Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4870, George Lewis Henderson, Penn.
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(3-1776)
Henderson, George Lewis
SERVICE Penn.
NUMBER R.4870
CONTENTS _
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24.028
George L. Henderson
Tennessee
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State of Tennessee}
Fentress County } SS.

     On this the 23d day of January 1839, personally appeard[sic] before me George A Brock an acting Justice of the peace in and for the county of Fentress State of Tennessee [underlined name] George L Henderson a Resident citizen of the county of Overton State of Tennessee living near the Kentucky State line and close to the Fentress county line it being so near the Fentress County line and close to his old neighborhood, having lived so near the said line so long and he being so extreamly[sic] old and frail he is compelled to prepare his Pension Declaration in the edge of Fentress County it being most convenient. he being aged Seventy Eight years of age the Twentieth day of last June past and after being duly Sworn for that purpose doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the Benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th June 1832:
     That he Enlisted in the army of the united States in the year one [year underlined] thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Seven as he believes and sometime in the [underlined] fall season the precise time not now recollected but according to his best recollection it was about the [underlined] last of September or the first of October he was Enlisted in Bucks county [underlined]State of Pennsylvania at a little Town called beggarstown[sic] and was in a few days put under [underlined] Captain Bell. John Holmes and Thomas White Enlisted at the same time [underlined to end of page] and belonged to a Rifle Regiment under the command of Col Morgan, the first names
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of his said captain and colonel he does not now Recollect, he was marched to a little town called Chester Stationed a few day[s] at Said said[sic] Town there being some troops and marched on to the Battle at Germantown and was in Said battle, and was marched to Flowetown[sic: Flourtown] and Chestnut hill it was at this place that his said company was attached to Col Morgan’s Regiment and marched to Lancaster Still in Pennsylvania Stationed there somtime[sic] and finally was ordered to Saratoga, and was in said Battle under Morgan and Stationed at Lancaster after Battle sometime, a small force only being there after the Said battle and a short time before the Battle of Monmouth an Express came for us and we went on to Said Battle and he was in the  Said battle, he Declarant was Taken sick after the battle and was unable to bury the dead and continued sick and was halled[sic] to the hospital in a little carriage some distance from the battle ground perhaps about Ten miles, and was attended on by a Physician and some woman nurses and Physician to the best of his now Recollection a Doctor White and continued sick at said hospital according to his best Recollection four months he states that owing to the great lapse of time and consequent loss of memory he cannot State precisely how long he was in Service form [sic] his said commencement to his discharge from service at the Said hospital, but according to his best Recollection he had served a period not Less than ?Twelve months, he having commenced Service in 1777 and was discharged
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in 1778 about the Same time of the year he commenced Service owing to the great length of time he cannot State with precision as to the day of begining[sic] nor quiting[sic] Said service he had a discharge Signed by col Morgan and the Physician, because he was considered unable to Serve and likely to remain so for a time, he was therefore discharged before his time of Engagement had Expired, which discharge was afterward in some way lost or destroyed,
  
      He states he has no record of his age but from undoubted account he is Seventy Eight years old the Twentieth day of last June past,

     He again Volunteerd[sic] and Enrolled under captain Joseph Ward at Frederich[sic] Town in the State of Maryland and was marched to the frontiers against the Indians he cannot State the precise time of entering Said Service but according to his best and undoubted Recollection it was at least twelve months before the Surrender of Lord cornwallis[sic] in Virginia, and after said engagement march,d[sic] to the frontiers and was Stationed, on the frontiers at different points and places killed some few of the Indians Stout[sic] holmes[sic] was killed one of Said company and one charley killarn, and one or two more, he has forgotten the names of some of the forts, one was called Fort Wilkins was principally on the Edges of the Maryland line next Pensylvania[sic], and after
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Serving according to his best recollection nearly Twelve months, his company was called and he marched to Yorktown in the State of Virginia and went on and was in said engagement, and in about four days after the Surrender of Lord Cornwallis he was verbally discharged at York said places by order of General Washington having there at least Twelve months under Said captain Ward he states owing to the great lapse of time and his old age and great infirmity and consequent loss of memory he cannot State with further certainty than having Stated as to the time of begining[sic] and quiting[sic] said Service

     after his discharge from the Siege at York, he again went back to the State of Pennsylvania in Bucks County continued there upward of Twenty years, thence to New Jersey State and contind[sic] there about twelve years thence to New york[sic] city Staid[sic] there some years, thence to Albany and back to New york[sic] thence to South Carolina, thence to Knox County Tennessee lived sometime in Knoxville thence to Anderson County Tennessee, thence to the Edge of Kentucky in Cumberland County in the past that is now Clinton County, thence to where he now lives in overton[sic] County, Tennessee near Fentress county line close to Kentucky line he has no doubt he can prove his being reputed as a soldier of the Revolution and a man
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of veracity by many of his old acquaintance in Knox County Tennessee and Anderson County Tennessee and overton[sic] County Tennessee and in Kentucky. he[sic] States he has no living witnesses any place within his Knowledge that Served with him nor no person to prove his actual Service nor has he any Documentary proof or written evidence of Service, he States that he has no doubt but that he can prove his being reputed as having been reputed as a Revolutionary soldier by Joseph Conner Joel Thacker and by General Harrison of his neighborhood Solomon Roberts and in fact by nearly all of his intimate acquaintance he states that some paper has probably been filed in the war office through the agency of Col owens[sic] or Marcus Huling some four or five years past.
     He hereby relinquishes Every claim whatsoever to a Pension or annuity Exept[sic] the preasent[sic] and Declares his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State

1   He states he was born and raised in Bucks County State of Pennsylvania 

2nd  And has no record of his age

3rd  When he was first he was called[sic] into Service he livd[sic] in and was called in from Bucks county Pennsylvania 

4   He first Enlisted, and afterwards Volunteer’d
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5th   He states he served under such officers and in manner previously Stated in this his Declaration

6th
        He received a Discharge from Col. Morgan in manner herein set forth

         He States that he is not certain in the arrangement of his papers hertofor[sic] made and herein alluded to he is not certain whether his name was signed, George Henderson or George L Henderson the L being somtimes[sic] left out in Hurrying without the clerk or writer being particular in remembrance.

           George his X mark L Henderson

Sworn and  }
subscribed the day}
and year above}
written before me}
George A Brock Jp

We Joseph Conner Residing in the immediate Neighborhood of (George L Henderson) & a Reputable man and a clergyman Residing in the Same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with George L Henderson the present applicant for a Pension who has Subscribed and sworn to the foregoing Declaration, that we believe him to be Seventy Eight years of age as he has stated that he is reputed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion
       Joseph his X mark B Connor
 [marked out: Geo Henderson]

sworn and Subscribed the}
day and year aforesaid  }
before me George A Brock
Justice of the peace
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State of Tennessee }
Fentress County     } ss

I John H. Richardson clerk of the County of Said Fentress County hereby certify that George A. Brock is a justice of the peace of the hence[?] as above and that the foregoing signatures, purporting to be his are genuine.

In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this 25th day of January A.D. 1839.

John H. Richardson clerk 
of the County Court, of Fentress
County Tennessee

By John Albertson D.C.
Seal[illegible]
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REJECTED
George L. Henderson
Service: _
Enlisted: _, 18_.
Discharged: _, 18_.
Application filed: _, 18_.
Alleges: _, 18_.
Re-enlisted: _
Attorney: _
P. O. _
_ Recognized. _ Contract.
_ Cert. of Dis. | Searched for _, 18_.
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No 35.931
George Lewis Henderson
Ten
Act 7 June 1832
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5
I John S Daugherty clerk of the county court of the County of Overton hereby certify that the foregoing so far as it purports to be the proceedings of said court is the original record of said court and that Philip Copeland, John T R Goode and Dawson Jackson whose names are signed to said account are justices of said court
In witness whereof I have hereunto 
set my hand and seal of office 
this 2 day of September 1844

John S Daugherty Clerk 
of Overton County Court  [seal]

State of Tennessee }
County of Jackson  }

On the 7 day of October 1844 the county court of said county of Jackson, a court of record, being in session at the court house in Gainsborough present the worshipful James Young, Lawrence M Anderson & Wm Woodfolk justices of said court, the said court hereby declare their opinion after investigation of the matter and after heretofore putting the interrogation prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant, George Lewis Henderson, was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states.

James Young
Lawrence M Anderson
W Woodfolk

[the seal was placed over the beginnings of this sections] 
Jackson, Tennessee}
Jackson County     } SS

I, Sampson W Cassetty clerk of the county court of said county of Jackson, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said court (so far as it purports to be the proceedings of said court)  the matter of the application of George Lewis Henderson for a pension.  
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 8 day of October 1844

S. W. Cassetty clk
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State of Tennessee }
County of Jackson  }ss

On this first day of January 1844 personally appears in open court before Lawrence M Anderson, William Woodfolk, and James Young justices of the County Court of Jackson County aforesaid, being a court of record, George Lewis Henderson a resident of said county of Jackson and State of Tennessee aged eighty three 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 7, 1832.
That he was drafted and entered the service of the United States as a private in the militia in Bucks County State of Pennsylvania where he then resided on the first day of August 1777 and served under Captain Joseph Ward, Lieut White, Ensign not recollected and first Sergeant Helms and joined a part of the American army at Chestnut Hill in the same county under one Porter [Potter] who was either Major or Colonel don't recollect which at this distant day.  He marched from thence to Germantown where he joined the main army under General Washington, and on the 4th day of October of the same year the battle of Germantown was fought, the American army commanded by General Washington and the British commanded by General Howe.  Applicant was in the battle.  The enemy were victorious and took possession of Philadelphia about six miles from the battle ground.  From Germantown applicant marched with the army to Valley Forge.  From Valley Forge applicant marched under same Captain and Major Sullivan through a part of New Jersey into New York to Saratoga where he joined the army under General Gates sometime in the month of October in the same year and was present when General Burgoin [Burgoyne] surrendered on the 17 of that month.  After the surrender of Burgoin [Burgoyne] applicant under the same officers returned to Valley Forge where he remained until his term of service expired, which was for three months, when he was discharged on 1st day of November 1777 which discharge is lost.  Applicant again entered the service of the United States as a volunteer private at Valley Forge about 8th of November 1777 for twelve months under Captain William Thompson and he thinks his Lieutenant was named White but cannot say positively the name of the ensign is not recollected and was attached to Colonel [illegible] regiment
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but cannot now recollect the Colonels name.
Applicant remained at Valley Forge during the winter, and marched under Captain Thompson with the main army to Monmouth in New Jersey where the battle of that name was fought  previous to the battle General Lee was ordered to advance and bring on the engagement, but after encountering the enemy he retreated and met the main army under General Washington advancing to his support and after some warm words between the two Generals the whole army advanced and early in the day of the 28th of June 1778 the battle commenced and continued until night when the combatants separated.  The Americans lay on their arms all night and the British after building up their fires retired with so much silence that their retreat was not known to our army until next morning and the weather being very hot our army did not pursue them.  Applicant was in the whole of the battle and was wounded by a musket bullet striking his right arm and penetrating his right side breaking two of his ribs - applicant was then considered unfit for immediate service and was sent to the hospital within a few miles of Monmouth where he remained until his term of service expired - and on the 8th day of November 1779 he was discharged by Captain Thompson and Major Sullivan which discharge is lost.  Applicant served during his first term of service three months and during his last engagement twelve months making in all 15 months or one year the three months that he was in the service of the United States as a soldier in the war of the Revolution.
Applicant was born at Chestnut Hill in Bucks County State of Pennsylvania in May 1760, he has no record of his age and don't [sic] know the day of the month in which he was born.  Since the Revolutionary War, Applicant has lived at Chestnut Hill in Bucks County Pennsylvania, in Mecklenburg County North Carolina, Overton County Tennessee and now lives in Jackson County State of Tennessee, adjoining said county of Overton.  He has resided in said county of Jackson only one year and having resided in said county of Overton for 15 years immediately preceding his residence in Jackson County he here refers to
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some of the people in his former neighbourhood [sic] in Overton County aforesaid where he resides next before his removal to said county of Jackson, who can certify to his character for veracity and truth, to wit, William Turner, Hugh F Armstrong, John Jouset, Richard Raybourn, Richard Raybourn, [sic] Jesse Herd, Calvin Smith and Isaac Denton.  Some of the people in his present neighbourhood [sic] in Jackson County aforesaid who can also certify to applicants character for truth are Abraham Denton, Pleasant Brown, Joseph Rose, and John Brown.  Applicant has no record or documentary evidence, and he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service- some of the regular officers with whom applicant served are Generals Washington, Green, Morgan, Gates and Arnold.

The reason why applicant has not sooner applied for a pension is that he is ignorant and for many years whilst he lived in Overton County as aforesaid, he lived about 15 miles from the court house in a remote part of the country and until about two years ago, applicant thought that until his name was on the muster roll in the war Department it would be necessary for a successful application for him to prove his service by some witness which applicant could not do.  Another reason is that applicant has a very wealthy relative in Orange County Virginia named John Lewis, who is aged and as it is thought consumptive.  Applicant is his only heir, and he has been in expectation for many years of receiving an inheritance that would have made him independent of the bounty of his government.  Said relative has frequently said that applicant should inherit his fortune but contrary to every reasonable expectation, the old man still lives and poverty and want compels applicant to ask from his government pay or "pension" for his services in the contest for liberty.  If the above reasoning for so long delay should not be deemed sufficient applicant will for the short remnant of days he expects to
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live submit with the fortitude which becomes a soldier of the Revolution.

Applicant hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state.

George Lewis  his x mark Henderson

Sworn to and subscribed 
in open court this 1 day of January 1844

Alxr Montgomery Clerk

And the said court do hereby certify that they put the interrogations prescribed by the War Department to the above named applicant and that he answered them satisfactorily.
L M Anderson
W Woodfolk
James Young

State of Tennessee} 
Overton County    } Ss

On this 2nd day of September 1844 before the county court of said county of Overton being a court of record personally appeared Hugh F Armstrong and Jesse Herd resident citizens of said county and subscribed and sworn in to the following affidavit in open court in due form of law.

We Hugh F Armstrong and Jesse Herd residing in the County of Overton and State of Tennessee certify that we are acquainted with George Lewis Henderson who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing and above declaration, and that we believe him to be eighty three years of age, that he is respected and believed in the neighbourhood [sic] where he resides in said county, to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion

sworn to and subscribed before me
John S Daugherty clerk   
Jesse Herd
H F Armstrong

And the said court do hereby certify that they are acquainted with Jesse Herd & Hugh F Armstrong and that they are credible persons and their oath is entitled to credit in a court of justice.
Philip Copeland, John T R Goode, Dawson Jackson
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Washington City
House of Rep
January 2nd 1845

Sir,

I herewith send you the declaration of George Louis Henderson for a pension which I beg you to examine at your earliest convenience and inform me of the result.
 
I am very Respectfully
Your obedient Servant 
A Cullom

[illegible initials] Please send me a form for drawing a pension under the Act of 7th June 1832

Col J L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
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Feb 9, 1839
Tenn
Geo L Henderson
7 June 1832

Free
James L Edwards
Washington City D C
War Dept
Pension office

Jamestown Ten
January 26
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Jamestown Frentress County 
Tennessee January 27th 1839
The Pension papers of George L. Henderson are herein Enclosed, information Respecting it would be gladly received at this place.
Your most obedient
Servant
Robert A. Dabney
[To]
James L. Edwards Esqr
Washington City D.C.
War Department
Pension Office
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No 3331

Geo. Lewis Henderson
Lr
Let. to Hon A Cullom
Jany 7th 1845

Act 7 June 1832
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George L. Henderson
Tennessee
Suspended
Let. 20 June 1839
R. A. Dabney
4870
Act 7 June 1832