Pension application of John Henry S108261 fn25NC/SC
Transcribed by Will Graves 4/29/11
State of Kentucky Nicholas County: Sct.
On this 23rd day of July 1832 personally appeared in Open Court, before the worshipful the Justices of the Nicholas County court being a court of record now sitting John Henry a resident of the State of Kentucky and in the County of Nicholas, aged seventy-three years last February 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.
This affiant states that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. He was born in Augusta County Virginia the 14th February 1759 as he was informed by his mother and eldest Brother (both now dead) he has no record of his age, depending upon tradition for that fact. He entered the service in 1776 (in August) as near as he recollects under General Rutherford, Regiment Colonel George Alexander & company of Captain John McKent Alexander [John McKnitt Alexander] in any Campaign against the Cherokee Indian Towns. After his return from said Campaign he was drafted and went to the service under Colonel Winn of Winnsborough he was then transferred to the command of General Moultrie entered the regular service and took the bounty his Colonel was Colonel Lawrence [probably John Laurens] Lieutenant Colonel Simmonds [Simmons or Simons] & in Captain Whitesides company he was engaged in the defense of Charleston when attacked by the British Governor Rutledge was at Charleston and made a speech to the Army before the attack was made. He was engaged in carrying dispatches from General Washington at Charlotte to General Greene at Ninety Six – he had to pass through a hot Tory country unarmed to prevent suspicion carrying his dispatches belted round him under his shirt. He was several times employed as one of the guards in conveying provisions & Beeves to the Army. He served his nine months Tour in the regular service under General Moultrie and was honorably discharged by General Moultrie at Charleston, and that he carried his discharge with him in his pocket book until by handling and carrying it was literally worn out and lost before he knew that it would ever benefit him in any way or manner. He saw General Pulaski when he came to Charleston to the assistance of the Americans. This affiant states that he knows of no person now living by whom he can prove his services he has been using all exertions to obtain information to obtain his pension and for this purpose employed E. F. Chappell Esquire as his friend and counsel about the year 1825 2 right to different parts of the country to obtain information from his compatriots of the revolution, but alas death had closed the earthly campaign of most others had removed to 2 parts unknown to the present generation. This affiant is aged and infirm and without property.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name was not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
S/ John Henry {Seal}
[John Rogers, a clergyman, and John Morgan and Jacob Lee gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
Interrogatories
1stWhere and in what year were you born?
Ans. I was born in Augusta County Virginia at Caldwell's settlement as I have been informed on 14 February 1759 my father having died before my birth of the flux
2nd Have you any record of your age and if so where is it?
Ans. I have none, depending alone upon the information of my Mother & Eldest Brother both dead
3rd Where were you living when called into service: where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live?
Ans. I resided on fishing Creek 12 miles below Yorktown in York district since the revolution I have lived in North & South Carolina in the latter place I married and then moved to Kentucky the precise time when I do not recollect, but it was at an early period as nearly as I recollect upwards of 40 years since his immigration he has lived in Madison, Fayette, bourbon & Nicholas counties of Kentucky in the latter County of which I now reside.
4th How were you called into service; were you drafted; did you volunteer or were you a substitute, and if in substitute, for whom?
Ans. As in the body of my declaration
5th State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops when you served, such Continental and militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service.
Ans. As to the regular Officers, I have no distinct recollection of their names at this period and lapse of time except those named in my original declaration. I was in the regular service only 9 months as before stated but the whole term of my service was about 5 years in the militia and regular service included.
6th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?
Ans. I received a discharge from General Moultrie as in my declaration before stated
7th 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 in your services as a soldier in the revolution.
Ans. I believe that my character and standing in society has been such that most of my neighbors well Testify to my veracity as a man of truth and their belief of my services up rendered to our beloved and happy country, I will refer to ___
[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $50 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831, for 15 months service as a private in the Virginia militia.]
