Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3425, John Griffith, N.C.
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Service: N.C.
Griffith, John
Number: S3425
Carded
Contents
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Inscribed on the Roll of East Tennessee at the rate of 22 dollars 33 cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1834.

Certificate of Pension issued the 18 day of January 1834 and James A. Coffin, Madisonville

Arrears to the 4th of Sept                    53+83
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March   11.17
                                                             67.00
 Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832

Recorded by Dan Boyd Clerk
Book C.  Vol. 7  Page 44
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28,580
John Griffith
Tennessee
from /80 private
6 months &20 days
$22.33
Direct to
James A. Coffin
Madisonville
E. Tenn.
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State of Tennessee Circuit Court S.S.
Monroe County.  Personally appeared in open Court this 11th day of November, 1833, before the Hon. Charles F. Keith, John Griffith a resident of said County of Monroe, aged 77 years, who being first duly sworn according to Case, doth, in his oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.
That he was born in Lancaster County, Pa, in the year of 1756.  He has no record of his age, except that he took the date of his birth, (when he married) from his father's records, which is long since lost.  He was living in Rowan County No. Carolina, when called into service, where he remained till about 13 years ago, when he moved into Blount County, T. and lived there about a year then moved into said Monroe County where he has resided ever since.
In the summer of the year 1780 applicant expected to be drafted & volunteered for 3 months (in the company of Capt. James Pervine, Lieut. Thomas Morrison under Col. Armstrong & Major O'Neal) to go down towards Camden against the British and Tories.  He started with somewhere about 800 from Salisbury, Rowan Co. No. Ca. and joined Genl. Rutherford a few miles below, with about a similar force, then marched on in company with him) and crossed the Pedee [Peedee] just above the mouth of Rock-river (where Genl. Davidson with some troops left them & went down Rock-river against tories, in which excursion he was wounded) - then marched down the North side of Pedee [Peedee] to Cheraw hill and dispersed some British & Tories.  Remained there some days, then marched on to Lynch's Creek where, likewise, they dispersed some British & Tories, then marched on to Rouchley's Mill, and remained till all the troops- Regular and Militia - assembled under Genl Gates, Genl Dekalb & about the middle of August they marched toward Camden and met the British under Cornwallis, by whom they were defeated.  Applicant was in the battle, which took place early in the morning; but during the engagement the smoke being so thick that he could not see distinctly, he stooped and on looking under it saw the British but a very few steps off charging bayonets, when he and those with him retreated and were dispersed, and returned home, not knowing where to rendezvous.  He remained at home a few days, his feet being exceedingly sore with blood blisters, then joined his company at Charlotte, (some of whom were missing having been killed or taken prisoners) and served out his term with said Capt. Pervine, who was under Command of Col. Lock till Genl. Davidson sufficiently recovered from his would to resume command.  He rec'd no discharge, & doesn't know that any of the Militia did.  He was a private of Infantry.
In the summer of 1781, after Cornwallis had marched on through Salisbury in triumph, applicant volunteered under Capt. Abel Armstrong, Ireland Lieut. - Lucky Ensign and Rutherford Genl. to go down against the British who were then stated at Wilmington
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Wilmington, N. C.  They marched from Salisbury Eastwardly, (crossing Pedee River), down to the Raft Swamp - dispersed some British & Tories on the south side of Cape Fear River - then turned and marched 60 or 70 miles up the county - crossed Cape Fear river below Fayetteville and marched towards Wilmington within nine miles of which they camped at Clayton's plantation, where they remained a considerable time - not remembered how long - and where they were when intelligence arrived of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown.  As applicant remembers the troops were marched out to a high field, where they fired 3 rounds by way of rejoicing.  Soon afterward, they returned home.  He was engaged in this campaign 3 months, for which he rec'd no discharge, private, of Infantry.
During the last two years of the Rev. War, while at home in said Rowan County, he was called our frequently and rendered serving at several times, under his Militia Capt Joseph Sharp, in marching against the Tories - many of whom they caught & conveyed to jail in Salisbury.  Tories were there very numerous & troublesome.  He cannot state any particular circumstances of importance relative to this service, nor definitely how long he served, but is convinced not less than 3 weeks.  He should conclude, from all he can remember, something In one for which he rec'd no discharge - (In all 6 months & 3 weeks).
The following persons are at present his neighbors and can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief in his services as a soldier of the Revolution.  Joseph Marshall Esq., George C. Harris, Henry Marshall and Charles Wilson.  He has no documentary evidence and knows of no one whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Shown to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
John (X, his mark) Griffith
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We Enoch A. Moore a clergyman, and Henry Marshall both residing in the said county of Monroe. Tn hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Griffith, who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be 77 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 to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid.
Enoch A. Moore
Henry Marshall

E.  H. Wear, DC
And the said Court do hereby declare this 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 Enoch W. Moore who has signed the above certificate is a clergyman and that Henry Marshall who has signed the same is a credible person; that both are resident in the said county of Monroe; that they are credible persons, and their statement entitled to credit.
(signed) Charles T. Keith, Judge Presiding

I, John B. Tipton, Clerk of the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Tn, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the applications of John Griffith for a pension.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and private seal, having (illegible) affixed, this 11 day of November, 1833
(signed) John B. Tipton  clk
By E. H. Wear  DC

I James Standifer, a member of Congriss (Congress) from the State of Tennessee do certify that John B. Tipton is the Clerk of said Circuit Court, and that E. H. Wear who had the foregoing certificate is his lawful deputy.
(signed) James Standifer  MC
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 In reply to your request of Thu 21 {illegible}, received Thu 23 for a statement of the military history of John Griffith S. J. 3425 a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you will find below the desired information as contained in his  {in parentheses "or his widow's'" is crossed out} application for pension on file in this bureau.

Dates of Enlistment or Appointment
Summer 1780
Summer 1784 

Length of Service
3 mos
3 mos
3 weeks

Rank
Pri.
Pri

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED
Captain James Pervine 
Captain Abel Armstrong
Captain Joseph Sharp

Colonel
Armstrong
Lock

State
N.C.

Battles engaged in, Camden (Gate's Depot)
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Rowan Co. N.C.
Date of application for pension, Nov. 11, 1833
Residence at date of application, Monroe Co., Tenn.
Age at date of application, b. 1756 in Lancaster Co., Pa.
Remarks: No claim was allowed.  No family data in claim.  No reference to battle of King's Mountain.
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1909 Aug 26: Hist. to Mrs. Mary Carithers Chesley
524 Meigs St.
Athens, Ga.   M.B.H.
1909 Sept. 11,
above ref. [referenced] to aud [auditor] for Intent

Rev War
3425
INVALID
File No. 3425
John Griffith
Pvt, N.C. line
Act: June 7 "32
Index: Vol. A, Page 149
[Arrangement of 1870]
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Record Division.
September 11, 1909.

Mrs. Mary C. Chesley,
# 524 Meigs Street,
Athens, Ga.
Madam:
In reply to your letter dated the 6" and received the 7" instant, you are advised that the papers in the pension claim of John Griffith, Sur. File No. 3, 425, fail to show the date of his death.
For the date of last payment of his pension and the name of the person to whom said payment was made, apply to the Auditor for the In-
terior Deparment, U. S. Treasury Department, citing the following data:
"John Griffith, certificate No. 25, 495, issued January 13, 1834 under the Act of June 7, 1832, at the East Tennessee Agency".
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Billups Phinozy President
A. E. Griffith Secretary
The Southern Mutual Insurance Co.
Athens, Georgia
Athens, Ga., Aug. 21, 1909
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir: -
Revolutionary War, -John Griffith, North Carolina.
Please give me description and record of service in Revolutionary War (or any information you have) of John Griffith of North Carolina.
Family tradition and record tells of his being wounded at the battle of Kings Mountain, N.C. -about October, 1781, and I will be glad if you will give me any information concerning his service on record in your department. 
Very Respectfully,
(Mrs) Mary Carithers Chesley,
#524 Meigs Street,
Athens, Ga. 
U.S. Pension Office
A 
Aug 
23
1909
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Athens, Ga
Sept. 6, 1909
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington

Dear Sir-
The Revolutionary War record of John Griffith of N.C. was received and I thank you for you prompt reply.
The date of his death however was not given.  Will you please send me the date of his death & the date of the expiration of his pension.
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Thanking you in advance.
Very sincerely (Mrs.) Mary Carithers Chesley.
524 Meigs St.
Athens, Ga.

There's a round Pensions Office stamp dated Sep 7, 1909 at bottom of letter.
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County Land Warrant Record Card
Griffith, John
Private
Pennsylvania

Warrant Number 9456
Issued May 16, 1791
to ___not shown