Revolutionary War Pension Application

State of Virginia, Pocahontas County
Pension Application for James Morrison, 13 Feb 1834

On the 13th day of February, 1834 appeared before me, Thomas Hill, a Justice of the Peace in and for the said County, James Morrison aged seventy three years, a resident of the said County of Pocahontas and State aforementioned, who being duly sworn according to the law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the Act of Congress 7 Jun 1832.

That in the spring of 1799, 1780 and 1781 in the County of Augusta in the state of Virginia, he volunteered under the Command of Captain George Clendenen and served against the Indians from about the first of May each year until the fall.

That the nature of his services and the cause of his volunteering was as followeth:

That owing to the hostilities and the depredations committed by the Indians on the inhabitants of Western Virginia ordered sufficient number of men to be kept in garrison for the defense under Military authority. That those who would volunteer to come in this capacity were exempt from being drafted to go out to perform other services....was stationed in a garrison on Stamping Creek, a branch of Greenbrier River then in the County of Augusta, Virginia in that part of what is now the County of Pocahontas.

That the company in which he belongs was divided and part was stationed in Garrison near Locus Creek, a distance of six or seven miles from the first garrison where the balance of the company and himself was stationed.

That the men that were stationed with him were John Day, John Johnson, William Howe Charles...and others to the number of about twenty men.

That the nature of his services were to remain in Garrison for its defense in case of attack by Indians, and scouting to go out on spying parties to watch places that the Indians were most likely to attack to pass into the interior settlements and in case of any discovery or signs of Indians to apprise the neighborhood and to call out from other stations to arrest their progress.

That during the time he was thus employed he well recollects in the vicinity where he served of the murder and taken prisoner of many of his neighbors. The families of George Smith, Thos... Baker and others.

That he served in this capacity at least four months in each year above named (that is... 1779-1781) without following any civil pursuit.

• 1st, in Berkely County, Virginia in the year 1761
  
• 2nd, I have my name in a Bible...
  

• 3rd, In Augusta County, VA until 1784 (when) he moved to Berkeley County, VA; from thence he returned in 1787 to Augusta County, this now Greenbrier County, where I have lived ever since and do yet live.
  

• 4th, Volunteered
  
• 5th, Colonel Samuel Lewis
  
• 6th, he never received a written discharge.