Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 10,790, Jesse Harper, Va.
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SERVICE
Va.    Harper, Jesse       S.10.790
                              
                                     carded
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32.901
District of Columbia
Jesse Harper Deed
Tazewell Cty  Virginia
Pri of Army
Revolution
Two Years Va.
Washington City
100 Dollars 00 Cents per annum
4th day of March 1831.  11th
February 1849 when he died
11th day of July
1837 and sent to
S. Godwin, Esq
Present
Arrears to the 4th
Semi-annual allowance ending

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by H R Weightman
Book E  Vol. 6  Page 111
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State of Virginia      }
County of Tazewell  }  SS
   On this 27th day of March personally appeared in
open Court Jessee Harper a resident of the County
of Tazewell & State of Virginia, aged eighty nine years
who being first duly sworn according to law doth on
his oath made the following declaration in order
to attain the benefit of the provision made by the
act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832
   This declarant states that in the year 1779 he
enlisted in the Continental line for three years under
Captain Rogers, at the Mecklenburg Court House Virginia 
Sometime after his enlistment, he was marched to Norfolk
where he remained some months & was then marched to
Williamsburg, where he entered the fifty second regiment
under the Command of Colonial Davis, From this station
he  marched in the early part of the year 17?? to join the
forces under the command of General Green in North
Carolina.  He joined the forces of Genl Green at Boyds ferry
on Dan river sometime in February as declarant thinks
From this point the forces to which he belonged marched
upon Guilford Court, where a general action was
fought with the British under the command of Lord
Cornwallis, in which this declarant was engaged
From thence he was marched back to Williamsburg Virginia
Where he remained stationed until driven out by the 
British previous to the siege of York. He then joined
the forces of Gen Washington, and was at the siege of 
York- This declarant having served out the time for
which he enlisted was regularly discharged, and his
discharge was signed by Captain Waddleton & Coln White
and was dated Nov 3rd 1782.  This declarant states that
this discharge was lost about thirty years ago.  That he has
no documentary evidence by which he can prove the
fact of his services, nor does he now know of any
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living witness by whom he can prove the same.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a
pension or an annuity except the present; and he
declares that his name is not on the pension role of
any Agency in any state
Sworn to and subscribed on the date and year aforesaid
Jesse X his mark Harper

And the Court do hereby declare their opinion
that the above named applicant was a revolutionary
soldier & served as he states
I George W.G. Browne Clerk of the Court of Tazewell County
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original
proceedings of the said Court, in the
application of Jesse Harper for a pension
  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and seal of office this 27th day of March 1844
Geo W.G. Browne
Clk of Tazewell CC

Saml. Laird, Esq
Richmond
Va
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10.790
INVALID
File No.  10.790
Jesse Harper
Priv. Arty Rev War
Act: June 7th 1832
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 163
[Arrangement of 1870]

[vertically in margin:  Rev War]
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Tazewell Cty Va
July 5
Ghimmel Godwin Esq
Washington City
DC
Page 7

No. 35-973
Jesse Harper
Va
Act. 7. June '32

Act 7th June 1832
******************
Mr. Heath says the certificate which
he gave while auditor of Va. in this
case was for only a ballance [sic] of
pay
May 31/57
Page 8

Jesse Harper
VA
Act 7 June 1832
Army 2 yrs pri. Art. $100
per an
Commencing 4 March
1831. & ending ---
--- when he died
Payable to 

[marked out: Payable to him] 

Cert to
S. Goodwoin
Present


[vertically at left side]
The Chief Clerk - Mr. Evans,  is of
opinion that this is a good Claim and
should be allowed for 2 years
K
May 31/57
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Tazewell Ct. Hou
Decr. 13

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

 mail}

fr

[vertically on right]
March 24/44
Jesse Harper
June 7, 1832
Va.
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Jesse Harper Decd.
Va
Act 7 June 1832
Admd 2 yrs pri art $100
per ann: commencing 
4 March 31 & ending
11 Feby '49 when he died
Payable to
Wm Harper Admr.
for the benefit of
Leonard Harper only
surving [sic] child.
Washington City Agency
Cert to
S. Godwin
Present.
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This is to Certify, That it appears from a List in this Office of such Officers and Soldiers of the Virginia Continental Line, during the Revolutionary War, according to an Act of Assembly, passed the November Session 1781, that a Certificate issued on the 30th day of May 1783, in the name of Jess Harper as a Soldier of Cavalry for [pound sterling]39.18.8, which Certificate appears to have been delivered to himself and was given for services prior to the 1st January 1782.

p 142 [No Seal of Office]  

Given under my hand at the Auditor's Office, Richmond, this
3rd day of February 1846.

Jas. E. Heath AUDITOR.
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No. 35973

Jese Harper, Va.
Letter to Hon. G. W. Hopkins
Feby 18, 1846
Same June 13, 1846.
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Virginia.
  In the County Court of Tazewell County, July 2d 1851
It appears to the satisfaction of the Court by the evidence of witnesses that Jesse Harper, a pensioner died in this County on the 11th day of February 1849, leaving only one son, Leonard Harper, and five grand children, viz, Patton, Nancy, David, James M. and Leonard, the children of his deceased daughter Ann, & no widow or other heirs.  And that William Harper is administrator of his estate.

I George W. G. Browne, Clerk of the County Court of Tazewell County, Virginia, do hereby Certify that the foregoing is a true transcript from the record of the original order of said Court; in witness whereof I hereto subscribe my name and affix the seal of said Court at my office in Jeffersonville in said County this 4th day of July in the year of our Lord Christ 1851 and of our foundation the 76th .

Geo W. G. Browne
Clk of Tazewell C.C.
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The additional declaration of Jesse Harper in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 8th June 1832.
   State of Virginia  County of Tazewell }  SS
   On this 12 day of May 1846, personally appeared before the subscribed, a justice of the peace in & for the county of Tazewell & state Virginia, Jesse Harper aged ninety one years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following additional declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the pension made by the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
   That many years since he commutted [sic] his discharge for safe keeping to one Gabriel Penn:  that the said Penn died without having returned it & after his death, desiring to apply for a pension, he had an examination of Penn's papers made, but could not find his discharge or any clue to  [marked out: to] ascertain what disposition had been made of it.  Upon consulting some persons then who professed to be acquainted with the pension laws, he was informed that nothing could be done without the discharge or evidence of two comrades in arms; & not knowing that any of the persons with whom he had served were alive or where to find them: he abandoned all idea of a pension as hopeless.  Some years after, however, one John Wynn induced him to renew his attempts, & pretended to take the matter in hand: he proposed a memorandum for the purpose, as he said, of drawing a declaration (which he never did, as this declarant has since learned) & assured this declarant year after year with promises & assurances that he was employed in investigating the claim &c & at length said that nothing could be made
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   Being ignorant himself of all such matters, this declarant then gave up all further proceedings in despair, until hearing some two or three years since that a Mr Floyd was attending to government claims, he employed him & his declaration was, after some delay forwarded to the pension office.
   This declarant states that his memory his [sic] become very indistinct & while he can recollect events, cannot now recollect their order: that he was a soldier of Cavalry & received pay as such in the Revolution: & that he is not able to attend personally in court by reason of bodily infirmity,.
  Jesse  his X mark  Harper

State of Virginia: County of Tazewell: SS.
  I, John Cecil, a justice of the peace in & for the county & state aforesaid, do certify that the above declaration of Jesse Harper was sworn to & subscribed before me in my court, aforesaid on this day: & that the said Harper is not able to attend in court personally by reason of bodily infirmity.  Given under my hand this 12th day of May 1846.
  Jno. Cecil, JP
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Virginia, Tazewell County: SS.
  This day personally appeared in open court before the county court of Tazewell, being a court of record, Samuel Witten, who being first sworn in due form of law, saith- he has known Jesse Harper the present declarant for a pension, for about forty years.  He has heard Harper tell anecdotes & speak of his services in the revolution & the consistency of his statements at different times & his manner of telling them satisfied this affiant fully of their truth.  No doubt has ever been entertained by any one, this affiant believes, of the fact of Harper's having served in the Revolution. In addition to this, this affiant has heard his father-in-law--doctor Raleigh White, (now dead) who was a surgeon in the Revolution, say that he knew Harper.  May 29th 1846.  
  Saml. Witten


  Sworn to & subscribed in open court & the court doth certify that Samuel Witten is a credible person.  In testimony whereof, I George W. G. Browne, Clerk of said county court of Tazewell have hereto set my hand & seal of office at Jeffersonville this May 29th 1846.
   Geo. W.G. Browne Clk
     of Tazewell County Court

   Also William Peery personally appeared in open court & after being sworn in due form of law, saith that he has known Jess Harper between thirty & forty years & has never heard any doubt expressed of his service in the Revolution.  Harper
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has often told him anecdotes of his campaigns &  described the personal appearance of Genl. Washington, Green & other officers of the American Army.  This affiant has urged Harper to apply for a pension, who answered him, that his discharge was lost & that he supposed he could get nothing without it.  May 29th 1846
  William Peery

   Sworn to & subscribed in open court & the court doth certify that William Peery is a credible person.  In testimony whereof, I George W. G. Browne, Clerk of the county court of Tazewell have hereto set my hand & seal office at Jeffersonville this May 29th 1846
   Geo. W. G. Browne, Clk
    of Tazewell County Court


  Virginia: Tazewell County: to wit:
   In the County court of Tazewell at the May term 1846 thereof:
   The above declaration of Jesse Harper for a pension with the certificate of John Cecil were presented in court; & the court doth certify that John Cecil is a justice of the peace duly commissioned & qualified & that the above signature  purporting to be his is genuine; & the court also approves the proceedings of the said Cecil had therein.  In testimony whereof I, George W. G. Browne Clerk of said court have hereto set my hand & affixed my seal of office this May 29th 1846
   Geo. W. G. Browne Clk
   of Tazewell County Court.
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Washington City June 5th 1846

honl J S Edwards
  Comsr. of Pensions

Sir
   I enclose here with the pension papers of Jesse Harper of Tazewell county Virginia, and will esteem it a favor if you will give your early attention to the case.
   Very truly yours,
     Geo W. Hopkins

It is possible the documentary rolls in  {
your office may furnish some               {
additional  [?] in this case.                    {