DUNCAN, R
Revolutionary War
Pension Applications
 

Revolutionary War Pensions, Bounty Land Warrant Application Files; National Archives Microfilm Publication, Microcopy 804, Roll 863 and 864 and 867
      Duncan, Alexander to Duncan, Jesse (FHL film 970,863; National Archives Roll 863)
      Duncan, John to Dungan, Thomas (FHL film 970,864; National Archives Roll 864)
      Dunikin to Dunlap (FHL film 970,867; National Archives Roll 867)
      Did not copy envelopes or most requests for copies of documents.
 

ROBERT DUNCAN, (wife Hannah) S-21167, NC, TN, SC (copy from Lenox Baker from National Archives)
      South Carolina; 29612; Robert Duncan; Greenville in the State of S. Car. who was a Private in the (blank space) commanded by Captain (blank) of the Vy(?) commanded C. Siltwell(?) in the S. Car. ... fr of months(?); Inscribed on the Roll of South Carolina at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.; Certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of Jan(?) 1835(?) (blank space) and W.W. Frieliner(?).; Arrears to the 4th of Feb(?) 34: $36.65; Some(?) Amt. allowance ending l(?) Mar. 35.: $11.67; $93.32 (total); Revolutionary Claim ... June 7, 1832; Recorded by Nath. Rice (Tice?), Clerk, Book E, Vol. 6, Page 65.
         Note on back: See letter to B.F. Perry Feb. 4, 1840; Paid at the Treasury under the Act of this 6 April 1838 from 4 Sept. 1834 to 4 March 1839; Age notified 10 March 1840; Letter to F(?) Anditon Oct. 14th 1842; Paid as above from 4th Sept. 1839 to the 4th March(?) 1841 .... paid ... 4th 1842.
      (MAD: file does not contain pension application dated June/July 1834 by Robert Duncan.)
      Declaration before JP of Hall Co. GA, 11 June 1834: Personally appeared before me Elias (A) Allread Senr. and after being duly sworn saith that he was personally acquainted with Robert Duncan the applicant in this foregoing declaration and served one tour of three months service Gk...H.S.(?) John Littrells Regiment with said Robert Duncan in the Revolutionary War and deponent further says that he knows of his own knowledge of said Duncans having served One other tour in guarding the public stores.
         Declaration before JP of Hall Co. GA, 14 July 1834, by John Duncan: Personally appeared before me John Duncan and after being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he was bound (?) to personally acquainted with Robert Duncan the applicant in the foregoing declaration and served one tour of three months in Capt. Rain's Company of Cuardln(?) in Col. John Littrells Regiment in the Revolutionary War with said applicant and deponent further states that he knows of his own knowledge that said Robert Duncan served one other tour of three months in guarding the public stores in Capt. Robert McClains company.
         Certification by James Law, Clerk of Superior Court of Hall Co. GA, 14 July 1834: I James Law Clerk of the Superior Court of said county hereby certify that Ephraim M. Johnson before whom the foregoing affidavits were made is an active Justice of the Peace in and for said county and that the signatures annexed are his genuine signatures.
      Declaration by Robert (X) Duncan, 13 Oct. 1834, Greenville Dist. SC; On this thirteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty four personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas & General Sessions now sitting Robert Duncan a resident of Greenville District and State of South Carolina aged seventy three years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
         That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated(?). He lived in NC Randolph Co. when he entered the service. He was first drafted for three months about two months before the battle of Guilford in the year of our Lord 1782(?) under the command of Captain Robert Lane and Colonel John Lettrile(?). He was selected(?) by Co... Mc Lane to help in building a house for the porton(?) of natring(?) corn for the use of General Green's Army. A great deal of corn was collected & this deprement(?) was placed to guard the same. General Green's Army came on and made use of as much as they wished & passed on to Guilford. The corn was collected and stored in Randolph County. In a few days after Green's Army passed by the battle of Guilford was fought. This applicant lead the guns of the battle. Captain McLane rode to see which army ......(line illeg.) battle ground and on finding that the British maintained - left the store house and ordered this applicant to do the same as it was expected the corn would fall into the hands of the British. In a short time after the battle a detachment of the British forces came by where this applicant still remained guarding the corn although his Captain had left. They made use of a parcel of it and went on without interfering with this applicant. Immediately after this he was put under the command of Captain John Rains and continued ranging about over the country after the Forces under the command of Col. Fennine(?). Capt. Rains would some times pursue on after them until he came near the Pudoe(?) in the Scotch settlement and then return. The company under the command of Captain Rains was very often alone and at other times with other companies. He served out his time of three months and was discharged in writing by Captain Rains.
         Immediately after this he returned home and was informed by Colonel Vargan(?) or Colonel Clark that if he would join the light horse and furnish his own horse and assins for two months it should count for a three months tour when it came roun for this applicant to be drafted again. He did under these circumstances join the Light Horse under the command of Captain Jno. Rains. He was inducted .. so in order to prevent a tax(?) to Charlestan which he expected he miy(?) otherwise have to serve. He was enployed during the term (time?) of two months in marching after Colonel Fanning and securing the county for .... (line illeg) .... with two of the companies under the command of Captain Hines & Captain Galston. All three of these companies were employed in protecting the country from the Tories & in search of Colonel Fenning. He served out this tour after having frequent skirmishes with the Tories but no battle of any consequence. He was again discharged in writing by Captain Rains. This discharge was for a three months tour. He served however but two months.
         After serving this second tour this applicant moved into Washington Co. TN on the Wattauga River. In the Fall, after crops were laid by, there was a draft for the purpose of more .... against the Cherokee Indians. This was in the Fall of 1780(?). He entered the service this time as a substitute for his cousin Charles Duncan who had been drafted for three months. He served under Captain William Cox and Colonel Jno. Severe who had command of the expedition. The troops marched through the Cherokee Nation, crossing Hightower, High crossing and other rivers, and burnt(?) the Indian Towns and provisions. Took some prisoners and came on to French Broad where Colonel Severe set(?) a 'talk' with the Indians and made peace. The Indian prisoners were given up and the Indians promised to send in the white prisoners. In this tour he does not recollect the exact time he served, but is confident it was not less than two months.
         In all this applicant served three tours and seven months as a private and claims a Pension for such service. He has no documentary evidence at present of his services. His discharges were left in Tennessee when he moved to this countey. He herewith sends the depositions of Elias Allread and John Duncan as to his services. He was born in Randolph Co. NC in the year 1762 June 14. He has a record of his age in his family Bible. He was living in Randolph County when he first entered the service and in Washington Co. TN when he entered the third time. He was drafted one time, volunteered the second time and substituted himself the third time. He has lived in South Carolina ever since the two first years after the close of the Revolution where he now lives. He was not with any of the regular troops nor was he acquainted with any of the regular officers. He was twice discharged in writing by Captain Jno. Rains which discharges he left in Tennessee when he moved from thence. He is known to Earle Hunt and Jno. Young Esq. who live in the neighborhood and can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief in his service as a soldier of the revolution; he hereby relinquishes his every claim whatsoever to a Pension or annuity except the present and declares that his now is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
         We William King a clergyman residing in the district of Greenville SC and Jno. Young residing in the same hereby certify that we are well ... to ... Robert (line illeg.) declaration, that we believe him to be seventy three years old. That he is report(?) and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a member of the Revolution and that we concur.
         And the said Court do hereby enclose their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the court further certifies that it appears to them that William King who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the District of Greenville South Carolina and that John Young who also signed the same is a resident in the District of Greenville and is a credible person and that their testament is entitled to credit. /s/ A.P. Butler, Presiding Judge.
         13 Oct. 1834: I James McDaniel Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas & General Sessions for Greenville District do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedures of the said court in the matter of the application of Robert Duncan for a Pension.
      Form letter from Treasury Department Comptroller, 25 Feb. 1840, to Commissioner of Pensions: Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Robert Duncan, a Pensioner on the Roll of the South Carolina Agency, at the rate of Twenty three Dollars and thirty three Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept. 1834, to the 4th March 1839. 4 1/2 years.
      Form letter from Comptroller, Second Comptroller's Office, Treasury Department, 17 Oct. 1842, to Commissioner of Pensions: Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," and the 3d section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pension agents, Robert Duncan, a Pensioner on the Roll of the S. Carolina Agency, at the rate of Twenty three Dollars and 33 Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept. 1839, to the 4th March 1841.
      (Separate page, partially printed, blanks filled in by hand; form letter from Commissioner) In reply to your request of (blank), received (blank), for a statement of the military history of Robert Duncan a soldier of the Rev. War, you will find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau. S.F. 21167.
         Dates of Enlistment or Appointment: Jan. 1781, Soon after, Fall, 1782; Length of Service: 3 mos; 2 "; 2 "; Rank: Pri.; Officers under whom service was rendered: Captain: Robert McLain, John Rains, John Rains, Wm. Cox; Colonel: Jno. Littrell, John Sevier; State: N.C.; Battles engaged in, Several skirmishes; Residence of soldier at enlistment, Randolph Co., N.C.; Date of application for pension, Oct. 13, 1834. His cl. was al.; Residence at date of application, Greenville Dist., S.C.; Age at date of application, B. June 14, 1762, Randolph Co. N.C.; Remarks: There is no data relative to family.
      Letter from Mrs. J.E. Marten, 14 Street, Columbus, GA, 2 Jan. 1913: Will you be as kind as to give me the Pension record of Robert Duncan of South Carolina. His name appears in a list of Rev. Soldiers as publish in the American Monthly .. 1840 as taken from "The Census of Pensioners in 1840". I desire to get the names of his wife and children and his service. Will appreciate it very much.
      Letter (probably from Mrs. L. Elizabeth Harrison, 13 Jan. 1913), from 14 Street, Columbus, GA: Will you be so kind as to look and see if you have any record of Robert Cobb of Henrico or Goochland Counties, Va., and Robert Duncan of So. Carolina, a Revolutionary soldier. We know that Robert Duncan received a pension. We want to get the names of their wifes & children. We will appreciate an early reply.
      Letter from Mrs. Frank Graham, 126 Waverly Way, Atlanta, GA, 3 June 1920: Dear Sirs: Please send me at your earliest convenience the record of service of Robert Duncan, a revolutionary pensioner of Greenville Co. S.C. in 1835, and greatly oblige.
      Typed page in file:   The Duncan Family Tree; Robert Duncan Family.
      Robert Duncan was born June 14, 1762 in Randolph Co. North Carolina, Died July 2, in 1845 in South Carolina. Robert fought with Franc. Marion in the Battles of Guilford Court House and Eutaw Springs. Received Bounty Land in District # 96. Robert married Hannah Carr who was born September 28, 1765 in Tennessee. To this Union twelve children were born:
      1. John Duncan B. Dec. 18, 1783 D. Feb. 9, 1850 in Phelps Co. Mo.
      2. William L Duncan B. April 29, 1785
      3. James Duncan B. Aug. 24, 1787 D. 1814
      4. Louisa Voss Duncan B. Dec. 7, 1789 D. in Mo. 1863
      5. Charles Duncan B. Dec. 22, 1791
      6. Deborah Duncan B. February 6, 1794
      7. Permelia Carr Duncan B. March 12, 1795 D. in Mo. 1861
      8. Robert Berry Duncan B. November 10, 1798
      9. Perry Emory Duncan B. May 26, 1800
      10. Sophronia Isabel Duncan B. March 5, 1804 - 1900
      11. Hannah Milicent Duncan B. July 12, 1806.
      12. Melissa Fairfield Duncan B. March 24, 1810
      John Duncans wife is unknown to me
      Louisa Voss Duncan married James Berry Harrison
      Permelia Carr Duncan married William Eaton Hawkins
      Robert Berry Duncan married Jane Hill
      Perry Emery Duncan married Mary Ann Hill (sister of Jane Hill)
      Sophronia Isabell Duncan married Solomon Hawkins (brother of William Eaton Hawkins)
      These names and dates are from the Bible of Louisa Voss Duncan and James Berry Harrison.
      Supplied by Mrs. Gertrude R. Duncan Groff to the National Archives at Washington, D.C.
      (handwritten) Gr. Gr. Gr. Grand-daughter of Robert & Hannah (Carr) Duncan, July 26, 1968.
 

ROBERT DUNCAN, Rev. War Service, MD (FHL film 970,864; National Archives Roll 864)
      Bounty Land Warrant Record Card: Duncan, Robert; Private; Maryland Warrant 11146, issued Oct. 14, 1795, to Henry Davis, assignee. (index from Juanita Breckenridge shows 100a, 1796).
 

ROBERT DUNCAN, wife Margaret, S-42188 (5108), MD, PA: (FHL film 970,864; National Archives Roll 864)
      Robert Duncan, Pennsylvania Roll, Private, 7th Maryland Regiment, Capt. Beatty; Inscribed on Roll of PA at rate of $8 per month, to commence 14 April 1818; Cert. of pension issued 24 Dec. 1818 and sent to David Stewart, Esqr., Judge, Huntingdon, PA; Act 18 March 1818.
      Reverse: See letters to Hon. J. Henderson & P. Agt. March 5, 1836. Dead. Paid at the treasury under the Act 6? April 1838, to 2 of 4 children from 4 Sept. 1838 to 26 April 1839; Agt. notified 7 Dec. 1844. Notx. sent to Robt. Duncan at Huntingdon PA April 17th '21.
      Declaration of Robert (+) Duncan, 14 April 1818, before Judge of Court of Common Pleas of Huntingdon Co. PA; Robert Duncan of Hopewell Township, Huntingdon Co.; he entered into the army of the United Colonies raised for the defence of American Liberty and for repelling every hostile invasion thereof, as a private soldier in the company of Infantry under Captain Bettis, belonging to the 7th MD Regiment, in the year 1776, that whilst he under the command of Bettis he was in the Battle of Camden, where his Captain was slain and was succeeded in the command of said company by this brother Lieutenant Bettis; that he served under him in the Battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, Trenton and the White Plains, also in Gates's defeat in SC, Guilford Court House and the Eutaw Springs; that he was wounded in the knee at Gates's defeat in SC by a rifle or musket ball; that his feet were badly frozen whilst guarding the Fort at Staten Island; that he served in the army of the United Colonies afterwards the army of the USA for and during the term of 7 years and upwards when he was honorably discharged at Annapolis MD, which discharge was washed in the pocket of his overhals about three months after he received it; that he hath no pension heretofore allowed him by the laws of the US to his knowledge; and if any such exists he doth hereby fully and entirely release the same to the US; that he is now about 64 years of age and by reason of his reduced circumstances in life he stands in need of assistance from his country for support.
         Additional evidence: 10 Nov. 1818, statement of James Duncan of Huntingdon Co. PA; that Robert Duncan enlisted in Capt. Bettis' Company in the service of the US in Fredericktown, MD, in August 1776, and continued upwards of 7 years in the army of the US until the war ended.
         Certification by David Stewart, 14 April 1818, one of Associate Judges of Court of Common Pleas in Huntingdon Co. PA; that he hath known Robert Duncan for some years past and is satisfied that Robert Duncan served in the Rev. War with Great Britain during the time mentioned in his affidavit hereto attached, and that he believes his circumstances in life are truly stated.
         Certification by David Stewart 30 Nov. 1818; from the examination and oath of Robert Duncan, it appears to my satisfaction that Robert Duncan did serve in the Rev. War as stated in the preceeding declaration against the common enemy; and that he is poor, and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support.
      Declaration by Robert (+) Dunken, 16 Aug. 1820, before Court of Common Pleas of Huntingdon Co. PA; resident of Hopewell Township in said county; he enlisted as a soldier in the Rev. War for during the war in a company commanded by Captain Bettis in Reg. called the 7th Regt. in MD line commanded by Col. Stewart as set forth in his declaration regularly made the date of which he doth not now recollect but believes it was some time in April 1818, which declaration was forwarded to the war department and on which a pension certificate was issued to Robert Dunken dated 14 April 1818 ... numbered 5108, and is in possession of said declaiment; who in pursuance of Act of Congress 20 May 1820 makes following declaration; I, Robert Dunken, do swear that I was a resident citizen of US on 18 March 1818 and I have not since that time ... disposed of my property ... so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of Act 18 March 1818; that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property ...; nor have I any income other than which is contained in the schedule hereunto annexed & by me subscribed; that he is 65 years of age, that he has no trade but sometimes works at daily labour but that owing to his advanced age is unable to obtain a livelyhood thereby for himself & family which consists of himself & a wife named Margaret Dunken aged about 50 years who is unable to contribute very little to their support.
         Schedule of property, beds & bedding excepted: 1 rifle gun $12; 1 shot gun $2; 1 stove $12; 1 old case knife .06; 1 pen knife .25; 1 old iron pot .12-1/2; 1 axe $1; total $27.43-1/2. Debts due by Petitioner: James Entreken? $18; Wm. Enyeart $4.50; Henry Summers $2.50; widow Summers .53, Fless? $1.00; total $26.53.
         Statement by John Frees, 16 Aug. 1820; that he is well acquainted with Robert Dunken & his circumstances & property and estimates the same to be worth $27.43-1/2 which in the opinion of deponent is the utmost extent of its value, his bed & bedding excepted.
         Statement by court, 15 Aug. 1820, they concur in the value of the property.
         Certification by William Steel, 19 Dec. 1820, Prothonotary of Court of Common Pleas, that Robert Dunken ... is an inhabitant & resident of Huntingdon Co. PA.
      Letter from Treasury Department, 24 May 1844, to Commissioner of Pensions. Under the Act of 6 April 1838 (unclaimed money) and 3rd Section of Act of 23 Aug. 1842; two of 4 children of Robert Duncan, decd, a pensioner on roll of Philadelphia, PA, at rate of $8 per month, under law of 18 March 1818, has been paid at this department from 4 Sept. 1838 to 26 April 1839.
 

ROGER DUNCAN, Rev. War Pensions (FHL film 970,864; National Archives Roll 864)
      No pension application or rejected application for Roger Duncan.
 

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