James Bailey Military & Family 1778-1840.

Pension Application of James Bailey W5214

Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris

State of N. Carolina } Superior Court of Law Surry County } September Term 1819.

On this the 7 day of September AD 1819 before me th the subscriber one of the Judges of the Court aforesaid personally appeared James Bailey aged seventy eight years last May, resident in the County of Surry and State aforesaid, who being by me first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by a late act of Congress entitled “an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war”, that he the said James Bailey enlisted for the term of three years on the 27th of April 1778 in Queen Ann’s [sic: Queen Annes] County in the State of Maryland, in the company commanded by Capt James Gald, or Gauld [probably James Gould], of the 5th Maryland Regiment, and was transferred by a consolidation of the Regiments to the first Regiment, the 5th Regiment having been commanded by Col. John Hawkins, and the first by Col. John Gunby, as will more fully appear by reference to the rolls of the army and the annexed discharge signed Perry Benson Capt dated 27th April 1781; That he was in the Line of the State of Maryland on the continental establishment; that he continued in the service of the United States as above declared until the 27th of April 1781 when he was discharged from service at Saunder’s Creek near Camden in South Carolina as appears also from the annexed discharge; that he was in a skirmish on Staten Island near New York; in the Battle of Guilford [Guilford Courthouse, 15 Mar 1781] in North Carolina where he was wounded; in another skirmish near Camden South Carolina just before the British left that part of the Country [9 May 1781], and in some other skirmishes perhaps not worth mentioning; and that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support; and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services except the discharge before alluded to and hereto annexed.

This may Certify that the bearer Sergeant James Bailey 1st Maryland Regiment has served three years being his term of Enlistment in the Cont’l Army. Given Under my Hand Camp at Saunders’s Creek April 27th 1781, P. Benson Ca.

Sergeant James Bailey [illegible]

late fifth Maryland Regiment having served the term for which he was enlisted is hereby
discharged the service Given under my hand at Camp [illegible] this 27th day April 1781 Given by Colonel.

State of North Carolina } Surry County } August term, 1820.

On this 15th day of August 1820, personally appeared in open Court, which is declared a Court of record by the laws of the State and opened and held this day for the County of Surry James Bailey aged about eighty years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare that he served in the revolutionary war as follows (Viz) that he the said Bailey enlisted about the year 76 or 77 as well as he now recollects, in the 5th Maryland Ridgement and was transfered from thence to the 3rd Maryland Ridgement in Capt James Golds company of the 5th Ridgment and Capt Perry Bensons of the 3rd all which has satisfactorily appeared to the War department as the original discharge of said Bailey was forwarded and a pension certificate obtained; but as the certificate was put in the hands of a [illegible word] for collection the declarant cannot now state the number or the date. And I James Bailey do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not since that time by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in Revolutionary War passed on the 18th day of March 1818. And that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed & by me subscribed. And the said James Bailey further declares that his family consists of himself, his wife & one child named Betsey, that he himself is in eightieth years since May last, that he is unable to work, so as to obtain his living by manual labor; that his wife is hearty enough, that his daughter Betsey is eleven years old and not able to assist materially in procuring sustenance Sworn to in open Court James Bailey. Schedule of the property belonging to James Bailey of the County of Surry.

A debt of ten dollars is due him $10.00
2 narrow axes & one broad axe 4.
3 hoes 1.50
Another debt of 2 dollars 2.
one small hog worth one dollar 1.
$18.50
Sworn to in open Court James Bailey.

NOTE: On 13 Apr 1840 Elizabeth Bailey, 70, applied for a pension stating that she married James Bailey on 20 Mar 1793, and he died in Oct 1829. On 9 Nov 1840 she deposed that she was married by William Eliott Esq. after the banns were published by a Methodist minister named John Pennell?], and that she could not go to court “a distance of 18 miles over bad Roads & dangerous River without manifest danger to her Health.” Other documents indicate that her name before marriage was Elizabeth Runegar, and that she had a large number of children, including the first-born Permelia, who died in infancy, and Lucy.

Note. The following was found by my research.

Pension Rolls Of The United States.

James Bailey, of the State of North Carolina, county of Surry, rank private, was of the Maryland Cont’l line, his allowance was $96, dollars per years, the sums he received was $971.04, dollars, was placed on the rolls on March 9, 1820, the commencement of his pension was on Sept. 19, 1819, years of age 89. Died on Oct. 19, 1829.