Revolutionary War Pension Application of Rodrick (Roderick) Craig
(Selected and Non-Selected Files)
Transcribed by Lucy DeYoung
September 3, 2004
State of Indiana Henry County Court
In the Henry Probate Court, day of November AD 1834 personally appeared in Open Court before the Honorable Jesse Healey probate judge of the County of Henry and the State of Indiana Rodrick Craig a resident of the said County of Henry and aged eighty four years who after being duly sworn according to Law doth on this oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of an act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
That he volunteered in the service of the United States in the fall of 1781 in the County of Randolph, State of North Caroline under Capt. Elija Williams and Colonel Belford the names of the other officers he cannot recollect owing to his old age and bad memory. We marched in the said fall of 1781 after the Tories from the said County of Randolph to Moore County in the State of North Caroline aforesaid we there remained one month watching the movements of the Tories and from there we returned to the said County of Randolph. We were then discharged by our said Capt. The Tories returned to the said County of Randolph and killed our Colonel. We then returned and in open suit of them the Tories and followed them back to the said County of Moore and followed them back and forward for the ? of two months after our said ? day of discharge during all which time we served. ? he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity of pension except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state.
his
Rodrick x Craig
Mark
Sworn and subscribed ? ?
Court the day and year aforesaid
Eli Murphy Clk
Whereupon the Court [sic] prossounded the following interrogatories to the applicant.
An. I was living in the State of North Caroline when called into service and remained there for ten or twelve years after the Revolutionary War and from there moved to the State of Ohio and there remained for sixteen years and from there removed to Henry County, Indiana and have there remained ever since.
Ques. How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom.
Ans. I was a volunteer in Capt. William’s Company
Ques. State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served and such Continental and Militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your services.
Ans. Our officers were Capt. Elija Williams & Col. Belford & the general circumstances of my service is stated in my declaration.
Ans. Rec’d nothing but a verbal discharge
Ques. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood who can testify to your character for veracity and [sic] there belief of your services as a soldier of the revolution.
Ans. There are John Coleburn, William Hiatt and the neighborhood besides.
We John Coleburn a Clergymen resident in the said County of Henry and William Hiatt a resident of the same place hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Rodrick Craig who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be the 84 years of age, that he is accepted and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion
/s/ John Coleburn
/s/ William Hiatt
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matters and putting the interrogations prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states and the County further certifies that it appears to them that John Coleburn who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergymen resident of the said County of Henry & State of Indiana and the William Hiatt who has signed the same is a resident of the County and State last aforesaid and is a credible person and that [sic] there statement is ?.
/s/ Jesse H. Healey
I Eli Murphy Clerk of the Henry Probate Court do certify that he foregoing contains the original preceding of the said County in this matter of the application of Rodrick Craig for a pension
In testimony where of I have herewith set my hand and seal of Office this the Eleventh day of November 1834
/s/ Eli Murphy Clk.
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Department of War
Pension Office
July 12, 1835
Sir,
The claim of Rodrick Craig has been inspected. The service (?) is of a very questionable character, but as it amounts to three months only, if its character had been different, the claim could not have been admitted.
JAM
Eli Murphey E(?)
C(?) Probate, Henry County, New Castle, Ind.
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New Castle, Indiana
October 9th 1854
Hon. Secretary of War.
Dr Sir
Rodrick Craig enlisted in the Revolutionary Way in the North Carolina Militia (perhaps) and his Col. might have been Belford, of that state. He enlisted probably in Randolph Co. N.C.
These are about all the particulars that I can now give, and Mr. Craig has now deceased and his children wish to know if his name can be round upon the Rolls, in your Department.
Please answer and much oblige those interests.
Respectfully,
W. Grose
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Enq: Whether the name of Roderick Craig is to be found on the roles of the Revolutionary Army
October 12, 1854
/s/ Auditor
Received October 12, 1854
14th district
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No Rolls of the Revolutionary Army on file in this office.
Respectfully refused to the Commissioners (?) of Pensions
Third auditing Office
October 14, 1854
/s/ Auditing
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Pension Office
17th October 1854
Sir,
In reply to your (?)9th instants, I would inform you it is contrary to the rules of this office to report to you the condition of the claim of Rodrick Craig unless you file here a Power of Attorney authorizing your agency. The application of Roderick is (?) our files.
To: W. Grove Esq.
New Castle, Indiana
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Rodrick Craig
Indiana
Rejected
____________
Letter 12 July 1835
_____________
Eli Murphey
W. Grose 17 Oct. 1854
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Sanborn, Ia. Mch. 1917
U.S. Commissioners of Pensions
Washington D. C.
Dear Sirs:
Am trying to obtain proof of the war record of my great-great-great grandfather Roderick Craig who served as a soldier during the entire Revolutionary War.
I think he was from North Carolina I’m not sure it might have been South Carolina, but one of them anyway.
I do not know that he was a Pensioner. I am willing to stand any necessary expense in looking up this man’s war record.
Can you give me any information?
Respectfully yours,
Mrs. Claribel McMillen
Sanborn, Ia.
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Henry County Hi
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I advise you that from the papers on file in the Revolutionary War pension claim, R.2428, it appears that Rodrick Craig was born in 1750 in England.
While a resident of Randolph County, North Carolina, he enlisted in the fall of 1781 as a private in Captain Elijah Williams’ Company, Colonel Belford’s North Carolina Regiment and served three months.
After the Revolution he remained in North Carolina about twelve years, then moved to Ohio where he lived for sixteen years (county not named) and from there he moved to Henry County, Indiana.
He applied for pension November 11, 1834 while living in Henry County, Indiana, but his claim was not allowed as he did not render six months military service as was required by the pension law.
He did prior to October, 1854, leaving children; date of his death and names of wife and children not given.
Respectfully,
Winfield Scott
Commissioner
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Knightstown, Indiana
Jan 3rd, 1932
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Hon. Sir. I am tracing the records of Roderick Craig a soldier of the Revolution from Randolph Co. North Carolina. I want the Date of his enlistment, his age at time of enlistment, the regiment in which he served and name of the (?).
Thanking for (?) address (?) am yours
J.M. Craig
R.R. 2.
Knightstown, Indiana
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January 22, 1932
Mr. J.M. Craig,
R.R. 3
Knightstown, Indiana
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter relative to one Rodrick, Craig, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.
The data contained herein are obtained from the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, R.2428, based on his military service in that war.
Rodrick Craig was born in 1750 in England.
While a resident of Randolph County, North Carolina, he enlisted in the fall of 1781 as a private in Captain Elijah Williams’ Company, Colonel Belford’s North Carolina Regiment and served three months.
After the Revolution he remained in North Carolina about twelve years, then moved to Ohio where he lived for sixteen years (county not named) and from there he moved to Henry County, Indiana.
He applied for pension November 11, 1834 while living in Henry County, Indiana, but his claim was not allowed as he did not render six months military service as was required by the pension law.
He did prior to October, 1854, leaving children; date of his death and names of wife and children not given.
Very truly yours,
A.D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator