Arthur Matthis
 



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

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