Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31410, for Billington Taylor, South Carolina
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
S.C.

Taylor, Billington
or
Bellington
-
NUMBER
S.31410

Born in Va.

CONTENTS
Page 2


25.973
Louisiana
====================
Billington Taylor
Feliciana P in the State of La
was a  P           in the Company commanded
Captain Singleton of the Regh commanded
Col Richardson in the So Carolina
line for  2Ys     P        $80.00
==============================
Inscribed on the Roll of Louisiana
the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum
commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
==============================
Certificate of Pension issued the 4th day of Jan
and sent to
1832.  P.  Thomas, Ho of Rep
=================================
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833            200.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mch 34, 40.00
                                                                           =====
                                                                       $240.00

Revolutionary Claim, ┃
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by J. T. Sprague Clerk
Book 6  Vol. 8.  Page 39
Page 3

Third District Court
Parish of East Feliciana} State of Louisiana
In This amended declaration of Bellington Taylor made in open court in the third district court of the parish aforesaid before the Honorable C Bushnell Judge thereof this 18th of November 1833 He says that after having his declaration made before the Honr Thomas Scott on the 7th Nov 1832 mad in open court he swears that the same is correct
He says that he cannot recollect the exact time of his service but he is positive that in all it exceeded two years and to the best belief was not short of three years He cannot recollect the date of his being called nor the exact time of service in consequence of his advanced age and infirmities and from the same cause he is unable to state the time of his discharge and other facts which are calculated to establish the veracity of his declaration
Deponent served only as a private and of such he claims a pension
Bellington his X mark Taylor
Subscribing & sworn to in open court by making his mark November 18th 1833
L Hardesty
clerk
I Charles Bushnell judge of the third district court of the state of Louisiana holding
Page 4

Sessions in and for the parish of East Feliciana do declare after hearing the declaration made by by Billington Taylor who has subscribed the foregoing annexed declaration in open court and the declaration made before the Hon Thomas W Scott that the said Billington Taylor was a soldier of the Revolution I further declare that I am well acquainted with Reddin Brown and Samuel Cobb that they are respectable men and entitled to full credit
Charles Bushnell
Judge 3d District
Nov 27th 1833
State of Louisiana
Parish of East Feliciana} Third district Count
I Lee Hardesty clerk of the said court for said parish do hereby certify that the Hono Charles Bushnell who signs the foregoing declaration was on the 27th day of November 1833 sole and presiding Judge of the third district court of the state of Louisiana for the Parish of East Feliciana
Given under my hand and the seal of said court at Clinton this 9th day of January AD 1834
L Hardesty
clerk
Page 5

State of Louisiana
Parish of Easat Feliciana
On this seventh day of November 1832, personally appeared [crossed out in open court] before me Thomas W Scott Parish Judge of the parish aforesaid, Billington Taylor a resident of the parish & state aforesaid, aged as he believes eighty four or eighty five 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 about the beginning of the War the date not remembered under Capt Mathew Singleton in the Regiment of Militia commanded by Col Richardson the name of the Lieutenant not remembered Ensign John Singleton deponent then resided in Sumpter district South Carolina The Regiment of Col Richardson was at time engaged in pursuit of the Tories Deponent was a volunteer in said Regiment and at the time of his entering the service was Overseer for Capt John James on the high hills of Santee Deponent after some service in pursuit of the Tories was detached with his company to guard those taken to Charleston He was then discharged until further orders in a short time was again ordered into service went to Charles town when it was Blockaded by the British saw the assault on Sullivans Island was under arms at the time but not engaged was then discharged until further orders After a short time was again ordered into service and was transferred to a company commanded
Page 6

by Captain John Nelson under the immediate command of General Marion, continued with Captain Nelson until the end of the war was discharged had a written discharge but has lost it Deponent is so very old and his memory so infirm that he can recollect but few particulars or names he was at the taking of Georgetown and engaged under General Marion
Deponent has no documentary evidence of his service but annexes the affidavit of his mess mate Thomas Jackson
Deponent hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and said that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid} Billington his X mark Taylor
Th M Scott
Parrish Judge
State of Louisiana
Parish of East Feliciana
Before me Thomas W Scott Parish Judge of the parish aforesaid Thomas Jackson of the parish aforesaid well known to me said Judge who being duly sworn doth depose and say that after having heard the above declaration
Page 7

mad he believes the whole of it to be true and that He knows of his own personal knowledge that said Billington Taylor was engaged in the service during the greater part of the Revolutionary war as therein stated Thos Jackson
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 7th day of November 1832 
Th M Scott
Parish Judge
The following Questions was propounded by me Thomas M Scott Parish Judge of the Parish aforesaid to Billington Taylor 
1 Question Where and in what year were you born?
Answer I was born in Virginia but do not recollect the county or year
2 Question Have you any record of your age and if so where it is?
Answer I had a Record of my age but it is lost
3 Question Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live?
Answer I lived on the high hills of Santee when called into service afterwards I lived in the fork of the Black River And I now live in the state of Louisiana Parish of East Feliciana
4 Question How were you called into service: were you drafted did you volunteer or were you a substitute? And if a substitute for whom?
Answer I was a volunteer and never was a substitute
5 Question 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 service?
Page 8

[crossed out
6 Question did you receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was]
Answer I can not Recollect of any of the names of the regular officers except General Lincoln the commander at Charleston South Carolina nor neither can I recollect of any of the Continental Regiments except Colonel Richardson Regiments of Militia in which I served the captains name under which I served was Luther Singleton who was afterwards promoted to Colonel I was one of the men who served under General Marion and after I commenced service under him I continued with him untill the end of the war. 
6 Question did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it
Answer I did receive a discharge It was given to me by Captain Nelson And I have lost it
7 Question State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood and who can testify to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution
Answer Thomas Jackson of the parish of East Feliciana is the only person in the neighbourhood that I know who can testify of my service as a soldier of the Revolution I am well known in the neighbourhood to the following 
named persons to wit Major Reddin Brown and Samuel Cobb together with many others who can testify to my character and veracity
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 7th day of November 1832
Tho W Scott
Parish Judge} Billington his V mark Taylor
Page 9

24803
Billington
Taylors
Application for a
Pension - 
_________
Page 10

United States of America
STATE OF LOUISIANA
[seal - STATE OF LOUISIANA 
JUSTICE
UNION & CONFIDENCE]
Printed by Benjamin Levy, New Orleans
By A B roman
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA THESE ARE TO CERTIFY That Thomas W Scott whose name is subscribed to the instrument of writing herein annexed as at the time of signing the same & is now Parish Judge in and for the parish of East Feliciana and that afull faith & credit is due thereto
Given at New Orleans, under my hand, and SEal of the State, this Eleventh day of January one thousand eight hundred and thirty three and of the Independence of the UNITED STATED, the fifty-seventh
A B Roman
By the Governor
G E Netis
Secretary of State
Page 11

State of Louisiana 
Parish of East Feliciana
Personally appeared before me Thomas W Scott parish judge of the parish aforesaid Samuel Cobb Esqr and Maj Reddin Brown a member of the House of Representatives of the State of Louisiana who being duly sworn according to law depose & say that they have known Billington Taylor of the parish aforesaid many years say, twenty or upwards and that he has been during that time generally esteemed a man of honor and veracity They further depose and say that the said Taylor has generally been reputed in the neighbourhood in which he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolutionary War
S Cobb
R Brown
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 7th day of Nov 1832
Tho W Scott
Parish Judge
State of Louisiana
Parish of East Feliciana} I do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the Interogetories prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states
Said I do further certify that it appears to me that Samuel Cobb and Reddin Brown who signed the preceeding certificate (I being well acquainted with both) are residents of the state and Parish aforesaid and are credible and respectable persons and that there statement is entitled to credit Given under my official signature and seal this 26th day of November in the of our Lord AD 1832
Th W Scott Parish Judge
Page 12


No 24803
Billington Taylor Parish of
East Feliciana Louisina

Adm 2 years
$80


Pheln Thomas, Louisiana
Ho of Rep


[left side]

See Thomas Jackson Papers No 24.804
Page 13

WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office
19th June 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 Billington Taylor Parish of East Feliciana State of Louisiana
Period when the service was rendered /
Duration of the claimants service Years/months/days/ Rank of the claimant /
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served /
Age at present and place of above when he entered the service / Proof by which the declaration is supported.

Vol / not stated / private / Cap Singleton Colonel Richardson / 84 years Sumpter District S Carolina / Traditionary & one witness papers not properly attached
Ordered out / not stated / "
Ordered out / not stated / Cap Nelson, General Marian
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 constructed to extent, 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 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, etc., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefit 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 the Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicants reside. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

                                                                   DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
                                            State Territory, or District of
                                             County of
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 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. 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 offices:

(Here set forth the names and ranks of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service ; (and if he server under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particlar 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 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 name 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 the 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 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 certifies, that it appears to them that A.B. 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 Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the orginal proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for pension.

 In testimony whereof, I 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 orginal 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 hid personal knowledge of the service oh the applicant, and such circumstance connected therewith as may have a tendency to throw lightupon 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 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
Page 15

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, it 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.)  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 the 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 nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, fromtheir 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 certity to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.

The traditionary evidence of service is deened 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 inquiry whether the belief is general or 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 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 ofice, 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 genine signature.

No payments can be made upon 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 theopinion 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 of the war when he served.
(e) Every continental officer or soldiers 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 depots and saith, that by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positive as to the precise length of his service; but according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the period mentioned below, and in the following grades: ---For____year_____month____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 service.  The use of the phrase about three or four months, is too indefinite and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.  ome persons who apply for pensions mere state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of officers, and other particulars respecting their service.  This form of a declaration is highly objectionable.  

It must begin every case, be clearly shown under what officer the applicant severed; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corp 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 n 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 fix 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 certified officer, should accompany the papers.                                                   
                                                                  
                                                                    Mode of authenticating papers.

In every instance where the certifing officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certiicate 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 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 verify 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.
The note
 from (a) to (i) are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule is 
The 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.
Page 16

In reply to your request of received for a statement of the military history of Billington Taylor a soldier of the REVEOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. S File 31410

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT - [check mark] 
LENGTH OF SERVICE - about 3 years
RANK -
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED
CAPTAIN - Mathew Singleton
COLONEL - Richardson
STATE - SC

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT - to the end of war
LENGTH OF SERVICE - 
RANK -
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED
CAPTAIN - John Nelson
COLONEL - Genl Marion
STATE - SC

Battles engaged in taking of Georgetown
Residence of soldier at enlistment High Hills of Santee Sumter Dist, SC
Date of application for pension Nov 7 1832 Allowed
Residence at date of application East Felicia Parish, La
Age at date of application, 84 or 85 born in Va
Remarks
Page 17

Idle Hour Park
Macon Ga
April 27th 1910

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington DC

Dear Sirs,

Will you be
so kind as to send me the
Record of service of Revolutionary 
Pensioner Joseph Tisdale
of Westerly, R. I. and of
Billington Taylor of East
Feliciana Parish La in 1834?
Resptly
Mrs Edgar A. Ross
MAY 2 -  1910

Stamp:
PENSION
K
APR
80
1910
OFFICE
U.S.
Page 18


-
31410
Revy  INVALID.
File No. 31410
Billington Taylor
Pri   Rev War
Act: June 7" 32"
Index: - Vol. 2   , Page 413
[Arrangement of 1870.]

[right side - top]

1910 May. 10 Hist to Mrs.
Edgar A Ross, Idle Hour Park Key