Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7,368, for John Register, North Carolina
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(3-1776)
SERVICE
N.C.
CONTENTS
Register, John
NUMBER
S. 7.368
carded
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[top of page cut off but looks like it might say 
"North Carolina"

======
John Register Junr
of Sampson in the State of N. Carol
who was a private in the Comp commanded by Captain Williams of the [blank] commanded by [blank] in the N. C
line for 9 months Infy. Haraling
[illegible]
======
Inscribed on the Roll of No Carolina at he rate of 35 Dollars [blank] Cents per annum, commence upon the 4th day of March, 1831.
============
Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of April 32
and Sent  & on I. I. McKay. H. R.
======
Arrears to the 4th of Mar; 3?   105
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept   17.50
=========
$122.50
========

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832. }

Recorded by [illegible] Rice Clerk,
Book  E    Vol. [illegible]  Page 71
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State of North Carolina, Sampson County
Court of Pleas & Quarters
Sessions August Term 1832

On this the twenty third day of August in the year or our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, personally appeared in open court, before William Kirby, Whitney Royal, Burrell Dawson, Benjamin Phillips, Henry Godwin & Dawson Esquires, Justices of the Court of Pleas & Quarters Session aforesaid now sitting, John RegisterJunr said resident of Sampson County, in the State of North Carolina, aged sixty-six 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 services of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.

That he entered the service entered the service under the command if Captain William Vann, that he thinks it was after Christmas, in the month of February that he is an untethered person and does not know the year, but John Register Sr. entered the service with him and he thinks it was in the year 1881, that he thinks this service ended about the 1st of May because hen he returned home corn was up some height; that about that time Cornwallis was marching through the country,
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That he engaged for three months, that he embodied at the Big Bridge in New Hanover County, N.C. that when he entered the service he resided in Duplin County, N.C. then, but now in Sampson, that he was a volunteer, that he was in a sort of a skirmish at the Big Bridge with the enemy, each firing at the other across the river with artillery and sometimes with small arms, that this firing continued five or six days, that from the Big Bridge he marched to Kingston in Lenoir County, N.C., that he did not serve with any continental regiments, that the only regular officer he knew was Curtis Ivey, that he was disbanded at Kingston, that at the end of the term he things Jonathan Parker was his Captain having taken place of William Vann; that he has no documentary evidence  and thinks he can prove this tour of service by John Register Sr.

That he entered a second term of service under the command of Captain Robert Merritt, King Vann Lieutenant, as a lighter season that he thinks it was the latter end of summer, that he does not recollect when he left this time that he still resided in Duplin County, that he was a volunteer, that he was in two skirmishes during this tour one at Captain She Williams’s on Chansa in which two of the Tories were killed some wounded and taken prisoners, and one at Bennet Smith’s on South River in which one of his company – David Tucker was shot through the thigh, that he embodied at Captain
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Robert Merritt, that from thence he thanks he marched to Duplin old courthouse as well as he can recollect, that from thence to the Coharie, that in this tour he marched through New Hanover County, and traversed in his march Duplin County a good deal, that he served with no continental regiments, that he has no documentary evidence  and that he thanks he can prove this term of service by John Register Sr. and Daniel Merrett.
That he entered a third term of service under the command of Capt. Robert Merrett , King Vann Lieutenant, that he does not recollect the day, month or year, with any certainty, nor does he remember when he left this service with any degree of certainty for he was then quite young, that he engaged for three months, that he still continued to reside in Duplin, that he was a volunteer, that he does not remember being any battle in this tour, that he marched during this tour for the most part over Duplin & New Hanover, that he did not serve with any continental regiments, that he has no documentary evidence and he can prove this service by Daniel Merritt and John Register Sr.
The hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
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Interrogations propounded to John Register Junr an applicant for a pension on account of revolutionary services in the militia of North Carolina.
Questions 1st  Where & in what year were you born?
Answer I was born in Duplin county N. C. about four miles from the Perkins on the plantation where I now reside I do not know what month or year I was born in but from the best information I can procure I was born in the year 1766   I can recollect that my parent told me I was about fourteen when I entered the service

Question 2nd  Have you any record of your age & if so where is it?
Answer  I have none

Question 3rd  Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, & where do you now live?
Answer   When called into service I was living on the place where I was born;  since the revolutionary war I've lived on the same piece of land, and I know live on the same tract.

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 I volunteered.

Question 5th.  State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you
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you served; such contents & militia regiments as you can recollect & the general circumstances of your service?
Answer  There were no regular officer, with the troops where I served as I know of,  I don't recollect any continental regiments.  The militia regiments or armies I can recollect are these, one commanded at the Big Bridge by Genl Pellington, they were also there  Col William Dickson   Col Charles Heard & Col Rutledge & Major Treadwell is my opinion, and one commanded at Capt Thi Williams by Col Hardy Holmes, (Col James Moore  Col David Dodd going also there)  and one at the Cross roads commanded by Col James Kenan.  The general circumstances of my service are set forth in the preceding declarations.

Question 6th  Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so by whom was it given & who has become of it?

Answer  I don't remember of ever having received a discharge from the service and if I did I've lost it.

Question 7th  State the names of person to whom you are known in your present neighborhood & who can testify as to your character for veracity , and their belief of your service, as a soldier of the Revolution?

Answer  William Robinson Esq  Daniel Holmes, Gavin Holmes, John Bryan
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Dickson Sloan Esq  Major James Mathis,[illegible] bearer, Payton R. Parker Esq
Patrick Murphy  Rev. David Rogers
Rev Solomon Johnson and other i could mention whom I think  know me and will testify to my character for veracity I believe I served in the war of the Revolution.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
John Register  Junr
his mark  

Test
Thomas J Fraisons

We David Rogers a clergyman residing in the county of Sampson N. C. and Gabriel Holmes residing the New Hanover county hereby certify that we are all acquainted with John Register [illegible] who has subscribed and sworn to the above declarations that we believe him to be sixty six years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and the we concur in that opinion
Sworn & subscribed to day & year aforesaid
David Rogers 
Gabriel Holmes

And the said Court do hereby declare this opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogates prescribed
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prescribed by the War Department; the the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states.  And the Court Further certifies, that it appears to them that David Rogers who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the County of Sampson N. C. and that Gabriel Holmes who has also signed the same is a resident of the county of New Hanover N. C., and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
W Kirby CW
Barrell Dauson
Henry Godwin
Ben Phillips
D Dauson
W. Royal

I Thomas J Faison Clerk of the court of Pleas & Quarter Session of Sampson County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the Original proceedings of the Said court in the matter 9of the application of John Register Junr for a pension 
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this the 9th of November in the year of our Lord 1832
Thomas J Fraison Clerk

[affixed seal]
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State of North Carolina}
Sampson County}

Superior Court of Law
Spring Term 1833

On this the 1st day of May A. D. 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Honorable James Martin one of the Judges of the Superior Courts of Law & Equity for the State of North Carolina now [illegible] in the Superior Court of Law for the County of Sampson John Register Junr the aforesaid applicant for the purpose of amending his preceding declaration who being first duly sworn according to law doth further declare and say, that he entered the service of the United States in a company of Duplin militia under Captain William Vann his other officer, he forgot, in February 1781 & served three months, as a private; that he has no documentary evidence and knows of no person as John Register Senr is now dead by whom he can proved this service.
2ndly See served six months under Captain Robert Merritt being two tours of three months such as a private of cavalry;  that he has no documentary evidence but thinks he can prove this service by Daniel Merritt of his county
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Test W. McKay csc
John Register
his mark


And the said Court upon a further investigation of the above matter in amendment of the first preceding this hereby declares in his opinion also that the aforesaid applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states.  Given under my hand   May 2nd 1833
James Martin HPD & ?

I William MacKay Clerk of the Superior Court of Law for the county of Sampson hereby certify that the foregoing are the proceedings in amendment of the preceding declaration of John Register Junr  for a pension
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto Set my hand affixed my seal of office this the 3rd day of May A. D. 1833
W McKay cmc
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State of North Carolina}
Sampson County}

Supr Court of Law
Fall Term 1832

On this the 7th day of November 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Hon. Robert Strange one of the Judges of the Supreme Courts of law & Equity for the State aforesaid now presiding in the Supr Court of Law held for the County of Sampson Daniel Merritt a resident of said County who being duly sworn taketh oath that he is & has been well acquainted with John Register Junr an applicant for a pension for Revolutionary services, that he knew him the said applicant to have performed six months service as a light horseman under Capt Robert Merritt that he is not certain as to the year but supposes it was in 1781 along in the summer and fall, the this deponent & the aforesaid applicant were in two skirmishes together during that time one at Capt She William's beyond Cohara & one at Bennett Smith's  on South River, that their marches for the most part were confined to Duplin (of which part is now Sampson) and New Hanover Counties
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Daniel Merritt

I William McKay Clerk of the Court aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing was duly sworn to & subscribed the day & year afos
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal of office this the 7th Nov. A. D. 1832
W. McKay csc
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State of North Carolina   }
Samson County               } Superior Court of Law, Spring Term 1833.
I, James Martin one of the Judges of the Superior Court of Law & Equity for the State of North Carolina now sitting and presiding in the Superior Court of Law for the County of Sampson hereby certify that it is made appear to me that Daniel Merritt who made the preceding affidavit at Fall Term 1832 of the Court aforesaid before the Honorable Robert Strange is a credible witness and that his statement is entiled [entitled] to credit.
James Martin [illegible]

I, William MacKay Clerk of the Superior Court of Law for the County of Sampson, hereby certify that the Honorable James Martin presided as aforesaid and that proof of the credibility of Daniel Merritt the aforesaid deponent was produced in open court.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this the 2nd day of May A.D. 1833 and in the 57th year of American Independence.
Wm. McKay C of C
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[handwritten]
cm
This correspondence belongs in [arrow pointing  to John Register-S.7368]

March 11, 1940
Mrs Robert Wallace Parker
3701 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D. C. 

BA-J/AWF
John Register-S.7368
John Register-W.4318
Daniel Merritt-W.6817

Dear Sir:
In compliance with your request of recent date, you are furnished herein the service records, only, of John Register, pension claim S. 7368, John Merritt, pension claim, W. 6817, soldiers of the Revolutionary War.

John Register-S.7368.
The papers on file in claim for pension, S. 7368, based upon service of John Register, in the Revolutionary War, show the whip residing in Duplin County, North Carolina he served from sometime in February, 1781, three months as private in Captains William Vann's and Johnathan Parker's companies with the North Carolina troops, and was in a skirmish at "Big Bridge";  he served, later, two tours of three months each as private in Captain Robert Merritt's company of Cavalry, and was in two skirmishes, one at Captain She Williams on Choara" and the other at "Bennet Smiths on South River".

John Register-W.4318
The papers on file in claim for pension, W. 4318, based upon service of John Register, in the War of the Revolution, show the whip residing in Duplin County,

[handwritten]
[illegible] his request on this claim service only
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1781, three months in Captain William Vann's and Captain Jonathon Parker's companies with the North Carolina troops, and was in a skirmish at "Big Bridge";  he served, also two tours of three months each as private in Captain Robert Merritt's company of light horse, part regiment, and was in a skirmish with the Tories at Captain Williams on Cohara.

Daniel Merritt-W. 6817
The papers on file in pension claim, W 6817, based upon service of Daniel Merritt, in the War of the Revolution, show that while residing in Duplin County that part which was later Sampson County, North Carolina, he enlisted sometime in June, 1780, served six months as private in Captain Thomas Page's North Caroling company.  He enlisted sometime in July, 1781, served two months as private in Captain Jonathan Parker's company, Colonel Charles Ward's North Carolina regiment, during which tow he was in a skirmish at Rockfish Bridge.  He volunteered in the month of September, 1781, served two tours of three months each as private in Captain Robert Merritt's company of light horse, sometimes serving under Colonels Thomas Bludworth and James Kenan with the North Carolina troops, and was in two engagements with Tories, one at Bennett Smith's on south River and the other "over Cohara at Captain She Williams".  He enlisted about October, 1782, served three months as private in Captain Merritt's North Carolina Company and was discharged shortly after Christmas of 1782.  He enlisted about January, 1783, to guard some Tory prisoners being held at a place called the
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Bullpen near Duplin Court House which prisoners were taken to Halifax jail; length of this tour three months, no names of officers given.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assisitant
to the Administrator
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Robert Wallace Parker
5313 Falmouth Rd
Westmoreland Hills
Mtg. Co., Md (Wash.16, D. C.)
Oliver 2-8960  1/23/61
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[left side of page]
7368
Rev War

INVALID
File No.  7368
John Register Junr
Priv Rev War

Act: June 7th 1832
Index:-Vol. ??, Page 312
[Arrangement of 1870.]

[right side of page]
1940-March 11-Service record only. Ans Robert W. Parker [illegible]
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18.537-
John Register Junr

Admit as private
3 mo infy  10.00
6  " Cav 25.00
$35.00

Hon JJ McKay
HR
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Register Junior[?] which require further proof or explanation.

I.  Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes
II.  Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes
III.  If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV.  Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes
V.  *Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? No
VI.  Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes
VII.  Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes
VIII.  Has the Court given their opinion? Yes
IX.  Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes
X.  Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes
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XI.  Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? Yes
XII.  If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
XIII.  If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? No
XIV.  †If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has, he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?  The Court has
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
XV.  Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI.  ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  Yes
XVII.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily?  And, if not, which of them is not so answered?  7 [?]

EXPLANATORY NOTES.
*QUERE V.  In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:  "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeths and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:  For ___ year _____ months, and ____ days, I served as a _____ For ____ months and ____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension.
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It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service.  The use of the phrase [italics] about three or four months [/italics] is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.  Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service.  This form of a declaration is highly objectionable.  It must in every case be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
†QUERE XIV.  [italics] Proof of Service. [/italics]
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged.  The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper office, under his seal of office.
‡QUERE XVI.  [italics] Mode of authenticating papers. [/italics]
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
☞ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
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Personal request March 7-1940
Robert Wallace Parker
3701 Mass Ave. NW.
Wash DC
_______
would like a letter establishing the service of Capt Johnathon Parker under whom 
John Register - W.4318
John Register - S. 7368
served.
Also names of officers above Capt Parker
also same in case Daniel Merritt W 6817-