Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 10387, for George Tankersley, Virginia

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SERVICE
VA

TANKERSLEY, GEORGE

NUMBER 
R10387

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George Tankersley

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The State South Carolina
District of Greenville

  On this eighth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared in open court before the chancellor of the Court of Equity in the state aforesaid, George Tankersley a resident of the state of South Carolina in the District of Greenville aged seventy six years on the eighth day of last January, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath makes the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the pension made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832.  That he was born in Caroline County in the state of Virginia on the 8th January, 1706 and afterwards moved and resided in Henry County in the same state of Virginia and in May 1776 while living in Henry County this declarant enlisted in the State Troops of the State of Virginia under Captain Abraham Penn of Genl Andrew Levies' brigade for the term of twelve months and took the oath usually administrated to Soldiers; that he belonged to what was called the Second Battalion of Minuite men, that Henry Line commanded the company which the applicant before you as Lieutenant, that immediately after he entered the public service and marched to Jamestown in Virginia and joined a company of Artillery stationed at that place commanded by Edward Carrington a lieutenant and who commanded the forces at that Station; that in a very short time after he arrived at Jamestown there was an (illegible) of their companies, more, one commanded by Capt. Dillard, one by Capt. Perkins and the third by Nicholas Cabot, that a short time after their companies arrived at Jamestown

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the company of artillery and Captains Dillards Perkins and Cabels' companies received orders and marched to Gwin's Island and Capt. Penn's company of which this deponent was one remained at Jamestown as a guard to that place till after the Battle of Gwin's Island, then the Second Battalion of Minute men was ordered to the South against the Indians, that this deponent was taken Sick and was unable to proceed with his company and Lieutenant Line gave him a permit to remain behind until recovered, which was not till after the company returned from this tour to the South west against the Indians; that he served, although he received no regular written discharge, faithfully his Country for twelve months agreeably to his enlistment, except when sick, and was at all times ready and liable to be ordered upon any duty the people service might require- That in the year 1781 this deponent entered the service of the State of Virginia and drafted militiaman for the term of three months in the company commanded by Capt. Hayman Cright [sic: Haman Critz] + Lieutenant John Tarrant, Major Duvalls Battalion and Col. Richardson's Regiment and General Lawson's Brigade and marched from Henry County where he then resided to a station known by the name of Parkers old fields in the fork of the Pamonky and Materperni [sic: Pamunkey and Mattaponi] River fifteen or sixteen miles above Yorktown; that he that he remained a this station and served out faithfully the term of three months and was honorably discharged by Capt. Creight about ten days or two weeks before the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown;that General Lawson and Stephen's Brigades were at this station, commanded by Major General Lafayette; and that he served his country during the period of the Revolution faithfully fifteen months as stated above. He herby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the

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present, and he declares that his name is not on the the(sic) Pension Roll of any Agency in any State whatever

Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid

George Tankersley [signature] 

Before me
William Choice
Com'r & Register 
in Equity for
Greensville District

South Carolina Greenville District}

We, James Douthit a Clergyman, residing in Anderson District and B. D. Garrison residing in Greenville District hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with George Tankersley who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Seventy Six years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. 

Sworn and subscribed the 8th July 1833 

Before me
William Choice
Com'r & Register 
in Equity for
Greensville District

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 James Douthit who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in Anderson District and that B. D. Garrison who has also signed the same is a resident in Greenville District and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. 

Henry M [illegible]
[illegible] July 1833

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State of South Carolina Greenville District}
Commissioner's Office

I William Choice Commissioner and Register in the Court of Equity for the District aforesaid do hererby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of George Tankersley for a pension. And I further certify that Abraham Bott and William Choice Senior (my father) who have Sworn to and Subscribed the annexed affidavits of the Service of the said George Tankersley are men of respectability and intitled(sic) to credit_ 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 31st day of July 1833

William Choice
Com. & Reg. in Equity
& Not Pub & Ex off J. Q

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October 22, 1932
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BA-J/AWF
George Tankersley
R. 10387

Mrs. M. J. Weeks
West Point
Mississippi

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your request for information in regard to Richard Tankersley and George Edward Tankersley, soldiers of the War of the Revolution.

Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are obtained from claims made to the United States for pension and bounty land based upon the military service of soldiers in that war.

A search of the records fails to show such claims on file on account of the services of Richard Tankersley.

The record furnished herewith is that of the only George Tankersley found on file in the Revolutionary War records of this office.

The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, R. 10387, based upon the Revolutionary War service of George Tankersley.

He was born January 8, 1756 or 1757 in Caroline County, Virginia, the names of his parents are not given. He moved to Henry County, Virginia.

While living in said Henry County, he enlisted sometime in May, 1776 in Captain Abraham Penn's Virginia company and marched to Jamestown and was there three weeks, when taken sick and returned home. He enlisted in 1781 and served three months in Captain

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Hayman Creight's(?) company, Colonel Richardson's Virginia regiment, was stationed at a fort at the forks of the Pamunky and Mattaponi Rivers about fifteen miles above Yorktown, Virginia, and was discharged about ten days before the surrender of Cornwallis.

He applied for pension July 8, 1833, then a resident of Greenville District, South Carolina.

The claim was not allowed as he did not serve six months, which was the minimum length of service required by the pension law under which he applied.

There are no data as to his family.

Very truly yours

A.D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator

Bro John referred to as having been in [illegible] also

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February 11, 1921.

Mrs. Emmaleen G. Babb,
71 W. State Street
Jacksonville, Illinois.

Madam:

In response to your letter dated December 22, 1920, you are advised that the Rev. War records of this Bureau, fail to afford any information, regarding the children of George Tankersley.

Very respectfully

[blank]
Commissioner.

see letter in W. 9814
John Cordell_

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April 19, 1933
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BA-J/AWF
George Tankersley
R. 10387

Mrs. R. S. Garrett
120 Catoma Street
Montgomery, Alabama

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your request for information in regard to George Tankersley and John McPherson, soldiers of the War of the Revolution.

Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are obtained from claims made to the United States for pension and bounty land based upon the military service of soldiers in that war.

A search of the records fails to show such claims on file on account of the services of a John McPherson, as described by you.

It is suggested that you may find the military record of John McPherson, in the Office of the Adjutant General, Washington, D. C.

The data given below were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, R. 10387, based upon the Revolutionary War service of George Tankersley.

He was born January 8, 1756 or 1757 in Caroline County, Virginia, the names of his parents are not given. 

He enlisted, while living in Henry County, Virginia, sometime in May, 1776 in Captain Abraham Penn's Virginia company and marched to Jamestown and was there three weeks, when taken sick and

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returned home. He enlisted in 1781 and served three months in Captain Hayman Creight's(?) company, Colonel Richardson's Virginia regiment, was stationed at a fort at the forks of the Pamunky and Mattaponi Rivers about fifteen miles above Yorktown, Virginia, and was discharged about ten days before the surrender of Cornwallis.

George Tankersley applied for pension, July 8, 1833, then a resident of Greenville District, South Carolina.

The claim was not allowed as he did not serve six months, which was the minimum length of service required by the pension law under which he applied.

There are no reference to wife or children.

His brother, John, was referred to as having been in the service also.

Very truly yours

A.D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator

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George Tankersley
[illegible]
Rejected_
William Choice
10387
Act 7 June 1832

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Box 297

West Point, Miss
Sept. 30, 1932.

The Pension Bereau(sic)
Washington, D. C.

Gentlemen:
I am a direct decendent of the Tankersley family. (The two brothers coming from England and settling in Va. in 1708 were Richard and George and I am a decendent of Richard) Will you please tell us if Richard Tankersley [Tankersley underlined] born in 1716 had a pension from the Revolutionary War? Who was his wife? He resided in Caroline Co. Va.

Please tell me if George Edward Tankersley born in 1740 in Caroline Co. Va. had a pension from the Revolutionary War? Does the pension mention George ^only Geo Edward Tankersley having a son George? This son very likely served from Greenville S. C. and I should like to get his Service Record.

Thanking you very much for this information,

I am,
Very Respectfully Yours
Alma Tankersley Meeks
(Mrs. M. J. Meeks)

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The State of South Carolina
Greenville District

Personally came Abraham Bott Esq'r before [illegible] the Subscribing Justice and being duly sworn stated on oath that he was acquainted with George Tankersley in Henry County in the State of Virginia in the year 1781; that about the tenth of June 1781 this deponent and the said George Tankersley entered the Service of the United States in the State of Virginia as drafted Militia and were [illegible] mates in the company commanded be Capt Hayman [illegible], Col, Richardson's Regiment, and joined Genl Lawson's Brigade and marched from Henry County in Virginia where we both then [illegible] to Mobbin Hill below Richmond in Virginia on the East Side of James River, thence to New [illegible], and thence to West Point on the fork of Pamonky(sic) and Materponi(sic) Rivers where they remained till they were discharged by their officers and returned; that the said George Tankersley served in the army with this deponent a tour of three months_ that this deponent has long been acquainted with the said George Tankersley and that he has supported a good character and is [illegible] a man worthy of credit_

Abraham Bott  X his mark

Sworn and Subscribed to before me the 12th June 1833 ~

William Choice
Not. Pub & Ex 
off J. Q.
Com'r & Register
in Equity for
Greenville District

Mr. A. Bott is a pensioner of the United States_

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The State of South Carolina
Greenville District

I William Choice commissioner and register in the Court of Equity for Greenville District in the state aforesaid do hereby certify that I have been acquainted with Abraham Bott Esq who has sworn to and subscribed the within affidavit for eight or ten years, that he is a respectable citizen of Laurens District So Ca. and supports a good character and is worthy of credit - And I further certify that William Choice before whom the said affidavit was sworn to was at the date thereof and is yet Notary Public and Ex Off I Q in for the District of Greenville duly commissioned, qualified and acting as such.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office at Greenville Courthouse in the state South Carolina this day AD 1833

William Choice
Comm & Register in
Equity for Greenville District

Comm in Equity I have certified that I am also Not Pub & Ex of I Q - Wm Choice

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Wm Choice
20 Nov 1833
G C

Re Vol 10 
Pa 419

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Dept of War
PO
Nov 20, 1833

Sir

The declaration of Geo Tankersley has been examined.

The applicant it appears from his declaration never performed but 3 mo. service.

The main fact of having enlisted as a minute man affords no claim whatever.

In the service and not the liability he be called upon that entitled one to a pension - The claim is reputed & papers placed on file.

Wm Choice
Greenville, 
S.C.

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Left Side Page

1932 Oct 22 - Hist to Mrs. M.J. Weeks
1933 Apr 19 - Hist Mrs. R.S. Garrett
1933 Apr 21 - See further correspondence with Mrs. R.S. Garret in register files under John Tankersley

Right Side Page

REJECTED
10387
Geo Tankersley

The printed list of 1852 shows reasons for rejection" He did not serve six months"

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Number Illegible
George Tankersley

William Choice
Greenville

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The State of South Carolina
Greenville District

To wit

Personally came William Choice Senior a resident citizen of the district and state aforesaid and being by me duly sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God stated that in June in the year 1776 he was in the army in the service of the United States in the State of Virginia under the command of Capt. Thomas Dillard and on his march to Jamestown at Petersburg when his company was remaining for a short period Capt. Penn's company joined in which was Mr. George Tankersly now of this district; that Capt. Penn's & Capt. Dillard's companies marched from Petersburg to Jamestown together where they were joined by another company and where they remained some time when we were required to march to Gibson Island; that all the companies of minute men traveled to Jamestown except Capt. Penn's which was left to guard that place; marched to Gibson Island and when this deponent stated he left the said George Tankersley and his brother John both in [illegible] stationed at Jamestown having been in the service with him two months or about he did see him again [illegible] that after he left him at Jamestown he did not see him again till some time [illegible]; this deponent and the said George Tankersley both [illegible] at that time; that these companies entered the service in the state of Virginia and were minute men and served out the tour till discharged but this deponent cannot at this late day fix the precise

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period of Service, and only knows
that the said George Tankersley
was in the service as a soldier
as previously stated, but does not
know how long he served as he
left him at Jamestown-
This deponent further
swears that he has long been
acquainted with the said
George Tankersley who now
resides in this District, that he has supported
a good character and is esteemed a worthy
member of society and entitled to credit
Sworn and subscribed to before me the 12th
day of June A.D. 1833-
William Close Sr
⎬
-
William Choice Jr
Not. Pub. & Ex off J.P.

South Carolina
Greenville District 

I Baylis J Earle one of the Circuit
Judges of the Court of Common Pleas
and General Sessions of the Peace in the State
aforesaid do hereby certify that I am well
acquainted with William Choice Senior who
has subscribed the above affidavit and that he is a credible person, worthy of belief and
I further certify that William Choice Jr before
whom the same was sworn to is and was at the
time Not Pub of GD duly commissioned
qualified and acting as such, and that I believe
the said William Choice Sr to be upwards of
Seventy years of age.

In testimony whereof I have caused
the Seal of the Court of Common Pleas
for Greenville District to be affixed hereto

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Given under my hand at Greenville Court house this 29th day of July AD 1833

B J Earle

South Carolina
Greenville District

I James McDaniel Clerk of the court of common pleas and general sessions for the district of Greenville aforesaid do hereby certify that the Hon Baylis J Earle who has signed the above certificate is and was at the signing thereof one of the circuit judges of the courts of law in the said state duly commissioned, qualified and acting as such - and I further certify that William Choice Jr is Not. Pub & Ex Off IQ as stated in said certificate and that William Choice Senior is a credible person worth of belief.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court at Greenville Court House the 29 day of July AD 1833.

J McDaniel
C.C.P.

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Note on Top of Page
"No JOhn McPherson of North Carolina - searched by. M.C.S."

MOntomery Ala
April 8, 1933

Dear Sir

Sometime ago I write you for some information concerning the revolutionary war record of John Tankersley which you very kindle sent me, in the information you sent the records shows that the served for his brother George Tankersley. I would like very much to find out if this brother George Tankersley served and any information you can give me about him.

Also, any record of John McPherson he did live in North Carolina, and it is likely that he enlisted from that state.

Thank you for the kind attention you have shown me in helping establish D.A.R. records, I am

Sincerely
Mrs. R.S. Garritt
120 Catoma Street
Montgomery, Alabama

RECEIVED STAMP Vets Admin
Apr 18, 1933