Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2,426, Mitchel Childress, N.C.
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
N.C
CONTENTS
Childress, Mitchel
NUMBER
S. 2426
carded
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to
Seth R. T. Scott
27 May 1854
7569
East Tennessee
Mitchel Childress
Knox Co
in the State of Tenn
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain Hanson of the Rgt commanded
by Col Armstrong in the N.C.
line for
7 months
and
Inscribed on the Roll of E Tennessee
the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum ┃
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 " day of May
1833 and Sent to
B. A. Ramsey Knoxville
Arrears to the 4th of March
46.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept $11..66 ┃
$58.32
Recorded by
Book
E
Revolutionary Claim, ┃
Act June 7, 1832.
David Boyd Clerk,
Book E Vol. 7 Page 39
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State of Tennessee Kione County
County court January session 1833 on the 10th day of January a833 personally appeared in open court at a court of pleas and quarter sessions for said county now sitting Mitchell Childress a citizen of said county aged sixty two years who having been duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions of law act of congress passed June 7th 1832 - that he was born in Henrico County Virginia on the 23rd day of October 1750 where he lived but a few years until he moved to Amhurst county Va. where he lived several years, and married there, and then moved to Wilks county, North Carolina where he lived about one ear and moved to Georgia. He recollects that he reached Georgia counties in a day and he does not now recollect whether these were any counties that [illegible] out in that part of Georgia but his impression now is that he went to what was then called the [illegible] of Georgia- he remarried in Georgia until sometime in the latter part of November following when having taken the fever and ague he moved up on the waters of [illegible] in Burke County, North Carolina, for the object of recovering his health, where he lived until sometime in May or June when being alarmed at the outrages of the Indians he moved back into the same neighborhood in Wilks County N.C. where he had formerly lived. He states that he cannot at this time recollect what year it was he moved from Georgia, but he recollects distinctly that a few days after he had left Georgia the news reached him that the Whigs and Tories had had a battle at a place then called the snow [illegible] afterwards ninety-six and that the whigs were victorious. He continued after this second settlement in Wilks County to live there during the whole of the Revolutionary war - applicant states that very shortly after his second settlement in Wilks County he entered the army of the United States as a [illegible].
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for a tour against the Indians- he was enrolled in Burke County N.C. into a Company commanded by Captain Frank Hargrove's, which company was attached to a Batalion [Battalion] under the command of Major Jesse Walton, and he now thinks his regiment was commanded by Col. [Martin] Armstrong and the whole army by Genl. [Griffith] Rutherford as commander in chief-

he also believes that his Lieutenant was -William Lenoir- applicant states that the whole army consisting of about five thousand rendezvoused at Buck creek in Burke County N.C. and after remaining there a few weeks to get supplies marched over the mountain to the head waters of French broad river, [French Board River, North Carolina], crossed it, Little and Big pigeon rivers [North Carolina & Tennessee rivers], Little river, Little Tennessee river, and the Highwasse river [Hiwassee River, NC]  -

applicant states that the main army lay at the Middle towns in the Cherokee nation, which he with a detachment of about fifteen hundred men marched up the Hiwassee river, he thinks under Col. [Francis] Locke or [Henry] Knox, for the purpose of destroying the Overhill towns of the Cherokees- this detachment marched up the Hiwassee [River] but before they reached the place where the Indians had embodied, they met a part of the southern army, who had been in pursuit of the same object and had scattered and defeated the Indians, upon which our detachment marched back to the main army-

After they had marched about through the nation and destroyed the crops of the 
Indians, and burned their towns, and killed those that could be found the main army marched back along the same general route to Burke County N.C. the army was disbanded and applicant returned home-

applicant thinks he got home in the latter part of November and thinks as well as he now recollects that he was in actual service in this campaign at least three months -

Applicant states that sometime as well as he now recollects in the month of August he does not know whether the August immediately succeeding this first campaign or not, he volunteered to take another tour against the 
Indians - he joined and enrolled himself at same place
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in Burke County N.C. into a company of horse commanded by Captain Grange Foster, who was under the command of Colonel Benjamin Harrington, under the command of the said officers applicant marched across the mountains to the waters of French broad River which they crossed, and crossing Little and Big Pigeon rivers, little river, and Little Tennessee, they marched about through the Cherokee nation, killed a few of the Indians burned their towns cut down their corn, and returned by the same route, and were discharged applicant thinks he was in service in this campaign between two and three months- applicant states that sometime in the month of June 1781 as well as he now recollects he recollects well that he was ploughing his corn at the time, the militia of Wilks County were ordered out to suppress the tories, he was one of the class who were ordered out and was enrolled as a private into a company commanded by Captain James Henderson, who was attached to a Regiment under the command of Col. Benjamin Cleveland under these officers applicant marched with his Regiment to Ramsours mill in what is now Lincoln County N.C. where it was understood the tories had embodied in considerable force. Before applicant and his Regiment however could reach Ramsour's Mill the whigs and tories had met there and the tories were driven off - Applicant well recollects when he reached the battle ground the whigs were engaged in burying the slain. The night after they reached Ramsours  there came an express to Col. Cleveland informing him that the tories under Col .Fannan were collecting near Salisbury - Col Cleveland ordered his men to march there with all haste - applicant states that he marched with his company in that direction untill his horse was so overcome that he could go no further, and his captain gave him leave to go home - Applicant thinks that he was out
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in actual service at least one month in this campaign applicant states that sometime in the month of March or April following the last campaign, the militia of Wilks County were all ordered out, and applicant was installed into a company commanded by Captain John Cleveland, who was under the command of his Father Col. Benjamin Cleveland -  under these officers applicant marched down to Cross Creek, or Salisbury where it was said the tories under Col. Fannan were collecting-- applicant state his Regiment marched to the swan ponds, on the Yadkin river, and were stationed at Major Lewis, eleven days, when Col. Cleveland discharged one half of his Regiment applicant among the rest when he returned home - applicant thinks he was in service in this campaign at least one month applicant states that from his age and the long time which has elapsed since his services have been performed, he can not recollect distinctly the time he was in service, but feels confident that he must have been in actual service at least seven months as a private, for which he claims a pension- applicant states he has no record of his age, but from the information of his mother he believes he has stated his age truly - he states that he lived in Wilkes County N.C. during the whole of his services in the Revolutionary war and for several years after the war, when he moved to Greene County Tenn.  where he lived about one year when he moved to Knox County Tenn. where he now lives and has lived for forty years - he states that the persons with whom he is acquainted in his neighbourhood who can testify as to his veracity and the reputation of his military services one Joshua Frost, Mordecai Yarnell, Elijah Hickey, James Scott, William Morris he states that he never received a discharge, to the best of his recollection, for any of his services, nor has he any documentary evidence whatever of his services, nor does he know of any person whose testimony he can procure who can
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testify to his services. he hereby relinquishes all claim to an annuity or pension except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state
Mitchell Childress

Sworn to and subscribed in open court this 10th Jany 1833
Wm Swan D. Clk

State of Tennessee Knox County 
We Elijah Hickey a clergyman and Mordicai Yarnell, citizens of said County do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Mitchell Childress who has sworn to and signed the foregoing declaration, and have been so acquainted for more than twenty years that we believe him to be eighty two years old. That he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Elijah Hickey
Mordecai Yarnell

Sworn to in open court this 10th Jany 1833
Wm Swan D. C.

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after an investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And we do further certify that Elijah Hickey and Mordecai Yarnell who have signed the foregoing certificates are citizens of this county, are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to full credit, and also that the said Elijah Hickey is a clergyman
John McMillan
Hn. Brown 
Justices of the court of pleas &c for Knox County
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The certificate to this applicant will be directed to William B.A. Ramsey
Knoxville Tennessee
Mitchell Childress
21906
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21906
Mitchel Childress
T.
fro -- private 7 months.  $23.33/100
Wm B.A. Ramsey Esq
Knoxville
T.
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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 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 County of On this ____ day of ____ personally appeared (a) before ____ A. B. a resident (b) ____ 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. 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. [____ 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 ____ 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 ____ for a pension. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my 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 alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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3 
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 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. 
6. To a Soldier: Did you ever receive a discharge from 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 he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and 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 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 ____ 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 about three or four months, 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 in 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, [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 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. 
[k] The notes from [a] and [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 [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.
W.L. Williams Ex Clk
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Washington City  May 22d 1854

To the Commissioner of Pensions

My Dear Sir,

I am requested by Mr John K. Chiders [sic], who resided in my neighborhood, by letter bearing date May 12 Inst. to make the necessary inquiry in the Pension Office in relation to the Pension of his father Mitchell Childers. Said Pension is in consideration of Revolutionary service during the Act of Congress 1832. I wish to ascertain the amount paid, and the Precise date at which his pension stoped [sic], and how much is due his heirs remaining unpaid, and any other information concerning said pension furnished by the evidence in your office, an early answer is desired. Your obt  [illegible] sert.
R.T. Scott
Agent for the State of Ala.
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Mitchell Childress, Act 1832, $23.33 [illegible] Pension paid in full from 4 March 1831 to 5th August 1844 when he died.
F Bush
Auditor
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Rev War
2426
INVALID
File No.  2426
Mitchell Childress
Privt Rev War
Act: June 7, 1832
Index:--Vol. A, Page 64.
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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(Pension Business) [FREE franked envelope]
Hon. Lewis Cass
Secretary of War
Washington City
Jan 21.
7 en
21908
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November 3, 1937
BAJ/EEL
[illegible] Mitchel Childress S. 2426

Mrs. R.L. Rose
614-5th Avenue, East
Springfield, Tennessee

Dear Madam:

 Reference is made to your letters in which you request the records of your ancestors, John Reed, who served from Virginia, and later lived in North Carolina; John Childress an Michell Childress, both of Knox County, Tennessee, in 1840; and Zachariah Haden, of Goochland County, Virginia, all soldiers of the Revolutionary War.

There is no claim for pension or bounty land on file based upon the military service in the Revolutionary War of a Zachariah Haden, all spellings of the surname searched. Such claims are the source of the data furnished by this office.

It is suggested that as a possible means of obtaining information in regard to the military service of this soldier, you apply to The Adjutant General, War Department, this city, who is custodian of military records.

Because of the great demand for Revolutionary War data and the limited trained clerical force available for furnishing such information, it is impossible to comply in full with each request pertaining to soldiers of that war. The records of Mitchel Childress and John Reid are furnished you herewith.

Very truly yours
A.D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator