Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2,961, Alexander Ballard, New Jersey Sea Service Privateer.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
New Jersey Sea Service
Privateer.
Ballard, Alexander.
NUMBER
S.2.961.
CONTENTS
Page 2

26668
Jonesboro Tennessee
Alexander Ballard
[illegible] for the State of Tennessee
was a nation the commanded
Captain May
of the regt commanded
Col. not named the New Jersey line
for 9 months & 17 days
N.J. and Privateer Records corrected
Inscribed on the Roll of Jonesboro Feb. 4 [illegible] at the rate of 31 Dollars 33 Cents per annum,
commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of April
1834 and [illegible]
---
Arrears to the 4th of March 94.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending Sep 
15.67
$109.67
Revolutionary Claim, ┃
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Danl Boyd
Clerk

Book E Vol. 76 Page 122
[illegible]  Jonesboro, and
Knoxville Feby 6.39
Date of death not on
Page 3

State of Tennessee
County of Hawkins
On this
9th day of January 1834
personally appeared before Thomas White
a justice of the peace for the County of
Hawkins, Alexander Ballard, a resident
in the County of Hawkins and State of
Tennessee, aged eighty two
years,
who being first duly sworn according to
law, doth on his oath make the
following declaration, in order to obtain
the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed
June 7. 1832.
That the Declarant was born in 1751
day and month not recollected, six miles
North East of the City of Philadelphia,
State of Pennsylvania. His father William
Ballard died, when the Declarant was
Six years old. The Declarant was then
bound out to Isaiah Styce, near the mouth
of Delaware, in the State of New Jersey
Isaiah Styce died when the Declarant was
in his nineteenth year. Some time thereafter
in the month of May in the year 1776
day not recollected Declarant enlisted in
the Marine service of the State of New Jersey
at Cape May in the State aforesaid, for [illegible]
months, under Captain Hand, who commanded
a vessell, containing twenty men, with
small arms and one swivel, which vessell
Page 4

with several others, was engaged and employed by
the State of New Jersey in the interception of
supplies for the British troops, which were
being conveyed across the Delaware bay or
around the Eastern Coast of New Jersey, and
in such other service, as they could perform
consistent with the nature and capacity of
the vessel. This Declarant was engaged
in various expeditions, during his term of
service for the purpose of intercepting supplies for the British forces. In the month
of July 1776 day not recollected, Captain Hands vessell, on board of which the Declarrant was, together with the other, sailed
from Cape May, to Bigg Egg Harbor
at the mouth of Bigg Egg Harbor River
on the Eastern coast of New Jersey; Before our arrival at Bigg Egg Harbor, we
overhauled three refugee vessells, containing
mostly blacks. They had two four pounders
and one six pounder. When we fired, they
laid down in their boats, we went alongside and boarded them. We capture and
took them into Bigg Egg Harbor. Then
were six white, and a good many blacks
number not recollected. The Declarant understood that they were from South Carolina
The Declarant, after the expiration of this
term of enlisted again enlisted in the month
of September 1777 day not recollected, on board of the Schooner Hawk, fitted out by the
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State of New Jersey, and commanded by Captain Stillwell. She came sixteen four pounders
and between fifty and sixty men. The names
of the officers are not recollected. In the
month of September 1777 day not recollected
we sailed from Bigg Egg Harbor, N. Jersey
We had been out twelve days, when we
were hailed by a thirty six gun frigate;
we told them we were going to Martinique. They ordered us to hand down
our colours, or they would fire into us.
We surrendered and they took us into
New York. We were there placed on
board of a prison ship, where we were
kept for three months, (without food in
sufficient quantity, or of wholesome
quality, for our nourishment), when we
were exchanged. Many of our men died
from the severity of the treatment. We were
taken to Elizabeth Town point on board of
a schooner. Thence, those who were well enough
were taken to Philadelphia, and those, who
were not of which the Declarant was one
were taken to Elizabeth Town point, to a
Hospital there. In two weeks, the Declarant
with others having sufficiently
recovered
were sent to Philadelphia, which city
we reached in the month of January 1778
day not recollected - it being four months
Page 6

since the Declarant
listed under Captain
Stillwell in the naval service of the State of
New Jersey at Bigg Egg Harbor. On the arrival
of the Declarant at Philadelphia he made
application to Colonel Guerney, a merchant
of the City, with whom he was acquainted, for employment
and was employed by him in the merchant service.
Colonel Guerney in the
fitted out a vessel in 1781 called the Morning
Star to sail as a privateer. The Declarant shipped on board of "the Morning
Star" under Captain Simmons. She mounted
18 four pounders, and contained about
one hundred men. The names of the many other officers are not recollected. In the month of January
1779 we sailed from Philadelphia-- Early in
the month, day not recollected-- on the 15th
of January 1781 we were spied about sun rise
of the Coast of Jamaica by a British
frigate. She gave chase and overtook us
She captured and took us into
Charleston, South Carolina, where we were
put on board of a Prison ship. The 4th
day after our commitment to the prison
Ship, the Declarant with fifteen other
men, escaped on board the provisioning boat of the
prison ship, about 12 O'Clock at night-- we
escaped in safety to the East end of Sullivan's
Island, where we landed and took shelter
in an old fort on that part of the Island. From
Sullivan's Island, the next day, twelve of us
Page 7

Swam to another Island near the main land
leaving four of our companions, who could
not swim, and of whose fate the Declarant
is ignorant. From this land four of the
company attempted, after going up the Island
considerably, to Levin acres to the main land,
in which attempt Declarant supposes that
they must have been drowned, as they heard
nor saw any thing more of them. The remaining eight fortunately saw two officers in a
boat coming down between the island
and the main land, we were in a starving
condition, having eaten nothing for Several
days, and though we believed that they were
British officers, in determined to hail them
and make known our situation. We
did so. They came within speaking
distance of us, and, after our relating
to them our situation, they informed us
that they were American officers on
Parole in the City of Charleston, and
that they dare not come to the Island
as that would be a violation of the
parole. But that they would send a
boat and have provision brought
to us and have us conveyed to the
mainland that evening. This they did
and we were taken to a Road leading
North East from Charleston, by which
Page 8

we travelled to Little York Virginia whence
we went to Philadelphia arriving there
in the latter and of March 1781
and upon arriving there reported to Colonel Guerney, on board of whose
vessell we had shipped. In the fall of
the year 17[illegible] month & day not recollected, this
Declarant again shipped on board "the
Rising Sun, a privateer fitted out by
Colonel Gurney in the City of Philadelphia
under Captain Griffin. She mounted 20
Six pounders besides swivels. She contained
upwards of 100 men. We sailed for the West
Indies-- we touched at Jamaica, Guadeloupe- Cuba and other West India
Islands, and along the coast of S. America
We also cruised along our own coast
from the West Indies as far north as
Boston. This privateer was very successfull, having, in the course of nine
months, taken fifteen vessells, of different
kinds, which were conveyed by us to the
most convenient port posessed by the
Americans and free (?) of British shipping.
We finally at the end of nine months
returned into Baltimore and were then
discharged in the summer of 1782 month &
day not recollected. After the close of the
Revolution, this Declarant was engaged for
four years in the merchant Service and
Page 9

common Sailor. He then moved to Gloucester
County in West Jersey, where he lived two
years, and moved to Salem County, New Jersey, where he lived thirteen years - Thence
to Hawkins County, East Tennessee, when
he has lived thirty Six years and where
he now lives. This Declarant has no documentary
as to his service, nor does he know
of any person living, whose testimony he
can procure, who can testify to his service
This declarant served in the Naval service
of the State of New Jersey under Captain Hand
Six months from the month of May
1776 to the month of November of the same
year. He next entered the
naval service
of the State of New Jersey under
Captain Stillwell in the month of September 1777
but after twelve days at Sea
was taken prisoner and was confine to
a prison ship for three months, next
entered the private service under
Capt Simmons, but was shortly taken prisoner
and again confined to a prison ship, from
which he escaped. He again shipped on board
a private in the year 1781 and served nine
months. No discharges were given to the Declarant at the expiration of his terms of
enlistment or after his imprisonments.
The Declarant hereby relinquishes every claim
whatever to a pension or annuity except
the present, and declares that his name
Page 10

is not on the pension roll of the Agency of any
State


His
Alexander X Ballard
Mark

Sworn to and Subscribed before me
this 9th day of January 1834. 
Thomas White Justice of Peace.

Question 1st When and in what year were you
born?
Answer 1st I was born six miles North East of
the City of Philadelphia, State of
Pennsylvania in the year 1751
Question 2d Have you any record of your age
and if so, where is it 2
Answer 2d I have none

Question 3d. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since
the Revolutionary war, and where do you
now live?
Answer 3d. When called into service, I was living
near Cape May, New Jersey.  Since the
Revolutionary war, I have lived in
New Jersey and East Tennessee, where
I now live in Hawkins County
Question 4th. How were you called into service
were you drafted, did you volunteer or
were you a substitute, and if a substitute, for whom?
Answer 4th. I was a volunteer enlisted sailor in
the naval service of New Jersey
in two of my terms (?) and in the two
Page 11

others. I was a volunteer enlisted privateersman on board of vessels fitted out
by Colonel Guerney of City of Philadelphia
Question 5th. State the names of some of
the regular officers, who were with
the troops, where you served; such
Continental and militia regiments as
you can recollect, and the general in
circumstance of your service

Answer 5th. There were none. I first served
in the Naval service of New Jersey
for six months - I then again entered
his naval service, but in a short time
was taken prisoner and confined to
a prison ship for three months
I next entered the private service
but was immediately taken and
again confined to a prison ship
but escaped in four days. I next
served on board of a privateer nine
months. My first service was in
Captain Hand - my second under
Captain Stillwell - My third under
Captain Simmons - my fourth under
Captain Griffin.
Question 6th. Did you even receive a discharge
from the Service, and if so
by whom was it given, and what
has become of it?
Page 12

Answer 6th. I never received any discharge
from the service.
Question 7th by the State the names of persons
to whom you are known in your
present neighbourhood, and who
can testify as to your character for
veracity, and their belief of your
services as a sailor of the Revolution
Answer 7th. I would refer to the Reverend
Andrew Coffman, and the Revd Noah
Cate, Major Thomas Hall & M. George White
all of whom an my neighbours, as I
live near the dividing line between
Hawkins and Jefferson. These gentlemen have all know me for many
years, some of them ever since I
first came to the neighbourhood
I would wish them to be examined
as required by the War Department

His
Alexander X Ballard
Mark
Sworn to and Subscribed Alexander
before me, this 9th day of
January 1834

Thomas White Justice of Peace

We Andrew Coffman, a clergyman, resident in the County
of Jefferson & Noah Cate, a Clergyman, resident in the
County of Hawkins and Thomas Hale and
George White, resident citizens of Hawkins County
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
Alexander Ballard, who has subscribed
and Sworn to the foregoing declaration
Page 13

and annexed answers, that we believe him
to be eighty two years of age; that
he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been
Sailor of the Revolution, and that
we concur in that opinion.

Andrew Coffman Clergyman
Thomas Hale
George White

Sworn to and Subscribed
before me this 9th day
of January 1834
Thomas White Justice of Peace

And the said Magistrate hereby declares
his opinion, after the investigation of
the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War
Department, that the above named
Applicant was a Revolutionary
Sailor, and served as he states. And the
said Magistrate further certifies, that it
appears to him that Andrew Coffman & Noah
who have signed the preceeding certificate
are clergyman resident in the County
of Jefferson & Hawkins and that Thomas Hall and
George White
who have also signed
the same are residents of Hawkins con
that they are credible persons, that the
Statement is entitled to credit - and the said
Magistrate further and


Prev
13
of 22
Page 14

Bunch
Applicant Alexander Ball
on account of my
Court
of
of
Co
℗
Temper
R
the
State of Tennessee
County of Hawkins
ss
I Stockley D. Mitchell, Clerk of the County
Court of Hawkins County, and State aforesaid hereby certify that Thomas White
whose attestation appears to the subscription
and oath of Alexander Ballard to the foregoing declaration and annexed answers, and
who has also attested the signature and oath
of the Testifying Clergymen and Citizens to
their certificate, and who has also given a
certificate himself in favor of the applicant A. Ballard was at the time of attesting
and signing the same, and now is an acting
Justice of the peace for the County of Hawkins and State aforesaid, duly commissioned
and qualified, and that full faith and credit
an due to all his official acts, as such, and
that his signature wherever it appears in
the foregoing papers is his genuine signature
In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and
Seal of Office this 5th day
of April
1836.
S D  Mitchell Clk
By W B Mitchell D Clk
Page 15

Mrs. H. C. Groom
Box 294
Brownsville, Texas
Dear Madam:
November 30, 1938
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
ALEXANDER BALLARD, S. 2961
WYATT BALLARD,
BA-J/MLB
S. 44327
The Revolutionary War records of Alexander Ballard and Wyatt Ballard
are furnished, as follow:
ALEXANDER BALLARD
S. 2961
The data which follow in regard to Alexander Ballard were obtained
from pension claim, S. 2961, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.  
Alexander Ballard was born in 1751, six miles northeast of the City of Philadelphia.  He was the son of one William Ballard
who died when Alexander was six years of age.  After his father's death,
Alexander went to live with one Isaiah Styce near the mouth of the
Delaware in New Jersey. The name of Alexander Ballard's mother was not given.

While residing near Cape May, New Jersey, Alexander Ballard volunteered
in the New Jersey Sea Service in May, 1776, served as private on
board a vessel, name not designated, commanded by Captain Hand, served
a tour of six months engaged in intercepting supplies for the British
troops, and assisted in capturing three vessels from South Carolina
containing white and black men, whom they took into Big Egg Harbor on
the eastern coast of New Jersey. He enlisted in September, 1777 on
board the schooner ""Hawk", Captain Stillwell, fitted out by the State of
New Jersey, sailed from Big Egg Harbor and after being out twelve days,
his vessel was captured and they were taken as prisoners to New York,
there placed on board a prison ship without sufficient food, from which
many of the men died, while others including this soldier, were taken to
Elizabeth Town Point to a hospital, and after recovery Alexander Ballard
went to Philadelphia where he arrived in January, 1778. In January, 1779,
he entered on board a merchant vessel, "Morning Star, Captain Simmons,
which had been fitted out by Colonel Guerney to sail as a privateer, and
shortly after, his vessel was captured by the British off the coast of
Page 16

Jamaica, was taken into Charleston, South Carolina, where he was put on a prison ship, but shortly after made his escape in safety to Sullivan's Island where he took shelter in an old fort and after much hardship and starvation he reached home the latter part of March, 1781. Again in the fall of 1781, he entered on board the privateer, "Rising Sun", Captain Griffin, also fitted out by Colonel Guerney, and cruised along the coasts of the West Indies and South America for nine months during which period he assisted in capturing fifteen vessels and was discharged in the summer of 1782.
After the Revolutionary War, the soldier engaged four years in the merchant service as a common sailor, then moved to Gloucester County in the western part of New Jersey, lived there two years, thence to Salem County, same state, where he lived thirteen years, and from there moved to Hawkins County, East Tennessee.
It is not shown whether Alexander Ballard ever married.
In order to obtain date of last payment of pension, the name and address of the person paid and possibly the date of death of Alexander Ballard, you should write to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:
Alexander Ballard, certificate #26668, issued April 21, 1834, rate $31.33 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act June 7, 1832, Tennessee (Jonesboro) Agency.

******************

WYATT BALLARD
S. 44327
The record of Wyatt Ballard follows as found in pension claim, S. 44327, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.

Wyatt Ballard was born in February, 1760. The place of his birth and names of his parents are not stated.

Wyatt Ballard enlisted in Warrenton, Warren County, North Carolina, in February, 1781, and served until April 7, 1782, as a private in Captain Carter's company, Colonel Dixon's North Carolina regiment. He was engaged at the capture of the forts at Wright's Bluff, Thompson Fort, Friday's Ferry and Augusta and in the battle of Eutaw Springs, where he was wounded in the right arm.

The soldier was allowed pension on his application executed March 6, 1819, while residing in Knox County, Tennessee.

-2-
Page 17

In 1820, Wyatt Ballard while still living in Knox County, Tennessee,
referred to his daughter, Susan, aged about seventeen years, also to his
wife, but did not state her name or age. In 1822 he was living in
Warren County, Ohio. He died July 17, 1828.
[illegible hand-written comment follows]
In order to obtain date of last payment of pension in the case of
Wyatt Ballard and name and address of the person paid, you should write
to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division,
this city, and cite the following data: Wyatt Ballard, certificate 13794,
issued August 7, 1819, rate $8 per month, commenced March 6, 1819, Act
18th March, 1818, Tennessee Agency, transferred to Ohio Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 18

1938 Nov 30 - Hist to Mrs. H.C. Groom
Ltr in Clm S. 44327 of
Wyatt Ballard

Rev War
2961.
INVALID.
File No. 2961
Alexander Ballard
Prvt, N.J. line
Act: June 1932
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 18
[Arrangement of 1870.]
NJ and Privateer, Records corrected Feby 4 '04 a
Page 19

2 pension applications
James L. Edwards, Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
District of Columbia

Hon. S. Bunch. HR
Page 20

Rogerville, Hawkins County, Te
April 5th 1834
To James L. Edwards Esq

Sir
I have the honor to submit for your examination and
decision the applications of Alexander
Ballard and Samuel Riggs, citizens of
Hawkins County, East Tennessee, for
pensions under Act June 7th 1832. The
Clerk of the Circuit Court, W. B Mitchell
has no public seal of Office-- and therefore
I have enclosed these cases to the Honorable Samuel Bunch in order to obtain
his certificate to the official character
and signature of W. Mitchell as the
Clerk of the Circuit Court of Hawkins
County; The case of Saml Riggs being attended to in that Court. Colonel Bunch,
the Representative of the applicants,
will present their claims and He is authorised to receive the certificates, if you
should decide favorably upon them
With much respect, Sir, I have the
honor to be your
Obedient Servant
P. B. Anderson
Page 21

Mrs. H. C. Groom
Box 294
Brownsville, Texas
Dear Madam:
November 30, 1938
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/MLB
&
Reference is made to your letters of recent date, in which you
requested the Revolutionary War records of James Whealey whom you
found listed as a Revolutionary War soldier from Virginia, under reference, "James Whealy Sar. 283 War 4, 407 also of Alexander
Ballard who served in the Revolution from New Jersey and afterwards
moved to Hawkins County, Tennessee, and Wyatt Ballard who served from
North Carolina and moved to Warren County, Ohio.
A careful search of the Revolutionary War records has been made
and no claim for pension or bounty land was found for a James Whaley
(Whealey) other than the James Whaley, W. 2586, whose record was furnished
you September 15, 1938. Your citations in regard to that soldier
pertain to Virginia State records.
The records of Alexander Ballard and Wyatt Ballard are furnished
2961
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 22

Ballard, Benoni
Private
Line: New York
Warrant Number 6855
Acreage 100
Issued August 26, 1790
to: not shown