Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31,999, for John Summers, North Carolina
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
N.C. 
Va.
Summers, John
NUMBER
S. 31.999
CONTENTS
Page 2

Letter to Pension Agent 10 May 1843

3441
Georgia
---
John Summers of Clark in the State of Georgia who was a Private in the ___ commanded by Captain McFarland of the Regt commanded by Col. Caswell in the N. Car line for 2 years from 17
---
Inscribed on the Roll of Georgia at the rate of 80 Dollars per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
---
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 day of Dec 32 and sent to Hon. A.S. Clayton, House of Rep
---
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832   $120.00
Semi anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 33  $40.00
$160.00

Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by Nathan Rice Clerk
Book D Vol. 8 Page 144
Page 3

John Summers

from 17--  private

2 years

$80
Page 4

STATE OF GEORGIA,
Clarke County.

On this 20th day of Nov personally appeared in open Court, before Charles Dougherty presiding Judge of
the Superior Court of said County, now sitting, John Summers a resident of the county of Clarke and State aforesaid, aged seventy 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 7th, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated: 

He was born on the 26th of May 1762 in Fairfax County, Virginia. The first service he engaged in he can not recollect the date of it but the facts connected with it may designate the time. he was living in Fairfax County about seven miles from Alexandria & News came that the British were ascending the Potomac, & they did as high as the residence of Col Blount below Alexandria & burnt his House. the Militia were called out on that occasion & deponent was with them & went down to prevent further destruction, & he was out on this Occasion about two or three weeks. He then moved to N. Carolina Caswell County & there remained the whole of the war. his first service there was a nine months tour. He volunteered though the
detachment was raised by draft under Capt McFarlan, Lieutenant Parks & the Genl officer was Caswell. the detachment joined Genl Caswell at Hillsboro. Marched from thence to cross Creek or Fayetteville & reconnoitered the country from that place to Willimington in pursuit of British & Tories till the time of service expired. he was in no engagement but kept the Tories in Check & occasionally took a few prisoners. The time of this service deponent can not recollect never believing he should have occasion to
remember it, it has entirely passed from his mind. After staying at home a short time, the troubles increasing, the Captain, by the name of Meshack Turner, of the Militia Company to which I belonged
beat up for volunteers to be organized & remain in service for twelve months & promised that they should be paid the same as regulars.

Forty of the Company volunteered among which number was deponent & they remained in service for twelve months. They marched to Savannah River just opposite to Augusta in Georgia & thence turned
down the river & joined Genl Lincolns army at a place called Dorchester. the army maneuvered about until the battle of Stone in which Deponent was engaged.  Genl Lincoln Commanded on that occasion. Deponent was under the command of a Col Mayburn (he thinks) But he was present & commanded the
Division to which Deponent belonged. After that battle, returned
Page 5

to Gen Lincoln's Station & was occasionally reinforced & guarded the Country, making incursions after Tories & British parties who were pillaging the Country. After this service expired & deponent returned home there was another draft ordered & deponents father was drafted for nine months. He took his fathers place - George Oldham was Captain John Oldham, Lieutenant, Stephen Moore, Col & joined
Genl Caswell at either Gilford Court house or Salisbury, not exactly recollected, which he recollects he was in both of these towns & then marched to Charlotte. From thence they marched to Rongesly's Mills & joined Genl Gates; the army lay there about two weeks & then marched to Camden or near it where
Gates was defeated. deponent was in that engagement & was wounded in the left hand, having his fore finger, where it joins the hand Shattered & nearly shot off. After this battle, Deponent returned home
having served about six months of the nine months tour & remained till his wound got well & then the tories having risen & done considerable Mischief, Killing Col Mayburn the neighborhood rose in arms
& deponent volunteered to go against them under one Capt Runsully. I served three months- this service was principally in pursuing & fighting the tories. They had an engagement with the tories Commanded by a Col Piles & totally defeated them, killing a good Many. The battle was fought at a pair of race paths, but he does not remember the County & it was for notoriety called Piles' defeat. Genl Pickens was head commander and deponent's Col was one William Moore (he ought to have mentioned that his other Col. Stephen Moore was taken prisoner at Gates defeat). Then they had another engagement at Whites or Whiteses Mill on the reedy fork of Haw river with the British & Tories
United, but their force was so superior to the American troops, the latter being not more than three hundred they were obliged to retire. That completed deponents service which uniting all the tours of service makes about thirty three months & a half.

He moved from North Carolina to Georgia, Wilkes County & then to Clark where he now resides, and has been living there about twenty-nine years. He rec'd discharges but they are lost or destroyed; has no documentary evidence or knows of no person by whom he can prove his service. He will mention the name of Jeremiah Daniel
Page 6

and the Honorable A J Clayton who can testify as to his veracity and their believe of his being a Revolutionary soldier.
Page 7

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. 

John Summer

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
C Dougherty J.S.C.W.C.

We Jeremiah Daniel, a Clergyman, residing in Clark County and A J Clayton residing in the same, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with John Summers who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 70 years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.

Jeremiah Daniel
A Clayton

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
C Dougherty J.S.C.W.C.

AND the said Court do hereby certify and declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Jeremiah Daniel who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in the County of Clarke and that A Clayton who has also signed the same is a resident in the same County and is a credible person, that their statement is entitled to credit. 20 Nov 1832

C Dougherty J.S.C.W.C.

I Robert Ligon Clerk of the Superior Court of Clark County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Summer for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed and affixed seal of office, this 21st day of November in the year of our Lord 1832.

Robert Ligon Clerk of the Superior Court Clark County
Georgia
Page 8

November 27, 1934
XXXXXXXXX

John Summers-S.31999
BA-J/AWF

Mr. W. P. Drake
San Benito, P.O. Box 159
Texas

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of John Summers, who was born in Fairfax County, Virginia and died there in 1821, also, War of 1812 record of Henry Allen.

There is no claim for pension on file based upon service of the Henry Allen described by you, nor of the John Summers, who died in Fairfax County, Virginia in 1821. The record of one John Summers of Fairfax County, has been found. His record is given herein as found in pension claim, S. 31999, based upon his service in the War of the Revolution, which may be of interest to you.

John Summers was born May 20 or 26, 1762 in Fairfax County, Virginia, names of his parents not given.

While residing in Fairfax County, about seven miles from Alexandria, he volunteered when he heard that the British were coming up the Potomac, served two or three weeks; dates of service and names of officers not given.

He moved, after this service no date shown to Caswell County, North Carolina volunteered and served nine months in Captain McFarlan's North Carolina company in pursuit of British and Tories and took a few prisoners. He was at home a short time, when he vol-
Page 9

volunteered and served twelve months in Captain Mallack Turner's company, was in the battle of Stone, under
Colonel Mayburn. His next service was as substitute for his father, in Captain George Oldham's company, Colonel Stephen Moore's North Carolina regiment, was in the battle of Camden "Gates Defeat", where he was wounded in his left hand, having his forefinger nearly shot off and returned home, having served about six months. When his wound had healed, he volunteered and served three months in Captain Runnells' company, Colonel William Moore's North Carolina regiment and was in Pyles Defeat and battle of Whitsall's Mill. There are no dates of any of his service given.

The soldier, John Summers, moved after the Revolution from North Carolina to Wilkes County, Georgia and from there to Clarke County, Georgia.

He was allowed pension on his application executed November 20, 1832, then a resident of Clarke County, Georgia, where he had lived about twenty nine years.

There is no reference to his wife or children.

No charge is made for this report. One dollar, the amount of your remittance will be refunded in due time.

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Page 10

[handwritten]

Pension Agency Planters Bank
Savannah May 1843
Sir
There are frequently presented at this Agency pension 
vouchers, with signatures purporting to be those
of the claimants, but which are so badly written
as to be perfectly illegible, as in the present instance
where the signature appears to be any thing else than
"John Summer", for which it is intended I should
be glad of your opinion, and instruction in this
as well as in similar cases, whether I should be authorised
to pay them if otherwise correct
Respectfully
Yr Obt Sevt
HN Mercer
[?] PEn Agt.
J. L. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
DC.
Page 11

[printed form with handwriting]

31999
Revy INVALID.
File No. 31,999
John Summers
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7th 32"
Index: --Vol. 2, Page 405
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1928 - Jan 17. L.P. Summers
advised Cost of Photos
see his request invce. of John
Summers W. 3051, Va. Trps. &
his letter Jan 8-1928-
1928 - Jan. 30 - Photos to L. P. Summers
1934 Nov. 27 hist to W.P. Drake
acct Div notified to refund $1.00
Page 12

[typewritten on letterhead]

LONG DISTANCE PHONE 30
ROBINSON CODE
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
GRAIN, HAY AND FLOUR
MANUFACTURERS OF MIXED CHICKEN
AND MOLASSES FEEDS
Cash 1.00 CED
Rev. & 1812
FERTILIZERS AND INSECTICIDES
SAN BENITO FEED COMPANY, INC.
P. O. BOX 159
SAN BENITO, TEXAS Nov. 10th. 1934.
War Veterans Administration,
3999
Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen;
Will you kindly advise me if the following John Summers
record in your files shows any military service for the Amer Rev.
John Summers born in Fairfax County Va and died there in 1821.
had wife Elizabeth.
Certificate of John Summers: Order Book of Fairfax County Court
Sept 22 1789. John Summers account under oath against the
Commonwealth of Virginia amounting to 625 Lbs. tobacco which being examined by the Court is allowed and ordered certified to Auditor of Public Accounts.
State Archives, Richmond Va. Fairfax Claimes [sic] Page 6-7. John Summers is listed for services in driving cattle for 14 days to camps and similar services.
This man was a large plantation owner and grower of Fairfax County and it may be that his services were in that line of furnishing food and supplies rather in actual military service. But if your records show any will you kindly give me the records.
Henry Allen, born Fairfax Co. Va. Apl 2 1773, died at Hopkinsville Ky Nov 6 1841, married at Alexandria, Va abt 1798, Elizabeth Summers who was born, Fairfax County 1782 died at Hopkinsville Ky 1812.
He was in War 1812 and would like to have his service record and if pension was granted and any reference to his fathers family.
I am enclosing you $1.00 to cover the cost of these records which
your office oadvise [sic] me some time ago was 50 cents each.
With Thanks in advance I am,
Yours very truly.
W. P. Drake.
[signature below]

[ink stamp] RECEIVED NOV 13 1934 MAIL SUB-DIV
USVR READER 13
Page 13

[ink stamp]

RECEIVED NOV 16 1934
EMPLOYEES' ACCOUNTS

[ink stamp]
RECEIVED NOV 13 1934
CASHIER VETERANS' ADMINISTRATION
Page 14

[printed form with typewriting]

SUBMIT IN DUPLICATE.
1-681
PHONE Branch 476
All inquiries regarding this job should refer to Requisition No. 20613
Requisition for Duplicating, Addressograph, Photostat, and Blue Print Work.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
WASHINGTON
CHIEF, Division of Publications,
Room G 137.
Please furnish work specified below.
January 26, 1928....192
Bureau ordering PENSION
Deliver to Room No. 5053
(ALL COPY FOR DUPLICATING WORK SHOULD BE PLAIN AND WRITTEN IN ELITE TYPE, EXACTLY LINE FOR LINE AS IT IS TO APPEAR ON FINISHED JOB.)
Title and description of job photostatic copies of five pages from Rev. War
pension claim of John Summers, S. 31999, N.C. & Va. Troops.
No. of copies 1 of each page shall form be kept standing? ....days
For further information see M. M. H. Finch Room No. 5033 Phone No. 541
Approved: AD Williamson Chief Clerk of Bureau
Margaret M. H. Finch Chief of Branch or Division [lined out]
NOTE: No order made ""SPECIAL"" unless statement showing necessity is written 
below and approved by Chief Clerk of Bureau Ordering
[ink stamp] DIVISION OF PUBLICATIONS DEPT OF THE INTERIOR
RECEIVED JAN 27 1928
CHECK WORK DESIRED
Duplicate
Multigraph single or double space? Facsimile signature?
Mimeograph one side or both sides? Facsimile signature?
Folding once or twice?
Assembling
Stapling Once? Twice? Side? End?
Electric typewriter Fill in addresses? Dated?
Addressograph from lists
Envellopes, size
Proof list
Labels (submit sample)
Fill in letters
┃ Cards, size
┃ Pay rolls
┃ Corrections
Tabulation sheets
Photostat X Size actual Official use? Repay? yes $.75
Blue Print Size Official use? Repay? $
Remarks
(OVER)
Page 15

[printed form]

NOTE:
Routine changes of addresses may be made on this blank without formal
reference through or initialing of chiefs of branches or chief clerks of
bureaus.
( Date ) 192
INDICATE BY AN X IN PROPER SQUARE ACTION TO BE TAKEN.
Make new addressograph plate
Change present addressograph plate
Destroy present addressograph plate
as follows:
Now reads
1
2
3
4
5
Should Read
1
2
3
4
5
On list.

FOR USE OF DUPLICATING AND ADDRESSING SECTION
ADDRESSOGRAPH
Date
The above change was made
Operator
MULTIGRAPH
Type set by
MIMEOGRAPH
Date
Cut
Date
Remarks
Page 16

[printed form with handwriting]

3 - 2233
15822
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Finance Division
Jan. 25 1928
Chief Rev and 1812 Wars Section [Division lined out]
I have this day received from
L.P. Summers
money order in the amount of $75/100,
requesting photostat copy as per letter herewith.
O. J. RANDALL
Chief, Finance Division.
H.C.L.
Photos mailed Finance Div. ntfd - Jan 30 1928
MMH
Page 17

[printed letterhead typewritten]

MEMBER
VIRGINIA STATE BAR ASSOCIATION
AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION
L. P. SUMMERS
COUNSELLOR AT LAW
ABINGDON, VA.
Money order #175933 
75 cents
Jany 20th 1928.
Hon. Winfield Scott,
Commissioner.
[ink stamp] FINANCE DIVISION BOOK KEEPERS DESK
JAN 25 1928 BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Sir,
Washington, D. C.
I have your letter of Jany 17th (Rev. & 1812 Wars Section) an
in reply will say that I am enclosing money order for 75 cents for
which please furnish me photostatic copies of papers on file in the
War Claim of John Summers a pension of Clarke County Georgia.
With kindest regards.
I am yours truly.
L. P. Summers [signature]
L. P. Summers.
Page 18

[typewritten]

MMHF
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
January 17, 1928
L. P. Summers
Abingdon, Virginia
Sir:
I have to advise you that photostatic copies of papers
on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension of John
Summers of the Virginia Troops (and also of North Carolina
Troops), a pensioner of Clarke County, Georgia, S. 31999,
will be furnished you upon request, under the Act of August
24, 1912 at the rate of fifteen cents a page with twenty-
five cents extra for certification, if that be desired.
The number of pages to be copied is five.
The proper amount should be forwarded to this Bureau
by money order drawn to the order of the Secretary of the
Interior.
Your money order for $3.40, that amount for recent order
of photostats, has been received and photostats will be
mailed in due time.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.