Habersham County GaArchives Military Records.....Francis J. Dover Revolutionary War Pension Nov 1832 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Dennis Dover ddover1793@earthlink.net Aug 1, 2003 War Department File: R3052 Declaration in order to obtain Benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th June 1832 State of Georgia } County of Habersham } On this nineteenth day of November 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Court of ordinary ____ sitting Francis J. Dover a resident of said county and state aged seventy one years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following disclosure in order to obtain the benefit of the _____ _______ June 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the names of the following named officers and served as _______ stated he entered the service in York District South Carolina he thinks 1778 or 9 under Captain Jenkins in the Militia service in the Regiment commanded by Col. Bration he served four months, was in two skirmishes during that time, served out his time and was discharged he again reentered the service at the Congaree in South Carolina under Captain __________ enlisted 200 the State Troops for ten months was in one engagement at ________ defeat during that tour served out his ten months and was discharged by Colonel Washington. He then enlisted under Captain Copeland at Monks Corner in South Carolina for the term of two years he was in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Paisly under General Green he was marched into North Carolina was in the battle at Guilford Court House under General Green he served out his two years and was discharged at Hallifax in Virginia by what ______ his discharge was signed by Captain Hambright --- he was born in Orange County North Carolina in the year 1761 --- is no record of his age. Resided at the turn of the century the _________ in York District South Carolina after this again removed to Co Pendleton District South Carolina from there he removed to Habersham County Georgia where he has resided ever since. He has lost all his discharges by the burning of his house [ missing]. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension except this present _____ which claims that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency of any State. Sworn to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid. Jonathan C. Chastain C. C. or Francis J. Dover In open Court personally appeared Hezekiah Dover who after being duly sworn deposeth and saith on oath that he was well acquainted with the above named applicant Francis J. Dover in the Revolutionary War that he frequently saw him in the service of the United States during that War and believes that he ___ served several tours of duty. Sworn to and subscribed in open Court the date above. Jonathan C. Chastain C. C. or Hezekiah Dover (X) And the said Court hereby ____ the claim their opinion after the interrogatories of the _________ and after putting the Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department and after ____________ the above affidavit of Hezekiah Dover a credible person that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. I Jonathan C. Chastain, Clerk of the Court of ordinary of said County do hereby certify that ________ contains _____________ ___________ of this said Court in the matter of the application of Francis J. Dover for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and official seal this 19th day of November 1832 Jonathan C. Chastin C. C. or Declaration in order to obtain Benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th June 1832 State of Georgia } County of Habersham } On this 9th day of July in the year Eighteen Hundred and Thirty eight personally appeared in open Court before the honorable the Inferior Court for the State and County aforesaid being a Court of Record Francis J. Dover a resident of the County and State aforesaid, aged Seventy eight 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 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer private soldier in Guilford County State of North Carolina under Captain Jenkins and Colonel Frisbey and General Rutherford to the best of his recollection on the 11th day of July in the year 1777 and was marched to Salisbury, North Carolina where he was stationed under the same officers about five months and was then marched to York District South Carolina and from thence to Camden, where he was some time stationed and from thence was marched through the country in South Carolina to the Congaree and Wateree Rivers where he joined General Gates, Capt Jenkins having been killed near Ninety six. Lieutenant Copeland was appointed in his place. He was afterwards marched through the country in different direction, sometimes advancing and sometimes retreating, and sometimes detached on scouting parties, and was with General Gates at his defeat near Salisbury and from thence marched to Salisbury and from thence was placed under the command of General Green, and after having served in regulation tour of duty the one beginning as soon as the other ended for two years or as he states for twenty three or twenty five months he does not recollect which, (but it was one month over or under two years) he enlisted in the month of June or August 1779 in the Regular Continental Army under General Green for and during the War. He enlisted to the best of his recollection at the date last aforesaid as a private soldier at Ankrums on the Congaree under General Green, Colonel Washington and Captain George Ross and was stationed at Ankrums about three months, was marched about the country in different directions, not now recollected, until January 1871 when he was in the battle at the Cowpens where under Genl Morgan they beat the British (Green being at Broad River) from the Cowpens was again marched about the country until the month of March when he was again in battle against the British at Guilford North Carolina, here declarant was wounded both in the leg and the arm. At Guilford was under Green and the British were under Lord Rawdon and Cornwallis. After the battle he was to different points to watch the ______ of the enemy which they finally got into their entrenchment’s at York in Virginia and where he remained at the siege until the surrender of Cornwallis. After the taking of York he was marched to ______ North Carolina at which place and in the neighborhood he was stationed for upwards of twelve months and until Peace was proclaimed when he was regularly discharged by Captain Bluford, Major Thompson and Colonel Lacey. According to the best of his recollection he served four years under this last regular enlistment. To the best of his recollection he was discharged in November 1783 and by Capt Bluford. To several questions, two provided by the Court, he answered according to the numbers. 1. He was born on the Haw River North Carolina about forty miles from Guilford, but does not recollect the County was born the 28th day of June 1760. 2. He had a record of his age, but it was burned with his house when he first volunteered, he was living in York District South Carolina (to which his family had removed from Haw River) about one mile from Kings Mountain Battle Ground. 3. When discharged from the Army, he went back to York District South Carolina, where he lived three or four years and then removed to Pendleton district South Carolina where he lived twenty eight years and then removed to Habersham County Georgia where he has resided for about nineteen years last ____. 4. He first entered and served 23 or 25 months as a volunteer and then ______enlisted for and during the War and served it out. 5. He has answered this question in the body of his declaration except that he was sometimes on detached service under Col. Hambright, Col. William Grimes, General Smallwood and Genl Butler. 6. As he enlisted from ranks, of a Continental service, he received no regular discharge as a Volunteer, but he received a written discharge from the Continental Army after peace was proclaimed and to the best of his recollection it was from Capt. Bluford and Col. Lacey or Washington. This discharge was burned with his house in York District South Carolina about three years after his discharge. 7. He is known to Andrew M. Morris and George Ivestor and John Suggs who reside in his neighborhood who can testify to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a Revolutionary soldier, but does not know any one by whom he can prove his service, while he can do so by Hezekiah Dover who saw him frequently in the Army of the Revolution, and by Abram Mullinax if _____ yet alive in South Carolina. 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 of any State within his knowledge or belief. Sworn to and subscribed in open Court Francis J. Dover the day and year first aforesaid (X) Thos. M. Rias JIC State of Georgia} Habersham County} Personally appeared in open court before the Inferior Court for the County aforesaid Hezekiah Dover brother to the above declarant who after being duly sworn deposeth and said that he was well acquainted with the above declarant in the Revolutionary War and saw him enter the Army for a six month tour in the year 1777. He thinks that at the end of the Tour he returned home for a few days and again entered the army and remained in it either as a volunteer or regular Continental until the end of the war. Declarant saw him in the Continental Army at several different times during the war but that declarant was young then, being about sixteen years of age, he does not remember the names of the officers under whom he served. Sworn to and subscribed in open Court Hezekiah Dover the day and year aforesaid (X) Thos. M. Rias JIC State of Georgia} Habersham County} ___ John Suggs, a clergyman residing in the County and State aforesaid and Andrew. M. Morris & George Ivestor residing in the same and in the neighborhood of Francis J. Dover the above declarant, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with the same Francis J. who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be seventy eight years of age, that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn to and subscribed in open Court John Suggs the day and year above written Andrew Morris George Ivester Thos. M. Rias JIC State of Georgia} Habersham County} Personally appeared before me John R. Stanford one of the Judges of the Inferior Court for the County and State aforesaid, Absalom Mullinax a resident of Pickens District State of South Carolina, who being duly sworn according to Law deposeth and saith that he is well acquainted with Francis J. Dover to whose declaration for a Pension this affidavit is attached and that during the Revolutionary War he _______lived in York District South Carolina, and that he knew and saw the said Dover in the Army of South Carolina under Captain Jenkins, in the year 1777 or 1778. Witness further says that he saw said Dover serving in the Army of the United States at several different times during the War and that it was reported and believed in that neighborhood that said Dover did serve his Country in the Army during the whole of the Revolutionary War and defendant fully concurs in that belief. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 13th day of July 1838 Jno. R. S. Landford JIC State of Georgia} Habersham County} I, John T. Carter, deputy Clerk of the Inferior Court, do hereby certify that John R. Stanford is one of the Judges of this Inferior Court and ex offico __ ___ authorized to administer an oath and that by his signature to this affidavit is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and official seal this 17th July 1938. J. T. Carter Dep. C. I. C. And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after investigation of the matter and after putting the Interrogatories _____ by the _______ that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states and the Court further certifies that Hezekiah Dover by whom he ______ his being in service is a resident of the County of Habersham is a credible person whose statement is entitled to credible ? And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that John Suggs who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the County of Habersham & state of Georgia and that Andrew Morris and George Ivester who have also signed the same are residents of the same County and State and are credible persons and that this statement is entitled to credit. James Williams J.I.C. Wm W Alley J.I.C. B. ? Patton J.I.C. State of Georgia} Habersham County} I, Thomas M. Rea, Clerk of the Inferior Court for this County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that this foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Francis J. Dover for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 7th day of July 1838. Thos. M. Rea C.I.C. Source: Transcribed from photocopies from the files of Dianne Bingham