Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2,435, John Clemans, V.A.
Page 1

Service
V.a.

Clemans, John
or Clemens

Number 
S.2435

Carded
Page 2

7579
West Tennessee
John Clemens of Jackson Co in the State of W Tenn who was a private in the com [?] commanded by Captain Chrety of the [?] commanded by Col Gen Clevel in the [?] line for 6 months

Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee at the rate of 20 Dollars _ Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 3 day of May 1833 and sent to Wm Gailbreath Gainesboro

Arrears to the 4th of March 40.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 10 Sept 10.00
$50.00
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by Daniel Boyd Clerk,
Book 6 Vol. 7 Page 74
Page 3

State of Tennessee November Sessions 1832
Jackson County
on this 13th day of November 1832 personally appeared in open court before William Grey Tandy R Welcher and Christopher Clemens Justices of the Court of pleas [?] and Quarter sessions for said County of Jackson now preseding [?] being a Court of Record John Clemens a resident citizen of Jackson County and State of Tennessee age seventy nine years who being first duly sworn according to the laws of the land - doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed on the 7th day of June 1832 that he entered the servis of the United States in Agusta County in the State of Virginia where he then resided as well as he recollects on the first of September 1776 being a vollunteer to serve for the term of three months under Captain William Chrety Lieutenant Bohannon and was marched under said officers from Agusta County the place where he entered the Servis to the [?] and land of Halston - then North Carolina - the place of Rendivous for the troops to which he belonged at which place General Chrerty took the command of his troops. he then crossed Tennessee River to the  Cherocee Towns burnt several of them - after staying there about twenty two days. he was then marched back to Agusta County Virginia the place where he entered the Servis and then discharged as he now recollects the last day of November 1776 having served for the fully three months [illegible] he got no written discharge
Page 4

He entered the Service of the United States again as a drafted Soldier in the Spring of the year 1781 in the County of Agusta State of Virginia under Captain Tate. as applicant then understood to march to Guilford Courthouse - but before he started to that place he with seven other men were detached to guard some prisoners that had been taken at the battle of the Cowpens - as he understood after marching them from Agusta County to Rockingham County - applicant then marched to near Guilford Courthouse where he met the troops returning from the battle of Guilford Courthouse having been defeated  by the Enemy. he joined the company commanded by Capt Tate and march back home to Agusta County and was there discharged having served this town at least one month got no written discharge He entered the service of the United States again in the County of Agusta State of Virginia in the month of September 1781 under the command of Captain Lang - marched from there to Richmond in Virginia about one hundred and twenty mile from there he marched to Little York on York River - which place Lord Cornwallis was in possession of and where applicant joined the main Army  commanded by General George Washington - he stayed there till the surrender of Lord Cornwallis - he then marched with the Army guarding the prisoners to Bartlett County State of Virginia
Page 5

but applicant before he got there took sick near Fredericksburgh Virginia where he remained sick several weeks till some of his friends came and took him home to Agusta (sic) County.  He got no written discharge.  He states positively he served at least two months this tour that he was dismissed from the service this tour the last of November or the first of December 1781.  
He states that he has no documentary evidence by which he can prove his service or any part thereof nor does he know of any person or persons by whom he can prove the service or any part thereof.  He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pention (sic) or anuity (sic) except the present and declares that his name is not on the pention  rool (sic) of any agency in any state.  And he further saith that by reason of old age and consequent loss of memory he can not swear positively to the precise length of his service but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than six months as a [illegible] soldier or as above stated he believes he served longer but he is desposed (sic) not to swear to a greater length of time than he can positively recollect.  And for such his service he claims a pention (sic).  
John Clemant  X

Sworn to in open court the day and year aforesaid 
William Gailbreath Clerk

Question 1st Where and in what year were you born Ans. in Agusta (sic) County Virginia in 1753
Question 2nd Have you any record of your age  if so where is it
Page 6

The record of my age is my bible at home which was left me by my father
Question 3rd Where were you living when called into service.  Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live.
Ans  I was living in Agusta(sic) County Virginia. Remained till the 1806 when I removed to Jackson County Tennessee where I have lived then since.
Question 4th  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 called into service as stated in the foregoing part of my declaration
Question 5th State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the troops where you served such Continental and Militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service
Ans I refer to what I have before stated as can answer to this question as my recollection is too frail to be more explicit.
Question 6th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it.
Ans I never did get a written discharge
Question 7th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for verasity (sic) and their belief of your service as a soldier of the Revolution
Ans.  Jonas Griffith. William Plumley. Capt Benjamin Guess. Alexander Keith Esqr. John Gulley. Daniel Keith. and he believes there are a great many more would state the same thing.
Sworn to in open Court
John Clements
William Gailbreath Clerk
Page 7

21090
John Clemens:
Tennessee
from 1776 private 6 months:
$20.

Wm Gailbreath, Clk
Jackson, Cy., Tenn.
Page 8

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office
183

Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form.  On comparing these papers with the following rules and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus:  }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A Statement, shewing the Service of John Clemens, of Jackson Cy., Tenn.
(table with columnar headings)
Period when the service was rendered.
Vol. in 1776
Drafted in "81
Served in "81 

Duration of the claimant's service. 
Years  
Months 
3 
At least 1
At least 2

Days

Rank of the claimant
Pr..
Pr.
DA

Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.
Capt. Wm Chraty, Lieut. Bohannon
Capt. Teste
Capt. Long

Names and Rank of the General and Field officers.
Gen. Glenwithtry(?)
Gen. Washington

Battles in which the applicant was engaged.

Country through which he marched.
From Augusta County to Big Island: thence to N. Carolina
From Augusta Cy. to Guilford Court house
From Augusta to Little York

Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.
Augusta County, Va. Aged 79 years.
Evidence by which the declaration is supported
Traditionary

I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant, J.L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions
Page 9

2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service. 
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers. 
3. Persons employed in the Naval service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claim-ing the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first in-stance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record. 

DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of 
County of } ss.
ON this              day of            personally appeared
Page 10

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principle means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected..  All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
   The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
   1. Where and in what year were you born?
    2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where
   3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you live now?
   4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
   5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
   6. To a Soldier:  Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?
       To an Officer: Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed and what has become of it?
   7. 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 belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
   The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
   The applicant will further produce to the Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons-- one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.  If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
   The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence  of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party.  And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
   Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
  Whenever any official act is required to be done y a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
   No payments can be made on account of of the services of any person, who may have died before taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
_______________________________________________
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant  will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides.  If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariable be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination claim cannot be had.  Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount pension he is entitled.  In a case where the applicant, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
   "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned a Justice of the Peace, &c. A.B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:- For -----year-----months, and ----- days, I served as a -----.  For ----- months and -----days, I served as a -----; and for such services I claim a pension"
    It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and length of his service.  The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.  Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service.  This form of a declaration is highly objectionable.  It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
   [f]  The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
   [g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
   [h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
   [i]  The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
             Mode of authenticating papers.
   In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is written on the same sheet of paper which 
contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
                   Proof of Service
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as  well as  the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged.  The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses , and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. 
      The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops,  The proof required by rule in mote [j] applies to continental troops only.
  [k]  This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
  [l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
   [m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department with the declaration.
W.R. Turner
Page 11

May 21, 1940

BA-J/AWF
John Clemans
S. 2435

Mrs. Laura T. Giles
Fallis
Kentucky

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of John Clements of Augusta County, Virginia.

The data furnished herein were obtained from papers on file in claimfor pension, S.2435, based upon military service of John Clemans or Clemens, in the Revolutionary War.

John Clemans was born in the year 1753, in Augusta County, Virginia. The names of his parents were not given.

While a resident of Augusta County, Virginia, John Clemans enlisted September 1, 1776, served three months as private in Captain William Christy's Virginia company, marched to the "Island of Holston" in pursuit of the Cherokee Indians. He enlisted in the spring of 1781, served one month in Captain Tute's Virginia company. He enlisted sometime in September, 1781, served two months in Captain Long's or Lang's Virginia company, and was in the siege, and at the surrender of Cornwallis.

John Clemans moved from Augusta County, Virginia,
Page 12

in the year 1806, to Jackson County, Tennessee.
The soldier, John Clemans, was allowed pension
on his application executed November 13, 1832, then
a resident of Jackson County, Tennessee.
Christopher Clemons" was in 1832, Justice of
the Peace in Jackson County, Tennessee. It was not
stated that he was related to the soldier.
The papers on file in this claim contain no
further discernible family data.
In order to obtain the date of last payment
of pension, name and address of person paid, and
possibly the date of death of this pensioner, you
should apply to the Comptroller General, General
Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and
furnish the following data:
John Clemens (as he was pensioned)
Certificate #7579
-
Issued May 3, 1833
Y
Rate $20.00 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
West Tennessee Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 13

38599
INVALID.
Revy
_____
File No. 38 599
Benjamin Chappell
Pri Rev War
________
Act: 18" March 18"
Index:-Vol. 3, Page 83
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 14

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION. 3-525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAUS OF PENSIONS. Washington, D.C.,.............................; 19.....
In reply to your request of ............, received............ for a statement of the military history of John Clemans, a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen-sion on file in this bureau. S.F. 2435, [Table]
[Fist column top to bottom reads] [Header reads] Dates of enlistment of appointment. [Second row reads] Sept. 1. 1776 [Third row reads] Dept. 1781[Second column from top to bottom reads] [Header reads] LENGTH OF SERVICE. [Second row reads 3 mos [Second row reads] 1 mo [Third row reads] 2 mos [Third colum top to bottom reads] [Header] Rank. [first row reads] Pob [Second and Third rows are blank] [Fourth column top to bottom reads] [First Header] OFFICER UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. [Second header reads] CAPTAIN. [First row reads] William Christy [Second row reads] Tate [Third row reads] Long or Lang [Fith column top to bottom reads] [Header reads] COLONEL [First row has a check mark] [Second and Third rows are blank] [Sixth column top to bottom reads] [Header reads] STATE. [First row reads] Va [Second and Third rows are blank] 
[text under table reads] Battles engaged in, surrender of Cornwallis. Residence of soldier at enlistment, Augusta bch Va. in 1806 moved Jackson Co Tenn. Date of application, Nov. 13, 1832 His claim war allowed. Residence at date of application, Jackson Co Tenn. Age at date of application, in 1753 in Augusta Bc Va * Died Aug. 20, 1834 Remarks: There is no family data on file. 
*Taken from A. B. Dec. 10, 1915
Respectfully,
Commissioner.
Page 15

V.L.M
Rev. War Section
December 10, 1915.
Miss Caroline C. Clements,
Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Madam:
In response to your letter dated the 1" instanr, you are advised that it is shown by the records of this Bureaus that John Clemans ( Sur. File No. 2,435, Rev. War) dies August 20, 1834. 
Very respectfully,
G M Saltzgaber
Commissioner.
Page 16

[Stamp]
RECEIVED
APR 15 1940
MAIL SUB-DIV
Reader No. [illegible]
VETS ADM
Page 17

Fallis, KY.
April 11, 1940.

Pension Dept.
Washington D.C.

Dear sirs: 

I am seeking information of one John Clements who came to America and settled in Augusta County Virginia and was supposed to be in the Revolutionary War. 

If he was in the war he was enlisted from Augusta Co. Virginia or from North Carolina.

I know there were a number of John Clements' but this was one of the first Clements to settle in America. (I do not know the date). He married Elizabeth Thompson and had a son John Clements who was killed at the Battle of Blue Lieks, KY. He also had a son Gustauvus Adolphus Clements who was my great-great grandfather, born in 1769. Who I do not think fought in the Revolutionary War, because of his age. I am giving this information in hopes it will help to find the record of the John Clements I am interested in.

Yours truly,
(Mrs) Laura Thomas Giles
Fallis, KY.
Page 18

J.S. DICKEY, President
J.L. HARMAN, Vice President
W.S. ASHBY, Business Manager
[Page header] INCORPORATED BOWLING GREEN BUSINESS UNIVERSITY
EDUCATE FOR THE PURPOSES OF 
BOOKKEEPING, BANKING, ECONOMICS, FINANCE, PENMANSHIP, SHORTHAND, TELEGRAPHY, RAILROAD ACCOUNTING, TYPEWRITING, ENGLISH. [Header includes image of university building]
BOWLING GREEN, KY., Dec. 1, 1915
To the Pension Department,
Washington, D.C.
Please tell me the date of the death of John Clemons, Jackson Co., Tenn. HE was a pensioner of the Revolutionary was. His pension was granted in 1837; I wish to know the date of his death as shown by the records of Revolutionary War pensioners.
Thank you most kindly for the information,
I am very truly yours,
Miss ) Caroline Clements
Page 19

[Stamp]
PENSION
O
NOV
U. 5 S.
1915
OFFICE.
Page 20

[BOWLING GREEN BUSINESS UNIVERSITY letterhead]

Bowling Green, KY., Nov. 2, 1915.

Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington D.C.

My dear Sir:

Can you give me any information concerning John Clemons or Clemans or Clements pvt. in Capt. Wm [William] Hoffler's Co., 1st Va State Reg, commanded by Corl. George Gibson. His name appears on a co. payroll for Sept., 1777 and again on a similar roll for April 1780. He came from Rappahannock Co., VA. into Tennessee, 1805; he settled in what is now Clementsville, Tenn. Thanking you for any information you may give me, I am, 
very respectfully yours, 
(Mrs) Caroline Clements.
Page 21

1915. Nov 8: hist. to Miss Caroline Clemans MBH
1915 Dec 10 Miss Caroline Clements giving data of depth.
1940 May 21 [illegible] to Mrs. Laura J. Giles [illegible]

2435
INVALID.

File No. 2435
John Clemens
Privt Rev War [Private, Revolutionary War]

[handwritten]
Clemens

Act: June 7 1832

Index:-Vol. A, Page 68.

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 22

21090

John Clemens

Declaration
Page 23

We Jonas Griffith a Clergyman residing in Jackson County State of Tennysee in the neighbourhood of the foregoing declarant and William Plumbly residing in the same nearby county that we are well acquainted with John Clemens who has subscribed and Sworn
to the above declaration that we believe him to be Seventy nine years old that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion  
[right side of page]
Jonas Griffith
William Plumber

Sworn to and subscribed in open Court the day and year aforesaid
William Gailbreath Clerk of Jackson County Court.


And the said Court do hereby declare thine[?] opinion after the investigation of the mater and after putting the Interrogatories precribed[?] by the war department that the above named applicant was a soldier of
the Revolutionary War and served as he states And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Jonas Griffith who has signed the presiding Certificate is a Clergyman resident in the County of Jackson and in the neighbourhood of the applicant and that William Plumley who has signed the same resides in the same County and Neighbourhood and is a Credible person and that their statement is entitled to Credit Christopher Clemons Justice of the peace for Jackson County
William Gray Justis [?] of the pece [?] for Jackson County
Sandy Witcher Justice of
the peace for Jackson County
Page 24

William Gailbreath clerk of the court of pleas and quarter sefsions for said county, do here certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of John Clemmons for a pension in sishmony where of I have hereunto set my hand off and affixed the seal of said court to offer in Gainesboro this 16 day of November 1832. 
William Gailbreath Clerk