Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5,596, Peter Hudson, Va.
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Service Va. 
Hudson, Peter (black star stamp above “Hudson”) 
Number S.5.596 Contents [handwritten note on the upper righthand side “carded.”]
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Virginia 12.563
Peter Hudson of Lunenburg in the State of Virginia who was a pri. (private) In the company commanded by Captain Rogers of the Regt. (regiment) commanded by Col. Mason in the Virginia line for 7 months + 5 days-
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 23 Dollars 88 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10. Day of May ‘33 and sent applicant Brydies Store, Lunenburg Co. Va.
Arrears to the 4th of March ’33- 47.76
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept “(33)- 11.94 {=} $59.70
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Milliam Miller Clerk
Book E. Vol. 6 Page ll
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State of Virginia Lunenburg County [illegible]
Peter Hudson 22935 [written from the bottom to the top on the lefthand side of the page]
On this 11th day of February 1833 personally appeared in open court being a court of record for the County of Lunenburg and now siting Peter Hudson resident of said county aged 70 years who being first duly sworn according to said doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 1832 that he was drafted On the first day of February 1779 for five months in the County of Hallifax and state of Virginia and marched in a Company Commanded by Captain Peter Rogers from Hallifax County State of Virginia to Salisberry state of North Carolina and there was attached to the Regt. Commanded by Col. Mason and marched under him to Stono South Carolina and there formed the Brigade Commanded by Gen. Lincoln and was in the Reserve when the battle took place at Stono and was on the 20th of July discharged by Col. Mason at Camden State of South Carolina having served his full tour but has since lost his discharge 
And on the 15th day of February1781 he volunteered under Capt. John Thompson of Hallifax County State of Virginia for six weeks and marched under him into North Carolina and was attached to the Regt. Commanded by Col. Nathaniel Cocke and on the 15th day of March he was in the battle at gilford Courthouse (Guilford Courthouse) State of North Carolina and after the Battle we persued the British into Carolina as far as [illegible]. Namsays Mills where the regemente (regiment) Commanded by Col Cocke was discharge [text is cut off]
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On the 30th day of March 1781 and that he in this case as also lost his discharge- and that he does not know of any person now living in this section of Countery (country) by which he Can prove anything as to his services or discharges and that he never served in any capacity other than that of a common soldier and in answer to the [illegible] interrogatories prescribed by the War department he answers thus
To Question 1 where and in what year were you born
Ans. arguable to A register Kesle by my father I was born the 9th day of Dec. 1762 in the county of Hallifax [after each question and answer set, one or two horizonal marks are written, delineating each set]
Question 2 Have you any record of your age + if so where is it
Ans. It is in my Possession
Question 3. . Where were you living when called into service Where have you lived since the Revolutionary war and where do you now live
Ans. I lived in the county of Hallifax in the time of the Revolutionary war, but have since the war moved to the county of Lunenburg where I now live
Question.- - - 4 How were you called into service were you drafted did you Volunteer or were you a Substitute 
Ans- I were drafted in my first touer (tour) + in the second I Volunteered
Question 5 State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served such Continental and militia Regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service
Ans- [the word “under” and “were” were inserted after the sentence was written] I marched under Col. Mason to Stono + there were Commanded by Gen. Lincoln and was in the Reserve but never were ingaged (engaged) in my second touer (tour) marched under Col Cocke to Gilford and was in the battle at that place Gen. Green + Gen. Laevson Commanded the troops at this station.
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Question 6 did you ever receive or discharge from the service if + by who was it given and what has become of it
Ans- In my first touer (tour) I recevd (received) a discharge which was given by Col. Mason and in my second touer I recevd a Discharge which was given Col Cocke and both Discharges have since been lost
Question 7 State name of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your carector (character) for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution
Ans I am known in my neighborhood by W Pleasant Barnes, Leonard Crymes Mr. John A John James and Col. John Z Strut who are my neighbors
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity [illegible] the present and declares that his name is not on the pension role of the agency of any state
Peter X Hudson 
 [written above the X is “his” and written below the X is “mark”]
W. Pleasant Barnes Clergiman residing in the county of Lunenburg and Leonard Crymes John Z Strut residing in the said county herby certify that we are well acquainted with Peter Hudson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 70 years of age that he is reputed + believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Pleasant Barns
Leonard Crymes
John Z. Strut
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And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after [illegible] 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 Pleasant Barnes who has signed the preceeding certificate is a clergiman resident in the county of Lunenburg and that J Z strut + Leonard Crymes- who has also signed the same are residents in the said county and are credible persons and that their statements is intitled to credit.
 [illegible] Wm. H. Taylor

Virginia Lunnenburg County Sch.
I William H Taylor Clerk of the Court of Lunenburg County, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Peter Hudson for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the office this 12th day of Febuary (February) 1833.  In the 37th year of the [illegible]
Wm. H. Taylor
[a 2” piece of paper is covering what appears to be a mark or seal to the left of the signature]

Any communication [illegible] the above declaration please direct to the applicant at the post office Brydies Store Lunenburg County Va
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[Printed form with hand written answers]
5596
INVALID [illegible]
File No. 5596
Peter Hudson
Pri Rev. War
Act: June 7th 1832
Index:-Vol. [illegible], Page 184
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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22935
Peter Hudson Va”

[illegible]
[illegible] 23.88

Applicant 
Brydie’s Store
Lunenburg Co Va
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WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Pension Office, 
183
Sir,
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned.  The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form.  On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed.  The notes and the regulations will shew what is 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.  [horizontal line across the page]

A statement, shewing the Service of Peter Hudson, Lunenburg Va [Typed form with handwritten answers]
(1)	Period when the service was rendered. | (2) Duration of the claimant’s service. Years. Months. Days. | (3) Rank of the Claimant. | (4) Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. | (5) Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. | (6) Battles in which the applicant was engaged. | (7) Country through which he marched. | (8) Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. | (9) Evidence by which the declaration is supported. |
1.	Draft 1 July ’79 | 0, 5, 20 | pr. | Cap Rogers | Co. Majors |  | Va N.C. | 70, Halifax Co. Va | [illegible]
2.	Vol. 15 July ’81 | 0,1, 15 | “ | “ Thompson | ‘” Cooke | Guilford | “ (Va N.C) |
3.	| | 0, 7, 05|

I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, 
J.L. Edwards,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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2.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms “Continental Line,” “State troops,” “militia,” and “volunteers,” all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians 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, or District of } ss.
County of }
On this __ day of __ personally appeared (a) before __
A. B. a resident (b) of __ in the county of __ and State, Territory or District of __ aged (c) __ years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) __ , with __ and served in the __ (e) regiment of the __ line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the
particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [pointing hand icon] 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 proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of __ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this __ day of __ &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A.B., a Clergyman, residing in the __ and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with __, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be __ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. 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 me 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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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 no, 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.
	6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
	{ To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
	7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
	The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
	The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
	The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever 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 case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
	[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
	[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
	[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
	[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom be served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of this 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 is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. [underlining by hand begins] 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 authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit. [underlining by hand ends]
	[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
	[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
	[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
	[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
	Mode of authenticating papers.
	In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers 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 in their affidavits the time of the claimant’s entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which be 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.
	[pointing hand icon] 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.
WL Williams Calk [signature]