Currituck Co., N.C. Pensioners of the Revolutionary War

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Some Currituck County Revolutionary War Pensioners

Some general information about Revolutionary War Pensions from North Carolina Research - Genealogy and Local History - Leary, Helen F., ed., 2nd edition. Raleigh, N.C., North Carolina Genealogical Society, 1996; Chapter 33, pgs. 395 & 401]

State Pensions to Invalid Veterans and Widows
Pensions for disabled militia veterans and the widows and orphans of those killed in the war (or who died of their wounds shortly thereafter) were established by a law enacted by the General Assembly in 1784. A scant ninety-seven pensions were granted under this act. The files concerning them are part of the Treasurer's and Comptroller's Records; a bound account book, companion to the files of loose papers, is in the same record group. In 1808, the federal government assumed responsibility for forty of the pensioners, leaving the state to care for the remaining fifty-seven, whose files continue after 1808. A list of the original ninety-seven pensioners forms a part of the finding aid to the Treasurer's and Comptroller's Records--researchers are advised to consult it before calling for the account book or loose papers and searching them with negative results and futile wear and tear on the documents.

As all the world knows, or at least all of the American genealogical world, the usual place to search for Revolutionary War pension applications is in the National Archives. After a survey was conducted, however, it was determined that a number of Revolutionary War pension-related papers in the State Archives are not represented by the surviving files in Washington. Those that were identified in court minutes or unbound original papers have been copied and arranged alphabetically by the soldier's name in a statewide file in the Military Collection. Abstracts of files for the first part of the alphabet were published by Betty Camin (who located the bulk of the records) as a continuing series entitled "Revolutionary War Pension Applications at the N.C. Archives," in the North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal beginning with vol. 10.

Many of the Private Collections of manuscripts in the State Archives, contain records of particular importance for Revolutionary War studies. The Joseph Graham Papers, Charles E. Johnson Collection, Iredell Papers, and Samuel Johnston Papers immediately come to mind. Researchers are advised to consult the Guide to Private Manuscript Collections in the North Carolina State Archives, 3rd Edition Revised, for information about such collections.

Some Currituck County Revolutionary War Pensioners from PIERCE'S REGISTER: Register of the Certificates Issued by John Pierce, Esquire, Paymaster General and Commissioner of Army Accounts for the United States, to Officers and Soldiers of the Continental Army Under Act of July 4, 1783. (From 17th Report of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, 1915, reproduction. Baltimore 1987).

Name: Leven Balance [click on name for full pension record]
Rank: Private
Sums received: ?
Description of service: N. C. Militia
Commencement of pension: Mar. 4, 1831
Age: 72

Name: Hosea Ball [click on name for full pension record]
Rank: Private and Ensn.
Sums received: 293.32
Description of service: Do
Commencement of pension: Do
Age: 77

Name: Joshua Ball [click on name for full pension record]
Rank: Private
Sums received: 132.65
Description of service: Do
Commencement of pension: Do
Age: 75

Name: Samuel Ferebee [click on name for full pension record]
Rank: Ensign
Sums received: 210.00
Description of service: Do
Commencement of pension: Do
Age: 73

Name: Charles Riggs* [click on name for full pension record]
Rank: Private
Sums received: ?
Description of service: Do
Commencement of pension: Do
Age: 76
[*March 2004 -- Researcher Jean Schroeder sends us this: The name "Riggs" is incorrect it should read Charles Griggs. He enlisted 31 May 1777 in Currituck Co. at age 19. He left service 31 Aug 1781. File #992 shows Charles Griggs received 274 acres of land for his 36 months of service. National Archives shows that as of 7 Jun 1832 Charles had a claim owing to him of $280, which was paid and he received $80 annually after the Pension Act of 1832 until his death then to his widow until her death in 1855.

Name: Thomas Ives [click on name for full pension record]
Rank: Do
Sums received: 180.00
Description of service: Do
Commencement of pension: Do
Age: 81

Name: Thomas Jarvis [click on name for full pension record]
Rank: Capt. Lt. and Private
Sums received: 919.98
Description of service: N. C. Cont'l line
Commencement of pension: Do
Age: 79

Name: David Lindsey [click on name for full pension record]
Rank: Private
Sums received: 240.00
Description of service: N. C. Militia
Commencement of pension: Do
Age: 82

Name: Jesse Perry --not listed in Pierce's Register [click on name for full pension record]

Name: Thomas Poyner [click on name for full pension record]
Rank: Private and Capt.
Sums received: 462.39
Description of service: Do
Commencement of pension: Do
Age: 74

Name: Thomas Williams [click on name for full pension record]
Rank: Private
Sums received: 180.00
Description of service: Do
Commencement of pension: Do
Age: 62
Remarks: Pension Suspended

Name: John Williams [click on name for full pension record]
Rank: Do
Sums received: 240.00
Description of service: Va. Militia
Commencement of pension: Do
Age: 83

Name: Willoughby West, Sen. [click on name for full pension record]
Rank: Do
Sums received: ?
Description of service: N. C. Cont'l line
Age: 77


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