Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7,287, for Shepherd Mize, Virginia
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Va.
CONTENTS
Mize, Shepherd
NUMBER
R.7.287
Page 2

No. 21727
Shepherd Mize
Ga.

did not serve 6 mo.
7287

Rejected - see let.
to Williamson + Storrs
Ap.l 16. 1833 -
Let. Wiley. Mize June 17/56.
Page 3

Weedowee Ala.
May24

[stamp?: THREE CENTS]

S. Cole
[illegible] Commissioner of
Pensions
Washington City D.C.

[following written perpendicular to above:]
Shepherd Mize
[illegible] 1832
Page 4

[crossed out: Act of July 14, 1862, and March 1873.]\[rubber stamp: REJECTED]

7287

P.O. 
Shepherd Mize
Service: [blank]
Enlisted: [blank}, 18
Discharged: [blank], 18
Application filed: [blank], 18
Alleges: [blank]
Re-enlisted: [blank]
Attorney: [blank]
P.O. [blank]
[blank] Recognized. [blank] Contract.
[blank] Cert. of Dis.  Searched for [blank], 18
Page 5

State of Alabama
Randolph County} S. Cole Commissioner
at the pension office

May 22d 1856 -
Sir in answer to your letter I wel State
in Relation to my fathers Revolutionary Services that
he sevd a Six months tower to wards the close of
that ware he died in the State of Georgia Decalb county
he left no widow he was married in the State of vergina
Lunenburg County my mother died in South carolina
union Dest in 1802 I dont Recollect any officer at the
present but Co.l Lee as his dis charge was destroyd.
by the burning of the house but is possable more can
be come at he died in the year 1836 in decalb county georgia

Respectfully yours [illegible]
Wiley Mize
Page 6

Shepherd Mize

[crossed out: 21697]
21727

[following written upside down from above:]

Trimble Clerk of [illegible]
that the foregoing
the application of 
whereof I [illegible]
26th day of [illegible]
Page 7

State of Georgia
County of Newton} s

On this Twentyfifth day of December ^1832^ personally appeared in open court before
the Judges of he Inferior ^court^ now siting Shepherd Mize a residen of Newton County and State of Georgia aged Seventy
one years who being ^first^ duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in
order to obtain ^the [illegible]^ of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
That he entered the service of the united states under the following [illegible] officers and send as here
in stated General Stephens commanded the Brigade + John Glenn commanded the
Ridgemont + William Collier [illegible] the company That he entered the service some time in
the month of September 1780: and that he left the same sometime in the month of January 1781
serving a tour of four months that at the time he entered the service he resided in Lunenburgh
County in the State of Virginia that he servd said tour as a drafted Militiaman that he
enlisted in the service of the united states on the 12th day of January 1781: under Col. Henry Lee
for three years or during the war and servd untill the 18th day of February 1781: when he received
a permit from Col. Lee to return home + remain untill fit for service or called by Col Lee
having been taken sick on the 18th February 1781: That the said [permit/pursuit?] was furloughed
by a regular officer that he remained sick and unfit for the service during the war that he
was in the battle at Georgetown that he marched through the States of North carolina and
South carolina That he served with Col Lee Continel Ridgemont That he Knew General
Green General Marian + Co.l Harry Continel officers That he has as documentary evidence
and that he knows of no person ^where testimony he can provide^ who can testify to his service
He hereby relinquishes any 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

his
x
Shepherd Mize

Sworn to + subscribed the day + year aforesaid
[illegible]
Page 8

Wm D Conyers [illegible]

We Cyrus White a clergyman residing in Jasper County and Samuel B Turner residing in Newton
County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Shepheard Mize who has subscribed
and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventyone 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 + subscribed the day + year aforesaid

Cyrus White Clergyman
S. B Turner

Wm D Conyers J. J. C

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and
after puting the [illegible] prescribed by the war department, that the above named
applicant was a revolutionary soldier and such as he states and the court further
certifies that it appears to them that Cyrus White who has signed the preceding certificates is
a clergyman resident in Jasper County and that Samuel, B, Turner who has also signed
the same is a resident of Newton County and is a creditable person + that their statement is entitled
to credit

Wm D Coners J. J. C
McCormick Neal J. J. C
H. Luckie J. J. C.
Page 9

I James Trible clerk of the Inferior Court of Said County 
do hereby Certify that the foregoing Contains the Original proceedings
in the matter of the application of Shepherd Mize for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Sent
of office This 26th day of December 1832

James Trimble
Clerk


[written upside down from above:]
Shepherd Mize
[crossed out: 21697]
21727
Page 10

Shepherd Mize
Georgia

No. 21727-
Rejected

[illegible] letter to agents -
Apl 16, 1133

[illegible text written under? the above]
Page 11

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 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 margins with a bracke, (thus: } ).  You will, when
you return your papers to the 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 Shepherd Mize

Period when the service was rendered.
Sept. 1780,
drafted

Duration of claimant's service.
4 Months

Rank of the claimant.
Pri.

Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.
Capt. W.m Collier

Names and Rank of the General and Field officers.
Gen.l Stephens
Col. Jno. Glenn
Col. Henry Lee

Battles in which the applicant was engaged.
Georgetown

Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period
71 years Lunenburgh County Virginia

Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary

Period when the service was rendered.
12. Jany 1781

Duration of claimant's service.
Years.
enlisted for 3. served till 18. Feby 1781

Rank of the claimant.
Pri.

Country through which he marched.
Through No. Ca
and So. Ca.


I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 13

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 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 bis 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 mouths 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 au embodied corps called into service by competent authority that lie 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 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 [j] 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.
Page 14

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12-5-41

Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

NAME Mize, William GRADE Private LINE Connecticut

WARRANT NUMBER 6145 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED Feb. 5, 1790
to - not shown -

*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are
registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records to applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800.
Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.