Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7534, for William Smith, North Carolina
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(3-1776)

SERVICE
N.C.

* Smith, William

NUMBER
S. 7534

CONTENTS
born Jan. 25, 1758 in Bladen Co. N.C.
res there up to 1833.
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Pension Office
Fayetteville Sept. 14 1844.

James L. Edwards, Esquire
Commissioner of Pension.

Sir, Please match the payments of the stipend due to.
James Lee act 1832 12 mos. £80.-
and [illegible] payments made to
Jacob Ryman act 1832 12 mo. £35.
Andrew Prisely - 36.66
Charles Roe- 90
William Smith - 24.44 
for New pay redirect,
Sincerely respectfully
Your Obt. Srvt.
Jm. Starks, Agt.
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Monticello, Ga., February 19, 1924.

Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.

Sir:

Will you send me a statement of the military history of Cornelius Malone, Revolutionary Pensioner in Morgan County, Ala., in 1840, also of William Smith, Revolutionary Pensioner in Bladen County, N. C., in 1840?
Respectfully,
Mrs. Thomas B Persons. [Signature]
Mrs. Thomas B. Persons.

[stamp - U.S. PENSION OFFICE FEB 21 1924]
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1924 Mar. 22 Hist. to Mrs. Thomas B. Persons n,c,s,

7534
Rev. War
INVALID.
File No. 7534
William Smith
Pri. Rev. War
Act. June 7th 1832
Index:-Vol. 13, Page 347
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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State of North Carolina} Court of Pleas & Quarter
Bladen County} Sessions May Term 1833.
On this     day of     A. D. 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Worshipful William H. Beatty, John Owen & Robert Lyon, Justices of the Peace for the County of Bladen holding the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for said County, now sitting - William Smith, a resident of Bladen County, No. Carolina, aged Seventy five 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. 
1 He entered the service a a Volunteer in a Company of Bladen Militia of which Wm. Ellis was Captain and James Johnston lieutenant, the Ensign not recollected, in the Month of February 1776. The Company rendezvoused at Turnbull Bridge - but he and several other men did no arrive there until a large portion of the Company under Capt. Ellis had proceeded on to join general Caswell's command - wherefore they followed on an when they arrived at Colley bridge they were informed that Capt. Ellis had left directions for them to repair to Elizabethtown and report themselves to General cloore [Moore] who with a considerable force had just returned from Rockfish and were proceeding towards Wilmington, for the relief of that place threatened with an attack by the Tories, under McDonald & McLeod - they marched with General Moore's command to the mouth of the  Nollest [Northeast] River, where information was received of the defeat of the Town at Moore's Creek bridge, upon which they were marched back to Elizabethtown and discharged - He was in service a fortnight or more, received no written discharge - There were several companies of Bladen Militia attached to General Moore, command and he was said to be a continental officer, and that he had some Continental troops under his command.
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 under McDonald & McLeod - they marched with General Moore's command to the mouth of the Nollest [Northeast] River, where information was received of the defeat of the Town at Moore's Creek bridge, upon which they were marched back to Elizabethtown and discharged - He was in service a fortnight or more, received no written discharge - There were several companies of Bladen Militia attached to General Moore, command and he was said to be a continental officer, and that he had some Continental troops under his command.
2 Shortly after (some time in the Spring) volunteered a private in Capt. Ellis' Company, on an expedition against the Tories to the upper part of Cumberland & Bladen and the lower part of Moore, under a man by the name of Legget - who was taken prisoner, and most of his men came in and reported themselves to Captain Samuel Cain of Bladen - after which the company marched to Fayetteville & were there discharged - having served five weeks, he received no written discharge - there were other Troops, from Bladen & an adjoining  County, but they were with Capt. Ellis' Company, only a day or two, and he has no recollection of the names of any of the Officers. He entered the service shortly after in the same Company under the same Officers - they marched from Turnbull Bridge to Jumping Run below Wilmington and joined the Bladen Regiment commanded by Colonel Thomas Robeson, & Lieutenant Col. Thomas Brown
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There were several other Regimens said to be from adjoining Counties there were also a few Continental Troops - but does not recollect the name of any Continental Officer - the married men were divided into classes, and called out alternatively for a month but he was unmarried, and served at least five months if not longer - The Troops were stationed sometimes at Jumping Run, and sometimes at Caswell's company He does not recollect to have received any written discharge
3. Near the close of the war, (he thinks in the Year 1782,) he marched as a volunteer to the lower part of Bladen, on an expedition against the Tories - in Capt. Ellis Company - They had several slight skirmishes with the Tories - took several prisoners - and at last succeeded in driving them off - Lewis Avery of Capt. Ellis Company was killed & Thomas Avery [illegible]. Having served a fortnight, they wee verbally discharged - and immediately on their return home they went on another expedition against the Tories into New Hanover but did not meet with them - after being in service a fortnight they were verbally discharged - On those two expeditions no other Troops served with them. After this he served, three weeks in the two or thee others of Ellis' Company and men from some other Companies of Bladen Militia in guarding the Jail at Elizabethtown where a number of Tories were confined - at the expiration of the time was directed to return home. He has no documentary evidence and knows of no one whose testimony he can procure except James Cain & Arch'd McDaniel whose affidavits are hereunto annexed.
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.
[Signature] Wm. Smith X his mark
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid. Test  P. Kelly [Signature]
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 the pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
[Signature] Wm. Smith X his mark
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid. Test P. Kelly [Signature]

Answers to the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, as propounded to the applicant by the Court.
1. I was born on South River in Bladen County - Jan'y. 25th 1758
2. There is a record of my age in my  Brother Thomas Smith's Bible.
3. I resided during the revolutionary War and have resided ever since on South River in Bladen County.
4. I was a volunteer.
5. To answer to this Question, I beg leave to refer to my Declaration.
6. I do not recollect to have received any written discharges.
7. Robert Melvin, Musgrove Jones, Samuel Pharis, James Cain, Archibald McDaniel and Daniel Melvin Sr.

We Robert Melvin & Musgrove Jones hereby certify that that We are well acquainted with William
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Smith who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy five years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion - 
[Signatures] Robert Melvin   Musgrove Jones
Sworn & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid.

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary Soldier and served as he states: And the Court further certifies that Rob't. Melvin & Musgrove Jones who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of the County of Bladen, and are credible persons - and that the applicant cannot procure the attendance of a Clergyman without too much inconvenience - They further certify that Archibald McDaniel whose name appears to the annexed affidavit, was sworn in open Court and is a credible person.
[Signatures] W. H. Beatty J.P.
Jno. Owen J. P.
Robert Lyon J. P.
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I Patrick Kelly Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County of Bladen do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of William Smith for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this the 11th day of May 1833.
[Signature] P. Kelly Clk
[Seal]

Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions - May Term 1833.
Personally appeared in open Court before the Worshipful Wm. H. Beatty, Jno. Owen, and Robert Lyon Justices of the Peace for the Count of Bladen holding said Court - Archibald McDaniel, who after being duly sworn according to Law - deposeth and saith that he served during the revolutionary war, with the Declarant Wm. Smith on an expedition to Jumping River below Wilmington - but does not know how long he served, as he left this said Smith in service - and he did not return home, for four
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or five months after - He also served an exped'n. against the Tories, under Legget into Cumberland and Moore Counties, and they were out five weeks he also served four weeks with said Smith on two expeditions against the Tories, down the Cape Fear River in Bladen and into New Hanover. [Signature] Arch'd. McDaniel X his mark Sworn to and Subscribed in open Court this the day of May 1833.
[Signature] attest P. Kelly clk

State of North Carolina} {address. Wm. J. Cowen}
Bladen County} {Elizabethtown}
On this the 24th day of August in the year 1833, James Cowan after having been duly sworn according to Law, maketh oath before me Robert Melvin, one of the Justices of the Peace, in and for the County aforesaid, that he acted during the revolutionary War, as first Sergeant in Capt. Wm. Ellis' Company of Bladen Militia & that the applicant William Smith was a Private in said Company and that the affiant acted with him on several expeditions against the common enemy in but owing to the decay of the affiants memory he cannot particularize any of those services except the following - to wit - on an expedition to Jumping River below Wilmington & to the lower end of Bladen and the upper end of New Hanover Counties, on which expedition a man by the name of Avery was killed - for the cause above mentioned he does not recollect how long the said Smith served
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of those services except the following - to wit - on an expedition to Jumping River below Wilmington & to the lower end of Bladen and the upper end of New Hanover Counties, on which expedition a man by the name of Avery was killed - for the cause above mentioned he does not recollect how long the said Smith served in either expedition. 
[Signature] James Cain Snr. [symbol] his mark
Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid}
[Signature] attest R. Melvin J.P.

I Robert Melvin, Justice of the Peace in and for said County certify that James Cain Snr. who has sworn to and subscribed the above affidavit, is unable from bodily infirmity to attend Court - I further certify that he is a credible person.
[Signature] Robert Melvin J. P.

I Patrick Kelly Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County of Bladen hereby certify that Robert Melvin is a Justice of the Peace as above and that the foregoing Signature, purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office & subscribed my name this the 7th day of Sept. in the year 1833.
[Signature] P, Kelly Clk
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23.691
North Carolina
William Smith of Bladen in the State of N. Ca. who was a pri, in the     commanded by Captain Ellis of the Reg't. commanded by Col. McDowell in the N. Car. line for 7 1/3 mos.

Inscribed on the Roll of N. Carolina at the rate of 24 Dollars 44 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21st day of Mar. 1834 and sent to Hon. J. J> McKay HoR

Arrears to the 4th of March 1834 73.32
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept. 1834 12.22=
$85.54
{Revolutionary Claim,}
Act June7, 1832.}
Recorded by Nath. Rice Clerk.
Book #. Vol. [illegible] Page 74
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Order to pay 30 March 1839
Same 12 March 1841
Same 20 Sept. 1844.

Let to L. P. Philips, May 27/ 57
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m.c.s.

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section

March 22, 1924

Mrs. Thomas B. Persons
Monticello
Ga.

Madam:

I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.7534, it appears that William Smith was
born January 25, 1758, on South River, Bladen County, North Carolina.
While a resident of Bladen County, North Carolina, he enlisted in February 1776 and served as private in Captain Ellis' Company
of North Carolina Militia at various times until sometime in 1782, about eight and one half months in all; he was in several skirmishes
with the Tories. He was allowed pension on his application executed May 6, 1833,
while a resident of Bladen County, North Carolina. There is no family data on file.
Respectfully,
Commissioner