Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 12811, Joseph Dunn, N.C.
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(8-1776)

SERVICE
N.C.

Dunn, Joseph

NUMBER S.12811

Born in N.C.
Carded

CONTENTS
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7193
Kentucky
Joseph Dunn of Caldwell Co in the State of Kentucky who was a pr. Inf & Cav. in the Company commanded by Captain Porter of the reg't. commanded by Col. Pickens in the No. Ca. ma: for 22 mo Cav:} 3 mo ma}
Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky at the rate of 93 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of March 1833 and Sent to Tho's. Haynes. Princeton K. Arrears to the 4th of March 1833. $186.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept. 1833 46.66 =
$233.32
{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk
Book E Vol. 7. Page 7.
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no 20963
Joseph Dunn Caldwell County Kentucky
admitted 93.33/3
22 months Cavalry
3 mos. Infantry
Thomas Haynes
Princeton Kentucky
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BRIEF in the case of Joseph Dunn County of Caldwell in the State of Kentucky (Act 7th June 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 77
4. State his service as directed in the form annexed.

[Headings]
Period. | Duration of Service. | Rank. | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.

In 1778 Drafted |3 mon. | Private | Capt. Porter Col. Hampton
1779 Vol. | 22 mon. Light Horse | Private | Capt. Hampton Col. Pickens and Col. Hampton Gen. McDowell

5. In what battles was she engaged? He remembers only Kings Mountain
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Rutherford Co N.C.
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? Correct

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Dyer Castor
Examining Clerk.
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State of Kentucky Caldwell County SS: On this 20th day of August 1832 personally appeared in open court before Martin A. Rucker James C Willer Samuel M Asher and John W Manin the justices of the County court for the county aforesaid now sitting, Joseph Dunn a resident of said county, aged seventy seven 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 Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated: That in the year 1778 (to the best of his recollection) he was drafted as a private in the militia of North Carolina from Rutherford county for a tour of three  months and was mustered in to service under Captain Robert Porte and Lt. James McFaddin; that we were ordered to march down towards cross creek and joined the other companies raised for the expedition. After the joining of the troops Gen'l. Rutherford took the command and the Regiment to which Capt. Porters company belonged was commanded by Col. Hampton. That in a few days aftewards we attacked a party a party of Tories and Brittish near cross creek and gained a victory, taking a good may prisoners the most who was afterwards released upon taking an oath to be true to America, or not to be found again in arms against us. That he continued in this service for the full time of three months, and was regularly discharged by his Captain (Porter).
That abou tthe beginning of spring of the year 1779 he volunteered as a private from the same county an joined a light horse company commanded by Captain Adam Hampton _son of Col. Hampton) and soon after marched towards Georgia, through South Carolina and joined Col. Pickens near his own farm in South Carolina on Sinica [Seneca] River, who then collecting all the force in his power to oppose a body of Tories collected in the back parts of South Carolina with an intention of proceeding to Augusta ( or was said) to join the Brittish. After Col. Pickens had assembled all the troops he could, he bean his march and came up with these tories consisting of six or seven hundred) at Kettle Creek and there defeated them with considerable loss, and Col. Boyd their leader was among the killed. Several who escaped were afterwards, taken and tried as traitors and  five (he thinks} were executed. Some of these tories however reached the many and joined them. The defeat broke the spirits of the tories for awhile and presured the rest of the eastern part of the county. After this battle we returned to North Carolina; and in a short time we were ordered (our Company of light horse) out under Col. Hampton and general McDowel, who were then stationed in the neighborhood with two or three hundred men. After joining McDowel the light horse wee ordered to scour the county and if possible to intercept a party of Tories then in the county, The night after this detachment was ordered out, a party of Tories Brittish from Ninety six, made an attack on McDowels camp and several were killed on each side. In the morning the horse were recalled and ordered pursue the enemy, which was promptly obeyed and we came up with them at a house about nine miles distant, where we surrounded them, and made a charge upon them and killed as many as nine or more and dispersed the others. After which we returned to Camp. In the attack on McDowel's camp the preceding night. Andrew Dunn the first Lieutenant of the horse was one of the killed (he was the brother of this applicant)
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That shortly afterwards the tories and Indians [illegible] out on the head of Moore's River, and marched to that quarter. After remaining there some time expecting the arrival of Major Dunlap a Brittish officer, some of the light horse (having been on active service some time) were permitted to return home for a few days on parole. But the same evening Dunlop made his appearance and instantly attacked McDowel & Hampton and gained some advantage. Those permitted to return home hearing of the affair immediately returned but not in time to aid in the conflict, which was on a Stream called Carney. After this we marched to the head of Holstein to join in the expedition against Colonel Ferguson who was conducting a Brittish detachment through the country. We joined Colonel Clark Shelly on Holstein, and marched into North Carolina. The horse separated from the main army just after passing the mountain and were to march again at a given point, and at a certain time. This was so ordered by the Commanding officers for Certain purposes. However, before the time appointed to meet, the main army finding it necessary to hasten the march to come up with Ferguson passed the place of meeting before the time and came up with Ferguson at Kings Mountain, where an engagement was fought and Ferguson killed, and many prisoners taken. The horse arrived in a short time after the action, and were ordered to take charge of some of the prisoners and conduct them to the Catawba river, which was done, and from there they were carried northward. This battle was fought in the fall of 1780 as well as he recollects. From Catawba, the light horse of Captain Hampton proceed to other quarter of the county against parties of tories & Brittish, and continued in this service until the end of the war in the South, and that others of the company was discharged in the latter part of the year of 1787, having continued in the volunteer service from the spring of 1779 to the latter end of 1787. He cannot fix the exact length of service, but he can safely say, it was as much as twenty two months having served in all twenty five months. In the times of the Revolution, and particularly during the year 1780 & 1781 the Whigs in the Carolina's had to embody themselves under various officers, and keep constantly in the field against the tories & Brittish, and the country, notwithstanding all our exertions who much exposed. He further states, that in the light horse, he served with his two brothers Sam'l. & Andrew Dunn, Noah Hampton and James McFaddin & others whose names he could mention, but he does not believe that any of them are now living And he declares that he knows of no person living who could prove his said service, and that he has not now any documentary evidence in his possession or knowledge which would go to  prove his service, having lost his discharge long ago. The said court propounded the following questions to the said Dunn.  Recorded by the court. here and in what year were you born? Answer I was born in Guilford County, State of North Carolina in the year 18755 as I have often been told by my father.
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so where is it?
Answer. I have no record of my age; and only know hw old I am from
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information given me by my father. I have a record of the age of my brother Andrew ( who was killed at Carney Creek) and from that record I can nearly my own, which must be now about seventy seven.
Question 3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, & where do you now live? 
Answer. I was living in the county of Rutherford when I entered the service in the state of North Carolina. After the war I lived several years in North Carolina and moved to Georgia where I lived about 14 years and then moved to the county where I have lived since.
Question 4 How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute. 
Answer. In the first tour I was drafted, but in all my after service, I was a volunteer.
Question 5 State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops when you served, such continental & militia regiments as you can recollect, & the general circumstances of your service.
Answer I served with no regular troops that I remember of my whole service I was with the militia. I well remember the regiments of Colonels, Clark, Sevier, Campbell and Shelby in the King's Mountain expedition and of Col. Hampton while I was with Gen'l. McDowel.
Question 6 Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so by whom was it given & what has become of it?
Answer. Yes. I received a discharge from Captain Hampton, but whether I did from my first tour of duty I have forgot. The one I did get has long since been lost and worn out.
Question 7 State the names of persons, to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood & who can testify as to your character for veracity & their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution?
Answer. I have lived  long time amongst my neighbors and I reckon all of them would give me a good name. I will name the Hon. C. Lyon, Michael Freeman, Wm. Mercer David F. Bigham & A. Harpending. He hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the Agency of any state whatever. [Signature[ Joseph Dunn X his mark
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid.

We Timothy McMan a Clergyman residing in the County of Caldwell & State of Kentucky and William Mercer and William Holland residing in the same, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with  Joseph Dunn
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who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy seven 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. Signatures] Timothy McMan Wm. Mercer Wm. Holland X his mark
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after following the interrogatories prescribed by  the War Department, that the abovenamed applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Timothy McMan who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the county of Caldwell & State of Kentucky and that William Mercer and William Holland are also residents of the same county and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
[Signatures]
Jno. W. Marshall J.C.C.
[illegible] & Rucker J.C.C.
James C. Weller P.C.C.
Sam M Asher J.C.C.
I Nathan S. Dallam Clerk of the county court for this county of Caldwell & State of Kentucky do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Joseph Dunn for a pension. In Testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 20th day of August 1832 and 41st year of the Commonwealth.  [Signature] N.T. Dallam
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12.811
RevWar INVALID.  ow
File No. 12.811
Joseph Dunn
Rev. War
Act: June 7th. 1832
Index:=Vol.   , Page
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Joseph Dunn which require further proof or explanation. 
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? 
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? 
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 periods of the war when he served? 
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 amout [amount] of pension he is entitled?
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under who he served, in conformity with the regulations?
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? 
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
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?
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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? 
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, as he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? 
XIV. +If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? 
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI. ++Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? 
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 
__________________________________________________

EXPLANATORY NOTES.
*Quere V.  In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:  "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned a Justice of the Peace, &c. A.B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____year _____months, and _____days, I served as a ______ For ______months and _____days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension.
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It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which 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 about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state 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 shewn under what officers the applicant served; 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.
(+) 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 certifying officer who authenticates 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 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.
[hand pointing right] In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.
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Joseph Dunn 20963