Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6,954, William Harris, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Harris, William
S. 6,954
CONTENTS
carded
2

Virginia 12.94 12949 William Harris of Caroline in the State of Virginia who was a priv: in the company comm. by Captain Johnston of the Regt commanded by Col. Richardson in the Virginia line for 10 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 19 th day of June '33 and sent J. Dickerson Bowling Green Va
Arrears to the 4th of March '33 - 66.66 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept " - 16.66
$83.32 1/2
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Wm Miller Clerk Book E Vol. 6. Page 12

Declaration of William Harris a soldier of the Revolution in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed the 7th of June 1832 -
State of Virginia Caroline County.
On this 8 th day of October 1832 personally appeared before the County Court of Caroline William Harris a resident of the County State aforesaid aged 80 years but I have no record of my age who being 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 the 7 th June 1832
I was born, raised and educated in the County of Caroline where I have resided all my life In the year 17 I was first called into the service of the Country by a regular draft, and was attached to the Company Commanded by Capt James Johnston for a term of six months. We marched through Richmond and proceeded on to South Carolina - and was in the engagement known as General Gates defeat I was in the first Regiment of Virginia Militia Commanded by Col Hott Richardson - We were discharged from this service at Guilford Court house.
In the year 17 I stood another draft of the militia of this County & fell into the Company Commanded by Capt Jamieson for a term of two months. We marched first to Richmond where we staid 2 or 3 weeks to procure arms, & accoutrements. We marched from thence to Williamsburg & to South Carolina where we staid a short time  about two months . We were routed here by the enemy & retreated up by Ruffins Ferry and came up to Hanover town where we were discharged.
In the year 17 I stood another draft for two months and was attached to the Company of Capt Jamieson - We went from here to Ware church near Gloucester Court house where we remained for two months when discharged.
In the year 1781 I was again called into the service with a reinforce-ment to join the army at Gloucester town. We started and got as far

as Gloucester, but before we reached the regular army Cornwallis with all his army had surrendered at York town. I was out this town only about a fortnight or three weeks.
The field officers whom I remember were Col Matthews, Major & Armitage -
I am well known to Wm W. Dickinson Henry C. Coleman Col Fleming Terrell, Major Philip Samuel, Col Archd Samuel and Col C. Coleman of this County -
I declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the army of any state whatsoever, and I do hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present -
Wm Harris
Sworn to and subscribed the day before me
Mr Spilsbee Woolfolk a clergyman residing in the County of Caroline and James Gaterwood residing in the same County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Mr Harris who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be 80 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 to and subscribed the day before me
Spilsbee Woolfolk James Gaterwood

And the 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 Spilsbury Woolfolk & James Gatewood who have signed the preceding certificate, are residents of the County of Caroline, and State of Virginia, and are credible persons, and that this statement is entitled to credit. I John L. Pendleton Clerk of the County Court of Caroline County, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of William Harris for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 8th day of October 1832.
John L. Pendleton C o
State of Virginia: Caroline County to wit: Mr. Harris personally appeared before the County Court of Caroline on the 13th day of May 1833 who being duly sworn according to Law doth make the following statement by way of amendment to the foregoing declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of 7th June 1832 - That he can with safety declare that the period of his services during the Revolutionary war, were equal to ten months - as a private soldier.
He is not apprized of any documentary evidence to prove his services, a part of them however are recollected by John Carter and Robt Wright whose affidavit is hereto annexed which is all the evidence he can procure in support of his application.
Sworn to in open Court.
W m Harris mark

Caroline County to wit.
John Carter and Robt Wright personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace for the County aforesaid and made oath that they well knew that W m Harris whose name is subscribed to the foregoing declaration was drafted for a term of six months to go to the South and the said Carter served out that term in Company with said Harris. And I do hereby certify that the said Carter and Wright are men of good standing in this County & that full credit ought to be given to their statements. Witness my hand this 13 th day of May 1833
Alex d Chapman
Virginia,
Caroline County to wit
I John L Pendleton Clerk of the Court of said County do hereby certify that Alexander Chapman whose name is annexed to the foregoing certificate is and was at the time of signing the same an acting Justice of the peace in and for said County duly commissioned and qualified according to law and that his said signature is genuine. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of the said County
this 23 rd day of May 1833. In the 57 th year of the Commonwealth
John L. Pendleton
Harris Jones
Secy
Wm Harris
15980

No 15380
William Hays of Caroline County Virginia
Rev
Admit as a private for 10 months $33.33
5.13-
Int 7.
Apr 30. '33
P. 364
J. Dickinson Bowling Green Virginia

BRIEF in the case of  William Harris  County of Caroline  in the State of Virginia  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? No  3. How old is he? 80 years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     Draft - In 17 Not Stated private Col. Jas. Johnston, Col. Natl. Richards   Draft - " Not 2 or 3 private Col. Samson   Draft - " 2 private Col. Samson   1781 14 or 20 private Col. Matthew Major Armistead  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Gates's defeat,  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Caroline County Virginia  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Defective 
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Richd. H. G. Wallis
Examining Clerk.

remembered, did not say he served under FNHLL
September 17, 1936
Mrs. Alice P. Harrell 409 Sixth Ave., East Eastman, GA.
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 6954 it appears that William Harris was born in Caroline County, Virginia, date not stated.
While a resident of Caroline County, Virginia he enlisted in 1780, served as a private for six months in Captain James Johnston's Company, Colonel Holt Richardson's Virginia Regiment and was in the battle of Camden.
He enlisted the second time, date not given, and served two and one half or three months as a private in Captain Jamieson's Virginia Company, and later served another tour of two months in the same company.
He enlisted in the fall of 1781 and served two or three weeks in the Virginia Troops, officers not stated.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 8, 1832 while a resident of Caroline County, Vir-
This date given is incorrect John Harris of South
he was the Field of Service the only one of his name

ginia, where he had always lived, at which time he was aged eighty years.
There is no data on file as to his family.
Respectfully,
E. W. MORGAN Acting Commissioner.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of William Harris which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes V. * Has he mentioned 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? No VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? yes XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? no XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? the Court was Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes
 EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. 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, deposeth 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 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 shewn 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.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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.
‡QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.
¶ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.

Reuben
6954 INVALID.
1926- Sept 17- West to Mrs Alice C. Haskell - MMST F
File No. 6954
William Harris Dis New War
Act: Conne 1 st 32
Index:—Vol. 1 st , Page 160
[Arrangement of 1870.]

409 Sixth Ave, E Eastman Ga
July 21-1926
Dear Sir:-
Will you please send me the application for Rev. Pension of W m Harris of Caroline Co. Va. + also John Oliver of Caroline Co. Va. or it might be Augusta Co. They were on the pension roll, I may have the Co. wrong. so I'd appreciate a reply where you they were in Va.
I thank you Mrs. Alice P. Harrell