Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4687, Reuben Harrison, N.C.
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Service
NC    Harrison, Reuben  
Number  R. 4687
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State of South Carolina
Greeneville district
On this 19th day of March A.D. One
thousand eight hundred and fifty two
personally appeared before me Luther
McBee Ordinary for the district and 
within the State aforesaid.  Reuben
Harrison is a resident of said district 
aged ninety two years.  Who being
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.
He declares 
that he volunteered in the Service of
the United States in the Revolutionary
War Soon after the Declaration
of Independence, the day, month
and year that he volunteered 
and entered the Service he dose
not now remember.  That he 
volunteered in Surry County, North
Carolina and was in actual
Service in that State in Said
War in a company commanded
by Captain William Handwin (or
Hardin) and Col. Owens Richardson
for the period of nine months.  
The Continental Regiments or companies
which composed the Regiment to 
which he was attached he dose 
note now recollect.  But that he
remembers the officers above stated
and privates, Samuel Stewart
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Charles Stewart, Hit Hinby and Henry Hinby, who belonged to the same company with himself, that he has no documentary evidence of his services, and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services. 
He hereby relinquishes his 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.  

In the presence of Reuben Harrison

Sworn to and subscribed before me, Luther M. McBee, Ordinary of Greenville District

We the undersigned, residing in Greenville District, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Reuben Harrison, who has subscribed to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be Ninety Two years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the 
Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
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Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me, Luther M. McBee Ordinary for Greenville District.

And the said court dose hereby declare that it is his opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogations 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 him that Peter C and Joseph Powell, who signed the proceeding certificate, resident (reside) in the district aforesaid and are credible persons, and their statement is entitled to credit.
 The court further certifies said applicant is unable from old age and bodily infirmity to appear in open court.

Luther M. McBee
Ordinary for Greenville District

State of South Carolina, Greenville District

I, David Hoke, Clerk of the Court
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of common pleas and general Sepions (unclear) and within the district and state aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the court of Ordinary for the district and state aforesaid in the matter of the application of Reuben Harrison for pension, and further certifies that Luther McBee whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing proceedings is the ordinary for the district aforesaid and that the court of Ordinary is a court of Record.

In testimony whereof I have herewith set my  (unclear) and seal of office at (unclear) court on this 23 March AD 1880
D. Hoke
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Interrogations put by the court
As Reuben Harrison applicant 
Dear Pensioner
But 1st, When, and in what year were you born
Answer to 1st Int.
I was born in Granville County North Carolina on the 15th day of October, 1769.
but 2nd, Have you any record of your age? If so, where is it?
Answer to 2nd Int.  I have no record of my age at this time. I had a bible in which my age was recorded. Which book, My son Washington Harrison took with him when removed to the state of Georgia about 18 years ago.
Int. 3rd Where were you living when called into Service? Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
Answer to 3rd Int. I was living where I volunteered in the service in (unclear)
over
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County State of North Carolina, after I left the Service I removed with my Father to Tennessee and from thence to Kentucky and lived in Forts and fought the Indians about Four years. From thence I removed with my Father to the State of Georgia where I resided three years. From thence I removed to what is now, Greeneville district South Carolina, and have resided here for upwards of Sixty years

Int 4.th
How were you called into Service, Were you draughted (sic), did you volunteer; or were you a substitute; and if a Substitute for whom?

answer to 4th Int I volunteered in the Service,
Int 5th State the Names of Some of the Regular officers who were with the troops where you Served. "Such Continental and Malitia (sic) Regiments as you can recollect, and the General circumstances of your Services.

Answer to the 5th Int I knew Col -
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Richardson Owens, Captain William
Hardin (or Hardwin) Leutenant Thomas Carlin, Second Leutenant Kit Kirby
The name, or number of the continental Regiments,
or the name or number of
the Regiment to which I was attached
I do not now recollect.
We Marched to different places the name posts or Stations, "I cannot now recollect
in Surry and other counties in
that Section of North Carolina, and
I do not know that any name was
given particularly to them. I was
sent by Col. Richardson Owens with a letter to Col Benjamin Cleveland
from [illegible] Surry County North Carolina to let Cleveland know 
When he Owens would
advance upon the Tories, and on
may was captured by the Tories
Who mal-treated me and threatened to hang me. "A Tory by the
Name of George Roberts took me by
both Arms and Shook me Severely
to make me disclose my business.
After which he made preparations 
to hang me, But his Step-Son
a young man interceded with him
to let me go, on account of my
youth. "The letter I had between
the paper and the body of the
crown of my hat. Which had
been raised, the letter Sliped
in and then fastened down,
After I was discharged by the
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tories I proceeded to clevelands delivered him the letter and returned in safety to the army at Flower Gale.

Int 6th
Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it.
Answer to 6th Int. I did receive a paper from Co Richardson Owens Which I suppose was a discharge the [purepant] of which I do not know as I cannot write nor read writing but it was lost or mislaid many years ago
Int 7th
State the names of persons to whom you have known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier in the Revolution.
Answer to Int 7  Major B. F. Penny atty at law, Col. David Hoke Clerk of the court  of common pleas. Col. G. F. Towns, Mr Peter Cauble, Samuel Mauldin Esquire, Randy McBee Esquire, All of Greenville Village So. Ca
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                                               November 23, 1937.

Mrs. H. E. Montague.                 BA-J/ILL
619 Rock Street                          Reuben Harrison
Little Rock, Arkansas.                 R. 4687


Dear Madam:

     Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of Reuben Harrison, from South Carolina and Francis Kirkland, also of that state.
    
    There is no claim for pension on file based upon service in the Revolutionary War of a Francis Kirkland. The claim for pension has been found based upon service of one Reuben Harrison who resided in South Carolina. The data given herein are shown in the papers on file in that claim, R. 4687.

    Reuben Harrison was born October 15, 1760, in Granville County, North Carolina; the names of his parents are not shown. He lived with his father in Surry County, North Carolina, at the tie of the Revolutionary War, moved after the war to Tennessee, thence to Kentucky and lived at different forts about four years, moved with his father from there to Georgia, where he resided about three years, and then moved to Greenville District, South Carolina. 

    Reuben Harrison applied March 19, 1852, while a resident of Greenville District, South Carolina, for the pension which might have been due on account of his service in the Revolutionary War; he had resided in that county "upwards of sixty years." He stated that he volunteered in Surry County, North Carolina, and served nine months as a private in Captain William Hardin's company, Colonel Richardson Owen's North Carolina regiment, also that during that time he carried a message from his Colonel to Colonel Benjamin Cleveland, was captured by the Tories who threatened to hang him, but finally released him on account of his youth; he did not give any date of enlistment, not the date of his discharge. His claim for pension was allowed as he failed to furnish proof of service as required by the pension law.

     Reuben Harrison stated in 1852 that his son, Washington Harrison,
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had moved to Georgia "about eighteen years ago"; he did not give the name of his own wife, nor the age of said son. There are no further data regarding the family of Reuben Harrison;

Very truly yours,


A.D. Hiller
Executive Assistant 
to the Administrator.
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M. Thompson
July 21, 1832
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Pension Office July 3 1832
Sir
The declaration of Reuben Harrison  for the benefit the Act of  of June 7 1832 has been received and filed. If it be true as he states that he has neither record nor proof of evidence of his service he need not have incurred the expence and trouble of preparing an authenticity his declaration for the department can not grant a pension without some evidence of service performed. It would be a little remarkable if any evidence of his service was in existence that he has not made application before this. If he performed the service he claims for, the evidence my probably be found in the office of the comptroller of South Carolina
(signature)
M Thompson Esq
Present
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No 3835 of
Reuben Harrison
S.C.
M Thompson July 3 1832
4687
Act 7 June 1832
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Washington Apr 2 1852
Hon Jas. C. Heath
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir
Therewith inclose the application of Reuben Harrison of South Carolina
for a pension [umlid] act of 7th June 1832.
I have the honor to be  [ch]
M Thompson
Atty
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Little Rock, Arkansas 619 Rock St.
Nov-8-1937

Received Nov 11 1937
Mail [sun-div]

Veteran's Administration
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
Gentleman:
Please send me the pension declaration of Reuben Harrison, Revolutionary [redin] from South Carolina.
Also the declaration (if any) of Francis Kirkland of South Carolina.
Thanking you, yours very truly,
Mrs. H.E. Montague
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Service                                    Number
N.G.     Harrison, Reuben        R. 4687