Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8,154, for George Petitt, North Carolina

SERVICE
NUMBER
nc.
Petitt, George Pettitt
R. 8,154
CONTENTS

North Carolina } Surry County }
On this 14 th day of August 1838 -
personally appeared in open court, before the court now sitting as a court of Record for the County of Surry and State of North Carolina, George Pettit a resident of the County and State aforesaid, aged seventy eight years on the 27 th of April last past, who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed 7 th June 1832; that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated -
1 That he entered the service in November 1780 as a substitute for one Hezekiah Gray in the County of Surry under Capt Joseph Phillips, for and during the period of three months; That from the County of Surry they marched into the State of Virginia to a place called the "Horse Pastures", proceeding during that time, captured at the Battle of the Clouds some British Prisoners; That at the horse pastures aforesaid, he was discharged, his term of three months having expired - That the discharge he made at the horse pastures is either lost or may have mislaid, so that he cannot now tell where it is or what has become of it - That he has not in his possession any documentary evidence by which he can prove this period of service, nor are there any living witnesses by whom he could prove the

facts above stated, for all who were then in service have either died or moved to distant parts of the United States —
That in the said George Pitts again entered the service of the United States in the year 1782 under the following circumstances and conditions to wit "it was proclaimed by Genl Armstrong that any persons who would enter the service as volunteers and would transport two boxes of lead from Chapells Mines in Virginia to the Laboratory in Salisbury North Carolina, should be considered as having performed two terms of duty; that for this service he the said George Pitts did volunteer, and did transport the lead; as will more fully appear by the discharge granted to him by Captain David Humphreys hereto annexed —
That he has no evidence of being enlisted more to prove the facts connected with this service, but the testimony of John Reuelle hereto annexed — He thinks the time of now during the service as above stated was in 1781, but the discharge itself is dated in 1782 — This discrepancy between the recollection of an aged man, and a written discharge will not in the opinion of him the said George Pitts make any material difference, because the facts testified to are the same in both cases — And the

Said he the said George Pettit hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declared that his name is not on the pension Roll of the Agency of any State -
Know all men the said George Pettit further States that there is no clergyman now present at the Court House whose testimony can be adduced in support his claim to a pension - But he offers the testimony of Absalom Kerr and Benjamin Luce respectable citizens of the County and neighbors of him the said Pettit, who are well acquainted with his character and standing as a member of the County in which he lives - Given to me subscribed in open Court - the day and year aforesaid -
F. K. Armstrong CLK
George Pettit

9.2.11 March 10, 1915.
Honorable Benjamin G. Humphreys,
House of Representatives.
My dear Mr. Humphreys:
In response to your letter dated the fifth instant I have the honor to advise you that the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau fail to afford information of any soldier whose name was Peteet.
The only soldiers of similar name found on said records are:
George Pettitt or Pettitt, R. File No. 28154 81154 Rev. War, who was born April 27, 1760, served under Captains Joseph Phillips and David Humphres, and Colonel Armstrong in the North Carolina troops, and was a resident of Surry County, North Carolina in 1838.
Gideon or Gurdeon Petit or Pettit, S. File No. 41,950 Rev. War, enlisted in Pitt County, North Carolina, served under Captains Simon Jones and Robert Raiford, and Colonel Armstrong, and was in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown and Stono. In 1818 he was fifty-three years of age and a resident of Pitt County aforesaid, and referred to children Nancy and Jesse, and grandchild Gideon Whitehead, referred to .

James Pettit, S. File No. 5,896 Rev. War, was born in 1762 in Albemarle County, Virginia, and resided in Louisa County, Virginia when he enlisted and served under Captain John Pope and Colonel Morgan in the Virginia troops. In 1832 he was a resident of Campbell County, Virginia.
Very truly yours,
A handwritten signature in cursive, appearing to read "J. M. Setzer".
Commissioner.

1915- Mch. 10. Short list to Hon. Ben. G. Humphrey v. V.L.M.
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
REJECTED
8154.
P. O. _____
Geo. Pettit
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____
Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis. _____
Searched for _____
, 18

Geo. Pettit Me Ref. W Hon L Williams Aug 23 rd 1838 Sold to Wm. J. H. Crozier August 12 th 1846
8154

George Pitt. P. 8154. N.C.

Frank County Pa. Do hereby certify that South Carolina Mr. George Smith was on the August 2nd 1876 1876 fording of duty by transferring lead from Knoxville mines to the Laboratory at Solvay and is also Discharged from said service Certified by me David Humphreys Capt.

George Pitt R. 8.154 N.C.

1862
Dear Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th inst. and in reply to inform you that the same has been forwarded to the proper authorities for their consideration. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, John Phillips Clerk of the District Court

N.C.
George Pettitt
P. 8.154
2 cfs.

V 34 132
Geo. Pettit
Mc
Ad-June 7 1882

North Carolina Surry County
On this 14th day of August 1838. personally appeared in open Court John Venable who being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says that he was well acquainted with George Pitts of the County of Surry aforesaid at the time he was engaged in the public service transporting lead from Chillicothe mines in Virginia to the Laboratory in Salisbury North Carolina; that he was engaged in the service with said Pitts; but thinks the service was performed in 1831, according to his recollection of the time at present, although the discharge from Capt Humphries may be dated in 1832; The fact however as stated by the said Pitts he knows to be true for he was in service with him at the time —
Sworn to and subscribed this in open Court the day and year aforesaid F. R. Armstrong Clk J. Venable

North Carolina } Surry County }
On this 14th day of August 1838 personally appeared in open court, Absalom Kerr, and Benjamin Sneed who being duly sworn according to law depose and say that they have resided in the same neighborhood with George Pitts for forty odd years; that they know him to be a man of good character and standing in the neighborhood; and that it has been commonly reported and generally understood in the country, that he was a soldier of Revolution and engaged in the service of the country at that time.
I swear to and subscribed in open court the day and year aforesaid.
J. K. Armstrong (Clerk)
Absalom his Kerr mark
Benjamin Sneed

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter that the above named George Pitts, an applicant for a pension, was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states - And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Absalom Kerr and Benjamin Snude who have testified as witnesses in the case are respectable citizens of said County of Linn; and their statement is entitled to credit -
H. P. Poyndexter C. C.
I Francis K Armstrong Clerk of the County Court of Linn, and State of Iowa do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of George Pitts for a pension - In testimony whereof do hereunto set my hand & seal of office the day and year aforesaid - And the said Francis K Armstrong Clerk as aforesaid do further certify that Henry P Poyndexter Esq. is the chairman of said Court -
F. K. Armstrong Clerk

See the enclosed Aug 23 Sept 1838
Dear Sir
In at N.C.
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Prisons Washington D.C.

Surry County N.C. August 16th 1838
Sir
I send you the declaration of George Pettitt a respectable and worthy citizen of this County - He claims for nine months service - To procure the discharge from Capt Humphris, it has been sustained on both grounds, and it will establish the claim for six months service - In behalf of Mr Pettitt I will say that I have known him personally ever since I knew any body; he resides within 12 or 16 miles of me, and I know him to be entitled to every degree of credit - Every one who knows him will say the same, but to comply with the forms prescribed, he has proved every thing required, and I hope soon to hear that the claim is allowed - Send your answer to Dan the County post office - Surry County
C.A.C.
I am your obed Servt.
Lewis Williams
James L Edmores Esq.

House of Representatives August 5 th 1846
Sir
Will you be pleased to give me the information asked for in the enclosed letter if convenient prior to Saturday morning next. Yrs Respectfully Thos. H. Crozier
J. L. Edwards Clerk of Pensions

Sixty-Third Congress.
STEPHEN M. SPARKMAN, FLA., CHAIRMAN. GEORGE F. BURGESS, TEX. BENJAMIN G. HUEPPERT, WISC. GEORGE W. TAYLOR, ALA. CHARLES E. EDWARDS, GA. JOHN H. SMALL, N. C. CHARLES F. BROOKER, MD. THOMAS GALLAGHER, ILL. DANIEL A. DAWSON, N. Y. MICHAEL DONOHUE, PA. THOMAS J. SCULLY, N. J.
CHARLES LIEB, IND. WILLIAM KETTNER, CAL. WILLIAM E. HUMPHREY, WASH. CHARLES A. KENNEDY, IOWA. ANDREW J. BARCHFELD, PA. JAMES A. HUGHES, W. VA. ROBERT M. SWITZER, OHIO. CALEB POWERS, KY. ALLEN T. TREADWAY, MASS.
WILLIAM C. BROOKER, CLERK. JOSEPH H. MCGANN, ASSISTANT CLERK.
COMMITTEE ON RIVERS AND HARBORS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES U. S.,
WASHINGTON, D. C.
March 5, 1915.
Hon. Gaylord M. Saltzgaber, Commissioner of Pensions.
Dear Sir:-
I will thank you to advise me if the records of your office show service in the Revolutionary War, either in North Car- olina or Virginia, of a soldier whose sur- was name is Peteet.
Respectfully,
Blas Humphrey
MC

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Petitt, Samuel GRADE Private LINE New York
WARRANT NUMBER 7595 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED July 30, 1790 to John H. Wendell, assignee
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.