Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6787, John Davis, N.C.
Page 1

(3—1776)                    Number

N.C.     Davis, John     S-6787

                                             carded

SERVICE
N.C
Davis, John
CONTENTS
Born Sept. 25, 1756, Prince Georges Co., Md.
To N.C. with parents when quite young.
Res. at enl, Orange Co. N.C.
1833, Caswell Co., N.C. formerly part of Orange Co.
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N. Carolina 12.757

John Davis

of Caswell Co. in the State of N. Carolina
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain Walker of the Regt commanded
by Col. Cole in the N. Carolina [milia?]
line for 10 1/2 months

Inscribed on the Roll of N. Carolina
at the rate of 35 Dollars ____Cents [crossed out] per anum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of May, 33
and Sent. C. Graves
Caswell C. H. No. Ca.

Arrears to the 4th of March. 33           70—
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4th Sept 17—
                                                                 87—

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by Rush Newman Clerk,
Book E Vol. 6 Page 38

[I?] of [I?] not on A. B.
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Declaration of
John Davis
for a Pension under
the Act of Jan 7, 1832

24884
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State of North Carolina
Caswell County.

Court of pleas & Quarter Sessions
April Term 1833

On this the 9th day of April AD. 1833
personally appeared in open Court, before the Justices thereof
[now?] sitting, John Davis, a resident of the County of Caswell
and State of North Carolina, aged seventy six years on the
25th Septem. 1832– who being first duly sworn according
to Laws, [doth?], on his oath take the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed Jan the 7th AD. 1832—

That he entered the Service of the United
States under the following named offices, are Saved as
herein states. —(to wit— In the month of September of the
year 1778– as only as he now [recalls?] he Enlisted, in the County of Orange (now
Caswell) in the Regular Service of the United States for
the Term of six months under Capt. John Walker of Wilm-
-ington Nr. Carolina, set out for Hillsborough in said county of
Orange, immediatly and joined Capt Walker's Company at [illegible]
Town, remained there about a week, marched from there
to Wilmington, at which town they joined the Regiment com-
manded by Col. Moore, Lieutenant Col. Nash, Major Clarke &
marched thence to Barnett's Creek, about Eight miles
from Wilmington, near where said creek empties into the
River Cape Fear, for the purpose of preventing the British
from coming up the River to the Town of Wilmington,– rem-
ained there but a short time; then returned to Wilmington,
marched, thence to Fayettville, (then commonly called Cross-
creek) which has been much infested by the Tories, and
at this time was in their possession, on the approach of
Col. Moore's Regmt. they abandoned the Town, proceeding
in the direction for Wilmington; Their march was howev-
-er intercepted by Genl. Caswell's army, by whom they were
defeated,– Col. Moore's Regiment (with which, was this
Declarant) was in hearing of the Engagement, and hastened
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immediately to the same of War, but before their arrival, the 
Tories were put to rout. They reached, however in time 
to witness the Capture of their leader, was name was 
Jn Daniel (as well this declarant recollect) this Declarant 
saw him brought in & surrender his Arrival to Govr. 
Caswell, -- Col Moore's Regmt then bearing Govr. Caswell 
Army, Marched to Wilmington, where they remained till 
discharged in the month of March. The Term of his enlistment having affixed, i.e. 
Six Mon. 

In February 1781. This declarant volunteered as 
a Militiaman in the County of Caswell aforesaid under 
Capt Cole of Col. Wm Moore's Regiment & for a term of 3 months joined Genl  
Butler's Army on Dan River. Marched to Red House 
in said County thence to Leasburg, also in Caswell 
thence through the County of Orange, fell in with 
Colonel Washington and Lee, followed in the year of 
of Cornwallis army till about three days before 
the Battle of Guilford. This Declarant, in said Battle 
was in the Regt. commanded by Genl Butler. After 
this unfortunate Battle, which was fought about the middle 
of March of the year 1781, this declarant returned 
home. 
Again In July 1781 this declarant volunteered for 
3 months in the Militia Service, Under by Capt. A. 
Sanders of Genl Butler's army. Set out, under Genl. 
Butler from the County of Caswell Jr Co. and marched 
in the direction of Wilmington, in pursuit of the Tories 
who were prowling the Country, Taking prisoners the Clizens 
And delivering them to the British army - having reached 
within about 14 miles of Wilmington they received information 
that the Tories had left that Section; In this 
March they fell in with Genl Rutherford's Army. 
(recollects no other officer under Genl Rutherford, than 
Col. Campbell), about the time of the Junction of 
Rutherford & Butler armies, they learned that about 
Eight hundred tories had embodied to the North-West 
of Wilmington; the two armies put off in pursuit 
of them, and having reached the neighborhood in which 
they had encamped, the Tories and [illegible] and were pursued by
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the light horse,- We were continued principally in present 
of the Tories till the news of the Surrender of Col Cornwallis 
reached our army.- which surrender produced a 
great change in the conduct of the Tories: and Such was 
(in a short time) the quiet Condition of this part of the country that Genl 
Butler's whole army was discharged, and this declarant 
returned home,- reached home about the last of October. 
he thinks that at the time of the discharge of the Regt to
which he belonged, the term of three months for which 
he had volunteered lacked a few days of effection.- 
Thus this Declarant States that as nearly as he can recollect, 
he served in all, about ten months & a half-
to wit Six M. in the regular services, & about four and 
a half M. in the Militia Service.- 

This Declarant was born in the County of Prince 
George & State of Maryland, on the 25th Sept 1756. he has 
no record of his age, it was entered in the Family Bible 
of his Father, and he knows not what has become of it: 
he came to North Carolina when quite young with 
his parents.- at the time of entering the service he 
lived in the County of Orange which was afterwards 
divided, and that portion in which he has served 
lived is called Caswell. - He has no documentary 
deed in as of his services, having long since lost or mislaid 
his discharges. He is [illegible] acquainted in this County 
in which he resides, having lived there before & Ever 
Since the War of the Revolution. He is not aware 
of any one living in this section who knows of his 
having performed the service herein stated, Except 
James Peterson (whos affidavit is annexed) & Peter Smith, both of whom were 
regular Soldiers & are now pensioners, as such, 
the last of whom is too infirm to attend Court.- 
He hereby relinquishes any claim to a Pension or annuity except the 
present, & declares that his name is not on the pension Roll 
of the agency of any State.- 
Sworn to & subscribed in Open Court }
Test Paul A. Horalson CK 
John Davis his mark
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James Peterson- a Soldier of the Revolution, and now a pensioner 
saith upon Oath that he was present at a company muster 
and said the Declarant John Davis at the time of his 
Enlistment under one Capt Jn Walker, for six Months, 
that he [illegible] the said Jn Davis & has been ever since 
the time we word brings, that he believes him to have performed 
the same state in his death, and knows that 
he was about for at least Six Months just after the 
aforesaid enlistment he states likewise he was with the said Jn 
Davis in his 2nd Tour of Militia Service & [illegible] him to have performed 
the [illegible] State.- 
Sworn to & Subscribed in Open Court } 
Paul A Horalson Clk 
James Peterson his marke 

N. Nicholas Willis and George Stephens, Clergymen, 
residing in the County of Caswell, and Colin 
Grant and Thomas L Lea riding in the same County 
hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John 
Davis who has subscribed & Sworn to the above 
declaration, that we believe him to be Seventy Six 
years of age or more; that he is reputed and beloved 
in the neighborhood where resides to have been a soldier 
of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion
We further certify that he is a man of unquestionable veracity.-
Sworn to & Subscribed in Open Court }
Paul A Horalson Clk
N Willis 
George Stevens 
Calvin Grant 
Tho L Lea

North Carolina, Caswell County Court of Pleas & Quarter Session}
April Term 1833- 
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the 
investigation of the matter & after pulling the interrogations presented 
by the war department that the above named applicant was 
a revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states: 
And the Court further certify that it appears to them that 
Nicholas
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Nicholas Willis & George Stephens who have signed the preceding 
Certificate, are Clergyman resident in the County of Caswell aforesaid 
and that Calvin Graves & Tho L Lea who have also signed 
the same are resident in the County of Caswell aforesaid, and 
are credible persons, & that this statements and entitled to credit. 
Tho Graves  J.P.
Abner Miles J.P. 
John Ritcher- J.P. 

I Paul A Haralson Clerk of the Court of Pleas
& Quarter Sessions for the County of Caswell and State of 
North Carolina, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains 
the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the 
application of John Davis for a Pension. 
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set 
my hand and affixed the Seal of Office of 
said Court this the 9th day of April AD 1833 
Paul A Haralson Clk
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24884
John Davis
NC

Admit as a private
10 1/2 months $ 33 33
                             1  67
                         $35. 00

C. Graves
Caswell Ct.House
N.C.
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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office
183

Sir:
The vidence 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 statment 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. These 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 the Service of John Davis, N.C.

|Period when the service was rendered.|
Regular service
Sep 1778 - (illegible)
Feb. 81 - vol
July 11-11
|Duration of the claimant's service|
Years.|Months.|Days.|
| |6| |
| |3| |
| |3| |
|Rank of the claimant.|
Private
"
"
|Names and rand of the Field officers under whom he served|
Cap Walker, Col Moore
Cap Cole
Cap Sanders, Col Campbell

|Age at presnt, and place of abode when he entered the service|
76. Born Prince George, M.d entered in Orange Co N.C. now lives in Caswell - then Orange

|Proof by which the declaration is supported.|
1 surviving witness proves first and second tour - third not proved - witness not certified as credible. Certificate of two clergyman and 2 citizens credible. Interrogations answered papers not authenticated. 

In all served about 10 1/2 months, 6 in regular service about 11 1/2 in militia. 

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J.L. EDWARDS,
Commisionar of Pensions.
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Regulations Under the act of June 7,1852
The following regulations has been constructed as well as to every branch of the Staff of the Army and to include under the terms "Continental Line" "State troops" 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 Keeper, &c., Teamsters, Boatman, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are 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 application resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered 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}ss.
On this [blanked out space] day of [blanked out space] personally appeared (a) before [blanked out space] A. B. a resident (b) of [blanked out space] in the county of [blanked out space] and the State, Territory or District of [blanked out space]aged (c) [blanked out space] years, who of 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) [blanked out space], with [blanked out space] and served in the [blanked out space] (e) regiment of the [blanked out space] 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 battles, if any., in what he engaged, and the country, through which he marched. [hand pointing to the right] This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cause 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 on the State of [blanked out space]
Sworn to an 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 [blanked out space] of the Court of [blanked out space] do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceeding s of the said Court in the matter of the application of [blanked out space] for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of [blanked out space] &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof on 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.
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3

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person 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 exexpected. 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 (in) 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
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Washington September 21, 1931
BA-J/MLB

Mrs. Clinton C. Cox
1205 Glendale Avenue
Durham, North Carolina
Dear Madam:

You are advised that it appears from the papers in the
Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 6787, that John Davis
was born September 25, 1756, in Prince Georges County,
Maryland, and when quite young moved with his parents to
North Carolina.

He enlisted in September, 1778, in that part of Orange
(which was afterwards Caswell) County, North Carolina, and
served as a private in Captain John Walker's company, Colonel
Moore's North Carolina regiment, and assisted in routing the
British at Cross Creek (later Fayetteville). He enlisted in
February, 1781, and served as a private in Captain Cole's
company, Colonel William Moore's North Carolina regiment, and was in the battle of Guilford. He enlisted in July, 1781, and
served as a private in Captain Sanders' company, Colonel
Campbell's North Carolina regiment. After the surrender of
of Cornwallis  he was discharged, and returned home about the last of October; length of service about ten and one half months in all.

After the Revolutionary War he continued to live in Caswell
County, North Carolina, where he was allowed pension on his
application executed April 9, 1833.

There is no reference to wife or children.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
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[left side]

6787
RevWar

INVALID
---
File no. 6787
John Davis
Pri Rev War

___

Act: June 7th 32
Index:-Vol. 1 [illegible], Page 89
[arrangement of 1870.]

[upper right side]
1931-Sept. 21-Hist. to Mrs. Clinton C. Cox -MLB.
Page 15

Caswell Cty NC
14th April

Revolutionary Claims

Free 


JW. James L. Edwards
Pension Office
War Department
Washington City - D.C. 
 
[left side: mail.][In pencil: May 8
N.C. 24884]
Page 16




Caswell Co. House, N. Carolina
12th April 1833

Mr. J. L. Emmons

Dear Sir
I [illegible] you the declaration of Mr. John Davis of this County to which I beg your attention, and an answer as early as possible.
Last fall I mailed at this place, the declaration of Wm Parker, Benjamin Long & John Dill, directly to the Secretary of War. since which nothing has been heard from them. If you be kind enough to inform me as early as convenient, whether or not these declarations have been received and if so what disposition has been made of them. Your compliance will confer a great  [illegible] on this Revolutionary [illegible].

Most Respectfully
C. Graves
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[Stamp: Revolutionary & 1812 Wars section 
Sep 21 1931
Bureau of Pensions]

September 18. 1931
1205 Glendale Ave

Bureau of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Rev + 1812 Section 
Dear Sir. 
In the published census of Pensioners for 1840. Caswell County, North Carolina. John Davis is shown to have shown to [repetition the author’s] have received a pension. I would appreciate having a copy of this record as a family history of John Davis from Caswell County, North Carolina. 
In reply to your letter. I presume of the John Davis was born Sept 28 1735 at Chester County Pa, son of Charles and
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Hannah Davis of Chester County Pa. He married Mary, daughter of Anthony Chamners and Sarah, his wife. Mary was born in Frederick County. Va
September 11, 1743.
They settled in Orange County later Casewell County. They had good many children: one John Jr. born in Orange County about April 3, 1768. Married Hannah Bills of Surry County. Daughter of Daniel and Deborah Bills of Surry County – about Oct 7 1790. Thank you for kindness
Yours truly
Mrs Chester C. Cox
1205 Glendale ave, Durham N.C.
Page 19

[Seal in upper left: Veterans Administration] Veterans Administration
Washington August 27, 1931

This letter Refers to Your File Number:

Mrs. Clinton C. Cox
1205 Glendale Avenue
Durham, North Carolina

In reply refer to:
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
MLB

In re: John Davis

Dear Madam:

You are advised that the data given by you are not sufficient to enable this office to make a proper search of the records. 

As a means of identifying the particular record in which you are interested, should it be on file, the full name of the soldier is essential and as much as possible of the following data: approximate dates of birth and death, places of residence at enlistment and after service and given name of widow. 
Please return this letter with your reply, 

Very truly yours

A.D. Hiller [signed]
A.D. Hiller
Assistant Administrator