Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2,012, for Jackman Purkinson, Virginia
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Service
Va. (Virginia)
Purkinson, Jackman
Number S2012
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West Tennesee Jackman Purkinson of Wilson in the State of W. Ten. (Tennesee) who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Hudson of the Rgt (Regiment) commanded by Col Tucker in the Va (Virginia?) line for 7 months
Inscribed on the Roll of W. Ten. at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 day of April 1833 and sent to R L Caruthers Lebanon
Arrears to the 4th of March Semi-amt allowance ending ?
46.66+16.66 (Total) $53.32

Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832 
Recorded by Daniel Boyd, Clerk Book ? Vol 7 Page 92
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No. 13.839
Jackson Purkinson
Wilson
From 1780 Private 7 months $23.33
W. Hudson
Tucker
Va (Virginia)
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Brief in the case of Jackson Purkinson of the County of Wilson in the State of Tenn (Tennesee) 
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear thatn the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? 
3. How old is he? 67 years
4. State his service as directed in the form annexed
in 1780
2 or 3 months
Volunteer
Capt. Hudson & Dupee
in 1781
2 months
Drafted
Col. Tucker, Capt. Freeman
in 1781
3 or 4 months
Private
Col. Randolph, Capt. Mumford

5. In what battles was he engaged? Camden, Guilford C. H. (Courthouse)
6. Where did he reside when he entered service? Amelia Cy (County) VA (Virginia)
7. Is his statement supported by Living witnesses, documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence or by rolls? Lost his discharges. Tradition
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
Regular
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. Levin Bell, Examining Clerk
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13,839
Declaration of Jackson Purkinson for Pension
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State of Tennessee
Wilson County
A Declaration in Order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress of June 7th, 1832
On this day vis: Sept. 24th, 1832, personally appeared in open court before James M. Mortin, David C. Hibbets & Zovener Sprodlen, the same being the sworn justices holding said court which is a court of record, Jackson Purkinson, who being first duly sworn, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passes June 7th. 1832.
First He was born in Amelia County in the State of Virginia in the year 1765 as well as he can now remember. Secondly, He has no record of his age-his only knowledge of it is derived from his relations. Thirdly, When he was called into service he resided in the County of Amelia & still remained there after the war was ended, until about the year 1810 or 1812 when he removed to Wilson County, in the State of Tennessee, where he has resided ever since, with some temporary engagements in the adjacent county of Sumner. He now lives in the said County of Wilson. 
Fourth, Fifth & Sixth. In the year 1780, he thinks, he volunteered to serve in the army of the revolution, in the Virginia line. His Capt. was by the name of Hudson, his majors Boice Overstreet as well as he can now recollect. He was a common soldier. He was engaged in the battle of Camden which was fought with the 
British on the 16th August 1780. During the march to Camden Capt. Hudson was taken sick & James Dupee then took command of the company. Hudson died soon afterwards. They remained at Pedee Browns Ferry for some time, when they crossed & marched on to their destination. They marched a great deal in the night. After the battle, under the command of Genl (General) Gates, who disgracefully retreated, the troops with whom he acted got together at the same ferry on the Pedee. They marched from that place to Taylor's ferry on the Roanoke where they remained until they were discharged after a service of two or three months. He received a written discharge but has long since lost it.
In the year 1781 he was drafted & entered the service under the command of Capt. Anderson Freeman in a regiment commanded by Colo (Colonel) Beverly Tucker, the name of
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the majors not recollected. They marched direct to Guilford Courthouse, where he was engaged in the battle fought at that place on the 15th March 1781. His brigade was commanded by General Robt. (Robert) Lawson. The battle was commenced by the militia about 8 o'clock & about 11 or 12 o'clock, the militia retreated and gave place to the regulars. They got to {illegible} on troublesome ironworks where they remained three days. His Colo. Tucker was in that engagement wounded in the leg. General Green was commander in chief. He served on this occasion two months. At the end of which time he was honorably discharged & received a written discharge which he has since & long ago lost or mislaid. 
About two months after he returned from this service, he was drafter on a call for troops where the state was invaded & went to the army, where he was offered the option either to proceed in that ?? or enlist during the war and enter into actual service at any time the enemy should either appear or threaten to appear within the borders of the state of Virginia, & where the enemy was not within the state to be at home on furlough. He preferred to enlist & did so. He went out into actual service soon after said enlistment under the command of Capt. Edmond Mumford in a regiment commanded by Colo. Peter Randolph. He thus enlisted during the war in what was called the legion service, under the circumstances above stated. Some time in the spring of 1781, and was in actual service three or four times in different parts of the state for longer & shorter periods according to the exigencies of the times & the orders of our officers. He was during that time in actual service about three or four months, not less than three months. He was in no engagements during this time, but preformed some hard service. He was not discharged till the end of the war, after the defeat of Cornwallis. 
So this declarant was in actual service seven or eight months, He has no documentary evidence of his service nor does he know of any individual in this state by whom he could prove them. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
The following are some of the persons to whom this declarant is known in his present neighbourhood & who will testify as to his character
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for veracity & their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution  viz: Thomas Matson Jr. and Sr., Hugh Robinson, Esq., Dr. McCorde, Colo Geo (George) Williamson, Major Janus Williamson, Major A. M. McClain, Colo. Geo. Smith, General Donl (Donald) Donelson, Jas. Sanders Esq & others 
Sworn to and subscribed in open court 25 Sept 1832
The Ezekial Cloyd, a clergyman, residing in Wilson County, State of Tennessee, and Alfred McClain, residing in same, certify that we are well acquainted with Jackson Purkinson, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be about sixty seven years  of age. That he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion. 
Sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid.   J.S. McClain, Clerk

Signed : Ezekial Cloyd  Alfred McClain & after putting the interrogation 

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinions, after the imvestigation of the matter  & after putting the interrogations prescribed by the War department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he states. And the court further certify that it appears to them that Ezekial Cloyd who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the County of Wilson & that Alfred McClain who has also signed the same is a resident in the same county & is a credible person & that their statement is entitled to credit. 

Signed:  James M. Mortin, David C. Hibbets & Zovener Sprodlen

I, Isaiah S. McClain Clerk of the County Court of Wilson County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said county in the matter of the application of Jackson Purkinson for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand & seal of office this Sept 25th 1832

Signed: Isaiah S. McClain

State of Tennessee
Wilson County

I, Wm (William) Steel, Chairman of the County Court of Wilson County, do certify that Isaiah S. McClain whose name appears to the foregoing certificate is acting clerk of Wilson County & due faith and credit should be given to his acts as such. Sept 25 1832

Signed: Wm. Steel
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File No. 2012
Jackman Purkinson
Pvt. (Private) Va. (Virginia) line
Act: June 7, 1832
Index Vol A, Page 304
Arrangement of 1870
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No. 13,839
Jackson Purkinson

R. L. Caruthers, Esq.
Lebanon, Tenn.
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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 Jackson Purkinson which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant lives? yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes
III. If the applicant did not 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 ne 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 amount of pension he is entitled to? no
VI. Has he given the names of officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes
VII. Has he made a reliquishment 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 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? no
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? 
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? yes
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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 [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.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 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.