Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4,035, for John Rainey, South Carolina
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
S.C.

Rainey, John

NUMBER
S 4035

carded
CONTENTS
Page 2

[Left side}

Paid at the the Treasury under
the act of April 6th 1838 from Sept
4th 1840 to March 4th 1841. Agt notifd 
3d May 1842

[Right side]

13872
West Tennefsee
=========
John Rainey
of Bedford Co in the State of Tennefsee
who was a private in the compy commanded
by Captain -- of the regt commanded
by Col Thomas in the S. Carolina
line for 2 yrs.
=========
Inscribed on the Roll of W. Tennefsee
at the rate of 80 Dollars - Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
=========
Certificate of Pension ifsued the 3 day of July
1833 and sent to Hon
 J K Polk. Columbia
=========
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833, $160--
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep. 40
===
$200--
===
{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Wm Allison Clerk,
Book E Vol. 7 Page 95
Page 3

4755
John Rainey
Tennefsee.

from - private
2 years
4.5. $80.

p-24

Jon J K Polk
Columbia
Ten
Page 4

4755

BRIEF in the case of John Rainey of Bedford County in the State of Tennefsee.
(Act 7 June, 1832.)

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

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

3. How old is he? 82 years 2 months + some days.

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
=======
Period.
----
In 17
=======
Duration of Service.
----
Years, Months, Days.
Commifsioned to build a garrison, in the Cherokee Nation, + then remained with about 60 men under his command, 9 months
Commifsioned to recruit men -
upwards of 3 years in Service
=======
Rank.
----
As a 
Capt
=======
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
----
Col. Thomas
Genl. Morgan
Genl. Green

5. In what battles was he engaged? Battle between Morgan & Tarlton - many small engagements

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Lawrence Coty. So: Carolina

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

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?

X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentions.

Examining Clerk.
Page 5

4755
=====
John Rainey
Declaration
=====
admt 2 yr as pri 8000
[illegible] night of [illegible] on the
[illegible] + pay of Capt hereafter
Hon Mr Polk
Page 6

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congrefs pafsed June 7th 1832.
State of Tennessee
Bedford County} fs
On this sixteenth day of August personally appeared in open Court before Samuel Phillips, John B Armstrong and John L Neill Justices of the Court of pleas and quarter Sefsions of the County of Bedford in the State of Tennefsee aforesaid John Raney a resident of said County aged eighty two years two months and Some days 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 7th June 1832 -
That he entered the Service of the United States under the following named officers and Served as herein stated - He does not know owing to the failing of his memory what time he entered the Service but that it was during the time the American Army lay at Stone oak a place between Chareston and Savanah in South Carolina
That in Lawrence County, South Carolina he was commifsioned by one Colonel Thomas to build a Garrison at the place where Col. Hight was Killed which was in the Cherokee Nation just over the South Carolina line, and then remained himself with about Sixty men he had under his command nine months during which time they Kept pofsefsion of the Garrison, and after the nine months Service he and his Company returned home there was but one little engagement, which was about half a mile from the Garrison in which engagement there was no whiteman Killed and but one Indian.
Page 7

This applicant further States that shortly after he returned home from his Service in the Garrison he raised a company of volunteers say about twenty and went in pursuit of the Tories who were then going through the Country and trailed them about fifty miles when he got information that Col. Clark and Genl. Pickens were before him one nearer the Tories than he was, he then on that information thought proper to return back home, and immediately himself and Col. Rowebuck + Magor Smith turned out and raised more volunteers to Keep down the Tories in that part of the Country and guard the Frontiers, and whilst he was Scouting about down below Camden he was taken a prisoner by the British, and one Col. Fergerson was the Commander of the British at the time he was taken by them, and whilst on their way with him from Camden to Kings Mountain about eighteen miles from Camden between Sunset and day light down he made his escape from the British, he then without delay made back home being about forty miles distant to hear if he could any thing of Rowebuck, Smith or Genl. Green, but his wife could give no account of them, (and all in that Neighborhood with a very fine exception was Tories) So he had no chance to make further enquiry but he immediately went on to a place in South Carolina then called Ninety Six and now Camden, and stayed there some two or three days (being a whig neighborhood generally speaking) but could not still hear any thing of the above mentioned men
He then returned home again and by this time his wife
Page 8

had got information in what direction Morgans Army was. He then immediately without Staying one Single Knight at home went in pursuit of Morgans Army to join him which I done when I found Rowebuck + Smith and their Companies and my own Company - Morgans Army then lay about eight miles from his house, and the morning after I joined them the Battle was fought between Morgan + Tailton, and in which Battle Tarlton and his army was defeated and Tarlton himself wounded We pursued them on to where Col. Wallies Army was laying and in the pursuit together with what we took on the field of Battle, we captured Seven hundred of the British and we Kept on to Halafax Court house in the State of Virginia and there we lay about Six weeks but before we got to said Court house General Morgan gave up his Command and I understood went home and Genl. Green took command of the whole, - He further states that they marched from Halafax Court house to Hillsborough North Carolina, and directly after they got there they every day nearly had some small engagements and Some were Killed, and when the army got up to High Rock in N. Carolina Genl. Green commifsioned him to recrute men to join General Pickens at Ramsours Mills - and he accordingly recruited Some where he thinks about thirty. He was in hearing of artillery when the Battle at Guilford was fought and the Second day after the Battle of Guilford him and his men were on march to join Genl Pickens when to his great istonishment
Page 9

he met his wife and all his children with her five in number drove out of their native State by the Tories nearly exhausted by Fatiuge and might add with hunger, in this Situation he gave up his Command to one Major Moore and they went on and he conveyed his wife off a distance of about thirty miles, and procured a house for them, and from thence went home to South Carolina and was not in the Service afterwards -
This declarent further represents that he has no Documentary evidence to afsist his recollection he having received no discharge from General Green or any other person and half a century having now elapsed Since the time of his Service he presumes many things have escaped his Recollection which might be necefsarily Stated in his declaration he is not certain that he recollects all the skirmishes he may have been engaged in Many of the officers together with their names with whom he was then familiar he has entirely forgotten, he is unable to State precisely at this remote period the length of time he was engaged in the Service of the United States as a Revolutionary Soldier, according to the best of his Recollection it was upwards of three years how much over that time he cannot say. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or anuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of of any agency of any State -
John Rainey (his x mark)
Sworn to in open Court 16th August 1832
Jas McKisick Clk
Page 10

We Malchesadie Brown a Clergman residing in the County of Bedford and William Hazlett residing in said County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Rainey who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be eighty two years of age that he is reputed and believed in the Neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution, and we concur in that opinion, Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in Open Court
Malek Brown
Wm Haslet
Jas McKisick Clk

Questions propounded by the Court
1st - Where and in what year were you born
Answer - I was born in Carolina County Virginia on the 20th day of May 1750 -
=====
2nd - Have you any Record of your age and if so what is it
A - My age is registered in a family bible belonging to my father in Virginia and I have not seen it since the close of the War -
=====
3rd - Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live 
Answer - I was living in South Carolina Lourans [possibly Laurens]
Page 11

County when I entered the Service, after the War was over I lived in the same County and State, and I removed from there to Bedford County State of Tennefsee in the Year 1808 where I now live and have lived Since the year 1808 -
=====
4th - How were you called into Service, were you drafted Did you volunteer or were you a Substitute and if a substitute for whom -
Answer - In the first place I was commifsioned as a captain to build the Garrison as stated in this Declaration, and when I entered the service the second time I volunteered and I was never a Substitute -
=====
5th - State the names of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served such Continental + Militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your Service -
Answer - Col Thomas (his Christian name I do not recollect) was the man that Commifsioned me to build the Garrison spoken for in this declaration General Morgan - his Christian name I also forgot him I was then under Genl. Green, his given name I also forgot, and I knew Major Lawson who was under Genel Green - the general circumstances in relation to my service are related as Correctly
Page 12

as I can now recollect them in my declaration -
=====
6th - Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it -
Answer - I never received a discharge from any one -
=====
7th - 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 there belief of your Services as a Revolutionary Soldier -
Answer - I have been acquainted with Solomon Campbell + Thomas Dean and William Haslett the latter two are justices of the Court of Bedford and many other persons in Bedford County, having lived in said County upwards of twenty two year past sworn to in open Court 16th August 1832
John Rainey (his x mark)
Jas McKisick clk

Personally appeared in open Court Solomon Campbell a citizen of the said County of Bedford who makes the following Statement on oath in relation to the Services rendered by John Rainey the before mentioned applicant - That he was not personally acquainted with said John Rainey as he now [illegible] in the army but does believe from having repeated conversations together about the Revolutionary War and said Rainey speaking of certain events hapening during the campain in North Carolina, that he was certainly in the Revolutionary War and a true Whig, and that the opinion of the Neighborhood
Page 13

where he lives is unanimous in his having been a Soldier in the Revolutionary War + a true Whig -
Solomon Campbell
Sworn to in open Court 16th August 1832
Jas McKisick clk

[The middle section of the page has been crossed off.]

Whereupon the said Court do hereby declare 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
Page 14

and served as he States and the court further certifies that it appears to them that Melchisadie Brown who has signed the preceeding certificate a Clergyman resident in the said County of Bedford and that William Heazlet and Solomon Campbell who have respectively Signed the foregoing certificates are creditable persons and that their respective Statements are entitled to Credit
Jo L Neill
Samuel Phillips
John B Armstrong

I James McKisick Clerk of the Court of pleas and quarter Sefsions of the County of Bedford in the State aforesaid do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of John Rainy for a pension In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand + Seal of office of Shelbyville this 16th day of August 1832
Jas M McKisick
Page 15

W.C.S.

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section

June 8, 1926

Mrs. James K Stafford
886 W. North St.
Decatur, Ill.

Madam:

I have to advise you that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 4035, that JOHN RAINEY was born May 20, 1750.

While a resident of Laurens County, South Carolina, he enlisted and served as Captain of South Carolina Troops as follows:

From November 1, 1778, nine months under Colonel Thomas.

From the middle of August, 1779, one year and seven months, regimental officers not stated; he was taken prisoner by the British but soon escaped; he was in the battle of Cowpens; in March, 1781, while on march to join General Pickens, he met his wife and five children (their names not stated) who had been driven out of South Carolina by the Tories and he gave his command to Major Moore and secured a house for his family, returned to South Carolina and never went back into service. ['again' may have been erased.] 

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 16, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Bedford County, Tennessee.

Respectfully,

WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner
Page 16

[Left side]

1913, Feb. 18. History to
Annie Rainey Stafford. F.W.
-----
1915, May 22, Mrs J K Stafford
(above) Hist. had been furnished
her under date Feb. 18. 1913, and 
practice of Bureau not to furnish
more than one copy of a claim to
same person. (See carbon.) F.W.
-----
1921 June 15, H R Small advised
of cost of copies, aw
1921 June 30. Copies mailed
H R Small aw
-----
1922. Feb. 21. Mrs J Stafford infd
how to obtain date of last
payment.
-----
1926 June 8. hist to
Mrs Jas K Stafford W.C.A.

[Right side]

4035
Rev War INVALID

File No. 4035
John Rainey
Prt. S.C. Mila

Act: June 7 / 32
Index: Vol. A, Page 308
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 17

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
March 14th 1842

Sir:
Under the date of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," John Raney a Pensioner on the Roll of the Nashville, Ten: Agency, at the rate of Twenty one Dollars and 66 Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept, 1840, to the March 1841 
Respectfully, yours,
Albion K Parris
Comptroller.

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
Page 18

Shelbyville T Free
May 13

To the Secty of Clar
pension office
Washington
City
DC

[Sideways on left]

May
Tenn
utd

J K Polk
Page 19

[Left side]

11

23.85
47.10

11.77

11
80
160

[Right side]

John Culver
John Rainey
Pension Papers within
Bedford County

1740
8
---
13920
4
---
55680
Page 20

War Department
Pension Office
March 7 1833

Sir
The declarations of John Culver and John Rainey have been reexamined since their amendment and return to this Office.
Culver, has as yet [illegible] no proof of his service, which, as his name does not appear upon the rolls, he will be required to do before his claim can be admitted, by the testimony of at least one credible witnefs -
In the case of Rainey, there is not sufficient proof of his being entitled as a Captain. - his papers are also returned with those of Culver. If, however, proof of that kind cannot be had, a certificate for a full pension as a private may be ifsued upon the return of the papers to this Office.
I herewith enclose also, the Certificate of Wm Alexander, and his Land patent, which was exhibited as proof of his service.
I have the honor to be
Respectfully
Yr Ob Sv
J L Edwards

Hon.
Jas H [illegible]
Columbia
Tenn.

[Sideways on left]

I do not think at this late period I can prove the fact that I was a Capt you will therefore place issue my Certificate directed to Shelbyville Tenee. for the Amt allowed me as a private
Respectfully
John Raney
Page 21

An amendment to the declaration of John Rainey made at August term 1832 of Bedford County Court in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congrefs pafsed 7th June 1832.
State of Tennefsee}
Bedford County}
Personally appeared before me the undersigned an acting Justice of the peace, John Rainey who Subscribed and was Qualified to the declaration above alluded to, who after being duly Sworn agreeable to Law preposeth and Saith, that by reason of old age and the consequent lofs of memory he cannot Swear positively to the precise length of his Service; and the precise periods of the War when he served, but according to the best of his recollection, he Served not lefs than the periods below, and in the following grads, to wit.
That he entered the Service of the united States as captain of a volunteer company, (as stated in the accompanying declaration) about the first of November in the year 1778 and to the best of his recollection he Served not lefs than nine months as Such; and was dismifsed Shortly after the battle of Stons; and to the best of his recollection his Second tower commenced about the middle of August 1779 as a captain of a volunteer company; and continued in the Service as Such until after the battle of Guilford in the State of North Carolina, and to the best of his recollection he [19 mo] Served not lefs than one year and seven months in the Service of the united States during the war of the
[28]
Page 22

Revolution, making in the whole a time of not lefs than two years and four months for which he claim a pension agreeable to the act of Congrefs pafsed 7th of June 1832. Sworn to and Subscribed this 7th day of January 1833.
Jno Rainey (his x mark)
George Davidson 

State of Tennefsee}
Bedford County}
I James McKisick clerk of the court of pleas and quarter Sefsions for said county, do hereby certify that George Davidson Esqr before whom John Rainey was qualified to the foregoing amended declaration, is now and was at the time of qualifying him thereto; an acting justice of the peace for said county, duly commifsioned and qualified, and that full faith and credit are given to all his official acts as Such
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of Bedford County Court at Office this 9th day of January 1833.
Jas McKisick clerk
Page 23

[Oval stamp mark]
CHIEF CLERK
JAN 28 1922
BUREAU OF PENSIONS

[Oval stamp mark]
RECORD
JAN 30 1922
DIVISION.
Page 24

[Oval stamp mark]
DEPT OF THE INTERIOR
RECEIVED
JAN 27 1922
TO BUR. PENSIONS
RECORD OFF [illegible] MAILS & FILES

Decatur Ill. Jny 23
888 W. North St

Treasury Department
Sirs -
Will you please give me time & place of payment of last pension money of Revolutionary Soldier John Rainey - who received a pension from Bedford Co. Tenn - He applied for a pension and it was allowed Aug 16. 1832 when he was living in Bedford Co. Tenn. Thanking you -
Address - Mrs Jas Stafford
888 W. North
Decatur Ill.
Page 25

MRS. JAMES K STAFFORD
888 WEST NORTH STREET
DECATUR, ILLINOIS

Mch 31 / 26

Revolutionary
Pension Department
Washington D.C.
Please send me the military history of an ancestor - Capt. John Rainey - Revolutionary soldier - who applied for a pension when living in Bedford Co. Tennessee.
Information wanted for D.A.R. society records.
Thanking you -
address - Mrs James K Stafford
888 West North St
Decatur Ill.

[Round stamp mark]
U. S. PENSION OFFICE
H
APR
3
1926
Page 26

[Left side]
3
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Finance Division
JUN 22 1921 
19__

Chief of Rev War Section
Sir:
I have this day received from H R Small MO No. 250080 for $1.65/100 requesting copy as per letter herewith.
Law Div notf of mailing of copies aw
Very respectfully,
O J Randall 
Chief of Division jjl

uncefd J Rainey
15
11
---
15
14-
---
165 [illegible]

[Round stamp mark]
U. S. PENSION OFFICE
A JUN
22
1921

[Right side]
Date June 29, 1921
Name John Rainey No. S 4035
S.C. Troops War Rev
Photographic copies wanted of 4
pieces, consisting of 11 pages.
Remarks: 
A H Wilson Exr J A Wood Chief Record Div.
Photo operator has no stamp of Law Clerk
Law Clerk
Serial No. 5040
Page 27

Postal money order $1.65/100 rec'd F.W.E.
cw

LAW OFFICES
HAROLD R SMALL
PIERCE BUILDING ST. LOUIS, MO.

SS HAROLD R SMALL
AIL 1605-14 PIERCE BUILDING
ST. LOUIS, MO.
AND
ER

June 18, 1921.

Mr. Washington Gardner,
Commissioner of Pensions,
Department of the Interior,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:
Yours of June 15th, 1921 received with reference to Revolutionary War pension claim of John Rainey, S. C. Troops, Survivor File 4035, and in reply to mine of June 1st, 1921.
Herewith is money order in favor of the Secretary of Interior for $1.65 for photostat copy of the eleven pages.
Thanking you, I am
Respectfully yours,
H R Small

[Round stamp mark]
U. S. PENSION OFFICE
D
JUN 
20
1921

[Round stamp mark]
U. S. PENSION OFFICE
[illegible]
[illegible]
[illegible]

[Rectangle stamp mark]
FINANCE DIVISION
JUN 22 1921
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Page 28

Rev Sec

LAW OFFICES
HAROLD R SMALL
PIERCE BUILDING
ST. LOUIS, MO.

June 1, 1921.

Hon. Commissioner of Pensions,
Bureau of Pensions, Department of Interior,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:

Will you kindly note copy of enclosed statement sent by your office February 18, 1913, to Mrs. Stafford with reference to John Rainey. Will you kindly advise whether there is in this file any supporting papers or anything in addition to the information contained in your letter. There has been considerable difficulty in ascertaining whether the John Rainey referred to by you is the John Rainey in question and it is believed that if there are any supporting papers which you may have, they may settle the question.

Will you kindly send copies with your charges for same.

Yours very truly,
H R Small

[Round stamp mark]
U. S. PENSION OFFICE
JUN
3
1921

[Sideways on left]
Copy returned it was a copy of the usual form sent out by the Bureau
Page 29

In reply to your request of ___, received ___ for a statement of the military history of John Rainey a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension of file in this Bureau. S.F. 4035
=========
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
Nov. 1778
Aug. 1779
=========
LENGTH OF SERVICE.
9 mos.
1 yr 7 mos.
========
RANK.
Capt.
Capt.
========
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN. | COLONEL.
[check mark] | Thomas,
[check mark] | [check mark]
========
STATE.
S.C.
========
Battles engaged in, Cowpens
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Laurens Co., S.C.
Date of application for pension, Aug 16, 1832. His cl. was al.
Residence at date of application, Bedford Co., Tenn.
Age at date of application, B. May 20, 1750, Carolina Co. Va.
Remarks: His wife and five children alive during soldier's service (no names stated).

Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
6-2856
Page 30

Rev. War Section, aw
Record Division.

Feb. 31, 1932,

Mrs. J Stafford,
888 W. North St.
Decatur, Ills.

Madam:
In response to your letter of the 23" ultimo, you are advised that for the data of last payment of pension and name of person paid in the case of the Revolutionary War pensioner John Rainey, you should apply to the Pension Section, Interior Department Division, General Accounting Office, Washington, D. C. citing all of the following data: Certificate 13872, issued July 3, 1733, rate $80 per annum, Act of June 7, 1832, commence March 4, 1831, West Tennessee Agency.
Very respectfully,
Washington Gardner
Commissioner.
Page 31

Rev. War Section aw

June 25, 1921.

Harold R Small,
Pierce Building,
St. Louis, Mo.

Sir:
In response to your letter of the first instant, you are advised that if you desire photostat copies of the original papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim of John Rainey, S. C. Troops, Survivor File No. 4035, the same will be furnished you under the provisions of the Act of August 24, 1912, at the rate of fifteen cents per page with twenty-five cents extra, for certification, if that is desired. The number of pages to be copied is eleven.
The proper amount should be forwarded to this Bureau by money order drawn to the order of the Secretary of the Interior.
Very respectfully
Washington Gardner
Commissioner.