Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 32514, for Christian Shores, South Carolina
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S.C.
Shores, Christian
S 32514
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92801
Indiana
Christian Shores of Clark Co in the state of Indiana who was a private in the Com, commanded by Captain Robertson of the reg't commanded by Col Bathunter {illegible] in the Marion's line for 6 months and 7 days.

Date of death not on AB
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Page is inverted:

Charleston [illegible]
May {illegible]
Hon.Lewis [illegible]
Secretary of War
Washington City
Pension Office

remainder of text is illegible
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State of Indiana
Clark County
    On this twenty seventh day of April 1833 personally appeared in open court before the Hon. John H [illegible] Resident Judge of the said Clark County Circuit Court, and John [illegible] and Samuel Rather Esquires his [illegible] now sitting, Christian Shores a resident of said County of Clark and state of Indiana aged eighty nine years on the 11th of July next who first being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832.
    That he served a tour of three months in the state of South Carolina as a drafted Militiaman commencing in the month of December in the year [blank] under Captain Robertson who was under the command of Col Martin Armstrong and Major john Armstrong two brother Militia officers this service and tour of three months was performed at time when the British were expected to land at Charleston in said state but did not. That he was not in any genl engagement during this tour the year not recollected, that he served a tour of two months during the same year in the state of South Carolina under the command of Henry Smith as his Captain his Lieutenants name was John Pinkley his Col name was Martin Armstrong all Militia officers he was [illegible] during the time in guarding the [illegible] at the [illegible] town in the county of [illegible], was in no general engagements it was the same year of the battle of Guildford, that he served one month and seven days on a tour against the tories in the state of North Carolina under the command of Henry Smith as his Captain and Lieutenant Pinkley same Col as before this was all the service that he performed for the [illegible] State during the period of the revolutionary war making together the term of six months and seven days he cannot recollect with sufficient distinction to state the years in which said service was performed but knows distinctly that it was in the year of the revolution of the United States against Great Britain and before the conclusion of peace that his service as above was in each tour a drafted Militia man that he received no written discharge from service, that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows no person by whose testimony he can prove or that he can procure to certify to his services that there is no clergyman with whom he has sufficient acquaintance to certify to his services or their belief of the same as there is no such character resident in his immediate settlement or neighborhood, that he will be able to prove by [illegible]
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Newgent Esquire  and  Richard Slider  two of his neighbors  their belief in the truth of this his declaration  he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that this name is not on the pension roll of an agency of any State. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid  . Christian Shores ( signed )  We Benedict Newgent  a Justice of the peace in and for the  Count of Clark and State of Indiana  and  Richard Slider  hereby certify that we are well acquainted with  Christian  Shores who has subscribed and sworn tote  above declaration, that we believe him  to be eighty nine years of age as he has stated, 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. Bennet. Newgent  ( signed ) Ricard Slider ( his mark X )  And the said Court  do hereby certify and declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter , and after putting the  interrogatories prescribed by the war department, that the above name applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And further the said Court  certifies that it appears to them that  Benedict Newgent  Esq.  and  Richard Slider who has signed the preceding certificate are residents in the  County of Clark aforesaid  & are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.  I, Henry Harrod  clerk of the Circuit Court of Clark County   Indiana do hereby certify that  the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the  said  Court in the matter of the application of Christian Shores for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my  hand and seal of office this 27 day of April 1833. Test Henry  Harrod ( signed / sealed ) Clk
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Charleston  25 May  1833 Hon. Sir, On this  sheet I transmit to you the declaration  of  Christian Shores an aged and  respectable  man , but a very needy  one in deed, Should the pittance asked for  by him be allowed, it would be truly  gratifying if he could  know that fact in as short a time as convenient, Address me at Charleston  Clark County   State of Indiana ,  accept  Sir  appearances of much esteem from your obt. servt. Jno H Thompson  ( signed )   Hon. Lewis Cass
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26.716 Christian Shores Clark County Indiana  From  - private  16 months 7 days  $ 20.77 / 100  10.38 X 5 = 51. 92 John H. Thompson Charlestown Indiana
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WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office

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, showing the service of Christian Shores
========================================================
Period when the  service was  rendered.   
1781                                                                                                                                                  
Duration of the  claimant's service. Year. Months. Days.
3 Months
2 Months
1 Month 7 Days        
Rank of the Claimant.   
Pr
 
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.   
1781
3 Months                  Cap Robertson 
                                     Col Armstrong

2 Months                  Capt Smith
                                     Col Armstrong

1 Month 7 Days       Capt Smith   
                                     Col Armstrong

Age at present,  and place of abode when he entered the service.
89
S.C.

Proof by which  the declaration is supported.
Traditionary                                                                                                                                  


I am respectfully,
Your obedient servant,

J L Edwards,
Commissioner of Pensions
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REGULATION 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 served 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 claim
ing 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} ss.
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_______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 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 certifies, 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
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 Solder.     } 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 be come 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
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 place 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 
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 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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January 5, 1938

Miss Mary Carr Guernsey
Charleston
Indiana

Christian Shores
S. 32614
BA-J/MLB

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary Was record of Christian Shores who, you state, served in the South Carolina Troops and was pensioned while a resident of Clark County, Indiana.
     Christian Shores was born July 11, 1766; the place of his birth and names of his parents are not shown.
     Christian Shores enlisted in December of the year in which Charleston, South Carolina, was threatened with an attack from the British which did not materialize, and served a tour of three months under Captain Robertson and Colonel Martin Armstrong, stationed in South Carolina. He served a tour of two months at the old Moravian town in Stokes County, North Carolina, as private under Captain Henry Smith and Colonel Martin Armstrong, engaged in guarding the magazine there. He served, also, a tour of one month seven days in the same year as the battle of Guilford, as a private under Captain Henry Smith and Colonel Martin Armstrong.
    The soldier was allowed pension on his application executed April 29, 1835, while a resident of Clark County, Indiana.
    It is not stated whether Christian Shores ever married.
    In order to obtain date of the last payment of pension, the name and address of the person paid and possibly the date of death of this soldier, you should write to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office.
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Record Division, Washington, D.C., and site the following data:

Christian Shores
Certificate #22081
Issued October 1, 1835
[illegible] .99 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1851
Act June 7, 1832
Indiana Agency.

Very Truly Yours
A.D. Miller
Executive Assistant the the Administrator
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( left page )  1936  Jan 5 -   Hist. to  Mrs. Mary  Carr  Guernsey  - JLB  ( right page )  32514 Revy INVALID File No. 32, 514 Christian Shores Pri Rev War Act : June 7  ' 32 Index: - Vol. 8 Page 366 [ Arrangement of 1870 ]
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Charleston, Indiana
December 28, 1937

Veteran's Administration
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sirs:
     Please send me the services of Christian Shores who was a private in South Carolina Troops and who's pensioned in 1831, while a resident of Clark County, Indiana.
    Thanking you for the favor,
Sincerely, Mary Carr Guernsey