Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1832, John Houston, N.C. Va.
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE NUMBER
N. C. Houston, John S. 1832
Va. carded
CONTENTS
Page 2

6188
Tennessee East
John Houston
of Blount in the State of Tenn
who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Tate, of the Reg commanded by Maj Mofford in the Virginia
Militia for 7 mos  and 2 days
from 1778
Va. and N.C. Lines,
Records Corrected
Inscribed on the Roll of Tennessee
at the rate of 23 Dollars 55 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of
Feb 1833 and sent Hon H. L. White U.S.S.              
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1832
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March 1833 
  35.32
  11.77
$47.09

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Henry H. Sylvester, Clerk,
Book D Vol. 9 Page 102

Lost Cer. - Instructions forw'd with let. to Pen'r
7th Oct. 34
Dead. See Letter within & to Hon. L. Lea H.R. 15 Jan 1836
Pen. Agent. Knoxville.
March 27 1837
date of Death
not on AB
Page 3

Con L Lea
H R
Jan 15 1836
G C
Record 31 Page 134
Page 4

War Dept
Pension Office
Jan. 15. 1836
Sir,
I herewith return the papers with case of John Houston, dec'd. A new certificate cannot be
issued after the pensioner is dead; but the money can be paid.  The regulations provide
for such cases. The money due in this case must be paid to the widow, if there be one; and if not,
then to the child or children. If either be living, the money cannot be paid to an Executor, according to the act March 2d 1829.
The enclosed prntd sheet will show what vouchers are required.
J Houston
Hon. Luke Lea
House of Rep
Page 5

John Houston's
Application for a pension.
Blount Co Ternn.
admit for 7 mo and
2 days as private in
M. V. Miller from
1778 - 23.55 per ann.
Capt. Tate -
Maj Mofford -
Hon Hugh L White
Page 6

State of Tennessee 
Blount County
On this 8th day of February 1833 personally appeared in open Court being the Circuit Court in and for the said County before the Hon. Samuel Powel one of the Circuit Judges of the State of Tennessee now presiding in said Court in said County John Houston a resident of said County of Blount in the State of Tennessee
aforesaid aged seventy years past but having no record of his age cannot state it precisely, but from the best information he has, he was born in the fall of the year 1762 who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order
to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed the 7th day of June 1832 - That he was born and reared up in the County of Augusta in the State of Virginia - that he entered the Service in said County of Augusta Va. as a drafted Soldier on the first day of June 1778 as near as he can recollect under Capt James Tate, Saml McCutchen Lieutenant Ensign not recollected - said Company belonged to
a detachment of Militia commanded by Maj
Mofford, which was marched into the County of Greene Brier Va. against the hostile Indians, -that affiant was in service 24 days and was discharged at Donoldson's fort in the County of Greene Brier Va. on the 24th of June 1778, but received no certificate of discharge. Declarant removed from Augusta County Va.
to Washington County in western Virginia in the month of September 1779. That he again entered the service as a mounted Volunteer soldier on the first day of August (as well as
he can recollect) 1779 under Capt William Edmondson Senior (the subaltern officers of said Company not recollected) in the
County of Washington Va. in the Regiment Commanded
Page 7

by Col William Campbell, and marched into North Carolina to suppress the Tories, who had embodied at a place called the Hollows near the heard of new river in North Carolina at which place the Tories were fired upon, but fled without resistence, declarant was discharged on the 2d day of Sept 1779 at the Crab Orchard in Washington County Va.
having been thirty two days in service, but obtained no Certificate of discharge- On the first day of October 1779 as near as recollected declarant again entered the service in the County of Washington Virginia as a Volunteer Soldier in a company commanded by Capt Nathaniel Henderson (the names of the subaltern officers not recollected) being a Company of Rangers or guards to reconnoitre on the frontiers, and marched to Powels Valley in Kentucky, and there protected the frontiers
from the incursions of the Indians until the first day of Jan'y 1780, when declarant was regularly discharged in Powels Valley, received his certificate of discharge, which has since been lost - having been three months at least in service, Declarant in the month of Feb'y 1781 moved from Washington County Va.
to Washington County, then North Carolina now Tennessee - Declarant again entered the service in Washinton County Tennessee, on the last day of May or first day of June 1781 as a Volunteer Soldier under Capt James Hubboard, Nathaniel Evans, Lieutenant (ensign not recollected) in a detachment of Militia commanded by Col John Sevier and marched to defend the frontier of French broad against the Hostile Indians, that he served until the 6th or 7th of June 1781, when he was discharged at or near Big Island on French broad river having been six days in Service. Declarant again the service in the County of
Washington Tennessee on the first day of September 1781 as a drafted soldier in the company of mounted men, Commanded by Capt James Hubboard, Nathaniel Evans
Lieutenant, ensign not recollected, in the Regiment of Infantry commanded by Col. John Sevier and marched
Page 8

to Powel's Valley from thence across French Broad, Little Tennessee, and Hiwassee rivers, into what is now the Cherokee nation against the hostile Indians - had several skirmishes
with the Indians, but no general engagement, declarant was discharged at or near Big Island on French broad on the first day of November 1781 having been two months in service, but has no recollection of having received any
certificate of discharge. Declarant removed from Washington County, then North Carolina now Tennessee, to what is now Blount County Tennessee in the year 1786, where he has ever since resided and now resides. Declarant
States, that his services aforesaid under the officers aforesaid and for the terms aforesaid amount together to at least seven months, that he has no documentary evidence of his services aforesaid and that he knows of no
person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service, except the affidavit of James Houston which is hereto annexed. Declarant hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the
present and declares, that his name is not on the pension roll or agency of any State or territory
John Houstton -
Sworn to and subscribed in open Court the 8th day of July 1833.
Dan D Foute Clk

James Houston after being duly sworn makes oath that he is well acquainted with John Houston whose name is subscribed to the foregoing declaration that he believes
Declarant is a credible person, and that the facts stated in said declaration are true, that he knows of his own personal knowledge, that Declarant entered the Service in the County of Washington Va. on the 1st of Oct 1779
under Capt Nathaniel Henderson and served three
Page 9

months in Powel's Valley on the frontiers of Kentucky as stated in his said declaration having been in service with said declarant during said term of three months - affiant
feels well assured that declarant served the other tours of duty as by him stated in said declaration having been acquainted with him from his infancy, and having generally residered near him ever since, and knows he
was understood and reputed in the neighbourhoods in which he resided at the several times to have performed said services.
J Houston
Sworn to in open Court & subscribed
the 8th day of February 1833 
Danl D Foute Clk
I Isaac Anderson a Clergiman residing in Maryville in said County of Blount do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with John Houston, who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration, and that I verily believe
the facts therein stated to be true, and that we Andrew Cowan, Jac F. Foute, John Gillespy, John F. Gillespy, residing in the County aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Houston who has subscribed & Sworn to the foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be seventy
years of age, that he is reputed and believed to be in the neighbourhood in which he resides to have been a Soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Isaac Anderson
And Cowan
J. Gillespie
Jac. F. Foute
John G. Gillespy
Sworn to & subscribed the
8th day of Feb'y 1833.
Danl D Foute Clk
Page 10

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories proscribed by the war department the the above named applicant John Houston was a revolutionary Soldier and served as he states - And the Court are further satisfied, that it further appears that Isaac Anderson who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergiman [sic] resident in Maryville and that Andrew Cowan {marked out: William Wallace] Jacob F Foute [marked out: Matthew Wallace] John GIllespy and John F. Gillespy who have also signed the same are resident in said County of Blount and that there [sic] statement is entitled to credit.  S. Moores Judge of the
Circuit Court
of the State of Tennessee

I David D. Foute clerk of the circuit court of Blount Count so certify that the foregoing contains the Original of the proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of John Houston for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 8 day of Febry 1833.
Danl D Foute Clk
Page 11

July 15, 1939.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mrs.  Maraget M. Laughlin
106 Franklin Street,
Grenada, Mississippi

BA-J/OC
John Houston
S.1832

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of John Houston (or Huston) of Virginia and Tennessee.

The data  which follow were obtained from papers on file in pension claim, S.1832, based upon service of John Houston in the Revolutionary War.

John Houston was born in the fall of 1762, in August County, Virginia.  Exact date of birth and names of his parents are not shown

While a resident of Augusta County, Virginia John Houston enlisted June 1, 1778, and served twenty-four days under Captain James Tate and Major Mefford; enlisted in Washington County, Virginia, August 1, 1779, and served thrity-two days under Captain William Edmondson, Senior, and Colonel William Campball.  He moved to Washington County, Virginia in September 1779, and again enlisted there on October 1, 1779, and served three months in Captain Nathaniel Henderson's company of rangers.  In February, 1781, he moved to Washington County, then in  North Carolina (later in Tennessee), and enlisted the last of May or first of June, under Captain James Hubbard and Colonel John Sevier and served six days.  He again enlisted in said county September 1, 1781, served under Captain James Hubbard and Colonel John Sevier two months, and was in several skirmishes with the Cherokee Indians.

Soldier was allowed pension on his application executed February 8, 1835, while a resident of Blout County, Tennessee where he had lived since 1786.
Page 12

In 1835 one James Houston stated in Blount County, Tennessee, that he was in service with John Houston, and that he had know him since infancy, "having generally resided near him ever since". No relationship stated. 

No further family data are shown. 

In order to obtain the date of the last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of John Houston, you should address the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following dates:

John Houston
Certificate #6188
Issued February 25, 1833
Rate $23.55 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
East Tennessee Agency.  

Very truly yours,
A.D. Hiller
Executive Assistant 
to the administrator.
Page 13

[Left side of document]

1909 Nov. 26 Hist. to Mrs
V. W. Norris, V.L.M.
1914 Aug. 18 Hist. to Ella May
Powell Letter in S.F. 1893
Wm Alexander, V. L. M.
1915 Jan. 29 Hist to Hon
Gordon Lee and
1915 Feb'y 2  Hist. to Miss Line C. Houston
1921 Mch. 30 Hist. to Geo. F. Houston
1928 June 13-    "    "  Mrs. J. W. Arnold [aid]

1939 - July 15 Hist to
Mrs. Margaret H Laughlin [ce]

[Right side of document]

Rev War.      INVALID.      1832
File No. 1832
John Houston,
Priv. Tenn. Mil. [Tenn. is lined through]
Act June 7, 1832.
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 175
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Va. and N.C. Lines
Records Corrected.
Page 14

John Houston
Oct 7th 1834

O.G.
Page 15



War Dept.
P.O.
Oct 7th 1834

Sir,

Your application for a new certificate, being imperfect, is herewith returned, accompanied by a printed form or blank, according to which the regulation requires it to be made


John Houston
Knoxville
Ten.
Page 16

East Tennessee Agency
Knoxville Feby 7th 1837.
Sir
You will please find enclosed John Houston heirs's Application for the balance of his pension due him at his death, on examination of my Books I find that I paid said John Houston his pension up to the 4th day of September
1833. I have his original Certificate of pension
in my possesion, all submitted for your consideration and further Inspection
I am respectfully your obt Sevt
A. King Agent

James L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
Page 17

Washington City
January 11th, 1830.
Col. James L. Edwards
'Sir',
The enclosed papers have been sent to me with a request that I would lay them before you for the purpose of obtaining a duplicate certificate of Possession - the original one issued to John Houston, now dead, having been lost by him in his life time-
Many new regulations have been lately adopted in your department. It seems to me that the agent at Knoxville would be justified in paying the balance of possession to the Executor of Mr. Houston, or to his Widow, if he has one-
Please give me a reply-
Your Obt. Hum'l. Serv't,
Luke Lea
Page 18

E. Tennessee
John Houston 
{Postmark] Knoxville Ten. Sept 21
6188
Sept'ber
Rev'd Oct 6th 34
Am'd    "   7th   "

[Vertical Address]
                                                            Free
Hon J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
Page 19

Free
Hon J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

[Vertical in left and right margins]

E. Tennessee
John Houston
{Postmark] Knoxville Ten. Sept 21
6188
Sept'ber
Rev'd Oct 6th 34
Am'd " 7th "
Page 20

[Illegible] Ramsey Esqr
Knoxville Tenn
Page 21

106 Franklin Street
Grenada Mississippi
June 3-1939

Dear Sirs -
Will you please give me the record of John Houston (or Huston)
S. of W. 1835 Pen. 3 Tenn. 49 ? (ninth Annual Rep. of Virginia State Library.Page 155 ).
Yours truly,
Margaret Houston Laughlin
(Mrs Margaret H Laughlin)

[Stamped]
RECEIVED 3:00 Jun 5 1939
MAIL SUB-DIV.
VETS. ADM.
READER No. 6
Page 22

V. W. NORRIS,
Rushville Ind.
Nov. 16 1909
Pension Department
Washington, D.C.
Sirs
Please answer immediately and give me all of the information concerning the military career of Jonathan Jones of Culpepper Co. Va. he died of small pox and afterward his wife Elenor Jones married a man by the name of Beshaw. 
Also if Robert or John Houston of Rockbridge Co. Va either served in the War of the Revolution. Please answer as soon
Page 23

as possible

Mrs. V. W. Norris
Rushville Ind.

R.F.D.

Record Division Nov 18 1909
Pension Office Nov 17 1909
Page 24

Morristown, Tennessee
Aug. 31 - 1927
Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir,
Will you be kind enough to look up Revolutionary Service record of
1 - John Condrey
Chesterfield Co. Virginia
2. John Houston
Rockingham Co. Virginia
Thanking you in advance for any favor.
Respt.
Mrs. James W. Arnold
Morristown,
Tennessee.
[Only of Va. appears left of signature]
[Stamped] U.S. PENSION OFFICE SEP 2 1927
Page 25

SIXTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
-
ASBURY F. LEVER, S. C., CHAIRMAN.
GORDON LEE, GA.
EZEKIEL S. CANDLER, JR., MISS.
J. THOMAS NEFLIN, ALA.
JONN A. MAGUIRE, NEBR.
THOMAS L. RUBEY, MO.
JAMES YOUNG. TEX.
H. M. JACOWAY, ARK.
RALPH W. MOSS, IND.
JOHN V. LESHER, PA.
MICHAEL K. REILLY, WIS.
BENJAMIN S. TAYLOR, N.Y.
DUDLEY DOOLITTLE, KANS
GILBERT N. NAUGEN, IOWA.
JAMES C. MCLAUGHLIN, MICH.
WILLIS C. HAWLEY, OREG.
JOSEPH HOWELL, UTAH.
HENRY T. NELGESEN, N. DAK.
CHARLES E. PATTON, PA.
SYDNEY ANDERSON, MINN.
J. KUNIC KALANIANAOLE, HAWAII.
D. S. MURPH, CLERK.
Committee on Agriculture,
House of Representatives U.S.
Washington, D.C.
January 26, 1915.
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:-
Kindly advise me if Matthew or John Houston
served in the Revolutionary War? About that time Mr. Houston lived in Virginia, but after the war of 1790 he moved to Blount County, Tennessee. Also advise if there is a record of the service of James Martin of Georgia.
Thanking you in advance, for your prompt
attention, I am
Very truly yours,
Gordon Lee
Page 26

Rev Sec
GEO. F. HOUSTON
LAWYER
VANDALIA, ILL.
February 26th, 1921.
Pension Department,
Washington, D. C.
I wish to procure the Revolutionary War record of of John Houston who, as shown by McAllisters Virginia Militia on Page 276, made an application from Blount County Tennessee
for pension for service in the Revolutionary War.
I would like to ask if this record would show his
place of residence at time of enlistment, and names of his children; also what the fee would be for furnishing certified copy of the record.
Yours truly,
Geo F.. Houston

[Stamped] RECORD DIVISION MAR 1 1921
[Stamped] U.S. PENSION OFFICE FEB 28 1921
Page 27

[Stamped  - visible from back side]
U.S. PENSION OFFICE JAN 29 1915

Mexico, Mo. January 27, 1915.
Pension Department,
Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:
In McAllister's "Virginia Militia in the Revo. War."
page 276, I find, "John Houston, age 71, Blount County, Tenn." He is in a list of pensioners outside of Va. in 1835 who received pension for services as Va. Militiamen. Can you verify
this, giving name of wife and children?
Yours truly,
(Miss) Tina C. Houston
Registrar Mexico-Missouri
Chap. D.A.R.

[Checkmark appears at bottom of document]
Page 28

[Illegible top line]
information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. John Houstton or Houston S.F. 1832
[Col. 1] DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
June 1. 1778.
Aug. 1, 1779
Oct. 1, 1779
May or June 1781.
Sept. 1, 1781
[Col. 2] LENGTH OF SERVICE.
24 days
32 days
Jan'y 1, 1780
6 days
Nov. 1, 1781
[Col. 3] RANK.
Pvt.
[Col. 4] OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
{Col. 4A] CAPTAIN.
James Tate
William Edmondson Sr.
Nathaniel Henderson's
James Hubbard
James Hubbard
[Col. 4B] COLONEL.
[None]
William Campbell
Rangers or Guards
John Sevier
John Sevier
[Col. 5] STATE.
Va.
[Same]
[Same]
N.C.
{Same]

Battles engaged in, Skirmishes with Indians in Cherokee Nation
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Augusta Co. Va.
Date of application for pension, Feb'y  8,1833 His cl. was al.
Residence at date of application, Blount Co. Tenn.
Age at date of application, born Fall of 1762 in Augusta Co. Va
Remarks:
Page 29

Rev.A1812 Wars Section.            Awd

June 13, 1938.
Mrs. James W. Arnold,
Morristown,
Tennessee.
Madam:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 1832, it appears that John Houston was born in the fall of 1762, in Augusta County, Virginia.
While a resident of Augusta County, Virginia he enlisted June 1, 1778 and served twenty-four days under Captain James Tate and Major Mofford. He enlisted in Washington County, Virginia August 1, 1779 and served thirty-two
days under Captain William Edmondson, Senior, and Colonel William Campbell. He went to Washington County, Virginia to live in September, 1779 and again enlisted there on October 1, 1779 and served three months in Captain Nathaniel Henderson's Company of rangers.
In February, 1781 he moved to Washington County, then in North Carolina (later in Tennessee), and enlisted the last of May or first of June, under Captain James Hubbard
and Colonel John Sevier and served six days. He again enlisted in said county September 1, 1781 and served under
Page 30

Captain James Hubbard and Colonel John Sevier two months and was in several skirmishes with the Cherokee Indians.
He was allowed pension on his application executed February 8, 1833, while a resident of Blount County, Tennessee where he had lived since 1786.
There are no data as to his family.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT,
Commissioner.

COPIED BY ADY
Page 31

January 29, 1915.
Honorable Gordon Lee,
House of Representatives.
My dear Mr. Lee;
In response to your letter dated the twenty-sixth instant, I have the honor to furnish you the record of John Houston, Revolutionary War pensioner, as requested.
From the papers in the Rev. War pen. claim, [Sur. File No. - stricken] S. 1832, it appears that John Houston was born in the fall of 1762, in       
Augusta County, Virginia, [where he was raised and lived - stricken]. He lived and was living in Augusta Co., Va. when he [was drafted - stricken] enlisted June 1, 1778, and served 24 days under Captain James Tate and Major Mofford, [twenty-four days - stricken]. He [volunteered - stricken] enl. in Washington County, Virginia, August 1, 1779, and served 32 days under Captain William Edmondson, Senior, and Colonel William Campbell, [thirty-two days - stricken]
He went to said Wash. County, Va., to live in September, 1779, and again [volunteered - stricken] enl.  there on October 1, 1779, and served 3 mos. in Captain Nathaniel Henderson's Company of rangers, [three months - stricken]. In February, 1781, he moved to Washington County, then in North Carolina (later in Tennessee), and [volunteered  - stricken] enl. the last of May or first of June, under Captain James Hubbard and Colonel John Sevier, and served six days. He again [volunteered - stricken] enl. in said County

{Due to numerous words being stricken and inserted, this document was obviously a draft]
Page 32

September 1, 1781, and served under Captain James Hubbard and Colonel John Sevier, two months, and was in several skirmishes
with the Cherokee Indians.
He was allowed pension on his application executed February 8, 1833, while a resident of Blount County, Tennessee, where he had lived since 1786. There [is - stricken] are no data [on file - stricken] as to his family.
This Bureau is unable to furnish the history of a
soldier of the Revolution unless a claim for pension or bounty land has been made on account of his services, and a careful search of the records fails to show such a claim on file for any soldier named Matthew Houston, or for a James Martin who served in the Georgia troops. If, however, you desire the history of a James Martin who rendered service to some other state and afterwards moved to Georgia, it is requested that you furnish, if possible, the places of his residence when he enlisted, and afterwards in Georgia, approximate dates of birth and death, and given name of widow, when another search of the records will be
made in your behalf.
Very truly yours,
GW Saltzgaber
Commissioner.
2 - John Houston.

[Completion of draft from previous page]