Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13,130, Sikes Garris, N.C.
Page 1

(8-1776)
Service Number
N.C. Garris, Sikes S.13130
? Carded
Page 2

7059

Sikes Garris
of Meklenburg Co. in the State of Kentucky
who was a private in the Company commanded
by Captain Hearing of the Regt: commanded
by Colonel Meybin in the No. Carolina
for 3 years from 1777

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

Certificate of Pension issued the 27 day of Febry
1833 and Sent to
applicant Greensville Ky


Arrears to 4th od March 1833  $160.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Septr 1833 40.00
                                                          $200.00

Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832     

Recorded by W. L. Williams   Clerk
Book 2  Vol. 7   Page 10

Sett to Edward Rumsey Oct
4th 1834

Duplicate certificate issued
Decr 3 1836 and forwarded to 
Edward Rumsey, Greenville, Ky

Let to J Rickett 23 Mch 57
Hon: W. L. Underwood, Feb: 2d / 59
Page 3

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit
of the act of Congress of June 7th 1832
State of Kentucky Mecklenburg Set
on the 28th day of August 1832 before the
honorable Alney McLean Judge of the
Mecklenburg Circuit court now sitting 
Sikes Garris a resident of Mecklenburg
County & State of Kentucky aged
70 years the 15th day of February last
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 the 7th of June 1832 that he
an his father enlisted & the officer received me 
enlisted  in his stead in the army of the United
States in the year____ for three years
with Captain ___ Hearing at the Kinston
in the State North Carolina and
served in the 10th Regiment of     line
under the following named officers he was
marched to the Northward & there put under
command of Captain Benjamin Coleman
Colonel ___ Maybin  commanded the regiment & 
General ___ Hogan the Brigade or division.
he was then marched to Stony Point
and stationed there untill the British
marched against that place we retreated
to West Point where General
Washington lay with his army we
had only a half Regiment or Battalion
we then retreated up West Point River
Page 4

he was then marched by Philadelphia
& took shipping at the head of Elk for
Charleston the weather very cold the River
freezed up & we had to take it on foot to
Charleston he arrived at that place
before the British attacked it and was
there during the siege & was in all
the fighting there in defending
the city & when Charleston surrendered
he was taken prisoner the siege
as well as he now lasted 40 days after
he remained in what the British
called the Prison Bounds for some
time himself with some others of the
prisoners was put on board a prison
Ship & sent to England they were kept
at the Isle of Wight some time were
taken to London Portsmouth and most
of the ports of Ireland the Captain 
of the ship gave me three chances
one was to enlist in the British land
Service another to go on shore & live 
in England the 3rd to enter on board of his
ship & be a sailor for five years to which
last proposition I assented we sailed
on the borders of England for some 
time touching on the Irish Coast from
that to the French Islands from there
to New York reloaded our Vessel and
sailed for Charleston there discharge
our loading & reloaded our Vessel for
St Augustine about midnight made
my escape in company with Two others.
Page 5

he states that his Term of Service was 
nearly out when Charleston surrendered
that from the time he first
enlisted untill he made his escape
as a prisoner was 6 or 7 years he
got no discharge or he does not 
recollect of any.  States that he was placed
on the pension roll the day of
the evidence in the War department
and the certificate secretary of
war hereto attached marked (B)
he prays may be taken as part
her of that he was stricken off
the pension roll shortly after on
account of his having some property
as he is informed that he removed
from Duplin County North Carolina to Mecklenburg
County Kentucky about the year 1798.
he hereby relinquishes every claim
whatever to a pention or an annuity
except the present and he declares that
his name is not on the pension Roll
of any agency in any state except
as aforesaid   Sworn to & subscribed
the day & year aforesaid.

Sikes  Garriss
  his  X  mark

State of Kentucky  Sch.
Mecklenburg Circuit
August Term 1832

I Charles F. Wing Clerk of the Court
for the Circuit aforesaid do hereby
certify that the foregoing Declaration 
was this day produced in Court
Page 6

by Sikes Garris, whose name appears
subscribed thereto, & who made oath that
said Declaration is true to the best of his
recollection.  Which is thereupon ordered
be certified accordingly

In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand & seal 
of office this 28th day of August
1832

Thomas F. Wing
Page 7

Sikes Garris

new case

states he took his
fathers place, Benjamin
Garris

Sent to Raleigh No. Ca.
for proof of service
Page 8

Sikes Garris states that he resides in
Mecklenburg County and State of Kentucky
that as well as he now recollects in the year
1777 or 1779 his father enlisted in the 10th
regiment to term for three years that he does
not recollect the Captains name he enlisted
with but that he took his fathers place in a short time after he enlisted & that he was marched to the North
and was put under the Command of Captain
Benjamin Coleman in Colonel Maybins Regiment
that he then marched to Charlestown and
was then taken prisoner by the British
and was taken to England and brought
back to New York and from there was taken
to Charlestown from which place he run off
and made his escape and got to General Marion's
Camp and was kept there as a Soldier untill
the end of the war.

Sikes   Garris
  his   X  mark

Sikes Garris personally appeared in Open
Court and made oath that the foregoing
Page 9

Betsy Garris personally appeared in open 
Court and made oath that Benjamin Garris
her late Husband enlisted in the State of 
North Carolina to serve three years and that
shortly after he enlisted his Son Sikes Garris
took his place and that he said Sikes Garris
was gone from home about six years before 
he returned home and that said Sikes
Garris has but little property and needs
the assistance of his Country.

Betsy    Garris
  her   X  mark

Dempsey Westbrook also appeared
in Court and made oath that he knows
Benjamin Garris Deceased enlisted to serve
for three years in the State of North
Carolina in the revolutionary war
and that shortly after he enlisted Sikes
Garris took his place and that he was 
gone from home about 7 years before 
he returned and that said Garris has 
but little property.

Dempsey    Westbrook
         his   X  mark
Page 10

The Commonwealth of Kentucky
Mecklenburg County Sch.
November County Court 1819

The Court doth hereby certify that appears to their satisfaction
that Sikes Garris now of the Commonwealth and County aforesaid
aged fifty seven years 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 in the
continental establishment and they now transmit the
proceedings and testimony taken and had before
them to the Secretary of the department of War
pursuant to the directions of the act of Congress in
that case made & provided the Court from the
testimony of three creditable witnesses are also
satisfied that the said Garris need the assistance
of his Country for support.

In Testimony whereof 
I Charles F Wing, Clerk
to the said Court house
hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal of office
this 2nd day of November 1819
& in the 28th year of the Commonwealth

Chs F Wing
Page 11

State of North Carolina Secretary's Office 19th Febry 1820

I William Hill Secretary of State in and for the State
aforesaid, do hereby certify that it appears from the muster rolls
of the Continental line of this State, that Sykes Garris
a private in Capt. Heron's Company of the 19th Regt. was 
musted on the 4th May 1777 for 3 years of this war, and deserted
the 19th June 1783.  He has obtained a Warrant for
Western lands as a War Soldier on the Certificate of
a Field Officer.

Given under my hand the 
date above

Wm Hill
Page 12

House of Representatives:
Washington, January 25 1859

Dear Sir

I have received a letter from Mr Joseph
Ricketts informing me that in 1855
he enclosed to a pension agent of
the City named S M Knight the 
Declaration of James Garris one
of the heirs of Sikes Garris one
for an increase of pension--said
Knight acknowledged the receipt of
the papers & an advance fee--
but that since then nothing
has been heard from him.
May I beg you to inform
me if any such case is
pending in the office and if
so its condition &c

I have the honor to be
your Obedient Servant

W S Underwood

Geo C Whiting  Secy
Page 13

10,836

Sikes Garriss

Kentucky

from 1777 private

3 years

$80

old case on 
Rev Roll 
yet out papers


Applicant 
Greensville Kentucky
Page 14

BRIEF in the case of Sikes Garriss
County of Muhlenberg
in the State of Kentucky
(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? [blank]
3. How old is he? 70
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period.  Duration of Service.  Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. 
Years, months, days, 
As a 
Gen. Hogan Washington
enlisted
 X 3
private
Capt Hearing Capt Coleman Col Meybin
Sub
his father enlisted and he received as substitute  
X he was taken prisoner at Charleston and sent to England in a prison ship from period of his enlistment till he made his escape about 6 or 7 years
5. In what battles was he engaged? Seige of Charleston
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Kingston North Carolina
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by
incidental evidence, or by the rolls? nothing but his declaration
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
no opinion given by the Court
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
He states that he sent with
his papers the Certfof the Secy
of War, placing him on the
pension Roll & that he was
subsequently struk off which I did
not find among his papers
Chs W Forrest
Chs W Forrest
Examining Clerk.
Page 15

13130

Rev War

INVALID

File No. 13,130

Sikes Garris

Priv. Rev. War

Act:  June 7th 1832

Index: - Vol. 1  Page 138
Page 16

Greenville, Ky  Oct 3. free
Sept 21.   
J. L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
Page 17

Greenville Ky  Septr 20  1836

Dear Sir,

Sikes Garris, a pensioner in this County
(Mecklenburg) under the Act of June 7th 1832,
has lost his certificate--I have usually attended
to his case in as & obtained his money for him &c
was absent in March Court and know not whether
his certificate was lost in its transmission by
mail from Lexington, or whether it was
mislaid by my Clerk-- after dilligent inquiry 
it can not be found-- Will you supply
the loss by a copy with instructions as to
making out his papers if any any
change is necessary?

Respectfully

Edward Ramsey
Page 18

Sikes Garris Private 7th June  $80  Per annum
Kentucky roll--

To what term was he last paid?

Pen. Office
Decr  5 1836
 R. B. 

3 Auditor
To the 4 March 1836

S H
Page 19

Sikes Garris

W L Underwood R C

Geo C Whiting Secy

Comr of Pensions
Washington D C
Page 20

Pension Office
March 23rd 1837

Sir:

In reply to your letter of the 13th
instant, you are informed the S. M. Knight has
filed no papers in this office relating to the
increase of the pension allowed to Sikes Garris.

As, however, Mr. Garris received, in his
lifetime, the highest rate of pension allowed for
such services, his heirs are not entitled to
any increase.

I am respectfully
Your Obedient Servant,
S. Cole

for Commissioner



Jos. Ricketts, Esq.
Greenwich 
Ky.
Page 21

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Sikes Garriss which require further proof or explanation.
1. 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? No
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
Page 22

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? No
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No
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? No
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?
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? 1, 2, 7 not 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 [blank] year [blank] months, and [blank] days, I served as a [blank] for [blank] months and [blank] days, I served as a [blank] ; and for such service I claim a pension.
Page 23

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 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 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 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.
Page 24

Greenville, Ky
Nov 20th
Dec 1
Mr Burndine
J. L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, DC
Page 25

Greenville November 19th 1835

Dear Sir,

Enclosed are S Garris' papers
for a renewal of his pension certificate
made out conformably to 
directions in yours of Oct 4th--

Please forward a new certificate
as the old man wants his money
& is importuning me much &c.

If, on account of the new certificate
any new form is requisite in
applying to the agency at Lexington.
Please direct.

Respectfully

Edward Rumsey
Page 26

Greenville Ky          free
Sept 4th

The Honorable
The Secretary of War
Washington City

Military pension claim

mail


10536
Ky
Page 27

16,612
Kentucky

Sikes Garris

of Mecklenburg in the State of Kentucky
who was a private in the regiment commanded by
Colonel Shepard of the North Carolina
line, for the term of 6 years

Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 2nd of November 1819

Certificate of Pension issued the 28 of March 1820
and sent to Honorable Alney McLean
House of Reps.

Arrears to 4th March 1820 $32.76
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sept $8.00
                                               $80.76

Revolutionary claim,
Act 18 March, 1818.
Page 28

Commonwealth of Kentucky
Mecklenburg County Sch.

On this 14th day of November 1836 before me the
subscriber a Justice of the Peace for said County of
Mecklenburg personally appeared Edward Rumsey
who on his oath declares that he has for some
years acted as agent for Sikes Garris in obtaining
his pension from the agency at Lexington Ky, that
in March 1836 he made out his papers and sent
his original Certificate under the signature & seal
of the Secretary of War, by mail to Joseph Ficklin
at Lexington-- that he received the amounts due said
Garris as well as others, but being from home when
the papers of the pensioners in this county were
returned, he can not state whether Sikes Garris' ever 
came to hand-- that he has enquired at the Post
Office, caused his Clerk to examine & examined his
papers himself and can not find it-- that it is
lost-- that it was lost about the last of March
1836-- The said Rumsey further swears that
he well knows that Sikes Garris who was the owner
and holder of said lost certificate is the same person
described in this affidavit and the same person making
the aforesaid application for a new certificate.

Edward Rumsey

Sworn and subscribed to before 
me, the day and year aforesaid.

John Campbell  J.P.

Kentucky 
Mecklenburg County Sch.

I certify that Edward Rumsey whose name appears
to the above affidavit is a person of veracity
Given under my hand this 14th day of November 1836

John Campbell J.P.
Page 29

Commonwealth of Kentucky
Muhlenberg County (illegible)
On this 18th day of November 1836 came Charles F Wing before me John Campbell
a justice of the peace for said county & after being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he is well acquainted with the (illegible) named Sikes Garris & has been for the last thirty five years that he believes him to be a man of truth and that from their deponents official station as clerk of the county court for Muhlenberg County, he knows & believes that the (illegible) named Sikes Garris is the same person named in the original certificate of pension stated by him to have been lost and from his knowledge of the statements made in the deposition of Edward Rumsey he believes the said Garris certificate is lost.
Sworn before me.   C F Wing
John Campbell, J.P.
Kentucky   Muhlenberg County
    I certify the above named Charles F Wing
is a person entitled to credit when an oath given under my hand this 18th day of November 1836
John Campbell J.P.
Page 30

Application for a new Certificate
Commonwealth of Kentucky
County of Muhlenberg. (illegible)
On this Fourteenth day of November 1836 before me the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said county of Muhlenberg, personally appeared Sikes Garris, who on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain Benjamin Coleman in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Mabin in the service of the United States that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of Kentucky, that he received a certificate of that facts under the signature and seal of the secratery of  (illegible), which certificate on or about the twenty fifth day of March 1835 near Greenville, or in its transmission by mail from the pension agency at Lexington, KY to Greenville, was last as he believes from the information which he has received from Edward Rumsey who acted as agent -- that he has with much (illegible) sought to (illegible) nine himself of its but can not obtain.
Sworn and subscribed to before me the day and year aforesaid.
John Campbell, J.P.
         His 
Sikes  X Garris
        Mark
Page 31

Commonwealth of Kentucky
Muhlenberg County. (illegible)
I Charles F Wing clerk of the County Court for the county aforesaid certify that John Campbell Esq whose signature appears to the within & foregoing affidavits of Sikes Garris, Edward Rumsey and Charles F Wing is & was at the time of signing the same an acting justice of the peace in and for said county duly commissioned & qualified and that his signature is genuine

In testimony whereof I have (illegible) unto set my hand & affixed  (illegible) seal of my said office at Greenville this 19th day of November 1836
C F Wing