Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 38,976, for James Orr, North Carolina
Page 1

SERVICE NC
Orr, James
NUMBER S.38.976
Page 2

etter Aug. 13. 1831 to T. Cratcher
tion Agent. do. to Same 6th
Oct. 18 do to Jane 20th
Apr. 1832

date of death
not on AB

Conc. Nov 18. 1882
Stephen Cantrell Esq

From
Kentucky Roll
To West Tennessee
No 1290.

James Orr
Private
North Carolina - 1776 9 months
Col Armstrong

In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.

Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 25 of May 1818

Certificate of Pension issued the 30 of June 1818
and sent to Matthew Lyon, Esq.
Eddyville Caldwell Co. KY

Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1818.
3 months 7 /31
4 /30
$26.86

{Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818.}
Continue
Caldwell Co KY
Page 3

fee pd $1.62 [illegible]
Page 4

State of Kentucky Caldwell County Court. In the record
of proceedings of the Caldwell County Court among
other are the following-- Be it remembered that at a
County Court began held for Caldwell County at the
Courthouse in the town of Princeton on Monday the 25th
of May 1878. The following proceedings were had towit

James Orr an ridigent Revolutionary soldier
personally appeared in order to be heard respecting
his claim to the benefit of the law of March 18th 1818. En
titled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the
Revolutionary war and being duly Sworn Testifies & says
that sometime in 1776 he enlisted in Mecklinburg county
North Carolina as Continental Soldier to proceed
to white [plains] in order to Join the 4th Regiment of North 
Carolina Continental troops for nine months, that he
was made a Sergeant and marched for his destination
with the detachment, that at Moores Creek in North 
Carolina the order for marching to the North was
countermanded and the detachment ordered to the
Southward, that at black swamp in South Carolina
he joined the Continental Regiment commanded
by Col Armstrong & continued in that service nine
months in that Regiment, after which he took a contin
ental soldier place in another Regiment and continue
in the army until the war was over, that he received
his discharge from Genl Lincoln in Charleston which
he has lost. He further swears that from his reduced
support
circumstances he needs the assistance of his Country for
support.
Caldwell County [illegible]. as clerk of the
County Court of said County I certify
that the foregoing is a true transcript from
the records in my office. In Testimony where
of I hereunto set my hand and affix the
Seal of said County the 5th day of June
1878
John H Phelps
Page 5


State of Kentucky Caldwell County 
I John Bradley presiding Magistrate
in & for the County aforesaid do certify
that the within attestation of
John W. Phelps who is Clerk of Court
is in due form of law & that the within
Named for is a citesn of this County
Given under my hand and seal this
27th day of June 1818 John Bradley
Page 6

{illegible] Pen transfer
from Kentucky to
Tennessee 5 May 1873
from 4 March 1820
Page 7

A Schedule of James Orr a private
a Pentioner under the law of Congress
of the 18th of March 1810 late a pri-
vate in the Army of the Revolution
and as appear by the Certificate of John
C Calhoun of war is inserted
on the Pention list Roll of the Ken
tucky Agency at the rate of eight
dollarnper month to commence
the 25th of May 1818 maketh Oath
that he has removed from the state of
the Kentucky to the State of Ten
nesssee and County of Bedford He
further state, upon oath that he
has no estate either real or per
-sonal
James Orr
Page 8

the State of Tennessee
Williamson County Court April term 1822
This day James on a petitioner under the law of
Congress of the 18th March 1890 late a private in the
Army of the Revolution, and as appears by the Cer
tificate of John C. Calhoun Secry of War is inscri
bed on the Pension list roll of the Kentucky
Agency at the rate of eight dollars per month
to commence on the 25th May 1818 appears in
Open court and maketh oath that he has removed from the State of Kentucky to the State of
Tennessee and County of Bedford he further states
upon oath that he has no property either real
or personal which is ordered to be certified
In faith and testimony whereof I Thom
as Hardeman Clerk of said Court have
hereto subscribed my name
and affixed the Seal of said
Court at Office at Office
in Franklin this 6th day of
May A.D. 1820
Page 9

8
96
2
192.00
Page 10

SCHEDULE
State of Tennessee
County of Harden

On this Seventh day of October, 1822 personally
appeared in open court, (a) being a court of record (b) for the said
county of Hardin
James Orr aged 72
years, resident in ___ in said county,
who, being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, declare that
he served in the Revolutionary war as follows: (c) Two years as a
private and five years as a major
in the continual line of North Carolina

And I do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be,) 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, 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 and 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 to me; nor have I any income
other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed
. (d)
James Orr  his mark
Schedule
nothing

Sworn to and declared, on the Seventh of October 1822
before J Cherry JP
Noah Lilly
Jonathan Martin JP
I, Alexr W. Sweeney Clerk of the Court of pleas & quarter session
for Hardin County do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath (or affirmation) and the schedule thereto
annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said court; and I do further certify,
that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount in value of the property
exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is ___ dollars publish seal
cents. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my private there being seal of the
said court, on this seventh day of October
1822
AW Sweeney
Clerk of the Court for the County of Hardin

It appears to the Court that the
above named James Orr has no property at all
neither real or personal
Page 11

( a ) The whole of the form prescribed in the first section, to verify the amount of property of the
applicant, the oath of the party, and the certificate of the clerk excepted, must be done while the court is
in session,
( b ) All are courts of record, within the contemplation of the act of Congress,
1st. Which are expressly made courts of record by the laws of the state which create them;
2d. Which have been solemnly adjudged, by the tribunals of the several states, to be courts of record;
3d. Which proceed according to the course of the common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of their proceedings.
4th. Which have the power of fine and imprisonment;
And courts which proceed according to the course of the civil and canon law, having neither of
those attributes, are not courts of record, although they may keep a registry of their proceedings, and possess a seal. The court should, in every instance, state, on the face of the proceedings, that it is a court
of record, and state why it is such. --( Opinion of the Attorney General of the United State.)
(c) Here set forth the regiment, company, and line, or ship, corps, or vessel, and the date of the original declaration; and, if he has received a pension, the number of the pension certificate should be
inserted.
(d) Here enumerate each article of real and personal estate, necessary clothing and bedding excepted, and subscribe the same. The declarant must also mention his occupation, his ability to pursue it
the number and names of his family residing with him, their ages, and their capacity to contribute to their
support, in order that the department may be enabled to decide whether the applicant is in such indigent circumstances as to be entitled to the pension. It is the opinion of the Attorney General, that the words
of the third section of the act of the 1st of May, 1820, ""in such indigent circumstances as to be unable to support himself without the assistance of his country," comprehend those only who are incapable of supporting
themselves without the aid of the government, except by private or public charity.
Page 12

September 7, 1939.

Mrs. Virgil Idol
1355 Peachtree Street, N. E.
Atlanta, Georgia


BA-J/ady
James Orr
S. 38976

Dear Madam:

The data contained herein were obtained from
the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim
for pension, S.38976, based upon the military
service in that war of James Orr,

The date and place of birth and the names of
the parents of James Orr are not shown.

James Orr enlisted in Mecklenburg County, North 
Carolina, in 1776, served as private, sergeant and
major in Colonel Armstrong's North Carolina Regiment;
length of entire service seven years,

He was allowed pension on his application executed
May 25, 1818, at which time he was a resident
of Caldwell County, Kentucky, and aged sixty-eight
years.

In April 1822 he was living in Bedford County,
Tennessee, and in the fall of that year he was a
resident of Hardin County, Tennessee.

there are no family data.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of
pension, the name of person paid and possibly the
death date of soldier, you should apply to the
Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records
Division, this city, and cite the following data:
James Orr, Certificate No.1290, issued June 30, 1818,
rate $8.00 per month, commenced May 25, 1818, Act of
March 18, 1818, Kentucky Agency transferred to West
Tennessee Agency"".
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 13

Free

The Honbl
J.C Calhoun
Secretary of War
Washington City

Rec'd 2 Novr 1822
Page 14


Nashville, West Tenn
Pension Office 17th Octr 1822

Sir

Its the wish of Mr Or that his cer-
tificate of continuance should the inclosed
affadavit entitle him to the same should
be forwarded to this Office
Steph Cantrell
Pension Agent
Page 15

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.    3 -- 525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., Aug 6, 1920

In reply to your request of ____ received ____
for a statement of the military history of James Orr
a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired
information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension
on file in this Bureau.  S. 38976

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
1776. 

LENGTH OF SERVICE.
7yrs

RANK.
Pvt,  Sgt, & Maj

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
COLONEL. Armstrong

STATE
N.C.

Battles engaged in, None stated
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Enl in Mecklenburg Co. N.C.
Date of application for pension, May 25, 1818 His Cl. al.
Residence at date of application, Princeton, Caldwell Co. Ky
Age at date of application, 68 yrs
Remarks: In 1822 he lived in Bedford Co. Tenn
There is no data on file as to family

Respectfully,
Commissioner.
Page 16

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section.
MMHF

October 18, 1929.

Mrs. Rell G. Allen,
204 West Temple Street,
Washington C. H., Ohio.

Dear Madam:
I advise you that there is no application on file made
by widow of James Orr, Revolutionary War soldier (S.38976).
As stated in bureau letter of March 14, 1929, addressed
to you, "there are no data on file relative to his family".
Very truly yours,
EARL D. CHURCH,
Commissioner.
Page 17

Rev & 1812 Wars Section.

March 14, 1929.

Mrs. Rell G. Allen,
204 West Temple Street,
Washington C. H., Ohio.

Madam:

I advise you that from the papers in the Revolution
ary War pension claim, S. 38976, it appears that James
Orr enlisted in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina in
1776, served as private, sergeant and major in Colonel
Armstrong's North Carolina Regiment; length of entire
service seven years.

He was allowed pension on his application executed
May 25, 1818 at which time he was a resident of Caldwell
County, Kentucky, aged sixty-eight years.

In April 1822 he was living in Bedford County, Tennessee
and in the fall of that year was a resident of Hardin
County, Tennessee.

There are no data on file relative to his family.

The Revolutionary War records of this bureau fail to
afford any information in regard to Samuel Bonnett or
Bony, or similar spelling, of Virginia.

Respectfully,

E. W. MORGAN,
Acting Commissioner.
Page 18

September 7, 1939.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

BA-J/[illegible]/ady

James Orr S. 38976

Mrs. Virgil Idol
1355 Peachtree Street, N. E.
Atlanta, Georgia

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you
furnish further information in regard to the James
Orr in whom you are interested.

You state that James J. Orr applied for a
pension from Orange County, North Carolina, in 1840.
and the then aged eighty years and that James Orr
applied for pension from Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

The Census of Pensions of 1840, evidently the
volume from which your citation in regard to the
James Orr, aged eighty years, was taken, shows that
pension to have been a resident of Mecklenburg
County, North Carolina, and residing with James J.
Orr (who is not recorded as a pensioner). There is
no claim for pension or bounty land on file based
upon service in the Revolutionary War of a James
Orr of Orange County, North Carolina.

There are only two claims for pension on file
based upon service in the Revolutionary War of
soldiers with the name James Orr of any southern
state. They both were from North Carolina, and
their records are furnished you herewith

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 19

38976

INVALID
Revy

File No. 38976
James Orr
Pri Rev War

Act: 18 March 18
Index: - Vol. 3, Page 372

1920 Aug 6 Hist to Mrs. J D Malone En
1929 Mch 14- Hist to Mrs. Rell G Allen MMNT
1929 Oct 18- Mrs. Rell G Allen
adv no further fam data MMTF
1939 Sept 7. Hist to Mrs. Virgil Idol Letter inclsr S 7282 James Orr ADY
Page 20

Malone
Page 21

Revo FHS

[stamp reads]
US Pension Office, Jul 14 1920

415 Kennesow Ave
Marietta Georgia
July 12-1920

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir
Please furnish me the
record of service of James Orr
a revolutionary pensioner of
Bedford County Tenn in 1818
aged 84
I am a descendant of Jas. Orr.
and if the record gives names of
his children, please give them
with other information, and
oblige
Mrs. J.D. Malone
Page 22

Jas. Orr's Rev. War pension claim S. 38976

MRS. RELL G. ALLEN
204 WEST TEMPLE STREET
WASHINGTON C. H.
OHIO

Oct 12" 1929

Bureau of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Dear Sirs: Will you please examine your
pension records of Rev. War. for the following -
Did Eleanor Orr, widow of James E.
receive a pension?
James Orr, enlisted from Mecklenburg Co. N.Ca.
in 1776, served as private, Sergeant & major in
Col. Armstrongs N. Ca. Regt: length of entire service
seven years
He was granted a pension on his application
executed May 25" 1818, at which time he was a
resident of Caldwell Co. Ky. aged sixty eight
years. In April 1822, he was living in Bedford
Co. Tenn. and in the fall of that year, was a
resident of Hardin Co. Tenn
His widow Eleanor On, removed to
Fayette Co. Ohio, where she resided with her
children. She died May 10" 1840.
Page 23

MRS. RELL G. ALLEN
204 WEST TEMPLE STREET
WASHINGTON C. H.
OHIO

any information you may be
able to furnish me will be gratefully
received. Hoping to receive an early
reply & thanking you [illegible]

Respectfully,
Mrs Rell G. Allen
204 W. Temple St
Washington C.H.
Ohio
Page 24

MRS. RELL G. ALLEN
204 WEST TEMPLE STREET
WASHINGTON C. H.
OHIO

Dec. 5" 1928
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C

Dear Sir: Will you please
examine your Roll of Pensioners of
Soldiers of Revolution for the following soldiers.

James Orr, who enlisted in Meck-
lenburg Co. N. Ca. sometime in 1776,
and continued in the service as a
Cont'l soldier until the close of the
War. He resided in Caldwell Co. Ky.
in May, 1818. and applied for
pension under act of Mch. 18, 1818.
Page 25

MRS. RELL G. ALLEN
204 WEST TEMPLE STREET
WASHINGTON C. H.
OHIO
If so, was name of his wife given?
also do you have record of Samuel
Bonnett (Bonet, Bonnat, Bony) who
enlisted from Hampshire Co. Va. or
some adjoining Co in Va.
He resided in Hampshire Co in
1777 & in Harrison Co. in 1800
any information you may be
able to furnish me will be
gratefully received - Hoping to receive
an early reply and thanking you
I am
Respectt,
Mrs Rell G. Allen
204 W. Temple St.
Washington C. H.