Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21,928, for Samuel Porter, North Carolina
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SERVICE
N.C.

Porter, Samuel

NUMBER
S.21929

Born in N.C.
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1640
South Carolina
Samuel Porter Sr. of Abbeville in the State of So. Ca. who was a Pri in the ___ commanded by Captain ___ of the Regt. commanded by Col. Pasby in the No. Ca. line for 7 months

Inscribed on the Roll of So. Carolina at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 7th day of Aug. (paper is folded) and Such Pensioner Temple of Health Abbeville dis.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833           46.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept.        11.66
             $58.32

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Nath. Rice clerk
Book E. Vol. 6  Page 77
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Abbeville CH SC
Oct 24

Free

Honorable Secretary of War
Washington City

Nov. 2
S. C.
Saml. Porter
17771
            Washington City
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State of South Carolina 
Abbeville District  SS 
     Be it known that on this 16th day of September 1832 personally appeared before me James A. Black a Justice of Quorum in and for the District aforesaid Samuel Porter (Senior) a resident of Abbeville District and State of South Carolina, aged Sixty nine 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 -- that entered the service of the United States as a volunteer Militia man 
under the command of Captain Andrew Wilson Major Armstrong Battalion Colonel Pasley [sic, 
John Paisley] Regiment of North Carolina Militia, the adjutant name was Ralston, that he entered the service about the first of September 1780 that the company formed at Guilford Court house in the State of North Carolina from whence they marched and joined General Davison at a place called Providence in Mecklenburg County North Carolina, that he continued to serve under the command of General Davidson until his time of service expired which was about the first of December (as well as he now recollects), 
having served out his three months tour.  That he resided in North Carolina Guilford County, 
when he done this service and during the whole of the Revolutionary war. 
That he was again employed by General Green to ride express from one part of the State to another & from part of the Army to another & from the public store at Guilford to the different detachments then under arms in the neighborhood and found his own horse for which service he was to receive the same pay and rations as if under arms and it was to 
be counted to him as a tour of service performed -- in which service he acted for the term of three months or more that he entered this service about the first day of May 1781 and left it about the first of August 1781. 
That in addition to the above two tours of service he was repeatedly out for two or three 
weeks at a time
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for the purpose of dispersing the Tories that were numerous and troublesome in Randolph County and other parts of the State.  He thinks he was out in about six short Scouts 
amounting in all to three or four months of service as a volunteer Mounted Militia man, that all those he is certain he served as much as nine months or more faithfully in the cause of his country during the revolution that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not found on the pension Roll of the agency of any State. 
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year above written before me 
James A. Black, JQ 
                      Samuel X Porter (Senior)
                           (X his mark)

We James Casper a clergyman residing in the District of Abbeville and George Pettigrew residing in the same do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Samuel Porter who has subscribed and sworn to the above declarant that we believe him to be sixty nine 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 this 16th day of October 1832 before me.
James A. Black J.Q.
                           James Cosper
                           George Pettigrew

I James A. Black a Justice of Quorum in and for the District of Abbeville State of South Carolina do hereby declare that it is my 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 I do further certify that James Casper who
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has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in Abbeville District and a near neighbor of Samuel Porter the applicant and that George Petigrew who has also signed the same is a resident in the District of Abbeville and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.  I further certify that he states to me on oath that he has no documentary evidence of his service nor does he know of any person who can now testify as to his service.  And I further certify that he is unable to appear in open court by reason of bodily disabilities he having been confined to his room for twelve years by reason of rumatic (sic) pains with which he is afflicted.  And I further certify that i have been personally acquainted with Samuel Porter the within applicant for twenty years past I have always understood that he was in the revolutionary war.
     Given under my hand and seal this 16th day of October.
                James A. Black JQ

I James Wardlaw clerk of the court of common pleas do hereby certify that James A. Black who has signed the preceding certificates is a Justice of Quorum in and for the District of Abbeville and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
     In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 22d day of October 1832.
                Ja. Wardlaw Clk.
(seal)
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State of South Carolina 
Abbeville District SS 
     Be it known that on the 17th day of June 1833 before me James A. Black a Justice of Quorum in and for the District & State aforesaid personally appeared Samuel Porter (Senior) and on oath doth make the following declaration as an amendment or explanation of his declaration which he formally made in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832 that he 
in his first tour of service in the Militia under Captain Andrew Wilson, in Paisley's Regiment 
which was three months as set forth in his first declaration, he further saith that he did serve at least four months in various Scouts as a Volunteer mounted militia man being called out by the commanding officer of the company where he lived on various occasions to drive off the Tories who were troublesome in the adjoining County to where he did live, but that in consequence of old age & consequently debility and almost entirely loss of memory he [is] unable to give the 
name of the officers under whose command he served except Andrew Wilson a Captain who commanded the Scouts generally that he was as he now thinks and that he cannot fix with precision the length of each tour but he is conscious that it could not be less than four months in all making altogether seven months in actual, active & dangerous service for which I claim a pension. 
     He also on oath makes the following answer to the first, 2nd, 5th & 7th interrogatories prescribed by the war department 
Interrogatory 1st where and in what year were you born 
Ans: I was born in Guilford County State of North Carolina on the 25th of January 1763. 
Interrogatory 2nd have you any record of your age and if so where is it 
Ans: I have no record of my age all that I know of the matter is what I was told by my parents. 
Interrogatory 5th State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops & where you served such Continental & Militia Regiments as you can recollect and the General circumstances of your Service
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Interrogatory 7th State the names of persons in your present neighborhood to whom you are known, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your Services as a Soldier of the Revolution.
Ans: I am acquainted with James A. Black, Esquire, Doctor Alexander B. Arnold, Doctor James Hunt, the Reverend James Cosper, the Reverend Thomas Bigbie, Archibald Mauldin, Thomas Patterson, George Pettigrew, Hugh Robertson & others 
Sworn to and subscribed this 17th day of June 1833 before me 
                  James A. Black, JQ 

                      Samuel X Porter Senior
                          (X his mark)

The State of South Carolina
Abbeville District
     I Robert H. Wardlaw Deputy Clerk of the Court of General Sessions and Common Pleas in and for Abbeville District do hereby certify that James A. Black before whom the foregoing amended Declaration was made and who had attested the same is an acting Justice of the Quorum in and for said District that all due faith and credit are to be given to his attestations as such and that the above is the genuine signature of the said James A. Black.
(seal)
     Given under my hand and seal of Office at Abbeville Court House this first day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three.
            Rob. H. Wardlaw
               Deputy Clerk
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Please direct your answers to this to Samuel Porter Temple of Heath.  Abbeville District South Carolina to the care of James A. Black Esq.
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17771 
Samuel Porter
Abbeville
S.C.

admit as private
7 mo 23.33
5 Int 1.2.5.7.
P. 346



19 Apl. 33
J. Wardlaw Clk
Abbeville CH
S.C.
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BRIEF in the case of Samuel Porter of Abbeville D. in the State of South Carolina
(Act 7th June. 1832.)

1.  Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  A justice of the Quorum

2.  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  yes

3.  How old is he?  69

4.  State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period.
Volunteer in 1780
Express rider in 1781
Scouting vs tories

Duration of Service.
Years, Months, Days
-3-
-3-
-3 or 4 months-

Rank.
As a 
Private

Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Gen. Davidson
Capt. Andrew Wilson & Col. Pasby under orders from Gen. Green

3.  In what battles was he engaged?  None named

6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Guilford County N.C.

7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  traditionary

8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication?  and if so, in what respect?  correct

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
                      J.E. Bradford
                      Examining Clerk.
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Revolution
21928
INVALID.
AWN

File No. 21928
Samuel Porter Senr.
Pri. Rev. War

Act:  June 7 32

Index:-Vol. 2, Page 325

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Samuel Porter

Temple of Health
Abbeville District
S. Carolina
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Samuel Porter of Abbeville District S.C. which require further proof or explanation

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
Yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
Yes

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?
Yes

V. * Has he mentioned 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 amout of pension he is entitled?
no

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
Yes

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
Yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
Yes

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
yes

X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?
Yes
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XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?   yes

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? yes

XIV. If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? 
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? 
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 1 2 5 7 

EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. 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 ___ yes ___ months, and ___ days, I served as a ___ For ___ months and ___ days, I served as a ___; and for such service I claim a pension.
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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 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 shewn 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.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he just prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants 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.
QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.

No allowance is made for service as an express rider, it not being considered military service.