Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18111, for James Mc Donald, North Carolina
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State of South Carolina
Union District
for wit
On this 3rd day of October
1832 personally appeared in open
court before the Judge of the Court
Common Pleas and Sessions, now
setting for the District aforesaid, James
McDonald a resident in Union District
aged Seventy five years who being first
duly sworn according to Law, doth
his oath make the following
declaration in order to obtain the
benefit of the act of Congress passed
June 7, 1832. 
That he entered the service of the United States under 
following named officers and and herein Stated
I entered the Service in February 1776 in Rutherford
North Carolina, under Captain James M Fadden, and Col. Hampton and marched to Cross Creek (now called Fayette), and remaining some time - I was dismissed. I after joined the company commanded by Captain
Earle, and was stationed a while at Earls Fort, and then moved down to Fortenberry Station and from there
to Seneca Fort, then under command
of Colonel (afterwards General Williams) and
and from thence we even Marched home and dismissed. I cannot recollect
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the time employed in either of those
tours - I afterwards joined the the
company of Cavalry under Captain
Carruth, in Rutherford and served
about three months principally in
Rutherford, against the Indians as will 
as the British and Tories. I afterwards
joined the command of General McLow
in the company (I think) commanded
by Captain Whitesides and served
about three months on this Town -
and I was Elected an Ensign in which
Commission I served and untill our [illegible]
name, I was the Enched a Captain
in the milition, and held the
me till the end of the War, I ever
in active
June the turn to
the Nations of short duration, my
command was principally on the
frontier, and we were employ
at broken period, as Indian Spy
guard to the Forts, and on Patal &
excursions against the British and
to my, for several years and untill
the end of the war, but my recolleg
tion is too much unpaid to the
day I do herby relinquish my
claim whatever to a pension or an
only except the present and declare
that
my name is not on the pension
of the
agency of any State
In answer to the interagating
propounded by the Court I cusion
was born on the 29th November 1757
Roll
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3 
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 in 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. 
QUERE XIV. PROOF OF SERVICE. 
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. 
QUERE XVI. 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. In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.