Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1710, for Thomas Petty, South Carolina
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(3-1776)
SERVICE NUMBER
SC Petty, Thomas S1710
CONTENTS carded
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19323
West Tennessee
Thomas Petty
Dickson Co in the state of Tennessee who was a private in the comp commanded by Captain Montgomery of the Virginia commanded by Col Henderson in the N Carolina line for 15 months
South Carolina Line Records Ok
Nov 3 '03
cribed on the Roll of W Tennessee
the rate of 50 Dollars - Cents per annum, 
ommence on the 4th day of March 1831.
rtificate of Pension issued the 17 day of Sept 1833 and Filed
Farrar Charlotte
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 125.00
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Mar 25.00
$150.00
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by Danl Boyd Clerk
Book E Vol 7 Page 92
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State of Tennessee
Dickson County
this third day of April in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred & Thirty three Thomas Petty aged 68 years old personally appeared before the County Court of Dickson and
being sworn according to law doth upon his oath make the following declaration for the purpose of obtaining the benefit of an act of Congress passed the 7th of June 1832, towit;
that he was born in the State of Virginia & was taken by his parents in his infancy as he is informed to Bute County North Carolina that he was born on the 31st of March 1765 as he has seen in his father's family Record and was coppied [sic] by him from it as he was informed by his parents he believes to be true that his parents removed afterwards to Union County inthe State of South Carolina - that he first entered the service of the United States as a drafted Militia man for a tour of there months in Union County & was placed under the command of Capt Robert Montgomery under Genl Henderson & went to the siege of 96 & remained there until the British
was reinforced -- we were compelled to leave there shortly after the term of three months had expired the company was discharged and I went home - we in a variety of Skirmishes with the British during the siege but no general battle-- Some time
after he again entered the service of the United States
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he thinks now as a Volunteer in a company commanded by Capt Crawford in Regiment commanded by Col Richard Fayer for a tour of three months & marched to the Congaree where they were stationed
as guard to that part of the Country against the British and tories where we continued until the second term of service expired when he was again discharged & went home-- he was again drafted on another tour for there months in Union
County in the company commanded by Capt Montgomery & marched to Orangeburg & was at the taking of that place under the command of Genl Brandon - he was in the front Guard under the command of Maj. Snipes when the attack was made on Orangeburg - after the taking of Orangeburg he was dismissed & returned home his term of service having expired - he was again shortly after entered the service under the command of Capt Arrington whether as a volunteer or a drafted Militia man he does not recollect & marched under the command of Genl Pickens in an expedition against the Indians - he went to the Indian nation &
had a skirmish with the Indians in which seven of them were killed & after the expiration of the three months he was discharged & returned home -
after this he again volunteered for a tour of three months & marched to Bacon Bridge
then to the Ashley River when with
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remained a considerable but how long he
does not now recollect nor is he able to recollect
what officers commanded in that expedition --
it was a short time before Cornwallis was taken but the precise time when this or either of the other expeditions
were under taken he does not recollect -- having
served in the whole fifteen months he received discharges for each of the preceding tours but
they have all been lost or destroyed by time and and accident -- he has none of them now in his possession -- there is no living witnesses in the section of country where he now lives by whom his services can be proven - he supposes there may be some of his old comrades yet living in South Carolina but does not certainly know whether the fact is so or not-- he has no written evidence by which his service can be proven -- after
the war was over he continued to reside in Union
County Carolina until 1807 when he removed
to the County of Dickson in the State of Tennessee where he has ever since resided --
he also declares that he is not on the pension roll of the United States or any agency or of any State. he hereby relinquishes all claim to any pension or other benefit from the United States for said service
except the provision made by the act of 1832
Sworn to & subscribed
Thomas Petty
Sworn to subscribed in open court 3 April, 1833
Field Farrar Clerk of Dickson County Court Tennessee
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State of Tennessee
Dickson County} SS
David Gray a clergyman resident in said county of Dickson & Isaac Walker a citizen resident of said county personally appeared in open court & being duly sworn according to law doth upon their oaths declare that they have been long acquainted with Thomas Petty the applicant for a pension & believe him to be sixty eight years old as stated in said declaration that he has the character in the neighbourhood where he resides of having been a soldier of the revolution and that they concur in that opinion
David Gray
Isaac Walker
sworn to & subscribed in open court
3d of April 1833
Field Farrar clerk of Dickson County Court Tennessee
and the sd county court of Dickson after a full examination of the matter upon the application of Thomas Petty & having asked the questions as  tenuled by the secretary of war, is on opinion that sd Thomas was a soldier of the Revolution &that he served as stated in said declaration They also certify that David Gray is a clergyman resident in said county and that Isaac Walker is a citizen resident in said county that they are an credible person & their statements entitled to full credit & weight
Motton Dickson
JB Brown
Saml Turner } Presiding Justices
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24845
Thomas Petty
Dickson Coty
Tennessee

Charlotte
Field Farrar
clk of Dickson Coty
Court State of Tennessee
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WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office
May 31 1833
Sir
The evidence in support of your 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 a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus}). 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, shewing the Service of Thomas Petty Dickson County State of Tennessee

Period when the service was rendered 
draf
Vol
draf
Vol or draf
vol
Duration of the claimants service Years/months/days
3 Months
3 Months
3 Months
3 Months
3 Months
Rank of the claimant
Pri
"
"
"
"
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served 
Capt Montgomery
Genl Henderson no Colonel

Capt Crawford
Col Fayer

Capt Montgomery
Genl Brandon
Mgr Snipes

Capt Arrengton
Genl Pickens

No officers
Age at present and place of above when he entered the service 
68 years Union County South Carolina
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary Evidence
No periods of service given No colonel given in 4 Tours of service
papers not authenticated

I am respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES L EDWARDS
Commissioner of Pensions
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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 serviced 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 or privates, will in the first instance, make applications 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 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.  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     , who has 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 certified, 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
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3
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case.  The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corrobating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be at 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 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 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 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 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.  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:  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 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 may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witness and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer under his seal of office.
[i] 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 in 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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Rev War
1710
INVALID
File No 1710
Thomas Petty
Priv N C Line
Act June 7 1832
Index Vol A Page 291
[Arrangement on 1870]
South Carolina Line Records corrected Nov 3 '03
Page 12

Additional Declaration of Thomas
Petty
the said Thomas Petty being first duly sworn makes the following additional declaration to the one heretofore
made by him, that in his first tour of duty under Capt Montgomery, he was attached to some Regiment, the officers of which were strangers to him he does not recollect their names
he was personally acquainted with Genl Henderson in the 2nd tour under Col Sayer & Capt Crawford, he also recollects
that John Montgomery was the adjutant who was a relation of his Captain Robert Montgomery who commanded him
in the next expedition-- in the next expedition his Capt was
Robert Montgomery & the Regiment was at that him commanded
by Col. Brandon, who after that time became a general -- the Col. was the highest in command at the taking of Orangeburg - he also recollect, Maj. Snipes who commanded the
front guard in which applicant was stationed on that day -- in
the next campaign against the Indians under Genl Pickens the Regiment was commanded as he believes by Col. Brandon -- he is confident he served two campaign under Col Brandon but
is not certain whether this campaign was commanded by Col Sayer or Col Brandon. He served two campaigns
under each but is not certain which served as Col. the first campaign - in the next tour of there months he thinks he was commanded by Sayers to Bacon bridge where they joined Col Washington, but he cannot now remember the names of the inferior officers except lieutenant  Mayfield -- the declarant
further states that his several tours were performed after the siege of 96 in South Carolina but he cannot
specify the years -- his memory has become by reason of old age & infirmity very little to be relied on -- he finds
frequently now qreat difficulty in calling to mind the names of his acquaintances & neighbours & not by any means certain that the officers above specified served in the different campaigns exactly in the order as stated but to the best of his recollection he has stated them to the best of his recollection
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the applicant also submits the affidavit of Col Nesbitt which he has lably ascertained as a conformation of his declaration 
Thomas Petty
sworn to & subscribed in open court
Field Farrar clerk

State of Tennessee
Dickson County} Col John Nisbett aged 77 years being personally present in open court having first duly sworn declares that he became acquainted with the applicant Thomas Petty in the campaign on the Congaree when they were stationed as guards he has been well acquainted with him since his residence in Dickson county & knows him to be the same individual who served in the campaign on the Congaree he also believes him to be 68 or 69 years of age
John Nisbett
sworn to & subscribed in open court
Test
Field Farrar clerk
State of Tennessee
Dickson County} SS
The Benjamin Hardwicke a clergy resident in Dickson county & John Nisbett a citizen resident also in said county have been some time acquainted with the applicant Thomas Petty & believe him to be of the age of 68 years and that he has the reputation in the neighbourhood where he lives to have been a soldier of the Revolution and we concur in that opinion Benjamin Hardwicke
John Nisbett
sworn to & subscribed in open court
Test
Field Farrar clerk
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and the said court does hereby declare its opinion after an investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogetories prescribed by the war department that the said Thomas Petty was a soldier of the Revolution and that he served as therein stated they also certify that Benjamin Hardwicke is a clergyman of said county & that John Nisbett is a citizen resident of said county that they are credible persons & their evidence entitled to full credit the said court also certifies that John Nisbett is a citizen resident in said county aged 77 years a credible person & his testimony entitled to full credit
S Turner
JB Brown
Molton Dickson } Presiding Justices for Dickson County

State of Tennessee
Dickson County } SS
I Field Farrar clerk of the county court of Dickson certify that the preceding is the original proceedings in the matter of the application of Thomas Petty for a pension In testimony thereof I have hereto t my hand and affixed the public seal of my office at Charlotte this 2nd of July 1833
Field Farrar clerk
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Returned Cause
July 15th 1833
Tenn July 15
atd

Charlotte 
July 4th 

Free 
Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City 

West
Pension papers of Thomas Petty
Tennessee
private
15 months 
$80
$50
Field Farrar
Charlotte
Ten