Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7999, for William Patrick, North Carolina
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
N.C.
Patrick, William
NUMBER
R. 7999
CONTENTS
[Blank]
Page 2

William Patrick
Georgia 21737

was a private in Philips Co. inlisted [enlisted] in 1777 of 2 1/2 years, and deserted on the 21st Oct. 1777-
Request, see let of the Agent below May 24 1133 [1833]

Williamson & Storrs
Covington Ga
Page 3

WAR DEPARTMENT,
PENSION OFFICE,
183

Sir:
The evidence in support of you 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 tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objection exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. he notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (this: } ). 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, showing the service of William Patrick
[Headings]
Period when the service was rendered. | Duration of the claimant's service. | Rank of the claimant. | Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. | Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. | Battles in which the applicant was engage. | Country through which he marched. |  Place of abode wen he entered the service, and age at the present period. | Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
1775 Entered | 2yrs 6 mos | Pri. |Joseph Phillips Capt. | Thackston Lt. col. Tho. Polk Co. C Frank Nash Genl. | Brandywine and Germantown | Virginia Maryland and part of New Jersy. | Surry County North Carolina aged 76. | 
Traditionary.

I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 4

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 claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians [musicians] or privates, will, in the first
instance, 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 (a) before    A. B. a resident (b) of    
in the county of     and State, Territory or District of    aged (c)     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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)    , with
and      served in the     (e) regiment of the
     line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and the country through which he marched. [hand pointing right] This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.   A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.  I     of the Court of
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
the application of    for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
day of     & c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the    and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with    , 
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
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.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 it appears to them that A.B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I,    Clerk of the Court of
do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of     
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this   day of    & c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his 
alleged service, as they are known in the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
Page 5

3
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal 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 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 is it? 3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war , and where do you now live? 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 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 Office 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 their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. The Court will see that the 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 in 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 he 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 so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates. The traditionary evidence of service is deemed vey 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 a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is 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 by 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 the 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 the services of any person, who may have died before the 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 the low the rule laid down for his guidance. [b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should not do so, he must answers of conforming to the rule. [c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned. [d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served. [e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of he Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case  where the applicant cannot, 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 his 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 service 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 the 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 with a 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 not 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 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.
[hand pointed right] 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 is note [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. }
Page 6

William Patrick
21737
Page 7

State of Georgia } On this 24th day of December
County of Newton } Eighteen hundred and thirty two, personally appeared before , the Inferior Court of the County of Newton William Patrick a resident of the County of Newton and State of Georgia, aged Seventy-Six years, who being first duly Sworn, according to law - doth on his oat, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1775 with Captain Joseph Phillips and Served in the fourth regiment of the North Carolina line, under the following named officers Micajah Lewis Lieutenant, Joseph Philips Captain, - Thackston Lieutenant Colonel, Thomas Polk Colonel; Frank Nash General  that he left the service about the last of October 1777. having served two years and Six months, that he resided in the county of Surry North Carolina when he entered the Service, that he
Page 8

was in the battles of Brandywine and German-Town, that he marched through Virginia Maryland, Pensylvania [Pennsylvania]  and part of New Jersey. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state, or (if any) only of oath of the agency in the State of North Carolina. And this deponent further saith that he has no documentary evidence, and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service - 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid - Cury Wood J.J.C.  William Patrick [looks like a B laying on its right side] his mark

We Samuel Pattillo a clergyman and John Loyall  citizens of said county hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with William Patrick who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 76 years of age, hat 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 - 
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid -
Samuel Pattillo    John Loyall
[Signatures]                     
H. Luckie J.J.C.                 
Cury Wood J.J.C.
Wm D Conyers J.J.C.
Page 9

And the said Court do hereby certify and declare their opinion, after investigating 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 it appears to them that Samuel Pattulo who has signed the proceeding certificate, is a clergyman in said County and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit - 
[Signatures] H. Luckie J.J.C.
Cury Wood J.J.C.
Wm. D. Conyers J.J.C.

I James Trimble Clerk of the Inferior Court of Said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the said court in the matter of the application of William Patrick for a pension In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of office the 26th day of December 1832
[Signature] James Trimble Clerk
Page 10

No 21737
Wm. Patrick Ga.

7999
Rejected see letter to Williamson and Storrs May 24. 1833.
Page 11

7.999  ow
William Patrick
REJECTED
Page 12

State of North Carolina
Secretary of State's Office
I William Hill Secretary of State in and for the State aforesaid do certify that it appears from the muster rolls of the Continental line of this State in the revolutionary war that William Patrick a private in Capt. Philips' company of the 4th Regt. enlisted in 1777 for 2 1/2 years and deserted on the 26th October 1777.
Given under my hand the 22nd April 1833.
W. Hill