Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3707, for James Potts, North Carolina
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE 
N.C.
Potts, James
NUMBER
S.3707
Carded
CONTENTS
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The declaration of James Potts for a pension
State of Tennessee ⎬ 
Williamson County ⎬
Court of pleas and quarter sessions

April Term A.D. 1833
On this 2nd day of April 1833 personally appeared before us Mr Johnson Christopher E Mourey & John W Miller
Justices of the court of pleas and quarter sessions held for the County of Williamson State of Tennessee James Potts a resident of said County and State aged 76 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 provisions of an act of Congress passed the 7th day of June A.D. 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated
I was born in the State of N. Carolina in the County of Salisbury in the year 1757 where I lived until the commencement of the revolution when I moved up into Burke County. I first volunteered into Capt Pervines Company to go in an expedition to Cross Creek against the Tories under an officer I think named [illegible].  The company to which I belonged, I think was attached to Col Lockis Regiment: And Gen. Rutherford commanded us. We were marched under him about two hundred miles, but before we arrived there the Tories were defeated by the Americans. The precise time of his service I
do not recollect, but know it was the first fighting we had in our parts. I was out in this expedition at least two months. I got no discharge.
In my second tour. I lived in Rowan County N. Carolina.  I was drafted.  At that time I was engaged in waggoning with a waggon and team of my own.  When I was drafted I went to Col Provard who told me to procure a load of flour & Pork and go forth the troops, I did so. This was an expedition against the British
when they landed at Savanah and came up the Savana River to where the battle of Bryer creek was fought
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previous to the Battle of Briar Creek I commenced this tour in November in the year
Gen Rutherford commanded us. We arrived at an Santer a few days before Christmas about two hundred and fifty miles from home. We were marched on from Santee to the Smoky Camp on Savanah River where we stayed a short time.  While we were here the British passed up Savannah River towards the
mouth of Bryer Creek where Gen Ash with a body of troops encamped. We followed up after the Brittish on the opposite side. Just as we arirved the battle commenced, but before we could cross over the Americans were routed.  After this we retreated under Gen Rutherford, Not long afterwards I was discharged I was discharged in the month of March following the November in which
my service commenced. I was allowed seventeen days to go home in. I was out in this tour at least four months and a half. I got no written discharge 
In my third tour I lived in Burke County I volunteered under Capt Pervine in Rowan County the Brittish were passing thro the country by Salisbury moving on towards Guilford. They passed beyond Guilford and returned there again. I voluteered to go against the Brittish at Guilford. I entered this company under Capt Pervine in the month
of December about the middle of the month in the year 1780 I volunteered for a three months tour our Col was Frank Locke and our Gen was Rutherford we marched from Rowan to the high ford of LLaw River where we remained sometime. We then marched towards the Allaman where we joined Gen Green and his Army just before the battle of Guilford about the middle of March my term of three months expired and I was discharged together with the company to which I belonged
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I got no written discharge. I have a record of
my age at home taken from my fathers bible
I have no written documents of my service
I know of no person who can prove my
services I can state Joseph Wakefield William Hay Hugh Fox Thomas Prowelsen
whom can testify to my moral character and
veracity and to their belief of my services.
I recollect Col Maybin who was with us in
the expedition against cross creek. I recollect
no other except those named but Major
Lewis who was killed at the Allaman and
who was in my last tour. I lived in Burke
until 1812 when I moved to this country state of Tennessee Williamson County where I now
live and have lived ever since.  in my last tour
I served at least three months making in all nine months and a half service.
I hereby relinquish every claim to an [illegible]
or a pension whatever except the present
and declare my name is not on the pension
roll of any agency in any state this the day
and year above written
Sworn to in open court 2d April 1833
James (X Mark) Palls
Tho Hardin [illegible]
We Thomas Prowell [illegible] and James Fox
residents of said County & State do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Potts who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 76 years of age, that he is reputed and belief
in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed this day and year above written.
Sworn to in open court 2d April 1833
Thos Prowell
Tho Hardin [illegible]
James Fox
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And the said court do hereby [smudged writing] their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after the posting of the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a soldier and served as he states, and the court further certifies that it appears to them that Thomas Prowell Junior and James Fox
are residents of said County of Williamson
are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit, and the court further certifies that it appears to them that it is inconvenient of not impossible to procure a clergyman to certify for him.
Wm Johnson
Gilbert Marshall
John W. Miller
C.E. McEwen


their opinion
James Potts
24849 
The declaration of James Potts for a pension
I Thomas Hardeman Clerk of the Court of pleas & quarter Sessions held for Williamson County
 in Tennessee do hereby certify that the forgoing contains the original proceedings of said court in the matter of the application of James Potts for a pension In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office
this 24th day of April AD. 1833.
Tho Hardin [illegible]
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24849
James Potts
Tennessee
From Private
9 1/2 months
$31.66/100
Pervins
Locke
N.C.

Thomas Hardman Clk
County Williamson County
Franklin Tennessee
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WAR DEPARTMENT.
Pension Office,
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. Those 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 Service of James Potts
Williamson County State of Tennessee

Period when the service was rendered.
Declaration of the claimant's service.
Years Months Days.
Rank of Claimant.
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered service.  
Proof by which the declaration supported.
Vol at least 2 
Pri
Capt Pervines
Col Locke
Genl Rutherford
Waggoner Provard
Genl Rutherford
Capt Pervines
Locke
Genl Rutherford
[illegible] years
Burke County
N Carolina ┃
Traditionary
Evidence
draf at least 4 months 15 days.
Waggoner
Col Provarde
Genl Rutherford
Vol 1780 3 Months 
Capt Pervines
Col Locke
Genl Rutherford
The period of the first 
tours not given
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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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 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 
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. 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:
We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with and C. D. residing in (the same)
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
who has 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