Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8271, for Arthur Pitman, North Carolina
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Service |                         | Number
N. G.    | Pitman, Arthur | R8271
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Arthur Pitman
Petition for Pension

Arthur Pitman
Petition for Pension [written sideways]
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State of N Carolina Halifax County } On the 19th day of Nov. 1832 personally appears in open court before the Justice of the Court of pleas and [symbol] quarter sessions for the County aforesaid Arthur Pitman, A resident of the county and [symbol] state aforesaid aged eighty three years who first being 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 entered in the army of the United States in the month of May 1781 in Halifax County No.Ca. as a light horseman commanded by Capt William Ellen in the Regiment commanded by Colo John Branch and was employed until the close of the war in the Continental service in the state of NoCarolina in taking and carrying to Joal Luck as [illegible] to serve in the army; also in carrying provisions to the army. And at the battle of Guilford Ct House I was with a drove of Hoggs to the American army after which I continued to serve as first States until the close of the war when I with the rest of the privates was discharged. Peace having been [word crossed out] proclaimed in the Country after that we were not called on any more I then obtained a certificate for between sevnty [seventy] and eight dollars assigned I think by Colo Bradford (his given name I do not recollect) which certificate I sold to Barrell Smith for thirteen dollars before the funding law was passed by Congress the balance of my pay after the certificate were funded I have never received; After my discharge from the army I settled in the County aforesaid where I have remarried ever since. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsover to a pension or an  annuity except the present and he declars [declares] that his name is not 
over
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= on the pension list [illegible] of any agency in any state sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
M.H. Pettway MP [Signed and initialed]

And the said court do herby declare [smudged] declare there opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states [whole paragraph crossed out]

of the said court of 
do herby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of application of Arthur Pitman for a pension
In testimony where I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this day of [whole paragraph crossed out]

Miles Smith a minister of the gospel makes oath that he is and [symbol] has been well acquainted with Arthur Pitman and [symbol] has known him ever since the Revolutionary War and [symbol] believes him to be a man of truth and [symbol] from his own recollection believes he has served as he has stated given under my hand in open Court this 19 November 1833
M.H. Pettway MP [signed and initialed] Miles Smith [signed]
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and the Court do herby declare there opinion that the applicant Arthur Pitman was a Revolutionary soldier and serves as he states. -
M C Pouter MP [signed and initialed] 
AW Moore AM [signed and initialed]
[illegible]
M A Allen MA [signed and initialed] 

I Mark H Pettway clerk of the County Court of Please and quarter sessions for Halifax County and [symbol] state of North Carolina do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Arthur Pitman for a pension

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office for this [illegible] day of December AD 1833
M.H. Pettway MP [signed and initialed]
By J H Harwell JH [signed and initialed]
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Hon
Let. J. A. Bynum, Jan
29. 1834

19385
Arthur Pittman
Halifax co
N.C. 8271

Rejected. See let
28 Oct 1833 t.s.
J. H. Harwell
Halifax
N.C.
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BRIEF in the case of Arthur Pitman [handwritten]

of Halifax co [handwritten] County of in the state of North Carolina [handwritten]

(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?

Court [handwritten]

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3. How old is he?

83 [handwritten]

4. State his service as directed in the form annexed.

[Column Headings: Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers Under whom he served.]
1. Enlisted in 1781 May [handwritten]
2. to the close of the war [handwritten]
3. Private [handwritten]
4. Col. John Branch Capt. WM Ellen [handwritten]

5. In what battles was he engaged?

None named [handwritten]

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?

Halifax co. N.C. [handwritten]

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?

living witness [handwritten]

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication, and if so, in what respect? 

Perfect [handwritten]

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mention.
J E Bradford [signed]
Examining Clerk.
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Arthur Pittman -
N. Car
Rejected, See let 24. 
October 1833 to
J. H. Harwell
Halifax N.C.
| Not military service |
Act of June 1832
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Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873 [typed and crossed out]
8271
P. O. ________________________
Arthur Pittman [handwritten]
Service: 1-0 11-0
REJECTED [stamped in black ink]
Enlisted: ______________________,  18  .
Discharged: __________________,  18  .
Application filed: _____________, 18  .
Alleges: ___________________________
Re-enlisted: _______________________
Attorney: __________________________
P. O. ________________________________
_____________ Recognized. ___________ Contract.
______ Cert. of Dis.   Searched for ___________, 18  .
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John H Harrell
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Arthur Pitman, Halifax co N.C. which require further proof or explanation

I.	Does the declaration show where the applicant resides ?    

yes [handwritten]

II.	Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?

yes [handwritten]
    
III.	Did the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?


IV.	Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?

yes [handwritten]
    
V.	* Has he mentioned with precision the length of his 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?        

yes [crossed out]
NO [handwritten]
          
VI.	Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with regulations ?

yes [handwritten]
     
VII.	Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension that the one under the Act of June 7 1832?

yes [handwritten]
            
VIII.	Has the Court given their opinion?

yes [handwritten]

IX.	Has the Court given his certificate?

yes [handwritten]
    
X.	 Is the Clerk’s seal affixed?  And, if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?      

yes [handwritten]
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2
XI.	Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman or another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief of his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?    

Only Cleryman testifies [handwritten]   
                     
XII.	If the clergyman’s affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it        


XIII.	 If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had ?

No [handwritten]  

XIV.	* If the applicant’s name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, as the magistrate who administered the oath certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses 
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?


XV.	    Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation or of such an age as to have personal knowledge of the applicant’s service?


XVI.	Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?            
  
Yes [handwritten]

XVII.	Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily?  And, if not, which of them is not so answered.        

1. 2. 6. 7.       

EXPLANATORY NOTES
*QUERE V.     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 services 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 __  year ____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _______   and for such service I claim a pension .

[handwritten in margin]
1733
82
_____
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3
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which applicant served, and that 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 [italics] 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 shewn 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 garrison ; and for the time which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
*QUERE XIV. Proof of Service [italics]
In a case where the name of an 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 their affidavits the time of the claimants 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 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. [italics]
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 paper authenticates, 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 certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate. 
[hand painting symbol] In every case where the clerk of court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of any office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
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The amended declaration of Arthur Pitman for a pension under the Act of Congress [illegible] in the the year 1832 7 June
Arthur Pitman to whose declaration this is afforded says that he served in the Revolutionary War [illegible] months or four terms of three months each as a private  - He does not recollect by whom is was signed - has lost his discharge - and has no proof (living) whereby to establish it.
Halifax Court, 23 October 1833 } Shadrack Merritt personally appears before me this day and made oath that he has been made acquainted with Arthur Pitman and [symbol] know him ever since the Revolutionary War and [symbol] believes him to be a man of Truth from his own knowledge that he served in the Revolutionary War and [symbol] is satisfied that he is upwards of eighty years of age
M.T. Panton  MP [signed and initialed]

State of N. Carolina
Halifax County } Oct 23 1833
I have [illegible] S. Merritt and Arthur Pitman for many years and he [illegible] of respectable character and [illegible]
[illegible signature]

I have been acquainted with Mr Arthur Pitman fifteen or twenty years and from his general character, believe the above statement to be true
Jas Simmons [signed]
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State of North Carolina
I Mark H. Pettway
Clerk of the Court of Pleas and quarter session for the County of Hailfax do hereby certify, that M. T Panton whose name appears signed to the within affidavit and [symbol] certified is a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Halifax, duly qualified as such, and [symbol] that the signature purporting to be his is genuine and I further certify that John Branch and James Simmons whose names also appear signed within are highly respectable and were known citizens of the County aforesaid and [symbol] that their signatures are genuine In witness

[stamp in black ink] 
Whereof I have hereunto [illegible] my hand and seal of office at Halifax this 23rd October 1833.
M H Pettway 
M H Pettway [signed]