Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31457, Jeremiah Walker, N.C.
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[3-1776]

SERVICE
N. C.

[star symbol]
Walker, Jeremiah

NUMBER
S. 31457

CONTENTS
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[left side] letter to Hon. Hon R. Garland H.R. Feb. 21. 1835 

[right side] Louisiana 26,122

Jeremiah Walker

of St. Landry Co. in the State of La.
who was a Sgt. in the Company commanded by Captain Temple of the Regt. Commanded by Col. Armstrong. in the North Carolina line for 1 Yr Sgt $60.00

Inscribed on the Roll of Louisianna
at the rate of 60 Dollars - Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 10th day of March 1834 and sent to Hon. P Thomas H. Rep.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1834 - 180.00
Semi=anl. [annual] allowance ending 4 Sept. “ [1834] 30.00
$210.00

{Revolutionary Claim}
{Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by J T Sprague, Clerk
Book E Vol. 8 Page 41-
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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 Jeremiah Walker a Sergt [Sergeant] in Capt. Lytle's Company of the 10th Regiment entered the service on the 7th day of April 1781, for the term of 12 months and that he left the service on the 7th day of April 1782. 
Given under my hand this 3rd day of March 1834 
W. Hill
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Hon. Philn [Philemon] Thomas
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Proceedings had on the application of Jeremiah Walker for a pension 
To the honorable saith Lewis Judge of the fifth District Court of the State of Louisiana holding Court in & for the parish of Saint Landry at the November Term 1833.

The petition of Jeremiah Walker an inhabitant & Resident of the Parish of Saint Landry & State of Louisiana with respect represents. That he is desirous to apply for a pension by virtue of the act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832 entitled "An act Supplementary to an act for the relief of surviving Officers & Soldiers of the Revolution" claiming the benefit of said act as having served in the Continental Army of the United States at the time. He therefore prays that your Honor would receive his declaration in open Court on oath and that all such proceedings may be had in the premises as our in conformity with Law & Justice and as in duty bound etc. 
[Signed] Jeremiah Walker

State of Louisiana}
Parish of St. Landry} SS 
On this 5th day of December 1833 personally appeared in open Court, before the fifth District Court sitting in & for the parish of Saint Landry State of Louisiana being a Court of record, Jeremiah Walker, 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. He says that he served as a Substitute in the nine months levies of the North Carolina troops that he enlisted or hired himself as aforesaid at old Bute Court House in said State under Capt. Robert Temple about the latter part of the winter or early in the spring of the year 1778. The company was marched into South Carolina in the march Captain Temple and the other militia officers were superseded by Continental officers. He remembers that Colonel Armstrong commanded the Regiment to which he was attached. Deponent was engaged at the battle of Stono point [sic, Stono ferry] under the immediate command of General Sumner of North Carolina who commanded the North Carolina lines at that time & on that occasion. The deponent was then marched and joined General Gates and was present at Gates defeat near Camden. Deponent after that defeat returned to old Bute County North Carolina. Soon after his return home he entered as a volunteer in the North Carolina Militia under Captain Eaves who on the march out was wounded by Captain Richards in a personal rencountre [possibly reencounter] with swords, who retired in consequence of his wound from the command of deponent's company and the same was devolved upon Capt. Daniel Harris under whom he served and was engaged in the battle of Guilford Court House under General Green [Nathanael Greene]. Col. Williams commanded the company
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to which deponent's company belonged. After the battle the Regiment with the remainder of Greene's Army marched to Ramsay's Mill where deponent not being pleased with the militia service & finding that Major Pink Eaton an officer of the Continental Army with whom he had served before as an orderly Sergeant and enlisted and thence proceeded by forced marches to join General Greene at Camden and was there detached to [ofubate ?] with Col. Lee's Legion (Infantry) under the immediate command of Maj. Pink Eaton Capt. Smith & Lieutenant Sanders the Christian names of the latter company officers not recollected and marched to Scotch Lake and took a Fort on the Santee thence marched to widow Motte's on the Congaree there took a Fort thence marched up the Congaree to Col. Hampton's where another fortified camp of the British surrendered. Thence to Augusta Georgia where the fortifications commanding Augusta called Brown's & Grayson's forts [Fort Grierson] (from the names of the British officers commanding them) were taken. At this place Maj. Pink Eaton [Major Pinketham "Pink" Eaton] was killed. 
Thence marched to a place called Cambridge in South Carolina where he joined Gen. Greene again from thence he was ordered off under his old Captain Lytle and Dixon his Lieut. with prisoners to Salisbury N. C. after delivering up the prisoners to a guard of militia he thence marched to the High Hills of Santee where he again joined his old Regiment under Gen. Greene. Here the Army was continued for some time in order to recruit and guard against the effect of disease which was to no ordinary extent breaking in upon the Army. After having recruited, the line of march was taken up crossing the Wateree and Congaree rivers at their Junction. On the march near Col. Thompson's the Army was halted for some days and received by Gen. Green in person. The General remarked to the men that their condition was bad, that they were nearly naked and were down by long exposure and service. That he had in vain tried to better their situation to render them more comfortable but without success. And the time was amoving [moving] close when they would be engaged with the enemy and in all probability some decisive affair, to behave like men fighting for their Liberties. Shortly after marched on to Eutaw Springs where we engaged the enemy. Shortly after deponent was discharged at Bacon's Bridge S. C. During a portion of the time deponent was in service as aforesaid he remembers of the field officers of his Regiment names of Col. Tilman Dixon [Tilghman Dixon], and Maj. Donahoe [Thomas Donoho] of the North Carolina line deponent further states that he served out the service periods for which he entered the Service of his country, was regularly discharged which said written discharge he has lost and this deponent Jeremiah Walker hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency of any State.
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court the fifth day of December 1833. 
[Signed] Jeremiah Walker
E. W. Taylor, Dep. Clerk

And the said Court now in upon in and for the Parish of St. Landry on the fifth Sural District of the State of Louisiana at its November Term 1833 do hereby declare our opinion that the applicant Jeremiah Walker was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. Done in Open Court the 5th Novr [November] 1833 
[Illegible] Dist [District] Judge
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State of Louisiana} 
Parish of St. Landry} SS 
I Edward W Taylor Deputy Clerk of the fifth District Court for the Parish of St. Landry Do certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the proceeding had on the application of Jeremiah Walker an applicant for a pension under the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832 entitled “an act supplementary to an act for the relief of the surviving Officers & Soldiers of the Revolution" on file and on record in my office. 
Given under my hand and the Seal of said Court this 10th day of January AD 1834 
E W Taylor Dep. Clerk
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29.708. --

Jeremiah Walker 
Louisiana 

letter to Rev get for 12 

Adm 1 year Serg, -- 
$60

Hon. Philemon Thomas,
Ho of Representatives
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3

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person 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.} {To an Officer.} Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? 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 their 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 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 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 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 trans nit 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 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 the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the 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 of pension he is entitled. ln a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of 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: 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 in 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 in 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 signatures 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 to [illegible] 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.
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

31457

Revy INVALID Own

File No. 31,457

Jeremiah Walker

Pri Rev War

Act: June 7th, 1832

Index: - Vol. [2. D or S], Page 438

[Arrangement of 1870.]