Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16428, for Hardy Johnson, North Carolina
Page 1

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

Service: N.C.	Johnson, Hardy	Number: S16428
                                                        Carded
Contents
Page 2

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

Georgia	16831
Hardy Johnson
Houston in the State of GA
who was a private in the [blank in MS] command by Captain [blank in MS] of the Regiment command by Col. Taylor in the N. Carolina  line for 6 months

Inscribed on the roll of Georgia at the rate of 20 Dollars [crossed] cents per annual to commence on the 4th day of March 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 5 day of Oct. 33 and [illegible] Jas. M. Kelly
Perry. Houston C. Ga
Arrears to the 4th Sep. 1833.			50 [crossed]
Semi-annual allowance ending [illegible]: 34 	10 [crossed]
							$60 [crossed]
							{Revolutionary Claim,}
							{Act June 7, 1832.	}
Recorded by Nath Rice [crossed] clerk
Book E   Vol. 6 Page 94
Page 3

[handwritten]

No. 25605
Hardy Johnson Houston County Georgia

 Admit as a pri [Private.] 6 mo. $20 [crossed]

The case of Jeremiah Dupree mentioned in the accompanying [illegible], is attached to the case of Hardy Johnson enclosed in the brief.

James M. Kelly (Perry) Houston
County Georgia
Page 4

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

War Department
Pension Office
183	
Sir,
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus:} ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A Statement, showing the Service of Hardy Johnson Houston County Georgia
Period when the service was rendered.
Drafted
Drafted
Duration of the claimant’s service.
Years 		Months	Days
[crossed]	3		[crossed]
[crossed] 	3		[crossed]
Rank of the claimant.
Private
(‘‘)
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.
{Capt, Philips, Capt. Gwinn, Col. Taylor, Gen. Butler
{Capt. High, Col. (‘‘), Gen. Butler
Age at present and work abode when he entered the service.
75 years
Wake County 
N. Carolina
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary [Traditionally] evidence- papers properly attached
Battle at Guilford Courthouse,

I am respectfully,
Your Obedient Servant,
J.L. Edwards
Page 5

[typed form]

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
	The following regulations have been adopted: 
	This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of Army, and to include under the terms “Continental Line,” “State Troops,” “militias,” and “volunteers,” all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
	Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1.	The Regular Troops.
2.	  The State Troops, Militias, and Volunteers. 
3.	Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4.	Indian Spies.
As roll of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County were such applicant resides. And every Court by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record. 
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of County of [blank in MS] }88.
On this [blank in MS ] day of [blank in MS] personally appeared ( ) before [blank in MS ] A.B. a resident ( ) of [blank in MS ] in the county of [blank in MS ] and State, Territory, or District of [blank in MS ] aged ( ) [blank in MS] years, who being first duty sworn, according to the law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed Junes 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year ( ) [blank in MS], with [blank in MS] and served in the [blank in MS] ( ) regiment of the [blank in MS] line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and of his officers ;) the town or county and State in which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militias, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim ( ) whatever 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, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of [blank in MS]
Sworn to and subscribed that day and year aforesaid.
	[And then follow the certificate of the Court]
	And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion ( ) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and as he served as he states.
	I [blank in MS ] of the Court of [blank in MS] do hereby certify ( ) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of [blank in MS] for a pension.
	In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office ( ) this day to [blank in MS] &c.
	If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note ( ) points out [blank in MS]
	Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militias, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
	( ) We, A.B., a Clergyman. residing in the [blank in MS] and C.D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [blank in MS], who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be [blank in MS] 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. 
			Sworn and subscribed that days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.] 
  	And the said Court do hereby declare their 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 A.B. and that C.D. who has also signed the same is a resident in the [blank in MS] and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, [blank in MS] Clerk of the Court of [blank in MS] do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of [blank in MS] for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this [blank in MS] day of [blank in MS] &c.  							           
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
	If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, ( ) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
Page 6

[typed form]

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensible to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be ex-[sic.] expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
	The Court will propound following ( ) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, an account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1.	Where and in what year were you born?
2.	Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3.	Where were you living when called to service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you live now?
4.	How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5.	  State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. 
6.	{To a soldier. {Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
{To an officer. {Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  
7.	States the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditionary [sic.] evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject. 
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge of Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, atttend [sic.] the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
Page 7

[handwritten responses]

State of Georgia}
County of Houston}
	On this twenty fourth of April in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared in open court before the honorable Christopher B. Strong judge of the Superior Courts in and for the county aforesaid, now sitting, Hardy Johnson a resident and citizen of the said state and county, aged in and about seventy five years, rules 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 papers June of the 1832 that he entered the services of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated, toured, in Wake County in the State of North Carolina, the day and month nor recollected, but he thinks about two months previous to the Battle of Guilford Court House in said state of North Carolina, this deponent was drafted} to serve a three months lower & was mustered in the Calvary commanded by Captain Thomas Philips, at Raleigh in said county of Wake yours needed these to Guilford Court House where the said company to which the deponent belonged was adjourned to the command  of Captain Edward Gwinn who as deponent was informed had been a Captain in the Continental line of North Carolina--Said  company was attached to the Regiment commanded by Colonel Taylor (His Christian name not recollected if ever knows by document) of the Militias under the command General Butler_ The  deponent was in the Battle of Guilford Court House before named, and joining the engagement, Col. Saylor was in military in the rear of the deponent, encouraging and engaging the soldiery to fight bravely, which they did do. [crossed out]
Page 8

[handwritten responses]

General Greene on that occasion conducted the operation of the American Forces, but more immediately commanded the Regulars groups. The deponent recollected General Greene, he was of larger stature than common and his countenance was rather blessing than otherwise and indicated mildness of temper and disposition_The deponent saw him [crossed out] a few days before said battle where his papers were very much excited in Congress of one of the soldiering improperly discharging his musket whereby one of the men was killed, on that occasion he acted with a strategy and decision, and searing determination to punish exemplarily the offender, until he ascertained if were accidental mainly_ In the early part of the seasoning fall, & after the deponent had accomplished and was discharged from the before mentioned, the deponent was again drafted and mustered into service at Raleigh in the said county of Wake North Carolina under the command of Captain Robert High, and was attached to a Regiment commanded by Colonel Moore, and the before named General Butler was the general in command. The said company proceeded toward Wilmington No- Ca of remained in the neighbourhood of that city until it was evacuated by the evening-- The last mentioned service was a three months tour_ The deponent served two tours of three months each as before mentioned & received regular discharges for the same,_ which discharges have long since been destroyed & cannot be forwarded by this deponent_ The deponent contributed the lessen of ninety dollars in employing two substituting to serve in the army of the United States  for two years & six months and was there by exempted from a draft himself_ This was some three years or about that length of time before the Battle of Guilford Court
Page 9

[handwritten responses]

House—The circumstances of the aforesaid contribution were these, if were purposed by the then Military Authorities that every twelve men who would employ our substitute should be exempt from draft for the space of times for which such substitute might be employed, and the deponent & others employed substitute as before named and each paid the recess of ninety dollars for the services of the two substitute. The deponent was born in Cumberland County state of North Carolina, about the year seventeen hundred and fifty seven or fifty eight, according to the statements of his Parent. The deponent has no recollection that any record was ever kept of his age_ The department during the Revolutionary War was a citizen of & resident within (except which in service as before stated) Wake County in the state of North Carolina. Shortly after the conclusion of said war the deponent removed to the state of Georgia in which he has rescinded ever since. The deponent did serve a [illegible] before stated, but has no evidence of his said service that he can process at this time his said discharges having been long since destroyed—The deponent was not with soldiers of the Continental lines accepting at the Battle of Guilford Court House, if he has forgotten the names of the Regular officers whom he then [illegible] excepting that of General Greene,_ The deponent is acquainted with Isaac Norris, Benjamin Webb, James Dixon, and others his neighbors who can testify as to the deponent’s character for veracity & their belief of his services as before stated_ The deponent hereby relinquish—his every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the [illegible] and declares that his name is not on this pension. Roll of the agency of any state, or (if any) only on that of the agency of the state of Georgia
Sworn to subscribed in open court the day and year first aforesaid 
C.B. Strong  									his
{Hardy   +  Johnson 
[Illegible]									Mark
Page 10

[handwritten responses]

Mr [crossed out] Norris—a clergyman residing in the said county of Houston & Reuben Runnels residing in the Saws County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with the said Hardy Johnson who has subscribed and served to the forging Declaration, that we believe him to be about serving five years of ay as he states, that his refuted and believed in the neighborhood when he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution as he states & that we concern in that opinion.
Sworn to subscribed the said   
 9th day of April 1833			}Isaac Norris Jd 
C.B. Strong				}Reuben Runnels
[Illegible]
And the said court does hereby declare its opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogation prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a soldier in the Revolutionary War & served as he states. And the court further certifies that it appears to the court that Isaac Norris who has signed the prescribing certificate is a clergyman resident in the said county of Houston & that said Reuben Runnels who also signed certificate is a resident in the said county Houston & is a creditable person & that their statement is entitled to credit
Christopher B. Strong 
										[Illegible] [Illegible] [Illegible]. Disi
										Georgia
Georgia}
Houston County-} I Johnson Wellborn Clerk of the Superior Court in and for the said county do by certify that the foregoing  contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of the said Hardy Johnson for a pension he testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and private seal having no seal of office this twenty fourth day of April eighteen hundred and thirty three
Johnson Wellborn} 
of  Superior Court 
Houston County
Georgia}
Houston County-} the under signed do hereby certify that they are acquainted with the
Page 11

[handwritten responses]

that said Reuben Runnels who also signed said certificate is a resident in the said county Houston & is creditable person & that their statement is entitled to credit  
Christopher B. Strong 
										[Illegible] [Illegible] [Illegible]. Dist
										Georgia
Georgia}
Houston County-} I Johnson Wellborn Clerk of the Superior Court in and for the said county do by certify that the forging contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of the said Hardy Johnson for a pension he testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and private seal having no seal of office this twenty fourth day of April eighteen hundred and thirty three
Johnson Wellborn}
of Superior Court 
Houston County
Houston County-} the under signed do hereby certify that they are acquainted with the said Hardy Johnson and that his character for truth and veracity is without reproach or blemish, and we sincerely & truly believe that the said Hardy Johnson did serve as a soldier in the Revolutionary War as he has stated in the annexed Declaration_ This 24th day of April 1833 
Beny [Benny] Webb
Page 12

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

1642[crossed out] 8
INVALID

No.  16428 						
Hardy Johnson
Pri   Rev   War
Act: June 7 “32
Index:--Vol. A, Page 447
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 13

[handwritten responses]

Perry Houston County Georgia
August 24th 1833-
JL Edward Esq.
Court of Pensions
	Dear Sir
	 Enclosed I return you the claim of Hardy Johnson with the amendment accessing to the facts, and which I think is now sufficiently made out_ According to your request I have detached the claim of Jeremiah Dupree and so [Illegible] and can obtain a new testimonial from our Executive of its authority I will forward it also_ The original testimonial accompanying Johnson’s claim is undoubtedly sufficient;_ And the amendment being sworn to before the proper officer and certified by the Clerk, seem to me to be  sufficiently authentic_ I  am not at all disapprove of the strict rules you have adopted, as your objection to avoid imposition; but I remember that Mr. George Tarvice of this county presented a claim, which was received, and a certificate granted him, without his being at the previous trouble & expense of obtaining a testimonial or-
	As you sent me no brief relative to Mr. Dupree claim, I take it for granted that it is unobjectionable,_ and [crossed out] shall send it on as soon as practicable _Mr. Powell lives in the adjourning County [Illegible], and I shall see him before next month, when I will have his Declaration explained if he can explain it consistently with the truth; which from the character the old Mace sustains in that county, I have no doubt he will be able to do_ I am much obliged to you for the letter, & instruction you have given me,_ I hope you will write me with regard Dupree’s claim, whether or not it was demand sufficiently made out.  Executive has to & Illegible] me to be with high respect your obedient servant James McKelly
								
P.S. The applicant Dupree, Johnson & Powell know that they cannot transfer their claims, _ if they could they would [Illegible] transfer them.  	M.C._
Page 14

[handwritten responses]

State of Georgia{ On this twenty fourth day of August in the year of our lord our thousand 
Houston County{ eight  hundred and thirty three, personally appeared before Mr James Holderness a historic of the Peace in for the said County, Hardy Johnson the Declarant   named in the foregoing Declaration, who being duly sworn deposes and says (By way of Amendment to the said foregoing Declaration.) The first three months tour of service, served by the deponent as stated in the said Declaration, was about that period of the Revolutionary War in which the battle at Guilford Court House was fought_ The deponent was in said Battle and has detailed in said Declaration the Circumstances of his said first tour of three months service_ That the second and last tour of three months service served by the deponent was about that period of the said Revolutionary War in which Lord Cornwallis surrendered to Genl. [General]  Washington at the siege of York town in Virginia_ The deponent was in Camps where information arrived of the said surrender, near Wilmington North Carolina_ The British forces about the saw time evacuated Wilmington_ The deponent knows of no person living, and can find no person that he knows of, by whom he can prove the facts stated in said Declaration or in this amendment thereof_ During the last tour that deponent served bolo. Moore commanded the Regiment to which deponent belonged, _ the names of the other officers under whom deponent served are contained in said Declaration_ And in Answer to the Interrogatories annexed to the instructions accompanying the Brig submitted to this deponent by J.L. Edward Esq.
Page 15

[handwritten responses]

Commissioner of Pension, this deponent answers & says, 
1.	That He was born in the County of Cumberland and state of North Carolina about the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty eight, as he has been informed by his parents_
2.	He does not know that any record of his age [Illegible] ever kept by his parents, _ he thinks not.
3.	At the times deponent was called into service he resided in Wake County in the state of North Carolina,_ And that shortly after the expiration of his second tour of service, about fifty one years ago he removed from Wake County No.Ca where he there lived to Burke County in the State of Georgia,_ he resided in Burke County several years & there removed to Emanuel County in the said state of Georgia where he resided to the said county of Houston Georgia where he now lives
4.	That he was drafted both tours
5.	That he has stated the name of General Greene as the only Continental officer whom he knew by sight & whose name he at this time remember__ The Circumstances of his service an detailed in the Declaration of which this is amendatory_ 
6.	That he received regular discharge, but they are lost or destroyed_
7.	That he has already stated in said Declaration the names of persons acquainted with him._    
Personally sworn to subscribed}						his
before me this 24th day of August A.D.}   				Hardy   +   Johnson 
1833 James Holderness JP. 						Mark
Page 16

[handwritten responses]

Georgia} I Johnson Wellborn Clerk of the Superior Court in for the said county of Houston Houston County} do hereby certify that James Holderness where name appears, to the forging affidavit of Hardy Johnson is & was an acting Justice of the Peace in for said County at these times of administering said affidavit and duly & legally authorized to administer the same, and that said affidavit is in due form, & that the same in the true official signature of the said James Holderness as a Justice of the Peace. Testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand private seal having no public seal of office this 24th day of August A.D. 1833- 
Johnson Wellborn Clerk
Page 17

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

Ent. JB Howard
[illegible]
United States of America.
STATE OF GEORIGA.
	By his Excellency Wilson Lumpkin Governor and Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of his State, and of of the Militias thereof.
TO ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:
Know Ye, That Johnson Willborn whose attestations appear to the annexed declarations of Jeremiah Dupree & Hardy Johnson is and was at the date of the same Clerk of the Superior Court of the County of Houston- also that Christopher B. Strong whose attestations appear to said declarations is & was at the date of the same judge of the Superior Courts of the Flint district in said state in which is included the County of Houston._ That said attestations are in due form and by the proper officers

THEREFORE, all in due faith, credit and authority are, and ought to be had given to their attestation as much.
IN TESTIMONTY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the Great Seal of this State to be put and affixed.
DONE at the State-House, Milledgeville, this Seventh day of May in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty three and of the Independence of the United States of America, the fifty seventh 
BY THE GOVERNOR:
(Wilson Lumpkin)
Page 18

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

THEREFORE, all in due faith, credit and authority are, and ought to be had given to their attestation as much.
IN TESTIMONTY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the Great Seal of this State to be put and affixed.
DONE at the State-House, Milledgeville, this Seventh day of May in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty three and of the Independence of the United States of America, the fifty seventh 
BY THE GOVERNOR:
Everard Hamilton		
Secretary of State.
Received 25 cents
William J.W. Wellborn						
Secy. E.D. 
(Read was 50 dollars [illegible] “  yr”)
Page 19

[blank page]
Page 20

[blank page]