Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4241, for Thomas Morrell, North Carolina

SERVICE
NUMBER
N. 6.
Morrell Thomas
S. 4241.
barded
CONTENTS

15th of Oct, not on list.
13950
Yonesborough Tennessee
Thomas Morrell
Sullivan being the State of Tennessee who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Pemberton of the Regiment commanded by Col. Shelby in the N. Carolina line for 11 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Yonesborough Pension the rate of 36 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 th day of July 1832 and South Office Rockhold Rockhold Store
Arrears to the 4th of March 73 32 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept th 18 33 $91 65
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Lan Boyd Clerk,
Book 6 Vol. 6 Page 129

State of Tennessee 3 Sullivan county 3
On this 3 day of May 1833 personally appear before me William Rockhole a justice of the peace for the county aforesaid Thomas Marlin resident of Sullivan county Tennessee 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 benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he entered the of the United States adopted militia man in the year 1780 late in Sept under Capt Pemberton in Col Shelby Regiment and Marched to Kings Mountain in South Carolina and was in the heat of the engagement at Kings Mountain, and served two months saw tour when he entered the man that he took with him was appraised to fifty Dollars and died in the service for which he never recd any pay Dep. says that he was verbally discharged as was all the company that he served with as he believes. Respondent further saith in about two or three weeks after returning home from Kings Mountain he substituted for Jonathan Moore for a two months tour and marched to Big Creek Station then on the frontier next to the Cherokee Indians who were in alliance with Great Britain and at war with the United States and served two months under Capt Hail and Lieutenants Asher and says he was made an Indian Spy by said officers and served two months for which he substituted principally as a spy and when his term of service ended he volunteered for one month longer under said officers, Hail & Asher, and did serve said month a quibble to his enrolment and was continued a spy for said term of service with Elijah Chism between Bulls Gaps & Big Creek Station and Respondent says saw tour at Big Creek he faithfully as he believes served three months and was verbally discharged.
Respondent further saith very shortly after he returned home from the last mentioned tour he was drafted for a two months tour in the year 1781 to go to the

Cherokee nation and Marched under Capt. Kirtland & Shelby Regiment to March as far as Ruckland Creek at which place they army met with a party of Indians coming in suing for peace and the army was there continued pending the negotiation and at some period of said negotiation the army was ordered back to Big Creek Station and there continued to the expe- ration of our term of service and again was ver- bally discharged immediately on coming home say in a few days substituted for William Odell and went back to Big Creek Station and served two months the term for which he substituted for under the before mentioned Capt. Hall & Lieutenant Asher and resumed the duties of Indian spy and served said two months and was again verbally discharged. Defendant does say he served in the revolutionary war nine months or more and as he believes faithfully discharged all the duties assigned to him and if he ever had any written discharge he does not recollect it and further says there is none in his possession but does most confidently believe that he was verbally discharged from every tour of duty that he served as above mentioned
Defendant says he was born in the state of Jersey - city in 60 or 65 and that he has now more of his age. he says he lived in Sullivan county Tennessee then North Carolina when came into ser- -vice where he has ever since and does now live with in a mile of the same place he further saith that he served as a drafted military man as a volunteer and as a substitute one tour for Jonathan Merrill & the other for William Odell
The tour to Kings mountain Col. Shelby Commanded. Service of Cleveland was at Kings mountain Shelby Hall & others with others not recollects now with him in his other service the only material

circumstances at Kings mountain was fast bound had living and fighting but did not last long and we kept the enemy the other part of his service was close watching and tracking the Indians to keep them from swarming on the frontier Deponent says he is acquainted with all most every man now or else in this county and many out of the county except some of the younger growing generation and that he is proud to say he does not know of any person with whom he is acquainted that would doubt his veracity or the truth of his statements when on oath or other wise further he hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any state or territory
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid state of Tennessee Sullivan county to the Hon. Nathl. Morrell
We Wm Carr Edward Hicks and Nathl. Morrell residing in the state and county aforesaid Do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Morrell who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy two years of age that he is respected and beloved in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion and the said William Carr says he served the war with the applicant set forth in his declaration to Kings moun- tain and knows his statements to be correct on that part of his service and the balance he believes is correct sworn to & subscribed the day & year afore said before me
Wm Rockwell Galt Justice of the peace
William Carr Edward Hicks mark Nathl. Morrell

State of Tennessee Sullivan county
4
I William Rockhold one of the Justices of the peace for the state & county aforesaid Do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above applicant, Tho. Morell was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states and I further certify that there is no regular ordained minister of the gospel immediately in this neighbourhood whose attendance with any reasonable convenience can be procured and that Mr Carr Edward Huk, & Nathl Morell who has signed the preceding certificate are residents of this county and lives armed & seated in this neighbourhood and that they are reputed and believed to be men of truth and veracity and that their statements are entitled to credit on oath or otherwise and I do hereby certify that the reason why this business was transacted before me was to save expense & great trouble to the applicant on account of the infirmities of the applicant and one of the witnesses and that it is my belief that the the applicant and witnesses is men to be confided in giving under my hand & seal this 3 rd day of May 1833 at office
Wm Rockhold (Seal) Justice of the p.s.
I certify that I am acquainted with the signature of William Rockhold Esqr & know the above to be genuine & that he is now an acting Justice of Sullivan County Tennessee. May 21 st 1833 John Blair
58 E-80 John Blair

No 25365
Thomas Morell Sullivan County Tennessee
Jonesborough Agency.
from 1780 final 11 months
$ 36. \frac{66}{100}
W m Rockford, Rockford Store Sullivan County Tennessee

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjunct notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, showing the Service of Thomas Morrill Sullivan County Tennessee
   Period when the service was performed Duration of the claimant's service Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Drafted Sept 1780 - 2 - private Col. Pemberton, Colonel Shelby 42 years Traditionary - paper defective   Sub - 1780 - 2 - Indian Spy - Capt. Hoil Sullivan County   Vol - - 3 - " " " " " N. Carolina   Drafted 1781 - 2 - " Capt. Rutledge, Shelby   Sub - - 2 - " Capt. Hoil, Battle of Kings Mountain  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of _____ in the county of _____ and State, Territory or District of _____ aged (c) _____ years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I _____ of the Court of _____ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _____ day of _____ &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C. D. residing in (the same) _____, who has hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 A. B., who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the _____ and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the _____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, _____ Clerk of the Court of _____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____ &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his-

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. 
6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposes 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."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each 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 or four months , is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not 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 claimant's 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 official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[k] The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule is note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

December 8, 1937
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Reverend W. M. Morrell Morristown Tennessee
THOMAS MORRELL S. 4241 BA-J/MLB
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the record of Thomas Morrell whose name you found as a Revolutionary War pensioner aged eighty years on the 1840 List of Pensioners for Sullivan County, Tennessee.
You are furnished herein the record of Thomas Morrell as found in pension claim, S. 4241, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.
Thomas Morrell was born in 1760 or 1761 in New Jersey. The names of his parents were not given.
While a resident of Sullivan County, Tennessee, he enlisted late in September, 1780, and served two months as private in Captain Pemberton's company, Colonel Shelby's North Carolina regiment and was in the battle of Kings Mountain. About two or three weeks after returning home from Kings Mountain, he enlisted as a substitute for one Jonathan Morrell (relationship not stated), to go to Bigcreek Station on the frontier next to the Cherokee Indian Nation and there served two months as an Indian spy in Captain Koil's North Carolina company; when that term of service ended he volunteered for one month longer which he served under Captain Koil. He enlisted in 1781 to go to the Cherokee Indian Nation and served two months as private in Captain Rutledge's company, Colonel Shelby's North Carolina regiment. On returning home, he went immediately back to Bigcreek Station and served two months, names of officers on that tour not given. During the Revolution, Sullivan County was then a part of North Carolina.
Thomas Morrell was allowed pension on his application executed May 3, 1833, while a resident of Sullivan County, Tennessee.
No reference was made to the wife of Thomas Morrell and no names were designated as those of children.

In 1833, one Nathaniel Morrell was living in Sullivan County, Tennessee, his relationship to the soldier, Thomas Morrell, not shown.
In order to obtain date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of Thomas Morrell, you should write to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:
Thomas Morrell Certificate #13950 Issued July 17, 1833 Rate $36.66 per annum Commenced March 4, 1831 Act June 7, 1832 Tennessee (Jonesborough) Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

1833 May 24th Nashville Tenn
June 11
Jan
25304 — 05
W. T. Elmore agent for papers City of Washington

Black Hills store 24th May 1833
Hon. Mr. S. S. Edwards
See inclosed is the pension papers of Tho: Morell & Jacob Taylor they request me to ask for them your early attention as when past or otherwise direct your communications to this office they wish to be past on the Limerick agency. Will be so good as to for War Edward Cox & John Greville papers to this office if action as early as possible and if past place them on the Limerick agency as heretofore requested. I hope you will give your early attention to the two last mentioned papers as they are in every mail day for the navy. I am sure they continue pressing until they hear from you Very Respct. obdt. S.H.L.
Wm Blackhead

1937, Dec. 8. Hwt to Rev. H. M. Marshall D.L.S.
Rev. H. M. Marshall
4241
INVALID.
File No. 4241
Thomas Marshall Port R. G. Line
Act: June 7/938
Index:—Vol. A , Page 262
[Arrangement of 1870.]

SUPERANNUATE ENDOWMENT
M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH
REV. W. M. MORRELL
Director for Holston Conference
PULASKI, VIRGINIA
Morristown, Tenn. Nov. 13, 1937.
Pension Office, Washington, D.C.
A CENSUS OF PENSIONERS for REVOLUTIONARY OR MILITARY SERVICE taken 1840 gives the name of Thomas Morrell from Sullivan County, Tennessee, age 80yrs. I get this data from John Trotwood Moore's "Tennessee, the Volunteer State."
I would appreciate very much if you will give me any information you may have as to the war record and also the family of the aforesaid Thomas Morrell. I was reared in Sullivan Co. Tenn. and am no doubt akin to this man.
Thanking you in advance, I am
Yours truly,
W. M. Morrell
W. M. Morrell.