Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3,335, Anthony Elton, Penn.
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SERVICE
Penn.

Elton, Anthony

NUMBER
R.3,335

Born in Ireland - to Pa - to S.C. to Ga

CONTENTS
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24,682
Anthony Elton
Ga.


Suspended


26
[ unclear ]
H R
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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,

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 show what is
necessary to be done.   Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed
you will find marked in the margin with a brace (thus: }). You will when
you return your papers to this Department send this printed letter with them; and
you will by compling with this request greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.
=============
Statement, showing the service of
=============
Period when the service was performed
---
Duration of the claimants services.  Years  months  Days
---
Rank of a claimant
---
Names and rank of Field officers under whom he served. ┃
---
Age at present and place of abode when entered the service
---
Proof  by which the declaration is supported.

The applicant [ unclear ] his original declaration,  with the
new, the made in [ unclear ] -

I am respectfully,
Your obedient servant
JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

The applicant must state the name of his
Colonel and the field officers and whether he served
in the Militia or in the regular army
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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 claim-
ing 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 Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, District of
County of
On this ---day of---personally appeared (a) before
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)
served in the --- (e) regiment of the -- line, under the following 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 of the
town or county and state in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged.
and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons
who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

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
Sworn to and 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 -----  of the Court of ------
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original price of the said Court in the matter of
the application of ------
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
& 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.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the
and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
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 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 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 Millitia regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. To a soldier. Did you 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
inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before
required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper
county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform,
and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper
Clerk of the Court 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 services of any person, who may have died before
the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the
declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure
, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period
of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the
opinion of the Court upon the whole matter

---------------------

(a) The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which are 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 is determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant that, 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 were
" Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Pease, A. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason
of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear expressively 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, 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 she 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 seat of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months,
is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.  Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years
in the militia, &c, without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other parties are respecting the service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable.  
It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant serves; the duration of each term of engagement &
the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embedded corps called late service he component authority; 
that he was after in the fall or garrison; and for the time the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil
pursuit.
(f)The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
(g)  The opinion of the court is always required.
(h)  The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
(i)  The Clerk must afix his seal, and if it was 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 carrying outer, should accompany the
papers.

Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains
 the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must
pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

Proof of Service.
(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 their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of leaving the same, as well
as the regiments, company, and line to which he belonged.  The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses
names, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
>  the notes from (a) to (i) are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers, and State Troops.  The proof required by rule is 
note (j) applies to continental troops only.
(h) 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.
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Act of July 14, 1862, and March to

REJECTED

3335
P.O..
Anthony Elton
Service:
Enlisted:             , 18
Discharged:         , 18
Application filed:      ,18
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P.O.

____Recognized   _____ Contrac
____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for ____, 18
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- nothing to transcribe -
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State of Georgia 
Jackson County 

On this twenty fifth day of January 1834
Personally appeared before me John G Pitman one of the
Justices of the Inferior Court of the County -
aforesaid it being a Court of Record Anthony Elton a resident of
Said County aged Eighty 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 Pprovision made by the act of Congress Passed  --
June, 7th 1832

That he entered the army of the United States in the year
1776 in the 2nd Regiment Pensylvania Malitia Commanded by
Col. (Bisll or Beal) I lived at that time in Chester County
Pensylvania and Vollenterd in Capt Joseph Powell Company as a Private
Soldier and marched into the State of Newjersey was in the
Battle at Trenton and Received a wound in the thigh and
now carry the Ball in my thigh and was after that battle
Discharged in the latter part of the year 1777 having served Eighteen months, his Discharge is
lost or destroyed - he afterwards was drawn into service in the
Pensylvania Malitia by Draft under Capt McClure Marched into
Newjersey served with same troops under the command of
Col Swope and Major Bartholomy head quarters at Grenwich
was Discharged after five months service his Discharge
is lost or destroyed this service was (I think) in 1778 that
he has no documentary evidence of Said service and knows of no person whos
Testimony he can procure who can testify to his service that by
Reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot
swear positively as to the precise length of his services but according
to the best of his recollection he served not less than the
periods mentioned below one year and Eleven months
as a Private in the matter of Pensylvania and for such
Services I claim a Pension he hereby relinquishes Every Claim
whatever to a Pension or an annuity except the present and he
claims that his name is not   [  unclear  ]

Sworn to and subscribed before January 1834 
Anthony Elton  /s/
John G Pittman J J C
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1     the first interogative - 
I was born in the County of Down
in Kingdom of Ireland on the 2nd day of 
December 1753

2nd  I have it now in my House and the [ unclear ]
made by my Farther

3rd    I lived in the County Chester and State of Pen
Sylvania when called into service I have since
the war lived in the State of South Carolina
Abbeville Dist and I now live in the State
Georgia and County of Jackson and has lived
on the place I live on for the Last Sixteen
years

4th   I Voluntered in the first instance in 1776 and
in 1778 was Drafted

5th   I served as a Private in Col (Ball or Boaly)
Regement and Col. Swopes I was in Capt
Prowells Company at the Battle at Trenton

6th   Capt Powell was advanced and Capt Sadler
took the command of the Company from
him I got a discharge which is lost or 
Destroyed which was for Eighteen months 
for the five months service I do [ unclear ]
whether I had a written discharge or not

7th   John G Pittman William Mathew Walton
Mathews Henry Sevan Allen Mathews
John W Glenn James Glenn and others

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 25th of
January 1834
Anthony Elton /s/
John Pittman J J C
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We William Mathews and Milton Mathews Residing in the 
said County of Jackson do hereby certify that we are
well acquainted with Anthony Elton who has subscribed
& sworn to the foregoing Declaration that he is reputed 
and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to
have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur
in that opinion-  
Sworn to and subscribed
this 25th of January 1834
Wm Matthews
John G Pittman J J C
Milton Matthews

On the said John G Pittman doth hereby declare his
opinion after Investigation of the matter and after [ unclear ]
the Interrogations presented by the war Department that 
the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier
and served as he states and it further appears that
William Mathews & Milton Mathews who has also
signed the same is Residents of the same County and is
Creditable persons and that their statement is entitled
to Credit and I do further certify that from age
and Infirmity the said Anthony Elton cannot in
perfect safety attend in open Court to make his
application for said Pension
and I do further certify that there is no Clergeman
within less than Eighteen miles of the applicant
Anthony Elton that is acquainted with him
25th January 1834
John G Pittman J J C
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Georgia
Jackson County

I Sylvanus Ripley Clerk of
the Inferior Court of said County
( the same being a Court of Record) do hereby certify that
foregoing contains the original proceedings of
Said Court in the matter of the application of Anthony 
Elton for a pension & that John G. Pittman whose
name appears to the within & foregoing is at this time
an acting Justice of the Inferior Court & that his
Signatu s genuine

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto
Set my hand and seal of office this
25th day of January 1834

Sylvanus Ripley C.I.C.J.C.
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Georgia
Jackson County 
I Sylvanus Ripley Clerk of
the Inferior Court of said County
(the same being a Court of Record0  do hereby certify that 
the foregoing contains the original proceedings of
Said Court in the matter of the application of Anthony
Elton for a pension & that John G. Pittman whose
name appears to the within & foregoing is at this time
an acting Justices of the Inferior Court & that his
Signature is genuine

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto
Set my hand and seal of office this
25th day of January 1834
Sylvanus Ripley  C.I.C.J.C.