Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 11,639, George Willis, N.C.
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
N.C.

Willis, George

NUMBER
R. 11,639

CONTENTS
Page 2

Georgia
Bryan County
On this Second day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred & Thirty three before me Willian Law Judge of the Superior Court for the said County of Bryan and State of Georgia personally appeared in open Court George Willis a resident of said County who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain benefit of the provisions of the Act the Act of Congress passed the 7th day of June 1832. That he was born in Duplin County State of North Carolina but hath no record of the day and year of his birth but from the best information in his [illegible] he believes that he is now Seventy four years and upwards.  That he volunteered as a private during the Revolutionary war in a company of militia raised in Duplin County aforesaid in the year 1779 and marched from there to the town of Charlotte in the State of North Carolina. His Captains name was Shadrick Stalling. His Lieutenants name was Daniel Teachy. After arriving at Charlotte they were placed under the command of General Butler.  His Colonels name was Johnson. His Captain was James Lanen.  Here they remained three weeks and
Page 3

then were marched to Augusta in the State of Georgia. Crossed the river Savannah at Augusta. At this place the militia joined the regular troops under the command of General Lincoln. After remaining at Augusta for about twenty four hours the army took up the line of march and marched down to the mouth of Brier Creek. At this place recrossed the Savannah River and marched to Pon Pon in South Carolina from thence proceeded to Stone River about Twenty miles from Charleston. There a battle was fought between the American Army under General Lincoln and the British forces in which this deponent took part.  During this battle he was under the command of Anthony Sharpe as his Captain and afterwards having served his term of three months was permitted to leave the army & go home in consequence of sickness.  After his arrival home and recovering from his sickness he again volunteered as a private and joined the militia at Long Bridge commanded by Colonel James Kenyon and Major John Moulton. His captains name was Frederick Wells. During the service which was six weeks two skirmishes were had with the British forces the one at Long Bridge
Page 4

and the other at Rock fish Creek. After this tour of service deponent again went to his home. A few days after his arrival at home deponent again volunteered and joined Captain Aaron Williams company of Light Horse as a private of which company Clifton Bowen was Lieutenant and Charles James Ensign.  He joined this company in Duplin County North Carolina marched from there to Newbern as one of a guard detailed over two waggons sent to that place for arms and ammunition.  Deponent remained as a private faithfully doing duty in the said company of Light Horse until the rest of the tour under the command of Col Williams and was then verbally discharged by him at that time in the said County of Duplin. That he served as a private under Capt Williams in said Company of Light Horse Eighteen months. That during the aforesaid services he marched through the State of North Carolina, South Carolina & part of Georgia and hereby relinquishes all claim whatsoever to any pension except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension Roll or agency of any State.  Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year first above written.  William Law, Judge Sup Ct. E.D. Georgia
George [his X mark] Willis
Page 5

Georgia
Bryan County
Personally appeared before me William Law Judge of the Superior Court for the said County of Bryan Stephen Bowen a resident of the County of Talfair aged Seventy six years & upward who being by me duly sworn saeth that he hath been well acquainted with the within named applicant George Willis for the last Fifty years.  That this deponent & the said George Willis were raised together in the County of Duplin and State of North Carolina.  That this deponent was well acquainted with the said George Willis during the Revolutionary War. That deponent served as a private with non commissioned officer in the continental army and has distinct knowledge and recollections of the services of the said George Willis.  That the said George Willis did as he states in his declaration form the continental army under General Lincoln at Augusta and marched with said army and fought against the British forces faithfully as he has set forth in his declaration.  This deponent also knows that the said George Willis served the time
Page 6

he has stated in the Company of Light Horses commanded by Col Aaron Williams and as a private and discharged his duties faithfully. That deponent was one of the guard with said William for the purpose of protecting the arms and ammunition transported from Aero Besen and as set forth in his declaration and verily believe that all the facts stated & set forth therein are just and true.  The said Willis being a man of truth & integrity.  
Stephen Bowen
Sworn to before me this 2nd day of December 1833 in open court. William Law, Judge Sup Cts East Dist Geo
Georgia
Bryan County
Personally appeared before me William Law Judge of the Superior Court for said County Jonathan Willis a resident of Tatwell County aged Sixty seven years who being by me duly sworn saith that during the revolutionary war this deponent was too young to do active duty but this deponent knows that his brother George Willis did serve at various times during said War as a private in the militia and has every reason
Page 7

to believe and does believe that the facts stated and set forth in his foregoing declaration to be just & true.
Jonathan Willis
Sworn to before me this 2nd day of December in open court. 
William Law
Judge Sup. Cts. E.D. Georgia
Georgia
Bryan County
We Andrew Bird & Zachariah Wells freeholders and residents of the County of Bryan do hereby certify that we have been acquainted with Mr. George Willis for many years last past.  That during that period he has sustained the character of a man of truth and integrity and is generally reputed in the neighborhood where he resides to have served as a private in the Revolutionary War and we believe that he so served as he has stated and is of the age stated in his declaration.
Andrew Bird
Z. Wells
Sworn to before me this 2nd December 1833 in open court
William Law
Judge
Page 8

State of Georgia
Liberty County
On this Twenty seventh day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and Thirty five Before me John Mitchell Judge of the Superior Court for the said County of Liberty now sitting personally appeared in open Court George Willis a resident of said County and State aged Seventy five 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 was born in Duplin County State of North Carolina but on what day or year precisely this deponent cannot declare having in his possession or control no record of the time of his birth, but this deponent saith that from the best information he has been able to obtain from others he verily believes he is now Seventy five years of age and upwards.  That when called into the service of the United States he was living
Page 9

in the said County of Duplin and State of North Carolina aforesaid, and since the Revolutionary war he has lived for Thirty six years in the State of Georgia and in middle Florida and now lives in Liberty County in the said State of Georgia.  That he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer in a company of militia raised in the said County of Duplin in the year 1779 and marched from there to the town of Charlotte in the State of North Carolina. His Captain's name at that time was Shadrich Stallings. His Lieutenants name Daniel Teachy. Upon their arrival at Charlotte they were placed under the command of General Butler and ________ Johnson as Colonel and James Lanen as Captain.  They remained at Charlotte three weeks on duty and were then marched to Augusta in the State of Georgia where they joined the regular troops under the command of General Lincoln.  After remaining at Augusta about twenty four hours the army took up
Page 10

the time of March and marched down to the mouth of Boise creek. There the army crossed the Savannah River and marched to Pon Pon in South Carolina from there marched to Stone River about twenty miles from Charleston where a battle was fought between the American and British forces in which battle this deponent took part. During this engagement deponent was placed under the command of Anthony Sharp as captain. Having served a tour of three months duty deponent was permitted to leave the army and in consequence of sickness proceeded to  his home & received from Captain James Lanan a presented discharge which he has lost.  Shortly after his arrival at home having recovered from his sickness he again entered the service of the United States as a volunteer at Long Bridge in a company of militia commanded by Captain Frederick Hoells.  The Colonel of the Regiment at this time was named James Kenyon the majors name John Moulton. The term of duty which he served at this
Page 11

time was six weeks during which time he took part in two skirmishes with the British forces one at Long Bridge the other at Rockford Creek.  After the time of service deponent by permission again was returned to his home.  A few days after his arrival at home deponent again entered the service of the United States as a volunteer and joined a company of Light Horses in Duplin County North Carolina commanded by Captain Aaron Williams. Clifton Bowen was Lieutenant and Charles James ensign of this company at the time he formed it.  In this company deponent remained as a private faithfully doing his duty until the end of the tour, when he was verbally discharged by Capt Williams in the said County of Duplin.  During this tour of duty deponent was detailed and marched to New Bern in North Carolina as one of a guard to protect two waggons sent to that place for arms
Page 12

Geo Willis rec
No 307G1
Amd.
Stephen Powers one of the witnesses who says he himself sent a cert sworn [illegible]
Page 13

and ammunition.  That he served as a private as aforesaid in the said company of Light Horses under the command of Captain Williams for the period of Twelve months and was in active service altogether for the period of Sixteen months & upwards.  That during the aforesaid services deponent marched through the States of North Carolina South Carolina and part of Georgia and he hereby relinquishes every all claim whatsoever to a pension or an annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of any other agency of any State. And this deponent further saith that for the last Ten years he has been unable to work for or support in consequence of blindness and can now only see sufficient to direct him from place to place and that he is now entirely dependent for support on the charity of his friends.
George  [his mark] Willis
Sworn to and subscribed before me in open Court the day and year first above written. 
Jno C. Nicoll
Page 14

State of Georgia
Liberty County
Personally appeared in open Court before me John C Nicoll Judge of the Superior Court for the said County of Liberty Stephen Bowers a resident of the County of Telfair in the State of Georgia aged Seventy Six years and upwards who being by me duly sworn according to Law saith That he hath been well acquainted with the within named applicant for a pension George Willis for the last Fifty years.  That deponent & the said George Willis were raised together in boyhood in the County of Duplin and State of North Carolina.  That this deponent served as a private and non commissioned officer in the continental army during the Revolutionary War and has a distinct knowledge and recollection of the services of the said George Willis during said War.  That the said George Willis to this deponents knowledge
Page 15

volunteered as he has stated in his declaration and did join the regular army under the command of General Lincoln at Augusta and did march with said army to Stone River and did there take part in the engagement between the American & British forces, as he hath set forth in his declaration.  This deponent further saith that he knows the said George Willis subsequently entered the service of the United States as a volunteer in a company of Light Horse commanded by Captain Aaron Williams this deponent being at the time attached to said Company.  That the said George Willis remained a private in said company faithfully performing all the duties required of him, to the end of the war and was then verbally discharged by Captain Williams having to the best of this deponent recollection served the full time he has set forth in his declaration.  This deponent saith that he was one of the guard with said Willis and others detailed for the purpose of protecting the
Page 16

transportation of the arms and ammunition from New Bern which duty the said Willis faithfully executed.  And this deponent further saith that from the long acquaintance & knowledge he has had of the said George Willis and of his character for truth and veracity he believes all the facts stated & set forth by him in his said declaration for a pension to be just & true.
Stephen Bowers
Sworn to before me in open Court this 27th day of April 1835.
Jno C Nicoll
Judge Sup. Court
Page 17

Georgia
[illegible] County
Personally appeared before me John C Nichol Judge of the Superior Court for said County in open Court, Jonathan Willis a resident of the County of Tattnell in the State of Georgia aged Sixty Eight years who being by me duly sworn saith that he is brother to George Willis who has signed & sworn to the annexed declaration for a pension.  That during the Revolutionary War deponent was too young to do active duty but knows that his brother George Willis did enter the service of the United States as a volunteer on several occasions and did serve as such for a long time but for how long deponent cannot say.  Deponent has heard read the statement contained in the declaration of the said George Willis and from  his knowledge of his character for truth & veracity deponent saith that he believes that all the facts stated & set forth therein to be just & true.
Sworn to before me this     day of December 1834 in open court.
Page 18

Georgia
Liberty County
Personally appeared before me John C Nicoll Judge of the Superior Court for said County in open Court David Allen a resident of the County of Liberty and State aforesaid who being by me sworn says that he is well acquainted with the John Bowen who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing affidavit. That the said Stephen Bowen is a person of truth and veracity and full faith & credit ought to be given to any statements they shall make under oath.
David Allen
Sworn to before me this 27th day of April AD 1835 in open court.  
Jno C Nicoll
Judge Sup. Court
Page 19

Georgia
Liberty County
The Joseph Jones Raymond Harris David Anderson & William L. Patrick all residents of said County of Liberty Do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with George Willis who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be Seventy five 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. 
Jos Jones
Raymond Harris
David Anderson
William L. Patrick
Jno C Nicoll
Judge Sup Court
Page 20

Georgia
Liberty County
I John C Nicoll, Judge of said Superior Court for said County of Liberty do hereby declare it my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatives prescribed by the War department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states.  And I do further certify that it appears to me that Joseph Jones Raymond Harris David Anderson & William L. Patrick who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of the said County of Liberty and that Stephen Bowen & David Allen who have subscribed & sworn to the foregoing affidavits are residents of the County of Telfaw & Liberty and are each credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit.
Given under my hand this 27th day of April AD 1835
Jno C Nicoll
Judge Sup Court of the State of Georgia
Page 21

Georgia
Liberty County
I Thomas J Shepard Clerk of the Superior Court for the said County of Liberty Do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of George Willis for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and private seal there being no seal of said Superior Court this 27th day of April AD 1854
Thos J Shepard
C.C. L County
State of Georgia
Chatham County
This is to certify that Thomas J Shepard whose signature is affixed to the foregoing certificate and also to the foregoing [illegible] was at the time of signing thereof and now is clerk of the Superior Court for the County of Liberty in the State of Georgia.
Given under my hand this 22 day of May 1835
Alfred G Hebert
Page 22

30.761
George Willis
Ga.
Dead
Hon J M Wayne
Page 23

Georgia}
Bryan County} ss
William Law Judge of the Superior Court for said County of Bryan do hereby declare it to be my 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 soldier and served as he states.  And I do further certify that it appears to me that Andrew Bird and Zachariah Wells who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of the County of Bryan and are credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit
Given under my hand this Second day December AD 1833
William Law
Judge
Georgia}
Bryan County}
I Joshua Smith Clerk of the Superior Court for the said County of Bryan do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of George Willis for a pension,
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and private seal (there being no public seal of said Court for said County) this Second day of December AD 1833
Joshua Smith
C. S. C. B. C.
Page 24

Savannah September 3d 1835
Dear Sir
Your favour of the 29th July last in relation to the claim of George Willis for a pension, was received by me the beginning of the last month, and should have been replied to earlier and a further explanation in relation to his service service of Twelve months forwarded had not his continued ill health prevented.  This now is rendered unpracticable in consequence of his death.  He paid the debt of nature about a week since leaving a wife verging upon Eighty years, incapable of supporting herself- and dependent altogether upon charity.
I have been requested therefor to transmit to you the original declaration which Mr Willis made which I now do and to ask in behalf of this old lady whether some favourable decision can not be had in his claim even it it is to be confined to his first three month Tour of service.  If so it would
Page 25

indeed be an act of Charity.  As to the Character of Mr Willis the Honorable James M Wayne now at Washington City can fully satisfy your department if applied to so also will James F Bullock Esq a highly respectable gentleman from Liberty County who was well acquainted with Mr Willis in his life time and who will probably be in Washington City.  From my own knowledge of Mr Willis I do not believe that he would have stated an untruth intentionally and that what he has stated as to time he verily believes to be true
I now leave his case with you in the hope that it may receive at least a partially favorable decision.  Even such a decision, if it can be made, would be doing a great act of Charity to a helpless widower
I remain
Yours Respectfully
Charles S Henry

Honble J. L. Edwards
Washington City
Page 26

Savannah May 22d 1835
To the Honorable
Lewis Cass Secretary of War
Sir
I take the liberty of sending you the enclosed papers of George Willis of the County of Liberty praying a pension.  His papers were about a year since submitted to your department by the Honorable James M Wayne and returned to me by him for the correction of an Error in the time of his service which originated in my misunderstanding him at the time-  That error has now been corrected according to the fact and as the applicant appears to me to be an object really worthy of a place on the pension Roll.  I trust his application will receive your early sanction.  He is very poor and almost entirely blind
I remain
Your ob Servt
Charles F Henry
Page 27

["Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873" crossed out]
11,639
Geo. Willis
REJECTED