Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 2666, for Joseph Purviance, North Carolina
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
N.C.
Purviance, Joseph
Patience
NUMBER
W. 2666
CONTENTS
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3087
Tennessee Jackson
Patience Purviance, widow of Joseph Purviance, who served in the Revolutionary War as a Private [in the N.C. Line].
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 20 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 3rd February, 1853.
Certificate of Pension issued the
3rd day of December 1853, and sent to Hawthorn & Davidson Camden, Tennessee
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act
February 3, 1853, Page 184, Vol. A
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30447
West Tennessee Jackson
Joseph Purviance of Madison in the State of Tennessee who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Smith of the Regiment commanded by Col. [Illegible] in the North Carolina Line for six months.
Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee at the rate of 20 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 27 day of February 1836 and sent to [Illegible] McClanahan, Jackson, Tennessee.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1835 $90
Semi-Annual. allowance ending $10
$100
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by William Allison, Clerk
Book E, Vol. 7, Page 101
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33.210
Joseph Purviance 
Tennessee
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.
State of Tennessee 
Madison County
On this 23rd day of July personally appeared in open court before the Eighth Circuit Court of Madison County now sitting in the Town of Jackson, Joseph Purviance a resident of said County of Madison and State aforesaid, aged about seventy years and five months, 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 is to say, he entered into the service of the United States under Captain James White, who was shortly afterwards promoted to the rank of Major, the time as well as this Declarant recollects was about the last of March 1780. that he remained in service from that time for about two months, and was employed in guarding the Waxhaw settlements from the depredations of the Tories. All the time of this our declarant was under the command of Capt. White into whose company this declarant had volunteered himself at the period above stated. There the first term of service of this declarant under
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This declarant further states that at the time he volunteered as above stated he resided in Mecklenburg County, State of North Carolina; that the company to which he belonged as above stated was not connected with any other troops either militia or regular, being employed alone in defending the settlements from the ravages of the Tories as above states, during this term of service declarant was in no regular engagement with the enemy. He states that he received a regular discharge from Capt. White but that he has long since lost it, not expecting that at this late period of his life it could be of value to him he was not instructed to preserve it, and he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services this declarant states that he volunteered again under the same Capt. White in the same year 1780 shortly after the defeat of General Gates at Camden, South Carolina. The British Army, soon after this defeat, moved up in to the Waxhaw settlements and there remained for some time; when a regiment of militia troops under the command of General Smallwood sent from Virginia as this declarant recollects to relieve the south; arrived in the same neighborhood, General Smallwood finding the British army stationed these [Illegible] his army, and waited the movements of the enemies forces. It was at this time and under these circumstances that this declarant entered a second time as he has stayed in the service as a volunteer under Captain White and Capt. White with his company was immediately attached to  General Smallwood’s Regiment.
This declarant states that this was the only company that joined Smallwood’s Regiment in that section of country the & that he does not recollects the
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The names of any of the officers under General Smallwood. When the British troops had remained at this place for about a month after this declarant was placed under General Smallwood having come to no engagement, they marched thence to Charlotte in North Carolina and this declarant was then discharged and this and the second term of service of this declarant, who received a regular discharge from Captain White but which has been lost as the one above mentioned. This declarant knows of no person by whose testimony he can prove his service in this town, which lasted only one month. After the British forces had been more there to Charlotte as above stated off and the discharge of this declarant he again entered the service as a volunteer under Captain John White, a Brother of James White, who was now promoted to the rank of Major; some time in 1780 as well as this declarant recollects. and was marched from Mecklenburg County where he then resided to about fifteen miles east of Charlotte at the house of a captain afterwards John Fifer, and there stationed under Capt. John White to guard some military stores [for about] one month.
This term of service continued [as] the British troops remaining in Charlotte only about that length of time when this declarant was regularly discharged by his Captain but which has been lost or mislaid with the other discharges [and] this declarant who knows of no person who in this tour by whom he can prove his service. This declarant states that a few days after his discharge he again entered the service as a volunteer under a Captain Stephen Alexander. This was about the first of December 1780 Captain Alexander set out with his company
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Iimmediately after the British any who were now marching towards Guildford Courthouse in North Carolina, and between Charlotte and the [Illegible] we fell in with Col. Francis Locke of Rowan County North Carolina, with a Regiment of Militia troops also on his march to Guildford Courthouse we were immediately joined to Col Locke’s Regiment and were marched together until we reached Guilford County, when we were all placed under the common of General Greene, and where we remained in the service until the Battle of Guilford Courthouse which took place in the month of March 1781, in which battle this declarant was engaged. Immediately after the battle, British troops marched towards Yorktown. And this declarant with his company were regularly dismissed, and this ends the fourth tour of service of this declarant making in all seven months service.  
This declarant 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.
Joseph Purviance
Sworn to and subscribed this day, 25th July 1835, in open Court before me.
H.W. Carry, Clerk
Questions propounded by the court.
Question: Where and in what year were you born?
Answer: In Lancaster County & State of Pennsylvania on the 24th day of December 1764.
Question: Have you any Record of your age, and if so where is it?
Answer: I had one in the State of North Carolina but forgot or neglected to bring it with me to this County.
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Question: Where were you living when called into service? Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
Answer: I was living in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina and when [I was] called into service; continued to live there after the Revolutionary War until September 1831, when I removed to Jackson County and State of Tennessee when I remained about one year and since that time I have lived in Madison County where I now reside.
Question: How were you called into service?
Answer: I was a volunteer.
Question: State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the troops where you served such as Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service.
Answer: Recollect none but Captain Alexander Major, Francis Locke and General Green and the other officers I have named in my declaration. 
I received regular discharges from the service which were given me by Captain James White, Captain John White, and Captain Alexander but have lost left them in North Carolina as I have stated in my declaration.
I am acquainted with Jonas Clark and William D. Crowell who live in my present neighbourhood.
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State of Tennessee
Madison County 
Circuit Court July 1835 

I, Jonas Clark, residing in the County of Madison aforesaid hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Joseph Purviance who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that I believe him to be seventy or seventy one years of age; that he is reputed and believe in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution: and I state that I know he was one of the guard stationed at Col. John Fifer to guard some military stores about twenty miles from Charlotte  as he has stated in his Declaration and although I did not see him at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, yet from all the circumstances he relates concerning that transaction and from my own information, I have no doubt he was in the engagement, and that he was a Soldier of the Revolution as he is reputed to be in the neighbourhood where he resides.
Jonas Clark
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open Court before
H. W. Carry Clerk

I, William D. Crowell, residing in Madison County hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Joseph Purviance who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that I believe him to be between seventy and seventy one years old as he states in his declaration that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that I concur in that opinion and I further certify that the clergyman who lives nearest to the above.
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Declarant is at this time so afflicted with Rheumatic pains as to be unable to leave home for any purpose and that he stated to me that he was perfectly willing to have certified to the good character of the above declarant if he could have attended court.
William D Crowell
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court the 23 July 1835 before me.
H.W. Carry, Clerk
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 Jonas Clark and William D. Crowell who have signed the preceding certificates, both reside in the County of Madison aforesaid that they are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit.
Hon. William B. Turley, Judge Presiding

State of Tennessee
Madison County
I, Henry W. McCorry, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Madison County aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of
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The said Court in the matter of the application of Joseph Purviance for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my private seal there being no public seal of office at office in Town of Jackson this 23rd day July 1835.
H. W. Carry

33.210
Joseph Purviance
Tennessee

State of Tennessee
I, Joshua Haskell, Judge of the Eighth Judicial Circuit in the State of Tennessee, do hereby certify that the County of Madison is in my circuit and that the Hon. William B. Turley presided at the time of the foregoing proceedings by an interchange of sidings with myself in conformity to the laws of this State. I further certify that the Circuit Court for the County of Madison is a Court of Record and that Henry W. Carry to check thereof and that his attestation is in the form of law and by the proper officer and that together with that of the Hon. William B. Turley is genuine. 
Given under my hand & seal this 28th day of July 1835.
Joshua Haskell, Judge of the Eighth Judicial Circuit in Tennessee
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Patience, widow of Joseph Purviance deceased
Declaration

Camden, Tennessee 
[Illegible]
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State of Tennessee 
County of Carroll 
On this 24th day of October AD one thousand Eight hundred and fifty three personally appeared before me Hardy Pope, one of the acting Justices of the Peace within and for the County of Carroll and State aforesaid, Patience Purviance, a resident of the County of Carroll and State aforesaid, aged sixty seven years, who first being sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress passed on the 3d February, 1853, granting pensions to windows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war; that she is the widow of Joseph Purviance, who was a private in the army of the Revolution as shown by his pension certificate issued the 27th day of February AD 1836, as to his personal knowledge relation to her husband’s served she knows nothing of, but from information which she verily believes to be true and the certificate above described that he drew his money at Jackson, Tennessee.
She further declares that she was married to the said Joseph Purviance she thinks sometime in October AD 1834, Eighteen hundred and thirty four, that her said husband died on the 27th day of February AD 1845 that she was not married to him prior to the second of January, eighteen hundred but at or near the time above stated, and that she has remained a widow ever since her said husband Joseph Purviance’s death and further declares that she is now a widow and that she knows of no word public or private by which she can from her said marriage and will have to depend upon character to prove the same.
Patience Purviance

Sworn to and subscribed on the day year above with before me
Hardy Pope
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And I further certify that I believe the said Patience Purviance to be the widow of the said Joseph Purviance and that she is about the age above stated and that I have no interest as to the result of this case [and] that I am not concerned [with] its prosecution and that owing to her bodily infirmities she is not able to attend in Court.
Hardy Pope, Justice of the Peace

State of Tennessee 
Carroll County
On this the 24th day of October AD 1853 personally appeared before me Hardy Pope a Justice of the Peace within and for said County and State aforesaid, John Autry, aged fifty three years, and Henry Rinell, aged forty six years, both residents and citizens of the County of Carroll and State of Tennessee who after being sworn according to law and upon the oath say that they were well acquainted with Joseph Purviance a Revolutionary Pensioner who drew a Pension for his services as above which is shown by his certificate here marked in our presence (Exhibit A). That the said Patience Purviance had lived with the said Joseph Purviance in his life time as husband and wife and was so recognized by his neighbors [that] they were married as we have understood & believe in Henderson County, Tennessee, and that the Joseph Purviance died about the 27th of February AD 1845 in the County of Henderson  aforesaid and the widow one Patience Purviance has remained a widow ever since the said Joseph Purviance’s death and that she is now a widow and resides in Carroll County, State of Tennessee.
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Affiants further state that they saw her this day and had her sworn to the declaration above [and] saw her subscribe her name and have been acquainted with her ever since her said husband’s death, and that she is his identical widow that is the said Joseph Purviance & that she is a woman of good character as for truth and veracity.
John Autry
Henry Rinell 
Hardy Pope, Justice of the Peace for Carroll County and I hereby certify that the said John Autry and Henry Revell are residents of Carroll County aforesaid and that they are creditable witnesses whose evidence would be taken in any Court of Record in our County and that I am not interested as to the result of the case and am not interested in the prosecution of the case.
Hardy Pope, Justice of the Peace for Carroll County

State of Tennessee
Carroll County
I, [Illegible], Clerk of the County Court of said County do hereby certify that Hardy Pope whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing declaration and certificates was at the time of signing the same a Justice of the Peace for said County of Carroll duly commissioned and sworn as such and is authorized to administer oaths for general purposes and that all his official acts are entitled to due faith and credit and that the court of which I am clerk is a Court of record.
Given under my hand and seal of office at Huntingdon this [Illegible] day of 1853.
[Illegible], Clerk
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Revolutionary WIDOW, &c.
File No. 2666
Patience Purviance
Widow
Joseph Purviance
Private, Revolutionary War
Act: Feb 3, 1853.
Index: -- Vol. M, Page 144.
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Allow for six months

Samuel McClanahan 
Jackson, Tennessee
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State of Tennessee
Madison County to wit
The supplemental Declaration of Joseph Purviance of the County of Madison and State of Tennessee aforesaid for the purpose of obtaining the benefit of the act of Congress passed on the 7th of June 1832.
In addition to what this declarant has already stated in his original declaration which is now on file in the Office of Pensions, War Department in Washington City. This declarant states that in the year 1780 orders were issued by the Governor of North Carolina, (Abner Nash as well as this declarant recollects was at that time governor) under the authority of the legislature of the said State of North Carolina to raise troops by drafts and volunteer for the purpose of raising suppressing the Tories who had united and raise a force in the neighbourhood of the [Warhaw settlement near the border of] South Carolina and in pursuance of this order this declarant volunteered there as he has stated in his original Declaration under Captain James White, whose company was attached to the commanded by General Davidson. This was the first tour of service of this declarant. The second tour, this declarant served under the same Captain James White having volunteered again and his Captain White’s company was attached in this second tour to the Brigade commanded by General Smallwood. After General Smallwood withdrew his army from the Waxhaw settlement this declarant returned home and volunteered thence under Captain John White, brother of Captain James White, the latter having been promoted
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To the rank of Major and Captain John White in the command of General Davidson and his company was placed under the [command of] Davidson and by his order placed at Fifer’s foreguard the military stores at that place the British Army which had been stationed for some weeks at Charlotte now took up their line of march northward for the purpose of meeting General Greene and the military stores were placed under the charge of Col Francis Locke’s and guarded by his Regiment, and this declarant regularly discharged, at this time troops were raising according to the orders of the Governor or to be sent on to join General Greene as it was expected he would be attacked by the British forces which had just left Charlotte.
Accordingly, this declarant volunteered again under Captain Stephen Alexander, and was ordered on to join Col Francis Locke’s Regiment. This declarant states that in pursuance of this order they set out, and in two or three days come up to and joined Col Locke’s Regiment when this declarant remained until after Battle of Guildford Courthouse, and this Regiment was placed under the command of General Greene so soon as the we were able to reach his army which was several weeks before the battle took place. 
Joseph Purviance

State of Tennessee
Madison County 
Personally appeared before me, an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County, Joseph Purviance whose signature appears to the above supplemental declaration and made oath in due form of law that the facts set forth in the said declaration
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Are true to the best of his knowledge and belief. 
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 13rd day of January 1836.
William C. Dew, Justice of the Peace

State of Tennessee 
Madison County
I, Roderick McIver, Clerk of the Court Pleas and Quarter Sessions in and for said County do hereby certify that William Dew Esquire before whom the foregoing affidavit was made is now and was at the time of attesting the same and acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County and duly qualified to Administer Oaths. 
In witness whereof, I have hereto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at office & in Jackson the 13th January 1836. 
Roderick McIver, Clerk
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Brief in the case of Patience Purviance, Widow of Joseph
Carroll County and State of Tennessee
Act Feb. 3. 1853
Claim, (original, for increase.)
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
Marriage proved by copy of Marriage Certificate, and two accredited witnesses and identity [proven] by the witnesses.
(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?
Allowed $20 per annum
From Feb. 3. 1853

Name and residence of Agent
Hawthorn & Davidson
Camden, Penn

Examining Clerk
J.G. Adams
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L. P. Waldo, Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City D.C.
Application of Patience Purviance, Widow of Joseph

Hawthorne and Davison 
Camden, Tennessee

Allowed $20 per annum from 3 February 1853
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L. P. Waldo, Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City D.C.
Application of Patience Purviance, Widow of Joseph

Hawthorne and Davidson 
Camden, Tennessee

Allowed $20 per annum from 3 February 1853

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Camden, November the 15th 1853
L. P. Waldo, Commissioner of Pensions

Dear sir, 
Enclosed please find the declaration of Patience Purviance, widow of Joseph Purviance, for a pension, which we hope will be attended to as early as possible. 
[Illegible]
Hawthorne and Davidson
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Payments to be made at Jackson by John W. Campbell, Esq., Agent for paying Pensioners, in the Agency of Jackson
Exhibit A
Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book 62 Vol. 7 Page 101 by William S. Allison, Clerk.
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WAR DEPARTMENT
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I certify that in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, Joseph Purviance, who was a Private in the Army of the Revolution, is entitled to receive 20 dollars and 00 cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September in every year.
Given at the War Office of the United States, this 27th day of February one thousand eight hundred and thirty six.
Lew Cass
Secretary of War.

Examined and Countersigned
J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.
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J. L. Edwards, Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
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Jackson, Tennessee
October 30th, 1835
W. Edwards

Sir,
Joseph Purviance, the Revolutionist whose application for a pension was lately rejected on the ground that it did not appear that he entered the service under state authority or was attached to any regularly organized corps, is in my office and is able and desirous to declare on oath that these facts were so in his case. The omission arose from my not noticing at the time that these facts should appear in the Declaration.
You will therefore please to remit to me the original declaration immediately, I will prepare the amended one and append it to the original and forward all together. Your Compliance with this request will obliges him that makes it and confer a favour on the old man in whose behalf it is made. 
Very respectfully your friend and servant, 
Samuel McClanahan
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No 3.750
Will the 3rd Auditor to state the time of the death of pensioner, and to what time paid & oblige.
Respectfully,
S. Cole

F. Burt, Esq.
3rd Auditor 
Joseph Purviance
Act 1832 $20 per annum
Paid to 4th Sept. 1844, no date of death on our Books
Samuel S. Rind
Adj. Auditor
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Joseph Purviance 
Tennessee
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J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
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Jackson, Tennessee
July 28th 1835
Hon. J. L. Edwards

Dear sir, 
Enclosed you will receive the proceedings of our Circuit Court in the case of the application of Joseph Purviance for a pension. I wish to refer you to the certificate of Jonas Clark, a citizen of this County and a man highly respected who was himself a soldier of the revolution. A First Lieutenant in the North Carolina Militia, was at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, and is now receiving a pension; all which you will perceive by reference to the Pension Roll. He states in his certificate that he knows that Mr. Purviance was one of the guards stationed at Col John Fifer fifteen or twenty miles from Charlotte and believes he was at the Battle of Guilford.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court of this County has no seal of office. I have therefore procured the certificate of the Judge of our Circuit to wit Joshua Haskell.
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That Henry W. Carry is Clerk of the Circuit Court of Madison County, that it is within his Circuit [and] is a Court of Record, which is I think [is] in compliance with the acts of Congress on the subject. 
Your early attention to this application confer a high favour upon this applicant and the for which he applies, should it meet your views of duty to grant it will be gratefully reviewed at your hands. 
With great respect, sir, I remain your obedient servant, 
Samuel McClanahan

J. L. Edwards, Esq.
N. B. Direct your communication to me at this place.