Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 41,884, for John Morphis, North Carolina
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
N.C.
Morphis, John
NUMBER
S.41.884
CONTENTS
[blank]
Page 2

19.454
North Carolina R
=============================
John Morphis
of Orange Cy in the State of N. C. 
who was a Captain in the regiment commanded by Colonel Sumner in the N. C. 
line. for the term of from 1777 to end of War 17
=============================
Inscribed on the Roll of N. Carolina
at the rate of 20 Dollars per month, to commence on the 28 of May 1825
=============================
Certificate of Pension issued the 7th of June 1825
and sent to Pensioner at
Raleigh N. C. 
=============================
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1825  $65.24
3 mo/4 31 4/30
60
2.58
2.66 =
$65.24

{Revolutionary claim,}
{Acts March 18, 1818,}
{and May 1, 1820 &}
{March 6. 1823}


Date of death no on A. B.
Page 3

State of North Carolina}
Orange County}

On this the 28th day of May A. D. 1825 personally appeared in open court held for the County of Orange, John Morphis resident in said County, aged Eighty three years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made Act of Congress of the 18th of March 1818 of the 1st May 1820, that he the said John Morphis of the County & state afores'd. entered an Ensign in August 1777 in the State of North Carolina in the company commanded by Captain James Emmet, in the regiment commanded by Colonel Jethro Sumner in the line of the aforesaid State on the Continental establishment, that he continued to serve in that station for about three months, when he was promoted to the office of Lieutenant in which office he served in the said corps until he was promoted to the grade of Captain and that he served during the War when he was regularly discharged from service in the state aforesaid; that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension except the present; that his name is not on the roll of any state except the one aforesaid; and the following are the reasons for not making earlier application for a pension, that he was ignorant of any appropriation made for the aged & indigent soldiers & officers of the revolution, and that as soon as informed of it he made application but owing to the informality in his declaration they have been returned without effecting anything.
And in pursuance of the Act of the 1st May 1820 I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th March 1818, and that I have not since that that time by gift sale or in any other manner disposed of any property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provision of the Act of Congress, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War"
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passed on the 18th day of March 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any properties or securities, contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than as contained in the schedule hereto annexed & by me the subscriber -
The following is a correct schedule of the property belonging to the said John Morphis (to wit: 2 small pots, 2 wheels & small dutch oven - 3 sitting chairs - 3 plates pewter - 1 pewter dish & 2 Basins; that my occupation has been that of a House Carpenter, but that my age & infirmity has long since disabled me from pursuing that occupation; that the number of my family is four consisting of a wife who has been for several years in a state of mental derangement, and two little orphan children belonging to my deceased daughter who contributed nothing to my support and that no changes of consequence has taken place in my fortune since the 18 of March 1818.
Subscribed to be me
[Signature] 
John Morphis

I John Taylor Clerk of Orange County court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions do hereby certify that it appears to the satisfaction of the court, that the said John Morphis did serve in the Revolutionary War as stated in the preceding declaration against the common enemy, for the term of nine months under one engagement, on the continental establishment. I also certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the records of the said Court; and I do further certify that it is the opinion of said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule Eleven Dollars & twenty five cents - 
In testimony whereof I have have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court on this 28th day of May 1825.
[Signature]
Jno. Taylor
Clerk of Orange County  Court
of Pleas & Quarter Sessions
[Seal]
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District of North Carolina SS.

On the 14th day of May 1818, before me the subscriber, one of the Judges of the United States, for the said  District, personally appeared John Morphis, aged Seventy Six - years, resident in the County of Chatham & District aforesaid, who being by me first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the late Act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war". That he the said John Morphis, in the year 1776, entered the service, as Ensign, in Captain Emmett's company of the third Regiment in the North Carolina line on the Continental establishment, in the war of the Revolution - That he obtained his commission in Halifax in said District, & served as Ensign aforesaid about three months, and then obtain a Commission of Lieutenant in the same company, in the City of Charleston, in the year 1777, as well as he can now recollect; under which commission he served throughout the said war, against the common enemy, partly in said company & partly under Captains Wood & Granberry of the said line - That at the end of the war he was in North Carolina where the troops to which he belonged were disbanded - his commission of Lieutenant he has lost & his commission of Ensign he now presents in a mutilated state - He was in Charleston when the British made an attack on the Fort on Sullivan's Island  & he was in several skirmishes in North Carolina, but in no general battles and that he is in reduced circumstances, & stands in need of the assistance of his country for support and that he has no evidence (other than that to which he has offered) now in his powers of his said service, except by travelling a considerable distanace for it.
[Signature]
John Morphis
Sworn to and Subscribed before me, the date afores'd.
[Signature]
H. Potter - D. J. U. S. N. C.
Page 6

I Henry  Potter, District Judge of the U. States, as aforesaid, do certify, that it appears to my satisfaction that the said John Morphis did serve in the revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy; for the term of nine months, as an officer on the continental establishment; and I now transmit the proceedings & testimony taken & had before me to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress.
Raleigh 14th May 1818.
[Signature]
H. Potter D. J. U. S. N. C. 
[Seal]
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January 26, 1937
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

BA-J/EEL
John Morphis-S.41884

Mrs. Mary S. Sanders
105 N. Jordan
Cleveland, Oklahoma

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to John Martin Souter and of a soldier with the surname Morphis, who was mustered out in North Carolina and who received a pension on account of his services. A search of the Revolutionary War records has been made and
no record found of a claim for pension or bounty land having been made to the United States based upon the military service in that
war of a John Martin Souter or of a John or a Martin Souter or similar spelling. Such claims are the source of the data furnished by this office. It is suggested that as a possible means of obtaining information in regard to the military service of that soldier, you apply
to The Adjutant General, War Department, this city, who is custodian of military records.

The record has been found of one soldier only, with the surname Morphis, it is that of John Morphis, who served in the North Carolina
troops. His record is furnished herein as found in the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim S. 41884, based upon his military service in that war. It is hoped that this
may be the record you desire. The date and place of birth and the names of the parents of
John Morphis are not shown. John Morphis entered the service in the state of North Carollina, in August 1776 or 1777, was commissioned ensign in Captain James Emmet's Company, and served in that company and in Captain Wood's Company, Colonel Jethro Sumner's 3" North Carolina Regiment for three months; was promoted lieutenant, then captain and served to the close of the war. He stated that he was in Charleston when 

[marginal note - Couild not find sol. in Heitman - found Capt. & Colonel together.]
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the British attacked the fort on Sullivan's Island and was in several skirmishes.
John Morphia was allowed pension on his application executed May 14, 1818, at which time he was aged seventy-six years and resided in Chatham County, North Carolina. In 1825, he was residing in Orange County, North Carolina. In 1820, soldier stated that his family then residing with him consisted of his wife and two small grandchildren, children of
a deceased daughter but he gave no names.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, John Morphis (S.41884), you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records
Division, this city, and cite the following data:
John Morphis, Certificate No. 19454, issued June 7, 1825, rate $20 per month, commenced May 23, 1825, Acts of March 18, 1818 and March 1, 1823, North Carolina Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.
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Part missing
North Carolina In Commision
by: [illegible] that W. Johon Morphis
and appointed Ensign of Captain James Emmetts 
company of the third Regiment, Company' of foot of the American line of this Province
Commanded by [Section missing] Savannah Geoergia [illegible and missing]
Johnston [illegible]
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Inventory
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North Carolina}
Orange County}

An Inventory of the property of John Morphis of Chatham County

1  Featherbed & furniture valued at $15.
1 Cotton Wheel & Linnen W.....................1.
2 pots 3 chairs & 1 skillet............................4.20
3 plates 2 dishes 2 weeding hoes............1.
1 ax 1 pine table 1 small pine box............1.50 = 
............................................................................$22.70

John Morphis maketh oath that the above contains a true statement of all his property with its value to the best of his belief.
[Signature]
John Morphis

North Carolina

Personally appeared before me Frederick Nash one of the Judges of the Sup'r. Courts of Law & Equity in & for said state, John Morphis of the County of Chatham & State aforesaid & qualified to & subscribed the above affidavit & I the said Frederick Nash certify that I am satisfied the schedule is correct & the value set upon the property not too low.
[Signature]
F. Nash J. S. C. Ch. C.
Page 12

Raleigh 16th Nov. 1824.

Sir

The name of John Morphis does not appear on the musterrolls in the Office of Secretart of State of North Carolina; but I see on teh Journals of the Provincial Congress held at Halifax in April 1776 he was appointed an Ensign - how long he served I cannot rel.
A few years past the Assembly of this STate appointed a Committee to pass on such military claims for land warrants, as should be laid before them, and search evvidence was presented in support of the Claim of John Morphis an Ensign as induced them to allow him full lpay for the war.
Very respectfully
Your Obt. Serv't
[Signature]
Wm. Hill


Ja's. L. Edwards Esq'r
Chief Clk Pension Office
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District of North Carolina

On this 30th day of June 1823 before me the subscriber one of the Judges of the Superior Court of Law and Equity for the State of North Carolina personally appeared John Morphis aged Eighty one years resident in Orange County in the state of North Carolina who being by me first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress entitled  an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war that he the said John Morphis was appointed an Ensign on the    day of   in the year of Seventeen hundred and seventy six in the State of North Carolina in the company commanded by Capt. James Emmet of the Regiment commanded by Colonel Jethro Sumner - in the line of the State of North Carolina on the continental Establishment that he continued to serve in the said corps. or in the service of the United States until the close of the War when he was discharged from service near fort Johnson State of North Carolina that he was at Charlestown at the time it was first beseiged and in some other small Rencounters and that he arose to a Lieutenant shortly after he entered the service and remained a Lieutenant to the end of the war.
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and that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services sworn to and declared the day and year aforesaid.
[Signature]
John Morphis

I Frederick Nash - Judge &c as aforesaid do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said John Morphis did serve in the Revolutionary War as stated in the preceding declaration against the Common enemy for the term of nine months at one time on the Continental establishment and I now transmit the proceeding and testimony taken and laid before me to the Secretary for the department of War pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress I am also satisfied that he needs the assistance of his country for support.
June 3th 1823

[Signature]
F. Nash J. S. Ch. C.
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The deposition of John Rosson.
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State of North Carolina} This day personally
Chatham County}  appeared before me John Rossen and made oath that he was well acquainted with John Morphis in the time of the Revolutionary war and that he is still acquainted with the s'd. Morphis and that the S'd. Morphis was an Ensign in the Continental service of the Unighted States in the Line of North Carolina in the s'd. Revolutionary war that he saw him enlisting of men in the sd. service and also that he has good and sufficient reasons to be sure that Morphis was in the S'd. service of the Unighted State at the end of the s'd. war and that he had been in the s'd. service for nine months at least and that he believes for a great deal longer time also that he believes that the s'd. Morphis are in reduced circumstances and stands in  need of the assistance of his country for support further this deponant saith not
Sworn to and subscribed the 13th of June 1823
[Signatures]
Jas. H. Rogers J. P.    John Rosson + his mark
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Deposition of Daniel Mebane
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State of North C} May the 23 - A. D. 1823
Chatham County} this day Daniel Mebane personally appeared before me the Jas. H. Rogers one of the Justices of the Peace and for the s'd. County and after being duly sworn upon the Holy evangelist of Almighty Go deposeth and sayeth that he has been a long time acquainted with John Morphis that he was acquainted with the sd. John Morphis in the Revolutionary war that he saw his inlisting of men in the sd. service in the continental line of the State of North Carolina and that he understood that the sd. Morphis was an Ensign that he believes that had a Commission and that he is inclined to believe from his own knowledge together with a combination of circumstacnes that the sd. Morphis are at this time in reduced circumstances and stand in need of the assistance of his country for support further this deponant saith not
Sworn to and subscribed the day and date above written
[Signatures]
Jas. H. Rogers J. P.     Daniel Mebane
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Rejected: the name of the applicant not appearing on the N. Carolina Rolls.
War Dept. 
Jan. 31. 1819
[Signature]
J. L. Edwards

John Morphis




Sam'l Johnston was pres't of the Congress held in 1776 & Jas. Greer Sury
[Signature]
Wm. Hill

J. H. Rogers Esq. agent
Hillsboro N. C.
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N. Carolina Secretary's Office 4th January 1819.

I hereby certify that the name of John Morphis does not appear on the Musterroll of the No. Carolina continental line of the revolutionary war.
Given under my hand the date above.
[Signature]
Wm. Hill 
Sec'y of State
Page 21

I do hereby certify that Wm. John Morphis was an officer in the third Regiment in the Continental line of this State commanded by Col. Jethro Sumner
Given under my hand this 18th November 1800
[Signature]
Matthew Ramsey
formerly a Capt. in the 4th No. C. Reg't.
Sworn to before me
this day & date above written.
[Signature]
Phil Muroney J. P.


This day came Osborne Dillard before me and made oath that he saw John Morphis acting as Ensign Capt. James Emmitts Company in the third North Carolina Regiment in the year 1776
Sworn to this 23d day of February 1801
[Signature]
Phil Muroney J. P.
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State of North Carolina}
Chatham County}
This day came before me Joseph Scurlock one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Chatham aforesaid George Dismukes & being sworn upon the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God deposeth & sayeth as follows (to wit) in June 1776 I was in Wilmington in the State as a Soldier to the Service of the United States at which time John Morphis was there & had the command of some Soldiers & I believe acted as Ensign in the company that was commanded by  Capt. James  Emmet & I understood that the soldiers there under the command of Morphis was Enlisted by Him. Capt. Emmit at that time was gone to Charleston & a short time after that I understood that the said Morphis also went to Charleston with the men which was under his command further this deponant sayeth not
Sworn to & Subscribed before me the 16th of November 1816
[Signatures]
J. Scurlock J. P.     G. Dismukes
Page 23

Slothful [fold in paper] ignorant

Slothful [fold in paper] ignorant

Slothful [fold in paper] ignorant

Slothful [fold in paper] ignorant

Slothful [fold in paper] ignorant

Slothful

Slothful

Slothful

Slothful
Page 24

Our [fold in paper] depon[missing]

Our rep [fold in paper] on

[Tear] rep[fold] on

[Tear] rep[fold] depends on 

[missing section] depends on

[missing section] depends

[missing section]pends on

[missing section] on
Page 25

John Morphis, revo.
N. C. - Susp'd for a formal dec'n & schedule
See letter to J. H. Rogers
Esq'r. Hillsborough, N. C.
Sept. 26 1823-

Another Dec'n rec'd & ret'd Nov. 1826 on acc't. of informality to Judge Potter, Raleigh
[hand drawn hand pointing right]
See letter to Morphis of March 26. 1825 -
Page 26

41884
INVALID.
Rev'y ______
File No. 1.884
John Morphis
Capt, Rev. War
______
Act. 18th March 18" 
Index:-Vol. 3, Page 345
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1937- Jan 26/Hist. to Mrs. Mary S. Sanders ES
Page 27

2 pages

CLEVELAND, OKLAHOMA

January-10-1937

Veternas Administration
Washington D. C. 

Do you have ou record the name of one John Martin Souter - who served in the Revolutionary war - 
He was my Paternal Great Great Grandfather. I am trying to get the dates he served and also his wife's maiden name - I have the Record of his son Jacob Souter on down and am very anxious for this information - 

Also on my mother's side I would like to get the data of a Morphis who enlisted in Virginia in the Revolutionary war - and was on the Pension Roll there in Washington D. C. - he was mustard out
Page 28

in North Carolina I believe, all I know is there were only two Morphis Brothers from Wales in this country at that time - I would like to get his given name and date of service and also his wife's maiden name.
Thanking you in advance for this information - and enclosing an addressed envelope for reply - also to know what the charges are for this information.
Very Resp't
[Signature]
Mrs. Mary (Souter) Sanders
105 N. Jordan 
Cleveland
Oklahoma -

[note - stamped env. alt place ret. - Jan. 15]