Wake County, NC - Military Records File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Bill Surles Below is a transcript of pension information from the National Archieves on John Surls, submitted by Susan Surls, for 1812 War pension. Susan and John lived in Wake County. TRANSCRIPT 1. [copy of front of file. Pension Application Files, War of 1812, Death or Disability THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OLD WAR WIDOW FILE NO. 11579 PENSIONER Susan, Widow of VETERAN John Surls SERVICE Pvt. N. C. Vols Department of the Interior Widow’s Claim I certify that Susan Surls, widow of John Surls who was a private of North Carolina volunteers in the service of the United States, is entitled under the provisions of the act of Congress approved June 3, 1858 to receive pay at the rate of three dollars and fifty cents per month, to commence on the third day of February 1858, and to continue during life, unless she shall again marry, in which case the pension is not payable after the date of such marriage. Given at the Department of the Interior This twenty third day of August one thousand eight hundred and fifty nine Moses Kelly Acting Secretary of the Interior [some signature] Commissioner of Pensions. [written across page from lower left to upper right] Amount due in this [???] period February 18[55?] [???] March 1859 inclusive [???] Pension Office calculation $45.61 2/3 2. Pension Act June 5, 1858, War of 1812 Susan Surls widow of John Surls decd., Private North Carolina Militia War of 1812 She claims $4 per month under the above act instead of of [sic] $3 50/100 Received by me from [?] [H?] Kirkham Esq. Raleigh, N.C. [?] M. Henry Present July 17/60 3. 15 March 1853, State of North Carolina, County of Wake Mrs Susan Surls a resident of the County of Wake and State of North Carolina aged sixty six, who makes this her declaration [under?] act of Congress [paper?] 3 Feb 1853 extending the provisions of act 22 Feb 1849 who being duly sworn according to Law and She declares that she is the identical widow of John Surls decd. Who departed this life on his way home from Norfolk Va. With a disease contracted while in said War 1812, who was under Capt Green (Sargent) Norris & Dunkin McDonald She declares that she reced a land warrant for eighty acres of land dated I think the 18th day of January 1853 and the No of Said warrant was 47599, to the best of my belief having sold said warrant & declarant now makes this her declaration under the [???] act, in order to receive under said act five years half pay. She therefore respectfully refers to her papers on file in Washington as to her husbands death and services and her idenity. She respectfully refers to the affidavit that of William Yates on file as to the time and place of her said husbands death who died on his way home while crossing the Roanoke river to the best of my belief on the date 1815 She declares that She has remain the widow of said John Surls ever since his death who died on his way home. Subscribed and sworn to before me Just Gaston [???] J.P Sworn to in [???] [court???] [?] [?] [???] Clerke Susan Surls [x mark] [???] undersigned an acting Justice of the Peach of the Court of [???] and quarter [???] in and from said County of Wake and State of North Carolina do hereby certify that Mrs Susan Surls this day personally appeared before me this day and dates aforesaid and made the foregoing declaration She is the Identical widow of John Surls decd as Stated in her declaration and is the widow of said Surls & has never since married as witness my hand and seal officially this the day [??? ???] Gaston [Tilley???] J. P. [seal] State of North Carolina County Court May Term 1853. Wake County [?] James [T.?] Harriott Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter [???] for the County of Wake aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing declaration was exhit. Into in open court and the affiant appeared and made oath to the same in [???] form of law in open court and the court ordering the same to be so certified to the War Deparment. I further certify that the court was fully satisfied that the said Susan Surls is the widow of the said John Surls named in the Declaration. In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of said court and subscribed my name at office in Raleigh this 23rd May 1853. James T. Harriott, Clerk 4. Susan Surls widow of John for ˝ pay pension act 3 February 1853 extending provision of the act 22 Feb 1849 Said John Surls died on his way home 1815 under Capt Green From Wake N. Carolina her warrant No 47599 Dated 18 [July?] 1853 80 acres From J H Richardson Raleigh N.C. 5. Brief in the case of Susan Surls Widow of John Sulrs of Wake County and State of North Carolina under the act of 3rd Feby 1853 Claim, (original, or for increase.) Proof exhibited, (if original.) Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance. From the Rolls, and the evidence on file it appears that John Surls was a private in Capt Jno Green Co. N.C. Militia that on the 5 July 1815 he was reported sick in hospital and from the evidence of his orderly Sargeant and others it appears that he died on his way home, where crossing the Roanoak River. His Widow Susan Surls on the 23rd May 1853 in Court of Pleas and [???], in the County & State aforesaid, makes application to be placed upon the ˝ pay pension list roll of the United States, under the provisions of the act of 3rd Feb. 1853 and it appearing that she was lawfully married to the said John Surls, that he died as aforesaid, that she has continued to remain his widow up to the filing of said application. Her name is therefore inscribed on the ˝ pay pension list roll, at the rate of $3.50 per month for 5 years from the said 23rd day of May 1853 July 23/53 Name and residence of Agent J. H. Kirkham Esq. Raleigh North Carolina Daniel M. Cook Examining Clerk 6. Declaration to obtain the provisions of an act to extend an act entitled An act to continue half-pay to certain widows and orphans, approved February 3, 1853 STATE OF North Carolina COUNTY OF Wake On this Sixth day of June A.D. 1859, personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county Susan Surls a resident of Wake County, in the county of Wake aged Seventy-one years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed the 3d June, 1858, granting the renewal of half-pay to certain widows and orphans. That she is the widow of John Surls who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain John Green in the regiment commanded by Colonel -------- in the war with Great Britain. That she is the identical person, who was pensioned under the 1st section of the act of 3d February, 1853, at the rate of $3.50 per month : which said pension she received from the agent for paying pensions to Fayetteville in the State of North Carolina. That her former pension certificate has been surrendered. She further declares that she is still a widow. John Surls decd She hereby constitutes and appoints P. M. Henry, of Washington, D.C. her true and lawful Attorney, hereby authorizing him to prosecute this her claim for a renewal of her pension, and to receive the certificate to be issued thereon. That her certificate No 1040 terminated on 23 May 1858 Dated this 6th day of June 1859 Susan X Surls SEAL [mark] Witness: William H Whiton Sworn to and subscribed before me, on the day and year first above written; and I certify that I am not interested in said claim as attorney, agent, or otherwise. [?] [?] Jones J. P. 7. STATE OF North Carolina COUNTY OF Wake On this 6th of June A.D. 1859, personally appeared before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peach, in and for said county, Gilbert Upchurch and William Carpenter undersigned who are to me well known to be residents of the County of Wake and credible witnesses, and who being by me first duly sworn, deposed and say, that they are well acquainted with Mrs. Susan Surls, who subscribed and sworn to the above declaration in their presence; that they have known her for at least twelve years last past. That she is the widow of John Surls who served in the company and regiment above mentioned; that she is the identical person to whom a pension has heretofore been granted, at the rate of $3.50 per month; and that she is still a widow. We also declare that we have no interest in this claim. [signed] Gilbert Upchurch William Carpenter Sworn to and subscribed before me me [sic], this 6th day of June A.D. 1859 R. L Jones J. 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