Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 4,697, James Holmes, N.C.
Page 1

(B-1776)
SERVICE
N. C.
Holmes, James
Esther
NUMBER
W. 4,697
CONTENTS
Page 2

16.156+
North Carolina
James Holmes
of Iredell in the State of North Car
who was a pri: in the company commanded
by Captain Reed of the [commanded by crossed out]
in the North Car:
line for 6 months &25 days
Inscribed on the Roll of North Car:
at the rate of 22 Dollars 78 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 12th day of July '33
and set A. Simonton
Statesville N. C.
Arrears to the 4th of March '33 ~ 45.56
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept" ~ 11.39
$56.95
{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by Wm. Miller Clerk;
Book E. Vol. 6. Page 43
Page 3

9670
Esther Holmes-
decd_
N. C
Act 7.July 38
admo -
6 mo. 25ds pri
[line]
22.78
To Nathl.-Robert &
Esther Holmes only
Surviving children
of Esther Holmes
decd_
Page 4

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefits of the provisions
made by the Act of Congress passed July 7th 1838.
Entitled an act granting half pay & Pensions to Certain
Widows.
State of North Carolina
Iredell County}
Court of Pleas & Quarter
Sessions August Term 1843,
On this 22d day of August (1843) one
thousand Eight hundred & forty three, personally appeared
before the Court of Pleas & Quarter Session for the 
County of Iredell & State aforesaid. Natheniel Holmes
son of the late James Holmes dec.d pensioner. who being
first duly sworn according to Law. doth on his oath
make the following declaration in order to obtain
be benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress
passed July 7th. 1838.  Entitled an act granting half pay
& Pensions to Certain Widows. 
This declaration the aforesaid Nathaniel
Holmes in behalf of himself and the other heirs of
James Holmes late pensioner decd.. States that the said
James Holmes was a private Soldier the heirs understa
nd and as such served the United States in the
War of the Revolution. and that the aforesaid James
Holmes was placed on the North Carolina Pensions
Roll under the Act of 7th June 1832, in the Year of 1833,
and was allowed an annuity $22, 78/100. that He said
James Holmes was married in the first of the Year of 
Seventeen hundred & ninety (1790) to Esther McConnell
and as husband & wife they lived together till the
death of James Holmes who died on the 31st day of Au-
=gust. (1834) one thousand eight hundred & thirty four,
And that his widow the aforesaid Esther departed
this life on the 2d day of September one thousand eight
hundred & forty two 1842.
This declaration further sets fourth on his said
oath that the said Esther McConnell was not married
to the aforesaid James Holmes prior to his leaving
the service, but the marriage took place previous to
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the first of January Seventeen hundred and ninety
four.  Vis at the time above stated, Seventeen hundred 
and ninety 1790. ~  And this declaration further sets
forth on his said oath, that the aforesaid Esther did
not marry after the death of her said husband James
Holmes but remained his widow till her death
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and
year first above written in open Court
Tes
J. F. Alexander C.J.C.C.}
Nath l Holmes

State of North Carolina
Iredell County}
I J. F. Alexander Clerk of
the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County
of Iredell & State aforesaid Certify that satisfactory
evidence was this day furnished said Court (now
in Session) that James Holmes died was a Revolutionary
pensioner as declared by said declarant Nathaniel
Holmes and that said pensioner died in the Year
of 1834 leaving his wife Esther a widow who died
on the 2d day of September 1842 Eighteen hundred &
forty two.  Leaving surviving the following three chi
ldren all of lawful age Viz, Nathaniel Holmes, Robert
Holmes. & Esther Holmes. who intermarried with Kinnier
Steel.  Satisfactory Evidence was also given said
Court that the declarant Nathaniel Holmes is a man
of truth and verasity.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed my official
seal of Office at office in Statesville
this 22th day of August 1843
J F. Alexander C.J.C.C
State of North Carolina
Iredell County}ss
On this 23d day of August
(1843) one thousand Eight hundred and forty
Page 6

three. before me R. H. Parkes one of the acting Justi
ces of the Peace in and for the County of Iredell
& State aforesaid personally appeard Mary mcConne
ll a resident of said County and state aged 81 Eighty
one Years. who being first duly sworn according to
Law doth on her oath make the following statements
to wit.  That she was well acquainted with the late
James Holmes of the County of Iredell & State aforesaid
also with his wife Esther, whoes heirs are now applying
for a pension on the account of heirs dec.d mother,
that she the afficent was present a [illegible] the
solemnization of the rites of matrimony between 
the aforesaid James Holmes & his wife Esther which
took place in the County of Iredell in the Year of
Seventeen hundred and ninety (1790) at the house of
 Elixander McConnells.  That this afficiant speaks
positive of the time from the circumstances that
her fourth child was small that she had it in her
[illegible] at that time & her own Family Record shows
that child, John McConnell, was born in the Year
or 1788. Seventeen hundred Eighty Eight which she believes
to be first [?]then
Sworn to and subscribed on this 23d day of 
August 1843 before
R. H. Parks JP}  Mary McConnell her mark[large X]
And I the said Justice of the
Peace do hereby certify that Mary McConnell who
this day swore to and subscribed the foregoing Certificate
befir me is a credible person & to her statements is 
due full faith & credit
Given under my hand & seal the day and
Year above written R. H. Parks J P
Page 7

State of North Carolina
Iredell County}
I J. F. Alexander Clerk of
the Court of Pleas & Quarter
Sessions for the County of Iredell & State aforesaid Certify
that Richard H Parkes Esq. whose name appears to the
foregoing Certificates is and was at the time of signing
the same an acting Justice of the County aforesaid
duly commissioned & appointed and that the signature
purporting to be his an genuine therefore full faith
and credit is due all his official acts as such
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and affixed my Seal of Office at
office in Statesville this 24th day of August 1843
J. F. Alexander C.J.C.C.
[9668 crossed out in bottom left margin]
9670
Page 8

Nathl" Holmes
Was Born December 12
the Year of our Lord
1790
Page 9

Copy
Nathaniel Homes was born December 12" the 
Year of our Lord 1790
State of North Carolina
Iredell County} ss
I Nathaniel Homes
son of the late James Holmes & Esther Holmes,
of the County of Iredell & State aforesaid do hereby
Certify upon oath that the above is a true and
exact copy of the Record of my birth, as has been told
to me by my parents, James & Esther Holmes, that I
have always understood & verily believe, that my pan.[parents]
 the aforesaid was married in the Year of sevente[en]
hundred & ninety, the same year that I was born
I further certify that I know of no other record
that has any bearing in the support of my father[s]
marriage to his wife Esther whose maiden name
was McConnell the original Marriage Bond is not on file
Sworn to and subscribed on this 23d day of 
August 1843 Eighteen hundred & forty three
before R H Parks PJ
Nath,,l Holmes
And I the said Justice do hereby
Certify that Nathaniel Holmes who hath this day sworn
to and subscribed the above certificate before me is
a credible person and to be believed on oath
Given under my hand & seal this 23 of Aug" 1843
R H Parkes JP
State of North Carolina
I J. F. Alexander Clerk of the 
Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County of Iredell
& State aforesaid Certify that Richard H. Parkes is an ac[ting]
Magistrate as above & that the signature purporting to be his
is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed my seal of Office
at office in Statesvill this 24" August 1843
J. F. Alexander Clk
Page 10

North Carolina
Iredell County}
On this twenty fifth day of March
in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred & thirty three, personally appeared before me
Abraham B. Blackburn one of the acting Justices of the
Peace in & for said County aforesaid  James Holmes
a resident of the County of Iredell & State of North Carolina
aforesaid, Aged seventy one years, who first being 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 7th. 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States
under the following named officers & served as herein stated
First.
He entered the service of the United
States as a private militiaman under Capt.
George Reed in the year 1780. & he believes
in the month of May or June of that year &
marched against the Tories that had embodied
on the South Catawba River in Lincoln
County N.C. that while in this service he was
in the Battle that was fought with the Tories
that called & known as the Battle at Ramsours
- that he served at that time two weeks.
Second.
He entered the service of the United
States in the year 1780 as a private militiaman
marched in pursuit of the Tories that had
Collected in the for of the Yadkin River Rowan
County N.C. - that he served at the time one
month under Capt. Nichols principally
as he believes in the month of July
Page 11

Third.
He entered the service of the United
States as a private militiaman in the year 1780 & as he believes in the 
month of September & marched in pursuit of the
Tories that had collected on the Yadkin Rive[r]
Surry County N.C. - that he served at that 
time three weeks under Capt. Nichols & was in 
the Battle fought with the Tories near what [is]
called the Shallow ford of the Yadkin
Fourth.
He entered the service of the United 
States as a private militiaman in the month of January 1781- that wha
the British army under Lord Cornwallis Com
-ed the Catawba River on the 1st. of February
he was with the militia that had collected
a few miles from the River at Torences Tavern
where they were surprised by a party of the Bri
tish men-  that he marched from there to 
Salisbury N.C. & that he served at that time a
month under Capt. Nichols
He further states that when he served the
above four short tours, he belonged to what
was called minute men, or men who held
themselves ready to march at a minutes warn
-ing to suppress the Tories or protect the Coun
ty from Tory depredations, or in any other
service when he was called
Fifth.
He was drafted in the fall of the
year 1781 (the month he does not recollect)-
that he march to Wilmington N.C. & serv[ed]
three months & twenty days as a private militiaman under
Capt. Hi[edge cutoff] Hall.
Page 12

Answers to interrogatories
1.  He was born Ireland in the County of
Dunnegal, Parish of Raphone in the year 1762
Feb. 28th
2.  He has no Record of his age
3.  He was living in Rowan County N. C.(now
Iredell) where he has continued to live ever
since
4.  He volunteered in every instance except the
the last; for the [illegible] to Wilmington he was
drafted
5.  At the Battle at Ramson he knew
Capt. Sloan & Halls & Armstrong who were
all killed & Capt Reed who he was under
was wounded.  In the tour after the 
tories in the fork of the Yadkin he does not
recollect any other officers than Capt Nichols
& Caldwell. ~ that at Shallow ford
Battle he knew Capts. Nichols & Caldwell
 & also Capt. Frances who was killed in the 
Battle & the only whig that was killed~
that in the fourth tour he served, he does not
recollect any other officers than Capts. Nichols
& Caldwell~ that in the above tours the 
men were hastily collected together
& acted under such officers as were present at the
time & seldom any higher than Captain.
~ that in the tour to Wilmington he does not
recollect any officers except Genl Rutherford
who he believes commanded the troops
to which he belonged.
6.  He received discharges in every instance from
the Captains under whom he served, which
Page 13

[continuation of interrogatories]
discharges were destroyed by the burning of his
house in May 1794.
7  That he does not know of any Clergyman
whom can testify to his services~ But that he
has been long acquainted with Andrew Carsen
& Lawrence Maiden of Iredell County N.C.
to whom he refer to testify to his character for
veracity & their belief of his service as a soldier
of the Revolution.
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 or territory.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year
aforesaid
James Holmes
A.B Blackborn J Peace
& member Iredell C. C.

I Lawrence Maiden residing in the County
of Iredell N.C. hereby certify, that I have been
well acquainted with James Holmes who has sub-
-scribed & sworn to the above declaration; for more
than fifty years, that I believe him to be
seventy one years of age; that I was well acquaint
-ed with him during the War of the Revolution
that we served one month in the same company
during the War, in pursuit of the Tories- that he
was reputed & believed in the neighborhood where 
he resided to have served other tours during the
War & in this opinion I Concur.
Sworn & Subscribed the day & year
aforesaid
Lawrence Maiden
AB Blackborn J. Peace
& member J. C. C.
Page 14

I Andrew Carsen, residing in the County of
Iredell N.C. hereby Certify, that I have been
well acquainted with James Holmes who has
subscribed & Sworn to the above declaration for
more than fifty years, that I believe him to be
seventy one years of age; that I knew him during
the War of the Revolution, that he was reputed &
believed in the neighborhood when he resided
have been a soldier of the Revolution, & that I Con
-cur in that opinion~ & further I believe that
we went in the Service of the United States at the
same time, in two short tours; one after the Tories
in the Fork of Yadking Rowan County N.C. & the
other at the Battle with the Tories at the Shallow
Ford of the Yadkin~ But do not now recollect
to have seen him at either place, but from some
circumstances which he relates & from his character
as a man of truth I believe as he States.
& account for my not recollecting him, by his be
-longing to the foot company & myself to the Horse
Sworn to & Subscribed 
day & year aforesaid
Andrew Carson
A. B. Blackborn J Peace
& member I. C. C.
I Abraham B. Blackborn acting Justice of the
Peace in & for County of Iredell N.C. & also member
of the County Court foresaid County, do hereby declare
it to be my opinion, after the investigation of the 
matter, & after filling the interrogatories prescribed by
the War department, that the above named applicant 
was a Revolutionary Soldier & served as he states.
And I do further Certify that Lawrence Maiden
& Andrew Carsen who have signed preceding Certificates
are credible persons, & that their statement is entitled
to credit.  And I further Certify that James
Holmes the applicant is very infirm & that from
Page 15

- his bodily infirmity I do not think him able to
attend the Court~
Given under my hand & seal this 5th day of
March 1833
A. B. Blackborn J Peace
& member Iredell C. Court.
I Abraham Simenton, Clerk of the Court of Pleas
& Quarter Sessions for the County of Iredell N. C. do hereby
Certify that the foregoing contains the original proceed-
ings in the matter of the application of James Holmes
for a pension.  And I further certify that Abraham
B. Blackborn is an acting Justice of the Peace in & for
the County of Iredell N.C. & also member of the Court
for said County & that the above is his proper signa-
ture.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand & seal of office at Statesvill this 6th day
of May 1833~
A Simonton CCk
Page 16

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section.
January 29, 1924.
James Holmes
W. 4697
Mrs. W. F. Holmes,
McComb, Miss.
Madam;
I have to advise you that from the papers in the
Revolutionary War pension claim W. 4697, it appears
that James Holmes was born February 28, 1762 in Ireland,
County of Donegal, Parish of Raphoe, and was residing in
Rowan County, North Carolina when he enlisted in the War
of the Revolution.
He was allowed pension for six months and twenty
five days service as a private in the North Carolina
troops, on his application executed March 25, 1833, while
a resident of Iredell County, North Carolina.  He died
August 31, 1834.
Soldier married in Iredell County, North Carolina,
in the first part of the year 1790, Esther McConnell, who
died /September 2, 1842 leaving the following children-
Nathaniel, born December 12, 1790; Robert; and Esther, who
married Ninia Steel.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.
[no signature]
Page 17

[left side]
Revy
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 4697
Esther Holmes
Wid.
Jas. Holmes
Prvt. N.C. line
Act:  July 7/38
Index: --Vol. A , Page 342
(Arrangement of 1870)
[right side]
1924 jan. 29 - Hist to Mrs W. F. 
Holmes awt
Page 18

7901
North Carolina
Esther Holmes dec.d
widow of James Holmes
N. C
who was pensioner under the Act of 1832
and who died on the 31st August, 1834,
of Iredell in the State of N. Carolina
who was a Private in the Company
commanded by Captain Reed of the
Regt commanded by Col [blank] in
the N. C line for 6 mo & 25 dys
Inscribed on the Roll of N. Carolina
at the rate of 22 Dollars & 78
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day
of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 14th day of
Nov. 1843 and sent to Sylvester Bettes
Morganton N. C.
Total amount, $113.90
(Act of July 7, 1838.)
Recorded by Tho. Nowltin, Clerk,
book D. Vol. 1. Page 291.
Page 19

[sideways left margin]
Reported Nov. 14th
[Text]
Payable to Nathaniel, Robert and Esther Holmes,
only surviving children of Esther Holmes, decd
Page 20

Morganton. N Ca Augs 25" 1843
Sir
Enclosed you will recive the papers of Phoebe
Smith which have been ntured for further action
by the Court which they have met that I hope may
be satisfactory
Also I forward to Your Department
the papers of the heirs of . Mrs Holmes who are 
applying for the arrears ow ther mother Esther Holmes
You will please to examine the inclosed
& forward to me the result to the above place
Morganton & much oblige
Yours with Respect
Sylvester Bettis

J. L. Edwards
Com. of Pensions
Washington City
DC
Page 21

Admit as private
6 mo and 25 days
22.78
Page 22

McComb, Mississippi. Dec. 19th, 1923.
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir;-
One James Holmes was granted a pension for Revolutionary War
Service about the year 1833.  He was a prive in the N. C. Militia.
(see N. C. pension Roll)  Will you please give me all information concerning
him;  did he mention his wife's name or children?  How long did he draw a
pension and when did the pension cease?
One Elisha Holmes fought in the Revolutionary War. Am not sure
whether he fought from N. J. or N. C. as he lived in both States.  Was he
granted a pension, if so for what length of time and  did he name his wife
 and children? 
Thanking you for what information you may be able to give me
about the above men I am
Very respt,
Mrs W. F Holmes
[office stamp]
PENSION OFFICE
U. S.
DEC
24
1923