht he , she, or they are persons of credibility? No
And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
 
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. ++Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 
__________________________________________________

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 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 ______months and _____days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension.
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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 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 shewn under what officers the applicant served; 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 employed in any civil pursuit.

(+) QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 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 magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.

(++) QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where 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 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.
[hand pointing right] In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.
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7612
Rev. War
INVALID.
_____________
File No. 7612
Jonathan Starkey
Priv. Rev. War
____________
Act: June 7th 1832
Index:-Vol. Set., Page 358
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Jonathan Starkey
S. File 7612
N. C.
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April the 18 1779
Jonathan Starkey being Drafted for the and of South Carolina and hath served his time and is therefore Discharged - 
George Moore Major