Pension Application of John Harris: S37999

                        Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris

Virginia

            At a Court held for Rockbridge County on Monday the sixth day of July 1818

            On the motion of John Harris, and it appearing to the satisfaction of the court from the affidavit of said Harris, and the testimony of Samuel Russell, that said Harris served in the Revolutionary army for the term of eighteen months in the years 1780 & 1781, that he enlisted about the 1st September 1780 under Captain Jacob Reid in the county of Loudon [sic: Loudoun] in Virginia, that he served during 18 months the term of his enlistment in Colo. Gaskins Regiment and under command of the Baron Stuben [sic: von Steuben], that he served in several companies, the last of which was commanded by Capt. Fields, that he obtained a regular discharge which was handed him by Cap’n. Lamb, which discharge has been lost long since, that he took the oath of enlistment before Colo. Triplett, that he is now verry poor and from his reduced circumstances is in need of the assistance of his country for support. Ordered that the same be certified to the Secretary of the department of War.

Rockbridge County Court S’t.

            On this 2d day of July 1820 personally appeared in open Court being a Court of Record for said County of Rockbridge John Harris, aged about sixty five years resident in said County who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows in the third Virginia Regiment as well as he can recollect Capt Reuben Fields Company of the Virginia line for eighteen months all of which time he served and obtained a discharge, which is lost or mislaid that he made his original declaration on the 6th day of July 1818 that he obtained from the Hon’l. Secretary of War, John C Calhoon [sic: Calhoun] a pension Certificate Number 6263. that he has been paid his pension in conformity thereto up to the 4th of March 1820 and I do solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof within intent thereby to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of the act of Congress entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and Naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War passed the 18th of March 1818 and that I have not nor any person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereunto annexed, and by me subscribed

That he has been a labourer by profession but is old and infirm, and unable to pursue it to any advantage of consequence, he has a wife and one son who reside with him named Henry who has been subject to fits and unable to pursue any occupation and is rather dependent on him this affiant for support.

Schedule of John Harris property

            4 Head of Cows worth about                44....

            1 old Horse                                            20.

            3 Pigs                                                       4.50

            A small quantity of Household stuff      20.00

                                                                          88.50

                        John his X mark Harris

NOTE: A note in the file reads “Died 18th Aug 1837.”