Robert Moffitt, II

Robert Served in the Revolutionary war.

On August 8, 1853 Henry Moffitt had applied for some governmental benefit based on the Revolutionary War services of his father, Robert Moffitt of Randolph County, North Carolina but who died in Chatham County in that state about 1817 leaving a widow, Catharine (who later died in Missouri) and children Henry, Nancy, Mary, Maria, William, Aaron, Rachel and Sarah. As there was no legislation to provide this type of benefit the application was denied. Established in the record, however, was that Robert Moffitt had rendered service in the North Carolina militia during the Revolution. (National Archives:Pension *R 7293)

Researching the original pension applications on microfilm copies from the National Archives, Washington, D.C., the following data has been gleaned about these old-time Henderson County patriots.

On August 8, 1853, HENRY MOFFITT, a resident of Henderson County, applied for any pension benefits that might have been available for himself and his siblings, based on the Revolutionary War services of their father, ROBERT MOFFITT "who was a soldier in the Revolutionary War" and who "died in the county of Chatham in the State of North Carolina in or about the year A.D. 1817 leaving a wife CATHERINE MOFFITT and eight children. He further declares that his mother CATHERINE MOFFITT remained a widow until her death which transpired in the State of Missouri ... leaving eight children, HENRY MOFFITT, NANCY, MARY, MARIA, WILLIAM MOFFITT and AARON MOFFITT, RACHEL and SARAH. "The application was refused as there was no law providing for the children of Revolutionary War veterans, but it did establish in record the fact of ROBERT MOFFITT's military service. (National Archives: pension number R7293)

Among the deponents in this Moffitt application was that of MARY PHILLIPS of Henderson County who declared, August 16, 1853, that she had personally been "a neighbor of ROBERT MOFFITT, the father of HENRY MOFFITT ... that ROBERT MOFFITT and CATHERINE MOFFITT were man and wife, that they lived together as such, that the people of Randolph county in the State of North Carolina considered them as lawful man and wife." Also deposing, August 16, 1853, were ELI TEAGUE and JOHN BRAY, both of Henderson County, who declared that they personally knew HENRY MOFFITT to be a son of ROBERT MOFFITT "who resided in Randolph county in the State of North Carolina and died in Chatham county"; that he and CATHERINE MOFFITT had been man and wife; that "the opinion of the people where he lived" accepted him as a Revolutionary War veteran. T.P.PHILLIPS of Henderson County deposed, August 16, 1853 "that from my own knowledge of ROBERT MOFFITT ... that I believe him to have served in the Revolutionary War."

Therefore, from this one pension application alone the North Carolina origins of several of Henderson County's pioneer families are preserved in a public record.

MARY PHILLIPS, FORMERLY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

Jonathan Kennon Thompson Smith

Mr. Jonathan Kennon Thompson Smith of Jackson has published seven genealogical miscellanies for Henderson County. He wishes to share this information as widely as possible and has granted permission for these web pages to be created. We thank Mr. Smith for his generosity. Copyright, Jonathan K. T. Smith, 2001

(Page 90)

In the application (#62827) of HENRY MOFFITT of Henderson County, for some monetary benefit from the Revolutionary War services of his father, ROBERT MOFFITT of Randolph County, North Carolina, a militiaman in the North Carolina Militia, and who died about 1817, is a declaration made by MARY PHILLIPS in which she spoke of having known ROBERT MOFFITT and wife, CATHERINE, back in Carolina. This may be beneficial to some among her descendancy in tracing her origins.

The declaration MARY PHILLIPS made and her signature:

STATE OF TENNESSEE

County of Henderson:

On this 16th day of August A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three personally appeared before me, an acting Justice of the Peace within and for the county of and state aforesaid, MARY PHILLIPS, who being duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath declare, that she is personally acquainted with HENRY MOFFITT, that she was a neighbor of ROBERT MOFFITT, the father of HENRY MOFFITT, that his mother CATHERINE MOFFITT is now dead. She further declares that ROBERT MOFFITT and CATHERINE MOFFITT were man and wife, that they lived together as such, that the people of Randolph County in the State of North Carolina, considered them as lawful man and wife, and that she, the said MARY PHILLIPS, never heard the fact questioned in the community where they lived.

Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written. And I hereby certify that the above affidavit was taken in the presence of the aforesaid HENRY MOFFITT.

 ELI TEAGUE, JP, for Henderson County