My Great Great Great Great Grandfather Reverend Phillip Porter Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surname/tag: PORTER
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Lucy Ayers Gunthorpe, transcriber16 Oct. 2005
The first application was made to the Sate of South Carolina in 1831:
To the Honorable Senate and Members of the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina, The Humble petition of Phillip Porter showeth that he is now in the 67 or 68 year or years of his age, has reared a large family and they have all become of age and doing for their selves and he has no family except himself and his wife and the petitioner showeth that he has for many years of his life been an ailing man and not able to accumulate property. He is now old and not able to work and without help from the State of South Carolina where he has rendered great service must of course soon become in a suffering situation or be dependent to the charity of his friends and as this Petitioner has been a faithful Soldier of the revolutionary struggle and all his aid was rendered in that glorious struggle for liberty, he hopes you take his petition in consideration and grant him a pension as is allowed to others in similar circumstances. The petitioner showeth that he was born in North Carolina, Guilford County and removed to South Carolina in the time of the war and settled in Abbeville Dist. in this State and there resided during the war and this petitioner showeth that he was early in our army when he came to the State. The first tour was a Volunteer Tour against the Indians under Col. Killgore and then home and then served three months longer under Capt. Roseman scouring the frontier and was stationed at NORRODS BLOCK House in Abbeville where he served a dangerous tour of duty in guarding and providing provisions for the benefit of the Fort and after he served his tour at that place he then volunteered under Capt. Robert Maxwell in the horse service for another tour in the said service scouring and ranging the frontier where he, your petitioner under went many hard trials and many dangers. Your petitioner showeth that he was ready at every beck and call of Capt. Robert Maxwell about the close of the glorious struggle for liberty to turn out and scour the frontiers and beat back the Indians in which service he often acted as a spy and if your honorable body shall hear the prayers of your petitioner he as in duty bound will ever pray---
The State of South Carolina, Pickens District: Personally came before me the subscribing Justice for the said District and appeared Phillip Porter, the above Petitioner and made oath in due form of law and sayeth on his oath that all the facts set forth in the above Petition is just and true. Sworn to and subscribed to this 18th day of November 1831 before me Bailey Barton, JQ. Signed: Philip Porter
The following is a just and true schedule of the Property of Phillip Porter.......439 acres poor land, part Mountains ....given in to Tax Collector last quartly...13 head cattle...A stock of hogs supposed 30 head or upward,some of them being shy I can't exactly say...2 head of horse beast, not valuable...6 or 7 head of sheep and a few farming tools andthe necessary house hold and kitchen furniture for a small family... no article of fine quality....as to cabinet work and 2 beds furniture.
The State of South Carolina, Pickens District: Before me the Subscribing Justice, Personally came and appeared Phillip Porter and made oath the written is a Just and True schedule of all his effects and says on his oath that he has not dispossessed himself of any property in order to obtain a pension from the State. Sworn to this 18 day Nov. 1831 before me Bailey Barton, JQ. Signed: Philip Porter.
I, Bailey Barton one of the Justices of the Quorum for the said District do certify that I have been long acquainted with Phillip Porter and can say he is a man of just character and that all faith and credit should be given to his affidavits as such. Signed: Bailey Barton, JQ.
The State of South Carolina, Pickens District: Before me the subscribing Justice of Peace for the said District, personally came and appeared JOSEPH CHAPMAN and took oath in due form of law and says on his oath that he knew Phillip Porter to be a faithful soldier in the Revolutionary War and that he frequently saw him doing duty and that he served with him under Capt. Maxwell and Roseman and says he knew Phillip Porter through the whole struggle and he was faithful to do his duty when ever called on. Sworn to and subscribed this 18th day of Nov. 1831 before me. Signed: Joseph Chapman with his (X) mark.
The State of South Carolina, Pickens District: I, Bailey Barton one of the Justices of Quorum for the said District do certify that I am well acquainted with Joseph Chapman whose name is above subscribed and that he is entitled to full faith and credit in my opinion. Signed: Baily Barton, JQ.
DECLARATION: In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832......State of South Carolina, Pickens District: Personally appeared on this 7th day of October 1834 before the Honorable Lt. P. Butler one of the associate Judges of the Said State in open court at Pickens Court House, Phillip Porter, a resident of the District aforesaid aged seventy one years, who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the pension made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832, that he entered the service of the United States in 1781 well as he recollects as he was then only about seventeen years of age in Ninety Six District, now Abbeville, S. C. as a drafted militia man in the company of Capt. Samuel Roseman and Col. Killgore's Regiment went one tour after the Cherokee Indians but before this My Father, Hugh Porter was taken prisoner by the British and I was exchanged for him and kept as a prisoner of war six months at New Bern, North Carolina, since at that time in Guilford County of the State and removed from hence to the District of 96 where I entered the service for 6 months under the said Capt. Roseman and Col. Killgore.
He is positive at this time he served as scouts and in the service six months. He then volunteered as in the Cavalry under Capt. Maxwell was ready to start with him on an expedition when he was assigned by the Captain to stay and provide for the fort. He was then engaged in procuring provisions and guarding the said fort called Norrod's Fort and stood ready to be called out at any time ____?______ 9 months, but says positively he was in the service 8 months at this time. This was in the year 1779 or1780. He was a minute man under Capt. Maxwell till the close of the war and was always ready to reconnoiter and fight the Cherokee Indians on the frontier.
He hereby relinquishes every other claim to a pension or an annuity except the present and he declares his name is not on the pension rolls of any agency or in any State and he answers this interrogatories required by the War Department to be part of the Court as follows: 1st: He was born in Guilford County North Carolina on the first day of July 1763, he believes having no family register present 2nd: He has no family register but his Father had one in Abbeville, SC. 3rd: He lived in Guilford N. C. when exchanged to the British for his Father when he was 10 year old. His Father then moved after his return to Abbeville, SC where he entered the service under Capt. Roseman Col. Killgore where he continued to live till about the year 1784 or 1785 when he removed to Pendleton District - now Pickens, where he has remained ever since and now lives. 4th: He was while in Abbeville always a volunteer and minute man. 5th: He was with General Pickens and Anderson and frequently saw them during the war. 6th: He never got a written discharge. 7th: He does not know any man who would dispute his word but is well acquainted with Bailey Barton, Esquire, Col. Benjamin Hagood, Major Keith, the Clerk of the Court, William D. Sloan, the Sheriff of this District. He would appeal with confidence to all whom he is known at this late period being measurably illiterate he can not so correctly recollect the particular dates as his memory is much impaired by old age and infirmaties. Signed: Philipporter (typed as written).Sworn and duly in open court the day and year aforesaid before William L. Keith C. C. Presiding Judge.I, William L. Keith, Clerk of the Court of the District of Pickens, S. C. do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Phillip Porter for a pension.In the testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this the 7th day of October 1834 and in the fifty-ninth year of American Independence. Signed: William L. Keith, Clerk of Court for Pickens District.
We, Robert Gains, a Clergyman residing in the Dist. of Pickens and Bailey Barton residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Phillip Porter, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. We believe him to be seventy one years of age as he states that he is upright and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur that opinion sworn and subscribed the day year aforesaid in open court..before William L. Keith, C.C.Signed: Robert GainesSigned: Baily Barton
And the said Court do hereby declare 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 the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Robert Gaines _____, who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in Pickens District and that Bailey Barton, who has also signed is a resident in the same District of Pickens and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.Signed: A. P. Butler, Presiding Judge.
A copy of a letter from the DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS, RECORD DIVISION, Washington, DC was included with the request for a copy of Philip Porter's pension application and declaration. It is a form (3-525) letter, "in reply to your request for a statement of the military history of PHILIP PORTER." An outline of his service as found in his application was entered in the appropriate spaces, with the final notation of, "....WAS REJECTED ON THE GROUND OF UNOFFICIAL PROOF OF THE ALLEGED SERVICE." POWER OF ATTORNEY: Know all men by these present that I, James Porter of Pickens District and State of South Carolina and one of the children and legal representatives of Phillip Porter, a Revolutionary Soldier and Mary Porter, his wife who is now deceased, do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint John L. Neely of Washington District of Columbia my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name to examine into and prosecute any claim that may be due or found to be due the children and legal representatives of Phillip Porter and Mary Porter in virtue of said Phillip Porter's service in the Revolutionary War and the several acts and resolutions of Congress relative thereto and that might have accrued to either of the said parties and not drawn during their lifetime and now due to their legal representatives and to receive the certificate of Pension etc. when issued by the Department. Thereby confirming whatsoever my said attorney can do or cause to be legally done either in person or by substitution in the prosecution of said claim except drawing money on the said claim. I, revoking any other authority I may have given to any other person or persons in this premise whatsoever. In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this 5th day of September 1853. Signed: James Porter (Seal) Signed in the presence of L. B. JOHNSON (his signature)(nb) Elizabeth struck out Mary inserted before signature.
State of South Carolina, Pickens District: On this fifth day of September in the year 1853, personally appeared before me, James Porter and acknowledged the written Power of Attorney to be his act and deed. Signed: J. W. NORRIS, JR Notary Public Ex. Off. Magistrate for Pickens District, SC.State of South Carolina, Pickens District: I, William L. Keith Clerk of the Court of General Sessions and Common Pleas for Pickens District in the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that J. W. Norris, Jr., Esqr. before whom the preceding acknowledged agreement was made (as appears by his name in his own handwriting attesting) was at the date thereof a Notary Public and Ex Officio Magistrate for the District aforesaid who had been duly appointed and qualified and had signed the roll kept according to law in my office... (end of page).
Transcriber’s note: There was an inconsistency in the spelling of Philip's name throughout the documents. It is interesting to note that Philip wrote and spelled his name Philip, while the clerks usually used Phillip.
