This information is contributed by Don Matthews
Arthur Matthis
Duplin County, NC - Arthur Matthis Revolutionary War Pension, 1833
~~~~~~~~~~
State of North Carolina Court of Pleas and
Duplin County Quarter Sessions
February Term 1833
On the 27th day of February (AD) 1833 personally appeared in open Court
before Jeremiah Pearsall, William Carr, and John Watkins, Esquires – now
sitting, Arthur Matthis, a resident of Duplin County in the State of North
Carolina aged about seventy two years of age who being first duly sworn
according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order
to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7,
1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the
following named officers and served as herein stated
1. Under Col. James Kenan, Capt John Moulton, John Armstrong Lieut,
Theophelus Williams Ensign; that he cannot recollect the day or the month
or with any certainty the year, but thinks it was in the year 1778and in
the fall, that he left this term of service a little while after Christmas
and supposes it was the first of the year 1779, that he engaged for three
months and served the term out, that when he entered the service he resided
in Duplin County N.C. on Stewarts Creek; that he was a volunteer light
horseman; that he was in no battle but had a skirmish with the tories on
Drowning creek in Robeson County not far from a place called Cole’s Bridge;
that he embodied at Duplin old Court House and marched from thence to Cross
Creek, now Fayetteville, in Cumberland County, from thence into South
Carolina on Big Pedee, that over Big Pedee he joined a regiment or brigade
which he thinks was commanded by Gen. Harrington; that he remained in South
Carolina nearly the balance of his tour; and about the end thereof he went
in a detachment to guard some tories, who had been taken prisoner, to New
Bern; that he has no documentary evidence whatever for this or any other
tour; but thinks he can prove his service in these three months by William
Taylor of Duplin County aforesaid
2. Under Capt Robert Merritt, King Vann Lieut, sometimes under the command
of Col. James Kenan then of Col. James Moore & of Col Thomas Bludworth.
Jonathan Taylor, Major; that he entered this service the first of the fall
he thinks in the year 1779 and left it in the spring of the year (he supposes)
1780, that he is not certain whether he engaged for six months or whether he
served two tours of three months, that he was not in constant service, but
would occasionally return home and remain until his services were required;
that he estimated his service under Capt Merritt at six months; that he was
a volunteer light horseman; that he was in no battle, but in two skirmishes
with the tories, one at Bennett Smith’s on South River, in which a Private
named David Tucker was wounded and one at Capt. The Williams’s between
little Cohara & South River in which some of the tories were wounded and some
taken prisoner; that he embodied at the residence of Capt. Robert Merritt;
that his marches for the most part were in Duplin County but was also in New
Hanover County; that he has no documentary evidence but thinks he can prove
this service by Daniel Merritt & part by Major James Matthis of Sampson County.
3. Under Col James Kenan & sometimes Col Charles Ward & Capt David Dodd, he
forgets his other officers, that he entered this service in the fall and he
supposes in the year 1780, thinks it was in the month of October, and left it
he believes in January 1781; that he was a volunteer light horseman; that he
engaged for three months and served the term out; that he was in no battle
nor skirmish, but that Capt Dodd killed a torie at Edward Albert’s beyond
the North East; that he embodied at Duplin Old Court House & marched across
the North East at Limestone bridge: that his marches were entirely within
Duplin County, comprehending what is now Sampson County, has no documentary
evidence and knows of no person by whom he can prove this service.
4. In the summer of 1781, the enemy being in Wilmington were expected to
march up through Duplin northwardly across Rockfish bridge which is just above
South Washington; that he entered the service then under Capt. Shadrack
Stallings and was marched to Rockfish bridge, that he was then put under the
command of Col. Charles Ward, Capt Jonathan Parker & he forgets his other
officers, that he served in this tour to the best of his knowledge about two
months; he thinks he was drafted for three months, but quit this service after
the skirmish at Rockfish; that he was in the skirmish at Rockfish bridge where
the Americans were defeated and dispersed, being attacked both in front and
rear by the enemy, about at the same time; that he made no marches after he
arrived at Rockfish bridge but remained there making intrenchments till the
skirmish, that he has no documentary evidence but thinks he can prove this
service by Daniel Merritt of Sampson County.
5. Under the command of Capt James Gillespie, Samuel Houston Lieutenant,
James Pearsall Ensign, that he entered this service he thinks in 1781 early
in the fall and left in the last of 1781 when he thinks hostilities ceased
in this section; that he engaged for three months and served a little over
two months, that he was a volunteer light horseman; that he was in no battle;
that he embodied at the Cross Roads in Duplin County and marched through
Bladen into Robeson County to Lumberton, thence back into New Hanover County,
thence into Duplin County, he has no documentary evidence & knows of no
person by whom he can prove his service in this tour.
Answers of Arthur Matthis to the questions asked him by the Court as
presented by the War Department
To the 1st he answers I was born in Bute County, N.C. beyond Tar River, but
don’t know what year, think in 1760 or 61
To the 2nd he answers I have no record of my age now; it was recorded in a
Bible which Wm Matthis took with him to Tennesee when he removed thither.
To the 3d he answers, when I entered service I was living in Duplin County,
N.C. I’ve lived in Duplin County ever since the Revolutionary War & now
live there
To the 4th he answers, I always volunteered except once when I think I was
drafted.
To the 5th he answers, there were no regular officers, as I remember with
the troops where I served. I knew no continental regiments. The militia
regiments I recollect were Gen Harrington’s, or Gen Caswell’s, Col James
Kenan’s (illegible) Lillington’s or Col Charles Ward’s; Col James M(illegible)
& Col Thomas Bludworth commanded a few companies. To(illegible)
circumstances of my service are related above.
To the 6th he answers, I don’t recollect to have received but one discharge
& that was given by Col. Kenan (illegible) I finished my tour under Capt
Moulton, which I took no care of & have lost.
To the 7th he answers, Rev. William Wells, William Stoakes, Timothy Newkirk,
Rev. Peter Carlton, Gibson Sloane, &c. He hereby relinquishes every claim
whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his
name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Test, James Dickson
his adjutant Clerk
Arthur x Matthis
mark
And the said Court hereby declare it their opinion after the investigation
of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War
Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and
served as he states, and that said applicant cannot without too much
inconvenience procure the attendance of a clergyman as the clergyman
residing in his neighborhood vis: William Wells is an aged person.
J(?) Pearsall J.P. (signature)
Wm Watkins JP (signature)
W Carr J.P. (signature)
I, James Pearsall, Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter sessions for
Duplin County hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original
proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Arthur
Matthis for a pension..
SEAL In testimony whereof I have affixed my seal of office and
subscribed my name this 28th day of February AD 1833 and in the 57th year
of American Independence
Ja Pearsall (signature)
~~~~~~~~~~
31854 2. 12th June 1841
North Carolina
Arthur Matthis
Of Duplin Co. in the State of N.C.
Who was a Pr of Cavy in the Compy commanded
by Captain Stallings of the Regt commanded
by Col. in the N.C.line for militia
Inscribed on the roll of North Carolina
At the rate of 25 Dollars------ Cents per annum
To commence on the 4th day of March 1831
Certificate of Pension issued this 11th day of June
1841 and sent (?) Patrick
Murphy, Taylor’s Bridge, N.C.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1841 $250.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept. 12.50
$262.50
Revolutionary Claim
Act of June 7, 1832
Recorded by WW(?) Addison Clerk
Book C (?) Volume 612 Page 66
Back to American Revolutionary War Patriots and Information
|