Pension File Of Phillip Pope
Transcribed from the official microfilm of the original pension file of Phillip Pope by Gary J. Hale, JD of Denver, CO September 10, 2001. Note that most spellings were left as they were written. No punctuation appeared in many of the pages and none was added.
Phillip Pope Private under Captain Hall of the Reg’t commanded by Col Johnson in the North Carolina Militia for two years. $80 per year starting March 4, 1834. Certificate issued January 26, 1835. Pension File No. 29644 Inscribed on the Roll of W. Tennessee. Certificate of Pension filed the 26th day of Jan. 1835. Recorded by D. Brown Clerk Book E-2, Vol 7 Page 101.
State of Tennessee, Smith County SS
On the 28th day of August 1832. Phillip Pope personally appeared in open Court, being a Court of record for said County, having a clerk and county Seal a resident of said County, aged 70 years in October next, who being first sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed the 7th June 1832 that he entered the service of The United States, under the following officers and Served as follows — He was drafted in Edgcomb (sic) County NC in the year 1778 he thinks, was attached to the Company Commanded by Capt. Edward Hall, and in the Regiment Commanded by Colo. James Johnson — and he thinks in the Brigade Commanded by Genl. Butler — He was marched from Edgcomb (sic) County in No. Carolina to Camden in S. Carolina, from there to Augusta in Georgia, from there to Stono in S. Carolina he was in the Battle of Stono — He served this time five months, and thinks he was permitted to return home, from Stono, and was discharged by Colo Johnson at home, but has lost his discharge — In the 1st of the year 1781 he turned out as a volunteer, and joined the company of Capt. Dred Phillips, of the Same County as above stated; the Regiment was commanded by Colo. William Linton; he was marched to Guilford C. H. No. Carolina, and was there at the time of the Battle. After the Battle of Guilford he was detailed to wait upon the wounded, and was then discharged by the Sergeon (sic) in attendance the name not recollected to he thinks it was either Drs. Rasmesey or Wallace, but has lost his discharge, He served three months this Term He then volunteered again, and Joined the company commanded by Capt. Gresham Cofuts, of Edgcomb County No. Carolina, and went against the tories, three months this term in the Regiment Commanded by Maj. Hardy Griffin and Colo. Clinch — He again volunteered 12 months, in the fall of 1781 joined the company commanded by Swan Trouters in the Regiment Commanded by Colo. Lewis he marched from Halifax in No. Carolina to Hillsborough, when he was left as a guard until some time in August 1782 when he was released and joined his regiment on Haw River where he remained, until his term was out and was discharged by Colo. Lewis — He then enlisted during the war under Capt. Wm Lytle, in Orange County No. Carolina, but was never Called into Service — he was discharged by Capt. Lytle at Hillsborough, until further orders, but was not again Called upon, has lost his discharges. He has no documentary evidence, and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service — but the *** proving furlow (sic) & affidavit.
Quest. 1 When and in what year were you born
Ans. I was born in Halifax County, North Carolina in the year 1762 16th of October
Quest. 2 Have you any Record of your age and if so where is it
Ans. My parents had a record of every age, which I have frequently seen, but do not know where it now is
Quest. 3 Where were you living when called into service Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live
Ans. I lived in Edgcomb County No. Carolina when I went into the service, and lived there during the Revolutionary War, and continued to live there on the same place until the year 1810 when I moved to Smith County in the State of Tennessee, where I now reside & have resided since the year 1810. The answers to the 4. 5. 6. interrogatories will be found in the foregoing part of this documentation — He hereby relinquishes any claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency of any State or territory in the United States or other nation.
Sworn to and Subscribed in his
Open Court the 28 day of Phillip x Pope
August 1832 mark
J. Bickett, clk
Present the worshipful John Chambers, Solomond Dibow and William C. Garrison, Esquires.
State of Tennessee SS This day Willis Hodges appeared in open Court, and made oath that he was well acquainted with Phillip Pope, the above named applicant for a period during the Revolutionary war. He knows of his own knowledge that he was at the Battle of Guilford — and believes he served in the war of the Revolution as stated in his declaration — He and the said Phillip Pope were raised in the same neighborhood and (sic) near neighbors and have been acquainted all their lives and he believes said Phillip to be a man [of] truth.
Sworn to in open Court his
the 28 day of August 1832 Willis x Hodges
J. Bickett, clk mark
State of Tennessee ) ss
Smith County )
We William Flowers and John Harper Clergymen residing in the State and County aforesaid, hereby Certify that we are well acquainted with Phillip Pope an applicant for a pension and believe him to be about 70 years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and we concur on that opinion. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 16th Day of August 1832
Don C. Dixon, JP Wm. Flowers, Sr. John Harper
And the Court hereby declared their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories before set down, that the said applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. And the Court then Certifies that it appears to them that William Flowers and John Harper who signed the preceding Certificate are clergymen resident in the State and County aforesaid — and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
John Chambers Chairman of Smith County Ct.
Copy of Furlow enclosed with the Declaration
Camp’d near Tarb’h the 8th October 1781. This may certify that Phillip Pope is on Furlow till he is fitt for duty then to join camps given under my hand. Hardy Griffin, Maj. [Actually the furlough, which was a part of the application papers, but transcribed in the court documents, says they were camped the 1st of October, not the 8th.]
Refer to David Douglass, Esq. Col. Robert Allen J. Biscott (?) and Richard Hodges and the Court before which this declaration was made — all of Smith County Tennessee.
State of Tennessee
Smith County
On this the 10th day of August 1849 personally appeared before the undersigned an acting justice of the peace in and for said county Mrs. Elizabeth Pope a resident of said county aged 87 years who on her oath makes the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress passed on the 29th day of July 1848 granting pensions to certain widows that she is the widow of Philip Pope deceased who was a pensioner of the United States at the rate of Eighty Dollars per annum and drew his pension in Nashville Tennessee for Services during the Revolutionary War she further declares that she was married to the said Philip Pope in Halifax county North Carolina on the 22nd day of June Seventeen hundred and eighty six that her husband the said Philip Pope died in said Smith county on the 13th day of May 1849. She further declares that since his death she has not intermarried but still remains the widow of him the said Philip Pope deceased that the first child of herself and the said Philip Pope was born on the 25th day of April Seventeen hundred and eighty seven that she has no record or documentary proof in support of her claim further than above stated & the formerly (sic) record here with her said husband Philip Pope who was born the 16th Oct 1762 She further states she was born 21st Oct 1762 and that she has no further record to show her age but recollects that her and said Philip Pope was born in the same date as above stated Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 10th day of August 1849
J C Sanders JP her
for Smith county Elizabeth x Pope
mark
State of Tennessee
Smith County
I James C Sanders an acting justice of the peace in and for said county do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Mrs. Elizabeth Pope who has this day appeared and made oath to the within declaration before me that she is the widow of the late Philip Pope deceased who was a pensioner of the United States at the rate of Eighty Dollars per annum that she is a woman of truth and veracity and that full faith and credit is due and of right ought to be given to her statements I further certify that from old age and infirmity of body she is not able to attend at the court house of the county in order to make this declaration in open court.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this 10th day of August 1849
J C Sanders
[Then William R. Hallum, the clerk certified that Sanders was an acting JP]
State of Tennessee
Smith County
On this 13th day of August 1849 personally appeared before the undersigned a acting Justice of the peace in and [for] said County Thomas W. Wootin (sic) a resident of said county aged forty four years who makes oath under form of law that he was well acquainted with Philip Pope dec’d who died in said county on 13th May 1849 that previously to his oath he was a pensioner of the United States at the rate of Eighty dollars per annum for Services during the Revolutionary war that at the time of death he left a widow [ink smeared] Elizabeth Pope who is Pope’s widow [ink smeared] & who subscribed her name to the foregoing declaration in my presence and that she did produce the original family record which is attached to said declaration in my presence which shows the date of the birth of the first child or her self & the said Phillip Pope as being born on 23rd day of April 1787 as she then [illegible] (see * on said record) (sic) Sworn to and subscribed unto before me the date above written. Thos W Wooten
N Thornton JP
I hereby certify that the above Thomas Wootin is personally known to me that the statements above made by him is entitled to full credit and belief given under my hand This 13 August 1849. N Thornton
[Then William V. R. Hallum, the clerk said Nelson Thornton was an acting JP]
Joseph Pope the son of
Philip Pope & Charity
His wife was Born March
Ye 22 day 1785
*
Keziah Pope the daughter
of philip pope (sic) & Elizabeth
his wife was Born april
apral (sic) ye 23th (sic) 1787
William Pope ye son of
philip pope & Elizabeth
his wife was born April
Ye 30th 1789
Siless (sic) Pope the
Son of Philip Pope
And Elizabeth his
wife was Born September
the 6 day 1791
[next page – different handwriting]
Jesse Pope son
Of Silas Pope and
Unice his wife was
Born the 6th Day of
May 1814
Calvin Pope Son
of Silas Pope & Unice his
wife was Born 1st June 1816
Betsey Pope daughter
of Keziah Pope was
Born 28th May 1815
2
[third page – different paper]
Lydia Pope Daughter Jesse Pope &
Elizabeth his wife was born February
ye 3 1758
Phillip Pope Son of Jesse Pope & Elizabeth
his wife was born October ye 16 1762
Mary Pope Daughter of Jesse Pope &
Elizabeth his wife was born march ye 13 1760
Adkins Pope son of Jesse Pope & Elizabeth
his wife was born may ye 29 1765
Elizabeth Pope Daughter of Jesse Pope &
Elizabeth his wife was born February ye 3 1769
Charity Pope Daughter of Jesse
Pope and Elizabeth his wife was born
March ye 4 1774
[written in a different hand and different ink on this third page:]
This is the original record of
the ages of Phillip Pope
& his brothers & Sisters
[The following note had nothing to explain what it was or why it was there]
this account Goes ought of the prinsipal part
Jesse pope pd John Bailes £ S P
To pd John Bailes 0 11 8
To pd for Shooling (sic) 0 06 8
Jesse pope Received of John Bailey
£ S P
By proc[lamation] money 0 6 8
By proc By Jos Wrene 0 10 00
State of North Carolina
Edgecomb County
On the 8th day of September 1834 personally appeared before me James George one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid Nathaniel Bilbry who being duly sworn according to law doth depose and say in relation to the services of Philip Pope in the army of the Revolution —
That he was well acquainted with said Pope he the said Pope residing near deponent when he entered into the military service of the country. — That he recollects distinctly the time when Pope entered the service and thinks it was in October 1781. The regiment to which said Pope was attached was divided into two detachments — the one in which Pope performed his service was assigned to Major Bennet Crafton and he was under the immediate command of Capt Swan Fronton. These troops were raised for the purpose of operating against the Tories and affording protection to the Legislature at Hillsboro and made a point of rendezvous near Shacco Springs in the County of Warren. — From Shacco he proceeded with the troops to Hillsboro where they remained until after the session of the Legislature after which time they were employed in the Southern part of the State mainly in pursuit of Tories and returning to Hillsboro were discharged in October 1782 the term of his service embracing a period of twelve months.
Nathaniel Bilbory
Jas George JP
[Note that Nathaniel Bilbry was also granted a pension for service, but Phillip Pope did not offer an affidavit as to his service]
State of Tennessee
Sumner County
Personally appeared before me Dan’l McAulay an acting Justice of the Peace in & for said county Henry Pitt aged seventy four years who upon his oath makes the following statement.
That in the year 1781 (he thinks but from great age & loss of memory he cannot state positively as to the year) there was ordered by Col. Hart a company of militia for the protection of Edgecomb County North Carolina & for the suppression of the tories in said county to be raised The officers of the company were Captain James Wilson Lieutenant Bithel Bell Ensign William Fort This company consisted he thinks of about thirty men This deponent volunteered & enlisted in said company The company was raised for three months & this deponent was in actual service in said company during the whole term of three months The company never had any battles with the tories but they took prisoners a great many of them They marched over the county a great many times When there was no disturbance by the tories they encamped at the town of Tarbury the county seat of Edgcomb County They scarcily ever remained here more than two or three days before they would march again after the tories & thus they were engaged during the whole term Many of the incidents of this tour are fresh in deponents memory Deponent does not recollect whether or not Philip Pope (who has applied to him for this statement) served this tour in this company but from the statements which the said Philip Pope gives of many of the particular incidents of the service of said company & of the marches of the company & the places it was at he has no doubt that he was one of the soldiers in said company & performed the service And it is not to be wondered at that he cannot recollect the personal services of the said Philip Pope for his memory has greatly failed him in every thing Sworn & subscribed to before me this 29th day of September 1834
Henry Pitt
Dan’l McAulay JP
[Then McAulay says Pitt is known to him and is a reputable person.]
[This affidavit is followed by a statement by Alfred H Douglass, clerk of the court, that McAulay is a JP]
This 29th day of December 1834 personally appeared before me Abram Caruthers one of the circuit judges for the state of Tennessee Philip Pope and being first by me duly sworn on his oath says that it is not in his power to be more explicit in stating the services than he has already done in his declaration of the 18th april 1834. he was in service the whole of the twelve months for which he was Enlisted part of the time it is true he was sick and not fit for duty and received a furlough to remain out of active service until he recovered from sickness and in less than ten days he did recover and immediately joined the service he has yet to learn that a sick soldier is for the time deprived of his compensation on that account or that his services then are not to be counted he served his country as he has in his declaration stated it there is any error it is putting down less time instead of more it is with his government and its agents whether or not they allow it or withhold it in counting on non essential parts of his testimony until it will do him no service if granted
Sworn to and Subscribed before me the day and date above written
Ab Caruthers Judge his
of the Circt. Courts of Tennessee Philip x Pope
mark
State of Tennessee
Smith County
April Term of Smith circuit court on this 15th day of April 1834 personaly appeared in open Court before the Honble (sic) Abraham Caruthers Judge of the circuit court now sitting Philip Pope a resident of Smith county Tennessee aged seventy one years who being first sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the Benefit of the act of congress passed the 7th June 1832 that he entered the service of the united [states] in Edgecomb county state of North Carolina in March 1778 under Capt Edward Hall in Col. Joseph Johnstons Regiment Drafted Militia and marched from Tarborough to Camden in South Carolina from there we joined Genl Lincolns army and marched with them to augusta in Georgia from there to Stono Battle and was in the Engagement after that returned with Lincoln’s army to the encampment and was discharged by Col. Johnston in the month of July making a tour of five months serveas (sic) further in the year 1781 he turned out a volunteer and joined a company commanded by Capt Dred Philips in Edgecomb county North Carolina in Col Sintons Regiment and marched with the regiment to the Battle of Guilford and after the Battle was placed with wounded as a guard and continued with the wounded until discharged at Guilford courthouse by Doct Wallace after serving a tour of three months his discharge has been lost again soon after he returned in the same year he volunteered under Capt Grissom Coefield of Edgecomb county N Carolina and went against the Tories a tour of three months and again Volunteered and served with the said Capt Coefield one other Tour of three months against the Tories in this Tour our company marched with Col Clinchs Regiment through No Carolina and was discharged but has lost it soon after wards in the same year 1781 he volunteered in Capt Swan Frouters company in Tarborough with Col Lewis Regiment and marched with the Regiment from Halifax to Hillsborough and there remained as a guard until august 1781 when he by orders joined the regiment on Haw river where he remained until discharged after performing his twelve months service as a private soldier discharged by Col Lewis but has lost his discharge he after wards enlisted with Capt Wm Lytle for during the war but never was carried into service further than recruiting until he was discharged at the return of peace that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his serveas except the proof accompanying his first declaration not considered sufficient he herby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and states that his name is no on the pension roll of the agency of any state or Territory
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
In open Court his
Hart clrk Philip x Pope
Mark
And the said court do herby declare their oppinion (sic) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states
Ab Caruthers
We John Bransford a clergy man residing in the county of Smith and Richd Hodges & Thos Hale residing in the same county hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Philip Pope who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy one years of age that he is respected and believed in his neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that oppinion
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
In open Court Jno Bransford
Hart clk Richard Hodges
Thomas Hale
Tennessee
Smith County Court
I William Hart clerk of the circuit court of smith county do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Philip Pope for a pension
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 15th day of April 1834
Wm Hart
[Then Judge Caruthers says Hart is the clerk]
I Abram Caruthers one of the judges of the circuit court of the state of Tennessee do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with John Bransford a minister of the gospel and also with Richard Hodges & Thomas Hale whose names are subscribed to Philip Popes declaration and who were qualified before me in open court as to said Popes services in the war of the Revolution and I do hereby certify that they are all men of Truth and good character deserving credit wherever known given under my hand the 29th day of December 1834
Ab Caruthers Judge
of the circuit court of Tennessee
[The last document is another questionnaire he answered]
Question Where and what year was you born
Ans I was born in Halifax North Carolina in the year 1762 the 16 October
Q Have you any record of you age if so where is it
Ans I have seen it in a family bible but it is now in the hands of some other member of the family
Q Where were you living when called into service where you lived ever since and do now live
A I lived in Edgecomb county North Carolina and afterwards the same place until the year 1810 when I moved to Smith county Tennessee where I have remained to the present
Q How were you called into service
A Sometimes Drafted and mostly volunteered on my own account
Q State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the Troops when you served
A Col Arch Lytle Major Craften Genl Green and others named in my declaration
Q State the names of persons to whom you are known in your neighbourhood and can testify of your veracity
A I live near the Village and known by almost all around me Willis Hodges Thos Hale and Richard Hodges have known me always and have heard of my service
[This is the end of the file, with the exception of correspondence from an attorney to the pension office]
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