Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R.286, Alexander Aston, N.C.
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SERVICE
N.C.

Aston, Alexander
or
Ashton

NUMBER
R.286

CONTENTS
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Alexander Aston
Declaration

(This page has heavy bleed through and is illegible.)
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832.

State of Alabama
Lawrence County 
     On this 15th day of July 1833 personally appeared before me James B. Wallace, Judge of the County Court of said County of Lawrence, at a stated session of said Court, now sitting at the Court house in said County Alexander Aston , a resident of the County & State aforesaid aged eighty-four years first being 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 under the following named officers and served as herein 
stated.  That he entered a volunteer and served in the Army as early as the year 1775 in the 
militia under the command of Captain Joseph Dixon, Robert Craughn (?) Lieutenant and James White Major & Colonel Rutherford,  commanded the Regiment.  This was in the County of Rowan State of North Carolina where he was born and raised.  first march was to a place called Snow Camps.  After serving under these officers for three months, he was appointed and commissioned Lieutenant of the Company in which he had served, to fill the vacancy of this said Lieutenant Craughn resigned.  His commission is lost and he does not (illegible).  The Company continued in service for five years and he continued to hold his Lieutenancy in the Company until disbanded, from the day of his promotion (say three months from the time he entered the service until promoted) he served as 
Lieutenant four years & nine months.  He was not discharged until after Cornwallis's defeat, 
which was some time after the battle at Guilford North Carolina his (illegible).  His memory is defective & he cannot state with certainty the time & date his company (then 
commanded by Captain James Huggins) was disbanded.  He was in a battle called Ramssower Mill fought against the Tories, who were commanded by Colonel Moore. He was at Gates defeat, near Camden South Carolina, where General De Kalb was killed.  He was at a Skirmish at Cowan's Ford, on the Catawba River, Rowan County North Carolina – at the time the British were crossing the River under 
Cornwallis, on his march to Guilford.  His commanding officer General Davidson a Continental officer who was killed, at this place.  Col. Rutherford was taken by the 
British a prisoner, at Gates defeat – and after his release declarant
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went as Lieutenant to Wilmington to destroy the Tories there.  He has no documentary evidence to prove his Service but his brother James Aston, can testify that he was in the Army of a private Soldier & officer as above stated, during the Revolutionary War.  He resided after the war about four years in the State of North Carolina.  He then moved to Abbeville District South Carolina, where he lived four or five years.  He then moved to Spartanburg district in the same State where he continued to reside until the year 1818.  He then moved to Tennessee Franklin County and remained one year – from thence he moved to the place where he now resides – Lawrence County Alabama and in which County this declaration is made and was not during the Services of his (balance of interlined text 
is illegible).  He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the 
present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the Agency of any State. 
     Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid. 
John I. Gregg, Clerk     
                   Alexander Aston

We Hugh Barr, a Clergyman of the neighborhood of declarant residing in said county of Lawrence , and William Jones, a resident in the same do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Alexander Aston who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be upwards of eighty years of age;  that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
John Gregg Clerk

Hugh Barr
William Jones

And the said court do hereby declare its opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department, that the above named applicant was a soldier of the revolution, and served as he states.  And the Court further certifies; that it appears to it that Hugh Barr, who signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the county of Lawrence aforesaid.  And that
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William Jones who has also signed the same is a resident in the same county - and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
                    James B. Wallace, Judge
                    County Court of Lawrence County

I James Aston of the County of Lawrence, Alabama do hereby declare and make an affidavit in open Court that my brother Alexander Aston, the above declarant, volunteered in the service of the United States at or about the commencement of the revolutionary war, and served as above 
stated by him, I saw him in the service at the Snow Camps – and was with him at the Battle at Ramsour's Mill & at Cowan's Ford & Tarrances and also the said Alexander Aston, Served as Lieutenant in the Company, stated in his declaration, from 1775 until the year 1780.  He was promoted to Lieutenant (document torn and text missing) months after entering the Service was (document torn and text missing) & served in the same Company, the (document torn and text missing). 
Sworn to and Subscribed in open Court. 
John Gregg, Clerk     
                             James Alston 

     I John Gregg, Clerk of the County Court, of the county of Lawrence, and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of alexander Aston for a pension.  And also that the witnesses are entitled to credit.
     In Testimony whereof, I have set my hand and seal of (missing word).
16th day of July 1838
John Gregg Clerk
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12.192
Alexander Aston
1 Alabama

Suspended

EC

D.A. Smith
Courtland
Thomas Coopwood
Moulton
Page 7

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office.
19th Oct  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 shew 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.

(written vertically)
Alex Ashton
Ala
286
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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 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 claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned offices, 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 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 

     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 first 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, if 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 or any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____.                         A.B.
     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 ________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) herby 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. 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 product 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 alleged service, as they are known at the Department.  A very full account of the services of each person alleged service, as they are known at the Department.  A very full account of the services of each person

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will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case.  The facts stated will afford one of the principal means or 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 ex-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?
     How were you called into service;  were you drafted, did you volution, 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 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 the 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.

(The following are small type footnotes at the bottom of the page.)

[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 claim cannot be had.  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 Just of the Peace, &c. A.B. who, being duly sworn deposeth and saith, that, by reason 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.
     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) herby 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. 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 product 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 alleged service, as they are known at the Department.  A very full account of the services of each person alleged service, as they are known at the Department.  A very full account of the services of each person

3
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case.  The facts stated will afford one of the principal means or 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 ex-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?
     How were you called into service;  were you drafted, did you volution, 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 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 the 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.

(The following are small type footnotes at the bottom of the page.)

[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 claim cannot be had.  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 Just of the Peace, &c. A.B. who, being duly sworn deposeth and saith, that, by reason 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 ribbons, 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.
     [j]  The notes from [a] to [i] are 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.


State of North Carolina
Secretary's Office
Page 9

 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 or 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?
     How were you called into service;  were you drafted, did you volution, 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 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.

(page is torn)
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 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 day 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 that that A.B. and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the --- and is a credit 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 n the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
Page 10

Ex'r.  INVALID.
OWN

REJECTED
Alexander Ashton
P.O.___
Service: ___
Enlisted: ___, 18
Discharged: ___, 18

Application filed: ___, 18

Alleges: ___
Re-enlisted: ___

Attorney:
P.O. ___
Page 11

Illegible.  Three black squares.
Page 12

Illegible.  One black square.
Page 13

Ala  Feb 14

James L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.
Page 14

Courtland Ala. Jan. 26

Dear Sir
     We send you enclosed the petitions of James & Abm Aston - Please inform us of the result.
             D.A. Smith & W.P. Mc
Page 15

I William Hill (paper is folded) State aforesaid, do certify that the name of Alexander Aston is not on the muster rolls of the continental line of this State in the Revolutionary War, or any other document in this office affording evidence of service in said line.
       Given under my hand
       this 11th day of Oct 1833
                   Wm. Hill
Page 16

The State of Alabama Lawrence County,
     This day personally appeared before me William White an acting Justice of the peace for the State and County aforesaid John Aston and Sayeth on his oath that he was personally acquainted with Alexander Aston the Clamant in the above Declaration in which he Claims a pention as being a revolutionary Soldier in the united States Servis and he further Sayeth that he new the said Alexander Aston to be frequently gon out of the Servis of the united States and Cuming home and that the Said clament Served as a Lieutenant in the Servis and that he has heard the Clament with a grait many others say that he was a Commanding officer in the revolutionary war and further Sayeth that he new the Said Alexander Aston to be at the battle at Cowens Ford on Catawba River in the State of North Carolinea and at Tarrances in Said State and further the deponent Sayeth not.  November the 19th day 1834.  John Aston

Sworn and Subscribed to before me the day and date above written William White an acting Justice of the peace for the State and County aforesaid and I further more do Certify that I have been acquainted with John Aston twelve years or more and I do think that he is a man of truth and he stands fair amongst his acquaintance.  Given under my hand and Seal November the 19th 1834
                            William White JP  (seal) 

State of Alabama
Lawrence County
     I John Gregg Clerk of the County Court of said County do hereby certify that William White Esquire whose name appears above is and was at the time of subscribing his name thereto a Justice of the Peace in & for said county duly commissioned & qualified and that all his official acts as such are entitled to implicit faith & credit.
(seal)
     In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed my seal of office at office the 20th day of January and of American independence the 57th year.
Teste   John Gregg clerk
Page 17

Further testimony -
Alex. Aston's 
application
for pension.
Page 18

State of South Carolina, Abbeville District 
Be it known that on this eighth day of June 1836, before me James A. Black a Justice of 
the Quorum in and for the District aforesaid personally appeared Thomas Milford (a resident of Abbeville District and pensioner of the United States) aged eighty years and upon being duly Sworn on his oath saith that he was well acquainted with Alexander Astin during the Revolutionary war, that the said Alexander Astin did reside in Mecklenburg County North 
Carolina during the times of the war, that to his personal Knowledge the said Alexander Astin was a good Soldier for the cause of liberty that to his certain Knowledge he did Serve in what was called the Snowy Campaign for the term of three months as he thinks in the year 1779 (as he thinks) he further saith that he was in the Camp with him in 1781 for about 15 days and was with him when the British under Lord Cornwallis crossed the Catawba River, on the day that General 
Davidson fell – that to his Knowledge he was frequently out in the Service and part of that time he served as a Lieutenant that he
Page 19

always maintained the character of a good & faithful Soldier. 
Sworn to and Subscribed this eighth day of June 1836 before me. 
James A. Black, JQ    
                            Thomas Milford 

The State of South Carolina
Abbeville District
     I Robert H. Wardlaw Deputy Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the District aforesaid do hereby certify unto all whom it may concern that James A. Black before whom the foregoing affidavit was made is an acting Justice of the Quorum in and for the said District; and all due faith and credit are and ought to be given to his acts as such and that the above signature purporting to be his is genuine.
     Given under my hand and Seal of Office at Abbeville Court House this eighth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six.
                     Robert H. Wardlaw
                     Deputy Clerk
Page 20

L782 - 15th Mch '38
Pension Office
Mo. Al.


Free

Hon. J.R. Poinsett
Secretary of War
Washington City
D.C.
Page 21

Moulton Alabama
Feby. 24th 1838
Hon. Joel R. Poinsett, Secretary of War
Sir
     I have been recently applied to by two old gentleman by name Alexander & James Aston who some years since, perhaps in 1835 forwarded their claims for a pension under the act of 1832 to your department, to ascertain from you what steps, if any, have been taken upon their applications.
     They inform me that some time in the year 1836 the Department advised them that additional proof would be required before their pension certificates could issue - that in pursuance of this advise they sent an agent to South Carolina (the State of their former residence) and obtained the evidence of Thos Melford of Abbeville and John Melford of Anderson district, who were their fellow soldiers in the war of the Revolution, and both of whom are on the pension roll - that these documents were procured in June 1836 and shortly afterwards put into the possession of David A. Smith Esqr. of Courtland who forwarded them to the Department, and no information has since been received either by Mr. Smith or themselves upon the subject.
Page 22

I would be great obliged to you for information as to the present situation of their claims, and if any further proof be necessary to advise me of it, and the manner of correctly procuring it - Should their claims have been heretofore allowed, you will please cause their pension certificates to be forwarded to me, or themselves at this place.
                Very Respectfully
                D.G. Ligon

Hon. J.R. Poinsett
Secr of War
Washington City
D.C.