Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 30,007, John Gaston, S.C.
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(3-1776)

SERVICE
S.C.

Gaston, John
Janet

NUMBER
W. 30,007

CONTENTS
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(left side)
335
Illinois
Janet Gaston widow of John Gaston of Jefferson Co in the State of Illinois who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Steel of the regt commanded by Col. --- in the S. Carolina mil line for 6 months

John Gaston

Inscribed on the Roll of Illinois at the rate of 20 Dollars -- Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Decr 1836 and sent to M. Cunningham Salem, Illinois

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1836 $110--
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 Mch 37  10.--
$120.--

Revolutionary Claim, July 4, 1836

Recorded by Wm S Allison Clerk
Book (blank)  Vol. 1 Page 206

(right side)
Dead
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6 April 1838 from 4 March 1838 to 4 Aug 1839. Agt notified 11 Nov 1841.
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No. 467 3 Sec. 
Declaration & testimony in favour of widow Jennet Gaston for a pension 
(written vertically left margin)
Jenet Gaston Illinois Act 4 July 1836

Admitted for 6 mo $20.
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State of Illinois Jefferson County SS
On this twelfth day of September 1836 personally appeared before the Judge of the Court of Probate of the County and state aforesaid. Jennet Gaston a resident of Jefferson County and state of Illinois aged ninety four years, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed July 4th, 1836. That she is the widow of John Gaston decd late of Chester District state of S. Carolina who was a private of the mounted militia under the command of General Sumpter. That previous to General Sumpters organization he the said John Gaston performed sever tours of duty to suppress the collection of tories and one tower of three months against the Cherokee Indians, officers not recollected, that Captain McClure was the Captain he served under first, and after he the said Capt. McClure was killed, Captain Steel commanded, previous to the battle of Rockey Mount he the sd John Gaston was taken prisoner and in a few days parolled. yet ventured to aid in that Battle of Rockey Mount and that of hanging-rock the sabbath following where he had two brothers fell and one wounded, he had another brother fell at Savannah as Captain of a regular Company. That the said John Gaston being a quack doctor was employed by General Sumpter to dress the wounds he the said General received at Broadriver, and was from that time with the person of General Sumpter to the best of her recollection as a surgeon till after the Battle of Eutaw Springs, when he was dismissed. That the said John Gaston was in five or six battles and skirmishes and was five years in the service of his country without ever receiving a compensation. 
She further declares that she was married to the said John Gaston previous to the revolutionary war. That the record of their marriage was lost when the British and Tories robbed them of nearly all their property, But that she recollects their third child was born the first day of January one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven. That she has no record of the services of her husband the said John Gaston decd.
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That he the said John Gaston her husband died sometime in January one thousand and eight, and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
Jennet Gaston X her mark

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me this 12th day of September 1836
Joel Pace Judge of Probate

The following questions were put to the above Jennet Gaston while on oath.
What was your maiden name? Ansr. Jannet Knox
By whom were you married? Ans By Father-in-law John Gaston senr. Esquire
Of what complaint did your husband the aforesaid John Gaston die? Ans. The Influenza.
Jannet Gaston X her mark

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me this 12th day of September 1836
Joel Pace Judge of Probate

I do hereby certify that the affiant Jannet Gaston is a woman of good moral character and reputed veracity. That I believe her too infirm to attend Court and that I have no hesitation in believing the testimony set forth in her declaration and answers to the following questions thereto, to be substantially correct. Given under my hand and private public one provided at office seal this 13th day of September AD 1836
Joel Pace Judge of Probate
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State of Illinois Jefferson County SS
Personally appeared before the Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Jefferson and state aforesaid. The Hon. Zadoc Casey and Edward Maxya preacher of the gospel who after being duly sworn according to law doth on their oath certify that the person making the foregoing declaration the widow Jannet Gaston of Jefferson County and state of Illinois is a woman of good moral character and her testimony in the foregoing annexed declaration corresponding with common report Viz. (That her husband John Gaston decd was a soldier in the revolutionary war and that she has remained a widow ever since his decease.) That we have no hesitation in stating our belief in the testimony set forth as before to be substantially true.
Zadok Casey
Edward Maxey

Sworn to and subscribed this fifteenth day of October 1836 before 
Joel Pace Judge of Probate

State of Illinois Jefferson County SS
I do hereby certify that Joel Pace whose name appeared to the above certificate is Judge of the court of Probate in and for the County of Jefferson and state aforesaid. Given under my hand at the Court aforesaid this 15th day of October 1836
Zadok Casey
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State of Illinois Marion County SS
Personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace of Marion County state aforesaid, William Gaston Senr. and after being duly sworn according to law saith that he the witness was acquainted with John Gaston decd husband of the applicant for the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 4th 1836 the now widow Jannet Gaston, previous to the revolution war. That before the marriage of the sd John Gaston and Jannet Knox they lived in fishing creek Chester County state of South Carolina, they were married the fall f 1768. That the said John Gaston decd was a private in the mounted militia under Capt McClure and the fighting commenced sometime in the year 1774 and seventy five. That the first campain was the Snowy Camps that after performing several routs they were regularly organized under Gen Sumpter, before the Battles of Rocky Mount and Hangingrock. That the said John Gaston was in those battles and was a faithfull soldier and true whig till the close of the war. That the said John Gaston had three brothers killed and one wounded in that war and was once robbed by the British and tories of nearly all their property. That the witness made their house his home from the organization of Sumpter till after the war. That the said John
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Gaston has been dead above twenty years and that the applicant to widow Jannet Gaston of Jefferson County state of Ilinois is the widow of the said John Gaston decd and never has been married again to any other person whatever.
William Gaston X his mark

Sworn to and subscribed on the 22d day of August 1836 before 
Josiah Fiske JP

I do hereby certify that the affiant William Gaston is an old gentleman of good moral character and unimpeachable veracity (now pensioner of the revolution) and entitled to the highest confidence and I believe him to be too infirm to attend Court
Josiah Fiske JP

State of Illinois Marion County 
I William W Pace Clerk of the Circuit Court in and for said County do hereby certify that Josiah Fiske whose signature appears to the above certificate is and was at the time of signing the same and acting Justice of the Peace and that due faith and credit is and ought to be given to all his official acts as such and the above is a proper signature.  Sworn under my hand and seal of office at Salem this 22nd day of August 1836
Wm. W. Pace Clerk
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Rev War Section.
November 5, 1920.

Amy B. Charlton,
Salem, Illinois.

Madam;

In response to your letter dated the 26"" ultimo, you are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim W. File No. 30, 007 that John Gaston the son of John Gaston and a resident of Fishing Creek, Chester District, South Carolina, served under Captains McClure and Steel and also as a Private in the Mounted Militia under General Sumter about five years, dates of
enlistment and discharge not stated. He was engaged in the battles of Rocky Mount, Hanging Rock, Eutaw Springs and others, names not mentioned. Two of his brothers were killed at the battle of Hanging Rock and another, a Captain at Savannah, but their names are not given.

He married in the fall of 1762 Jannet Knox and died in January 1808. She was allowed pension on her
application executed September 12, 1838, while residing with her widowed daughter in Jefferson County, Illinois, aged ninety-four years. Other children are referred to but no names are stated.
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The above noted is the only John Gaston found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau

Very Respectfully
F.D. Byington
Acting Commissioner
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[envelope]
free
War Department
Pension office
Washington D.C.

Jordans' Prairie Ill
Oct 22

Nov 3
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Marion County Illinois Oct 19th 1836
Sir,
After considering on the declaration of the Widow Jannet Gaston placed in the mail for your inspection, as the letter of the law is not complied with, I have thought this explanation no intrusion, her affliction of Rheumatism the time of the Circuit Court made it impracticable for her to in taken to Court and the business of two counties per week occupies all the time of said Court. The Court of probate the only Court of record in the County that could visit her - legally as County Court Commissioners are not authorized to take depositions, and justices of the peace not considered here a Court of record - The Hon. Judge of the Court of probate is Clerk of both Circuit, and County
Courts, and he did not consider that officially as Clerk of either he could certify to the official character of the Court of Probate whose appointment is by the Governor &c. - The Hon Zadok Casey said that the spirit of the law was to prevent fraud, and that in other cases respecting claims of horses lost in the war, the certificate of a member of Congress was receivable-- this the Hon J. Casey's personally knowing the Hon. Joel Pace to be Judge of the Court of probate was the best certificate that could be devised,

Therefore hoping that the evidence before you will be considered filling the spirit of the law, and no fraud in the case, I will look for a favourable return, If not be pleased to give instructions that is obtainable in our wilderness Country-- Respectfully yours &C
M. Cunningham

the Hon Commissioner of Pensions
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[envelope]
[illegible] Ill  free
Oct 18

War Department
Pension Office
Washington City

Mr. James L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Nov 1
Ill
4th July 1836
3 Sec
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State of Illinois Marion County
September 22d 1836
Sir
Inclosed is the application of the widow Jannet Gaston for a pension under the act passed July 4th of the present year. I have attended personally to all the examinations of the applicant and witnesses, and in making out the declaration and testimony, have omitted what might otherwise been requisite, where from want of memory they could not be positive, although the prolonging of her case might forever deprive her from the tribute of her government yet any thing necessary will be promptly attended to by your notice to the undersigned

The most important is left with you respecting her husbands being a Surgeon of surgeons mate to General Sumpter, she knows nothing of rank and it is for you to say from the facts she has stated

This heroine of the revolution Jannet Gaston widow of John Gaston Decd appears to have done everything but fight in the revolutionary war, she is the same who memorialized Congress in 34 where in her memorial that was laid before the Committee of pensions by motion of the Hon. J. Casey as
notice in the daily Globe published by Blair and River Washington City, Wednesday December 17th 1832 she exhibited a number of her services, and I would respectfully suggest that If any widows of the revolution were entitled to much, she more. I believe it was her memorial that erected the action of the Congress thereon, as it may, as I have no personal Interest whatever in her getting any thing but a sense of gratitude we
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owe to those who contributed anything to the blessings of freedom we now enjoy. She lives with her
widowed daughter whose circumstances does not allow her to do as much for her as she deserves I have no blood relation to her whatever but at the request of the friends and neighbors, I have undertook to a the little writing for her; we have no lawyers living near; and any awkwardness of a farmer will be overlooked when we consider the object for whom we discharge a duty.

Please forward your returns enclosed to the undersigned Salem, Marion County Illinois
I have the honor to be respectfully your obedient &C

M. Cunningham
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Second Comptroller's Office
October 25th 1841
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States, Admr of Janet Gaston, decd a Pensioner on the Roll of the Care, Illinois Agency, at
the rate of Twenty Dollars per annum, under the law of the 4th July 1836, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March 1838 to the 18th August 1839.
Respectfully yours
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.

To the Commissioner of Pensions
Present.
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[envelope]
Salem Ill  Free
Dec 5 

J.L. Edwards Esq.
War department
Pension office
Washington City

Dec 9
4 July 36

Janet Gaston Ill
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Salem Marian County
State of Illinois
Nov. 30th 1835
Sir
yours of the 4th Inst was read the 25th I have waited on Janet Gaston to see if facts could be collected. Her mind is very scattering and she [illegible] too much to come at any thing more satisfactory then already set forth in her declaration, that could be properly arranged require a
better acquaintance with the history of those times then I have in possession by frequently challenging former statements she will come to a positive but then that is appointed with some time where something more prominent is retained

I have forwarded a note to the Comptroller General of Carolina at Columbia also learning lately that her Brother in law Joseph Gaston Esqr of Chester District Carolina is still alive in tolerable good mind, I have addressed a note to him for what particulars he can inform of, respecting particularly John Gaston's tour after the Indians as a pilot (or spy) and tours performed to Georgia, Charleston, Camden S.C. , & as suggested by her witness who does not recollect whether said John Gaston was in or not.
the old lady associates these with Sumpters prominent actions

The difficulty I considered would be best removed
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of information could be had from the place of action

She informs me as you suggested that the militia frequently returned home. But not from the time
of Rocky mount Battle till after the Battle of Kings Mountain, and then her husband was only a few
days home untill he went on to the Battle of Eutaw. 

It appears that John Gaston frequently was employed as a scout we see and as such was taken prisoner at a previous to the engagement at Brattons, a little while before the Battle of Rocky Mount, and from this circumstance he was not as much at home as other militia men but his places were not known to the lady herself. - She says when he came home he would have a guard of a Dozen or so with him

I have only given this in hopes that a great deal can be yet established from S. Carolina yet I would respectfully suggest that if the law would allow, the forwarding an order for what appears already established, without suspending her case for further anticipated proof, as her present necessities require some attention. she has out lived every thing but her country of which she is proud, and I
should be as proud of rewarding so much worth,

The Hon. J. Casey member to Congress will be now in Washington who is personally acquainted 
with her from whom if you please you will be
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able to gain her Character and situation
I Prove the honor to be respectfully yours &c

J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
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Rev Sec
Salem Ill.
Sept 26 - 20
Sir,
Pension Records at Mt. Carmel Ill show that one Jeannette Knox Gaston rec'd about $20 back pension on someone's Rev. service. Can you tell me if she was the widow of a Revolutionary soldier and what his name was, also a copy of his Record. daughter Esther married Samuel Gaston son of William Gaston a Rev soldier.

William Gaston Given as son of Robert Gaston and Robert a brother & son of Justice John
Gaston who with his 9 sons saw Rev. service. I am sure Robert Gaston served also - Do you have his
record? Sons of Robert given as James, John, Hugh, Joseph & William. Have that Jeannette Knox Gaston's husband might prove to have been a son of Justice John Gaston, as in family tradition her
daughter Esther is given a relative of the Samuel Gaston Esther Married possibly a cousin. We have several members in our Chapter on service of this William Gaston and we
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are making an effort to trace family lines
Yours truly
Amy B. Charlton
Registrar
Isaac Hill Chapter
Salem, Ill.

P.S. William Gaston served from South Carolina. - His father Robert Gaston lived in Lancaster or Chester Co. Pa When William was born the Gastons all went to S. C. I think & probably all served there
ABC
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OLD WAR WIDOW.
File No. 30007
Janet Gaston
Widow of John Gaston
Pri. S. C. Mil
Rev. War
Cert. No. 335
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1930 Nov 5 Hist to A.B. Charlton

[right side]
Revy Wid. File 30007
John Gaston
Priv. In the- S Carolina Militia 

Act:  July 4. 1836
Index:--Vol. 3, Page 187

Arrangement of 1870.