Pvt., William Harris

Harris, Pvt. William

State of Ohio

Licking County

Enlisted September 25, 1776 from Ohio County, VA.  Was a private in Col. Crawford's regiment under Capts. Wall, Tomlinson, Ogle, Severingen, and Winter.  Born Oct. 2, 1755, Frederick Co., MD.  Married Marth Smith (1754-1838).  He died 20 September 1843 in Bowling Green Township, Licking Co., Ohio.  Buried on farm.  Arrived in county in 1804.  He filed for his pension on Oct. 30, 1832.  Pension was approved.

He served three months in General McIntosh's Campaign.  Having engaged as a substitute for one Thomas Gerby in Captain Swearengen's Company of the Virginia Militia for three months--thinks this was in the fall of 1777--must have been in the summer or fall of that year but cannot recollect precisely--rendezvoused at Pittsburgh and went down the river and assisted to build Fort McIntosh below the mouth of Big Beaver about 30 miles below Pittsburg; after remaining some time at Ft. McIntosh he went with Gen. McIntosh on to the Tuscarawas where they built Fort Lawrence or Laurens on the bank of the Tuscarawas river. Here he remained until his said term of three months was out, but did not return or leave the troops at that time, and remained until the return of the expedition which was not less than a month after the time was out for which he engaged, then returned back to Fort McIntosh and when they got back there he was discharged having served not less than four months in this Tour--Making his service for which he claims a pension under Captain Wall One Month--under Captain Tomlinson Two months--under Captain Ogle three months and four months under Captain Swearengen and Winter--making in all ten months.  There is no clergyman in his neighborhood.  he mentions Rob Orr, Henry Bickell, Baltus Emery whose certificate he produced to comply with the sworn interrogatory--recollects in the McIntosh campaign the following regular officers, to wit Gen. Broadhead, Col Gibson, Col. Campbell, Capt. Biggs.  It is not in his power to produce proof of his service at this time by living witness-and has no documentary evidence.

                                                                                        his

                                                                             William X   Harris

                                                                                        mark

Sworn and subscribed before me this 11th day of June AD 1833

                                                  M.M. Caffee, J. Peace

 

Information on Pvt.William Harris was submitted to the Friends of Ft. Laurens Foundation.

McGaughy, Helen Orr.  Letter to Scott Fisher, Trustee, Friends of Ft. Laurens Foundation; 31 July 2008

Harris' military records are  from the National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C.

Harris Military Records from:  Official Roster of the D.A.R. or the Official Roster of the Soldiers of the American Revolution Buried in The State of Ohio, pg 176.

Certificate of Pension issued, Ohio 13471, the 27th day of July 1833.

 

 

 

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