Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 32,167, John Carson, Va.
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SERVICE NUMBER
Va. Carson, John S. 32,167
CONTENTS
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25523
Indiana
John Carson
of Kirk Co in the State of Indiana
who was a private in the com commanded
by Captain Masterson of the regt. commanded
by Colo Davis in the Virginia
line for 10 mos.

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

Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Jany.
1834 and Hon Amos
Lane H. R

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 83.33
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March 16.67
$100.00
{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Danl Boyd Clerk,
Book E Vol. 7 Page 1007

Date of
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State of Indiana} In the Rusk Circuit Court at the
Rusk County} Term of April A.D. 1833
On this tenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared in open Court before the Honorable Charles H. Lest president Judge of the sixth Judicial Circuit and Montgomery McCall and John Gregg Esquires, his associates, now sitting in and for the said County of Rusk John Carson of Noble Township in said County of Rusk aged seventy two 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 7, 1832
That he was born on the third day of May in the year 1761 but leaving his father when quite young he neglected to take a copy of the record of his age which his father Kept, & therefore has no record of it
Since the revolution he has lived in the State of Kentucky until four years since during which tie he has lived in the said county of Rusk That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein Stated - That he was drafted as a private soldier for three months in the State of Virginia Henry County. The name of his Captain was Masterson. He does not now recollect the names of his Lieutenant and Ensign. This was in the year 1780 sometime in the month of July as he thinks. He recollects that it was just after the defeat of General Gates at the South. That he was marched with his company from the said Henry County across the Dan River to Hillsborough North Carolina where they Joined the Army under General Gates
He Cannot recollect the name of the Colonel of the Regiment to which he belonged or whether he was attached to any particular Regiment. He lay with the Troops at Hillsborough sometime more than two months when they were ordered to Guilford Court House and remained there three or four weeks when they were marched back to Henry County Virginia; And at the end of three months was discharged, having served the full Term of three months for which he was drafted and received a written discharge from his Captain, which he has long since lost, in consequence of which he has no documentary evidence to prove his services aforesaid and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can Testify to
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for the Same
And said John Carson further states that in the fall of the year 1780, the exact day and month he cannot now recollect he with a number of others went from said Henry County to Mecklenburg Magazine upon Roanoke where he volunteered under Colonel Mumford in the Virginia Troops. He remained at Mecklenburgh but a short time, hen he was marched under Col Davis, not yet being attached to any particular Company to Chesterfield in the State of Virginia. He remained at Chesterfield in winter quarters under the Command of Col Davis and in the Spring about the last of March or first of April in the year 1781 their detachment had a little skirmish with the Queen's Rangers on James River in which he was. The American Troops according to the best of his recollection were commanded by a French Colonel. Shortly afterwards he marched with Lieutenant Campbell a son of Colonel Archibald Campbell with a small body of Troops towards Guilford Court House in North Carolina and joined the army under General Green at the place called Front's Iron works the next day after the battle at Guilford Court house between Genl. Green & Lord Cornwallis. He was then placed in a  Company under the command of Capt Morgan the above mentioned son of Col Campbell was Lieutenant - The name of the ensign he cannot now recollect
Archibald Campbell was Col of the Regiment to which he belonged. He was with the army in pursuit of Cornwallis to Cross Creek when the army cut down the bridge so that Green's Army could not get across, Cornwallis retreating to Wilmington. He then went with Genl. Green to Camden in South Carolina passing through Salisbury leaving Charlotte to the right through a place called Flat rock until we arrived at Camden, where we assailed the enemy under Lord Rawdon some time he thinks in the month of May. After various skirmishes for something like eight or ten days, we crossed the Catawba and took our position on the south side of the Town and here he was in a skirmish at a redoubt under the Command of Capt. Morgan.
After remaining a short at this position we were marched back to an old Camp ground. A few days afterwards as the Troops were generally engaged in washing their clothes they were attacked by the army under Rowden and a general engagement ensued in the whole of which he was
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engaged. Our army retreated about six miles to a place at that time called the French Tavern where the army lay four or five days and crossed the Catawba above the Tavern leaving him sick with a fever
He lay at this place sick for five months when he got better & not knowing where to find the army and being unable to perform Military duty he made his way to his uncle's in the Henry County (Virginia). where he had a relapse of his sickness and remained sick for eight or nine months, peace being declared before he recovered his health. He would further states that while in pursuit of Cornwallis as above stated he was detailed into Lee's Corps for the purpose of scouting after the tories in which service he was engaged about a week, and endured great provation & fatigue. He recollects in this Tour the regiment of Delaware blues a regiment of the Delaware line and the first Virginia Regiment in which he served. He also recollects Col. Washington's Light horse as they were called after Lee left the army. He recollects to have seen many officers but length of time has obliterated their names from his recollection. From the time he volunteered until he was taken sick was according to the best of his recollection eight months, but he will put it positively at seven months. From the time he was taken sick until he was able to make his way back to his Uncles was five months - which makes twelve months, and added to the first three months for which he was drafted makes the Sum of fifteen months. He would state that he served during the whole of this time as a private soldier & he would further state that after the recovery of his health he called on Col Mumford for a discharge who told him that he need not put himself to any trouble to procure one as the war was over & government had no further demands on him, in Consequence of which he has no documentary evidence relating to his discharge and that he knows of no person whose Testimony he can procure to testify to his services & he hereby relinquishes every Claim to a pension or annuity whatever except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state or if any only that of the agency of the State of Virginia
Sworn and Subscribed to in
open Court John Carson
Robert Thompson Clerk
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John Carsons 2016
The John Longley a Clergyman residing in the said County of Rusk and David Looney & Harvey W. Carr residing in the same County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Carson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration - that we believe him to be seventy two 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
John Longley
Sworn & subscribed David Looney x his mark
in Open Court
Attest 
Robert Thompson clerk} H W Carr

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 served as he states & the Court further certify that it appears to them that John Longley who has signed the preceding Certificate is a Clergyman resident in Said County of Rusk & that David Looney & H. W. Carr who has also signed the same are residents of the said County of Rusk and are credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit
I Robert Thompson Clerk of said Rusk
Circuit Court Do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the Application of John Carson for a pension
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and the seal of said Court this
13th day of April A.D. 1833
Robert Thompson clerk
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25016
John Carson
Indiana

from 1780 private
10 months.

$33.33/100

MC

Hon. A Lane
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War department,
Pension Office
183
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 those papers with the following rules, and the subcined notes, you will will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed, The notes and the regulations will shew what is necefsary to be done. Those points the which your attentions 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 John Carson Rusel Count Indiana 
Period when the service was rendered | duration of the claimant's service. | Years. | Months. | Days. | Rank of the claimant. | Names and rank of the field of officers under whom he served. | Age at present and place of abode when he entered the service. | Proof by which the declaration is supported. 
As of 1780 | I his | Capt Masterson Col Mumford Col Davis Caps Morgan Col Cambicle | 72 years henry Count Virg. | Traditionary Evidence ca get no weinef 
I am, respectfully, 
your obedient servant,
J. L. Edwards,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7., 1852.
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 served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as  persons who turned out as partols, or were engages 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 od 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 application 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 } 88.
On this   day of   personally appeared (a) before
A. B. a redicent (b) of  in the county of  and State, Territory of 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 officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if the served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular periods 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 applied 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 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. 
[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 
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 ames of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the jule 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, vis:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the  and C. D. residing in (the same)
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
subscribed and 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 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 the Court of  do hereby certify that the foregoing. contains the original proceeding 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 of 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
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, if 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 I 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 verify, and they will also verify to the character and standing for other persons giving such certificates.
      The traditional 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 here in 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 of 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 here in 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.

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      [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 I which he served; in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot by reason of the losses 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 services I claim a pension."
      It is important, kin all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held as the last 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 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; 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 option 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 or office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
          Made of authentication 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 mush 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 affidavit the time f 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 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 traditionally evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
      [l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
      [m] The answers to the interrogators must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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December 22, 1937
xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mrs. H. E. Hogsett John Carson, S.32167
1241 3rd Avenue BA-J/MCS
Longmont, Colorado

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter of December 3, 1837, requesting the record of the Revolutionary War soldier, John Carson, who enlisted from Henry County, Virginia. 

The data which fllowered were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, S. 32167, based upon the military service of John Carson.

He was born May 3, 1761. The place of his birth and the names of his parents were not given.

He enlisted in Henry County, Virginia, in 1780, just after the Defeat of General Gates (the first battle of Camden) and served three months as private in Captain Masterson's Virginia company. He enlisted in the fall of 1780 and served seven months with the Virginia troops under Captain Morgan and Colonels Mumford, Davis and Archibald Campbell and for about one week of this service he was detailed to serve in Lee's Corps and was engaged in scouting after Tories; he was in a skirmish with "the Queen's Rangers" on the James River and was in the battle of Camden in May, 1781.

After the Revolution, John Carson lived in Kentucky until about 1829 when he moved to Rush County, Indiana.

He was allowed pension on his application executed April 10, 1833, at which time he was living in Noble Township, Rush County, Indiana.

John Carson had an uncle (name not given) who was living in Henry County, Virginia, during the Revolutionary War. There are no further data relative to soldier's family.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
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32/67
INVALID.
Rey
File No. 32,167
John Carson
Pri Rev was
Acr: June 7th 32"
index:--Vol.2, Page 65
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1909 June 14 Hist Lo
Blara M. Love V.L.M
1927, Ice 22 ist to
Mrs H.E. Hogsett MCS
Page 13

Pension of file in the Bureau. John Carson [unintelligible] File 32/67
Dates of Enlistment of Appointment | Length of Service. | Rank. | Officers Under Whom Service Was Rendered. Captain. Colonel. | State.
July 1780 | 3 mos. | Pri | Machnton | Va
Fall of 1780 | 7 mos. | | Mumford Davis |
Morgan Campbell
was detained in Levi Corps
Battles engaged in, skirmish on james River + Camden May 1781
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Drafted in Hayles Va
Date of application for pension, apr 10, 1833 His et was al
Residence at date of application, [unintelligible]
Age at date of application: may 3, 1761; late process of death not cheated
Page 14

1241 - 3rd. Ave.
Longmont Colo.
Dec 3 - 1937.
Mr. A.D. Hiller
Veterans Administration
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir,
Your reply to my letter re-
garding the Rev. service of the
CARSONS of Va. is at hand.
It is needless to say that I was very much disappointed in not getting
any information at all. Will try
once more.
Am trying to trace my Father's
line. He is now dead. I am a D.AR.
through my Mother's line, but natur-
ally wish my Father's line also.
Almost in fact all of my great
grandparents are gone. Have one grand
mother left in said line. She is 77
or 78 years old & not very well so I
feel I must get busy at once.
Even she does not know the
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2
given name of the Rev. Ancestor
but will know the line on up.
Our Rev. soldier had a son
John S. (Samuel) Carson born March
6 - 1794 - Died Dec. 13, 1877. It was
this mans Father who is the Rev.
soldier we are seeking. He could
have enlisted from N.C. as I know
some of them moved across the
line into this state, but I am
quite sure it was after the Rev.
The John Carson who enlisted
from Henry Co. Va. was born May
3 - 1761. died probably about 1843.
He was a pensioner. Married
Polly Lewis. Have heard of sons
Iseral & John. Can you verify
this? Something came to my attention
which caused me to think our Rev.
Ancestor was Samuel. However have
no proof at all of this.
Do not know whom any of the
other Rev. Carsons married or when
born. Of course their war records
will tell this. Ours must have had
a son John. Please help me out.
(over) Mrs. H. E. Hogsett
Page 16

My Grandmother spoke
of Lees and Jessups.

RECEIVED
DEC 6 1937
MAIL SUB-DIV
VETS. ADM.
READER #29
Page 17

Terre Haute, Ind.
May 31, 1909.
Sec. of Pension Department
Washington, DC.
Dear sir:
Have you
any record of a Revolution-
ary soldier, named John
Carson, who lived for several
years near Cincinnati Ohio,
and later moved to Ind-
iana where he died in
Franklin Co. in or near
1833?
His only living grandchild,
a great aunt of mine, is
sure that he was a revolu-
tionary patriot and soldier.
Page 18

Circumstances point but
the belief that he settled on
the Virginia reserve in
southern Ohio.
Will you let me know
what you can find about
as soon as possible. I thank
you in advance for the
trouble this will place you to.
Sincerely,
Clara M. Love.
1001 S. 10th St.
Terre Haute, Ind.

U.S. PENSION OFFICE A
JUN 1 1909
32167