I’m sure you will recall the Revolutionary War pension for John Gorin we discussed in a blog a week ago. Not only was John in the Revolutionary War, after his move to Barren County, Kentucky, he fought in some of the Indian wars during the 1780’s, and again served his country during the War of 1812. John Gorin received a Revolutionary War pension of $50.88 per annum. After his death in 1837, wife Elizabeth received $30.88 beginning February 3, 1853.
In 1850 an Act of Congress was passed giving soldiers serving during the War of 1812 a land grant of a certain number of acres. When Elizabeth Gorin submitted her request for bounty land the draftsman of her papers inadvertently wrote her husband’s death as August 5, 1836, instead of August 5, 1837. This caused her much grief for the next several years as the government claimed that she wasn’t the widow of the John Gorin who served during the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Indian Wars since the date of death was not the same. It was eventually straightened out by much correspondence and certified documents that were sent on this subject. In one file it said she received 160 acres of land. I could not find a formal document. If Elizabeth did receive this land, she probably sold it. The majority who received land grants could not afford to move to Arkansas, Michigan or Illinois where the land was located.
Elizabeth Gorin, Bounty Land Claim
John Gorin, Deceased, Revolution Volunteer
Capt. Charles Harvey, Col. Philip Barber, 10th Regt. Ken Mt. Vo.
Aug 28 – Sep 5, 1812
State of Kentucky, County of Barren
On this 2nd day of December, A.D., one thousand eight hundred and fifty, personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace, within and for the County and State aforesaid, Elizabeth Gorin, aged about 58 years, a resident of Barren County in the State of Kentucky, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of John Gorin, deceased, who was at first a captain in a company commanded by himself for a while and after his promotion, by Captain Charles Harvey in the Tenth Regiment of Kentucky Mounted Volunteers, commanded by Col. Philip Barber, in the War with Great Britain, declared by the United States on the 18th day of June 1812. That her said husband volunteered at Glasgow, Kentucky (and was elected Captain of the Company) on or abut the 15th day of August, A.D., 1813, for the term of three months and continued in actual service in said war for the term of eighty-four days and was honorably discharged at Glasgow about the 12th day of November 1813, as will appear by the Master Rolls of said company of regiment.
That her husband was promoted to Major shortly after engaging in the service and held that commission till the expiration of his term.
She also declares that her husband was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and served at least six months according to the best information she has. He was at the Battle of Brandywine and was at the siege of York town and surrender of Lord Cornwallis.
He was also a soldier in one of the Indian Wars since 1790 and served for some months, but she is unable to state the time or the company or regiment to which he belonged. She has no means of ascertaining the particulars of his service in the War of the Revolution or Indian War, except to reference to the declaration made by him to obtain a pension, which she supposes is on file in the pension office in Washington City. She refers to the papers on file in said office to show the times of his service in said wars. He drew a
pension for some years before and up to his death.
She further states that she was married to the said John Gorin in Barren County, Kentucky, on the twenty-sixth day of May, A.D. 1825, by one Jacob Locke, a minister of the gospel of the Baptist Church and that her name before her said marriage was Elizabeth Duvall; that her said husband died in Barren County, Kentucky, on the 10th day of August, A.D., 1836 [should be 1837] and that she is still a widow.
She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled under the act passed September 23rd, 1850.
She herewith files the original record of her marriage with said John Gorin, which is in his own handwriting and was made at the time of or very shortly after the marriage.
Elizabeth Gorin
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written.
C. Duff, J.P.B.C.
State of Kentucky, County of Barren
On this 8th October 1856, personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace within and for the county and state aforesaid, Drury Clark, of said county who being duly sworn according to law declares that he was a private in the company commanded first by Captain John Gorin and afterwards by Captain Charles Harvey in the regiment of Kentucky militia commanded by Col. Barber in the War with Great Britain in Jun 1812. And served in said company from the 15th August to 15th November 1813. He states that for said service he has obtained a Bounty Land Warrant for 40 acres of land which warrant was issued on the 23rd day of September 1851 and is number 18.874. He states that John Gorin (whose widow is a claimant under the Bounty Land Act of September 1850 for the services of her deceased husband) was out on that campaign and in actual service for the whole time said company were. He left home (Glasgow, Kentucky) as the captain of said company and at Newport, Kentucky, he (said Gorin) was promoted to be a Major and in that capacity and office served the time aforesaid.
Drury Clark
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year aforesaid and I hereby certify that I know said Clark to be a man of veracity and have no doubt he served as aforesaid and correctly was on the facts in the case of Major John Gorin, now deceased.
Stephen Rattliff, Justice of the Peace, and for the county and state aforesaid
Travis Cockrill, Clerk, Barren County, Kentucky
I do certify that the record of the marriage of John Gorin and Elizabeth Duvall herewith filed is in the handwriting of said John Gorin and is without doubt the original family record of said marriage. I also certify that John Gorin died in 1836 and that Elizabeth Gorin, his widow, is still living and unmarried.
I knew said John Gorin and Elizabeth Gorin to be man and wife and to so live together and be respected, up to his death. I am not interested in the claim for bounty land made by said widow.
I have often heard John Gorin speak of his service in the Revolutionary War and in one of the Indian Wars, but do not recollect the particulars of his service. I recollect when he started from home during the War of 1812 and when he returned.
I am a son of said John Gorin by a former marriage and in no way interested in the claim for bounty land now set up by his widow.
F[ranklin]. Gorin
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 30th day of November 1850. W. E. Munford, Justice of the Peace within and for Barren County, Kentucky
Categories: Family Stories
Kentucky Kindred Genealogy 