| Name |
Moses Justus |
| Birth |
ca 1753 |
Cecil Co, Maryland, USA  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Biography |
Moses Justus |
 |
The Swedish Ancestry of Moses Justus of Schuyler County, Illinois.
Peter Stebbins Craig. The Swedish Ancestry.... (Washington, DC: Peter S. Craig, 1990). |
| Residence |
1769 |
Virginia, USA |
| Military |
1774–1780 |
Revoluntary War |
| Served different times through the years. Moses was in battles of Stono and Wetzell's Mill. |
- (1) Moses Justus was born in Maryland in 1755. He enlisted in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, serving as a "Minute Man" under Capt. John Fifer, July 1775; again in June 1779, and in February 1781, under Capts. Samuel Patton, Caleb Fifer, and James Newell, with Cols. John Fifer and Tinnon. He was in the battles of Stono and Wetzell's Mills. Coming to Illinois, he settled in Schuyler County but removed to McDonough county, where he died at an advanced age. He was pensioned. [Source: Soldiers of the American Revolution Buried in Illinois (Springfield, IL: Illinois State Genealogical Society, 1976), 124.] (2) Born in Maryland in 1753 and thereafter moved to Mecklenburg County, NC. Was in the Revolutionary War: March 1775, he enlisted in Mecklenburg County under Captain John Fifer (Pfifer), Lieutenant Samuel Patton and Ensign William Houston and served for three months, marching about 100 miles to Cross Creek in North Carolina, where he was discharged. Rejoined the same year for 3 months under Captain Caleb Fifer and Lt. William Houston, marched to the Cherokee Nation at the Valley towns and returned to Salisbury and discharged there. Re-enlisted a few more times in VA and in NC for a total of 4 stints in the Revolution. As Moses Justus himself stated in documents accompanying his later pension application (1832): "I was living, at the time I (first) volunteered into the service, in the State of North Carolina, afterwards removed to Virginia, then moved to East Tennessee, then to West Tennessee, then to the State of Indiana, and then to Schuyler County in the State of Illinois, and then to McDonough County in the said state of Illinois where I now live." [Source: (1)"Genealogical Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension Files, Vol. II: F-M" by Virgil D White, pg 1898. (2) Peter Stebbins Craig. The Swedish Ancestry of Moses Justus of Schuyler County, Illinois (Washington, DC: P. S. Craig, 1990), 38-39. (3) 1790 Census of South Carolina Moses Justice in Cheraw District, (4) 1800 Census of South Carolina; he was in Darlington County] (5) Pension file of Moses Justus of Schuyler County, Illinois, No. S32351, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
|
| Property, Real |
16 Sep 1782 |
Montgomery Co, Virginia, USA |
| Moses Justice [Justus] and William Smith, assignee, of James Adams assignee of John Adams and James Montgomery assignee of Jesse Evans assignee of William Davis, Commissioner's certificate, 400 acres on Walkers Creek about six miles from head not to extend over Haberson's Spring Branch. [Commissioner's Certificate Book, page 109, 156 acres surveyed for Davis 1774, settled 1772] The warrants were often assigned (sold or traded) by the person who actually served in the military or the person who was entitled to the particular warrant. The last person mentioned in the assignment was the original owner of the warrant or certificate and not necessarily a resident or owner of the land which was later surveyed. The entry was a request to the county surveyor to come to the property in question and lay off the boundaries of the tract by metes and bounds in order that a land grant might be obtained. Most entries were based on some kind of official warrant--state, preemption, military (for the French and Indian War) or governor's (sometimes called Lord Dunmore's or his Lordship's warrant)--though in some cases they were based on a Commissioner's certificate. [Montgomery County, VA Entry Book A-59] |
- (1) Mary B. Kegley. Early Adventurers on the Western Waters; Vol II, The New River of Virginia in Pioneer Days, 1745-1800 (Wytheville, VA: Kegley Books, 1982), 59, 109. (2) Mary B. Kegley. Early Adventurers on the Western Waters; Vol III, Part 2, The New River of Virginia in Pioneer Days, 1745-1805 (Wytheville, VA: Kegley Books, 1995), 569.
|
| Property, Real |
18 Nov 1782 |
Montgomery Co, Virginia, USA |
| Moses Justice [Justus] and Wm. Smith, 400 acres, Commissioners' certificate on Walkers Creek, branch of New River about six miles from the head, beginning on the bank of Herbersons Branch, ad on the "Garden" Path. |
- Mary B. Kegley. Early Adventurers on the Western Waters; Vol V, The New River of Virginia in Pioneer Days, 1745-1820 (Wytheville, VA: Kegley Books, 2004), 49 [Original Montgomery County Surveys from Plat Book A]
|
| Census |
1790 |
Cheraws Dist, South Carolina, USA |
| St. Thomas, p 361--Moses Justice--free white males under 16: 1, free white males 16+: 1, free white females: 7, No. household members: 9. |
- The United States of America. Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. First Census of the United States, 1790. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1790. (NARA microfilm M637 roll 11)
|
 |
1790 Census for Cheraws District, South Carolina, Sheet 361
--Moses Justice-- Free white males under 16: 1; Free white males 16+: 1; Frees white females: 7; Number of Household members: 9. |
| Land Grant/Warrant |
1790 |
North Carolina Land Grants in Tennessee |
| Grant #2788 for 250 acres in Eastern District on the waters of Big Creek |
- (1) Betty Goff Cook Cartwright and Lilliam Johnson Gardiner. North Carolina Land Grants in Tennessee 1778-1791 (Memphis, TN: Nortex Offset Publications Inc, 1958), 58. (2) Goldene Fillers Burgner, comp. North Carolina Land Grants in Tennessee, 1788-1791 (Easley, SC: Southern Historical Press, 1981), 100.
|
| Property, Real |
17 Nov 1790 |
North Carolina |
| 250 acres in the Eastern District of Tennessee on the waters of Big Creek, "beginning on James Gaylings and Justice conditional line". He paid 25 pounds for this land. |
- (1) Tennessee. Knox County. Deed Book A-1:12, quoting Book A:10 [NC patent 86]. (2) Peter Stebbins Craig. The Swedish ancestry of Moses Justus of Schuyler County, Illinois (Washington, D.C.: P.S. Craig, 1990), 41.
|
 |
Land Grant to Moses Justice in North Carolina
...for and in consideration of the sum of Ten Pounds for every hundred acres hereby granted, paid into our Treasury, by Moses Justice have given and granted...to the said Moses Justice a tract of land containing 250 acres...in our Eastern District on the waters of Big Creek... |
| Court Minutes |
17 Jul 1792 |
Knox Co, Tennessee, USA |
| William Burden vs William Cavenauh ) Appeal. This day came the parties by their attorneys, and thereupon came a Jury, to wit: John Coulter, William Rhea, Joseph Black, William Trimble, Samuel Doak, Moses Justice, Andrew Bogle, Samuel Bogle, Robert Gamble, Joseph Weldon, John McIntire, and Pearson Brock who being elected tryed and Sworn, well and truly to try the matter of controversy between the parties.... |
- (1) Tennessee. Knox County. Minutes, Vol "0", p 5. (2) Knox County, Tennessee: Minutes of the County Court, 1792-1795 (Nashville, TN: Tennessee Historical Records Survey, WPA, 1941, Reprint 2010), 4. (3) History of Tennessee: From the Earliest Time to the Present; Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of the County of Knox and the City of Knoxville. (Nashville: The Goodspeed Publishing Co, 1887), 815.
|
| Court Minutes |
5 Aug 1793 |
Knox Co, Tennessee, USA |
| Robert Houston esquire Sheriff & C. returned that he had executed our Writ of Venire Facias [judicial writ directing the sheriff to summon a specified number of qualified persons to serve as jurors] to him directed upon the following persons, to Wit: John Singleton, John Cain, William McNutt Jr, George Ewing...Moses Justice.... |
- (1) Tennessee. Knox County. Minutes, Vol "0", p 63. (2) Knox County, Tennessee: Minutes of the County Court, 1792-1795 (Nashville, TN: Tennessee Historical Records Survey, WPA, 1941, Reprint 2010), 64.
|
| Court Minutes |
7 Nov 1793 |
Knox Co, Tennessee, USA |
| Margaret Brown vs William Henry ) In detinue Non detinet [ A common law remedy for the recovery in specie of chattels wrongfully withheld from the plaintiff] Moses Justice was a member of the jury to here this case. |
- (1) Tennessee. Knox County. Minutes, Vol "0", p 92. (2) Knox County, Tennessee: Minutes of the County Court, 1792-1795 (Nashville, TN: Tennessee Historical Records Survey, WPA, 1941, Reprint 2010), 93.
|
| Court Minutes |
7 Nov 1793 |
Knox Co, Tennessee, USA |
| Nathaniel & Samuel Cowan vs Robert Thompson ) In Case Plea. Payment. This day came the parties by their attornies and thereupon came a Jury, to Wit: Solomon Harrison, James Davis, Moses Justice, James Gailey, Thomas Flipping... |
- (1) Tennessee. Knox County. Minutes, Vol "0", p 91. (2) Knox County, Tennessee: Minutes of the County Court, 1792-1795 (Nashville, TN: Tennessee Historical Records Survey, WPA, 1941, Reprint 2010), 92.
|
| Court Minutes |
8 Nov 1793 |
Knox Co, Tennessee, USA |
| Alexander Carmichael vs. Joseph Sevier ) In case; Non-Assumpsit. This day came the parties by their attornies and thereupon came a Jury, to wit: Abraham Swagerty, George Greer, John Patterson, Thomas Flipping, Joseph West, Alexander McMullin, James Miller, Allen Gillespie, David Walker, William Lackey, John Renfroe, and Moses Justice, who being elected tried and Sworn the truth to Speak upon the Issue joined went out of court to consult of their verdict and after some time returned into Court, and declared they could not agree in their verdict, by consent of the parties and with the assent of the Court One of the Jurors aforesaid was withdrawn, and the rest of the said Jurors from rendering their Verdict discharged and the cause is continued 'till next Court for a new trial to be had thereon. |
- (1) Tennessee. Knox County. Minutes, Vol "0", p 95. (2) Knox County, Tennessee: Minutes of the County Court, 1792-1795 (Nashville, TN: Tennessee Historical Records Survey, WPA, 1941, Reprint 2010), 96.
|
| Court Minutes |
8 Nov 1793 |
Knox Co, Tennessee, USA |
| Daniel Willson vs Nicholas Holmes ) In Covenant. Moses Justice Garnashee being first sworn saith that there is in his possession a Note for Six pounds Virginia currency or thereabouts the property of Nicholas Holmes and that he owes the Defendant Fifteen pounds in trade by a note of hand, which note he is informed is in the possession of James Gealey; there he knows of no other debts due to or affects belonging to the DEfendant in the hands of any other person. And the Defendant not appearing to replevy the same although Solemnly called; It is considered by the Court that the plaintiff recovers against the Defendant Such damages as he hath Sustained by occasion of the Defendants Non-performance of the Covenant in the declaration (Heretofore filed) mentioned; which damages are to be required of by a Jury at the next Court. |
- (1) Tennessee. Knox County. Minutes, Vol "0", p 93-94. (2) Knox County, Tennessee: Minutes of the County Court, 1792-1795 (Nashville, TN: Tennessee Historical Records Survey, WPA, 1941, Reprint 2010), 94.
|
| Misc. |
12 Apr 1798 |
Blount Co, Tennessee, USA |
- (1) Inez E. Burns. History of Blount County, Tennessee: from war train to landing strip, 1795-1955 (Maryville, TN: Tennessee Historical Commission, 1957), 290. (2) Dorothy Williams Potter. Passports of Southeastern pioneers, 1770-1823: Indian, Spanish and other land passports for Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Mississippi, Virginia, North and South Carolina (Baltimore: Gateway Press, Inc., 1982), 331.
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Passports into the Indian Lands to harvest crops
John Wallace, William Wallace, and Moses Justus/Justice had gone into the prohibited Indian lands and started farming before the lands were open for settlement. They "obtained passports 12 Apr 1798-for the purpose of removing their property from the Indian lands and taking care of their grain, that is now growing." NOTE: In 2015 when I was at the Tennessee State Archives I asked to see the original passports but was told by their staff that the only information they had was what Potter had written in her book. Now that I have the exact location of the records in the Papers of Governor John Sevier, I will try again to locate the originals. |
| Property, Real |
17 Oct 1798 |
Wythe Co, Virginia, USA |
| Moses Justice [Justus], George Justice, and Daniel Justice, Junr. [Jr], 496 acres on two entries: (1) 50 acres entered 1791 on treasury warrant 1783, in name of John Alsup and he to Justices; (2) on treasury warrant for 2,000 acres, 1796, in name of William Neal, 446 acres part of entry assigned by Neel to Justices, issued 1795, on Clear Fork of Wolf Creek. |
- Mary B. Kegley. Early Adventurers on the Western Waters; Vol III, Part 1, The New River of Virginia in Pioneer Days, 1745-1805 (Wytheville, VA: Kegley Books, 1995), 139. [Originial Wythe County Survey Book 1-406]
|
| Census |
1800 |
| None found for this Moses Justus/Justice. |
| Residence |
1806 |
Knox Co, Tennessee, USA |
| Census |
1810 |
| None found for this Moses Justus/Moses Justice. |
| Census |
1820 |
Crawford Co, Indiana, USA |
- The United States of America. Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. Fourth Census of the United States, 1820. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1820. (NARA microfilm M33 roll 14)
|
 |
1820 Census for Crawford Co, Indiana, Sheet 10
p 10. --Moses Justice-- Free white males 16-25: 1, free white males 45 & over: 1, free white females under 45 & over: 1, No. of persons engaged in agriculture: 2, free white persons over 25: 1 Total free white persons = 2. |
| Census |
1830 |
Schuyler Co, Illinois, USA |
- The United States of America. Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. Fifth Census of the United States, 1830. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1830. (NARA microfilm M19 roll 23)
|
 |
1830 Census for Schuyler Co, Illinois, Sheet 84
p 84 --Moses Justice-- Free white males 70-79: 1, free white females 60-69: 1. Total persons = 2. |
| Tax Records |
1830 |
Schuyler Co, Illinois, USA |
- Schuyler County Historical Museum. Schuyler County Taxpayers 1826-1830 (Rushville, IL: n. p, n. d.), 12.
|
| Pension |
3 Oct 1832 |
Circuit Court, Schuyler Co, Illinois |
|
|
Pension application of Moses Justus, #S32351
State of Illinois, Schuyler County: Circuit Court October Term A.D. 1832. On this third day of October A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Judge of the Circuit Court of said County & State now sitting in Rushville (the same being a court of record) Moses Justus a resident of the County of McDonough and State of Illinois aged 77 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: Entered the service as a volunteer in 1774 (month & day not recollected) in the County of Mecklenburg in the State of North Carolina, under Captain John Fifer [sic, John Phifer], Lieutenant Samuel Patton, Ensign William Houston, as a volunteer served three months, marched to Cross Creek in North Carolina about 100 miles and was there discharged by Samuel Patton he being Captain, Captain John Phifer having been promoted to Col.. Soon after returning from Cross Creek aforesaid the place of discharge to Mecklenburg aforesaid, he entered the service again as a volunteer at the County of Mecklenburg aforesaid in July 1774 as well as he recollects under Captain Caleb Phifer, Lieutenant William Houston Ensign's name not recollected, commanded by Colonel John Phifer and marched to the Cherokee nation at the Valley Towns, after serving three months returned to Salisbury in North Carolina about 14 miles from Mecklenburg aforesaid, and was there discharged and paid. That he entered the service a third time as a substitute in Captain Haven's Company (Lieutenant & Ensign's names not recollected) in the Third Regiment Commanded by Colonel Tinnen, General Lincoln commander in chief, we marched to Stono 20 miles from Charleston and was in a Battle at Stono, and was discharged there after serving three months. Afterwards he removed to Virginia & entered the service a fourth time in February following at New River in Montgomery County Virginia, as a volunteer under Captain James Newell, Lieutenant William Glaves [?], Ensign Richard Muse, Colonel Preston commanding, we marched to Haw River in North Carolina below the Moravian Towns had a skirmish at Whitesells mills [sic, Wetzel's mill] was defeated, then marched to Guilford Court House in North Carolina and was there discharged. That he has no documentary evidence, and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service; and that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Questions by the Court
1st When and in what year were you born? In the year 1753 in the State of Maryland
2nd Have you any record of your age and if so where is it? I have a record of my age at my house where I now reside.
3rd Where were you living when called into service: where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live? I was living at the time I volunteered into the service, in the State of North Carolina, afterwards removed to Virginia, then removed to East Tennessee, then to West Tennessee, then to the State of Indiana, and then to Schuyler County in the State of Illinois and then to McDonough County in the said State of Illinois where I now live
4th How were you called into service; were you drafted; did you volunteer or were you a substitute, and if in a substitute, for whom? I entered service as a volunteer minute man and served as a volunteer during the whole of my Service, except one tour of three months, which I served as a Substitute for a man whose name I do not recollect under Captain Havens.
5th State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops when you served, such Continental and militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service. General Lincoln was with the troops among whom I served, also Generals Rutherford & McDowell and Colonel Preston, Tinnen and Phifer of the Militia
6th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by who was it given and what has become of it? I received a discharge from Captain Fifer, and one from Captain Havens, and have lost them both, was not careful to preserve them, thinking them of no Consequence.
7th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief in your services as a soldier in the revolution. I am acquainted with William Skiles, George Skiles, and Samuel Bogart, who can testify as to my character for veracity & behavior but am not acquainted with any person, who can testify to my Services in the revolution from his own knowledge. Sworn to & subscribed this 3rd day of October A.D. 1832.
S/ Richard M. Young, Circuit Judge of the 5th Judicial Circuit of the State of Illinois
S/ Moses Justice
[Samuel Bogart, a clergyman of McDonough County, and George and William Skiles gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
State of Illinois, County of Schuyler
On this 3rd day of June 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of County
Commissioners now sitting (the same being a Court of Record) Moses Justus a resident of McDonough County and the State of Illinois aged now 78 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in Amendment to a declaration made by him on the said third day of October 1832 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. That he volunteered a minute man sometime in the summer of 1774 (day and month not recollected) and the County of Mecklenburg in the State of North Carolina. That in the month of March 1775,
1. He was called into actual service of the United States as a private under Captain John Fifer, Lieutenant Samuel Patton Ensign William Houston and served as a volunteer three months, during which time he marched from Mecklenburg aforesaid to Cross Creek in said State about 100 miles and was there discharged by Samuel Patton then Captain, Captain John Fifer having been promoted to Col. That the Statement made in his original declaration of having entered the Service as a volunteer 1774, is the time when he volunteered as above stated, and not the time when he actually entered the service. And that he entered the service as stated in this his amended declaration. [Probably 1776 when the Scotch Tories was defeated at Moore's Creek Bridge on their way to meet the British forces anticipated at Wilmington, NC.]
That he entered the service of the United States a second time at Mecklenburg aforesaid in July 1775
2. Under Captain Caleb Fifer, Lieutenant William Houston (Ensign's name not recollected) Commanded by Colonel John Fifer and marched to the Cherokee Nation at the Valley Towns and from thence returned to Salisbury in North Carolina and was there discharged having served three months that the statement made in his original declaration that he entered the service in July 1774 a second time is incorrect, and that he entered the service in July 1775 as above stated. That he entered the service a third time at Mecklenburg aforesaid in June or July 1780 [Probably the summer of 1776 in which a campaign was waged against the Cherokee Nation.]
3. A Substitute and private in Captain Havens Company (Lieutenant's and Ensign's names not recollected) of the Regiment commanded by Colonel Tinnen, General Lincoln Commander in chief and marched to Stono about 20 miles from Charleston and was in a Battle at Stono and was there discharged having served three months; [The Battle of Stono was fought in 1779, not 1780 as asserted by the claimant.] |
| Pension |
1835 |
Schuyler Co, Illinois, USA |
| The report to Congress stated that Moses Justus, Private, annual allowance was $38.33, and the sums he had received was $114.99. He served from North Carolina and was placed on the pension roll on 14 Aug 1833. Commencement of the pension was 4 Mar 1831. In 1835 he was 82. |
- The Pension Roll of 1835..., Vol IV, the Southern States, (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co, Inc, Reprint, 1968), 18. NOTE: Originally published in 1835 in three volumes as Senate Document 514, Serial Nos. 249-51 (23rd Cong., 1st Sess.) under the title Report from the Secretary of War in Obedience to Resolutions of the Senate of the 5th and 30th of June, 1834, and the 3rd of March, 1835, in Relation to the Pension Establishment of the United States.
|
| Property, Real |
10 Jun 1835 |
McDonough Co, Illinois, USA |
| Section 6, Township 5N, R4 W1/2SW. 4th PM, 1815 Illinois Meridan, IL Aliquot Part S2NW. |
- Gregory A. Boyd. Family Maps of McDonough County, Illinois: with Homesteads, Roads, Waterways, Towns, Cemeteries, Railroads, and more 1st Ed. (Norman, OK: Arphax Publishing Co, 2008), 147, 150.
|
| Census |
1840 |
Schuyler Co, Illinois, USA |
- (1) The United States of America. Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. Sixth Census of the United States, 1840. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1840. (NARA microfilm M704 roll 69) (2) Schuyler County Historical Museum, 1840 Census of Schuyler County, Illinois (Rushville, Ill.: n. p., n. d.), 25.
|
 |
1840 Census for Schuyler Co, Illinois, Sheet 126
Precinct 6, p 126.--Moses Justice--free white male 80-89: 1, free white females 80-89: 1, No white persons over 20 who cannot read and write: 1. Total free white persons = 2. |
 |
1840 Census for Schuyler Co, Illinois, Veterans
Pensioners for Revolutionary or military service: Moses Justice, age 85. |
| Property, Real |
10 Oct 1840 |
Quincy, Adams Co, Illinois |
| Certificate No. 1925, purchase of land. |
 |
Land Purchase by Moses Justus from State of Illinois
Certificate No. 1925. We all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting: Whereas Moses Justus of McDonough County, Illinois, has deposited in the General Land Office of the United States, a Certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Quincy whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said Moses Justus according to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled "An Act making further provision for the sale of the Public Lands," for.... |
| Death |
10 Mar 1845 |
Schuyler Co, Illinois, USA |
| Burial |
15 Mar 1845 |
Old Ridgeville Cemetery, Brownville, Schuyler Co, Illinois, USA |
- Pat Self, comp. Rural Cemeteries of Schuyler County, Illinois Vol 5 (Beardstown, IL: n. p., 1998) 85.
|
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Moses Justus
North Carolina
Minute Man, Continental Line
Revolutionary War |
| Person ID |
I1186 |
My Genealogy |
| Last Modified |
22 Aug 2022 |
1753 - 1845 (92 years)
