Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10,861, Samuel Van Etten, N.C.
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State of North Carolina          Novr 21st  AD 1844
Iredell County

This day personally appeared David Haire before me Wm. R. Everett one of the acting justices of the peace in and for said county, and maid oath in due dorm of Law and that the said David Haire togeather with Samuel Van Eaton served a tower of five months in the Revolutionary force under Capt. Armstrong and that the forgoing saw Samuel Van Eaton out at other times but is not able to testafy how long owing to failure of memory
Wm. R. Everett JP            David   O   Haire
                                                   his mark

I take the liberty of stateing that the tennacity of David Haire is not to be doubted as I have known him for many years to be a dandid upright man.                    Wm. R. Everett
W.L. Van Eaton
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Pension Office
Oct 9th 1844

Sir, 
        I herewith declare the reglations and forms under Act June 7th 1832 as requested in your letter of the 28th ulto.     
                
I am Sir
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servt.
J..L. Edwards



Mr. D. M. Barringer
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 1832 --
State of North Carolina
County of Davie

On this 2d day of December 1844 personally appeared before me Richmond M. Pearson one of the judges of the Superior Courts of Law and Equity in and for the State of North Carolina which court is a court of Record, Samuel Van Eaton aged Eighty three years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832    - 
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated:  That he volunteered under Captain David Caldwell in Rowan County and went to the mouth of Rocky River and attacked a parcel of Tories and defeated them and made them run, at which time and place Col William Davidson received a wound in his side which made him very sick, but did not prove fatal.  I was out this time three weeks.  At another time Capt. David Caldwell collected a company of men at a place called Liberty Hill in Rowan County, now Davie County, expecting to be attacked by the Tories.  I was one of the number.  We pitched our camp waiting the attack, but contrary to our expectations they took the other end of the road and crossed the
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Yadkin River at Boones Ford, and Col Cleaveland of Wilkes County came on with his men and joined us and we pursued them for some distance and had the fun of imprisoning Elias Lovelace, a Tory in a hollow chesnut tree.  At this time we were out four weeks.  I volunteered at New Providence below Charlotte to go to surprise a party of Tories who had collected near Lord Cornwallis camp.  We marched under Captain David Ramsey the whole night, came upon the Tories next morning about sun rise, fired upon them - killed some and made the rest run.  On this occasion several balls passed through the clothes of Col. William R. Davie, but none of them struck the skin.  I was on my way to Cowan's Ford on the Catawba River where the British crossed at that place, but did not reach there in time for the engagement.  At this place Col. Davidson was killed.  I volunteered and served a tour of three months under Capt. James Byers from whom I received a certificate of discharge, the only one I ever did receive, which I supposed was burnt through mistake when I burnt many other papers which I deemed useless.  I also served a campaign of Five months under Captain Abel Armstrong in the upper part of North and South Carolina.  My serving more as a volunteer.  I served under Capt. Byers the three months campaign above spoken of principally in the Waxaw settlement in South Carolina.  I entered the service of my country in the year 1778 and left it on the 7 day of February 1781 during which time I was out much the greater
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portion of my time on short terms of serviice occasionally coming home to see my friends and to get fresh supplies of clothing etc.  I served under the following officers: Capt Thomas Cowan, Capt Richard Graham, Capt David Ramsey, Capt. William Wilson Capt Abel Armstrong.  Capt James Byers, Capt David Caldwell while he was Captain and after he became Colonel, Col. Cleb Phifer and Col. William R Davie afterwards Gen. Davie.  But the precise length of time I served under each officer, the dates of each term of service and the different skirmishes I was in I am unable to state owing to the frailty of my memory.  When I served my country it was not for the pay I expected to receive, but for the good the cause, and consequently I kept no regular account of my services and neglected in most instances to take proper discharges.  I further state I have no Documentary evidence of my services and I know of no persons whose testimony I can procure except that of David Hare whose affidavit is hereunto attached.  I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and I declare that my name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any state.  I further state that I held no commission during my service in the army.  I have a record of my age. Was born on the 19 Nov. 1741 in North Hampton County Penn.  Came to North Carolina Rowan County now Davie County with my father in 1775 and have resided in the same neighbourhood ever since.
Sworn to and subscribed the date above written.                 Samuel Van Etten 
Richmond N. Pearson Clk.
We William A. Hale a clergyman residing in the county of Davie North Carolina and Daniel Dwiggins a clergyman residing in the county and state
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aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Samuel Van Eaton who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration: that we believe him to b eighty three years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier in the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Richmond M. Pearson J.L.M.      Daniel Dwiggins
                                                  Wm. A. Hall       
And I the said Richmond M. Pearson Judge as aforesaid do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interogatories prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states.  And I further certify that it is personally known to me that William A. Hall and Daniel Dwiggins who signed the preceding certificate are both clergymen resident in the said county of David that they are credible persons and their statement entitled to credit.
Richmond M. Pearson J. L. M.      

I L R Rose Clerk of the Superior Court of Law for the county of Davie in the state of North Carolina hereby certify that Richmond M. Pearson whose name appears to the foregoing certificate is and was at the time of signing the same one of the judges assigned by law to hold said court and that the same is a court of Record.  I  testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of my office this 4 day of December 1844.
                            L. R. Rose Clk.