Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 2936, John Harris, Del. Penn.
Page 1

(8-1776) 

Service Number

Del. 
Penn.

Harris, John
Eleanor

W 2936

Contents
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11.221
Penna  Phila
Eleanor Harris decd
widow of John Harris
who died in the year 1803 - 
of Cumbd Co, in the State of Penna 
who was an Artificer in the compy commanded
by Captain ---[illegible word, perhaps "Zenn"  It is not clear whether this word is linked to the captain or the colonel.] of the Regt commanded by Col --- in the Revolution [word crossed out] for two years -

Inscribed in the Roll of Phila at the rate of $240 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.  S Endg 11 Jany 1839

Certificate of Pension issued the 17th day of Decr 1851 and sent to Hon J. [letter overwritten by "X".] McLanahan
Arrears to the 4th of House of Reps 
Semi-annual allowance ending

{Revolutionary Claim, Act July 7, 1838.}
Recorded by H. R. Weightman  Clerk.
Book D. Vol. 1.  Page 221
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State of Pennsylvania  Cumberland County } ss.

On this seventeenth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty personally appeared in open court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of said County in the State of Pennsylvania, Mary Smith, widow, a resident of South Middleton Township in the County of Cumberland aforesaid aged fifty eight years who being first duly sworn according to Law do then on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the Pension which was payable to her mother Eleanor Harris now deceased, who was the surviving widow of John Harris a revolutionary soldier, under the act of congress passed 7th July 1838 entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows".  That she is a daughter and the only surviving child of the aforesaid John Harris and Eleanor Harris his wife.  That her father the aforesaid John Harris was a revolutionary soldier.  He died in the year 1795 when deponent was about three years of age & her knowledge of the service of her father as a revolutionary soldier is obtained from declarations & conversations with her mother & from papers which were in the possession of her mother & which came to the hands of this deponent.  Deponent has a distinct recollection of seeing the marriage certificate of her father & mother the aforesaid John & Eleanor Harris and also the discharge of her Father as a revolutionary soldier.  The certificate of marriage was dated in 1781.  From conversations with her mother & from the discharge of her father before referred to, deponent believes that her father further served for for four years, from 1777 to 1781 in Capt Gibsons company of artillery & artificers in Col Flowers Regiment in the Pennsylvania [illegible] and was at the Carlisle Barracks a part of his time and was engaged in making cannon at the boring mill about seven miles from Carlisle.  In the year 1834 this deponent
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attended to an application made by her mother to the Legislature of Pennsylvania for relief & was then placed in the hands of Andrew Boden Esq. of Carlisle, who drew up the Petition of her mother to the Legislature aforesaid.  The marriage certificate of her father & mother & also the discharge of her father before referred to, which papers had remained in the hands of deponents mother till that time.  Deponents mother was then old and infirm & entirely blind & this deponent attended to the business for her.  Mr Boden informed deponent that he sent the papers to Harrisburg to the Hon Charles B. Penrose who was them senator & represented the Cumberland district.  Since that time deponent has made frequent inquiry but has failed to obtain the aforesaid marriage certificate & discharge of her father.  Deponents mother by an act of Pennsylvania Legislature passed in 1834 received an annuity of forty dollars per annum until her death.  She died on the 11th January 1841 

Deponents mother never received any pension from the United States.

Mary Smith  her X mark

Sworn & Subscribed in open court the 17 December A.D. 1850
[illegible] For Jas. F. Lamberton Proty
R Lamberton

Also at this same time & place personally appeared George Ege Esq. aged seventy years, who being first duly sworn according to law deposeth & saith that he was well acquainted with John Harris & Eleanor Harris his wife, who resided in Middleton Township, now South Middleton Township Cumberland County & State of Pennsylvania.  The said John Harris & wife lived in a house of this deponents fathers, Marshal Ege, Deceased, and worked for Deponents father as a carpenter at Cumberland Furnaces & the Carlisle Iron works, which properties were then owned by deponents father
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said Harris assisted to build Cumberland Furnace which was erected by deponents father in seventeen hundred & ninety three  Deponent has frequently heard said Harris talk of the revolutionary war and of circumstances that occurred when he was a soldier and said Harris was always considered reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resided to have been a soldier of the revolution.  This deponent has frequently heard Mrs McKinney, the mother in law of said Harris, and who survived him a number of years & was a very intelligent old lady, and also Eleanor Harris the widow of the said John Harris, what circumstances that happened during the revolutionary war when the  said Harris was in the American army.  That he the said Harris worked at the boring mill, about seven miles south of Carlisle, when when cannon was made during the revolutionary war for the American Army, under Col Flowers, which boring mill property for many years afterwards, deponent knows, was known as Col Flowers' & taxed in his name.  John Harris above named died about the year 1794 or 95.  He was working for deponents father at the Carlisle Iron works & took sick & died in the house where deponents father resided.  Deponent can fix the date of the death of said Harris from the fact that it was about the time (probably a short time before or after) deponent entered college at Carlisle, which was in the year 1794.

Deponent was well acquainted with the children of the said John & Eleanor Harris.  In 1803 Deponent went to Mount Holly Iron work as manager for his father, when he became the owner & proprietor of said iron works & lived at said works & managed & carried on the same till 1831.  During all that time, Eleanor Harris the widow of the aforesaid John Harris, their daughter Mary now Mrs Smith, lived within a hundred years of deponents residence & about half a mile form the boring mill before referred to, and known formerly as the property of Col. Flowers.  Deponent has known Mary Harris, now Mrs Smith, widow, from a very small girl up to the present time.  Deponent & his wife Mrs Ege were present at the marriage of
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Mary Harris now Mary Smith, which occurred at this residence of her mother, a short distance from deponents residence as before stated, and he knows she is the daughter & only surviving child of the aforesaid John and Eleanor Harris.  Eleanor Harris the mother of the said Mary Smith & widow of John Harris, continued to live from 1803 up to the time of her death, at her residence before referred to near Mount Holly Iron Works.  She died according to deponents best recollection about the year 1841, but he has  no data from which he can fix the time of her death more definitely.  Mary Smith continues to live in the same house where her mother resided.  The husband of the said Mary Smith has been dead for a number of years.  Eleanor Harris remained a widow from the death of her husband John Harris up to the time of her death
Geo. Eqr.

Sworn & Subscribed in Open Court 17 December 1850
[illegible] R Lamberton
For Jas. F. Lamberton Pnt'y 

I James F. Lamberton Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County in the State of Pennsylvania do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Mary Smith for the pension that was payable to her mother Eleanor Harris Deceased.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 17 day of December AD 1850
Jas. F. Lamberton
Prothy
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14.325
Eleanor Harris, wid of John
Pa.

[illegible] 7 July 1838

Married 1 1781
Husd. died 1803,

Admd 2 yrs Artificer, 
$240 per annum
Com'g 4 March 1834. 
& end[illegible] 11 Jan'y 1839,
payable to
Mary Smith, only surviving child,

Hon J. H. McLanahan
H of R
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Carlisle 4 November 1851

J. E. Heath Esq.
Com. of Pensions

Sir

You will find enclosed the evidence of the death of Eleanor Harris widow of John Harris decd a certificate by the court.  I presume the certificate will be found in proper form & satisfactory.  Please forward me the certificate or the application of Mary Smith the daughter for the Pension payable to her mother.

In yours of the 25 Oct. you say that the marriage & service are satisfactorily established, but the date of the widows death is not provided.  Please reply as soon as convenient as this case has been attended with great delay & Mrs Smith in much need of relief

Very Respectfully
Your obt Servt
J. H. Graham
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14.325

Elenor Harris,
wid of John Harris,
Penna.
Act 7 July 1838.
Lt. Honl. J. X. McLanahan
May 13/51.
Q H Graham Oct 25/51
Page 10

State of Pennsylvania  County of Cumberland } ss

I, James F. Lamberton Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas holden at Carlisle in & for the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited to said Court, that Eleanor Harris widow of John Harris deceased, was a resident of South Middleton Township in the County of Cumberland and State of Pennsylvania, and died in the aforesaid Township of South Middleton in the County and State aforesaid, in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine, on the eleventh day of January; that she left one child surviving her whose name is Mary Smith.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at Carlisle this fourth day of November in the year of our Lord 1851 - 
Jas F Lamberton
Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County & State.
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Carlisle 15 November 1851 - 

Hon. J. E. Heath
Com. Pensions - 

Dr Sir

I forwarded to you on the 5th instant the proof of the death of Mrs Harris in the case of the application of her daughter, Mrs Smith, for the pension payable to her mother.  Will you please inform me if the paper has been recd & if the evidence is now satisfactory

Very Respectfully
Your Obdt Servt
J. H. Graham
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Carlisle [illegible] 1851.

My Dear Sir - 

I have not been able thus far to procure the pension due Mrs Mary Smith in right of her mother Eleanor Harris Decd.  You will recollect that during the past summer you forwarded me a letter from the Comr of Pensions stating that the proof was satisfactory except as to the death of Mrs Harris.  This proof I forwarded some months since & have written to the Court of Pensions twice since, but recd no reply.  Will you please give it your attention & forward me the certificate in favor of Mrs Smith as soon as it can be procured.  The husband of Mrs Harris was an artificer & entitled to $20 per month or $240 per annum, which will be the amount of the pension.  Please write as soon as convenient

Very Respectfully & Truly 
Your friend
J. H. Graham

Hon James X McLanahan

ova
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Washington H. Reps
Decr. 12. 1851

To Hon J. E. Heath
Comr. of Pens. &c

Sir:

I respectfully call your attention to the written letter from the Hon. J. H. Graham of Carlisle, and beg your Early attention to this case.  The proof required has been on file for some months.  I will hope for a speedy reply

Respectfully
Your &c
Jas. X. McLanahan
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Brief in the case of Eleanor Harris, Decd. widow of John Harris, Cumberland County and State of Pennsylvania
act 7 July 1838

Claim, ("original," [text crossed out])

Proof exhibited, (if original.)

Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls?  If either, state the substance.
Record proof of service & marriage.

(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim?  If so, what?

Name and residence of Agent.
Hon J. X. McLanahan,
H of R

S. Cole
Examining Clerk.
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Carlisle  30 Aug 1851

My Dear Sir

Immediately after I recd. from you the letter of the Commissioner of Pensions in reference to the claim of Mrs Smith for the pension due in right of her mother Mrs Harris I forwarded satisfactory proof of the time of Mrs Harris death.  I have written twice since to the Com. of Pensions but can get no reply

Will you please to write to him & ascertain what has been done with the case.  I presume he will not treat a letter from you with so much indifference as he has done them I have written.

Yrs Very Truly
J. H. Graham

To Hon. J. E. Heath

D Sir:

I respectfully invite your attention to the case referred to in the letter of Mr. Graham.  I presume it has in the multiplicity of your business escaped observation.  Your prompt attention will confer a favor on
Yours respectfully
Jas. X. McLanahan
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Carlisle 17 July 1851

Hon J. E. Heath
Com. of Pensions

Dr Sir

I forwarded you the evidence, some weeks since, as to the death of Eleanor Harris, in the case of the application of her daughter Mrs. Smith for the Pension due Mrs Harris.  Will you please inform me if the evidence is satisfactory & forward to me her certificate.  If here is any difficulty remaining I would be pleased to hear what it is.  I forwarded the application to Mr McLanahan member of Congress from this District & [word crossed out and "it" written above] was handed over by him, but in my last I requested that you would forward the papers to me.  Mr McLanahan is now absent from Penna. & will not return for some time.  Please write at your earliest convenience

Very Respectfully Yours,
J. H. Graham
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Carlisle Pa.   27 June 1851 -

Hon J. E. Heath
Com. of Pensions

Sir

I recd a few days since yours of the 13 May to Mr McLanahan in reference to the declaration in the case of Eleanor Harris decd stating that the marriage & service are satisfactorily established but the date of widows death was not proved.  Enclosed you will find the evidence of the merchant who sold the funeral bill & was at the funeral & also of this coffin maker which I presume will be satisfactory.  When I called on Jno Fetter he said his son David attended the funeral with the coffin & His deposition was drawn from information recd from the father but in reference to the son it appeared the coffin was taken out by a Journeyman who is not now to be found, which will account for the blank information not signed or sworn to.  You will please forward the certificate to me at Carlisle, as I forwarded the application to Mr McLanahan & have attended to the case.

Very Respectfully
J. H. Graham
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H of Reps.
Washington.  Feb. 5th 1851

To the Comr. of Pensions

Sir

I send you herewith the papers of Mrs Smith an applicant for a pension and beg for it your early attention.  I would be much pleased if you could settle the case of Furgeson as well as this case at an early day, as they do not fall under the note of precedence in separate applications for bounty land.  I hope you will ha[illegible] from their [illegible]
Respectfuly
Jas. A. McLanahan
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Carlisle 1 Feby 1851 - 

Hon. Jas. X McLanahan

My Dear Sir - 

You will find enclosed the papers of Mrs Smith only surviving child of Jno & Eleanor Harris.  Mr Harris was a revolutionary soldier but never recd a Pension having died in 1795.  Eleanor Harris the mother died in 1841 never having recd a pension but under the act of 7 July 1838 was entitled to the same pension her husband would have recd if living, from 1833 for five years.  The children are entitled to the 5 years Pension their mother ought to have recd.  It is a vested right in the mother which passes to the children on her death.  See opinion of B. F. Butler Atty Genl. of 17 Jany 1837 Pension law page 60 & opinion of H. S. Legan of 31 May 1842 [illegible] page 66.  Harris being an artificer recd 20$ per month so that the pension claimed is $240 per annum for five years.  It may be that Mrs Smith the present applicant may not be entitled to the full time as the act of 1838 makes the pension to commence on the 4th of March 1836 & Mrs Harris died the 11 Jany 1841. 1 mo & 17 days less than 5 years

I presume the evidence will be satisfactory  The loss of Harris discharge & marriage certificate is fully accounted for, by the certificates of the clerks endorsed on her petition to the Legislature of
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Penna a certified copy of which is enclosed with the Deposition of Mr Penrose & the evidence of Capt Ege proves the identity &c of the applicant & that she is the only child.  This being an application under the laws granting pensions to the revolutionary soldiers & not under the act of 1850 as also that of the Fergusons which I forwarded some time since could you not have them taken up before you leave Washington

I think them both plain cases & Col Edwards when I was at Washington last summer stated that this case came clearly within the acts of Congress & if we would forward the best proof we could obtain & if on reference to the rolls of the army at Washington the name of Harris was found it would be satisfactory but said they could not facilitate the application by a reference to the [word crossed out] widow at Washington until was forwarded the application with such evidence as could be procured here.  Please acknowledge recpt. & state what prospect there is of speedy action on the case

Yours Very Truly,
Jas. H. Graham
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Revy    WIDOW, &c.

File No. 2936
Eleanor Harris
Widow
John Harris
Artificer Rev. War

Act: July 7, 1838
Index: - Vol. A, Page 302.

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Penrose             373
Petition of Elenor Harris 
W. O. L.
Feb 28. 1836
Clms

in the Senate of Pennsylvania 
Saml W Pearson
Clerk Senate
Jany 3 1851

Penrose
Petition of Elenor Harris
Widow of J. Harris
Rev Soldier for relief 

Gra[illegible]
annuity
Page 23

To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met.

The petition of the Subscriber an Inhabitant of Cumberland County in said Commonwealth - Humbly Represents.

That your petitioner was married to John Harris, on the 29th day of August A. D. 1781 a certificate of which marriage signed by the Clergyman who married them accompanying this petition, and that her Husband the said John Harris was a soldier of the Revolution - That he enlisted in Captain Gibsons Company of Artillery and Artificers in Col. Flowers Regiment, in the year 1777. and was discharged by Capt. John Jordan at Carlisle Barracks, (where he had been for the most of his time, as an Artificer) after having served four years, in the year 1781. by order of Brigadier Genl. Irvine, as appears by his original discharge which also accompanies this petition.  And your petitioner further states that prior to the enlistment of her husband in the Pennsylvania line, He had served two or three years in the Delaware line.  That your petitioner is now very old and infirm & very poor and has been entirely blind for a number of years past.  She therefore prays your Honourable bodies to take her case into your consideration & grant her such relief as you may think proper & as in duty bound she will ever pray &c
Eleanor Harris  her X mark

Witness
Andw. Boden

Cumberland County Ss

Eleanor Harris appeared before me & made oath in due form of law that the contents of the above & foregoing deposition, to the best of her knowledge are true & correct.
Eleanor Harris   her X mark

Sworn & subscribed
Feby. 18th. 1834
Before me
Andw. Boden
Harrisburg
Pennsylvania

I certify the above to be a correct copy of the petition of Eleanor Harris
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as the same remains on the files of the Senate of Penna.
Saml W Pearson
Clerk Senate

I do certify that I have made a careful search for the marriage certificate and certificate of discharge mentioned in the foregoing petition and that the same are not to be found on the files of the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania
Wm Jack, Clerk
Harrisburg, Jan. 3 1851.
A like search has been made and said papers are not on file in the Senate of Pennsylvania
Saml W Pearson
Clerk Senate
Jany 3 1851

Penrose 
Petition of Elenor Harris 
widow of J. Harris
Rev. Soldier for relief 

W.O.L.

Penrose     373
Petition of Elenor Harris 
Feb. 28. 1834

Clms
Page 25

State of Pennsylvania  Cumberland County } ss.

Before me the Hon. Frederick Watts President Judge of the Court of Common Please of the ninth Judicial district composed of the Counties of Cumberland, Perry and Juniata, in for said State State personally appeared Mathew Moore Esq. who being first duly  sworn according to Law deposeth & says - that he was well acquainted with Eleanor Harris in her life time, who was the widow of John Harris Deceased & mother of Mary Smith, who resided in South Middleton Township, at Mount Holly Gap in Cumberland County aforesaid.  That Deponent resides about half a mile from the residence of the said Eleanor Harris & kept a store.  That the said Eleanor Harris died on the eleventh January AD eighteen hundred & thirty nine & was buried the sixth day to wit, the twelfth of the same month.  That Deponent sold the articles required for the funeral of the said Eleanor Harris & can fix the day of her death by a reference to his book of original entries in which the aforesaid articles are charged to Mary Smith the daughter of Eleanor Harris.  Deponent was at the residence of the aforesaid Eleanor Harris Decd. on the twelfth day of January AD 1839. the day of the burial & assisted in making arrangements for her funeral.
Mathew Moore

Sworn & Subscribed the 27 June 1851 before me 
[illegible first name] Watts
Page 26

Also at the same time appeared Jacob Fetter, cabinet maker, of the Borough of Carlisle County of Cumberland & State of Pennsylvania, who being Just duly sworn according to law deposeth & says that he made the coffin of Eleanor Harris decd. who in her life time lived at Mount Holly Gap, Southmiddleton Township in said County, on the twelfth day of January A.D. 1839.  That he can fix the exact date of making said coffin by a reference to his book of [text crossed out] original entries in which he charged Mary Smith & Thomas Haycock with the coffin of Eleanor Harris on the twelfth day of January AD Eighteen hundred & thirty nine.  That Mary Smith is the daughter of the said Eleanor Harris Deceased and Thomas Haycock is the son-in-law of the said Mary Smith, as deponent has been informed  and believes
Jacob Fetter

Sworn & Subscribed 
the 27 June 1851
before me
[illegible first name] Watts

[text crossed out]
Page 27

State of Pennsylvania
Cumberland County SS

I James F. Lamberton Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of said County do certify that Frederick Watts Esq is President Judge of the ninth Judicial district of Pennsylvania composed of the counties of Cumberland Perry and Juniata to all whose acts as such in that capacity due faith and credit are and of right ought to be given throughout the United States and elsewhere, and that the foregoing Signatures purporting to be his are genuine -

Witness my hand and official Seal at Carlisle this 27th day of June A. D. 1851 - 

Jas F Lamberton
Prothy
Page 28

Philadelphia City

Charles B. Penrose of the City of Philadelphia being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he was a member of the Senate of this State in the year 1834 and that during the session of the legislature in the Winter of 1833. 4 he presented the petition and documents of Eleanor Harris the widow of John Harris a soldier of the revolutionary war for the purpose of procuring a pension for her  It appears by the journal of the Senate that deponent presented this petition and these documents on the 28th day of February 1834  They were referred to the Commissioner of Claims  That commissioner reported a bill for the relief of the petitioner which was enacted into a law and will be found on Page 295 of the Pamphlet Law of 1833. & 1834.

In the petition of the said Eleanor Harris she sets out that she was married to John Harris on the 29th day of August A D 1781 and that a certificate of which marriage signed by the clergyman who married them accompanied the petition  That her husband John Harris was a soldier of the revolution that he in
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listed in Captain Gibson company of artilary and artificers in Col Flowers Regiment in the year 1777 and was discharged by Captain John Jordan at the Carlisle Barrack after having served four years  That this discharge was by order Brigadeer  General Irvine in the year 1781 as appeared by the original discharge which also  as his petition sets forth accompanied the petition

The deponent has a copy of this petition now before him and he firmly believes that the certificate of marriage and the original discharge mentioned in the petition together with depositions to prove the facts set forth therein were presented by this deponent to the senate and that they with the petition were referred to the Commissioner on claims as is imported in the minute which will be found on Page 436 of the Printed Journal of the Senate for the Session of 1833. 34.

Deponent has a strong impression that the petition was or accompanied by a deposition of one John Hutton well known as a soldier of the Revolutionary war who lived in Carlisle but who is since dead

According to the order of business in the Senate the petitions and documents when the [illegible] was reported should have been returned
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to the Clerk of the Senate whose business it was to file their papers and I have no doubt they were [illegible] returned and they should be in the Archives of that body

But the department has reason to believe that some papers have not been carefully kept and that it not unfrequently happens that they can [illegible] to be found
Chs. B. Penrose 

Sworn and subscribed this 22d day of January 1851 Before me 
Thomas D. Smith
Commissioner authorized by Law to administer oaths