Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 9,450, for William Owens, North Carolina
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(3-1776)

SERVICE
N.C.

Owens, William

NUMBER
S.9.450

carded

Born in Va.
CONTENTS
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4959
South Carolina

William Owens
of Lancaston Dist the State of South Carolina
who was a private in the Company commanden
by Captain Polla of the _____ commanden
by Gen Butler in the North Carolina
Militia for nine months
same

Inscribed on the Roll of South Carolina
at the rate of 30 Dollars --- Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 31 day of January 1833 and sent Hon James Blair HR

Arrears to 4th of September 1832      45.00
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 March 
1833                                                     15.00
                                                    Doll.  60.00

{ Revolutionary Claim,}
{ Act June 7, 1832. }

Recorded by Henry H. Sylvester Clerk
Book D. Vol. 8  Page 93
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William Owens

admit for 9 months
as a private -
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BRIEF in the case of William Owens
at Lancaster District in the State of South Carolina
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  in open Court

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

3.  How old is he?  does not know, but one witness says he believes him to be more than
90 years of age

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

Period.
In 17
During the
Revolutionary War-

Duration of Service.
Years, Months, Days.
From Nine to
Twelve months

Rank.
As a Private

Names of General and Field Officers
under whom he served.
Gen Butler
Capt. Abraham Potter

5. In what battles was he engaged? 
Stones Ferry in North Carolina

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?  In Granville County North Carolina

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

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

X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Sam J Potts
Examining Clerk.
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State of South Carolina }
Lancaster District }
On this fourteenth day of November in the
Year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open Court before William Dellartin, Esquire Presiding Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the District aforesaid,
now sitting, William Owens, a resident of the District and State aforesaid, aged as herein after stated, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
That he was born in Prince Williams County, in
Virginia, in what year he cannot distinctly ascertain or depose. His father had a record of his age from his recollection of which, (the said record being now lost or not in his possession) and his age derived from the record during the Revolutionary War, he deposes as hereinafter
set forth on that point. That before the commencement of that war he removed, when quite young, with his father's family. into Granville County, North Carolina, where he resided for many years and until the war.
That soon after the commencement of the war, he was drafted for three months into the Militia of North Carolina. He served in a company commanded by Captain
Abram Potter, and afterwards by Captn Clark. The detachment was under the command of General Butler, and marched to join General Lincoln. General William [illegible] was one of the officers with the army. The army marched on to Savannah where the British then were, but which was evacuated by them soon after.
The army then proceeded to Bacon's Bridge on Ashley river. Deponent was sent with a detachment to guard the baggage wagons, where to he cannot now recollect. During
his absence on this duty the battle at Stono ferry took place; soon after which he was discharged. He is quite aged and infirm, and his memory much impaired. As well as he can recollect this term of service was in the Spring, and he was absent from home near four
months.
Some time after this the British having taken
possession of part of North Carolina, he was again drafted as a guard for the Governor. Does not recollect the [? names? ] of any of his officers on this tour of duty, nor of the Governor. Served in Granville County North Carolina, as a
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guard for the Governor, about one month, and was then discharged. Thinks this service was in the latter part of the summer.
Deponent was afterwards drafted into a Regiment commanded by Colonel William Moore, under General Butler, who came on with the detachment to Salisbury, where he left it. Colonel Moore brought the detachment on to the Waxhaws and there encamped.
Deponent was sent out on a foraging party. On his return Col. Moore, who had in his absence, been joined by Colonel Washington with about two hundred mounted men, was about marching to attack the Tory Colonel, Rugely --
near Camden. The foraging party were left in charge of the camp while the detachment marched down, attacked and took Rugely and his party. I returned to the camp with the prisoners, who were put into a pen made
for the purpose, and guarded, until the detachment marched to Salisbury, a few days after the battle, where they were lodged in gaol [jail]. He was there discharged.
Thinks this service was about three months, and in the fall season.
Deponent was again drafted into a Regiment commanded by Col. Taylor. Forgels 
[? forgets? ] his captain.
The Regiment was about to march to Wilmington, when a requisition was made by Colonel Long, then in Halifax, for a guard for certain stores he was about sending to General Green who was then encamped on the High Hills of Santee. Deponent was detached with
the guard under Captain Yancey. The stores were delivered to General Greene; and the guard returned. On reaching Salisbury, news of Peace was received; they were discharged, and he went home. This term of service was for three months, which were nearly expired
when he reached home.
Deponent thinks that altogether, he served from nine to twelve months. His several
discharges were by various persons, whom he does not recollect, and they are all lost. He was always drafted, and never was a substitute.
Deponent states that at the time he
heard the news of Peace in Salisbury, he wanted about three years of being fifty years of age. He knows this from the fact that persons of fifty years of age were exempted
from the drafts, which fixed his age at that time in his memory. D
Deponent continued to reside in Granville County several years after the war. He then removed to Lancaster
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District, South Carolina, where he has resided ever since.
Deponent has no documentary evidence of his service; and his memory is so much impaired by age that he cannot be more particular in his statement. John Fleming, a resident of Lancaster District, now living was on duly
with deponent during his third term of service, under Col. William Moore. Rawley Hammond, now living, a citizen of Kershaw District, was also on service with deponent at the same time. He is so aged and infirm that he could not be got to this Court.
the deponent hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the
present, and declares that his name is on the agency of the State of South Carolina, as a state Pensioner, and on no other whatever.
Sworn to and subscribed the day }
and year aforesaid, in open Court }
Wm his X mark Owens
Jno Adams clerk

In open Court, the day and year aforesaid,
appears John Fleming and makes oath, that he knows William Owens the above declarant. That he served as a soldier with said Owens in the year 1780, by which year he with Owens were drafted into the Regiment of Col. Moore
under General Butter. The regiment came on to Salisbury where General Butler left them. The Regiment served above the Washaws, both in North and South Carolina. During their service Col. Rugeley was captured. Deponent
knows personally that Owens served during the whole term, which was three months. Mr Owens was a good Whig, and served whenever called on; deponent believes; but he was not with him at any other time.
Sworn to and subscribed in open }
Court the day and year aforesaid }
John Fleming
Jno Adams clerk
William Vanlandingham also deposes that he
knew William Owens during the Revolutionary war, and then heard and believed that he was in actual service. He has always borne the reputation of having served in the war.
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court }
Jno Adams clk
Wm his x mark Valendingham
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We Jackey Perry and John J Blackman, residing
in the District of Lancaster, and neighbors of William Owens who has made the above declaration hereby certify that we are well acquainted with said Owens, and have
known him, Jackey Perry for fifteen years and John J. Blackman for 12 or 15. years: that we believe him to be more than ninety years of age; that he is reputed and believed
in his neighborhood to have been a soldier of the revolution: and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed }
in open Court the day and year }
aforesaid }
Jno Adams Clerk
Jackey Perry
John J Blackman

Reuben Bennett also deposes that he has known William Owens for thirty years or
more, and has alive believed him to have been a soldier in the Revolution. Such has [illegible] been Wm Owens reputation in his neighborhood.
Sworn to & subscribed the open Court
Jno Adams
R. his mark Bennett

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 stated & [illegible] the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Reuben Bennett 76 William Vanlandingham John Fleming, Jack Perry and John J Blackman who have signed the
above certificates are residents of Lancaster District and credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
November 14th 1832
Wm. D. Martin
Presiding Judge

I John Adams Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for Lancaster District do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Owens for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of my office
this fourteenth day of November
1832
Jno Adams
Clerk
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REV War
9450
INVALID.

File No. 9450
William Owens
Priv. Rev. War.

Act: June 7th 1832.
Index: -- Vol. 1, Page 281

[ Arrangement of 1870. ]
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William Owens

Admit
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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 William Owens which require further proof of claim.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?  yes

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

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? yes [lined out]  no

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?  no

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

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?  yes

IX.  Has the Clerk given his certificate?  yes

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
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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?  Four Witnesses but neither of them a clergyman.

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?  no

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 has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? yes
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?  yes

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? yes a part of his service

XVI. +
       +Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  yes

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes 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 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."
months and --
days, I served as a-
For months
days, I served as aand
for such service I claim a pension."
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It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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.

+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 be [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.

+
+QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated 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 end 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.