Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3384, John Garrisson, S.C.
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
S.C.

Garrison, John

NUMBER
S.3384


Born in [illegible]

Carded

CONTENTS
Page 2

7463
West Tennessee
________________________________________
John Garrisson
of Wiliam Co in the State of W Tennessee
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Capt Garrison, of the Regt commanded
 by Col Neil in the S. C.
line for
====================================
Inscribed on the Roll of W Tennessee
at the rate of 30 Dollars  - - Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
===================================
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 day of April
1833 and  sent to R S 
Caruthers Lebanon
===================================
Arrears to the 4th of March                   60.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept       15.00
                                                                  =====               
                                                                  $75.00
                                                                              
{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.      }

Recorded by Daniel Boyd, Clerk,
Book E. Vol 7 Page 79
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13.837

John Garrisson
 Application for a
Pension
Page 4

State of Tennessee
Wilson County
September [] County Court 1832
On this day, [], 27th Sept 1832 personally appeared before James M Martin, David C Hibbits, and Benjn H Billings Esquire. [] justices of the county court of said county, now sitting John Garrisson, a resident of said county state aged about seventy four years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to attain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
He was born in [] to York County in the state of South Carolina. He was born about the year 1758 as well as he can now remember and compute, having no record of his age. 
When he entered into the service of his country, he was a citizen of this said county of York. []
His first service in the Revolutionary War was under a draft for one month; the time not recollected but it was the year the British took Charleston. He was [] by Capt. Benjn Garrisson (his brother) and Colo. Niel. The march Georgia to guard the frontiers and at the expiration of the time was discharged on the ground verbally.
The same year he volunteered for an [] time his [] named Berry - his Capt. Garrisson - his [] brother he marched to a fort on Congress River where the British [] were stationed. He surrounded the fort for about one week, where our officers sent for a company of regulars, who brought some prices of cannon with them, and opened upon the enemy with them, which aroused them very soon to surrender. The [] engrossed all the spoils [] the prisoners, which gave great offense to the milita volunteers and caused much dissatisfaction [] among us. We were then discharged and every man did the best he could for himself. We were on that occasion out something more than one month.
In the fall of the same year he again volunteered, and went into the service under the same Capt. but the regiment was commanded by Colo. Hill. He marched to [] river and joined Genl Sumpter . We were introduced by the near approach of the enemy with [] forced to [] one day [] and the next day till sun set and war that time, during all which
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which time we were closely pressed by [] the British cavalry commander. He remember very distinctly a remark of Colo. Hill that they 'pressed like blood hounds'! We were [] near the head of the [] where we were joined by the Georgia Militia. Our Genl. Sumpter then determined to give the enemy battle. [] come up immediately and an action [] that commenced perhaps about an hour by some and continued till some time in the night, when they retreated and camped some short distance from us. Sumpter was wounded in the engagement. We then marched all night and next day toward King's Mountain. We were then discharged. We were out two or three months.
He soon after volunteered again and was commanded by Capt. Berry and Colo. Hill and marched to [] under Davidson. We got there the evening after the battle. The Americans had a number of prisoners. We were detained there some time and were there when the Battle of King's Mountain was fought. Where we heard that [] Wallis was to pass through that country we were ordered ti destroy all the boats on the catoway, which we did to [] but he got across at [], where there was some little firing. We were then disbanded having served three or four months.
Soon after his returnthere being a call for men, he again volunteered. [] was his captain, Bratton his Colo, Sumpter his general. We marched down near [], where [] were ordered by General Gates to stop the enemy from passing, but we [] Gates' army who informed [] of his [] told us [] care of ourselves, on which we command a forced march or retreat to [] ford on [] river where [] come on [] we retreated without order or [], and never got together again. We were out about two months on this occasion. So we served in the [] nine months in all. He has [] documentary [] of his services [] does he know of any person by whom he can prove []. The following one the names of some of the persons to whom he is known in his neighborhood who will, he [] to his [] for [] and that in []
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opinion he was a soldier of the Revolutionary war [illegible]
C. Smith, Thomas Smith, Capt Wm Donnell James Carruth
Walter Carruth Esq Wm Donnell & others.

He hereby relinquishes any claim but the present as a pension 
or annuity except the present, and declares that his name
is not on the pension Roll of any state.

In consideration of the foregoing service he prays
that he may have the benefit of said pension act

Sworn to & subscribed in open
this day [illegible]

We Levy R Morrison a clergyman --- residing in Wilson County
and Samuel Cannon residing in the same hereby certify
that we are well acquainted with John Garrisson, who has subscribed
& sworn to the above declaration - that we believe him to be about 74
years of age, - that he is reputed & believed in his neighborhood where
he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur
in that opinion.

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Levi R. Morrison [signature]
Saml Canon [signature]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the 
investigation of the matter, - and after putting the interrogations prescribed 
by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a soldier
of the Revolution and the court further certifies that it appears to them
that Levi R Morrison who has signed the preceding certificate is a
Clergyman resident in the County of Wilson and that Saml. Cannon
who has also signed the same is a resident in the same County and is 
a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit
D. C. Hibbitts. JP [signature]
O. M. Martin JP [signature]
Benjn H Billings JP [signature]
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I Josiah S. McClain Clerk of Wilson
County Court do hereby certify that the
foregoing contains the original proceeding 
of the said Court in the matter
of the application of John Garrison
for a pension.

In testimony whereof I
have here unto set my name and seal of
office in Lebanon Sept 29th 1832
Josiah S, McClain [signature]


State of Tennessee Wilson County
I, William Steele Chairman
of the County Court of Wilson County, do certify that Josiah S.
McClain whose name is signed to the foregoing is acting Clerk
Wilson County Court, & due faith credit should be given to
his official acts deeds as such. Sept 29 1832

Wm Steele Clk [signature]
of Wilson Cty Court

SEAL

[vertical]
13.837
John Garrisson
Application for
Pension
Page 8

No. 13.837
John Garrison

Wilson
from 1780 private
9 months
 $30

garrson

mail
S.C.
Page 9

BRIEF in the case of John Garrison
of the County of Wilson   in the State of N C 
 (Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity ?

3. How old is he? 74 years

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period.                                   Duration                            Rank.          Names of General Field Officers
                                               of Service .                                          under whom he served.
_______________________________________________________
 In 17.                                Years,Months, Days.               As a              Gen.
In the year the British.                    1                                drafted         Col Niel,       Capt Benj Garrison
 took Charleston                                                                
 Same year                                        1                               [illegible]     Col Bratton,   same Capt
  " in fall.                                         2 or 3.                         [illegible]      Col Hill,         same Capt
  Soon after.                                   3 or 4                          [illegible]      Col Niel,       Capt Berry
       "       "                                           2.                             [illegible]      Col Bratton Capt Garrison

He said he served in 
all 9 months

5. In what battles was he engaged?  near the head of Tiger River

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?  York Co S. C.

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?    Tradition

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect ? Regular  

X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

Levin Bell
Examining Clerk.
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Rev. and 1812
War Section
AWF/eel

July 1, 1929

Mrs. M. P. Word
Fairburn
Georgia

Madam:

I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary 
War pension claim, S.3384, it appears that John Garrisson was born in 1758, in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.

While residing in York County, South Carolina, he
enlisted and served with the South Carolina Troops as
follows:

The year the British took Charleston, one month in
Captain Benjamin Garrisson's (soldier's brother) Company,
Colonel Niel's Regiment; the same year, one month in Cap-
tain Garrisson's Company, Colonel Bratton's Regiment; in
the fall of the same year, two months in Captain Garrisson's
Company, Colonel Hill's Regiment and was in an engagement
near Tiger River; soon afterward three months in Captain
Berry's Company, Colonel Niel's Regiment; again two months
in Captain Garrisson's Company, Colonel Niel's Regiment.
There are no specific dates of any service.
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After the Revolution the soldier married (wife's name
not given nor the date of marriage stated) and move to
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. About 1829, moved 
to Rutherford County, Tennessee, and in August, 1832,
moved to Wilson County, Tennessee, where he was living
when he was allowed pension on his application executed
September 27, 1832.
There are no further data as to family.
Respectfully,
EARL D. CHURCH
Commissioner.
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3384
Rev War INVALID
File No. 3384
John Garrisson
Pvt. S.C. line 

Act: 
Index: - Vol. A, Page 136

[Arrangement of 1870]

[left side]

1928 - July 1 -   Hist to Mrs.
M P Word  see her
letter [illegible] Robinson Ross W 8556
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No. 13.837

John Garrison




Robt S Caruthers Esq

Lebanon   Tenn
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which these 
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of  
John Garrisson                                                       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? No

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 of pension he is entitled? yes

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

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? no

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?

Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 

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? yes 

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? no.

                                                          ________________________________
                                                                     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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3

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 pension 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 shown 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 embolied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either 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 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 oflicer, 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.