Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21,400, for Thomas Norwood, South Carolina
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
S.C.

Norwood, Thomas

NUMBER
S. 21400

Born in Va
=====
CONTENTS
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12815
South Carolina
=======
Thomas Norwood
of Abbeville in the State of South Carolina
who was a pri. in the company commanded
by Captain Johnson of the Regt commanded
by Col. Hammond in the South Car:
line for 9 months
=======
Inscribed on the Roll of South Car:
at the rate of 30 Dollars -- Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of march, 1834.
=======
Certificate of Pension ifsued the 29 day of May '33
Abbeville C. H. S. C.
=======
Arrears to the 4th of March '33 - 60
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept. - 15
==
$75
==
{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Wm Miller clerk,
Book E vol. 6 Page 75


Let: Agt. June 16 1835 payt: susd
let 18 Augt 1836 Thos Norwood the pensioner
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Declaration of Thos Norwood
an applicant for a pension
under the act of Congrefs
7th June 1832.

25032

10 Months service

State of South Carolina
Page 4

State of South Carolina}
Abbeville District} fs
On this fourth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Josiah J Evans presiding Judge of of the Courts of Common Pleas and General Sefsions for the District and State aforesaid now sitting Thomas Norwood a resident of of Abbeville district in the State of South Carolina aged seventy two 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 Congrefs pafsed June 7th one thousand eight hundred and thirty two - that he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer in the year seventeen hundred and eighty one under Capt. Samuel Rosawoud in the District of Ninety six + was marched by him + in his company to a place called Cuffytown where the applicant joined or enrolled his name with a Major Pardien to serve as a private in a Regiment of horse commanded by Col. Samuel Hammond the applicant was then marched in this Regiment and in Capt. Richard Johnsons company to Augusta Georgia, there attacked a number of British and tories who were embodied and garrisoned in a fort called Graysons fort, which was taken, and several of the enemy killed, the applicant was then marched from Augusta to Cambridge or Ninety six, to guard baggage + provision wagons for the use of Genl. Green who had then beseiged the British at Ninety six# or Cambridge [# June 81], here the applicant obtained a permit from Capt. Johnson to go home + while at home news of the seige being raised and the whole American force marched off from Ninety six reached the applicant, he then immediately enrolled his name in Capt. Saml Rosawouds company of militia as a volunteer + was marched by him, + in his company to the Broad + Congaree River in the State where the company remained some time and was then marched back by Capt. Rosawoud to Cambridge or ninety six which place the British burned before they left it + which we found in ruins, here the applicant with the whole company was verbally discharged, having fully served from the time of his first enrollment under Capt. Saml Rosawoud to his second enrollment and discharge under the same officer as aforesaid stated, the full time of three months serviced in the support and defence of the United States. -
The applicant then subsequently joined a Capt. Robert Maxwell a partizan officer as a volunteer and private for the period of six months but remained under his command + performed duty and service longer, as he continued under Capt Robert Maxwells command until the close of the war performing constant and active duty against Torys and Indians against the latter + in their nation the applicant performed + served two tours of duty -  the applicant also says that he computes the whole service he performed during the revolutionary war in defence + support of the United States to at least the service of ten months [illegible]
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Answers to certain Interrogatories
Ans to 1st Inty - The applicant says he was born in Augusta County in the State of Virginia the seventeenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty one.
Ans to 2d Inty - The applicant says the record of his age was in his fathers Bible, that the Bible is in the State of Georgia, but does not know in which part of Georgia.
Ans to 3d Inty - The applicant says he was living on Saluda River in the District of Ninety six in the State of South Carolina when he entered or was called into the service of the United States where he has since live, + where he now lives from his entry first in the service of the United States in the revolutionary war to the present time.
Ans to 4 Inty - The applicant says he entered the service as a volunteer never was drafted but was a substitute one month for Moses Jones in Capt. Saml Rosawouds company
Ans to 5 Inty - The applicant says that he does not recollect, so as to answer this question certainly except the name of Genl. Green at Ninety six.
Ans to 6 Inty - The applicant says he never received a written discharge that he was always discharged verbally.
Ans to 7 Inty - Wm P Martin Esqr, Col. Wm Ware, Gel. Edward Ware, Clement Latimer + Jefsa Gent [Jessa Gent] are persons to whom the applicant is known in his present neighborhood + who can testify as to his character for veracity + their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution.

The applicant also 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
Thomas Norwood
Sworn to + subscribed the day and year aforesaid
In open Court
Jas Wardlaw Clk
Page 6

We, Thomas A Noramond  a clergyman residing in the District of Abbeville in the State of South Carolina and John Hodges residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Norwood who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy two years of age that he is reputed and believe in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Thos A Noramond 
John Hodges
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
In open Court
Jas Wardlaw Clk

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 Thomas A Noramond who has signed the preceding certificate in a clergyman resident in the District of Abbeville + State of South Carolina and that John Hodges who has also signed the same is a resident in the same District and State, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Josiah J Evans
Mendy Judge
4 April 1833.

I James Wardlaw Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and General Sefsions for the District of Abbeville in the State of South Carolina do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Thomas Norwood for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and affixed my seal of office and of the said Court this fourth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three and in the fifty seventh year of the Independent of the United States of America
Jas Wardlaw Clk
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25032
Thomas Norwood
S. C.

Admit as a private
for 9 mo $30
Page 8

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 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 shew what is necefsary 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.
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A Statement, shewing the Service of Thomas Norwood SC
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Period when the service was rendered. | Duration of the claimant's service. Years. Months. Days.
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Reget of Horse 1781 volt.
Served before he joined the Horse a short time - in all in two enrollments
Served | - 3 -
then volund. | - 7 - Served till close of the war
=========
Rank of the claimant.
----------
privt.
-
-
private
=========
Name and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.
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Cp. Johnson, Col. Hammond entered at 96 in S. C.
-
Cp. Rosemond
Cap Maxwell
=========
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.
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72 born in August Co Va 
now lives in Aberville Dit. S. C. 
=========
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
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No living witness nor recson why
Certificate of Clergyman nor a Citizen

Claim for 10 months service

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J L EDWARDS
Commissioner of Pensions.
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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., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Records.

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 ___ day of ___ personally appeared (a) before ___ A. B. a resident (b) of ___ county of ___ and State, Territory or District of ___ aged (c) ___ years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) ___, with ___ and served in the ___ (e) regiment of the ___ line, under the following names officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [Right pointing hand symbol] This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of ___ A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I ___ of the Court of ___ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of ___ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this ___ day of ___ &c.

If on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a clergyman, residing in the ___ and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with ___, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be ___ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the ___ [There is a 'bracket' on the right side of this paragraph.]
I, ___ Clerk of the Court of ___ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of ___ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this ___ day of ___ &c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then precure, 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 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 service.
6. {To a Solider. {Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
{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 the 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 persons 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 exited 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 of 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 of 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 or 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 service 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 in 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. 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."
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 serviced two years 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. [There are brackets on both sides of the [e] section.]
[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 in 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.
[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.
[Right pointing hand symbol] 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.
[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.
Page 11

Thos Norwood

July 26th
Gentsville
Mr. J L Edwards
Washington City
District of Columbia

[Sideways of the left.]
S. C. Aug 8
Page 12

South Carolina}
Abbeville District} July the 22nd 1836
Dear Sir I write for information Being a revolutionary pensioner of the United States and having learnt from the agent in Charleston for paying pensions that I was Suspended I wish you to inform me of the cause of my Suspension and what is required on my part to restore me I am quite old and poor and need my pension much I hope you will write to me the desired information Direct you lines to Quts Ville P.O. South Carolina Abbeville District And oblige your obedient Servant
J L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions W C Thomas Norwood
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21400
Revolution INVALID. aw

File No. 21400
Thomas Norwood
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7" 32"
Index: Vol. 2, Page 297
[Arrangement of 1870.]