Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5471, John Harrison, Va.
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Service ^Va. Harrison, John^. Number ^S.5471^
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2037
Virginia
[double line separates next section]
John Harrison
of Madison in the State of Virginia
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain ------ of the Regt. commanded 
by Col: Willis --- in the Virginia
line for 3 years from 1777 -
[double line separates next section]
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia ---
at the rate of 80 --- Dollars --- Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
[double line separates next section]
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 -- day of Nov: 1832 ---- and sent to B. Cave Madison, Va
[double line separates next section]
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832  120
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4- March 1833. 40
$160- [total amount enclosed in box on right side of page]
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832 [in brackets]
Recorded by Nathan Rice  Clerk, 
Book D  Vol. 7. Page 123.
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Declaration
In order to obtain the [illegible] of Congress of the 7th of June 1832
______________
Virginia Madison County SS.
On this 23rd day of August 1832 personally appeared before the Justice of the County Court of Madison John Harrison a resident 
of Madison County Virginia aged Seventy two years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make  the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed 
June 7th 1832 that he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year  1776 or 1777 (I am not positive which) with Ensign John Pope an officer before going to the Regiment then called the North Virginia State Regiment It was on the 24th day of Dec. that I enlisted  but the date has escaped my memory The Regiment which I joined it was under the Command of Col. Lewis Willis and a  part of the Weadons [Weedon's] Brigade the company to which I was attached was Commanded  by Capt. John Monjoy [Mountjoy] The period for which
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[A piece of the upper left corner of the paper is missing. The page has been broken in half and the two halves don't quite match up in the scanned image.] 
was three years. I was not quite sixteen years old at the time of my enlistment. I was a part of the time attached to the Company commanded by Capt. John Spotswood, and very often detailed as Company Guard, I left the service after the expiration of three which was in the years 1779 or 1780.
At the time of my enlistment I lived with my father in the County of King George in the State of Virginia. I have resided in Madison County Virginia for the last Forty two years. A short time after I joined the Regiment I was marched to Wilmington in the state of Delaware and not long after marched to New Castle where I was inoculated for the small Pox. In some short time I was marched (or rather went  by Water) to Philadelphia. After remaining in Philadelphia about three weeks the Army or that part to which I was attached proper such a great variety of marches and counter marches and wintered at Valley Forge sixteen miles from Philadelphia, I was in the engagement
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[illegible] the Battle of Germantown I was in the reserve and trotted about a half mile from Stoney Point at the time of storming and takeing [sic] that Fortress. In the morning after the capture I was detached to guard the prisoners that surrendered. Shortly after this the American army or that part of it to which I was attached was variously employed principally in marching and counter marching I assisted in the demolishing Stony Point fort some time after the surrender In the Course of my services in the northern army a was a good deal in and about West Point and Trenton. It was at a place called Middlebrook and near it I spent a good part of one winter. The lapse of time and my want of education prevents my recollecting accurately the day and date of many events in which I was concerned and among others an enterprise in which I was engaged at Powlers-Hook [Paulus Hook]. That part of the
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Army to which I was attached was [illegible as the upper right corner of page is missing] -ded into three Divisions and undertook to make a descent upon Powlers-Hook [Paulus Hook]. It was so planned that the three divisions were ordered to take different routes and to concentrate about the break of day upon the enemy at that point--whilst my memory fails me as to the day and date of this dangerous enterprise I recollect very well that the division to which I belonged was the only one that reached the Hook at all and we succeeded in taking about sixty prisoners without the loss of a man--and above all I will remember that I received as a donation Sixty Dollars for the enterprise.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or an annuity except the present and the denies that his name is not on the pension Roll of any agency in any state 
I wish to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid:  John Harrison + his mark
And this Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary war soldier and served & served as he states.
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And we succeeded in taking about 
Sixty prisoners without the loss of a 
man--and above all I will remember 
that I received as a donation Sixty Dollars 
for the enterprise.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever 
to a pension or an annuity except the present 
and the denies that his name is not on 
the pension Roll of any agency in any state 
I wish to and subscribed
the day and year aforesaid  John Harrison + his mark
And this Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above
named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served
[illegible] as he states.
     I Belfield Cave clerk of the county court of said County 
Madison do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original 
proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of
John Harrison for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set
my hand seal of office this 27th day
of August 1832
[seal on left] Belfield Cave [illegible]
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I Churchill Gibbs of the County of Madison 
in the State of Virginia a surviving officer 
of George Gibson's Regiment do hereby 
certify that John Harrison of Madison County 
Virginia has resided near me for near 
forty years andI have had frequent 
conversations with him on the subject of 
the events of the Revolutionary War, and 
among other things has spoken of many 
things that occurred to my knowledge at 
Valley Forge in the spring of 1778 and of 
occurrences likewise at Middlebrook 
the following winter, I had no knowledge 
of John Harrison until since the War of 
the Revolution but I have no doubts he 
was a Soldier of the Revolution, I take 
pleasure in saying that John Harrison 
is a man of truth and verasity [veracity] in my 
opinion, Given under my hand this 2nd
day of August 1832 
Churchill Gibbs
Sworn to this day and date aforesaid,
C [illegible] R Gibbs
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I Burdict Reddish aged about Eighty nine years of
the County of Madison and state of Virginia
do hereby certify that I moved from the County of King George to Stafford about the year of 1770 and 
was well acquainted with John Harrison and family
who resided in King George-- I frequently visited
my former neighborhood a distance of about sixteen 
miles after my removal and the father of said John 
Harrison and always understood and believe that
he John had inlisted [enlisted] in Capt John Monjoy's Comp
-ny for three years and marched to the North in the 
Revolutionary Army--I do not recollect the date of 
his inlistment [enlistment] but it was some in the one thousand
seven hundred and seventy odd
The above was sworn to before me a Magistrate of
Madison County this 25th day of June 1832 by said Reddish
R. C. Benton
I Churchill Gibbs of the County of Madison
in the State of Virginia a surviving officer 
[bottom line is cut off and illegible]
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John Harrison
Virginia
No 2691
$80
Belfield Cave
Clerk Court of Madison County,
Madison C. H.
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BRIEF in the case of ^John Harrison^
of ^Madison County^ in the State of ^Virginia^
(Act 7th June. 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or Judge? ^Court^
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? [no written response]
3. How old is he? ^72 Years^
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
[column headings: Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. 
^4^ In 17 ^76 or 1777^. Years, ^3^ Months ^3^ [crossed out]. Days, ^"^. As a ^Private^. Gen ^Col. Lewis Willis Capt. John Montjoy Company Ensign John Pope 10th Regiment Virginia Line^
5. In what battles was he engaged? ^Germantown. Honey Point. Powlers Hook^
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? ^King George County Virginia^
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? ^One Living witness in part & Traditionary on Roll^
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentification? and if so, in what respect? [no written response]
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case mentioned above. ^C Litle^ Examining Clerk.
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May 15, 1933
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
BA-J/EEL
John Harrison-S.5471

Mrs. D.P. Haynes
706 S. Main Street
Oxford, Alabama

Dear Madam:

     Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to John Harrison and his son, Robert Harrison, soldiers of the Revolutionary War, of Virginia.

     A careful search of the Revolutionary War records has been made in your behalf and no record found of a claim for pension or bounty land having been made on account of the services of a Richard Harrison, the son of this John Harrison. The history of John Harrison is given below as found in the papers on file in his claim for pension, S.5471, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.

     The date and place of birth of John Harrison are not shown in the papers in the pension claim. At the time of his enlistment, he was residing with his father in King George County, Virginia: the names of his parents are not given.

     He enlisted December 24, 1776 [handwritten insert ^He said 1776 or 1777 but as 1776 makes his age right, I used 1776.^], when not quite sixteen years of age, served as a private in Captains John Mountjoy's and John Spotswood's Companies, Colonel Willis' Virginia Regiment: he was in the battle of Germantown, wintered at Valley Forge, was stationed about a half mile from the fortress at Stony Point at the time of the storming of that place and did not participate in the engagement but was afterward detailed to guard the prisoners taken there; and he was later in the attack on Paulus Hook, where his command took a number of prisoners: the entire length of his service was three years.

     He was allowed pension on his application executed August 23, 1832, at which time he was residing in Madison County, Virginia, where, he stated, he had lived for forty-two years.
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May 15, 1933
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
BA-J/EEL
John Harrison-S.5471

Mrs. D.P. Haynes
706 S. Main Street
Oxford, Alabama

Dear Madam:

     Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to John Harrison and his son, Robert Harrison, soldiers of the Revolutionary War, of Virginia.

     A careful search of the Revolutionary War records has been made in your behalf and no record found of a claim for pension or bounty land having been made on account of the services of a Richard Harrison, the son of this John Harrison. The history of John Harrison is given below as found in the papers on file in his claim for pension, S.5471, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.

     The date and place of birth of John Harrison are not shown in the papers in the pension claim. At the time of his enlistment, he was residing with his father in King George County, Virginia: the names of his parents are not given.

     He enlisted December 24, 1776 [handwritten insert ^He said 1776 or 1777 but as 1776 makes his age right, I used 1776.^], when not quite sixteen years of age, served as a private in Captains John Mountjoy's and John Spotswood's Companies, Colonel Willis' Virginia Regiment: he was in the battle of Germantown, wintered at Valley Forge, was stationed about a half mile from the fortress at Stony Point at the time of the storming of that place and did not participate in the engagement but was afterward detailed to guard the prisoners taken there; and he was later in the attack on Paulus Hook, where his command took a number of prisoners: the entire length of his service was three years.

     He was allowed pension on his application executed August 23, 1832, at which time he was residing in Madison County, Virginia, where, he stated, he had lived for forty-two years.
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     It is not stated that soldier was ever married.

     In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, John Harrison (S.5471), you should address the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, citing all of the following data:

     John Harrison, Certificate No. 3057, issued November 17, 1832, rate $80 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, Virginia Agency.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
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In reply to your request of _______, received _______ [illegible] statement of the military history of ^John Harrison^ a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. ^S. file 5471^
[column headings: DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.]
^Dec. 26th 1776 or 1777. 3 years. Prv. John Mountjoy. John Spotswood. Lewis Willis. Va.^
Battles engaged in, ^Germantown, Stony Point, Paulus Hook.^
Residence of soldier at enlistment, ^King George, Va^
Date of application for pension, ^Aug. 23, 1832^ 
Residence at date of application, ^Madison Co., Va^
Age at date of application, ^72 years^
Remarks: ^There is no data in file about family^

[Illegible]? see John - G.L.Wt. 1075 [Illegible]
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September 25, 1922

G. W. Bartley,
Fulton, Missouri.

Sir:-

     In response to your letter dated August 20, 1922, you are advised that you were furnished the history of John Harrison, S. File No. 5471, Revolutionary War, on May 1, 1920, and it is not the practice of this Bureau to send the same record twice to any person, owing to lack of clerical force available for such a purpose.

Very respectfully yours, 

Chief Clerk
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U. S. Department of the Interior
Washington D.C.

Gentlemen-

 I write to ask of one John Harrison and (his son) Richard Harrison, what their Revolutionary War services were? And if I have the correct information of their pensions? 

John Harrison, Jan 1761, of Halifax Co. whose will is recorded by Carrington Fo 301_date of probate not given. 

From "Virginia Soldiers"- Burgess Vol 1 P 240--:
Certificates for officers of 7th Reg.
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I want also to express my deep appreciation of the splendid work your office does in verifying incidents recorded by our Historians and in family traditions. I, personally have received valuable data.

(Mrs D.D) Rosa W. Haynes
705 S. Main St.
Oxford, Ala-
May 4-1933.
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John Harrison entered service Dec. 16. 1776 continues(ued) to Mch 31-1781"
Same, Vol 4, P 468 
"John Harrison Private enlisted under Capt Mount Joy in 1776 served three years - married 1687 issued feb 27, 1839"
Same, Vol 3.
"To Harrison, John and Harrison, Richard, June 24, 1791, 140 acres of [crossed out] order of Capt M or N aurice Mathews Surveyor General."
I will appreciate a verification of the above.
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Wilson & Co.
Packers and Provisioners
Chicago, U.S.A.

October 11th, 1922.

Dep't of Interior
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen:-

   I am very anxious to obtain any information I can as to the Revolution record of one of my ancestors, Mr. John Harrison, of Madison Co. Va. I have every reason to believe that he served in the Revolution War, and was  placed on pension roll about the year 1832.

     Any information you can furnish me will, I assure you be very greatfully appreciated.

     Thanking you in advance, I beg to remain,
     Very truly yours,
    ^Ira B. Bartley^
     Off. Wilson & Company,
     U. S. Yards, 
     Chicago, Illinois

IBB/B
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Fulton Mo
Aug 25 1922

Dept. of Interior
Pension Dept.

Dear Sirs:

     Please give me all the information you have concerning John Harrison who was a soldier in the War of the Revolution from Madison Co. Va. Placed on pension rollabout 1831 or 18. 2.

    Yours Truly

    G. W. Bartley

U.S. Pension Office Aug 28 1922 [stamp]
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May 4 1909.

Pension Office.

     Will you kindly give me the records of the following men during the Revolutionary War?

     Address

     Mrs. A. E. Shetzline
     4812 Warrington Ave
     West Philiadelphia Pa

U.S. Pension Office. A May 5 1909 [stamp]
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John Still or Steel enlisted June 6th, 1778 with the Maryland Vol under Oldham and Goodman

John Harrison Lieut. Contl line 3 years ending Dec. 16, 1779. Virginia

Joseph Hill Captain of the Militia of Isle of Wight Co. Virginia resigned about June 5, 1777.

Henry Harrison Captain of the Militia of Isle of Wight Co. Virginia took the usual oaths Nov. 15, 1772.

U.S. Pension Office A May 5, 1909 [stamp]
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Incorporated Feb. 3, 1893
Capital $20,000
Office of 
The J. W. Harrison Mercantile Co.
Dealers in
Dry Goods, Clothing,
Gents' Furnishing Goods, Trunks, Valises, Etc.

Higginsville, Mo.
Mr. ^[illegible] bur of Pensions
Washington DC
Dr Sir
My Grandfather served several years in the Revolutionary War. his name is John Harrison and enlisted in Madison or Fauquire Cos. [illegible] please examine the Records to see if he drew a pension under the Act of 1818 or 1832 please give me a Record of his military Service and you will greatly oblige me.

Yours resp.
J.W. Harrison
PO Higginsville Mo^
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[Left page]
^Revolutionary^ ^5471^
INVALID.
File No. ^5471^
^John Harrison
Pri Rev War^
Act: ^June 7th 32^
Index:--Vol. ^M^, Page ^159^
{Arrangement of 1870.]

[Right page]
^Dec. 12, 1895
Mr. J. W. Harrison
Higginsville, Mo^
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
^Sept 19 '98
D. S. Lamb
Wash DC^

^1909 May 14. Hist to Mrs A. E. Shetzline [cents symbol]^
______________
^1920, May 1. Hist to G. W. Bartley-Fulton, Mo. En.^
______________
^Letter in S.46002 Churchill Gibb^s.
______________
^1922, Sept 25 letter to G. W. Bartley--same record not sent twice etc. En.^
_______________
^1922 Nov. 13-History to Ira B. Bartley. aur.
1932-Sept. 21-Hist. to Mrs. J. Elliott Lyons. ILL: see letter-R.H. John Harrison-B.L.M. 1075-same date-ILL
1933-May 15-History to Mrs J.P. Haynes^
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of ^John Harrison^ which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? ^Yes^
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? ^Yes^
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? ^Yes^
V. Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? ^Yes^
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? ^Yes^
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? ^Yes^
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? ^Yes^
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? ^Yes^
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguised from any other seal? ^Yes^
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XI. Has the applicant obtained evidence of a clergyman and other respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? ^__^

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? ^__^

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? ^One living witness is party^

XIV. If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to this service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? ^No^

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? ^Yes^

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? ^Yes^

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department and if not, which of them is not so answered? 
_______________
EXPLANATORY NOTES.

QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, etc. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that , by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For ----- year ----- --- months and ------- days. I served as a -------. For ----- months and ------- days, I served as a ----- -----; and for such service I claim a pension."
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     It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three of four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.

QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.    
    In a case where the name of the applicant isn't found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.

QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
     In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached therein by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.