John Morris Revolutionary War Pension Application

Submitted by: Linda A. (Morris) Gittoes

This document is part of the Revolutionary War Pension File,  John and Lucy Morris, No. W18530, in the National Archives, Washington, D.C.

State of Virginia, Louisa County to wit:

    On this 14th day of August 1832 personally appeared before the county court of Louisa in open court John Morris, of the county of Louisa and state of Virginia aged seventy years who being just and duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following decleration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by act of Congress passed June 7 1832; that he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1779 with Lieutenant Anderson Thompson, and served in the Regiment of Guards that guarded General Burgon's captured army at Albemarle Barracks, commanded by Col. Francis Taylor, Col. William Fountain, Major John Roberts, Captain Robert Barret, Lieutenant Anderson Thompson, Ensign Samuel O. Peters and Ensign John Winston.

    That he belonged to Captain Robert Barret's company and that the other officers recollected commanding companies were Captain Benjamin Timberlake, Capt. Burnley, Capt. Burton and Capt. Poter, that enlisted in the service about February 1779 and served till about April 1781 when he was discharged at Winchester in Virginia.  He received a written discharge but does not know what has become of it, that he resided in the County of Hanover when he enlisted, that he has since the War resided in the county of Louisa.  That he never was in an engagement during the war, that after his enlistment he went to Albemarle Barracks from there he went with the army across Rock Fish Gap through Augusta to Gilberts Mountain in the County of Rockingham, he then returned to the Barracks in Albemarle and remained there a short time and then marched with the army through the counties of Orange, Culpepper and Fauquier, to the town of Winchester where he remained a short time and then went on to a little town called Bath or Warm Springs, where he continued some time with the army and then marched down the south side of the Potomac River to a point not now recollected that he was very sick whilst at Balto. and unable to do duty for some time, that he finally got well and joined his company again, and marched to Martinsburg and Sheppards Town and then to Winchester where he was discharged as before stated.  He further declares that he was born as he has been informed in the county of King & Queen, that whilst he was very young his father removed to Hanover County and died whilst he was yet very young, that he has no register of his age and from the circumstances as above stated he cannot say on which day or year he was born but from the best information he has been able to get, he believes he is now in his seventieth year, that his mother died about six months after his father.  He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state whatever: Licons and prescribed the day and year first above written.

                                                  his
                                            John   +    Morris
                                                  mark

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion that the said above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states.

                                             James Mahar P.J.

I John Hunter, Clerk of the court of Louisa County, do hereby certify that he foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court, in the matter of the application of John Morris __________________.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of  Office, this 20th day of August, 1832, in the 57th year of our foundation.

                                                John Hunter

 

The following information is contained in the Revolutionary War Pension File,  John and Lucy Morris, No. W18530, in the National Archives, Washington, D.C..  After the death of John Morris on 27 December, 1834, his widow, Lucy, applied for a pension based on his service.  She had to provide proof that she had been married to John Morris in order to qualify for the pension.

Know all men by these presents that we John Morris and Thos Dunn are held and firmly bound unto his excellency Beverly Randolph Esq. our present Governor his successors in office in the just sum of Fifty pounds current money of Virginia to be paid & we bind ourselves and joint & several heirs and sealed with our seals and dated this day of Feburary   .  The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas there is a marriage suddenly intended to be had & solemnized between the above bound John Morris and Lucy Walker  now if there is no lawful cause to obstruct the said marriage, then the obligation is to be void, or else to remain in full force and virtue.

                                                                                                                             his       
Signed sealed and deliv'd                                                                    John   X  Morris     Seal
In presence of                                                                                               mark
Jno Poindexter Jr.                                                                                Thomas Dunn        Seal

 

            I, John Hunter, clerk of the County Court of Louisa County do certify that the above is a true copy of a bond, commonly called a marriage bond, the original of which is filed in my office, with the exception of the date, which is as profesed on the bond in faint legible figures as follows 23rd day of Febry 1791, Twenty third day of February Seventeen Hundred and Ninety One.

            I, John Hunter, above named depose and say, that I hold the office of clerk of the County Court of Louisa County in the state of Virginia and that the above is a true copy of the said bond, with the exception above named, as certified by me.

Sworn before me                                                                    John Hunter clerk of the County
         John T. Quarles                                                                            Court of Louisa                       
          a Justice of the Peace                                                       September 17th 1840