Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 21,437, John Wilson, Va.
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(3-1776) 
SERVICE 
Va. 
Wilson, John 
Elizabeth 
NUMBER
R. 21, 437 
CONTENTS
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12269 
Georgia
John Wilson 
of Green in the State of GA who was a pri in the - commanded by Captain  of the commanded by Col. Luster in the Va line for 18 months. 

Inscribed on the Roll of Georgia at the rate of 60 Dollars - Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834. 

Certificate of Pension issued the 15 day of April 1833 and sent to Vincent Sanford clk, Greensboro, Ga.

Arrears to the 4th of Marchn 1830 120 
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 30 
$150 
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
+ July 23, 1834 

Recorded by Nathan Pier Clerk, Book E Vol. 6 Page 116
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Pension Office 
August 11th, 1857 

Sir: 
The application of the children of Elizabeth Wilson, deceased, widow of John of Ga, for pension arrears, is clearly inadmissible under the act of July 4th, 1836, and John Wilson did not pretend to have performed any service after his escape from captivity, shortly after the capitulations of Charleston, which was in May, 1780, while the family record shows that the marriage was solemnised on the 2d of September, 1780, after his return to Virginia. 

For this reason the claim has been filed under the act of July 7, 1838. 

It is hardly advisable to make the proofs of widowhood, date of the widow's death, and of the number and names of children surviving until the Secretary of the Interior shall have decided the question in relation to the rights of children and grand children to arrears, which is now before the Attorney General for his opinion. 

H. C. Spalding, Esq. 
Present
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19547
Claim of John Wilson to the benefit of the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832
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Declaration in Order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th June 1832.
State of Georgia Greene County on this thirteenth day of August Eighteen hundred and Thirty two personally appeared before the Honorable the Inferior Court of said County and State John Wilson a resident of the County and State aforesaid aged Seventy Seven Years and [ILLEGIBLE] 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 of 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United Stated in the year Seventeen hundred seventy nine with [ILLEGIBLE] and served in the 16th regiment to the best of his recollection of the Continental line; under the following officers; that he first enlisted under Richard Norsham a recruiting officer, rendezvoused at [ILLEGIBLE] Virginia and he believed under General Scott; and was detached for the south under the command of Colonel Richard Parker
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Lieutenant Colo Alexander Parker adjutant Thomas Parker Majr. John Colwell Captain Benjamin Taliafeiro 1 Lieutenant Beverley Stubblefield 2" Lieutenant Samuel Sildon and that his time of enlistment was for the term of Eighteen Months; and that Col. Richard Parker was killed at the Siege of Charleston South Carolina and this Applicant taken prisoner on the 12" day of May 1780. and some short time thereafter made his escape and returned back to Virginia; and afterwards received a discharge from Lieutenant Samuel Sildon which has long since been lost. He hereby relinquishes every Claim 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 Sworn and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid
John Wilson x his mark
Test
Vincent Sanford Clk
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State of Georgia Greene County 
We do hereby declare our opinion that the
above named Applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states
Thomas Stocks J.J.C.G.C.
James S. Park J.J.C.G.C.
Francis West J.J.C.G.C.

State of Georgia Greene County I Vincent
Sanford Clerk of the Inferior Court do hereby
Certify that the foregoing Contains the Original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Wilson for a pension In testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this 30th day of Aug 1832.
Vincent Sanford Clk
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John Wilson
Ga.
No. 19547-

Va Corl
on the McCir roll

admit for 18 months
from 1779 $60
Cap. Taliaferro
Col Parker} Va

Vincent Sanford
clk Green Ca
Greensboro'
Geo
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War Department,
Pension Office,
183
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 subjcined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must 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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Period when the service was rendered: 1779
Duration of the claimant's service: 18 months
Rank of Claimant:  Pri.
Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served:
Capt. Ben Taliaferro
Names and Rank of the General and Field officers:  Col. Rich Parker; Lt. Col. A. Parker, Major Ins. Calwell
Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period:  77 years
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J.L. Edwards,
Commissioner of Pension
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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. [Et cetera] Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. [Et cetera] 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, 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
On this [blank] day of [blank] personally appeared (a) before [blank] A. B. a resident (b) of [blank] in the county of [blank] and State, Territory or District of [blank] aged (c) [blank] 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 provion [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) [blank] , with [blank] and served in the [blank] (e) regiment of the [blank] line, under the following named officers: [blank]
(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. [Et cetera] )
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 [blank]
Sworn to and subscribed the da 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, [blank] of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of [blank] for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this [blank] day of [blank] &c. [Et cetera]
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 subscr9be a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz: [blank]
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the [blank] and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [blank] , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be [blank] 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 day 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. [blank] who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the [blank] and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the [blank] and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, [blank] Clerk of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of [blank] for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this [blank] day of [blank] &c. [Et cetera]
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 at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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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?
6. To an Officer: Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what 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 he 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 person, giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very 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 of 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 case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
(b) The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not 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 the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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. [Et cetera] . 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 [blank] year [blank] months, and [blank] days, I served as a [blank] . For [blank] months and [blank] days, I served as a [blank] ; 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. [Et cetera] 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; 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 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.
[THE FOLLOWING (j) IS {BRACKETED} FOR MORE INFORMATION NECESSARY] (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 may 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.
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 in note (j) applies to continental troops only.
(k) This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[THE FOLLOWING (l) and (m) IS {BRACKETED} FOR MORE INFORMATION NECESSARY] (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.
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Rev. and 1812 Wars Section
June 17, 1924
Mary L. Norton
3421 Twentieth St.,
San Francisco, Calif.
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the 
Revolutionary War pension claim R. 21437 it appears
that John Wilson enlisted in 1779, served as a private
in Captain Benjamin Taliaferro's Company, Colonel Richard
Parker's Virginia Regiment, was at the Siege of Charleston,
South Carolina, and on May 12, 1780 was taken prisoner and in a short time made his escape, returned to Virginia and was afterwards discharged.
He was allowed pension on his application executed
August 30, 1832 while a resident of Greene County, Georgia
aged "seventy-seven years and upwards".
He died July 23, 1834 leaving widow Elizabeth and
children, whose names and number are not stated.
Respectfully,
Commissioner
[hand written] Miss Wilson said not use date of marriage, as it is
not on the original paper only an office letter.
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(3-224.)
No. 21.437
Revy, Ex'r. 

OLD WAR WIDOW 

Elizabeth Wilson widow of John Georgia 

REJECTED 

Died at 

other claim. 

,18. 
Clerk. 

Application filed: ,18 
Attorney: 
P.O.
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Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:  Will you please send me an
abstract of the pension
record of John Wilson,
a revolutionary pensioner
of Greene Co. Ga, in 1833
and greatly oblige.
Yours Very Truly,
Mrs. J.W. High,
Peachtree Road
Atlanta, Ga.
Oct 21--1919
[stamped: Pension Office US D Oct 23 1919]
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3421-20th St.
San Francisco
10th May 1924
Pension Bureau
Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:
Please send me a copy of the Pension or
Land Grant record of
John Wilson born in Virginia about
1750 moved to North Carolina and
then to Green Co., Georgia.  Died
in 1834.  Married Mary Elizabeth
------. Children Mary, John and
William Wilson.  Family data desired.
Thanking you, I am
Respectfully yours
(Mrs..) Mary L. Norton
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Wilmington, N.C., May 24, 1923
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.
Am I presuming in asking if you could me send me 
copies of Declaration for Pension by John Wilson, of Green
County, Georgia, for services in the Revolutionary War, for
record in securing membership in the D.A.R.
I would appreciate your letting me have the copy
at your convenience if you can do so.  Please let me know
if you can do this in advance of sending the copy.
Thanking you, I am
Yours truly,
Miss Dalia Wilson,
c/o W.P. Cline,
Supt. Telegraph,
Wilmington, N.C.