Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7,578, for John Neill, North Carolina
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NC
N. C.   Neill John    R. 7.578
       or Nail
Born in N. C.   Cynthia
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State of Kentucky County of Logan SS
On this 24th day of February 1854 personally appeared before the undersigned an acting justice of the peace for said County of Logan and State aforesaid Cyntha Neill a resident of said County of Logan and state aforesaid aged 72 years who being duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the acts of Congress passed on the 7th of July 1838, on the 3rd of March 1843, on the 17h July 1844, on the 29 July 1848 and on the 3rd of February 1853 granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war that she is the widow of John Neill (pronounced Nail) who was born and raised in the County of Rowan state of North Carolina and that he volunteerd as a private early in the Revolution and marched against the Tories and Cherokee Indians as her said husband frequently informed her   That her husband the said John Neill was in the battle at Ramsour's or Ramsey's Mill in which battle his brother William Neill was killed the said William Neill had just returned from the Northern army and was an officer in the same (blot) a visit to his family and friends volunteered his services against the Tories and was killed in the aforementioned battle  My husband the said John Neill was under Col Shelby or Col McDowel at the battle of Kings Mountain was with General Sumpter at the time he was defeated by Col Tarlton was under Generals Morgan and Green in their retreat after the battle of the Cowpens and was in the battle at Guilford C. House as her husband has frequently informed her   She further states that she has no evidence that she knows of to
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prove her husbands services but that herewith enclosed She does not know whether whether her husband was ever promoted or not but has frequently heard her husbaan say that he served in the war of the Revolution more than four years and received nothing but continental money in payment which proved worthless

She further declares that she was married to the said John Neill on the 30th day of October seventeen hundred and ninety nine (1799) that her name before marriage was Cyntha Forgy that her said husband died on the 3rd day of May 1828 that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the second of January eighteen hundred  Viz at the time above stated. She further swears that she has never married since and is now a widow and that she has never made application for a pension
Cyntha her x mark Neill
Witness
John N Nourse
Hirum Neill
On this 24th day of February 1854 personally appeared before the undersigned an acting Justice of the peace for the County of Logan in the state of Kentucky James Neill a resident of said county state who being duly swon according to law doth on his oath swear that he is the second child of John Neill decd and Cyntha Neill his wife that his oldest brother William C Neill was born on the 15th day of Nov eighteen hundred and that himself the said James Neill was born on the 2nd day of February eighteen hundred and three the ages of his brother William and himself as above sta-
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were recorded from his earliest recollection in his Fathers Bible which has since been destroyed
He also swears that he is a disinterested witness
James Neill
Witness
John N Nourse
Hirum Neill

On this (blot)th day of February 1852 personally appeared before the undersigned an acting Justice of the peace for the County of Logan in the state of Kentucky James Guffy a resident of said County and state aforesaid who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath say that he became acquainted with John Neill decd late of Logan County Ky about the year 1800 and remained acquainted with him to his death  that it was said by all and doubted by none that the said John Neill was s soldier in the war of the Revolution
He also states that he is a disinterested witness
James Guffy
Witness
John N Nourse
B L D Guffy

State of Kentucky County of Logan SS
The foregoing declaration of Cyntha Neill and the affidavits of James Neill and James Guffy was this day sworn to and subscribed by the said Cyntha Neill James Neill and James Guffy before the undersigned an acting Justice of the peace for said County of Logan and I more over certify that the said Cyntha Neill James Neill and James Guffy are to me well known and I certify them to be persons of respectability and are worthy of belief wither on oath or otherwise  I more over certify that the said Cyntha Neill is unable to
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attend before any court of record for said County of Logan in consiquence of bodily infirmities given under my hand the date aforementioned John N Nourse J P

State of Kentucky Logan County Scl

Logan County Scl  These are to license & permit you to Join together in the State of Matrimony John Neill & Sinthy Forgay according to the ?Ules? & Ceremonies of the Christian Church and in so doing this Shall be your Sufficient Warrent given under my this 30th day of October  Robert S Caldwell DC
The within named are married

The year not given in the original
I James E Wright clerk of the Logan County Court depose and say that I hold the office of clerk of the Logan County Court and that the above is a true copy from the records in my office given under my hand this 21st day of April 1854 James E Wright CLCC
Sworn to before me this 21st day of April 1854 by Said James E Wright      Jas M Beall Justice of the peace

State of Kentucky Logan County Sct
I James E Wright clerk of the Logan County Court do certify that John N Nourse and James M Beall whose names appear to be foregoing Certificates now are and were at the time of signing the Same acting Justices of the peace in & for Said County duly elected and qualified according to law and that fully faith & credit are due & aught to be given to all their official acts as such and that the Signatures purporting to be theirs are genuine
In testimony of which I herto Set my name and affix the Seal of Office of Said County Court this 21st day of April 1854 
James E Wright CLCC
A M Gangewer
Atty
Present
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A M Gangewer
Atty
Present
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State of Kentucky County of Butler LS
On this 15th day of February 1854 before me personally appeared Allen Givens who being duly sworn according to law depose and say that he was born in the County of Meclenburg in the State of North Carolina and raised in said County and state that he was born on the 28th day of October 1762 and that he the said Allen Givens was well acquainted with John Neill who was born and raised in the County of Rowan in said state of North Carolina distant about 9 miles from said Givens   that the said John Neill was some 4 or 5 years older that he the said Allen Givens.   He the said Allen Givens states on his own knowledge that the said John Neill was a soldier in the war of the Revolution that he the said John Neill joined the army in company with two of his brothers Viz Saml and William Givens in the year 1779 to the best of his recollection and was in active service from the time he first joined the army until peace was made whenever and where ever his services were wanting he the said John Neill was always at his post    The said Allen Givens also states that the said John Neill was under Col Shelby at the battle of Kings Mountain, in the battle at Ramsours Mill when his brother William Neill was killed under General Sumpter at his defeat and was in the battle of Guilford Court House  the said Allen Givens states that his brothers of whom he had seven in the Army in the war of the Revolution and others that were in said battles informed him that the said John Neill were in the aforementioned battles and that he did signal service in them and was always esteemed as a gallant soldier. The said Allen Givens states that he settled where he now lives which was then Logan County in the month of May 1799 and that the said John Neill was living in Logan County distant about four miles from him and that
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they lived neighbors until the death of said Neill
Allen givens states that in a few months after he settled where he now lives that the said John Neill was married to Cyntha Forgy also that the married in the same year that the said Givens settled where he now lives.  The said Alllen Givens states that he is a disinterested witness
Allen his x mark Givens
Witness
Robert N Hood
Thomas D Stroud

[Atttachment]
Family
births
William C Neill was born in the year of our Lord November thee 15th in the year 1800

[This attachment is affixed to the margin of the affidavit in such a way that it obscures some words in the first paragraph of William C Neill's affidavit. The full text of the affidavit appears in the image following this one]

On the aforementioned day be-___ me personally appeared ___liam C Neill who being ___y sworn according to law ___ose and say that he is the ___est child of John Neill ___d and Cyntha Neill ___ wife and that he was present ___n his Father died which ___ on the  day of May ___8 that his mother has ___er married since but is still a widow.
The said William C Neill states that he was born on the 15th day of November 1800 as shown by his family record. That part of his family record contain the birth of the said William C Neill is cut off and attached with wafers on the margin of this deposition and made a part of the same. The the said William C Neill states that he copied the date of his births and wrote the same in his Family record some 23 years ago from the family record of his Father which he learns has since been destroyed being very old at that time and somewhat worn that is the
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[this page is a repeat of the previous image with attachment folded back to reveal full statement of William C Neill]

they lived neighbors until the death of said Neill
Allen Givens states that in a few months after he settled where he now lives that the said John Neill was married to Cyntha Forgy also that he married in the same year that the said Givens settled where he now lives  The said Allen Givens states that he is a disinterested witness
Allen his x mark Givens
Witness
Robert N Hood
Thomas D Stroud


On the aforementioned day before me personally appeared William C Neill who being duly sworn according to law depose and say that he is the oldest child of John Neill decd and Cyntha Neill his wife that he was present when his father died which was on the     day of May 1828  that his mother has never married since but is still a widow 
The said William C Neill states that he was born on the 15th day of November 1800 as shown by his family record. That part of his family record contain the birth of the said William C Neill is cut off and attached with wafers on the margin of this deposition and made a part of the same  The the said William C Neill states that he copied the date of his births and wrote the same in his Family record some 23 years ago from the family record of his Father which he learns has since been destroyed being very old at that time and somewhat worn that is the
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the family record of the birth of the said William C Neill was written by himself some 23 years ago in his family Bible from the family records of his Father and is cut from his family records and attached to this affidavit and made a part of the same
The said William C Neill states that he is a disinterested witness
William C Neill
Witness
Robert N Hood
Almarine Hale

On the same day aforementioned before me personally appeared Benjamin Davis who being duly sworn according to law depose and say that he became acquainted with John Neill decd late of Logan County Kentucky in the year 1804 and knew him well until his death and that the said John Neill always bore the character of being a soldier in the war of the Revolution this he has heard numbers who were soldiers in said war frequently say its   The said Benj Davis also states that he has known Allen Givens well for about 50 years and that he has never heard his word or veracity doubted during his whole acquaintance he also states that he lives in five miles of said Allen Givens and that he retains his mind and memory well more particular when speaking of events that took place in the Carolinas during the war of the Revolution  The said Benj Davis states that he is a disinterested witness
Benjamin Davis
Witness Robert N Hood
Almarine Hale

State of Kentucky County of Butler SS
The foregoing affidavits or depositions of Allen Givens, William C Neill, and Benjamin Davis was this day sworn to and subscribed by the said Allen Givens, William C Neill and Benj Davis before the undersigned an acting justice of the peace for
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said County and I moreover certify that the said Allen Givens, William C Neill, and Benj. Davis are to me well known and I certify them to be men of respectability and worthy of belief either on oath or otherwise  Given under my hand this 15th day of February 1854.
Robert N Wood  J P

State of Kentucky 
Butler County Sct
I H A James Clerk of the County Court of Said County do Certify that Robert N Hood whose genuine Signature appears to the foregoing certificate is and was at the time of Signing the Same an acting Justice of the Peace within and for the County aforesaid duly commissioned and sworn.

In testimony whereof I hereto set my name and affix the Seal of Said Court this 17th Day of February 1852
H A James C.B.C.C

A M Gangewer
Atty
Present
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No 1355
Cynthia Neil
widow of John
Kentucky
A M Gangewer May 4/52
A M Gangewer 29 Sept 1854
7578
July 29 1848
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Rejected 
over
7578
Cynthia Neil
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A M Gangewer
Atty
Present
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Washington City DC
Sept 27 1854
Sir,
Your favor of May 4, giving reasons for suspending the claim of Cynthia Neill, widow of John Neill decd for Pension under Act 29 July 1848 was duly received.
Enclosed you will find additional evidence required by that letter, viz: 1. New Declarations of Mrs Neill, with reason why she did not apply sooner; 2. affidavits of witnesses who were present at the marriage and stating how they are enabled to fix its date; 3rd Proof from the records of North Carolina of service of John Neill in the Revolution
Be pleased to have her claim acted on at your earliest convenience
Yours truly,
A M Gangewer Atty
Hon L P Waldo
Com of Pensions
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A M Gangewer
Atty
Present
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Washington City DC
May 2, 1854
Sir
Enclosed you will find claim of Cyntha Neill, widow of John Neill deceased late a soldier of the Revolution, for Pension under Act of July 1838 and subsequent acts together with proofs in support of her claim

Be pleased to have said claim acted on at your earliest convenience
Yours truly
A M Gangewer  Atty


Hon L P Waldo
Com of Pensins
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2
A M Gangewer
Atty
Present
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State of Kentucky county of Logan js

On this 15th day of September 1854 personally appeared before the undersigned J N Nourse an acting justice of the peace for said County Malinda Guffy who being duly sworn according to law states and says that she became acquainted with John Neill decd late of Logan County Ky and Cyntha his wife the widow of the said John Neill about two years before their marriage  she also states that at the time of the marriage of the said John Neill that she was about eleven years old and lived in two miles of Major James Forgy the father of said Cyntha that she recollects distinctly in a few days after this marriage of said parties that there was a large gathering at her Fathers to shuck out his corn and that the marriage of said Neill who was old to Cyntha Forgy that was young and beautiful was a general conversation with the whole company. She also states that her Father was compelled to gather his corn early to keep the squirrels wild turkeys and deer that were very numerous at that time from destroying his crop also as he had to gather it early he was compelled to shuck it out to keep it from spoiling  She also states that the said marriage took place at the commencement of frosty weather and during what we call Indian summer  She also states from the above circumstances that the said John Neill and Cyntha his wife was married either the last of October or the
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the forepart of November  She also states that comparing the marriage of said Neill to said Cyntha with the age of a favorite cousin of hers that they were married in the year seventeen hundred and ninety nine  She also states she has known said Cyntha Neill ell from her first acquaintance up to the present time and that she has always been called a woman of truth & respectability she further says she is a disinterested witness  Malinda Guffy

Also on the same day personally appeared before the undersigned J N Nourse an acting justice of the peace for said County  James Guffy who being duly sworn according to law states that he became acquainted with John Neill decd late of Logan County Ky and Cyntha his wife and at the present time his widow a short time previous to their marriage at which time he was about fourteen years old and that he remembers well of being at Major James Forgy's the father of said Cyntha on the day of said marriage which took place some weeks before Christmas & at the commencement of frosty weather he cannot recollect the year  He states that he has been well acquainted with the said Cyntha Neill from the first acquaintance up to the present time and that she is a woman of truth and respectability  he also states he is a disinterested witness James Guffy Senr
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Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and date above written  I also certify that the said Malinda and James Guffy are persons of respectability and truth John N Nourse JPLC

State of Kentucky Logan county Sct I James E Wright Clerk of the Logan County court do certify that John N Nourse whose name appears to be foregoing certificate now is and was at the time of signing the Same and acting Justice of the peace in and for the said County duly elected and qualified according to law & that full faith & credit are due & ought to be given to all his Official acts as such and that the Signature purporting to be his is genuine  
In Testimony of which I hereto set my name & affix the Seal of office of said County Court the 20th September 1854 James E Wright
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1
A M Gangewer
Atty
Present
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State of Kentucky
County of Butler S S
On this 18th day of September 1854 personally appeared before the Judge of the Butler County Court Cynthia Neill, a resident of Kentucky in the county of Logan aged 73 years, who being duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by Act of Congress passed July 29, 1848 : that she is the identical Cynthia Neill who made Declaration on 24th Feb-May 1854, before John N Nourse, Esq. Justice of the Peace that she is the widow of John Neill, deceased, who served during the Revolution in the State of Narth Carolina, and whose service is detailed in said declaration to the best of her recollection, that the said John Neill informed her in his lifetime that he served in the War of the Revolution about four years
She further declares that she was married to the said John Neill on the 30th October 1799, that her name before her said marriage was Cynthia Forgy that her husband the aforesaid John Neill, died on the 3rd day of May 1828, that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the second of January eighteen hundred, viz: at the time above stated. She further swears that she is now a widow and that the reason of the delay in making her application for Pension
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is because she did not know until last January that she could prove her husband's service as he did not draw a Pension in his lifetime, that in the month of January last, Allen Givens informed her friends that he knew her husband and her husband's brothers in the Revolution, and that she then concluded to apply for a Pension  She further states that she is at present with her daughter in Butler County on account of her bad health witness Samuel Austin John P Lee
Cynthia her X mark Neill
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written, before me, and I certify that Cynthia Neill above named, is unable by bodily infirmity to appear before court.
Samuel Austin Prs Jdg BCC

State of Kentucky
Butler County
S'ct
I, H A James clerk of the County Court of Said County Do Certify that Samuel Austin whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing Certificate, is and was at the time of Signing the Same Acting and Sole presiding Judge of the County Court of Said County, duly Elected commissioned and sworn, and that all his official acts as Such are entitled to full faith and Credit :
In witness whereof, I hereto set my name and affix the Seal of Said County Court, this 19th day of September A D 1854  H A James C.B.C.C.
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3
A M Gangewer
Atty
Present
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State of North Carolina
Comptrollers Office

I William J Clarke Comptroller of public accounts in and for the State aforesaid do hereby certify that it appears of record in said office among the payments made by said State to sundry persons for Military services in the Revolutionary war as follows to wit :
"John Neill."
Indent No 2501 £23.S5.d0 Specie Sept 12th 1783
            "    1702 £00.S18        "       March 1782
            "      205 £15.S00         "        Oct 1786
            "   4790  £9.S2            "         1784
            "   1373  £11.S8.d6      "       Augt 1782
           "      327  £7.S2.d0        "       July 1782

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said office this July 19th 1854
Wm J Clarke, Comptr