Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 9703, for Charles Smith, Maryland
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[column headings: (1) SERVICE, (2 NAME), (3) NUMBER
(Entries handwritten}

Md. Sea Service | Smith, Charles | R9703
[blank | [blank] | [blank ]
CONTENTS
b. May 19, 1763 on Tilghman Island, Talbot Co Md.
Talbot Co. Md at enl. & in 1838 in St. Michael's District
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V34.590
Charles Smith
Maryland
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State of Maryland Talbot County
[flourish] Sc 33
On this 27th, day of July in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight personally appeared in open court before The Justices of the Orphans 
Court of Talbot County now sitting, Charles Smith of St Michael's district in Talbot County, aged Seventy five years, who being first duly sworn in 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 or of such other acts of Congress passed for the relief of those who served during the Revolutionary war as may embrace the special circumtances of his case: [hand drawn entry line, blank].  "That he entered the service of the United States in Seventeen hundred and eighty one, when a draught was about to place, volunteering as a private, on board the barges then about to cruise in the the Chesapeake Bay -; that the Captain of the barge in which he served was Levin Spedden of Easton, Maryland, the 1st  Lieutenant William Barnes of St Michaels district and the 2nd Lt Elliot Shannahan - ; that he recollects among the privates with him John Lowe, Thomas Lamdin, his wife & brother, Peter Pickering, Thomas Barnett, Phill Sherwood and Spedden Orem [underlined], of Ferry Neck in this County, now [underlined] surviving. that there were others whose names have passed off his mind - ; that he was born on Tilghman's Island, Chesapeake Bay. within the limits of Talbot County, on the nineteenth day 
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of May in the year Seventeen hundred and sixty three - ; that he has a record of his age in his father's handwriting in a Bible now
in his possession - ; that he was living when called into service, in Talbot County, on the small farm upon which he resides at this day, being on the main land four miles from Tilghman's Island where he was born - ; that he entered on board the barge of Capt Spedden about the first of June, or it might have been some weeks earlier, for he can not state in this declaration the precise day, whether it were in the latter part of May or not - to the best of his recollection about the first of June, 1781 - that he cruised backward and forward in the Chesapeake during his period of active service; that among many incidents, he recollects being employed in assisting the French Troops to get on board their ships then lying in Annapolis Road, themselves with their baggage and provisions in their way to Little York down the bay - ; that he was in his engagements with the enemy - ; that he recollects, when about two miles from York, lying in the River to have seen the barge commanded by Commodore Grissom blown up; - that it was blown by an accident, whilst in the act of pursuing a barge of the enemy, and that his barge, commanded by Spedden, then also in pursuit immediately came up and was enabled to rescue from drowning such of the crew as were thrown overboard by the explosion; - that the individuals who were burnt and some of whom died from the injuries received
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were ordered up the Bay with the barges - ; that he never received any thing like a regular discharge from service and that the period of his active service expired with the necessity of the times that called him out - ; that he was permitted to leave the barge about the last of October, 1781, with the expectation of another cruise; that his leaving the barge took place a short time after the news of the surrender of York, and he has recollection of his being held in readiness for further service some months after the surrender of York - that when he entered about the first of June in 1781 it was with the [illegible] expectation of his not being discharged till they should be driven in by the cold of winter - ; that the shattered condition of the barge commanded by Grissom after the accidental explosion, who had charge of the Expedition, was the immediate cause of their leaving the neighborhood of the forces at 
York - that after being permitted to leave the barge or hearing of the Surrender at York he still expected from day to day to be called out again - that Captn Spedden, with whom he returned home afterwards lived and died in Easton - ; that Barnes and Shannahan of his own neighborhood in Talbot County returned to heir house and many years ago died  - that Thomas Townsend, a highly respectable man who now survives, was in the barges at the same time ; though not in the same barge - that Thomas Townsend no receives a pension under the act of June 7th 1832 and can testify to his having served as he states - that
Wm Townsend, the son of this Thomas Townsend, and was former Sheriff of Talbot and late delegate to the General Apembly can state the general reputation to be favorable to his having so served -
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that Nathan Porter still survives of this County, and can state his knowledge of the fact - that John Dorgan, whose infirmities will prevent his coming twelve miles from St Michaels to Easton can state his knowledge of the fact -  that this John Dorgan has for many years been an established minister of the gospel according to the discipline of Methodist Episcopal Church; was attached to the "flying camp" and enjoys now a pension from Government- that Spedden Orem who resides on his farm in Ferry Neck is a survivor and is applying for the benefit of ["the act of" written above] July 7th 1832 - That the standing of these men precludes the idea of their being parties to a fraud - that he has run a vessel with grain for twenty two years past to Baltimore and in the course of trade has been thrown with many business men in Baltimore- that anny others he was well known to the late Isaac McKim, having losing a friend of
of fifteen years much intercourse with him before he quit the milling business, and that the reputation of his having served was not confined to the Eastern Shore - that John Dorgan, Thomas Township and Spedden Oren may not by reason of infirmity be able to appear before the Court before which this declaration is to be made; but that almost [illegible] one in his section of the County can testify to his having served as he states from the general reputation of the fact - that he is in perfect possession of his faculties of mind and body and that from the scope of the act of 1832 payed for the relief of those, who did service during the Revolution he feels sure of his being entitled to the pension for which he is now applying -----that he never knew, he could obtain a pension till Wm Towsend, former Sheriff and his neighbor and friend, informed him, that his father Thomas Townsend
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had obtained pension for services rendered on
board the barges at the same time with him, the now
declarent and that this information induced him to
think of an application for the benefit of the act
of June 7th 1832 - that he receives a pension
Testimony adduced to the Legislature from
his native late Maryland - that his name
is not on the pension role of the agency of any State
save that of Maryland that he hereby relinqishes
every claim whatever to a pension or annuity -
[illegible] the prefect.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year
fore said
Charles Smith [signature]

Justices of the Orphans' Court of Talbot County [signatures]
Jno- Stevens
Saml Mackey
George Dudley

We, Thomas C Nicols John Tilghman William K Lamdin and Thomas Townsend----------------- hereby
certify that we are well acquainted with Charles 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 to have been one who served during the revolution and that we concur in that opinion - We further certify that
we have implicit confidence in his veracity
[signatures]
Thos C Nicols
Joh.n Tilghman
Wm. K. Lamdin
Thomas Townsend
now 79 of age
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and
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Treasurer of the Eastern shore, and Thomas Townsend, a survivor of the Resolution are known to them and that their
statement is entitled to credit.
[Signatures]
Jno. Stevens &
Saml. Mackey
George Dudley

I, James Price Register of Wills for Talbot County, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Charles Smith for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affix my seal of office this twenty seventh day of July Eighteen hundred and thirty eight.

[signature]
Test, Ja: Price, Regr: of Wills, for Talbot County.
[underlined with a flourish]

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Answers to interrogatories propounded by the Judges of the Orphans Court to accompany the declaration of Charles Smith.
State of Maryland, Talbot County, 
Orphans Court ----------------------

Then came Charles Smith, of St Michaels District, who, being duly sworn, deposeth and said that he was born on the nineteenth day of May 1763----

That he has a record of his age and that this record is in his father's handwriting in a Bible now owned and preserved by him. 

That he was living when called into service in the District of Talbot County where he now resides - that he has lived ever since the Revolution in the same place. 

That he volunteered on board the barges
commanded by Grissom and that his barge
was under the command of Captn Levin Spedden.

That he can state the names of Grissom,
the Commodore, Captn Levin Spedden. of his own barge, Wm Barns and Elliot Shannahan.
That his neighbor, Wm. Lowe was Lt in the
Commodore's barge and was severely injured by the explosion, and died the following winter from small pox--- that there were two Grissoms', officers, exclusive of the elderly one known as Commodore and in command of the Expedition---
That he never received a discharge from
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service and that he was employed during his active service in protecting the shores upon the Chesapeake from the English and refugees during which times several vessels were taken without much opposition on their part, and two engagements had with the enemy --- that one of the prisonners, taken by the barges, John Timmons, a refugee, was afterwards hung in Somerset County -----------

Sworn to before the undersigned ----
[signatures]
Jno. Stevens &
Saml. Mackey
George Dudley

Maryland, Talbot County, Sc, 

I, James Price, Register of Wills for Talbot County do hereby certify that Jno Stevens Saml Mackey & 
George Dudley, Esquire whose names as subscribed to the above in the matter of the application of Captn Charles Smith of St Michael District, for a pension were at the time of so
doing Justice of the Orphans Court, duly appointed and sworn.
In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of my office this 27th, day of July 1838.
Test, Ja: Price, Regr: of Wills for Talbot County.
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Stamped: REJECTED
9703
P.O. [blank]
Charles Smith
Service: [blank]
Enlisted: [blank], 18
Discharged: [blank], 18
Application filed: [blank], 18
●
[illegible] The printed list of 1852 gives cause of rejection as: "He did not serve Six months"
["Re-enlisted:" struck]
Attorney: [blank]
P. O. [blank]
 [blank] Recognized.  [blank] Contract.
[blank] Cert. of Dis. 
Searched for [blank], 18
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Charles Smith
Maryland
Rejected
-----
See let. 2nd Aut
38 J. Bozman Kerr
9703
did not serve six months
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Copy.  of that portion of letter relative to 
Charles Smith, R. 9703
the original letter is in claim of
Wm" Jones, Md. R. 5756.

War Dept. Pen. Office
August 23, 1838.
The declaration of
Charles Smith has been [illegible abbreviation]
He alleges to have entered on board a Barge in the Chesapeake Bay in June 1781 under Captain Levin Spedden and left the barge the last of October, holding himself the readiness to serve when called upon. The Act of 7 June 1832 provides for those only who performed six months actual service.
The claim has therefore been rejected and the papers filed.
X  X   X   X   X  X
J. Bozman Kerr, Esq.
Easton Maryland.
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Easton.
July 31, 1838.
Sir,
At the request of Captn Charles Smith; of this County, I now forward his application to be placed upon the pension list and the Act of Congress passed in Eighteen hundred and
thirty two.
I regret being obliged so often to appear at your department in the character of an importunate solicitor; but having once volunteered to prepare for the father of my friend and late colleague and the Legislator, Townsend, the necessary papers and succeeded in obtaining the pension. I find it impossible to rid myself of fresh applications. Some time ago I was applied to by one of the most respectable men our County, Captn Smith, and I now enclose he declaration so made before our Orphans Court with the
To
J. L. Edwards, Esq.
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a
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additional testimony of Coln John Tilghman of Queen Anns, late proprietor of Tighman's Island where Smith was born. The Treasurer of the Eastern Shore, 
Mr Lamdin, (Smith's nephew)T. C. Nicols Esq, Clerk of the Court of Appeal and Thomas Townsend, who is a pensioner under this act of 1832 and served with Smith-----
Such is the irreproachable character of
this old gentleman in that his declaration would
in this community be taken without any additional testimony.
From traditionary evidence to be had here
I feel sure that such men as Smith, are provided for in the Act of '32 --- They were called out into service in 1781, and their term of service seems to have been either indefinitely fixed. In Smith's case it is evident, that he was liable to be called upon several months after the surrender of York, as his recollection is perfect upon all points, and the period of his active service, which commenced in the spring of 1781, did not expire till the following fall, when he was not discharged but
held in readiness for a fresh service----
From Smith's testimony I feel still more impressed
with the propriety of your placing upon your wit a very aged and infirm man
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who made application a year ago ___ I refer to
Wm Jones, of Caroline County____________
He was Marched [underlined], if I recollect, from his own County, by way of Annapolis, to York, and
marched back again after the capture there.
He was old, deaf and otherwise infirm, though perfectly clear upon the point of his service, and I fear, lest my cautious manner of drawing up his declaration may not have marred his success ____
It is due to myself to state, that though I have
been obliged to act the friend to several of these
old people, I have never received twenty dollars yet for my trouble, nor am I under any contract to take a percent as I am told, is the fashion with "your thorough paced agent"___________________
If you have any idea of my being interested in these matter, I must beg you to disabuse
yourself of it___ Smith would be offended at my
refusing to receive my fee, as an attorney, for drawing up his papers; but I can promise to take
nothing that may be due to Jones, of Caroline,
whose poverty does not permit his indulging in pride.
I am, Sir, very respectfully
Your obt servt
J. Bozman Kerr [signature]

J. L. Edwards, Esqr.
R.  R.  V.
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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAN-51
Division of Veterans' Administration
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Smith, Charles 
GRADE Sergeant
LINE Massachusetts
WARRANT NUMBER 4992
ACREAGE 100
ISSUED Jan. 26, 1790
to John May
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of ""Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800"" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent
dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800.
Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.