Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10617, for Griffin Tipsoward, North Carolina
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(3-1776)

SERVICE
N.C.

Tispoward, Griffin
or
Tipsonard

NUMBER
R.10617
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State of Illinois
Coles County

AD in the year of our Lord one thousand eight-hundred and thirty-five on the 3rd day of March in open court before Nathaniel Parker Stephen Stone and Ebenezer Alexander County Commissioners in and for the county aforesaid now sitting and constituting S. Court (the same being a court of record)  Griffin Tipsoward a resident of the United States of America in the County of Coles and State of Illinois aged (80) eighty 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 pass June 7th 1832. that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as therein States Viz. In general Griffin Rutherfords Briggade, Col. McArthur Regiment, Major Kerns Battallion, Capt. Grimes company. that he entered the service of the U.S. on the 20th of August 1772 and was discharged by General Washington at or near the close of the war. Viz 20th of October 1781 which discharge was sunk in the Ohio River. that he was in the following engagements, that he was in the battle of the Eutaw Springs under General Green, Col McArthur, Major Heins and Capt. McGuire(?) and that he was in the defeat at Charleston under Col. McArthur and Capt. McGuire; that he was in the battle...
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at Crop Creek  under Genl. Gales, Col. McArthur, and Capt. McGuire; that he was in the battles at Hanover(?) commanded by Genl. Green, Major Peat, and Capt. Galloway. He stated that he was then wounded by a musket shot from the enemies gun. that the marched first after leaving the State of North Carolina into the State of Virginia, thence to Salisberry where they remained they obtained reinforcements when [illegible] for months untill joined Genl Gates then they waited [illegible] probably six weeks; thence he marched to Charleston SC where he remained until Charleston was surrendered to Sir [illegible] some time in the month of May. He thinks the 11th of May 1780 after a siege of upwards of a month. He then marched to Camden under Gen Gates [illegible] succeeded Genl Lincoln and commanded the American Armie. was then about 4000 strong, most of them militia from Noth Carolina,  Maryland & Virginia.  where they met the Brittish Army commanded by Lord Cornwallis in Rawden.  There he says fought a most sanguinary battle wherein we were defeated with great loss in the month of August, about the middle he thinks . - thence to cross creck about 150 miles from Camden where we again met the enemies under Cornwallis.  the Americans commanded by Genl Gates and Col McArthur aforesaid, wherein we were defeated with great loss again.  Thence the Brigade to which he belonged was sent to as met by Gen Green who at that time sent Genl Morgan to the west side of our main army.  He states that he was at Haw
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River under Genl. Green who was defeated, Genl. Green being thrown off his horse in the river but was soon mounted on another and retreated to the  Pale Hill where he again formed his marchers. He then marched on to Guilford Court house where we again joined Morgan's Brigade having been unable at the Haw River to secure a pent(?) engagement. after this Junction of the armies at Guilford Courthouse the American army marched to Virginia but remaining only a few weeks recrossed the line and encountered the enemy under Lord Cornwallis in the month of March at Guilford Courthouse where the Brittish, were again victorious and that battles under Col Buford,  I was passed through [illegible] the wound where received in my breast, this battle was fought on the 8th of March 1781. Green and [illegible] then went to the high hills of Santee where he spent the hot and sickly season where I recovered from the wound I received at Han-Brier. We were then marched to the Eutaw Springs under Genl Green where on the monring of the 9th of Sept 1780 we met the enemy.  This Captain was John McQuire.  [illegible] neither army could claim the victory.  We then were marched to Yorktown as a reinforcement I think under Col Cleveland, Grimes being the captain where we joined the army under Genl Washington, having previously met the Rockingham troops at a place called the Shallowford of [illegible].  then went on together and commenced the siege of Yorktown, in which battle I was personally engaged on the 19th of October 1783, where Lord Cornwallis surren(dered)
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(surren)dered after a siege of 14 or 15 days I think.  On the next day being the 20th I was discharged by Gen'l Washington having served as a private in the Revolutionary war in the North Carolina Militia for the Term of the two years and two months for which I claim a pension. He states that he lived in the County of Rowan North Carolina when he entered the service. that he was first drafted for three months.  He then immediately at the end of the three months volunteered for the whole war under the same officers and discharged as aforesaid.  

That he was born in the State of Pensylvania near the Susquehenna River on the 10th of October 1757;  that he has no Record of his age except his Fathers Family Bible which is now in his possession. that he moved to Ky the second year after the war expired in the Neighborhood of Coonsborough where he resided untill moved to the Territory of Illinois in which Territory and State he has resided about 22 years. that he now resides in Coles County & State of Illinois. that he is acquainted with John Parker & Joseph Painter who can testify to his services as aforesaid. that he is also acquainted with Michael Klepper a Methodist Clergyman and one Eli Reed, a Farmer in his neighborhood who can testify as to their belief of his servises, his character & reputation.  he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State--

Griffin Tipsoward (his mark)

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

We Michael Klepper a Clergyman Residing in the County of Coles & State of Illinois and Eli Reed residing
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in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Griffin Tipsoward who has Subscribed and sworn to the above declaration;  that we believe him to be sixty years of age;  that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion

Michael Klepper
Eli Nees (his mark)

Sworn and subscribed the day year aforesaid. And the aforesaid Court do hereby declare there 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 the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Michael Klepper who has signed the preceding certificate, resident in the County of Coles & State of Illinois, that Eli Nees who has also signed the same is a resident in the same County & State and is a credible person and their Statement is entitled to credit

Stephen Stone
E. Alexander
N Barker
---
I Nathan Ellington Clerk of the County Commissioners Court of Coles County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the Supplementary proceedings of the sd Court in the matter of the application of Griffin Tipsoward for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and private Seal of office, there being no public seal yet provided this 6th day of March AD 1835

N Ellington Clk
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I John Parker do hereby certify that I was personally acquainted with Griffin Tipsoward at the time he entered the service of the United States in the Revolutionary war and that he volunteered in the month of August I think under Col McArthur, the summer before the Brittish took Charleston but can not say in what year Major Kerns Battalion. that I saw him in actual service during the struggle for independence near the latter part of the years 1780-81. I have a distinct recollection of seeing him at Rockfield Gap then in the army of the US  amongst the North Carolina troops and that he was discharged the day after the surrender of Cornwallis in 1781.  Given under my hand and seal this 11th day of March 1835.

John Parker

Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and date in the third line above

Byrd Monroe, JP

I Byrd Monroe an acting Justice of the Peace for Coles County Certify that I am well acquainted with John Parker and know him to be a credible man & that his statements are entitled to credit.  Given under my hand this 11 day of March 1835.

Byrd Monroe

State of Illinois
County of Coles

Joseph Painter being duly Sworn before me an acting Justice of the Peace in and for sd County 
 deposeth and Saith that he was well acquainted with Griffin Tipsoward at the time he entered the
service of the United States as a revolutionary Soldier and that he actually saw him engaged in service. That said Tipsoward entered the service on the 20th of August in the County of Branson in General Rutherford's Briggade, Col Mc Arthurs Regiment, Major Herns Battalion (on the 20th of August)
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1779;  that he saw the sd Tipsoward at Fran Lowards Spring and that the said Tipsoward is a nephew of the Yoward who owned the Mill & Spring and the sd deponent well recollects the convesation which took place with him and the sd Tipsonard for it was the day of the battle at Ramsowards Mill. and this deponent had had the brim of his hat shot off by a ball from the enemies gun in the engagement and Tipsoward told this deponent to go to the battleground and get a hat of the some of the dead mens heads. this deponent replied that he would not wear a dead man's hat. this deponent further states thaat
he saw him again at Eutaw Spring; that Tipsoward passed by or was called by divers nick names such as
Tilsworth , Titsoward & towards but that his proper name is Tipsoward.  That the said Tipsoward received his discharge from Genl Washington the day after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown on the 20th of October 1781 and always served as a private in the State troops of North Carolina.  further more this deponent saith not-- interlined before signing

Joseph Painter (his mark)

Sworn to and subscribed this 12th day of March 1835 before me
James Nees J Peace

I James Nees, an acting Justice of the peace in the aforesaid county Of Coles and State of Illinois, do hereby certify that Joseph Painter, the above named deponent is man of credibility and that his statement if entitled to full credit 

Given under my hand & seal this 11th day of March 1835

James Nees, JP
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State of Illinois
Coles County

I Nathan Ellington Clerk of the County Commissioners Court for the County & State afsd and exofficio Recorder of sAid offices do hereby certify that James Nees and Byrd Monroe whose names apear below the within Depositions are both of them acting Justices of the peace and was at the time the same was signed in and for the County & State aforesaid and that the signatures within purporting to be theirs is genuine and the faith and credit is and of right ought to be given to all acts as such. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and private Seal there being yet no publick seal provided  this 13th day of March AD 1835

N. Ellington

I am acquainted with the above named N Ellington and know him to be clerk as set forth in
the above certificate

April 2d 1835
J M Robinson
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Rev. &1812 Wars Section.

June 28, 1928.

Miles A. Tipsword,
National Trust Bank Building,
Charleston, Illinois.

Sir: 

I advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, R. 10617, it appears that Griffin Tipsoward was born near the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania October 10, 1755.

He alleged that while a resident of Rowan County, North Carolina, he enlisted August 20, 1779, served as a private in Captains Grimes', John McGuire's, and Galloway's Companies in Colonels McArthur's and Cleveland's North Carolina Regiments; he was in the siege of Charleston, the battles of Camden and Cross Creek, was wounded in the battle of Haw River, was in the battles of Guilford Court House and Eutaw Springs and in the siege of Yorktown, and was discharged October 20, 1781.

The second year after the Revolution he moved near Boonsborough, Kentucky. From there he moved to Illinois.

He applied for pension March 3, 1835, at which time he was living in Coles County, Illinois. His claim was not
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allowed as he failed to furnish proof of service as required by the pension law.

There are no data on file relative to wife and children.

Respectfully,

Winfield Scott, Commissioner
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A P Dunbar

Apr 17, 1835

Record Vol 26, P 488
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War Dept.  Pen Office
April 17, 1835

Sir:
The papers in support of the claim of Griffin Tipsoward has been ex'd. He claims for service as a militia man of North Carolina from 1777 to 1781. The statement given us is inconsistent with
the facts as it regards the course of service in the southern states and the greater part of the alleged service is so extremely improbable, as to render it doubtful whether he ever performed such service as to entitle him to the benefit of the act under which he claims. The papers have been filed with suspended cases in this office. They were sent to this officeby the Hon. J. M. Robinson with a request that the result of their investigation should be made known to you.

A. P. Dunbar Esq
Carmi
Illinois
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Carmi Ill
April 2, 1835

Sir:

Be so good as correspond with A P Dunbar, Esq, Atty at Law of Charlestown, Coles County Illinois in relation to the enclosed application for a pension.

Respectfully yours,
Jch Robinson

J L Edwards, Esq
Comm of Pensions
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Suspended

See letter 17 Apr 1835 to AP Dunbar

10617
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1928 June 28 - Hist to Miles A Tipsword

****

10617

Griffin Tipsoward

REJECTED
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Stamp:  RECEIVED JUN 26 1928,

MILES A. TIPSWORD
Attorney-at-Law
National Trust Bank Bldg.
CHARLESTON, ILLINOIS


June 22, 1928

Mr. Hubert Work,
Secretary of the Interior,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir, -- 

My great grandfather Griffin Tipsword was a Revolutionary soldier. He emigrated from Kentucky to Illinois in the winter of 1824 - and located near Charleston in what is now Coles County. I am very anxious to get some data on what he did and what was his record in the Revolutionary War, I think he was buried in Coles county or in Effingham county, Illinois, I would like very much to have his record as a soldier.   His son Griffin Tipsword, was a soldier in the Civil war. He was my uncle, I do not know much about Uncle Griffin except that he was a Union soldier and died in Missouri and was buried there some years ago.

Thanking you for any information I am
Yours truly,
Miles A Tipsword