Smith County TN Archives Military Records.....Porter, James May 21, 1821 Revwar - Pension ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tn/tnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nancy Poquette npoq@hotmail.com August 16, 2006, 3:16 am Pension Application Of James Porter, Nat’l Archives Series M804, Roll 1995, Application #W1478 Smith County, Tennessee, May 21, 1821, James Porter, aged 68 years: “That he served in the Revolutionary War as follows: He entered the service about the time the British troops landed at New York, in the 1st regiment of Pennsylvania militia, commanded by Colonel Crawford, and then by Colonel Robideau, and then by Colonel Green in Captain William Carter’s company, and was in the service of the United States nine months at one tour and twelve months ____ other tour, under Captain Robert Bell in the 1st regiment from North Carolina, commanded by Colonel Malbry [Malmedy?]. That he was in the battles of Staten Island, and at Fort Washington, at Buford’s Defeat, at the Battle at Guilford Courthouse, and in the Battle at Eutaw Springs. That he was taken prisoner at Fort Washington and kept so for upwards of one year. That he received two wounds in said service, one in the leg and one in the head, and was honorably discharged from the service at Salisbury by Colonel Butler and General Rutherford, which discharge he has lost…” “That I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities or contracts or debts, ___ ___ ____, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed, to wit, 10 head of hogs, and sow and 6 pigs, one cow and calf, two yearlings and old mare, another mare and colt, two ?ovens and two plows. He owes twenty dollars and has three dollars and fifty cents owed to him. Has a wife named Mary about 45 years old, two children, a son about 18 years old but deformed and helpless, a daughter about 14 years old. He is farmer by profession and is so infirm that he is not able to work for a support.” Smith County, Tennessee, October 1, 1838, Polly Porter, aged 74 years old: “That she is the widow of James Porter who was a pensioner of the United States, and drew his pension at Nashville, TN and was a resident of Smith County up to the day of his death. She further declares that she was married to the said James Porter on the 15th day of July, in the year 1788, and that her husband, the aforesaid James Porter died on the 18th day of June 1838...etc.” Smith County, Tennessee, November 24th, 1841, Joseph Porter, aged 50 years: “According to the best information received from his father, James Porter in his lifetime, and from his mother, Polly Porter now living, he is 50 years of age in July last, and is now going in his 51st. This affiant states that he is the 2nd oldest son of the said James and Mary Porter, the identical person who was a pensioner and is now dead, and whose widow Mary Porter has since made application for a pension under Act of July 7th, 1838. That John Porter is the oldest son of the said James and Polly Porter and is now about 53 years of age. He has been free of mustering for 8 years, Said John Porter is two years and some months older than this affiant. This affiant has been free of militia duty for 5 years past. This affiant has been confirmed in the correctness of his age from other sources than his parents. About 17 years ago, he went to visit his relations near Hopkinsville, Kentucky. His grandmother, Mrs. McClane were then living. They were counting up this affiant’s age and those of his cousins, and it corresponded with the statement he got from his father and mother. This affiant has kept his age ever since, correctly, but has no record of the same, but is certain he is correct.” Smith County, Tennessee, June 1842, John Porter: “That agreeable to statements of his father and mother and the record kept by them in the family Bible, he is, about this time, 55 years of age. That he is the sone of James Porter, deceased, who was a pensioner of the United States and a resident of Smith County, TN. That his mother, Polly Porter is the widow of said James Porter, and is the identical person who has applied for a pension under the Act of 7th of July, 1838. This affiant further adds that he has a very correct knowledge the record of his age in the Bible of his father, above spoken of. That from his recollection of said record, he was born on the 22nd day of April, 1789. This affiant is informed and believes that said record has been destroyed and torn out of the Bible so that no trace of it exists.” “This affiant further states that he lived with his father and mother in Guilford County, NC until the year 1814, when they moved to Smith County, Tennessee. This affiant knows his age was in 1815 (when the Battle of New Orleans took place), say, 26 years, which add to 27 would make him 53, with the difference that he was born in April 1789, 11 years would make, added to 42 the present date from 53 to 55 years of age at the present time. This affiant was before a court martial of the officers of the regiment in which he mustered about 8 or 9 years ago, and was then discharged from military duty, being 45 years of age. This affiant has also been tax free for the last four or five years. The people of the state of Tennessee, by the state constitution, are free of tax when they arrive at the age of fifty years.” File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tn/smith/military/revwar/pensions/porter219gmt.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/ File size: 5.8 Kb