Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3257, William Davis, Va.
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SERVICE NUMBER
Va. Davis, William S. 3,257
carded.
CONTENTS
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Date of death not on A.B

19,338
East Tennessee
William Davis 2d
of Cocke Co in the State of Tennessee
who was a private in the Company commanded
by Captain Harrison of the regt commanded
by Col Lawson in the Virga mila
line for 18 months from 1776.

Inscribed on the Roll of East Tennessee
at the rate of 60 Dollars - Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of Au-
=gust 1833 and sent to Samuel
M Phariss, Sevinsville, Tenn

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833, 120-
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep " 30
$150-
{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Wm S Allison Clerk
Book E Vol. 7 Page 41
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10514
William Davis
Cock Co. Tennessee
Va Roll
on Roll
10,16
from 1776 private
18 months.
$60.

saml. M. Phariss
Sevierville

Clk Court
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BRIEF in the case of William Davis
County of Cock in the State of Tennessee
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? open Court

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

3. How old is he? 70 years

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

Period.
In 1775-
Duration of Service.
Years, Months, DAys.
1, 6
Rank. As a
Private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Gen.
Cpt Harrison Col. Haus
Capt Lawson
Colo Lee, Capt Agleston

5. In what battles was he engaged? Camden Eutaw Springs

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Petersburg Virginia

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

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct The Clerk's seal is defective. Thus no device

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

Nichoa Cutts
Examining Clerk.
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10514.

Mr Lewis Cass
War Department
Washington City
Pension Claims
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of
the Act of Congress of the 7th June 1832-
State of Tennessee} On this 29th day of August
Cocke County} one thousand eight hundred &
thirty two Personally appeared in open Court before the Court of pleas and quarter Sessions now Sitting for the county aforesaid
William Davis, a resident of the State and County
aforesaid, aged 70 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 1775 with James Sherrell; under Capt. Harrison and served under the following named officers, after rendezvousing in the Town of Petersburg Virginia. - That he was soon afterwards attached to Capt. Lawson's Company, under Major adjutant Selden, & Col. Haus and that Col. Haus then took the command of the Virginia Troops and marched from Cabbin point (after the troops had been reviewed by General Stuban) near Camden in South Carolina. that the British were forted at Camden in S.C. that he believes this was in the month of April. that the British he believes, were commanded by Cruga at said fort. That Cols. Haus and Col. Campbell commanded the two ridgements at that place viz. near Camden. That he and the others of these two ridgements lay there for some 8 or 10 days before the British sallied out of their fort: And that one evening just before the roll was called, one of the enemy joined Col. Haus ridgement, and after hearing the orders for some next day to Clear their fire arms & others to wash their cloths that same night returned to the enemy and on the same night the british came out of the fort & lay close to our picket guard and served till morning
That a battle commenced on the same morning 
That Col. Washington was commander of the Comdry but took about three or four hundred prisoners and left them with Col Campbell ridgement But as soon as
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Col. Campbells ridgement broke & run the prisoner & the other british commenced firing again at which time General Hugee, discovering great confusion ordered us to retreat. That they then went to gum springs, where General Gates was defeated. - That then they marched toward Virginia to Haw River, marched thence to Santee River, in - South Carolina - thence to the siege of Ninety Six when the siege Continued for 32 days, when the British were reinforced that we then marched towards Guilford Court house thence towards George Town -
Said applicant further states that some time afterwards he was detached from Col Haw ridgement & and was attached to Col. Lee's horsemen that he belonge to the 3d company of sd Cavalry & he served under Capt. Agleston who commanded the 3d troop of horsemen, Capt. Armstrong commanded the 1st troop & Capt O'neil the second, that he was present & engaged in the battle of Utaw Springs, under General Green, that he was one of the sentinels left till others brought in Col. Campbell who was wounded in the engagement, and said applicant states that he was near being taking prisoner by seven men of Tarltons Corps. but was relieved by his own men he messed with John Hattoway, William Burk Wm. Herlittle who in certain took the 7 prisoners 
That sometime afterwards he was discharged at Stomo Church in South Carolina & went home to Virginia Culpepper County a distance of more than 600 miles making in all a Term of eighteen months
He hereby relinquishes every claim 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. That he received a discharge but lost his discharge when crossing the Rappahannock River together with some other valuable papers that he removed from Virginia to N. Carolina & from there to Tennessee Cock County where he has remained till now
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That he knows of no person living whose testimony he can procure or who has personal knowledge of hsi services. - & that he has no documentary evidence - Since his discharge was lost.
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day & year aforesaid
G. M. Porter William Davis
Clk

We Toliver Sisk William Huff & Wm Lain residing in the county of Cock and state of Tennessee hereby Certify that we are well acquainted with William Davis who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be be 70 years of age that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
William Lain Tolaver Siske
William Huff

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 & served as he states - and the court further Certifies that it appears to them that Wm. Lain T. Sisk & Wm. Huff who have signed the preceding certificate are both all residents in the County of Cocke & State of Tennessee and are Credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit-

I G. M. Porter Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County of Cocke do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Wm. Davis for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my own private seal (having no seal of office) at office in [illegible] 
the 19th day of August 1832
George M. Porter Clk
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William Davis
amended claim
for Pension

for Knoxville
agency & to be sent
to Saml Phariss at
Sevierville
E Tennee
Page 10

The Amended Declaration of William Davis Cocke County Tennessee
for a Pension under the Act of Congress 7th June 1832

State of Tennessee
Cocke County} May the 29th 1833.
In answer to the 10th question & 1st negative in red ink of the Brief &c. 
Said Declarant states that the Clerks private seal is affixed - having no device or inscription by which it may be distinguished from any other seal
But said Declarant has obtained the certificate of John Blair a member of Congress proving the official character & Signature of the Clerk
- Said applicant states that he was a private soldier
Question 11th 3d. negative
Said Applicant states that he could not obtain the Evidence of a Clergyman owing to the fact that there is no Clergyman residing in his neighborhood and that sd. applicant assigns this case as a reason why the affidavit of a Clergyman has not been obtained & that he had in his original Declaration obtained the affidavits of three reputable men of his neighborhood who can concur in the opinion that he was a Soldier of the Revolution.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
William Davis

I George M Porter clerk of the court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County of Cocke do hereby certify that William Davis (who has sworn to the foregoing) was duly qualified in open Court
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & private seal of office in Newport 29th day of July 1833.
Geo. M. Porter Clk.
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I certify that.
I am well acquainted with the hand writing
of George M Porter Esqr Clerk of the County Court of Cocke County that said Porter is the clerk and that his attestation & certificates, as well to the original declaration as the within amendment, are genuine, & that he has no public seal of Office.
John Blair
July 10th 1833} late M.C.
Tennessee
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February 11, 1937
xxxxxxxx
Miss Ava Johnston WILLIAM DAVIS
Motor Route C, Box 119 S. 3257
Dallas, Texas BA-J/MLB

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your communication of recent date, in which you request the Revolutionary War records of William Davis, who was pensioned in 1833 at Jonesboro, Washington County, Tennessee, and of Nathan Davis, who was pensioned by North Carolina and moved to Greene County, Tennessee.

Because of the great demand for Revolutionary War data, and the limited trained clerical force available for furnishing such information, it is impossible to comply in full with each request relative to soldiers of that war. The record of William Davis is furnished you herein as shown in pension claim, S. 3257, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.

The date and place of birth and names of the parents of William Davis are not given.

While a resident of Culpeper County, Virginia, William Davis enlisted and served as private in Captains Harrison's and Lawson's companies, Colonel Howes' Virginia regiment, from which regiment he was detached and placed in Captain Egleston's company, Colonel Lee's regiment of light horse, was present at General Gates' defeat at the battle of Camden, in the siege of Ninety Six and in the battle of Eutaw Springs, and was discharged after having served eighteen months in all.

The soldier moved from Virginia to North Carolina, and from there to Cocke County, Tennessee.

William Davis was allowed pension on his application executed August 29, 1832, at which time he was aged seventy years and a resident of Cocke County, Tennessee [His name was borne on the pension rolls as William Davis, 2nd.] Omit next time-
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There are no family data shown in the claim of William Davis.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name of person paid and possibly the date of death of William Davis, you should write to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:

William Davis, 2nd
Certificate #19338
Issued August 26, 1833
Rate $60 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act June 7, 1832
East Tennessee Agency.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator

-2-
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JONESBOROUGH Te. AUG 19 FREE
James, L. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.
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Jonesborough Tenn
August 16th 1833
J L Edwards Esqr
Sir
See enclosed I
send you the five claims for
pension which I have been requested
to forward you, when acted upon
return the answers to the persons
measured therein who are
the agents.
respectfully your obt
servt John Blair
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William Davis
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Address
Saml. M. Phariss
Sevier County
Sevierville
Tenn

For Knoxville Agency
And to Be sent
to Saml M. Phariss
at Sevierville E. Tennessee
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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 Davis Cock C. Tennessee which require further proof or explanation.

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 him not doing so?  

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes

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? yes

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

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? 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? no device No
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2

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? no

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? yes

XIV. [notation sign 1]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? yes
Has the proper officer certified the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 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? 

XVI. [notation sign 2]Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes No

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes
_________________________
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.”
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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 [sic] 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.
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DALLAS TEXAS 1
JAN 19
4-PM
1937
THIS SIDE OF CARD IS FOR ADDRESS
The Veterans Administration,
Washington, 
D.C.
RECEIVED
JAN 21 1937
MAIL SUB-DIV.
VETS. ADM.
READER #38
Page 22

Motor Route C, Box 117, Dallas, Texas,
Jan. 19, 1937.
Veteran's Administration,
Washington, D.C.
Dear sirs: Please send me pension record for
William Davis pensioned at Jonesboro,
Washington Co., Tenn. in 1833.
Also please give Certificate number (so I may apply to General Accounting Office) for this William Davis, Washington Co., Tenn. and
Nathan Davis pensioned by North Carolina
and emigrated to Green Co., Tenn.
Both William and Nathan Davis were
Revolutionary soldiers. yours truly,
(Miss) Ava Johnston.
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1937 Feb. 11 - Hist. to Miss Ava Johnston
MLB

Rev War 3257
INVALID.
File No. 3257
William Davis 2d.
Pvt. Va. Mila

Act: June 7"/32
Index:-Vol. A, Page 89
[Arrangement of 1870.]