Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 15,386, James Conn, N.C.
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SERVICE
NC

Conn, James

NUMBER
S 15386

carded
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26547
Kentucky

James Conn of Russell Co in the State of Kentucky who was a private in the Comp commanded by Captain Watson of the regt commanded by Col Rutherford in the N. Carolina line for 2 years

Inscribed on the roll of Kentucky at the rate of 80 Dollars ~ Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 14 day of March 1834 and Wm. Owens Columbia

Arrears to the 4th of March   240.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept   40.00
__________
$280.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by Danl Boyd Clerk,
Book E Vol. 7 Page 42

Date of death not on AB.
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State of Kentucky
Russel County} Ss.
On this 15th day of February 1834 personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Russel aforesaid James Conn a resident of the county of Russel aforesaid state of Kentucky aged eighty three years 18th day of July next, who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. 
That he entered the service of the United States for three months in the month of December 1797 as a drafted militiaman in the county of Orange state of North Carolina under Capt Watson. He was marched on to Hillsborough where he was joined to Colonel Rutherfords Regiment. He remained at Hillsborough for some time and the neighborhood then marched on towards a place then called Cross Creek where the army was again stationed for some weeks scouting about the tories were then assembling and as he understood Colonel Rutherford was waiting and watching their movements, finally hearing that a body of them had collected near Cross Creek. The American army marched on the Cross Creek where we met with the enemy and had a severe battle with them, killed many of them and finally defeated them. This battle was towards the latter part of February 1778. They continued at Cross Creek after the battle until his term expired which was but a short time and after his time expired
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he was honorably discharged by his Captain and returned home having faithfully served three months.
Some time after he returned home he moved to Lincoln County, North Carolina, then a frontier. He was soon after he settled in Lincoln drafted for three months to go against the Indians. He immediately entered the service of the United States under Capt John Cook and was marched on the Broad River where he was joined to Col. Grayham's regiment (the Col was sometimes called Gurnes). He was stationed at a place called McFaddens Fort and while there the fort was finished and this declarant was with others kept spying about for some; and went on and destroyed several Indian villages and killed several of them in this way. 
That is part of his time at the fort post spying and scouting and part to the Indian towns he constantly was engaged in the way aforesaid until the time for which he was drafted expired and was by his Capt honorably discharged and returned home. In this tour he faithfully served three months, that being the time for which he was drafted.
Some short time after he returned home he volunteered for three months under Capt Hampton and was marched on to 96 where he was joined to Col. Williams regiment and was immediately marched on to the Cherokee Nation on the Highwassee [Hiwassee] River where we destroyed several Indian towns, took a number of prisoners having had a severe battle with the Indians as we went out at a place called the Black Hole. After the various skirmishes & battles they returned home and was again honorably discharged by his Captain having served out the time of his engagement.
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Being three months the two last mentioned tours was in the year 1778.
In the spring 1779 he volunteered for three months under Capt Key Kendall and immediately entered the service of the United States. Was marched on to Col. Grayham's Regiment and was joined to his regiment and marched into South Carolina on to the Cataba [Catawba] River where some tories had collected. Upon the approach of the Americans they dispersed or fled so that they could not be overtaken. They pursued them for several miles but could not overtake them. They then marched on to North Carolina and was in this expedition kept constantly marching about from place to place and when quartered for any time they kept scouting about until their term expired. In this expedition he was in no battle or skirmish and having faithfully served out his full term of three months was again by his Captain honorably discharged and returned home.
He was at home but a short time when he again volunteered for three months under the said Capt Key Kendall and again marched on and was attached to Col. Grayham's regiment and the whole of this tour was also spent in marching to various places in the state of North and South Carolina, guarding certain neighborhoods and pursuing the Tories whenever they assembled and dispersing them. Stationed for short periods on the Cataba [Catawba] River, Broad River & since there was no circumstance took place in either of the last tours of much importance or notoriety nor did they join any troop
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other than their own regiment he faithfully served in this tour three months and was again honorably discharged by his captain and returned home.
He further states that in the Spring 1780 he again volunteered for three months under Capt Wilson and marched on and joined to Col. Lenoirs regiment and marched on to a place called Sunberry [Sunbury] having been attached to General Lincolns army and at Sunberry [Sunbury] had a severe battle in which the British proved too hard for us. We then marched on to Charleston where we continued until the town was surrendered. This he thinks was in the month of May. He states that sometime after the surrender he was paroled by Lord Cornwallis and permitted to return home. He states that before he could reach home is term of three months had expired. He well recollects he entered the service in February, he thinks about the 20th. Therefore is confident that from the time he entered the service that it was more than three months before he reached home and so charges this tour to be three months.
He states that sometime after his return from Charleston it was either about the last of May or the first of June 1780 he again volunteered for three months under the said Captain Wilson and was marched into South Carolina when he was joined to Colonel Lanairs regiment and was marched to several
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place, and staid [stayed] at some other places, some time marched on and crossed the Cataba [Catawba] River after having been to many other places not now particularly recollected. After having cross said river they joined Genl Gates army and marched on to Camden where they lay for some time until the battle in which battle this declarant was in from beginning to end and was wounded in said action in the arm & body with a bayonett tho not severed and was taken prisoner by the British dragoons but effected his escape and joined his company. After the battle his time soon expired and received his discharge from his captain & returned home, in which service he faithfully served three months.
He further states that he had been at home but a few days when he again volunteered for three months under Capt Wm. Grayham and marched on near King Mountain and joined Col. Williams regiment under who he served until he, Col. Williams, was killed in the battle; he then was commanded by Col. Campbell. He states that in that battle he received a severe wound in his right shoulder, the ball entering the forepart of the shoulder passing obliquely through
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which entirely broke the shoulder blade and shattered and fractured many other bones. By reason of said wound he was unable to perform any other or further service until after the time for which he had so volunteered expired nor indeed was he ever able to perform service since nor is he yet but has ever since & ever will be a cripple. He states that all the aforesaid services was done and performed in a corps called into service by competent authority and he was either in the field or in garrison and for the time during which the services was performed he was not employed in any civil pursuit and for which service he claims a pension.
He further states that he received discharges in writing for all the tours he served except the tour to Charleston and the one at Kings Mountain, all of which he kept for many hears and his house was consumed by fire and his discharges together with all his other papers was consumed with his other household property.
He further states that he has no documentary evidence to establish his service nor does he know of any witness whose testimony he can procure
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who can testify to his service. He further states there is no clergyman living in the neighborhood, none in the county near to his residence that he knows of than about fourteen miles and he further states that from old age and bodily infirmity he is not able to attend court for the purpose of making this declaration.
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.

1st Where and in what year were you born?
Answer: I was born in the city of Philadelphia on the eighteenth day of July in the year AD one thousand seven hundred and fifty one agreeable to the information which I always had from my parents & seeing the church's roster records all of which I believe to be true.

2nd Have you any record of your age, if so where is it?
Answer: I once had a record taken from my father's register but the book in which it was contained was burnt the time my discharges was and
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that corresponded with the time before stated.

3rd where you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live?
Anser: When I first entered the service I lived in Orange County State of North Carolina. After I returned from my first tour I moved to Lincoln County, North Carolina, where I resided until several years after the close of the war. I then moved to South Carolina where I stayed a short time and until the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety two when I moved to Kentucky Madison County where I lived a few years, then moved to Russel County KY, where I lived until the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety nine when I settled where I now live (then Green since Adair) now Russel.

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: the first and second tour I served I was drafted. All the other tours I served as a volunteer. I never was a substitute for anyone.

5 State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops
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3

where you served such continental and militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service.
Answer: I have given the names of most of the officers that was with me in most of the tours at Charleston there was many so there was at Camden but I cannot recollect with sufficient certainty to name any particular officer. Genl. DeKalb was at Camden and there killed. I do not recollect any particular regiment other my own joining us at any particular place. Many of my tours was performed with the regiment alone to which I belonged. I have given as general a history of my services in the body of my declaration as I can recollect.

6th Did you ever receive a discharge from service, if so by whom was it given and what has become of it?
Answer: I received written discharges given by my respective captains for all my tours except the tour at Charleston where I was taken prisoner and paroled by the British commanded and the tour I served at Kings Mountain I was severely wounded and was sent home and did not receive
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untill long after the term expires for which I volunteered nor indeed have I yet recovered.

7th 
State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the revolution.
Ans  
I am acquinted with a Reuben Shackleford, Charles Barnes, George Herrford, William Herrford, William Nelson, Jessie Norflet and indeed all the neighbours who has resided here for any length of time.
I have lived where I now do since the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety nine and I believe all that. I have had an intimate acquintance I believe [illegible] speak well of my character for veracity and their belief of my services as a colonel of the Revolution subscribed and sworn to the day & year of
.James Conn
We Reuben B Shackleford, James Conn Jr, William Dean, James Dean & William B Conn
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Residing in Russel County certify that we are well acquainted with James Conn who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration we believe him to be Eighty three years old as he states and we further state that the said Conn is much affected from bodily infirmity so much so we do not believe he Could attend Court he living in a remote Corner and many miles from town and we further state that there is no Clergyman living in the neighbourhood and we further state that said Conn is reputed in the neighbourhood where he Resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we Concur in that opinion and we further state that said report is general and has so been from our Earliest acquaintances with him and that he is a man of respectabillity and good standing that his veracity is as high as any man of our acquaintance subscribed and sworn to the day and year afd.               Reuben B Shackelford

William B Conn           James Conn
                                     James B Dean
State of Kentucky Russel County Oct 2 I Hugh French Justice of the peace in and for the County afd hereby certify that on the day and year stated on the first sheet subscribed and was duly sworn to the foregoing declaration on
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Sheet No 1 2 & 3 before me and I do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above names James Conn the applicant was a revolutionary and served as he states and I further certify that said Conn is affected from bodily infirmity that he is unable to attend Court and I further certify that there is no clergyman residing on the neighborhood of said Conn. I further certify that he is highly respectable and that he has lived where he now lives for more than 30 years and his reputation as a soldier has been general & never doubted and I believe he is the age he states and I further certify that Reuben B Shackleford, James Conn Jr, William Dean, James Dean, and William B Conn who has signed the proceeding certificate are residents of Russel County, Ky, that they subscribed said certificates and was duly sworn to the same before me on this day and that they and each of them are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit given under my hand as Justice of the Peace the day and year afd.

Hugh French  J.P.P.C.

Kentucky Russell County
I William S Patterson Clerk of the Russell County Court do hereby certify that Hugh French Esq whose signature is to the above certificate is & was at the time of signing the above an acting Justice of the Peace in said County of Russell that his signature annexed is his genuine signature. In testimony whereof I have subscribed my name & affixed the seal of my office hereto this 17th day of February 1834 & 42nd year of the commonwealth.
William Patterson Clerk of the county court by John G Lair his [unk]
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June 2, 1939
BA-J/AWF
James Conn
S. 15386

Mrs. Reah Belle Ritchie
418 Eddy Building
Bloomington, Illinois

Dear Madam:

The data which follow concerning James Conn were obtained from papers on file in claim for pension, S. 15386, based upon his service in the War of the Revolution.

James Conn was born July 18, 1751, on Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The names of his parents are not given.

While a resident of Orange County, North Carolina, James Conn enlisted sometime in December, 1777, served three months as private in Captain Watson's company, Colonel Rutherford's North Carolina regiment, and was in an engagement at Cross Creek. He moved to Lincoln County, North Carolina, and served in 1778, three months in Captain John Cook's company, Colonel Graham's North Carolina regiment, in pursuit of Indiana, and destroyed several Indian villages. He served again in 1778, three months in Captain Hampton's company, Colonel Williams' regiment, marched to the Cherokee Nation, was in a battle at "Black hole", and several skirmishes, took a "number of prisoners". He enlisted in the spring of 1779, served three months in Captain Kuykendall's company, Colonel Graham's regiment, and another tour of three months in the same company and regiment, in pursuit of Tories on the Catawba and Broad Rivers. He enlisted February 20, 1780, served in Captain Wilson's company, Colonel Lenoir's regiment, was in a skirmish
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at Sunbury, was taken prisoner at the surrender of Charleston, South Carolina, and paroled. He enlisted sometime in June, 1780, served in Captain Wilson's company, Colonel Lenoir's regiment, was in the battle of Camden, where wounded in the arm by a bayonet, taken prisoner by the British, made his escape and joined his company and completed his tour of three months. He enlisted, again, in 1780, served in Captain William Graham's company, Colonel Williams' and Campbell's regiment, was wounded in the battle of King's Mountain by a musket ball passing through his shoulder, which rendered him unfit for military duty.

The soldier, James Conn, moved from Lincoln County, North Carolina, after the Revolution to South Carolina, in 1792, moved to Madison County, Kentucky, then to Bullit County, and in 1799, to what was then Green County, later Adair County, Kentucky, and later Russel County, Kentucky.

James Conn was allowed pension on his application executed February 15, 1834, then a resident of Russell County, Kentucky.

It was not stated whatever James Conn was ever married.

In 1834, James Conn, Junior, and William B. Conn were living in Russell County, Kentucky, and were well acquainted with the soldier, James Conn. It was not shown that they were related to the soldier, or that they were related to each other.

The papers on file in this claim contain no further discernible data in regard to family.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name and address of person paid, and possibly the date of death of this pensioner, you
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should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and furnish the following data:

James Conn
Certificate # 26547
Issued March 14, 1834
Rate $80.00 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
Kentucky Agency

Very truly yours

A. D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
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(8--1776)

SERVICE
N.C.

Conn, James

NUMBER
S,15,3886

carded

CONTENTS
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June 2, 1939
BA-J/AWF
James Conn- S. 15386
Oswald Townsend- W. 605

Mrs. Reah Belle Ritchie
418 Eddy Building
Bloomington, Illinois

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter addressed to the National Archives, this city, in which you request information in regard to the following soldiers of the Revolutionary War: 
Henry Townsend, Adair County, Kentucky;
Oswald Townsend, Madison County, Kentucky;
Samuel Townsend, Madison County, Kentucky;
James Conn, Russell County, Kentucky;
Timothy Conn, Mercer County, Kentucky;
William Branham, Bourbon County, Kentucky;
Joseph Britton, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

Your letter has been referred for reply to the Veterans Administration, custodian of Revolutionary War pension records.

Because of the great demand for Revolutionary War data and the limited trained clerical force available for furnishing such information, it is not possible to comply in full with each request which requires so much time and research.

The Revolutionary War records of James Conn, and Oswald Townsend are furnished you herewith.

Very truly yours

A. D. Hiller
Executive Assistant  to the Administrator

see her letter Rev. pen. claim
Oswald Townsend W. 605
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(8-1776)

SERVICE
N.C.

Conn, James

NUMBER
S,15,386

carded

CONTENTS
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Columbia, Ky, July 18th 1834

Dear Sir
     I enclose the original declaration of James Conn an old infirm soldier of the Revolution he is poor helpless and much what his government has allowed him But do not think he will need it long

I am Dear Sir with
respect & esteem your
most (illegible)
Wm Owens