Pension Application of John Porter W26329 Roseman Porter VA
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris. Revised 18 June 2018
State of Kentucky }
County of Butler }
On this 8th day of October 1832, personally appeared before the Justices of the County Court of said County, John Porter a resident in the County of Butler and state of Kentucky, aged 73 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 1776, with Capt. Terrel; and served in the 5th Regiment of the Virginia line, under the following named officers.
That he enlisted in the month of February 1776, under Capt. Henry Terrel [sic: Henry Terrell
VAS2184], 1stLieut. J. Goggons [sic: John Goggin VAS2183] 2nd Lieut. Thomas McReynolds. Ensign, Robert Watkins and served in the 5th Regiment of the Virginia Line, commanded by Col. Charles Scott and Col. Josiah Parker (at different times) said Parker being Lieut. Col. at the time it was commanded by Col. Scott – untill about May 1777 when he was permitted to join Col. Daniel Morgan’s rifle regiment, in which he served untill February 1778 being two years, the time of his enlistment. That he resided in the County of Prince Edward and state of virginia when he entered the service. That shortly after he joined Col. Morgan, he marched to Somerset Court house [NJ], where the British were stationed, and attacked the piquet guard, and retired. That a few days thereafter he was again in an attack upon the piquet guard of the British in the same place. That he was in three several attacks made by Col. Morgan as the British were retreating from Somerset to Amboy, in one of which he received a wound, which disabled him from duty for a short time. That he was also under Gen’l. [Horatio] Gates at Burgoyne’s defeat in September 1777 [at Freeman’s Farm NY, 19 Sep] and under Col. Morgan in a battle at Chesnut [sic: Chestnut] hill about 30 miles from Philadelphia in November
That in March 1778 he volunteered for a tour of six months in the militia, and marched to
Charlston [Charleston SC], or the neighborhood of that city. That about 1st
July 1778, he again enlisted for 18 months, and served as orderly or first Sergeant, under Lieut. Robert Jewett [sic: Robert Jouett (Jouitt) VAS1333], who commanded the company, Col. Richard Campbell (who was killed at the battle of the Eutaw Spring [sic: Eutaw Springs SC, 8 Sep 1781]) and Major Hawes [Samuel Hawes BLWt1066- 450] – and was discharged about first January 1782 having served his full time as Sergeant. That he was under Gen’l. Green [sic: Nathanael Greene] in the battle at Guildford Courthouse [sic: Guilford Courthouse NC, 15 Mar 1781], from thence he marched to Camden, and was in the battle at place [Battle of Hobkirk Hill near Camden SC, 15 Apr 1781] – from thence to Ninety six, and besieged the fort for about a month [22 May - 19 Jun 1781], when the enemy received a reinforcement, and we marched to the High Hills of Santee, and remained there untill about first September 1781 when he marched to the Eutaw Spring, and was in the battle at that place on the 8th of September [Eutaw Springs SC, 8 Sep 1781] – and returned to the High Hills of Santee, until his time expired. That he lived in Prince Edward, Virginia, when he enlisted for the 18 months.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
The deposition of Thomas Carson [S31596], taken in the town of Morgantown, in the County of
Butler and State of Kentucky, on the 9th day of July 1832. This deponent being of lawful age, and first duly sworn, deposeth as follows.
Question. How old are you?
Answer. I am seventy two years old past.
Question. Were or were you not in the service of the United States in the Army of the Revolution, in the Virginia Continental line, and if so, how long. where, and when stationed, and who were your
officers?
Answer. I was. I enlisted in the Virginia Continental line in February 1776 for two years, under Capt. Tyrrel or Terrel in the 5th Regiment Va in June 1777. I was transferd to Col. Morgan’s Regiment of Riflemen. The 5th Regiment of the Virginia Continental line, was commanded by Col. Charles Scott.
Question. Were or were you not acquainted with John Porter, and if so, state what you know of his service, during the above period?
Answer. I was. We were raised in the same section in Virginia, and I knew him well. We enlisted on the same day. And I know that he served in the 5th Regiment of the Virginia Continental line from February 1776 until June 1777 when he was transfered to Col. Morgan’s regiment in said line, and served therein untill February 1778 making up the full time of two years, the time of his enlistments. He served as a private.
Question. Do or do you not know, that in the summer of 1780 he again enlisted in the Continental Service and if so, state for what time, and in what capacity he served.
Answer. Ido. He enlisted in the summer of 1780 for 18 months, and served as sergeant. I was not with him during the whole time, but believe he served as sergeant his full time of 18 months. In January 1781 I was in a volunteers company, and was part of the time with him, when he served as sergeant in Capt. Turell’s company. I believe that Turell was only Lieutenant, but commanded the company
Question by John Porter
Do or do you not know that I am the same identical John Porter of whose service you mention in the foregoing deposition?
Answer., Yes, I am certain.
Question. Is or is it not possible that you may be mistaken in saying that the John Porter who asked the above question, is the same identical John Porter, whose service you mention?
Answer. No, it is not possible. We were raised near each other in Virginia, and have lived near thirty years in the same neighbourhood in this State.
And further this deponent saith not.
[The following are from rejected claims in the Library of Virginia in the file of Carson, Thomas.]
STATE OF KENTUCKY. Butler County
THIS day [8 Sep 1824] John Porter personally appeared before me John Wilson a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid and made oath that he enlisted in Virginia in the year 1776 for three years in Capt Henry Terrel’s Company in the Fifth Virginia Regiment on the Continental Line, commanded by Col. Charles Scott and that he continued serve in said [undeciphered word] under Capt Terrel untill Nov 1776 at which time said Company was attached to Capt Scrugs [Gross Scruggs VAS2185] company and in the spring 1777 Capt [William] Fowler commanded said Company and that some time in June 1777 he was detached to Col Daniel Morgans Regiment but before he was detached to Morgan he was commanded by Col Josiah Parker as well as he recollects and that after such attachment Capt William Henderson [R14952] commanded him until he was Discharged and that he was honourably discharges at the Valley Forge in Pennsylvania and he served out his time for which he Enlisted and through the course of time he has lost his Discharge and he never has received his Land Warrant for said service.
STATE OF KENTUCKY, Butler County TO WIT.
THIS day Thomas Carson personally appeared before me John Wilson a Justice of the Peace for the county aforesaid and made oath that he the said Carson Enlisted at the same time that the above John Porter did and in the same Company ad Regiment on the Continental line and that (his) the said John Porter’s affidavit contains the truth to the best of his knowledge and recollection and that he served out his time for which he enlisted and was honourably Discharged
I John Porter aged seventy three years past, do upon oath testify and declare, that I enlisted in February 1776 in the 5th Regiment of the Virginia Continental line, and served therein as a private until June 1777, when I was transfered to Col Morgan’s Regiment of riflemen in said line, in which I served as a private the full two years, the time of my enlistment, including my service in the 5th Regiment and was regularly discharged in February 1778 but have lost my discharge. I do also declare, that in the summer of 1780 I again enlisted for 18 months under Capt Robert Juett in Col. Richard Campbell’s regiment in the Virginia Continental line. The said Juett was only Lieutenant in Commission, but commanded the company in which I served during the whole 18 months as Sergeant, untill [undeciphered word] army discharged. [9 July 1832]
I Thomas Carson aged seventy two years past do upon oath
testify and declare, that I am well acquainted with John Porter who signed the above declaration in my presence and know that he served as a private as above stated from February 1776 until February 1778 when he was regularly discharged. I also know that in the summer of 1780 he enlisted for 18 months as a Sergeant, and verily believe that he served as such the whole time. I was with him in January 1781 at which time he was serving as a Sergeant.
NOTE: On 4 Apr 1854 Rosemon Porter, 87, applied for a pension stating that she married “Col. John Porter” in Nov 1832, and he died on 24 Sep 1833. She was not able to attend court 12 miles from her home. Elijah Porter, son of John Porter, stated that he had been present at the marriage of his father to the widow Rosemon Brady, which was performed at her home in Warren County KY by Benjamin Talbot, a Baptist minister. William McKinney, James B. Hill, Francis L. Berry, and Samuel Hill also certified the marriage, and James B. Hill stated that he had held a candle during the marriage ceremony.
Roseman Porter had previously applied unsuccessfully for a pension as the widow of John Brady (R8353). In that application she stated that she married John Porter in Oct 1832.
https://revwarapps.org/w26329.pdf
