Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7113, for Frederick Meltz, North Carolina
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
N.C.
Meltz, Frederick
NUMBER
R. 7113
CONTENTS
[blank]
Page 2

STATEOF GEORGIA, }
County of Washington }
On the Tenth day of December 1832 personally appeared in open court, before the Inferior Court, sitting for Ordinary purposes, of the county of Washington now sitting Frederick Meltz, a resident of the county of Washington and State aforesaid, aged eight one years, who 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: He enlisted in the month of January seventeen hundred and seventy nine as orderly Sergeant and served under Captain Harmon Herrin, Lieut. James Wilson, Colonel John Heritage, Major John Allen, General Linenton. That he marched through different parts of the State of North Carolina and once to South Key [Quay] in Virginia, Served ten months and was discharged was not in any battle but in several skirmishes. 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.
[Signatures]
Samuel Robison J.J.C.      Fred'k.  Meltz
Silas Floyd J.J.C.
G. J. Martin J.J.C.
We Silas Cartar a Clergyman residing in the the County of Washington and State of Georgia and Thomas Neely residing in the same - hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Fredrick Meltz who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration - that we believe him to be 81 year 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.  [Signatures] Silas Cartar Clergyman
Thos. Neely 
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 that Silas Cartar who has signed the proceeding certificate is a Clergyman, resident tin the county of Washington and that that Thos. Neely who also has signed the same, is a resident in the same county and State aforesaid, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
[Signatures] Samuel Robison J.J.C. Silas Floyd J.J.C. T J Matthew J.J.C.
I Sherrod Sessions Deputy Clerk of the said Court of Ordinary do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Fred. Meltz for a pension .
IN TESTIMONEY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and private Seal there being no seal of office this tenth day of December 1832
[Signature] Sherrod Sessions D.C.C.O. [Seal]
Page 3


Frederick Meltz
Georgia
No. 21743
Rev
[water spot] l.m.
Sherrod Sessions Clk,
Sandersville,Ga
Washington Co, Ga.
Page 4

War Department, 
Pension Office,
April 13th 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 show what is necessary to be done. These 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 Frederick Meltz
Period when the service was rendered
January 1779 enlisted
Duration of the claimant's service. Years. Months. 10 Days. 
Rank of the claimant. 
Orderly Sergeant
Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. 
Capt. Harmon Herrin
Names and Rank of the General and Field officers.
Col. 2nd. Heritage Maj. John Allen [illegible word]Lin =Minton
Battles in which the applicant  was engaged. 
Country through which he marched.
Through different parts of So.Ca. and once to South Key Ga. 
Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.
81 years
Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary. 
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J.L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pension.
Page 5

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 officers, mucicians [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 }
County of  } ss.
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 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. [hand pointing right] 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    , 
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 alleged service, as they are known in the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
Page 6

3
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 Office 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 vey 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 the low the rule laid down for his guidance. [b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should not do so, he must answers of 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 he Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of 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 with a 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 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.}
[hand pointed right] 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 is 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.}

# As the applicants name is not found upon the rolls he will be required to prove his service as above
Page 7

Georgia } We, John Webb a clergyman residing in
Washington County } the county and State aforesaid and Frederick [illegible] hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Frederick Meltz who has Sworn to and Subscribed the above declaration that we believe him to be eighty one years of age that he is repute and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that w concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and Subscribed this 2nd day of September 1833
[Signatures]Silas Floyd J.J.C.
Bryant Oquin J.J.C.W.C.
Samuel Robison J.J.C. John Webb clergy
Fred'k [illegible]

[Signature] Sherrod Sessions D.C.I.C.
Page 8

State of Georgia } On this 2nd day of September
Washington County } 1833 personally appeared Fedrick [Fredrick] Meltz before the court of Ordinary a residentary [resident] of the State and County aforesaid and Eighty one 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 the 7th 1832 that he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1779 in the month of January as orderly Sergeant in the North Carolina State Troops under Captain Harmon Herren and served Linenton as such and was discharged John Heritage was the Colonel Major John Allen General Linenton commanded the Militia was dismissed in the month of December following (after the enlistment) this deponent resided in Craven County North Carolina when he enlisted Marched through Duplin Dobbs & Hanover Counties was in no engagements.

A Statement Showing the service of Fedrick [Fredrick] Meltz

[Headings]
Period when the service was rendered. | Duration of the Service. | Rank of the Claimant. | Names & Ranks/the comp. officer under who he served.| Names & rank of the Genl. & held officers. | Battles which the applicant was engaged | Country through which he marched. | Place of abode when he entered service & age at the present Period. | evidence by which the declaration is supported
January 1779 Enlisted | 10 mos. | orderly Sergeant | Capt. Hammon Herring | Col. John Heritage Major John Allen Gen'l Linenton | [blank] | Dobb, Duplin, Hanover County N. Carolina | Craven County N. Carolina 81
years | Traditionary

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of any agency of any State or Territory. Sworn to and subscribed in open court the day and year aforesaid
[Signatures] Fred'k. Meltz
Bryant Oquin J.J.C.
Silas Floyd J.J.C.H.C.
Page 9

Answers to the intterogatores [interrogatories] as prescribed by the war department - 
Interogtory [Interrogatory] 1st answer, In Craven County North Carolina in 1731
Interrogatory 2nd I have it is at home on my Bible
Interrogatory 3rd In Craven County N.C. in the State of Georgia and now lives in Washington County Georgia
Interrogatory 4th I enlisted in the State Troop - 
Interrogatory 5th I was not with the regular Troops but [cut off] little recollect none of there [their] names was engaged harassing the Tories -  
Interrogatory 6th never received a written was verbally dismissed by Capt. Herring.
7th Windfield Wright John Webb Richard Mortin John Wright and Ambross Powell

And the said court do hereby declair [declare] their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interogtaories [interrogatories] prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary Soldier and Served as he states and the court further certify that it appears to them that [Signatures]
Samuel Robison J.J.C.
Bryant Oquin J.J.C.
Silas Floyd J.J.C.H.C.
Page 10

7113
Fredrick Meltz
REJECTED
Page 11

State of Georgia } Personally appeared before me
Washington  County } Samuel Robison one of the Justices of the Inferior Court for the county and State aforesaid Fedrick [Fredrick] Meltz and after being duly sworn according to Law makes the following Statements in addition to those made on the Tenth day of December 1832 and on the Second day of September 1833 in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed the 7th June 1832 That in using the word Enlist in his declaration of the 2nd September 1833 he never intended to mean that he Enlisted as a regular ( or continental) Soldier but that he did enter the service of the United States as a Militia Soldier in the North Carolina Stat Troops in the month of January 1779 - in the company commanded by Captain Harmon Herring as first (or ordly) Sargant and served in that capacity for the term of Ten months as stated in his said declaration of September 2nd 1833 and this deponent further saith that So many years having elapsed Since his removal from his native country and former acquaintances, that there is no one that this deponent now knows of by whom he could prove his services. Sworn and subscribed to before me this 21st day of February 1837. [Signatures] [illegible]
Samuel Robison J.J.C.
Page 12

I Samuel Robison one of the Justices of the inferior Court of Washington County State of Georgia do certify that I have been acquainted Fedrick Meltz who has this day appeared before e and taken and subscribed the proceeding oath, and that I have always understood that he was a Soldier in the revolutionary war and that I never heard it doubted by anyone and that he lives in Washington County State of Georgia and is a credible man and that his statement is entitled to credit.
Given under m hand this 21st day of February 1837.
[Signature] Samuel Robison J.J.C.W.C.

State of Georgia } I Augustus Jernegan clerk of
Washington County } the Superior Court of Washington County do certify that Samuel Robison is a magistrate as above and that the foregoing Signature purporting to be his is genuine In Testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my hand and the Seal of Said Court at Office in Sandersville this 22nd day of February 1837. [Signature]
S. Augustus Jernegan Clerk of Superior Court W.C.
Page 13

Frederick Meltz
Georgia
Sus see let Hon.ble Thomas Glascock
March. 16. 1837
7113

Act 7 June '32