Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6904, William Goode, Md.
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Md.

Goode, William

NUMBER
S. 6904

carded

CONTENTS
Page 2

[Two columns]
[Left column]

23562
South Carolina
======================
William Goode
Spartg. in the State of So. Ca.
who was a pr: in the company commanded
by Captain Handy of the Regt. commanded
by [blank] in the Md.
line for 2 years
======================
Inscribed on the Roll of So. Carolina
at the rate of 80 Dollars [blank] Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
======================
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 day of Apr. 34
and sent E Bomar
Spartanburgh So. Ca.
======================
Arrears to the 4th of March 34  240
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Septr " 40
$280
====

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

Recorded by Nathl. Rice Clerk,
Book E Vol. G Page 68.

[Right column]
Let to Pen Agt Augt 16, 1849
"   " Jan 2d 1851
1887 Augt 17 G B Goode - history - [illegible]
Page 3

[Wm Goody - struck out]
Spartanburgh
So. Carolina
30,475

Declaration of. Wm.
Goode for a
Pension.
Page 4

State of South Carolina } SS
Spartanburgh District }

On the first day of September 1833, personally
appeared in open Court, to wit, the Court of General
Sessions & Common Pleas before the Honorable
Josiah I Evans Esquire the Presiding Judge of the
said Court William [Goody-struck out] Goode aged 71 years on this
4th day of July last past who being first duly sworn,
according to law, doth on his oath make the follow
ing declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the
provision made by the act of Congress, passed June
7th 1832. That he enlisted as a private in the army of the
United States for the term of three years during the war 
in the year 1778 on the 6th day of
June to the best of his knowledge & belief [illegible] with
Captain Hanby as a private and served in as a private
in [the County of-struck out] Talberd County in the Eastern Shore of
Maryland and served in the 5th Regiment of the
Maryland line under the following named officers
Lieutenant Jonathan Gibson Percy Beieson Captain Hanby Col. Howard, Genl William Smallwood
James Wolver adjutant [of the-struck out] Joseph Purdy drum major
George Pearce drummer & belonged to Captain
Hanbys company Benjamin Townsend fifer & belonged
to the same company, Wm Ayers orderly sergeant
Jacob North & Tho Lophington. I was marched to
the Valley Forge where I joined the Grand Army on
the 19th day of June 1778-the army was on
their march for Monmouth in the Jerseys at that
time.  I was in the battle at Monmouth on the [26-struck out]28th
or [27th-struck out] [illegible] 1778 he is not positive which.  General Washington
was then together Generals Lee, Scott & Morgan.
From the battle at Monmouth he was marched
to the White Plains in the State of New York
where he remained some length of time he cannot
say how long.  From there he was marched to West
Point where he continued until he went to winter quarters
near [Ban-struck out] Bound Brook in the [State of New York-struck out] in the
Jerseys.  He continued in the Jerseys & the State
of New York during the spring & summer of
1779.  And & in the winter of 1779 he went into
winter quarters near or at Bound Brook again 
where he remained until the spring of year 1780
Page 5

when General Gates took command of the
Army & he was marched to the South to the head
of Elk in the State of Maryland.  From thence
by water to Petersburg in Virginia from thence [word struck out]
he was marched to [illegible] No. Ca. where a small
halt was made.  From thence he was marched near
Camden [where Genl. Gates was def-struck out] to the battle at
Gates' defeat. Col. Howard, Genl. Smallwood,
Major. Genl. DeCalb, who fell in the battle. Lieutenant
Jonathan Gibson was wounded and he was taken from
the army to wait on & escort him home, but he died
[before he could be got home-struck out] while crossing the Chesapeake Bay.  After the death
of Lieutenant Gibson he was furloughed to go home.
He joined the regiment commanded by Genl. Gest
Baltimore in the spring of 1781.  From there he
was sent to Fort Henry for a short time.  From
there he was marched to Anapolis when [word struck out] on
the 22nd of April 1781 to the best of his knowledge
& belief he drew [British pound sign]52.4.8 depreciation money.
From there he was taken to Little York Virginia
he was at the siege of that place under the command
of Genl. Washington at the capture of Cornwallis.
From the siege of Little York he was marched
to Hillsborough No. Ca.  From thence to [word struck out] Camden
So. Carolina where he was discharged. by Col
Howard [the 1st-struck out] last of Jany or 1st Feby 1782 to the
best of his knowledge & belief having served to the
best of his knowledge & belief three years 7 months
[words struck out]. This  deponent says in the year 84 to the
best of his knowledge & belief his discharge was burnt
in the house of James Fisher in the County 
of [illegible] No. Ca. in whose house he had
deposited it for safe keeping.  He hereby relinquishes any
claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & he declares
that his name is not on the Pension Rolls of any agency in any state.
He has no documentary evidence.  William X his mark Goode
Sworn to & subscribed the }
day & year aforesaid }
E. Borma
Clk.
Page 6

And the said Court hereby declares its opinion
that the above named applicant was a revolutionary
soldier, and served as he states.
Josiah J Evans PreJ
5 October 1833

I Elisha Bomar Clerk of the Court of Sessions & Com
mon Pleas for Spartanburgh District, do hereby
certify that the foregoing contains the original
proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the
application of William Good for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of office
this third day of October in the year
1833.
Page 7

[Written vertically in left margin]
Rev War

6904
INVALID. 

No. 6904  [illegible]
William Goode
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7th 32

Index:-Vol. 1st, Page 145

[ Arrangement of 1870. ]
Page 8

Spartanburgh
So. Carolina

William Goode

Admit as private
2 years $80
[illegible]

[Following lined through:
Wm. Hopkins
Spartanburg]

E Bomar
Clk

Claimant
Page 9

]WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183[blank]

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 rules and the regulations will show what it 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 complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
__________________________________________________________________
A Statement, showing the Service of [blank]
=========================================================
[Begin tabular form]

Period when the |
service was |
rendered. |
______________
Duration of the |
claimant's service. |
_________________
Years. |
______
Months. |
_______
Days. |
_______
Rank of |
the |
claimant. |
_________
Names and rank of the Field of |
ficers under whom he served. |
__________________________
Age at present, |
and place of abode |
when he entered |
the service. |
_________________
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
______________________________________
[End tabular form]

I am, respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 10

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 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,

[begin italics} State, Territory, or District of } ss.
County of } [end italics]

On this [blank] day of [blank] personally appeared (a) before [blank]
[blank] A. B. a resident (b) of [blank] in the county of [blank] and State, Territory or District
of [blank] aged (c) [blank] 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) [blank], with [blank] and 
served in the [blank] (e) regiment of the [blank] 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 serv
ed 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.  [index finger pointing right] This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and per
sons 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 [blank]
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. [blank] , 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 revolu
tionary solider, and served as he states.
I [blank] of the Court of [blank]
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
the application of [blank] for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
[blank] day of [blank] &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, 
[Two vertical black lines in left margin](k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the [blank] and C. D. residing in (the same)
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [blank], who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration ; that we believe him to be [blank]
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 Revo
lutionary 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 [blank]
and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the [blank]
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, [blank] Clerk of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of [blank]
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this [blank] day of [blank] &c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power.  This is the original discharge or commis
sion ; 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 ser
vices 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
Page 11

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 on the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be at
tempted ; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be ex
pected.  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.

No payments can be made on account of 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 pro
cure, 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.

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 services.
 {To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if  {so, by whom was it giv
6. {en, 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 tes
tify 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 pro
cure, 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 fol
low 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 to 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 [begin italics]about three or four months,[end italics]
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 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 au
thority ; 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.
[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 pub
lic seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the
papers.

[begin italics] Mode of authenticating papers.[end italics]

In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which con
tains 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.

[begin italics]Proof of Service.[end italics]

[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 the 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 wit
nesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[index finger pointing right] 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.

[Hand written note at bottom of page] The applicant will make out his declaration
in conformity with the requirements of the Act of June 7. 1832.
Page 12

Pension Agency
Charleston S.C. 11 December 1850

Sir

I herewith forward the Vouchers of William
Goode a pensioner under Act 7th June 1832,
for authority to pay the same.

I am Sir Respectfully
Your Ob Servt
Jno C Cochran
Agent

J.L. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
D.C.
Page 13

LAND OFFICE,
ANNAPOLIS, June 26th 1833,

I Certify that it appears by a Depreciation Pay Roll, remaining in my Office, that William Goode a private, 5th Regt. of the
Maryland Line, received [British pound sign]52.14.8 Depreciation
Money, issued to the Maryland quota troops on Continental Establishment, on the
23rd day of April 1781.

George G. Brewer
Register Land Office, W. S. Md.
Page 14

William Goode decd
Act 7 Jun 1832
DC
Admd 23,862

G C Ames
Present
Page 15

State of South Carolina }
Spartanburg District }  Personally appeared
Diana Goode a resident of this District and
State aforesaid and made oath in due form
of law that she is a daughter of William Goode
who was a Revolutionary soldier and pensioner
of the United States and decd. in Spartanburg
District S.C. on 16th day of January 1832 and 
that she does hereby constitute and appoint
George C Ames Esqr of Washington City his
agent and attorney to examine the papers on
which his fathers pension was granted and if
there be found anything due to prosecute the
same before the Department having charge 
of the same.
Witness his hand & seal this 14th day of March 1837
Attest  Diana Goode [word Seal encircled]
Mary B Dean
Caleb Bullington

Signed sealed acknowledged and sworn to
before me the undersigned a magistrate in
& fore the District of Spartanburg this 14th day of
March 1837

Jno Bankston Davis
Magistrate, S.C.
Page 16

Wm. Goode
S.C.
Mr Cole
Feb 27 1837
_____________
Ex by Col Thompson
March 51
Page 17

I am authorized & requested
to examine the papers on file
in the case of Wm. Goode of
South Carolina, a revolutionary
pensioner.

M. Thompson
Feby. 27. 1851
Page 18

1833 -
1762 - [illegible] 4
____
    71
Page 19

Land Office, Annapolis, June 26th 1833

On the Master rolls of the 5th Maryland Regiment, in this
office, I find the name one William Goody, who apppea
rs by said roll to have enlisted in Captain Handy's company
on the 6th day of June 1778, and was present on the 1st
of January 1780.  His name is spelt upon the depreciation
pay roll "Goode".  As William Goody, the applicant for
a pension, states in his declaration, that he enlisted in Captain
Handy's company, I am inclined to believe that he is the
same person, whose names appears upon the roll, and that same
mistake was made in spelling the Surname.

George G. Brewer
Regtr. Ld. Off. W. S.Md.

N.B.  The name of William Hopkins, I do not find upon
the rolls.
G. G. Brewer Regtr. Ld.
Off. W. S.Md.
Page 20

Pension Agency
Charleston 13 August 1849

Sir

I herewith forward the Vouchers of William
Goode a pensioner under Act "7 June 1832," for
authority to pay the same.

I am Sir respectfully
Your Ob Servt
Jno C Cochran
Agent

J. L. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
D.C.