Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File Ctf. No. 13697, Zachariah Butler, Md. N.C.
Page 1

Md. N.E.
Butler, Zachariah Etf. No. 12697
(Rachel)
[Illegible]
H.F. 51457
Final Payment Voucher
[Illegible] C.I.O.
Page 2

13697
Jonesborough Agency
Zachariah Butler
Sullivan Co. in the State of [illegible]
who was a private in the company commander
Captain Shockley of the regt. commander
--- in the May [illegible]
for 6 months from 1780
Inscribed on the Roll of Jonesborough agency
The rate of 20 dollars -- Cents per annum
commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 1 day of June 1833 -- and sent to 16 [illegible]
J. Blair, Jonesborough
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $40 --
[Illegible] allowance ending 4 Sep 33 [$]10
$50--
Page 3

[Number illegible]
Zachariah Butler
claim for pension
under act of 1832
Page 4

Tennessee August [illegible] 1832
Sullivan county
On this 21st day of August 1832
personally appeared in open court before the
Justices open court appear [illegible] for said county 
Zachariah Butler, aged twenty eight
years, and resident citizen of said 
county who him, just duly sworn accepting 
to face [illegible] on his oath make the 
following declaration in order to attain
the benefits of the rank of [Ensign] posted
June 7th 1832 that he entered the services 
of the United States under the following
named officers Deserved an hearing states
[illegible] that in Worcester county Maryland 
he volunteered his services for a six
months tour under Capt. Shockley of the
Maryland militia, the time not
recollected but remembers it was in the month 
of March the year proceeding the battle
of Guilford that he marched through Virginia
and joined the army under Green after
the battle of [Eustis], where he enlisted
in the army thirteen days before the
battle of Guilford, into the 13th Regiment
North Carolina [illegible] for three years,
and was in the said Guildford battle 
after which he was sent back as a sergeant
to Worcester County Maryland in order to
recruit from where he was ordered to
[illegible] meet at Philadelphia, 
where the recruiting officers with their 
men wanted to meet, a [illegible] and
was they ordered to battle York but
[illegible] in the march an [illegible]
Page 5

returned to Philadelphia obtaining of his discharge, month of August or September, which he received per the Brigade Major whose name he has forgotten.  Peace having been concluded he was not required to serve out his term of enlistment but served until the close of the war from the time of enlistment being nine months, in addition to his term for which he volunteered but he has no documentary evidence, and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service. He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any states, that there is a senator minister in his vicinity by whom he can establish the fact required by the instructions of the Secretary of War which is annexed.

Sworn to and subscribed Zachariah Butler

We, Samuel Hugh, a clergyman and Walter James citizen, both of Sullivan County and state aforesaid do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Zachariah Butler who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be seventy-eight 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 to in open court
August 21st, 1832               Samuel Hughes
                                             Walter James
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said Court do hereby declare their opinion
that the above mentioned applicant was a revolutionary 
soldier and served as he states - the said
Court having investigated the matter, and
after propounding the interrogatories prescribed
by the War Department Ant that
Samuel Hughs is clergyman & Walter James
is citizen & residents of said County and
respectable, being credible persons, & their 
statements entitled to credit

I Richard Netherland
clerk of the Court of pleas & quarter
sessions do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings
of the Court in the application of Zachariah
Butler for a pension
In testimony whereof 
I hereunto set my hand &
seal of office this 21st August
1832
Richard Netherland Clerk
By GW Netherland D Clerk

[image of a seal lower left side of this page]
Page 7

State of Tennessee
Sullivan County
On this 22d day of May
1833 appeared before me Saml Rheas
one of the Justices of the peace for said
County Zachariah Butler who is an
applicant for a pension under the act
of Congress of 7th June 1832 and with
a view to remedy the objections to the
original declaration made & subscribed
the following statement to wit.
The The militia service of six months
set forth by him in his original declaration 
was entered into as stated by him
in the first o March 1780, and in
which he served six months and
was discharged from the service verbally,
& entered again into the regular
service but for which the rolls (as appears
from the accompanying brief) do not
furnish evidence. That he has no means
of establishing said service but by his
own oath, & therefore agrees to accept
a pension for the six months militia
service rendered by him, & abandon
the regular servitude.

That he was born in Worcester County
Maryland in the 28th June 1754
according to his fathers family
record, but which has been lost
Page 8

That Samuel Hughs & Walter James are
persons known to him & he to them
by whom he can establish reputation
of service as stated by him in his original
declaration. Zachariah Butler
Sworn & subscribed before
me the date [illegible] above
written
Saml Rhea. J. Peace

Samuel Rhea Esqr whose attestation as to
the foregoing amendatory statement, is
known to me to be an acting Justice
of the peace for Sullivan County, &
the above signature is genuine
May 24th 1833 J Blair
Page 9

Zachariah Butl
Receipt & [illegible]
for pension paid
from 4th March 1835
To 27th Jany 1836
10 mo & 23 days.
$1804

NS10

cet-13697

Jonesboro Tenn
Box 20  1/36
Chalk 256
Page 10

State of Tennessee Washington County

March Term 1836.
I certify that on this 15th day of March 1836
Satisfactory evidence was addressed in open Court
before the Honorable Samuel Pawel Judge
of the Circuit Sitting that Zachariah Butler
a Revolutionary Pensioner upon the agency
[page torn here - illegible] this Life in Sullivan
County on the twenty second of January 1836
leaving a widdow [widow]whose name is Rachal and
who is now personally present and who has
surrendered the original pension certificate
of her Decead [Deceased] Husband No 13697 dated 1st
of Jan 1833 signed by Lew Cass [illegible]
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand & affixed my seal of office at
offices the day shown
John Ryland Clk
[image of a seal, lower left - illegible]

FINAL PAYMENT VOUCHER
Received from GAO
Page 11

JONESBOROUGH AGENCY. March 15th 1836
RECEIVED of WILLIAM K. BLAIR, Agent for paying Pensions, Eighteen Dollars four
Cents, being for 10 months twenty three days Pension due to Rachal Butler from the 4th
day of March 1835, to the 27th day of January 1836, for which I
have signed duplicate receipts.
Rachal + ^her mark^ Butler
[illegible] William [illegible] widow of Z Butler Decd
Page 12

Rev. and 1812
Wars Section
MCS:MLB
am

truth the exception of
the paragraph relative to
bounty land, this is a
copy of letter my M.M.M.S.

November 20, 1930

Mrs. James L. Stirling
1018 Camelia Avenue
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Dear Madam:

You are advised that it appears from the papers in the
Revolutionary War pension claim, W. 341 that Zachariah Butler
was born November 15, 1764 in Amelia County, Virginia.

While a resident of Amelia County, Virginia, he enlisted
about February 1, 1781, served two months as a private in
Captain Robert Hudson's company, Colonel Skipwith's Virginia
regiment, and was in the battle of Guilford. He enlisted
June 1, 1781 and served five months as a private in Captains
Roland Ward's and John Towns' Virginia companies.

In December, 1810, he moved from Virginia and settled on
March 5, 1811 in Maury County, Tennessee, where he still 
resided when he was allowed pension on his application
executed September 22, 1832.

He died Aril 8, 1842 in Maury County, Tennessee.

The soldier married December 8, 1787 in Amelia County,
Virginia, Elizabeth Noble. The marriage bond was signed by
Zachariah Butler and William Butler; no relationship of the
latter to the family is stated.

The soldier's widow, Elizabeth, was allowed pension on
her application executed October 4, 1850, at which time she 
was aged eighty-eight years and a resident of Maury County, 
Tennessee. She was still living in Maury County, Tennessee
in 1865.
Page 13

Under the Act of March 5, 1856, Warrant No. 26418, for
160 acres of bounty land, was issued to Elizabeth Butler,
on account of the Revolutionary War services of her husband,
Zachariah.

The eldest child of Zachariah and Elizabeth Butler was
born September 25, 1788, name not given.

Very truly yours

E.W. MORGAN
Acting Commissioner
Page 14

Zachariah
Butler

Md.
NC} Service

Ctf 13697

Endorsements - Over
Page 15

1929 Sept 24 Hist to Hon. Kenneth McKellar
for Mrs Lorena B. Cox - carres in 
chg Zachariah Butler, W.341 MD&J
Page 16

Zachariah Butler
amended Declaration
for pension.
from 1780 private
6 months 
$20.

for Jonesboro agency
if allowed
J Blair
Page 17

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which there
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Zachariah Butler 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 his not doing so?

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?
No

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? 
No

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?
yes
Page 18

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?
yes

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining
it?

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. +If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who
administered theoath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? -
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under
his seal of office?
Not on Roll #

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such and age,
as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's dervice? -

XVL. +Art the papers authenticates as the regulations direct? yes

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered? 1 2 7

____________________

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 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."
Page 19

8

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 direct 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 he 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.
Page 20

1544 Rejected
Elizabeth Butler
Widow of Zachariah
Service:
Enlisted:
Discharged:
Application file: The printed list of 1852 states-Rejected
Barred by Act of April 30, 1844
Charges:
Re-enlisted:

Later Admitted
Page 21

341
WIDOW, &C
Revy
File No.  341
Elizabeth Butler
widow
Zachariah Butler
Pri. Rev. War
Act: Feb.2, 1848
Index:--Vol. A, Page 100
{Arrangement of 1870}

1929 Sept. Hist to Hon. R McKellor for Mrs .Lorena ?
1930 Nov. 10 list to Mr Jas. L. Stirling
MCS
Page 22

13697
Page 23

WAR DEPARTMENT
Revolutionary Claim

I certify in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, Zachariah Butler of the Agency of Jonesborough (Tennessee) who was a Private in the Army of the Revolution is entitled to receive Twenty dollars and no cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi- annually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year.


Given at the War Office of the United States this first day of June, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three.
                            Lew Cap
                                 Secretary of War
Examined and 
Countersigned} J.L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions
Final Payment Voucher
Received from GAO
Page 24

Zachariah Butler
Payments to be made at Jonesborough by Wm. K. Blair, Esq. Agent for paying Pensioners, in the Agency of Jonesborough, Tennessee.


Recorded in the Pension Office in Book C Vol. C
Page 22 by Wm. S. Allison Clerk
Page 25

General Accounting Office
Washington
Records Division
In Reply Please Quote R_RHH_LA

September 20, 1929

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

Sir:        Attention: Rev. and 1812 Wars Section.

      With reference to your telephone communication of recent date in which you request information concerning Zachariah Butler, certificate #13697, $20,00 per annum, Jonesborough, Tennessee Agency, Revolutionary War, you are advised that the records of this office show the above named pensioner died on January 27, 1836, in Sullivan County, Tennessee, and he left surviving him a widow, Rachal Butler.
     The arrears of pension due the deceased pensioner were paid to his widow, Rachal Butler, on March 15, 1836.
      For the Comptroller General of the United States.

           Respectfully,
             R. Aerren
              Chief, Records Division

(over)
Page 26

STATE OF LOUISIANA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
BATON ROUGE

December 4, 1930

Acting Commissioner E. W. Morgan,
Veterans Administration,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Mr. Morgan:

I wish to thank you for your letter of November 20,
giving me information in regard to the Revolutionary War
services of Zachariah Butler. This information will be most
helpful.

Again thanking you for your kindness, I am,
Yours very truly,
Mrs. James L. Stirling

1018 Camelia Ave
Baton Rouge, La.

[round black stamp inscribed as follows: U. S. PENSION OFFICE A DEC 6 1930]
Page 27

STATE OF LOUISIANA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
BATON ROUGE

November 13, 1930

Bureau of Pensions,
U. S. Veterans Administration,
Washington, D. C.

Gentlemen: 

I have been informed by the Acting Assistant Commissioner
of the General Land Office that they issued Military Bounty Land
Warrant 26418-160-55 to Elizabeth Butler, widow of Zachariah Butler,
on account of his services in the Revolutionary war as a private.
He was unable to give me a copy of the Revolutionary War record of
Zachariah Butler and referred me to your office.

Will you kindly search your records and see if you cna
give me this much-needed information?

Thanking you for your kindness, I am,
Yours very truly,
Mrs. James L. Stirling

1018 Camelia Ave
Baton Rough, La.

[round black stamp inscribed as follows: U. S. PENSION  OFFICE NOV 17 1930]
Page 28

FRANCIS E. WARREN, WYO., CHAIRMAN
REES SHOOT, UTAH LEE S. OVERMAN, N.S.
WESLEY L. JONES, WASH. WILLIAM J. HARRIS, GA.
FREDERICK HALE, ME. CARTER GLASS, VA.
LAWRENCE O. PHIPPS, COLO. KENNETH MCKELLAR, TENN.
HENRY W. KEYES, N.H. EDWIN S BROUSLANG, LA.
HIRAM BINGHAM, CONN. JOHN B. [illegible] WYO.
TASKER L. [illegible] NEV. ROYAL S. COPELAND, N.Y.
GERALD P. NYE, N. BAK. CARL HAYDON, ARIZ.
SAM S. BRATTON, N. MEX.
KENNEDY F. REA, CLERK

United States Senate
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

[oval black stamp inscribed as follows: OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER U. S. BUREAU OF PENSIONS SEPT 14 1929 C]

Sept. 13, 1929

Hon. Earl D. Church
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington , D.C.

My dear Mr. Commissioner: 

Inclosed please find a letter from my good
friend, Mrs. Lorena Butler Cox, Bristol, Tennessee;
asking for the war record of her grandfather,
Zachariah Butler, which explains itself.

If he was a pensioner, as she states,
it can be obtained unquestionably. I will greatly
appreciate it.
Very sincerely yours,

Kenneth McKellar
Page 29

Rev. and 1812
Wars Section
[illegible]

September 24, 1929.

[diagonally across the top of the page: The date of writing this so far removed from date of receipt of request was due to having to send to G.A.O. for reports on each of the I.D. claims which were all mixed up in this bureau.]

Hon. Kenneth Mc Kellar
United States Senate
Washington, D. C.

My dear Senator Mc Kellar,

In response to your letter with one herewith returned from
Mrs. Lorena Butler Cox of Bristol, Tennessee, I have the honor to
advise you that, from the papers in the Revolutionary war pension claim,
W. 341, it appears that Zachariah Butler was born November 15, 1764 in
Amelia County, Virginia.

While a resident of Amelia County, Virginia, he enlisted about
February 1, 1781, served two months as a private in Captain Robert Madison's
Company, Colonel Skipwith's Virginia Regiment, and was in the battle of
Guilford.

He enlisted June 1, 1781 and served five months as a private in
Captains Roland Ward's and John Towns' Virginia Companies.

In December 1810 he moved from Virginia and settled, on March 5,
1811, in Maury County, Tennessee, where he still resides when he was
allowed pension on his application executed September 22, 1832.
Page 30

William Butler; no relationship of the latter to the family is [illegible]
The soldier's widow, Elizabeth, was allowed pension on her application
executed October 4, 1880, at which time she was aged eighty-eight years
and a resident of Maury County, Tennessee. She was still living in 
Maury County, Tennessee in 1865.

The eldest child of Zachariah and Elizabeth Butler was born
September 23, 1796, name not given.

[vertically on the page, a hand written note pointing to the previous line, as follows: No report on Wm F. Butler who states his mother Elizabeth applied for pen in
Sullivan Co, Tenn. & referred is her as "deceased" in 1854 while this Elizabeth applied for her bounty land in 1855 & now seems to have lived in Sullivan Co. the county in which Zachariah Butler with cef. 13697 lived & who left widow Rachel.]

******************************

It also appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension
claim of one other Zachariah Butler, Certificate Number 13468, that he
was born June 23, 1754 in Worcester County, Maryland.

He enlisted in Worcester County, Maryland, in March 1780, served
six months as a private in Captain Shockley's Maryland Company and was
in the battle of Guilford.

He enlisted about March 2, 1781 in the 15th North Carolina Regiment
as a private and about the last of September 1781 was sent as a 
sergeant back to Maryland for recruits and was discharged after the surrender
of Cornwallis, having served about nine months.

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 31,
1832, while a resident of Sullivan County, Tennessee. He died January
27, 1854 in Sullivan County, Tennessee.

The soldier was survived by his widow, Rachel Butler, her maiden
Page 31

name not given, nor is it stated whether they had children.

Very truly yours,

EARL D. CHURCH
Commissioner.