Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21,790, John Grisham, Va.
Page 1

8---1776
Service Number
Va Grisham, John S 21.790
Contents
Page 2

16.247
South Carolina
John Grisham
of Tiokins in the State of South Car.
who was a pri: in the company commanded
by Captain Cright of the Res commanded
by Col. Lynes on the Virginia
line for 8 months [illegible] day

Inscribed on the Roll of South Car.
at the rate of 26 Dollars 77 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of July
and sent Col. Jos.
Grisham Fall P.O. S.C.
Arrears to the 4th of March '33 - 53.54
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept " - 13.38.
66.92
Revolutionary Claim, 
[illegible] June 7, 1832.
Recorded by [illegible] Miller Clerk,
Book E. Vol. 6 Page 68
Page 3

June 22  1835  AB

1887 July 22 PH Grenham [illegible]
Page 4

State of South Carolina
Pickens District

On this first day of October in the year of our Lord 1832. Personally appeared in open Court, before the Honorable Richard Gautt in the Court of General Sessions & Common Pleas for the District and State aforesaid now sitting John Grisham Esquire a resident of Pickens District in the State aforesaid aged Seventy One 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 act of congress passed June 7 - 1832.  That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers and served as herein stated. In April, 1779 in the County of Henry, Virginia. He volunteered under Capt. Harman Cright, does not recollect the subaltron  went after the tories in the Hollow (so called) of the Yadkin under Major Hairston and Col Henry Lines they were three weeks out took several Prisoners & put them in Gaol. Afterwards, around one month after he was discharged he volunteered under Capt. Lefor Shelton of the cavalry Charles Eads Lieut John Miller engineer William Poor orderly Sergeant. They went went out at the Flour gap and were principally employed in scouting the country to keep down the tories in Henry County Virginia and Surry county in North Carolina. He served three months and was discharged near the Flour Gap in Henry County VA. Afterwards about February 1780 He volunteered under Capt. Cright and went to join Genl. Green he was waiting for Lord Cornwallis to pass to the Northward after bring out near two weeks under Col. James Lyon who went home & left his men who all dispersed and returned  he was out between two & three weeks this time. He afterwards volunteered to Guard the baggage wagons sent by Gen. Washington to the South.  he was under Maj. John Hampton & Col. Wade Hampton who had charge of the guard they returned into Virginia and remained till after the battle at Guilford he was then discharged & went home.
 Afterwards, in June 1781 he was drafted for two months and went down into the lower part of Virginia into King and Queen Counties to where the American army were stationed. where he served out his Tour of two months under Capt. Cright he was in no battle as Washington had not joined them.
Afterwards in September 1781 about ten days after his return, he volunteered under Capt Hill, Major
Page 5

John Waller of the Virginia Militia, and was marched down to Little York Town where they joined the American Army,  He was then put under command of Capt Owen Reubel    He was in the Seige until the Surrender of Cornwallis, and after the British Army were marched out he was discharged and went home
His discharges he preserved for a time but believing them of no value, mislaid or let them be destroyed.  He was born in Culpepper County Virginia and when small his Father moved into Henry County where he was raised & lived till the close of the war except the time he was in the service.  He is no removed at so great a distance that he cannot produce evidence of his service, that he knows of - He moved from Henry County Va to South Carolina in 1783  he settled in Pendleton County afterwards made a District which has since been divided into two Districts, and for the last 34 years he has lived in Pickens District.
He 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.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid

I Open Court
William L. Keith
Clerk of the Court of Pickens District

[SEAL]
Page 6

The State of South Carolina

Before me Nathan Boon one of the Justices of the Quorum for Pickens District in the state aforesaid personally appeared John Grisham Esqr. who has made application for the benefit of the act of 7 June 1832 which application is returned for the purpose of being amended.
Numbered on the back 15338

And made oath, that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precis length of his service, (being so long since he did the service) but according to the best of his recollection he served not less then the periods mentioned below.  All the service did by him was done as a private  he never held a military commission, had the offer of a subaltern commission but never accepted one.  In the year

1779 Under Capt. Cright            21 Days
         Under Capt Lifay Shelton  3 Months

1780 Under Maj. Hampton & Capt. Cright 21 Days

1781 Under Capt Cright.           2 Months
         Under Capt Hill  & Rubell      1Mo. 19

In all eight months & one day   mo 8 .01 day

There is no living witnesses that he knows who can testify of his services.  He has sent to enquire for his companions in the war but has got no information of them, and does not know of any that he can procure - And
Page 7

And further swears, That he was informed by his parents & a record of his age was put into the Family Bible.  He was born 14th day of March, in the year 1761-
That he has his age now in the bible in his house in Pickens District S.C.
John Grisham
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 9th May 1833
Nathan Boon JQ  [handwritten seal]




The State of South Carolina
     I William L. Keith Clerk of the Court for Pickens District in the state aforementioned. Do certify that Nathan Boon Esquire before who the foregoing affidavit was taken was at the time of the date thereof an acting Justice of the quorum for said District duly appointed and qualified.  That all due faith and credit is due to his testimonials as such
Given under my hand and the seal of the Court this third day of June Anno Domini 1833
William L Keith
Clerk of Court
Page 8

No 15338
John Grisham Pickens Dis
trict Hampton






Admit as private
8 Mo May 26 .77


5.13.
Int 1-2
Apl 19.33 - 
[?] 348


Joseph Grisham Falls Post
Office      Pickens District
                South Carolina
Page 9

BRIEF IN THE CASE OF John Grisham
District OF Pickens IN THE STATE OF  South Carolina

Act 7th June, 1832

1. WAS THE DECLARATION MADE BEFORE A COURT OR A JUDGE?  a Court

2. IF BEFORE A JUDGE, DOES IT APPEAR THAT THE APPLICANT IS DISABLED BY BODILY INFIRMITY?

3. HOW OLD IS HE? 71~

4. STATE HIS SERVICE, AS DIRECTED IN THE FORM ANNEXED

PERIOD       

In 1779 April
Vol
Vol    1760 Feb
Drafted 1781 June
Vol 1781 Sept

DURATION OF SERVICE
YEARS, MONTHS, DAYS.
                               21
                 3
         Between 14 to 21
                 2
                 1

RANK
AS A 
Private
"
"
"

NAMES OF GENERAL AND FIELD OFFICERS UNDER WHOM HE SERVED

Gen. Lines
Capt. Hamon Cright Col.
Shelton
Cright Col Lyon
Col Hampton
Cright


5. IN WHAT BATTLES WAS HE ENGAGED?
None

6. WHERE DID HE RESIDE WHEN HE ENTERED THE SERVICE?
Henry Co, Va

7. IS HIS STATEMENT SUPPORTED BY LIVING WITNESSES, BY DOCUMENTARY PROOF, BY TRADIONARY EVIDENCE, BY INCIDENTAL EVIDENCE, OR BY THE ROLLS?
Traditionary evidence and Living witnesses

8. ARE THE PAPERS DEFECTIVE AS TO FORM OR AUTHENTICATION? AND IF SO, IN WHAT RESPECT?
Correct


I CERTIFY THAT THE FOREGOING STATEMENT AND THE ANSWERS AGREE WITH THE EVIDENCE IN THE CASE ABOVE MENTIONED.


(Signed) Dyer Castor   EXAMINING CLERK.
Page 10

November 4, 1935
John  Grisham S 21790
BA J/AWF
Mr. R. D. Poore
Walhalla
South Carolina
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you
.request the records of William Poor of Virginia and South Carolina, soldiers of the Revolutionary War.
Revolutionary War data furnished by this office
are obtained from claims for pension and bounty land
made to the United States, based upon service in
that war. A search of the records fails to such claims
on file on account of the Revolutionary War service
of a William Poor, as described by you. The surname
Poor was searched under similar spellings.
The data which follow were obtained from the
papers on file in pension claim, S. 21790, based upon
the service of John Grisham during the War of the
Revolution.
He was born March 14, 1761 in Culpeper County,
Virginia and when a small boy, his father moved to
Henry County, Virginia. The names of his parents are
not stated.
While residing in said Henry County, John Grisham
enlisted and served as a private with the Virginia
troops, as follows:
From sometime in April, 1779, three weeks in Captain
Haman Cright's company, Colonel Henry Lines' regiment
and was out in pursuit of Tories in the Hollow
of the Yadkin about one month later, three months in
Captain Lifas Shelton's company of cavalry, scouting
Page 11

through the country to suppress the Tories; from
sometime in February, 1780, three weeks in Captain
Cright's company, Colonel James Lyon's regiment; later
to guard the baggage wagons sent to the south and was
discharged after the battle of Guilford Court House,
length of this service not shown; from sometime in
June, 1781, two months in Captain Cright's company;
from sometime in September, 1781, one month and nineteen days in Captains Hill's and Owen Reuben's companies
under Major Waller, and was in the Siege of
Yorktown.
The soldier, John Grisham, moved in 1783 from
Henry County, Virginia to Pendleton District, South Carolina
He was allowed pension on his application
executed October 1, 1832, then a resident of
Pickens District, South Carolina. He died June 22,
1835.
There is no reference to wife or children.
It is shown that one William Poor was orderly
sergeant in the tour in which the soldier, John
Grisham, served in Captain Lifas Shelton's company.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Page 12

John Grisham
Militia Va.
15,338


Care 
Joseph Grisham, Falls P.O.
Pickens Dist. S.C.
Page 13

We Jacob Lewis is a Clergyman residing within District of Pickens and Robert Anderson - residing in the same district, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Grisham Esquire who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy one years of age that he is  respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldiers of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion. He has been [illegible] since our acquaintance a respectable member of the Baptist Church and for several years a deacon-

Sworn & Subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open court
William L. Keith
Clerk of the Court of Pickens District

Jacob Lewis

R. Anderson

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter,  and after [illegible] 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 Jacob Lewis, who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the said district and that Robert Anderson, who has also signed the same is a resident in the said district, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

Richard Gautt

I William L Keith, Clerk of the Court of Sessions & Common Pleas for Pickens District, do hereby certify that the foregoing, contains the original proceedings in the said court in the matter of the application of John Grisham Esq. for a pension.

     In the testimony whereof I have hereinto set my hand and the seat of office this 1st day of October 1832.

William L Keith
C,C,G,S,&,C,C,P
Page 14

The State of South Carolina
Pickens District

I Phillip Cox do certify that I have been long acquainted with John Grisham Esq. that I saw him in the United States Service during the Revolutionary War in the State of Virginia, Since we both removed to South Carolina I have been intimately acquainted for thirty years, him and myself belong to the Baptist Church we have been intimately acquainted + I have never heard any charge against him as a Christian or good citizen.
Sworn to the 1st October 1832
Before William L Keith
C C & E off Qu

Phillip Cox X his mark

The State of South Carolina
Pickens District
We Certify that for ten or fifteen ------- We have been acquainted with John Grisham Esq. who has applied for a pension and are also well acquainted with Jacob Lewis who is a respectable clergyman + Col Robert Anderson and Phillip Cox who are respectable citizens We certify that we have no hesitation in saying that each of the persons named are respectable + worthy of credit.
Sworn to in open court
1st October 1832
Before William L. Keith
C C & Ex off Qu 

Jesse P. Lewis
Joseph. N Whitmer
Page 15

South Carolina
Anderson District
Personally appeared before me Katy Heton of sd. Dist who being sworn saith on her oath that she has every just reason to believe that John Grisham of sd. district was in the U. States service during the Revolutionary war as follows (viz) one tour of about 3 weeks, and at other different times to the amount of six months
Kay O Heton  x her mark
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 11th day of August 1832
Joseph Cox J.P.
Page 16

February 25, 1935
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
John Grisham - S.21790
The Quartermaster General BA-J/AWF
Memorial Branch
War Department
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your request for information in regard to John Grisham, private in the Virginia militia, War of the Revolution, and who died June 22, 1835 in South Carolina. The application for headstone for John Grisham was enclosed with your request, which
application is returned herewith; there was no correspondence attached.
The data which follow were obtained from the
papers on file in pension claim, S. 21790, based upon the service of John Grisham during the War of the Revolution.
John Grisham was born March 14, 1761 in Culpeper County, Virginia, names of his parents not given. His father moved when he was a small boy from Culpeper County to Henry County, Virginia.
While residing in Henry County, John Grisham
enlisted and served as a private with the Virginia troops as follows:
From sometime in April, 1779, three weeks in Captain Haman Cright's company, Colonel Henry Lines' regiment, out in pursuit of Tories in the "Hollow of the Yadkin"; shortly afterward, three months in Captain Lifas Shelton's company; from sometime in February, 1780, three weeks in Captain Cright's company, Colonel James Lyon's regiment; from sometime in June, 1781, two months in Captain Cright's company; from sometime in September, 1781, one month and nineteen days in Captains Hill's and Owen Reubel's companies under Major John
Page 17

Waller and was in the Siege of Yorktown.
The soldier, John Grisham, moved in 1783 from Henry County, Virginia to Pendleton County, South Carolina. He was allowed pension on his application executed, October 1, 1832, then a resident of Pickens District, South Carolina, where he had lived about thirty-four years. He died June 22, 1835.
It is not stated whether the soldier was married.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Page 18

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section MMHF
December 12, 1925
Mrs. J. Proctor Browne
615 Oakwood Blvd.,
Chicago, Illinois
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 21790 it appears that John Grisham was born March 14, 1761 in Culpeper County, Virginia.
While a resident of Henry County, Virginia he enlisted in April 1779 and served three weeks as a private in Captain Haman Cright's Company, Colonel Henry Lines Virginia Regiment, and one month later he enlisted and served three months as private in Captain Lifas Shelton's Virginia Company.
He enlisted in February 1780 and served three weeks in Captain Cright's Company, Colonel James Lyon's Virginia Regiment.
He enlisted in June 1781, served two months as private in Captain Cright's Company, then in September 1781 enlisted and served one month and nineteen days in Captains Hill
Page 19

Owen Reubel's Companies under Major John Waller in the Virginia Troops and was at the Siege of Yorktown.
In 1783 he moved from Henry County, Virginia to
Pendleton County, South Carolina, and was allowed pension
on his application executed October 1, 1832 while a resiident
of Pickens District, South Carolina. He died June
22, 1835,

from A.B. [note pointing to last sentence about date of death]

It is not stated whether he was ever married.
The above noted is the only soldier named John Grisham, under any spelling of that name, found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.
Page 20

Rev. War Section,
Record Division.

March 20, 1223.

M. V. Barnes
Willowbrook [uneadable]
Baldwin Place,
Putnam Co. N. Y.

Madam:
In response to your letter of the 16" ultimo, you are advised that from the papers in the Revolutionary
War claim, S. 80, it appears that Charles Taylor
born in Fairfax Co. Va. Aug. 5, 1753, resided during the
Revolution in Chesterfield District S. C. and Wilks Co. Ga., was allowed pension for 18 months and 15 lays
service in the troops of S.E. and Co. on his application
executed Aug. 14, 1833, while living in Bedford
County, Va.
From the papers in the Revolutionary War claim,
21770, it appears that John Grisham, (name erroneously spelled Gresham, on the printed list of 1935) was
born in Culpeper Co. Va. (date not stated) (March 14 - 1761?) [written above "date not stated] resided during the
Revolution in Henry Co. Va., was allowed pension for 8
months and 1 day service in the Troops of Va. on his
application executed Oct. 1, 1838, while living in Pickens District, S. C.

M. V. Barnes [illegible] in claim of Chas Taylor
[written on side of above typed document]
Page 21

f you desire photostat copies of the original
papers on file in said claims, the same will be furnished you under the provisions of the Act of August 24, 1918, at the rate of fifteen cents a page, with
twenty-five cents extra, in each claim for certification
if that is desired. The number of pages to
be copied is thirteen.
The proper account should be forwarded to this
Bureau by money order drawn to the order of the
Secretary of the Interior.

Very respectfully,
Washington Gardner
Commissioner

Chas Taylor pages 7
John Grisham " 6
Page 22

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.
3 -- 525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C.
19 [date missing]

In reply to your request of ______
for a statement of the military history of John Grisham a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired
information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension
on file in this Bureau. S.J. 21.790

[table]

[column headers]
DATES OF
ENLISTMENT OR
APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE | RANK | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN | COLONEL. | STATE.

[content in rows]
Apr. 1779 | 3 weeks | Prvt. | Haman Cright | Henry Lines | Va.
Month later | 3 mos. | | Lifas Shelton | " | "
Feb. 1780 | 3 weeks | | Cright | James Lyon | "
[row crossed out]
June 1781 | 2 mos. | | Cright | | "
Sept. 1781 1 mo 14 days | | Hill and Owen Reubel | Major John Waller | "

Battles engaged in, at Siege of York
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Henry Co. Va.
Date of application for pension, Oct. 1 1832 His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Pickens Dist SC.
Age at date of application, 71 years born in Culpeper Co. Va. "Mch. 14, 1761" [note] added [illegible] 1925
Remarks: he died June 22 1835. There is no family data on file
-
Respectfully,
Commissioner.
Page 23

[stamp]
RECEIVED OCT 26, 1935
MAIL SUB. DIV.
VETS. ADM. 
23

Walhalla, S.C.
Oct. 24, 1935.

Director of Pensions,
U. S. Veterans' Administration,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:
Please write me whether William Poor of Virginia and South Carolina
ever received a pension for military services in the Revolutionary
War or not.
In 1784 William Poor bought land grants in South Carolina
in Ninety-six later Pendleton district which is now Anderson county.
He died on these lands in 1822 and his widow, Mary Poor, lived until
1836.
In the History of Henry county, Virginia, by Judith Parks
America Fill Martinsville, Va. 1925 P 324, we find, "Feb. 27, 1783
John Gresham was allowed 42 lbs for So. Ca Brigade -- William Poor-
14 lbs bacon for some wagons."
William Poor married a sister of John Gresham who was a Revolutionary
soldier.
It is thought that William Poor lived in Powatan county, Va.
during the period of the Revolutionary War.

Yours truly,
R D. Poore
R. D. Poore,
Page 24

WAR DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF THE QUARTERMASTER GENERAL
WASHINGTON
2/18 1935

Memorandum for
The Surgeon General,
Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department,
Commandant, United States Coast Guard, Treasury Department,
The Commissioner of Pensions, Interior Building,
General Accounting Office, F Street, between 4th & 5th, N. W.
-
1. The attached application has been submitted to this office for Government
headstone to be erected at the grave of the decedent named thereon. In order that the
proper inscription may be placed on the stone it would be appreciated if your
office would verify the name and service on the application, checking and making such
corrections in red ink as may be necessary to show the correct spelling of the name
and complete designation of the organizations.

2. in action, please advise State from which decedent came.

[stamp]
RECEIVED
FEB 19 1935
Page 25

Request for Rev. War record
of John Grisham
Va militia & died
June 22, 1835 in S. C
History furnished
& application for headstone
returned
Feb 25 - 1935
[illegible]
Page 26

615 Oakwood Boulevard,
Chicago, Ill.
Nov. 5, 1925.

Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir:

I desire to complete the record of one
Thomas Gresham (surname also borne as Grasum, Gressum, Grasham, Grisham and Grissum), whose
name appears on a record under the heading:
"A List of Soldiers of the Virginia Line on
Continental Establishment who have received
Certificates for the balance of their full pay
Agreeable to an Act of Assembly passed November
Session 1781".

Thomas Gresham had a son John, and the
list above referred to shows that on August 10,
1784, the sum of £53 S11 D7 was received by
one Jno. Gresham.

I find certain Court Records at Dandridge,
Tennessee, of the above, named Gresham's, and
desire the full Pension Record or any other
record which may establish a perfect identity,
necessary for a supplemental line in the D. A. R.

Thanking you, I am,
Yours very truly,
Carrie Corbett Browne
(Mrs. Proctor Browne)

[stamp]
U. S. PENSION OFFICE
NOV 7 1925
Page 27

Maryland Society

President
JAMES HARRY PRESTON
820 N. CHARLES STREET

Secretary
GEORGE SADTLER ROBERTSON
1628 LINDEN AVENUE

ORGANIZED APRIL 20. 1889

Registrar
FRANCIS B. CULVER
2203 N. CHARLES STREET
Secretary

BALTIMORE, MD. 
4 May 1921

The Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C

Sir:
Please supply the Revolutionary War
record
of John Gresham a private in the Virgina
militia who was pensioned in 1833.

Respectfully
Francis B. Culver

[stamp]
U. S. PENSION OFFICE
MAY 5 1921
Page 28

Revolution

21790
INVALID.
---
File No. 21,790

John Grisham
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7" 32"
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 160
Arrangement of 1870.]

1914. May 14. Hist. to Mrs. J. Proctor Book Letter
W. F. 1806 John Corbelt
---
1921, May 20 hist to Francis B. Culver
---
1922. [illegible] History & cost
of Copies to M. V. Barnes
---
1922 July 11. hist. to Hon. Wm. J. Harris
[illegible] Jas. Alexander

1925 - Dec 2 - Hist to Mrs. J. P. Browne [illegible]

1933 - Feb 25 - hist to Memorial Brigade
 
1935 - Not [illegible] to R. D. Poore
Page 29

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
John Grisham which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?

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

III. If 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?

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?

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of
June 7, 1832?

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?

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?
Page 30

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to
their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?

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?

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, has 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 a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered?
12

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 service, 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 ____ months and ____ days, I served as a ____; and for such service I claim a pension.
Page 31

3

It is important in all cases in 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 they served 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 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.

QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 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 to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate
must be certified by the same officer, under his seal of office.

QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of
office, the certificate of a manner of congress, proving the official character and signature of the
certifying officer, should accompany the papers.