Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7504, for William Mordah, North Carolina

SERVICE
NUMBER
N. 6.
Mordah, William Agnes.
R. 7504
CONTENTS
name also spelled Murdock, Murdaugh, Mordah, Murdoch

North-Carolina, ss.
HIS EXCELLENCY WILLIAM TRYON, Esquire, Captain-General, Governor and Com- mander in Chief, in and over his Ma- jesty's Province of North-Carolina .
To any Orthodox Minister of the Church of England, or for Want thereof, to any regular licenced Minister of the dissenting Presbyterian Clergy, or lawful Magistrate within the same. Greeting.
B Y Virtue of the Power and Authority to me given, as Governor and Commander in Chief, in and over this Province, ( Certificate having been made to Me, by John Fastolph Clerk of Newnan County Court, that the Bond as by Law required, hath been taken and filed by him in his Office) I DO here- by Allow, Admit, and Licence you, or any of you, to Celebrate and Solemnize the Rites of MATRIMONY between William Murdoch Agnes Wason and to join them together, as Man and Wife, in Holy Matrimony.
GIVEN under my Hand and Seal, at Kinston this 30 th day of November in the Year of our Lord 1769 and in the X Year of his Majesty's Reign.
By His Excellency's Command.
J. Edwards Secy.
These are to Certify that William Murdoch and Agnes Wason were joined together as Man and Wife in the Holy Estate of Matrimony (Solemnized) the 30 th of November 1769 by me Wm. Sydney J.P.

Revolutionary. Act 4. July 1836.
Agnes Murdock, Wid. William North Carolina. Suspended.
Power of Attorney to examine papers.
Ch. C. Tucker, (Atty.)
4 Sep. 54. Present

I know all men by these presents: That I Joseph W. Murdock do hereby constitute and appoint Chas. C. Tucker, of Washington, D. C., my true and lawful Agent and Attorney to prosecute the Claim of Agnes Murdock widow of William for any amount of Revolutionary Pensions or increase of Pensions that may be due under the provisions of the Act of February 2 nd , 1848, or any other Act or Resolutions of Congress, and I do hereby authorize my said Attorney to examine all papers and documents in relation to said Claims on file in the Departments at Washington City, or elsewhere, to file additional arguments or evidence, and to receive the Certificate which may be issued for said Claim, and to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed: and to do all things that I might or could do, were I personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney may do in the premises.
Witness my hand and seal this 26 th day of August, 1854. In presence of Joseph W. his X Murdock mark
F. H. Carlton }
State of North Carolina: On this 26 th day of August, 1854, in Cradle County before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid personally appeared Joseph W. Murdock and acknowledged the foregoing power of Attorney to be his act and deed.

for the purpose therein mentioned. Robt R. White, D. Pres.
State of North Carolina Piedell County } 5
On this 26 th day of August 1854, before me the undersigned a justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Joseph W. Murdock a resident of said County, and made oath according to the law that he is the identical Joseph W. Murdock who executed the foregoing power of Attorney, and that he is directly interested in said Claim, and makes this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as my said Attorney may use in prosecuting said Claim.
Joseph W. his Murdock mark
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written.
Robt R. White J. P.
State of North Carolina, B. M. Freeland Clerk of the Court County of Piedell } of Pleas & Quarter sessions for said County do hereby certify that Robt R. White Esq., before whom the foregoing affidavit and acknowledg- ment were made and who has thereunto signed his name was at the time of so doing a justice of the Peace, in and for the County and State aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, and that all his official acts are entitled to full faith and credit. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto

signed my name and affixed my official seal this 28 th day of August 1854.
M c Farland C le

STATE OF N. Carolina COUNTY of Screven } ss.
BE IT KNOWN, That on this Eighth day of August A. D., eighteen hundred and fifty one before the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared John Murdock a resident of N. Carolina in said County, and made oath according to law that he is the son of Agnes Murdock deed who was the wife of William Murdock was?
who was a Revolutionary Warrior  Soldier
at the time of  the war that he has been informed that the said Pension ought to be  to be allowed ; that he is directly interested as a claimant in said Pension, and makes this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as my Agent may use in prosecuting said claim.
John Murdock
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid, before me. W B Grant J. Peace.
I, W B Grant Justice of the Peace, in and for said County do hereby certify that John Murdock who executed the foregoing paper is a respectable resident of this County, and is, I believe, directly interested in said claim as therein set forth.
W B Grant J Peace.
I, S. P. Alexander , Clerk of the County Court of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that W B Grant before whom the foregoing papers were executed, was, at the date of the same, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly au- thorize by law to administer oaths; and the name thereunto subscribed, is his , signature.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my official Seal, this Eighth day of August A. D. 185 1 .
S. P. Alexander Clerk

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, That I, John Murdock
hereby constitute and appoint George Caton, Esquire my true and lawful Agent and Attorney, to prosecute the Claim of Agnes Murdock for any amount of Revolutionary Pension, or increase of Pension that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said Agent to examine all the papers and documents in relation to said claim, on file in the Departments at Washington City, or elsewhere; to file additional evidence or arguments; and to receive the Certificate which may be issued for said Claim, which Certificate I wish made payable to John Murdock
to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed; and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and Agent shall law- fully do in the premises.
WITNESS my hand and Seal this 8 th day August A. D., 185 1
John Murdock Seal
Signed and Sealed in the presence of J. F. Alexander Richd. L. Tucker
STATE OF North Carolina } ss: COUNTY OF Wade }
On this tenth day of August A. D. 185 1
before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, personally appeared John Murdock and acknowledged the foregoing Power of Attorney to be his act and deed, for the purposes therein mentioned.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand, } the day and year aforesaid. }
W. B. Grinnell Justice

State of North Carolina
Dodd County
On this 9th day of November 1824 personally appeared before me N. Y. Gibson a justice of the peace in and for the aforesaid county Elizabeth Murdoch a resident of the aforesaid County aged Seventytwo years past who after being duly sworn according to laws doth on her oath say that she is the daughter of William & Agnes Murdoch the present applicant; that she well recollects of her father Mr Murdoch serving in the Revolutionary war, that her said father hired one John McCafferty as substitute for one tour; that she well recollects that her father was drafted and served one tour of three months in Capt. Alex Davidson's company under the command of Genl. Davidson and she thinks that he also served in Capt. Fulk's company under the same Genl. at Cowan's ford on Catawba river when the British crossed that river. She well recollects that her father was in the skirmish at Cowan's ford when Genl. Davidson was killed. She well recollects that her father was sent home from the army by Genl. Davidson previous to the above service to make collars for the waggon horses belonging to the army; that after he made the collars Genl. Davidson sent to her father a number of horses for her father to recruit which he did & returned them to the army that after the skirmish at Cowan

ford Mr said further William Murdock was classed & took his turn with the rest of this company and under this regulation he would own James Chambers to serve as a substitute for him - on tour of these mouth, she further saith that she is not very well able, & it would be a great in- convenience for her to appear in Court to make this affidavit Sworn to & subscribed on the day & year above written before me.
W H Borman JB
Elizabeth Murdock Mark
I certify that Elizabeth Murdock whose Name is signed to the above certificate is a highly respectable & credible witness W H Borman JB
State of North Carolina
Chatham County } I, J. F. Alexander Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County aforesaid do hereby certify that William F. Borman is a magistrate as above and was at the time of signing the same and the signatures purporting to be his are genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office at office this 13 th day of November 1844.
J. F. Alexander Clerk

State of South Carolina Spartanburg County
On the 9th day of November 1844. personally appeared before me W. H. Bowman a justice of the peace for the County aforesaid Agnes Murdock a resident of the above named coun- ty aged Ninety six years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declar- ation in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836 That she is the widow of William Murdock who was a private in the war of the Revolution, that that he was drafted & served a six months tour under the command of Genl. Rutherford in South Carolina principally (in what was called the Snow Campaign,) that he served as a drafted man one other tour of three months under Genl. Davidson & was at the skirmish at Cowan's Ford on the Catawba River when that General was killed, - that he had previously to that time, been employed by Genl. Davidson to make collars for the wagon horses belonging to the Army, which he was permitted to go home to his own house & do. in consequence of his family living not far from the camp. That he the said Wm Murdock was at an other time (she thinks it was after  before his making the collars, employed by the same General, to feed & recruit a number of horses belonging to the Army which he done at his own house

That he was drafted & served one other term of three months under Col Gardwell & went in pursuit of Col Bry- -an, a leader of a body of loyalists, & it is that he was drafted three other terms & hired substitutes that in the first term he hired one Wm Rife, - for the next term hired John Mc-Cafferty and for the third he hired one James Chambers, - from old age & loss of memory she cannot re- collect the names of any other offi- -cers under whom he served, except that of Capt Alex: Davidson under whom she thinks he served one or more terms - that she well rec- -ollects of her said husband's being in the army at one time, when on his return home in relating the facts relative to a battle he was engaged in which away & that he had been commissioned as an officer pre- -vious to the said battle, she thinks it was in the battle of Stone's so called but she cannot recollect very further particulars about it. that her said husband & herself lived at that time in the county of Rowan (now Iredell, & state aforesaid, that all the afore- said services was performed from the year 1775 to 1782 that she can not now recollect the particular dates as to the her husband's services, that she has no documentary evidence as to the services of her said husband to support her claim that she is aware of

She further declares that she was married to the said William Murdoch on the 30th day November 1769; that her husband the aforesaid Wm Murdoch died on the 12th day of July 1829; being in the ninetieth year of his age; and that she is unable from great bodily infirmity to appear in court to make this affidavit or declaration - and that she has re-married the widow of the said Wm Murdoch ever since the period of his death
Sworn to & subscribed on the day & year above written before me
W H Borman
Agnes J Murdoch Mark
I certify Agnes Murdoch whose name appears attached to the above declaration is a highly respectable & credible witness. W H Borman
State of North Carolina
Irwin County } J. F. Alexander clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County of Irwin do hereby certify that William F. Cowan whose name appears to the above Certificate and as a witness to the foregoing declaration is and was at the time of signing the same an acting justice of the peace in & for said County duly commissioned & qualified according to Law and the signature purporting to be his is genuine In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office at office this 13 th day of November 1844 J. F. Alexander Clerk

6619 Joseph Hindock Joseph Phillips Feb. 17/49 11 1/2 a/c 14 due 1836 March 17/49 William dec 1839
State of North Carolina
I, J. F. Alexander Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County of Iredell do hereby certify the foregoing proceeding had before William H. Cowan one of the Justices of the peace in & for said County was duly exhibited in open Court at its Session on the 16 th day of February 1846 was examined and approved by said Court and ordered to be Certified.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office at office in Statesville this 16 day of Feby 1846 J. F. Alexander Clerk of Iredell County Court

Know all men by these presents that we William Mordah Joseph Wason Joseph Davidson are held and firmly bound unto our loving Lord the King his Heirs and Successors in the Ink and full sum of Fifty pounds proclamation Money for which payment well and truly to be made and done we bind ourselves our Heirs Executors and Adminrs. jointly and severally firmly by these presents sealed with our seals and dated this 18 th day of November 1769
The Condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the above bounded W m Mordah hath this day obtained a License to marry a certain woman named Agnes Wason and now if shall not appear at any time hereafter that there is not any lawful cause to obstruct the same then the above obligation shall be void and of no effect otherwise remain in full force and virtue
Sealed and delivered in presence of John Flyhant Robert Mordah
William Mordah (Seal) Joseph Wason (Seal) Joseph Davidson (Seal)
North Carolina Rowan County
I John H. Hardie Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the Marriage bond of William Mordah taken from the Original in my Office
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Affixed the Seal of said Court at Office The 16 th day of August 1845
John H. Hardie Clerk

For Hanson

State of North Carolina Iredell County } 3
On this 22 nd day of May 1845 - Personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County aforesaid. Joseph Davidson aged about sixty six years a resident of the County and State aforesaid who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his Oath on his declares as follows declared as follows Viz: That he is well acquainted with Agness Murdock and has been all his life, that she is the widow of the identical William Murdock (or Murdock) as the family then spelled their names) with whom he was also well acquainted up to the time of his death which took place in the year 1829 and who was always reputed to be believed to have been a Revolutionary soldier in the neighborhood wherein he resided up to the period of his death which took place in the year above men- tioned & further deponent saith that he has often heard his father (Alexander Davidson who was also a soldier in the Revolution and a Captain in the Army under General Gates at the time of his defeat near Camden S.C. where he the said Davidson was wound- ed and taken prisoner) speaking of the services of himself and of the said William Murdock in the war of the Revolution as considerable but does

not recollect the number of town or amount of service of said William Murdoch but that he has no doubt that he served as is stated in the declaration of the said Agnes Murdoch and perhaps considerably more. That he has no doubt of the truth of the facts set forth in the said declaration that he never heard a doubt expressed by any person in the neighborhood of said William Murdoch of his services in the Revolutionary War. And he further saith that the said Agnes is a credible & respectable person & that she is still the widow of the said William Murdoch - Sworn to and subscribed in open Court before me
Sworn to in open Court at May Joseph Davidson June 15 42
J. H. McLaughlin J. P.
North Carolina Mecklenburg County } I J. F. Alexander Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County of Mecklenburg do hereby certify that John H. McLaughlin whose signature appears above is Chairman of said Court and that the same is his genuine signature. I further certify that I am personally and well acquainted with Joseph Davidson whose affidavit is

above, That he is a man of undoubted integrity and highly respectable. That the foregoing affidavit was submitted to and approved by our said Court in open session on the 23 rd day of May 1848.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of our said Court at office in Statesville this 23 rd day of May 1848— J. F. Alexander

State of North Carolina } 55 County of Iredell }
Be it known, that before me a justice of the Peace, in and for the County and State aforesaid, duly authorized by law, to administer oaths, personally appeared John Murdock a resident of said County and State, who first being duly sworn according to law, states that he is a son and heir at law, of Agnes Murdock of the County of Iredell and State of N. Carolina late deceased who was a Revolutionary Soldier's widow, and that he is directly interested as a claimant in the Pension for which application was heretofore made by said Agnes Murdock widow of William Murdock, and constitutes and appoints George C. Jones of Washington D.C. his true and lawful attorney, with irrevocable power to examine into, investigate, and establish the claim for said pension, and do all acts necessary thereto. In testimony whereof, he the said John Murdock has on this 2 nd day of August 1855-herunto signed his name and affixed his seal.
Attest: R. P. Allison Justice
John Murdock
signed, sealed, acknowledged, and sworn to before me, on this 2 nd day of August 1855, and I do hereby certify, that I have no interest in the result of the Pension claim mentioned in the foregoing Power of Attorney, and not concerned in its presentation.
R. P. Allison J. P.

State of North Carolina } ss County of Greene }
I, N. F. Freeland, Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, do hereby certify that Thos. A. Allison Esquire, before whom the foregoing Power of Attorney was acknowledged and affidavit made, was at the time of it being done a justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, duly Commissioned and qualified by law to administer oaths, and that his signature thereto is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office on this 2nd day of August 1858.
M c Freeland Clerk
Agree Mandate
See Mandate
See Notes

State of North Carolina } Iredell County } 88
On this 22 nd day of May 1840 Personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County aforesaid James M c Morrison aged Sixty-five Years a resident of the County and State aforesaid, who being duly sworn according to Law, doth on his Oath, declare as follows viz. That he is well acquainted with Agnes Murdoch and has been all his life. That she is the widow of the Identical William Murdoch (or Murdoch as the family then spelled their name) who was always respected and beloved in the neighborhood wherein he resided (then the County of Rowan now Iredell as aforesaid) to have been an actual an active and a good, Soldier during the war of the Revolution - up to the period of his Death, which took place in the Year 1829. - And further sayeth that he has often heard his father William Morrison who was also a Soldier in said war, speaking of the services of the said M c Murdoch, as a Soldier especially of her the said Murdoch, services in the same Campaign with him the said Morrison under Genl. Rutherford, and also of their serving together under Genl. Davidson in guarding the Passes and Fords on the Catawba River for a considerable period, before the British Army crossed that river, and that he has heard his father the aforesaid William Morrison often say that the aforesaid Murdoch was at Cowansford, when and where Genl. Davidson was killed, and that they served one other four under Col Caldwell in pursuit of Col. Bryant, besides many and various other

Services of the said Wm Murdock in South Carolina during said war. —
He further saith that the said Agnes Murdock is the widow of the identical Wm Murdock whose services are set forth in the above deposition, and is a respectable & creditable person, and that he has no doubt as to the truth of the facts set forth in her Declaration generally, and believes that the services of her husband the aforesaid Wm Murdock greatly exceed the amount therein mentioned in her Declaration, and that she is still a widow.
Sworn to and subscribed in Open Court before me
James M. Morrison
J. H. Alexander Clerk
State of North Carolina
Small County ss J. H. Alexander Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County of Small do hereby certify that John H. M c Laughlin whose signature appears above is Chairman of said Court and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
I further certify that I am personally and well acquainted with James M. Morrison whose affidavit is above, that he is a man of high credibility and whose veracity is above suspicion. That the foregoing affidavit was submitted to and approved by our said in open session on the 22 day of May 1845.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office at office this 22 May 1845
J. H. Alexander Clerk

Palmyra N.C.
Compt office
I William H Collins Comptroller of Public Accounts in and for the State of North Carolina do hereby Certify that the Name of William Murdock appears of record in this office as having had issued in his name the following Certificates for Military service as follows One for Five Pounds (£5) see Book No 24 page 110 and another for Five Pounds Fourteen Shillings (£10.14) see Book No 14 page 106 given under my hand and seal This 18 day May A D 1845.
W. H. Collins Compt

Hon J. L. Edwards Commr of Pensions Washington City D. C.

Dear Sir
Snow Creek 24 th Feb 1840
Inclosed is the declaration of Mrs Murdoch, which was submitted to & approved by our court of pleas & quarter sessions during its session - The Comptroller of N.B. wrote me that he thought he had seen other cer- tificates on some of the books, in favor of Mrs Murdoch & would make search again, I have not yet heard from him a second time. Some of the books were not alphabeted at that time hence the difficulty and tediousness in find the Certificate.
Mrs Mary McKee's Certificate for the time admitted by the department as not as yet been recd. - She had thought Mr Signifer her bailiffs to accept whatever allowance the department might think it right to make, from the evidence submitted.
Respectfully Yours O.K. [initials]
W. H. Cowan

6619
Set G. C. Ames Feb 16. 1852.
N.C.
7504
25-4 th July-1836

State of North Carolina Greene County To J. F. Alexander Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, in & for the County of Greene do hereby Certify that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited at the office of said Court that Agnes Murdock who applied for a pension as the Widow of William Murdock a U.S. Soldier of the Revolutionary War died in the County and State aforesaid on the Twelfth day of September A.D. 1848. Having Surviving her the following named Children to Wit John Murdock, Joseph W. Murdock Elizabeth Murdock and Jane Mears Wife of William Mears who are the only surviving Children of said Agnes Murdock Now known to be living.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of my office at office in Statesville this 8 th day of August A.D. 1851
J. F. Alexander Clerk of Greene County Court

Hon J. L. Edwards Comr Pens. Washington City D. C.

Dear Sir,
Nowick Nov. 3 rd 1865.
Enclosed is the application of Agnes Murdoch (or Murdoch) for pension the name as often spelled the one way as the other, & sometimes Murdoch as is the case in the old license.) It has been delayed in order to procure the evidence of pensioner in Kentucky who was a companion in arms, & a neighbor of old Mr. Murdoch, but on application it was found that his mind was too far gone, to be depended on.
Mr. Barringer will, when he arrives testify as to the standing of the person testifying in this case.
I sometimes since received the depart- ment of the fact, that we were aware of the other evidence in Mrs. Mary McKee's case, than that already furnished & that she was willing to accept of whatever amount the department felt justifiable in allowing.
Very Respectful Yours etc. W. H. Bonar

Washington City, D.C. Decr. 25, 1845,
Sir
An application for a pension was recently forwarded to your Office by W. H. Brown Esq. in behalf of Mrs. Agnes Murdoch of Indell Co. N.C. — Joseph Davidson and James Morrison Esquires, certified for her — and I am now requested to state their general character — I am well acquainted with them both — and do state that they are gentlemen of veracity — credible in every sense — and unimpeachable integrity.
Yours, Very Respectfully,
D. W. Cummings
Col. J. A. Edward,

REJECTED
75044
P. O.
Joseph Murdock
Service:
mil. of William
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____

Br. of Reps. Feby 28. 1846
Sir,
I am requested to do hereby certify that Joseph Davidson & James Morrison Esqrs. who have given certificates in the case of Mrs. Agnes Mundock, of India & N.C. for a pension - are gentlemen of high respectability. Entitled to every credit,
Yours &c
D. M. Darringer
Genl. Edwards Esq.