Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 8,791, for William Perkins, North Carolina
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
N.C.
Perkins, William
NUMBER
S.8.791
carded
CONTENTS
Page 2


16.111
North Carolina
William Perkins
of Halifax in the State of North Car.
who was a Pri & St:  in the company commanded
by Captain Jarvis of the Regt commanded
by Col. Johnston in the North Car:
line for 6 months

Inscribed on the Roll of North Car:
at the rate of 50 Dollars - Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 8th day of July '33
and sent J.H. Harwell
Halifax N.C.

Arrears to the 4th of March '33            100
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept "-    25

                                                            $125
{ Revolutionary Claim, }
{ Act June 7, 1832. }

Recorded by Wm. Miller Clerk,
Book E. Vol. 6 Page 51
Page 3

William Perkins
Certificate
Entered


Wm. Perkins
Petition
Pension
19384
Page 4

State of North Carolina }
Halifax County }
On this 20th day of August AD 1832, 
personally appeared in open court, before the
Justices of the Court of Common Pleas and
Quarter Sessions for the county of Halifax, now
sitting, William Perkins, a resident of Halifax
County, aged 76 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 and
served as herein stated, viz: he was drafted in
the year 1778 as he believes, at any rate in
the year the battle of Stono was fought under
Capt William Jarvis, in Col Johnston's
regiment, marched to Stono & fought in the
battle at that place, then marched near
Charleston, head quarters being at Stono, returned to Stono & was discharged after a 
service of three months in the State of South Carolina & two months as he believes going
& returning. In the year that Charleston
was surrendered he drafted in the county
of Halifax North Carolina & received from
Gen Thomas Eaton a commission of 
Lieutenant in the company commanded by Capt Levi Lane, marched to Camden in South Carolina, then towards Charleston, returned
to Cross creeks in North Carolina & was
discharged after serving three months
Col James Allen & Col Isaac Sessums were
the officers of the regiment. his commission & discharges are lost - he was born in
Currituck County North Carolina -he has no
record of his age - has lived here ever since
Page 5

the Revolution in Halifax County North Carolina.
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
Sworn to & Subscribed }
the day and year aforesaid }
W. H. Pettway clk
Wm. Perkins


We Miles Smith a clergyman
residing in the County of Halifax, State of North Carolina and James Lock senr. [senior]
residing in the same County and State hereby
certify that we are well acquainted with William Perkins who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that they believed him to be 76 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood [neighborhood] where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution; and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed }
the day and year aforesaid }
in open court }
Miles Smith
M. H. Pettway clk
James his x mark Lock
Page 6

And the said Court do hereby declare their
opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after pulling the interrogatories
prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and 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, State of North Carolina, and that James Lock who has also signed the same is a resident in the same County and State and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
The court should sign
Jno. T. Clanton J.P.
Thos. Gary J.P.
James H. Parker J.P.

I, Mark H. Pettway, Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for Halifax County
State of North Carolina, do hereby certify that
the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Perkins for a pension.
In testimony whereof
I have hereunto set my
hand and seal of my
Office 20th this day of
August, A.D. 1832.
M. H. Pettway Clk

[seal]
Page 7

State of North Carolina }
Halifax County }
Personally appeared before me Henry Garrett
one of the Justices of the Peace for said County of Halifax & State of No. Carolina
William Perkins, who being first duly Sworn
deposes and says that in addition to his declaration hereunto annexed: that he was born in Currituck County State of North Carolina; has no record of his age nor does he know that there ever was any record
of it; but from his recollection of what was told him by his parents that he was born in the year 1755 or 1756. I recollect well that I mustered before the war and when the declaration of Independence was declared
was mustering at the Court House in Currituck
County: heard the declaration of Independence read at the time and then was twenty or twenty one years of age
I do not know of any person that is now living that was with me in the army, several of the Mr. Spann, viz Wellis Spann & Fred. Spann & Roderick Easly, John Powell & great many
others that I recollect of was with me in the army who are now dead or moved out of my reach: so that it is out of my power to prove it by any others:  I know of a good
many men in my neighbourhood [neighborhood], namely Wellis Alston & John Branch & others who I could, I expect prove the same by: that I have proven by the Revd. [Reverend] Miles Smith & Jamy Lock: I am unable to travel farr [far] to look Testimony
know that I had a commission as Lieutenant from Genl. Thomas Eaton and acted as such as I have before stated: being an unlettered man did not know it necessary for me to keep it nor do I know of any pension I can prove it by - William Powers
Page 8

William Perkins a person of credibility signed
& sworn to the within affidavit before me this
16th day of April 1833. - Henry Garrett J.P.

State of North Carolina I Mark H Pettway
Clerk of the Court of Pleas and quarter sessions for the county of Halifax do hereby
certify, that Henry Garrett whose name is signed to the foregoing certificate and affidavit of Wm. Perkins is in his own proper hand writing, that he was at the time of signing the same an acting Justice of the peace for the County aforesaid duly qualified to act as such and that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given all his official acts as such. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office at Halifax this 4th May 1833.
W H Pettway clk
By JH Harwell DC

[seal]
Page 9

June 26, 1939.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

BA-J/ady
William Perkins
S. 8791

Mrs. Vivian P. Harrison
Box 111
Corinth, Mississippi
Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter relative to
William Perkins, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.

The data contained herein were obtained from
the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, S.8791, based upon the military service of William Perkins in that war.

William Perkins was born in Currituck County,
North Carolina, in 1755 or 1756, day, month, and the names of his parents are not shown.

William Perkins enlisted in 1779, served three
months as private in Captain William Jarvis'
Company, Colonel Johnston's North Carolina Regiment and was in the battle of Stono. He was commissioned in 1780 in Halifax County, North Carolina, Lieutenant, and served three months in Captain Levi Lane's Company under Colonels James Allen and Isaac Sessions
in the North Carolina troops.

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 20, 1832, while a resident of Halifax County, North Carolina.

There are no family data.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of
pension, the name of person paid and possibly the death date of soldier, you should apply to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D. C., and cite the following data: "William Perkins, Certificate No.
Page 10

16111, issued July 8, 1833, rate $50.00 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, North Carolina Agency".

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 11

[illegible]
3 mo. pri 10-
3. Sent     40
                50

J H Harwell
Halifax
NC
Page 12

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which these answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
William Perkins, Halifax Co N.C. 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 [amount] 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
Page 13

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?  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? 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

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.
Page 14

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 that 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 in 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 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 claimant's 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 papers 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.
Proof should be exhibited to show that the claimant received a commission as a Lieutenant and that he served in that capacity.
Page 15

Robert Caliles
William D. Drish
John Wethers
Pamelia Lynn, widow of Joseph R Lynn
all from Virginia, all suspended.-
Murhull.
[illegible]
Page 16

William Perkins, a revolu. pensioner of
N. Carolina under act of 1832
[illegible[
Page 17

1926 - Mch. 18 - Hist. to Mrs. C. H. Nobles MMFH
1939. June 26. Hist. to Mrs. Vivian P.
Harrison. ADY

8791
INVALID.
File No. 8791
William Perkins
Sergt Rev. War

Act: June 7th 1832.
Index: --Vol. 1st, Page 292
[ Arrangement of 1870. ]
Page 18

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
MMHF


March 18 - 1926

Mrs. C. H. Nobles
Deport, Texas

Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 8791 it appears that William Perkins was born in 1755 or 1756 in Currituck County, North Carolina.

He enlisted in 1779, served three months as a private in Captain William Jarvis' Company, Colonel Johnston's North Carolina Regiment and was at the battle of Stono.

He was commissioned in 1780 in Halifax County, North Carolina, Lieutenant and served three months in Captain Levi Lane's Company under Colonels James Allen and Isaac
Sessions in the North Carolina Troops.

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 20, 1832 while a resident of Halifax County, North Carolina.

There is no data on file as to his family,

The above noted is the only soldier named William

[? Miss] Wilson read the
1833 declaration & said
not use it as he was not
in any regular service - so early -
[handwritten in the left margin]
Page 19

Perkins of North Carolina found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau.

Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT -
Commissioner.

Date of death
not on A.B.
Page 20

E. L. COLEMAN
PRESIDENT

L. L. BLOUNT, JR.
VICE-PRESIDENT

G. A. HAZARD
TREASURER

F. F. ANDERSON, JR.
SECRETARY

ROAD BUILDERS EQUIPMENT COMPANY
INTERNATIONAL TRACTRACTORS, INDUSTRIAL
TRACTORS,
POWER UNITS, ADAMS ROAD MACHINERY, GENERAL CONTRACTORS AND
ROAD BUILDING EQUIPMENT

PHONE 6-6470

635 UNION AVENUE [lined out]
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE [lined out]

Corinth, Miss.
May 2-1939

[stamp] numbered 1-12
RECEIVED
MAY 4 1939
MAIL SUB DIV
[illegible]


Veterans Administration
Washington, D. C.

Re: William Perkins, Rev. War.

Dear Sir:
Would you kindly give me the complete war record of William Perkins, born 1755 or 1756 in Currituck County, N. Carolina, Allowed pension
on August 20 - 1832 in Halifax County. I would like especially to get mention of his family, or his father's. Thanking you very much for
this information. I am,

Yours very truly,
Vivian Harrison [signature]
Mrs. Vivian P. Harrison
Box 111
Corinth, Miss.
Page 21

Deport, Texas
Jan. 28, 1926

Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C

Gentlemen:
Please examine records
of Rev. War concerning three brothers,
Moses, William, and Solomon
Perkins - enlisted in North Carolina
(or South). The [they] were
born (1756 London - approximately
1750). They lived till 1832-
1840; Moses served 5 years
after the war as home-guard -
then settled in Georgia.
Page 22

Solomon settled in North Carolina;
William settled in Tennessee.
Thanking you for your interest,
as records were burned I
cannot be more definite, I
have only tradition of family,
and shall be grateful for this
courtesy.
Cordially yours,
Mrs. C. H. Nobles

Address:
Deport, Texas
P.S. They served together and likely
if you find record of one - the others
also.