Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 8657, John Harper, N.C.
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N.C.   Harper, John   S.8657
carded
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16047
North Carolina
John Harper
Halifax in the State of North Carolina who was a pri. cav. & inf. in the company commanded by Captain Gandy of the Regt. commanded by Read in the North Carolina (paper is folded)

Inscribed on the Roll of North Car: at the rate of 41 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 25th day of June '33 and M.H Pettway Halifax C.H.N.C. (clk)

Arrears to the 4th of March '33 -             83.32
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept "        20.83
                                           $104.15

{Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Wm. Miller Clerk,
Book E.  Vol. 6.  Page 42

(right panel)
Dead. See let to H. Harris,
Mar 10 1837
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John Harper
8532
Entered
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State of North Carolina Halifax County: SS 
On this 21st day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open court, before the 
Justices of the peace for the court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions, now sitting, John Harper a 
resident of Halifax County State of North Carolina, aged seventy-one years, 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 7, 1832. 
     That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & 
served as herein stated, viz. he was drafted in the militia of North Carolina in the year 1779, in the County of Warren, State of North Carolina, & served a tour of three months in the state of South Carolina & two months in the State of North Carolina under the command of General Butler & General Lincoln, Colonel Jonas Johnston & Captain Andrew Peter, & was at the battle of Stono in the month of June, same year – he never received a discharge.  He served a tour of 3 months, having volunteered in Warren County, under General Butler & General Green, Colonel Read & Captain Edward Gandy & was discharged 15th of April 1781, having served three months; in this tour he was at Guilford Court House on the 8th of March in the same year – for this Service, he holds the original discharge.  He volunteered in Warren County & served a tour in the above year from the first of September to the first of December under General Butler & was discharged by Captain Anthony Hart of the town of Halifax, North Carolina – this tour he served three months.  He was born in Northampton County, North Ca-
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rolina, now resides in Halifax County, North Carolina & has been so for 46 years.  He 
has no other way of proving his service but as herein set forth & the discharge & accompanying affidavits – has no record of his age – He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. 
                          John X Harper
                            (X his mark)
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
M.H. Pettway Clk

    We Miles Smith a clergyman residing in Halifax County & State of North Carolina & Willis Alston residing in the same state & county hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Harper who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration;  that we believe him to be 71 years of age;  that he is reputed & believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, & that we concur in that opinion.
                                        Miles Smith                                        
                                        Willis Alston
M.H. Pettway Clk.
By J.H. Harwell Dep.
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And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states.  And the Court further certify that it appears to them that Miles Smith who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in Halifax county North Carolina & that Willis Alston who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same State & county & is a credible person , & that their statement is entitled to credit.
                        Cary Whittaker  J.P.
                        Thomas Gary J.P.
                        Wm. Daggett  J.P.

     I Mark H. Pettway, Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for Halifax County North Carolina, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of John Harper for a pension.
     In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this 21st day of August AD 1832.
                             M.H. Pettway Clk
                             By J.H. Harwell DC
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     In reply to your request of ___, received ___ for a statement of the military history of John Harper a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his S.F.8657 application for pension on file in this Bureau.
OWN (initials in margin)

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
1779
1781
Sept. 1, 1781 to Dec. 1 1781

LENGTH OF SERVICE
5 mos.
3 mos.

RANK.
Pri
"

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
Andrew Jeter
Thomas Alston
Edward Gandy
Tatum
Anthony Hart

COLONEL.
Jonas Johnson
"
Read

STATE.
N.C.

Battles engaged in, Stono

Residence of soldier at enlistment, Enl. in Warren Co. N.C.

Date of application for pension, Aug. 21, 1832. His cl. was al on June 25, 1833 to com. Mch 3, 1831.

Residence at date of application, Halifax Co. N.C.

Age at date of application, 71 yrs.  Born in Northampton Co. N.C.

Remarks:  Soldier died in Nov. 1836.

There is no data relative to family.

                               Respectfully,

                               Commissioner.
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John Harper
S.F.8657
N.C.
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This may certify that John Harper has served a (faded and smudged) to Same and by orders of General Butler is discharged certifyed (sic) by me.
                    Edwd. Gandy Capt. 
                    April the 15th 1781
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Rev. War Section. 
                            June 8, 1914.

Mr. Alfred L. Holman,
219 South Dearborn Street,
Chicago, Illinois.

Sir:
     In response to your letter dated the fourth instant requesting data with which to call upon the auditor for the interior Department for the last payment of pension to John Harper, you are advised to quote as follows:
     "John Harper, Certificate No. 16047, issued June 25, 1833, for $41.66 per annum, from March 4, 1831, under the Act of June 7, 1832, at the North Carolina Agency."
                       Very respectfully,
                       GM Saltzgaber
                            Commissioner.

Request returned to Mr. Holman by mistake.
C
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(stamp)

U.S. PENSION OFFICE
D
FEB 24 1914
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ALFRED L. HOLMAN
219 SO. DEARBORN STREET
CHICAGO

CABLE ADDRESS: NAWLOH
CODE: WESTERN UNION

                       February 21st, 1914.

Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:-
       Will you kindly give me the record of John Harper, Halifax Co., No. Car., pensioner of the Revolution, he having been placed on Pension Roll June 25, 1833, his pension commencing Mar. 4, 1831.
     Thanking you in advance for your courtesy,
                  Yours faithfully,

                  Alfred L. Holman
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14-16-17-
P. 2 of 4

Return this
Admit.
5 mo for (illegible)

$41.66
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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 John Harper which require further proof or explanation.

I.  Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?  Yes.

II.  Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes

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 period or periods of the war when he served?  Yes

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 (sic) of pension he is entitled?  Yes

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

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

VIII.  Has the Court given their opinion?  Yes

IX.  Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes

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?  Yes
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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?  Yes

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, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?

XIV.  If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
     If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?  No
     Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? No

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? Yes

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?  5th

EXPLANATORY NOTES
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 directions 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;  the duration of each term of engagement;  the particular place or places where the service was performed;  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 be 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 certificate of 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.
     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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(left panel)
1914. Feb. 28 history to Alfred L. Holman  FRR

(right panel)
Rev War
8657
INVALID.

File No. 8657
John Harper
Priv. Rev. War

Act:  June 7th 1832
Index:-Vol. 12, Page 161

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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State of North Carolina Halifax County 
Personally appeared before me James D. Perkins – a Justice of the peace in & for the 
County aforesaid State aforesaid John Harper a man of credibility & being duly sworn deposes & says that when he was drafted in the Militia of North Carolina in the year 1779 as stated in his declaration hereto annexed he marched to Fayetteville in Colonel Jonas Johnston's Regiment & from Fayetteville to Camden in South Carolina, from Camden marched to Columbia, from there marched to near Augusta & joined the troops under the command of General Lincoln, General 
Butler & General Williamson the British then being in possession of the town of Augusta; from thence all the troops marched to Stono where a battle was fought – there was a Fort there & the troops, that is the light infantry marched round into the Fort & like to have taken it, but the reinforcement of the British from the row galleys prevented – The troops then retreated about two miles & the British having left the Fort the next day or the day after the 
Americans took possession – from the place where the troops retreated this deponent was sent with a small detachment with sick men to take them home – most of the sick were left at Camden & others at different places not being able to proceed further & this deponent returned home having been in actual service five months General Butler commanded in the North Carolina line & General Lincoln was a Continental officer – he does not know whether General Williamson was a Continental officer or whether he belonged to the militia of South Carolina
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or Georgia.  In his second tour as mentioned in his said declaration, he volunteered in the cavalry & marched directly to Head Quarters in Guilford County under Captain Thomas Alston & was then put under Captain Gandy; on the march to Guilford joined Captain Terrill's company – at Head Quarters was commanded by General Green a Continental officer & by General Butler – before mentioned.  The third day after the battle of Guilford Court House the troops marched from the iron works where they had rallied & pursued the British as far as Ramsays Mill.  General Green then selected all his best men both the regulars & militia & marched to Camden where he fought the British, while at Ramsays Mill, Colonel Lee an officer of the Continental cavalry brought in 
some British & Tory prisoners – Captain Gandy's Company was ordered to take them to Halifax, On the second day of the march this deponent was taken sick & could proceed no further, he was then discharged as may be seen by his written discharge herein enclosed, on the 15th of April 1781 having served three months.  On his third tour as mentioned in said declaration, he volunteered in the cavalry under Captain Tatom, marched to Tarborough & then to Wilmington which was then in the possession of the British.  Before reaching Wilmington Captain Tatom was taken sick & Lieutenant Anthony Hart was made Captain.  On the march to Wilmington joined at Fayetteville the troops under General Butler & General Reddiford this last General had some Indians under him – marched to Semmon's ferry on Tar River in Nash County North Carolina & was discharged having been 
in active ser-
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vice 3 months.
                            John X Harper
                              (X his mark)
Sworn & subscribed before me this 8th day of May 1833 

James D. Perkins JP

State of North Carolina
Halifax County
William Dicken, a man of credibility personally appeared before me James D. Perkins a Justice of the Peace for the county aforesaid in the State aforesaid & being  duly sworn deposes & says that he served with John Harper in the Revolutionary War & was with him in the battle of Stono.
Sworn & subscribed before me this eight day of May 1833
James D. Perkins JP
        William X Dicken
           (X his mark)

     I Mark H Pettway clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for Halifax county North Carolina do hereby certify that James D. Perkins Esquire whose name appears to the foregoing certificates in his own proper handwriting is now, & was at the time of doing the same an acting Justice of the Peace in & for the county aforesaid therefore full faith & credit are due to his official acts.
(seal)
     In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this day of May 1833.
                M.H. Pettway Clk
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Treasury Department
March 6 1837
Referred to Commissioner of Pensions

Free

Hon. Lew Woodbury
Secretary of the Treasury
Washington City
DC

H.181 March 6

Gretna Green NC
2 Mar 1837

H.181 March 6
Pension Office
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                    Gretna Green March 2nd 1837
Sir,
     In conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June 1832 Mr. John Harper a Pensioner died in November last and have received his Claims up to the 4th March 1836 and about the 4th Sept last he sent on his pension as usual but on account of the new arrangement payment was not obtained.  I therefore as Administrator of said John Harper Decd, request you to send me as soon as possible a form under the late Act.
                  Your Most Obt Servant
                           Henry Harris

Halifax County
N Carolina

Ref. to Pens. Office
W