Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8,351, for Josiah Porter, South Carolina
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE NUMBER
SC Porter, Josiah R 8351
Rachel
CONTENTS
Page 2

State of Indiana 
Vigo County Ss. On this twenty eighth day of July 
1841, personally appeared before the undersigned, Jacob 
Jones, an associate Judge of the Circuit Court of said 
County, Mrs. Rachel Porter a resident of Otter Creek 
Township, in the County of Vigo and State of Indiana 
aforesaid, aged eighty five years, who, being first 
duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath, make 
the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit 
of the provision, made by the act of Congress, passed 
July 4th, 1836.  That she is the widow of Josiah Porter 
who was a private soldier in the army of the Revolution 
That according to the best of her knowledge and recol
lection the said Josiah Porter entered the service, (the 
first period after his marriage with this affiant) as 
a draughted [drafted] militia man, about the first of 
April 1779, and that he was out during that period 
of service until the last of August of the same year 
at the time of entering the service as aforesaid he was a 
resident of Craven County, now Chester District in 
South Carolina.  Said Josiah was in the army in the 
same capacity the greater part of the time until the 
surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, but I 
am unable to state the commencement or termination 
of the several periods of service.  I am unable to re
member the several field and company officers under 
whom he served, during the several periods of service 
but he was at different times under the command  
of Generals Lincoln and Sumpter, and Captains 
Alexander Campbell, and Alexander Pagon.  That 
when drafted as above stated he marched from 
the place of his residence to Orangeburgh.  He 
was in the service at the siege of Charleston.  He was 
also in the battle of Rocky Mount, and in that 
which resulted in Sumpter's defeat, and in other 
engagements, particularly, that of "Stoneaugh" or "Stone"
that this affiant has no documentary evidence in sup
Page 3

port her claim for a pension.  That said Josiah 
was honorably discharged at the close of the first 
five months tour spoken of, and that his discharge 
was in the possession of this affiant, until about 
five years since, when, having been left in an 
[repeated: an] exposed place, upon removing from one house 
to another, it was destroyed by mice.  She further 
declares that she was married to the said Josiah 
Porter, on the seventeenth day of December 1778. 
That her husband the said Josiah Porter died on 
the seventeenth day of December 1814, and that 
she has remained a widow ever since that period 
as will more fully appear by reference to the proof 
hereto annexed. 
Rachel her X mark Porter
Sworn to and subscribed 
on the day and year above 
written before me
Jacob Jones
Associate Judge V. C. C.

Witness signature of Rachel Porter }
S B Gookins }
Page 4

State of Indiana 
Vigo County Ss:

Nancy White and Mary 
Bailey being duly sworn, say they are both the daugh
ters of Josiah Porter and Rachel Porter the latter 
of whom (now here present) resides in Otter Creek 
Township in the County and State aforesaid. These 
affiants state that the said Josiah Porter died in 
Davidson County, Tennessee, on the seventeenth 
day of December 1814, of dropsy [illegible]
upon a pulmonary affliction of several years 
standing.  These affiants were both present 
at his death.  He left at the time of his death 
two children under sixteen years of age, Thomas 
Porter born February 17th, 1800, who now lives 
in the State of Missouri, and Josiah Porter, born 
April 10th (tenth) 1802, who now lives at 
Waynesville, Illinois.  Since the death of the 
said Josiah Porter the said Rachel Porter has 
lived always with one of the other of these affi
ants, and she has never since been married.
Mary Pakaley
Nancy White 
Subscribed and sworn to 
before me, this 28th day 
of July 1841.
Jacob Jones
Associate Judge V. C. C.

[Written vertically left margin]

✓No 5420
Rachel Porter 
of Josiah 
Indiana
Page 5

State of Indiana 
Vigo County Sct.

I, Jacob Jones, an associate 
Judge of the Circuit Court of said County do hereby 
certify, that I am personally acquainted 
with Rachel Porter, Mary Bailey and Nancy 
White who have this day subscribed and sworn 
to the foregoing Declaration and affidavit 
before me and that they are persons of good 
moral character and reputation, and are credi
ble witnesses.  I further certify that the said 
Rachel, by reason of blindness and other 
bodily infirmity is unable to appear before 
a Court of Record to make her declaration. 
Given under my hand at the County aforesaid 
this 28th day of July 1841.
Jacob Jones

State of Indiana 
County of Vigo Sct.

I, Charles T.Noble, Clerk 
of the Circuit Court of Vigo County aforesaid 
which is a Court of Record, do hereby certify that 
Jacob Jones, Esquire, whose name appears to the 
foregoing certificate, and to the first of the an
nexed affidavit and declaration respectively, is 
and at the date thereof was an associate Judge 
of said Vigo Circuit Court, and that the 
several signatures thereto, purporting to be his,  
are genuine.
In witness whereof I have hereunto 
set my hand and affixed the seal 
of said Court, at Terre Haute in 
said County this 29th day of July 
1841.
C. T. Noble, Clerk
Page 6

State of Indiana 
Gibson County Sct.

Before me Alexander Mitchel 
a Justice of the Peace of the County aforesaid this 
day personally appeared Robert Gill, of said 
County who being duly sworn says he is the 
brother of Rachel Porter, widow of Josiah Porter 
deceased, that he was present at the marriage 
of said Josiah and Rachel, which took place 
at Chester District, South Carolina, in the latter 
part of the year 1778, according to the best of 
this deponent's recollection.  That said Josiah and 
Rachel were joined in marriage by a Presbyte
rian clergyman according to the usual mode 
of solemnizing marriages in said State of South 
Carolina, and this affiant believes said mar
riage was legal, and never heard the validity 
thereof questioned, and this affiant does not 
know of any record of said marriage.  This 
affiant was well acquainted with said Josiah 
Porter, and knows that after said marriage 
and during the revolutionary war, said Jo
siah Porter was in the service of the United States 
as a private soldier in the army of the Revo
lution, and was under the command of General 
Lincoln, during the siege of Charleston, and this 
deponent thinks he was under the command of 
Captain Alexander Campbell in that service, 
and the tour of service was for three or six months. 
He was also in a tour of service of four or six months 
under General Sumpter, and under the imme
diate command, as this affiant believes of Captain 
Alexander Pagon, during which service he was 
in the battle of Rocky Mount.  He was also in 
the battle which resulted in Sumpters defeat. 
The foregoing periods of service all occurred after
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said marriage, said Josiah Porter removed 
from South Carolina to Virginia and subsequently 
to Tennessee, where, according to the information 
given by the family he died about the year 1814.
but I was not present, do not state the 
fact of my own knowledge.  I have no knowledge 
of the said Rachel having been since married, 
and am informed and believe she has not.
Subscribed and sworn to 
before me this 18 day | Robert Gill 
of June 1841
Alexander Mitchel J Peace, Seal
[words struck out]

State of Indiana 
Gibson County Sct

I Alexander Mitchel Justice 
of the Peace of said County do hereby certify that 
I am personally acquainted with Robert Gill, 
who has this day appeared before me and made 
the foregoing affidavit, and have been for 
years past, and that he is and always has been 
reputed to be a person of good character stand
ing and reputation, and is fully entitled to 
credit.  In witness whereof I have hereunto 
set my hand seal this 18th day of 
June 1841.
Alexander Mitchel J.P. [word Seal encircled]

State of Indiana 
Gibson County Sct.  I John R. Montgomery, Clerk of 
the Circuit Court of said County do hereby certify 
that Alexander Mitchel Esqr, before whom 
the foregoing affidavit was made 
and by whom the foregoing certi
ficate is signed, is, and at the date 
thereof was a Justice of the Peace
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of said County, duly commissioned & qualified 
and that the foregoing [struck out: certific] signatures pur
porting to be his are genuine.  In testimony 
whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the 
seal of said Court, on this 18th day of June 
1841. The word "certific" above erased before signing.
JR Montgomery, Clk
Page 9

State of South Carolina } Personally came George 
Chester District } Gill before me the Tub
sonburg Magistrate who upon being duly sworn 
saith upon oath that Rachel Porter of the State of 
Indiana who has made application for a Revolutionary 
pension of the United States on account of the Revo
lutionary services of her deceased husband 
Josiah Porter is the sister of this deponent 
This deponent saith upon oath that his sister 
Rachel Porter was married to the said Josiah 
Porter sometime about the year 1778 and this 
deponent further saith that he was in service 
with the said Josiah Porter in the war of the 
Revolution and was in an engagement with 
the said Josiah Port at a place called Rocky 
Mount in the State of South Carolina where 
the British tories had taken shelter in a house 
and the said Josiah Porter rushed up with a branch 
of fire to set the house on fire. & further said he 
understood said Josiah Porter had been in an engage
ment in the State Virginia & this deponent further 
saith said Josiah Porter & his wife Rachel & family moved to 
the western country in the year 1814
Sworn to & subscribed this 20th 
day of April 1841 | Geo Gill
Peter Wylie A Magistrate
Page 10

South Carolina } I Peter Wylie the within named 
Chester District } Magistrate do hereby certify that 
George Gill the within witness is a credable [credible] 
witness
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto 
set my hand & seal this 20th day of May 1841
[LS encircled] Peter Wylie Magistrate

I John Rosborough Clerk of the Court of Common 
Pleas for Chester District certify that Peter Wylie 
is a Magistrate as above, and that the foregoing 
signature purporting to be his is genuine.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto 
affixed my seal of office, and subsc
[Blurred seal of office] ribed my name this twenty eighth 
day of May in the year 1841
J Rosborough Clerk of the 
Court of Common Pleas for 
Chester District
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Rachel Porter
Josiah
Indiana
act July 7 1838
suspended let 20 Dec 39
Hon T A Howard
let 9 June 1841 to Peter Wylie
Page 12

Rachel Porter
Josiah
Indiana
suspended 
let 14 Augt 41
SB Gookins let
Co t 41 Mesr Kinney
Wright & Gookins
July 4 1836
Page 13

Terre Haute, July 29, 1841 - 416

Hon J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions 
Washington D.C.

Sir - I send you herewith 
the declaration of Rachel Porter, widow of Josiah 
Porter decd. and accompanying testimony in 
support of her claim to a Pension under the act of 
July 4th 1836, Sec. 3d. which it is hoped will be found 
sufficient to support the claim.  The only point upon 
which I find more than ordinary difficulty is in 
strictly complying with so much of the instructions 
accompanying the above mentioned act, as provides  
that "it must be clearly shown in what company and 
Regiment or Corps the deceased soldier served."  I find it 
impossible for witnesses of the age of those to whom 
applicants are compelled to resort for this sort of proof to 
state from their recollection details of this kind with 
much certainty.  I had hoped to have obtained some 
documentary evidence from the Comptroller General of 
S. Carolina but have not been as fortunate as to 
obtain a reply to communications addressed to 
that office.  I have given instructions for taking one other 
deposition in S. Carolina, and, if I should be for
tunate as to obtain it, will forward it, if it is deemed 
necessary.

Very respectfully 
Yr obt servt

S. B. Gookins
Page 14

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Com of Pensions
Washington
D.C.
FREE
Oct 1 1841
Inda 
Add Papers
Mrs. Porter
[stamp]  TERREHAUTE SEP 23 Ia.
Page 15

Terre Haute Ind. Sept 23 1841 514

Hon J. L Edwards 
Comsr of Pensions
Washington D.C. 

Sir - We have made application 
to the Comptroller General of S. Carolina for such 
evidence as his office may afford of the revolutionary 
service of Josiah Porter, and hand you herewith 
a copy of the letter returned from that office under 
date of 6th inst. from which it appears that the 
records of that office do not afford any 
satisfactory evidence of service on account 
of which the widow of sd Josiah Porter 
claims a Pension.  If no other evi
dence of service will be competent, or if 
it is presumed that this office can afford all the 
evidence that can be adduced in such cases 
it will not be necessary for the applicant 
to attempt further to prosecute her claim. 
If however, the usual evidence would be 
competent, we are satisfied her claim can be 
established, and from the character of the applicant 
and her relatives we are fully satisfied of its equity. 
Will you do us the favor to inform us whether there is any 
regulation of the Department making documentary 
evidence of the kind required, indispensable.

Very respectfully 
Yr obt servts 

Kinney Wright & Gookins
Page 16

Columbia 6th Sept 1841
Messr Kinney Wright & Gookins
Gentlemen
According to your request have diligently
searched this office and have not been able to find the name of Josiah Porter but in 
one place and that was not for duty but for
sundries furnished by him for the use of the Militia. 
It not being for duty I did not think it 
would be of any service to you in procuring
a pension for the widow.
However should you wish to have the Indent &c
of it be good enough to write to me to
that effect & enclose the fees which are three
dollars & your business shall be attended to
Very Respectfully
Your obedient servt
Wm F. Arthur
Dp Compt General
(Copy)
Page 17

Acts of 14 July, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
8351.   our
P.O. Rachel Porter
Service: 
REJECTED
Enlisted:___________________________________, 18
Discharged: ________________________________, 18
Application filed: ____________, 18
Alleges: 
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P.O.
Recognized.
Contract
Cert. of Dis.
Searched for_____________, 18
Page 18

The State of Alabama Greene County 

This is to certify that I James Gill of the County 
& State aforesaid was acquainted with Josi
ah Porter & know that he served in the war 
of the Revolution; the first service he performed 
was in the "[illegible] camps" previous to the declara
tion of the Independence of the United States of 
America 1776.  The next service I was with him  
it was that at the time that Charleston S.C. was 
besieged by the British army & that Col. Huger 
was killed this being a six months campaign 
or there abouts.  The next service I was also with 
him under Genl. Sumter at the Battle of "Rocky 
Mount" a continuation of the same service he  
was in the Battle of "hanging Rock" I was not 
with him in that battle, the next was in the 
defeat of "Sumter," neither was I with him there 
Josiah Porter after the above occurrences removed his 
family to the State of Virginia from the State of S. Car
olina, after which as I have understood he was 
drafted into the militia service of the State of 
Virginia and was under the command of Genl 
Anthony Wayne.  Josiah Porter was married 
to Rachael Gill sometime previous to his removal 
to the State of Virginia which removal took place 
about the year 1780
Page 19

Josiah Porter died in the State of Tennessee David
son County about the year 1813 or 14 & left his wife 
Rachael Porter a widow who yet lives as I am 
informed in the State of Indiana
Sworn to & subscribed before } James Gill 
me this 18th day of August 1840 }
J B McAllister JP

The State of Alabama } I John B McCallister an acting 
Greene County } Justice of the peace in & for 
said County certify that James Gill is a resident 
of said County & that he is a Revolutionary pension
er I have known the said James Gill for the last 
fifteen years past & in point of character for 
truth & veracity no man stands higher he is about 
or near 80 years & is unusually intelligent for that 
age & seems to have an excellent memory for his 
age. Given under my hand & seal this
[repeated: this] 18th day August 1840
JB McCallister [word Seal encircled]
Justice of the peace 

The State of Alabama }
Greene County } I Alloway R Davis Clerk of 
the County Court of Greene County aforesaid do 
hereby certify that John B McAllister whose genuine 
signature appears to the foreg certificate now is 
and was on the 18th day of August inst. the time
Page 20

of his signing the same an acting Justice of
the peace in and for Greene County aforesaid
duly elected commissioned and qualified
that full faith and credit are due and should
be given to his official acts as such Justice.
Given under my hand and seal of Office at Office at Eutaw
this the 20th day of August AD 1840
Attest
A. Davis Clerk
Page 21

June 8 1841
S.C.
Ad l aff
Rachel Porter

FREE
J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D C 
[stamp] Chester May 31 [illegible]
Page 22

Chester Courthouse May 28th 1841
Honbl James L Edwards
Sir I have been requested by
Col George Gill who made the Enclosed
certificate to forward it to you as he understood his sisters declaration as on file in
your office
Yours &c
Peter Wylie
Page 23

[Envelope with notes]
[Written vertically right margin]

✓6493
Rachel Porter 
Indiana
Josiah

[Address]
[Circular mail stamp]

[illegible] S.C.
MAR
18
Honbl
J L Edwards 
Commissioner of Pensions 
Washington City DC

[Written vertically left margin]
Mar 28 1840
S.C.  8351
[illegible]
Page 24

South Carolina } I Peter Wylie Judge 
Chester District } and Clerk of the 
Court of Ordinary of said District 
hereby certify that George Gill and 
Mary Mills who made oath to the identity 
of Rachel Porter widow of Josiah 
Porter in her application for a pension 
are both persons of respectability and 
credible witnesses
In Testimony Whereof I 
have hereunto set my hand 
[Blurred seal of office] & seal of office this 16th day 
March 1840
Peter Wylie JCCOCD