Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 45843, Zachariah Gherkins, N.C.
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(8-1776)

SERVICE: NC.

Gherkins, Zachariah
or Gerkins
or Jerkins

NUMBER: S. 45843
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1832
Florida Terr.

Zachariah Gherkins
Leon 6° in the Territory of Florida,
who was a private in the Company commanded by captain Trouten of the Regt. commanded by Col Nicholas Long in the North Carolina [illegible]ne and matter for 2 years.

[pencil] 45843

Inscribed on the Roll of Florida at the rate of 60 Dollars -- Cents per annum, to commence on the 12th day of March, 1831. 

Certificate of Pension issued the 8th day of March 1833 and sent [erased] Genl Call of Florida

Arrears to 4th of March 1833 - 160.00
Tems=anl. allowance ending 4. Sept - 40.00
[total] $200.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Henry H. Sylvester Clerk, 
Book G Vol. 10 Page 201
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Territory of Florida, county of Leon:
On this 17 day of January 1833 personally appeared in open court before John A Cameron. Robert R. Read and Thomas Randall judges of the Court of Appeals for said Territory non acting Zacariah Jerkins a resident of the county and territory aforesaid aged seventy seven years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to otherize the benefit of the act of congress passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following officer and served as herein stated. That he entered the service of the United States in the year of 1776 or at that time he resided in the County of Halifax North Carolina he cannot be more definite or to the
time he entered the service that he entered as a volunteer in Captain Crowely company which was under the command of Genl Jones and served in that tour of duty for about four months or Ex time does not recollect the name of the Col of the regiment that while on this tour of service he marched from Halifax County N.C. up to Charlotsville and Hilsborough in said State at which last named place he was discharged. Shortly after his discharge at Hillsborough the date the do not recollect he entered as a volunteer in  Captain Turners Company Colo Lorry was the Colo of the Regiment under these officers he
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marched to Charles Town South Carolina in which place he remained for three or four months [noted in added cursive between lines] — is not certain as to length of time— and left there a short time previous to the British making an attach on [three words crossed out] that place there while on this tour of duty he was in no engagement except light skirmishes with small parties of British and Tories and received his discharge shortly after leaving CharlesTown. Immediately after his discharge he returned to Halifax N.C. And a short time afterwards (the date he dose[sic] not recollect) entered the service as a volunteer in the company of Captain Williams Colo Seawell was Colo of the regiment and John Bricknell Lieutenant Colo under those officers he marched towards Camden South Carolina to join Genl Gates who he mett[sic] retreating after his defeat joined his army and accompanied it to Pede[sic] river and from thence to Deep river and thence to Salisbury N.C. where he received his discharge was on this tour of duty about five months. He then returned to Halifax County N.C. where a short time afterwards he again entered the service in a troop of Cavalry under the command of Captain Robinson and Colo Read and joined Genl Green near Guilford Court house NC. and served under those officers at the battle at the place. He then marched with the cavalry of Genl. Green to Camden South Carolina was discharged on Pede river in this tour of duty was out about five months. That the next tour of duty he performed was in
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the North Carolina State troops in which he volunteered [underlined lightly] in the month of October 1781 for a twelve month tour of duty in the County of Halifax N.C. in the company of Captain Swantrouton there was no higher officer in command during this tour of duty than Major Long had but little active service to perform and was principally engaged in quelling the Tories. While on this last tour of duty marched from Halifax to Sailsbury[sic] was in the neighbourhood of Fayetteville and was on Pede[sic] river and Deep river was discharged in October or November 1782 and was never in the service afterwards. 
There are no witnesses nor living in his power to procure by whom he can prove his services. He received written discharges after most if not all of his tours of service but they together with the record of his age have been destroyed by fire. He was acquainted with the following officers in the regular service Genl Green Genl Gates Colo Lee and Colo Washington. He has no documentary evidence by which to establish his services than such as may be on file in the departments at Washington City. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the penison roll of the agency of any State He further states that he is not acquainted with any Clergyman whose statement he can procure in compliance with the instructions from the War department
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but begs lease to refer to the evidence of Edward Blackshear and Deorge Ogden witnessses who proved his services on application which he made for a pension about three years since whose testimony he is informed is on file in the War department . He further states that both of said witnesses have since departed this life
Sworn to in open court 17th January 1833
Jas. I Simms Clk   [signed] Zachariah his X mark Gerkins  
[Wm ?] C C Williams 

And Alfred A Fisher residing in the County of Leon and Territory of Florida hereby certify that he was well acquainted with Zachariah Gerkins who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be about seventy sever years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn to in open Court 17th January 1833  [signed] C Williams
Jas. I Linn Clk    [signed] A. A. Fisher

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after following the interrogations prescribed by the War department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it offers to them that C. C Williams and Alfred Fisher who here signed the foregoing certificate reside in the County of Leon and Territory of Florida that they are credible persons and that their statement is entitlied to credit
[signed] Thomas Randall Presiding Judge of the Court of Appeals
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Revy
INVALID
File No. 45.843
Zachariah Gherkins
Florida
Act 7 June 1832
Index: Vol. 2, Page 140
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Zachariah Gherkins
Reno, Florida
Rejected. See letter to Gen. A. Macomb Sept. 12th 1828.
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21.959
The Hon
The Secy of War
Washington, D.C.
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Territory of Florida
Leon County
I Zachariah Gerkins do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not since that time by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled "an act to provide for
certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War" passed on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities contracts or debts due me, to me, nor have I any income, other than what
is contained in the schedule hereunto annexed, and by me subscribed.

Zachariah [his X mark] Gerkins

Sworn to and subscribed
by marking in open Court
this 16th Nov 1831
David B Macomb Presiding
Justice of Leon County Mid: Florida

Schedule of all the property of Zachariah Gerkins made this 16th day of November 1831 viz
1 old cloth coat & 2 roundabouts
2 old Waistcoats
5 pair pantaloons (Summer oznaburgs)
4 Shirts
1 old Heat
1 pr Socks
1 " shoes
1 cravat

Zachariah [his X mark] Gerkins
Sworn & subscribed to before me this 16th Nov
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1831 in open Court
David B Macomb
Presiding Justice of Leon Cy

Leon County ss
Meid, Florida   ⎬

I do hereby certify that I have examined the articles above enumerated and do not consider them to be over the value of five dollars, and I furthermore certify that said Gerkins is now a pauper upon the County, and supported as such by the County of Leon, Mid: Florida
David B Macomb
Presiding Justice of the County
Court for the County of Leon
Mid, Florida

Territory of Florida
County of Leon    ⎬
Daniel McRainy Clerk of the County Court for the County and Territory aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy from the records of my office.
In Testimony whereof I have
hereunto subscribed my
name, and affixed the
Seal of the Court hereto
this 19th day of November 1831.
[signed] D. M Rainy Clk
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Territory of Florida
County of Leon 

I Daniel McRainy Clerk of the County Court for the County and Territory
aforesaid do hereby certify that David B Macomb whose name appears to the annexed certificates is and was at the time of signing the same,
Presiding Justice of the County Court of Leon County, duly commissioned and sworn, and that full faith and credit should be given to his acts and attestations as such.

In Testimony Whereof I have here
unto subscribed my name, and
affixed the seal of the Court
hereto this 19th day of November
1831.

[signed] D M Rainy Clk
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Territory of Florida Court,

At a Court held for the County of Leon Middle District of Florida on Saturday the 22nd day of March AD. 1828. 

Personally appeared in Open Court Zachariah Gherkins who being sworn deposeth and Saith that he was a private in the Company commanded
by Capt. Siran Tronten of the Regiment Commanded by Col. Nicholas Song in the State troops of North Carolina in the year 1781 that he entered for the period of twelve months and faithfully served out his time as a private aforesaid and obtained a regular discharge which discharge he has long since lost. That he was Seventy one years old the 18th day of the present month (March) and that he is unable to maintain or support himself and has no property in the world except the Cloths on his back-- And further that he was a private in the troop of horse commanded by Col. Read and Col. Webb of North Carolina, and that he served five months in the same at which period the battle of Guilford Court House took place, the said troop did not participate in the action of that day. And further says that he  served a tour of five months as a private in the Company Commanded by Capt Turmer in Col. Sonsons Regiment of foot at the period of the fall of Charleston South Carolina. And that he also served as a private a tour of three months in the Company commanded by Capt S Williams in the Regiment Commanded by Col Sowell  of the State of North Carolina at the period of
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General Gates defeat by Cornwallis at the Eutaw Springs near Campden[sic] South Carolina. And the said Gherkins in Corroboration of the above facts tenders to this Honorable Court and prays that the same may be made a part of the record the following affidavit of one Edward Blackshear a private in Capt. Jones Company of the same Regiment taken before Suday C Ferrill Esqr a Justice of the Peace for the County of Thomas in the State of Georgia which the said affidavit is in the records and figures following towit; 
"State of Georgia Thomas County"
Personally appeared before me Suday C Ferrill a Justice of the Peace for the County and State aforesaid Edward Blackshear and after being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he saw Zachariah Gherkins as a private soldier in the company commanded by Captain Swan Troton of the regiment commanded by Nicholas Song in the state of North Carolina some time during the year one thousand & seven hundred and eighty one for the period of one year. That the said Gherkins faithfully performed all duties imposed upon him to the best of his knowledge.
December 6th day 1827
Edward Blackshear
S.C. Ferrill JP

"In testimony that the above written Suday C. Ferrill of Thomas County was a justice of the Peace, authorised to administer oaths in the State of Georgia at this date and that his name there subscribed appears to me to be his usual signature. I have hereunto subscribed my name and I qualify and affixed my seal at my office this 16th day of December AD1827
Malion Ferguson C.S.C Seal
"No County Seal"
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And for further proof in this behalf the said County Court of Leon in the Middle District of Florida does hereby certify that the party to the above affidavits. Edward Blackshear is well known to this Court as a man of truth and veracity and responsible for any truth advanced or sworn to by him and that the said Suday C Ferrill before whom said affidavit was taken was
at the time of taking said affidavit a Justice of the Peace for the County of Thomas and State of Georgia. And futhermore the Court doth hereby
certify its satisfaction of the above proof, and also in relation to the poverty and inability on the part of said Gherkins to support and maintain himself. Whereupon it is ordered by the said Court that the same be made a record of the Court.

I Cary Nicholas Clerk of the County Court of Leon County Territory of Florida do hereby certify that the above is a true Copy of the Record made in the case of Zachariah Gherkins a Revolutionary soldier. In Testimony whereof I
have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my private seal (there being no seal of office) this 19th day of August A D 1828.

C. Nicholas
Clerk
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I David B Macomb Judge of the County Court of Leon Territory of Florida do hereby certify that Cary Nicholas whose name appears to the above  certificate is and was at the time of signing the same Clerk of the County Court aforesaid and that due faith and credit is and ought to be given to all his official acts as such.  Given under my hand and seal this 19th  day of August A D 1828.

[signed] David B Macomb
Judge of Leon County
Middle Florida


War Dept.
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Territory of Florida
Leon County ss     ⎬   For the purpose  of obtaining the benefits of the act of Congress of March 18th 1818, entitled an act to provide for certain persons, engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War" and other acts supplemental thereto, Zacheriah Gerkins, formerly of the State of North Carolina, & at present a citizen of the Territory and County aforesaid, first being duly sworn, saith That he was a soldier of the Revolution, and that he served the following tours of duty against the British the then Common Enemy of the United States
-- viz-- that he entered Captain Crowels Company under General Allen Jones, in the North Carolina line, as a volunteer, and as well as deponent can now recounted (being old and infirm and his memory bad) sometime during the third year of the war, and served for the space of three months. That this deponent cannot recounted the time of entering or leaving this term of service more nearly those as above stated - that the manner of entering was as aforesaid, and of leaving it, was by the ordinary discharge 

That he entered Captain Turner's Company in Col Lowery's Regiment (as deponent thinks) in the North Carolina line, as a volunteer, and served for
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the period of six months - that this Regiment was raised in North Carolina and marched immediately to Charleston in South Carolina & placed under the command of Genl Hogan. That deponent entered on this term of service as aforesaid, & life by the ordinary discharge that the particular service of this deponent, during most of the above named period, was that of
deriving a waggon & acting as Waggoner for the Army, under Daniel Edwords, waggonmaster, who was under the command or direction of Col. Long Superintendent of the waggons, belonging to the North Carolina Line that the period deponent volunteered for the above named tour of service was some time late in the fall of 1779 and the time of his discharge, late in the spring or the beginning of the summer of 1780 - 

That in the summer of 1780 this deponent entered Captain William's Company in Col Lowel's Regiment in the North Carolina Line, under General Gates, as a volunteer and served for five months, & left the army by ordinary discharge, sometime in the face of that on the early part of the winter of the following year.

That within a very short period this deponent cannot exactly reccollect
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how long) after the expiration of the last mentioned term of service, this deponent entered Captain Robinson's Company in Col Reed's Regiment in the North Carolina and line, under Genl Green, as a volunteer and served in the cavalry (finding his own horse and accoutrements for better than five
by the months, when he was discharged ordinary discharge. That the Regiment to which he belonged, immediatly after it was formed in North Carolina Marched to Guilford Court House in that state, & was put under the command of Genl Green __That he was in the battle of Guilford Courthouse and in the skirmish at Camden South Carolina, between the troops under Genl Green, and those under the British Commander Lord Rowdon.

That this deponent is without any Education (being unable either to read or write), and consequently has no memoranda or written memorial of any sort of his services in the armies of the Revolution that this deponent is now nev 37 years of age that it is now allmost fifty years since he left North Carolina, his native state, and consequently has not had the advantage of  intercourse with his fellow soldiers, who were mostly North Carolinian, to revive and impress the events of that was upon his memory- That he may therefore have erred in some important particulars, but as to the terms of service he is confident, his statements are strictly correct _ That the written discharges from the proper officers, at the close of the above named terms of service, which hadpresented by this deponent, were destroyed by the burning of the house of his son, with
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whom he resided about two years ago __That in addition to the above named terms of service, this deponent served for twelve as set forth in the
petition of this deponent which was during the last winter, forwarded to the War Department, where he is informed & believes it is now on file
Sworn to and subscribed in open   Zackariah his X mark Gerkins
Court by marking this 11th Nov 1831.
David B Macomb
Presiding Justice of Leon Cty
Mid Florida

County of Leon Mid Florida  Agent to the Act of 18th March 1818. service for certain persons engaged to the land and naval service of the U.S the Revolutionary War. I do hereby certify that the testimony of the services of Zachariah Gerkins against the common enemy in the Revolutionary War
the period of nine months or more, on the Continental establishment as above recited in the above petition and affaint was taken in open Court
and that the evidence therein contained and placed the record of this Court is full complete and satisfactory.
David B Macomb
Presiding Justice of Leon Cty Mid Florida
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I James S Linn Clerk of the Court of Appeals for the Territory of Florida do hereby certify that the foregoing Contains the Original proceeding of said Court in the matter of the application of Zachariah Jerkins.

In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal of Office this 17th day of January A.D. 1833
Jas S. Linn Clk
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Admit [illegible]
24 mo. from
E Call
M Douglas
Brown
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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
Zachariah Perkins 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?
No see Quere 5

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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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? yes

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?
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?
No se Quere 16

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
1.2.5.7

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.
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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 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 for 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 the held 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.

hand wirtten:
I would advise him to apply to W. H. Hill Secretary of the State of North Carolina, for proof of service
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I hereby certify that I have known Zachariah Gherkins for four or five years and that it is the general belief of his neighbourhood so far as I am advised that he was a soldier of the Revolution. I have no doubt myself that he was, and that he is entitled to a pension. The evidence of Edward Blackshear a soldier of the Revolution, I have been informed was taken in behalf of Gerkins same years since years since, and I think will be found either in this, or in some other office of the War Department.
R. K. Call
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21 959 Revy 1831
Pension office


Hon
Washin
Cass
M
Secretary of War
Lewis
Rejected Dec. 7. 1831
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Mr White of Florida asks the attention of the Hon Sec of War to the enclosed-
Dec 6th 1831
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Pension Office
12 Sept. 1828.
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Head Quarter of War army
Washington 11 Sept 1828

Sir

I have the honor to transmit the widows paper, which was addressed under cover to me G Judge Maccrutey Florida.  It is the declaration of Zachariah
Gherkens a revolutionary [illegible] who wishes to receive the benifits of the act allowing pensions to the revolutionary army.

I am Sir
most respectfully
[illegible]
[illegible] Esqr
to the Honle
[illegible]