Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5281, John Howard, Ga.
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(8 - 1776)
SERVICE Ga
Howard, John
Margaret
NUMBER R 5281
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Charleston SC
March 1838
I, Samuel Hammond, at present of Charleston, but an Inhabitant of the district of Edgefield So. Ca. State that in January 1772 I saw the late John Howard doing duty as a Militia man in Col [John] Dooly's Regt of Georgia Militia, in Genl Andrew Williamson's Brigade of 96 Militia nearly opposite Augusta, then occupied by the British. My acquaintance was then partial Soon after that, I became more intimately acquainted with him as his zeal, patriotism, and activity became more conspicuous, and more
immediately under my notice. He was in service through the Stono Campaign in June 1779. The Battle there, I find by reference to my notes, was on the 20th June. Some ten to fifteen days after that, the Militia was discharged and the Georgians Separated from those of South Carolina, and I had no further intercourse with him until the Siege of Savannah in September, when
I found him again under Col Dooly in service, and was in the Battle. Soon after that, we were again separated. On the 16th or 17th May 1780 Col Dooly was in Augusta, Howard with him, when the news of the surrender of Charleston, was read to the Troops then in service there. The Militia were discharged. Col Dooly returned home to Wilkes County, and while preparing to retreat to the North, was murdered in his own House. His Lieutenant,
Col Clark and part of that Regiment retired to North Carolina. Whether Capt. Howard went with them or not, I cannot say; but, on my return to Carolina, and to the Siege of Augusta, I found Howard in the command of a small Company of Georgians, doing duty with Col Williamson commanding Col Clark's Regiment. He continued with his Company
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under Col James Jackson, and immediately under my notice, until Brown, Grearson's and Galphin's Fort Surrendered in _
After that, the Georgia Troops, passed down towards Savannah, and I was with Genl Green [Nathanael Greene] in South Carolina. Of course I cannot say how long Howard continued, but believe he continued until the British evacuated Savannah. I saw him in Augusta after that, and was informed by him, that he should visit his former residence in North Carolina, and should return and settle in Carolina. He did return, settle, and marry there, where he was much respected. As to his services in the Georgia line Continental Troops, I know nothing personally, but have seen letters to him from a Major Gold, of Col S [Samuel] Jacks' Regiment, urging him to claim his pay, and know that Georgia gave him two land warrants: one, as a Continental Bounty, the other as a State Soldier and an Officer, which warrant he lost. I further affirm, That, I know that he received land Warrants from Georgia, because I was a member of the Legislature of Georgia, and was present when he submitted a petition to have these Warrants renewed. And I further affirm that I was well acquainted with Mrs Howard, the widow of the said John Howard. They both resided in the same District with myself-- viz. Edgefield for many years past. He died in the Month of February in the year 1831 and Mrs Howard, his widow, afterwards. I also am well acquainted with his only two surviving sons - Dr A.G. Howard of Charleston, and Mr William Howard of Edgefield, and his daughter Mayhalie, and they are the only surviving Children of John Howard of the Revolution.
s/ L. Hammond Senr
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K.277 3404
In the Matter
Dr A G Howard
W. S. Howard
M. M. McKinney
Pet. for Pension
No. April 14. 1838
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United States of America
South Carolina District
To The Honble Joel R. Poinsett
Secretary of War of the United States
The Humble Petition of William P. Howard, Alfred G. Howard, and M. Howard, now Mrs. McKinney of South Carolina Sheweth That your
Petitioners are the only children of Captain John Howard of the Revolutionary War: That their Mother Mrs Margaret Howard departed this life in the month of July in the year
of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty four, having
survived their Father. They further shew that their deceased Father, the said John Howard entered the Army in the Revolution at an early period, having served in the Continental Line under the command of Capt [Drury] Cade, in Col [Samuel] Jacks Regiment
for three years. The fact of this service was repeatedly mentioned to the petitioners by their Father, and is further proved by the accompanying Statement of Colonel Samuel Hammond in relation to the Land Warrants granted to him by the State of Georgia. It further appears that he afterwards performed service in Colonel Dooley's [John Dooly] and other Regiments of Georgia Militia up to some period in the Year One thousand seven hundred and seventy nine, and during the subsequent periods of the Revolutionary warfare, he was engaged in the Capacity of
Captain in the Georgia Militia, and continued in that service until the termination of Hostilities.
Your petitioners further humbly shew that their said Father departed this life in the month of February in the Year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty one, and during his life, never received
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any compensation for his revolutionary services.
Your Petitioners now respectfully submit their case, and pray that such provision, as they may be entitled to receive, be awarded to them.
s/ M McKinney
W. S Howard
A. G Howard
Dr A G Howard of Charleston appeared & made oath to the truth of the above written Petition, before me this second day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight Hundred & Thirty Eight at Charleston--
Tho O Elliott
Justice of the Peace
for Charleston District
Any communication addressd to Dr A.G. Howard of Charleston will be received
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February 21, 1934
RA-J/EEL
John Howard-R.5281
Mrs. Alonso Nelson Walling
Rebel Hill
McMinnville, Tennessee
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter of February 13, 1934, in which you state that you have written twice for the record of John Howard, a Revolutionary War soldier, in whom you are interested. [in right-hand margin M.M H.F.]
The records show that three searches of the Revolutionary War records have been made in your behalf in the effort to identify the record you seek. The name John Howard is found numerous times on the records of this office. It is quite essential, therefore, to have certain information to make a complete search. You have given the data you possess and there is no claim for pension on file based upon service in the Revolutionary War of the John Howard you describe.
The record of a John Howard has been found and is given below as shown in pension claim, R. 5281, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War. Even though it is not identical with the one you describe, it may aid you in the process of elimination. He had a son who resided in Charleston, South Carolina.
The date and place of birth and the names of the parents of John Howard are not shown in the papers in the pension claim. The soldier resided in North Carolina before the Revolutionary War.
He entered the service very early in the Revolution, place not shown, served in Captain [Drury] Cade's Company, Colonel [Samuel] Jack's Georgia Regiment; length of service, possibly three years; he again entered the service, and served under Colonels [John] Dooley, [Elijah] Clarke, [Micajah] and James Jackson in the Georgia Troops; a part of his service was rendered as captain;  he was in the battle of Stono, at the siege and battle of Savannah and siege of Augusta, which was in 1781. [hand written on left hand margin] Could not find Capt. Cade. [hand-written on right margin] Could not find a Capt John Howard of Ga.
After the termination of his service, he returned to North Carolina to reside; it was stated that he also resided in Edgefield District, South Carolina, for a number of years.
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John Howard married in the state of North Carolina, Margaret; her maiden name, and date of their marriage are not shown.

He died in February, 1831, and she died in July, 1834. The place of their residence at the time of death was not shown.

John Howard was survived by three children: William S. Howard, of Edgefield District; Dr. Alfred G. Howard, of Charleston, South Carolina; and Mrs. Myhalia McKinney, who also resided in South Carolina.

On April 2, 1838, the above named children made application for the pension that might have been due on account of the service of their father, John Howard, War of the Revolution.

Their claim was not allowed as there was no provision of law under which the children of this soldier were entitled to pension.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator.
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[Form with handwritten notes]
[stamped] Rejected

5281

Howard
John

[handwritten] Printed list of 1852
show cause of rejections Died before March 4. 1831 - no claim

|Apr. 1. 1897 - History to Mr TA Bryant
Clinton, Iowa
1934 Feb 21. Hist. to Mrs A.N. Walling
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Heirs of the late Capt. John Howard So.Ca. Rejected see let to Dr. A.G. Howard
5281
Act July 4 1836
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4
A.G. Howard & others
Statemt of
K.277
12 April 1838 Col. Hammond
3d Auditor
Pension Office 2d Sec
Bty Land Office

Answered by 3d Auditor
13th April 1838

Post Mark Charleston So Ca.
5 Apl 38
Rc April 14. 1838
Rcvd 12 April 38
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State of So Carolina
City of Charleston
I Jacob Anson
Recorder of the City of Charleston and Judge of the City Court do hereby certify that Colonel Samuel Hammond Appeared before me and affirmed according to the ninth of the annexed statement concerning the revolutionary service of Capt John Howard. I further Certify that the said S. Hammond is well known and esteemed as highly respectable Citizen of the said State & a revolutionary officer of Merit & character and that by evidence is entitled to full faith and credit he is also a revolutionary Pensioner of the United States-
Jacob Axson
Recorder of the City
Charlton and Judge
of the City Court
4 April 1838
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April 16, 1838
o.C.
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Depart of War Pension Office
Apr 16 1838 
Sir
The claim of the heirs of the late Capt Jn. Howard has been examined and the paper placed upon our files.
The 2 section of the Act of Feb 4 1836 provides for the widow and children of such officer and private, who may have died since the 4th the of March 1831, and before the passage of the Act of June 7 1832; Capt. Howard it appears died in the Month of Nov. 1831, and consequently the heirs are not [illegible] under the law.
The papers have been referred to the Bounty Land Office, and you will find herewith enclosed a report from the officer at the head of that office.

I am
OC

A G. Howard
Charleston
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THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
BY HIS EXCELLENCE
Pierce M Butler
Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the State aforesaid.

To all to whom these Presents shall come
Know ye that Thomas O. Elliott Esqr whose Signature appears to the Instrument of Writing hereunto annexed is & was at the time of Signing the same one of the Justices of the Peace for Charleston District in the State aforesaid-

Therefore, all due Faith, Credit and Authority is, and ought to be had and given to his proceedings and Certificates as such.

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused to be affixed the Seal of the State in the City of Charleston on the Fourth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Thirty Eight and in the Sixty Second year of the independence of the United States of America.
By the GOVERNOR:
B. H. Saxon
Secretary of State.
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George Brock
Letter 1 May 1835
Hon John Carr

See claim of
Enoch Davis
R 13,582.
(Letter is in said claim of Enoch Davis.)
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McMinnville Tenn
Feb. 13th '34

Veterans Administration
Washington, D.C

Mr. A. D. Hiller
Dear Sir: -
I have written twice trying to get some information of John Howard a Revolutionary Soldier of South Carolina.
Is it because you have so many of that name from S.C. that you do not send?
The War Department stated that John Howard S.C. served as Sergeant in the 5th South Carolina Regiment. Did he received a pension? The War Dept. stated he was the only man of this name they had any record of. He enlisted June 11, 1776.
I have in past years spent money with two S.C. genealogist, but got nothing Satisfactory. Sometimes they imagine things.
For example in D.A.R. Lineage Book Vol. III It is stated "Nehemiah Howard, too came for service - but son John entered
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army as a boy and rose to rank of Major." Is this true? Wouldn't the War Dept. at least have a record of its Majors? I suppose my John Howard lived in or near Charleston. His son Robert C. went to school in Charleston, I know and it is family tradition that Robert C. was named for his grand father. It might be Charles or Cornelius both common Howard Names. If you have pension data of only one or two John Howards of South Carolina will you not be good enough to give me both. I would not take an ancestor who did not belong to me, but it has been done many times. There is something strange in S. C. The genealogist always stop before finding anything.
Thanking you Sincerely
Mrs. Alonzo Nelson Walling
Rebel Hill, McMinnville, Tenn

P.S.
S.C. Hist. Mag. Vol. I gives John Howard member Capt. Draytons Vol. Co. 1776. possibly from Williamsburg Co.
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This Bureau can furnish the military record of only such Revolutionary soldiers as were pensioned or whose widows were pensioned for their services.
Such of the original muster and pay rolls of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 as are now in the possession of the Government are on file in the Record and Pension Office, War Department. Original rolls and other records pertaining to service in the Revolutionary War may also be found on file in the archives of many of the original States.
O. W. & N. DIV.
REVOLUTIONARY.

L. W. B.
R. 5281.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
WASHINGTON, D. C.,
April 1st, 1897.

Sir:-
Replying to your request for information concerning the military record of John Howard, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, you are advised that William Howard, Alfred G. Howard and Mrs. McKinney, heirs of said soldier, made an application for pension on April 2, 1838; in their application it is alleged that their father, said John Howard, served as a Capt. in Col. Dooley's [John Dooly] Regiment, Ga. Troops, Revolutionary war. (Length of his service or place of enlistment not stated).
The claim for pension was rejected on the ground that it did not come within the provisions of the Act of July 4, 1836, under which it was filed.

Very respectfully,

Commissioner.

Mr. T. A. Bryant,
Clinton, Iowa,