Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4659, James Harris, N.C.

SERVICE
N. 6.
Harris, James
NUMBER _____
R. 4659
CONTENTS

James Harris Va
Rejected , Su let: 6 Nov: 33
James Rockell
Jerusalem
Va
Atch 7 June 1832: 11/4

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
4659.
P. O. _____
James Harris
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____ REJECTED _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.

Subsequent to...
33030 James Harris.
Declaration amend d declaration - to obtain a pension from his Country as a Revolutionary Soldier
4659

Declaration of James Harris To wit State of Virginia.
Southampton County To wit
On this 4 th day of April in the Year of our Lord 1835 personally appeared before me Aubin Nicholson a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid and State aforesaid, James Harris a resident of the County and State aforesaid in Saint Lukes Parish - aged Eighty four 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 provisions made by the act of Congress, passed June 7 th 1832. That he was drafted and entered the army of the United States some time during the revolutionary war the date of the Month or Year he does not recollect but remembers that when he left Crop Creek , it was on the first day of February - and served in the 5 or 6 th Regiment of Militia of the line under the following named officers: That he set out from Cumberland or more County, (as the County has been since divided) In the State of North Carolina under the Command of one Simon Abney or Adderly as Capt d and marched to Charles Town South Carolina, where he was also commanded by one Col: Thomas Matthews, a Major-Genl and Genl- Lincoln. That he served there as a private soldier and boman or Cook for the said Col: Thomas Matthews, for the space of Nine months. and had left the Town but a few days, before it was taken by the Enemy as he this deponent was informed, That I served several small Tours of duty afterwards of about Two months duration in the State of North Carolina upon the great Pee-de River, officers names not recollected, but at one time believed to be Commanded by one Capt d Woodley and at another time by one Mr Hugh or Hugh Gilmore, Who was called Capt d . That I was born in Isle of Wight County Virginia. That I now live in Southampton County first aforesaid and State of Virginia where I have resided for the last fifty Years. That he has lived so long all of his old acquaintances has gone and left him. with the exception of one Nicholas Tyner a resident of North Carolina. who was or acted as Sergeant Major to the Regiment (and Benj a Coffield as adjutant) and should have to be the first day of September next I shall be eighty five Years of age that I am poor and much afflicted, and unable to work, to support myself and stand in need of assistance from my County which will also appear by proof below. and I further declare, that I was not on the 15 th of May 1828 or since upon the pension list of the United States. Witness

my hand and seal this 4 th day of April In the Year first aforesaid 1835 Sworn to and Subscribed to by the said James his Harris mark James Harris, before me Rubin Medallion a Justice of the peace in & for the County of Southampton & State aforesaid. duly commissioned and qualified according to the Laws and Constitution of the aforesaid State of Virginia. And that It further more appears to my satisfaction from my long acquaintance with the said James Harris, and with frequent conversations with him That he was a Revolutionary Soldier at the place & time mentioned by him in his declaration, and at many other times and places. which from his extreme infirmity and old age he has forgotten all, And I further more Certify that he has ever borne an unspotted reputation in his County & Tho' poor - I would swear believe him upon oath, as any other man living. and from his infirmity & age he is not able to get to Court. Virginia. A. Medallion J.P. seal
Southampton County, To wit
This 4 th day of April 1835
This day personally appeared before me Rubin Medallion a Justice of the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, duly commissioned to administer oaths in the County aforesaid. Nicholas Tyner of Southampton County, North Carolina who made oath that James Harris by whom the foregoing declaration was made and subscribed, is the same James Harris who served in the Revolutionary War Nine months as stated within, which comes within my own knowledge being a revolutionary soldier at the same time and place, and is well recollected by me. That he is very poor and infirm so that he cannot travel to Court without great inconvenience for the purpose of there making this declaration and from his great age and infirmity It is thought he is not able to undergo the fatigue and trouble. and I should have further stated, that It appears to my satisfaction, That the said James Harris did serve at many other times and places as a revolutionary soldier, I will recollect him the said Harris to have acted as a bowman or cook for Col. Thos. Matthews at Charles Town South Carolina. Nicholas Tyner Witness A. Medallion
Virginia. - Southampton County. Set.
We Joseph B Whitehead
and Benj o Hines - do hereby Certify that Nicholas Tyner whose name is subscribed to the foregoing Certificate is a man of honesty, probity and good demeanour and that his word or declarations is as soon to be relied upon, as any man of our degree - instance and that full faith and credit is due to the same. Given under our hands and seals this 20 th day of April In the Year of our Lord 1835. Sworn and Subscribed before me William Joseph B Whitehead A Spark a Justice of the peace Benjamin Hines in and for the County and State last aforesaid. Wm A Spark J.P.

State of Virginia, Southampton County to wit.
I James Rochelle Clerk of the County Court of Southampton in the State of Virginia, do hereby certify that Aubin Middleton Esq. before whom the foregoing declaration of James Harris was made, is and was at the time the said declaration was made an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified according to the Constitution and Laws of the said State. I do hereby further certify that William A Spark Esq. who has signed his name to the preceding certificate, is and was at the time the said certificate bears date an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid duly commissioned and qualified according to the Constitution and Laws of the said State. -
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my Office this 20 th day of May 1835
James Rochelle Clk
Virginia Southampton County Set.
We Sampson C Reese John M. Gurley and Aubin Middleton do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with the within mentioned James Harris who is petitioning for a pension, and believe him to be of the age he represents and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a revolutionary Soldier and that we concur in that opinion. Given under our hands this 28 th day of May In the Year 1835
Sampson C Reese
John M Gurley
A Middleton
Virginia Southampton County. Set.
This day personally appeared before me W m A. Spark, a Justice of the peace in and for the County & State aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified according to the Constitution and Laws of the said State. The above mentioned Sampson C Reese John M. Gurley and A. Middleton, who qualified to the correctness of the date foregoing Certificate.
Given under my hand this 28 th day of May In the Year 1835.
Wm A Spark J.P.

James Morris For. } doct. Pension 1833 27427
Rejected, doct. 6 Nov: 1833 to St Rochelle - Jerusalem p-

State of Virginia County of Southampton
On this sixteenth day of September one thousand Eight hundred and thirty three, personally appeared in open court before the Justices of the Court of Southampton County now sitting James Harris a resident of Saint Luke's Parish in the County of Southampton and State of Virginia aged Eighty four 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 7 th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers. Colo. Matthews and Majr. Leamaway (being the only field officers recollected). Captain Simon Alday Lieutenants Francis Coorly and Thomas Burnside, that he entered the service about the middle of January 1780. the day or day of the month not recollected. but he well rec- lects that from the time he entered the service. he was stationed (until the 1 st of February 1780) at. Crops Creek on which said 1 st of February he marched. He does not recollect the day on which the troops with whom he served were discharged. but as this applicant was waitman to Colo. Matthews he was not discharged until he got to Colo. Matthews' house (in Cumberland County now Moore's County near this applicant's own residence) which was on the 9 th day of November. 1780 having been subservient to all his the said Matthews orders in Capacity of servant. That this applicant served under the before mentioned officers during his whole term of service That he was living in the County of Cumberland now Moore's County State of North Carolina when he entered the service, That he was drafted in the North Carolina Militia 10 th division
That he never was in a battle. Commenced service at. Crops Creek and served as a private for three months or upwards immediately after which he served in Capacity of Cook. Waster & Hostler &c to Colo. Matthews for six months & up- ards, making his whole term of about 9 months & 24 days. Marched from Crops Creek Mayn County North Carolina to Charleston S Carolina thence to the two Sisters. Came back to Charleston. where all were discharged about the last of October. 1780 excepting this applicant, he being discharged as before stated. That he recollects Genls Morgan & Sinkhorn. That he does not recollect any of the Continental Regiments or Companies. That he was born in the County of Isle of Wight State of Virginia

on the 10 th of September 1749. That there was once a record of his age but can give no account of it immediately after the Revolutionary war he lived in the same County that he resided when he entered the service (fifty years) since which time he has lived in the County of Southampton State of Virginia where he at present resides. This applicants discharge given him by Colo. Matthews as before stated was taken from him (together with other papers) by Robbers who took every thing in his house. That he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first above mentioned
James his Harris
We Simon Murfee a clergyman residing in the County of Southampton & Stephen Murfee residing in the same County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Harris who had subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be Eighty four 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 & subscribed the day & year first aforesaid
Simon Murfee Stephen Murfee
We the undersigned residing in the County of Southampton and neighbors to James Harris who had subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with the said James Harris. That there is no individual within the circle of our acquaintance upon whose veracity and integrity we would sooner rely
Peter Edwards John A. Person

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 said James Harris was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. the Court further Certifies that it appears to them that Simon Murfee who has signed the first of the preceding certificates is a Clergyman resident in the County of Southampton and that Stephen Murchough who has also signed the same is a resident in the County of Southampton and is a Credible person and that their statement is entitled to Credit. And the Court moreover Certifies that Peter Edwards and John A. Person who have signed the last of the preceding certificates are residents in Southampton County and are credible persons.
I James Rochelle Clerk of the Court of Southampton County do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of James Harris for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this the 18 th day of September 1833
James Rochelle Clk.
State of Virginia Southampton County } ss
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the aforesaid County of Southampton James Harris who being duly sworn deposeth & saith that by reason of old age & 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 three months I served as a private. For six months I served as a cook washer & hostler and for such service I claim a pension.
James his X mark Harris
Sworn to and subscribed before me Benjamin Griffin a Justice of the Peace for the County of Southampton this 18 th day of September 1833 Benjamin Griffin