Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16,507, for William Pearson, Virginia
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SERVICE
Va

Pearson, William

NUMBER
S.16,507

carded

CONTENTS
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5011
Kentucky
William Pearson of Mercer in the State of Ky who was a pri in the compy commanded by Captain Walton of the Regt commanded by Col. Walker in the Va. line for 11 mo: 14 days from 1776

Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky at the rate of 37 Dollars 88 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 1st day of Feby. 33 and sent Hon. R.M. Johnson, House of Rep.

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832                    56.82
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 33    18.34
                     $75.76

{Revolutionary claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Nathan Rice clerk,
Book D  Vol. 9   Page 55

(right panel)
Dead - see Pen. cert. files within
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Sworn to Nov 9th 1832

Wm. Pearson's 
Declaration

1832 Nov. Co. Cer to be certified
Certified
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State of Kentucky Mercer County Sct. 
     On this 7th day of November, in the year of our Lord 1832, personally appeared in open 
Court before the Worshipful, the Justices of the Mercer County Court, now sitting, William 
Pearson, a resident of Mercer County and State of Kentucky, age ninety-four 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: 
     I, William Pearson, do upon oath solemnly aver that I have no record of my age, but from 
the best information, I was born in the year A.D. 1738, and am now ninety-four years old.  I was born in the State of Maryland in the part of the State called "the Eastern Shore;" from whence I removed to the State of Virginia.  I resided in Prince Edward County, Virginia, when the war of the Revolution broke out; and was enlisted as a Soldier in said war, for the term of one year in the Virginia line under the command of Colonel Walker – my Captain's name was Bob Walton.  I enlisted as aforesaid, I performed about two months of duty before we marched to meet the enemy; I was then marched towards Georgia for about two weeks, and being unable from sickness to proceed any further I was honorably discharged by my officers. I was again twice drafted in the Virginia Militia to go to Petersburg Virginia.  I marched twice to Petersburg Virginia under the command of Captain Liggin.  I performed under his 
command two tours of service – each for three months.  These two terms of service were 
performed, I think, about the middle of the war.  I do not
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 now recollect the names of any of the 
officers except that of Captain Liggin mentioned above. 
     Again, I volunteered in the Virginia Militia on the following occasion.  Lord Cornwallis 
with his Army was near Dan River marching (as it was then thought) to a place called "Moore's 
Ordinary" in Prince Edward County, Virginia.  The militia was called out to meet Cornwallis and to prevent his coming in to Prince Edward.  I volunteered in this service for a tour of three 
months, and marched to meet Cornwallis under the command of Captain Thomas Moore, our Ensign was a Asa Purnell – John Purnell was our Lieutenant, and __ Cox our Colonel.  We joined the Army under the command of General Green a few miles from Dan River and with him marched and counter marched and retreated before Cornwallis for several weeks – until General Green thought proper to give him battle at Guilford 
Court-House North Carolina.  I fought through the whole of this engagement and after the Battle was over I retreated with General Green to Ramsour's Mill on Deep River.  At this mill I was honorably discharged.  The battle at Guilford Court House was, I believe, in the year A.D. 1781. 
     The above three tours of military duty to – in the Virginia Militia when we were marched 
to Petersburg Virginia – and one when we fought the British at Guilford, I do aver, I faithfully and fully performed.  And the first tour for one year for which I was entered in the Virginia line I do further aver I was prevented (except two months and two weeks) from performing by sickness.  At the expiration of each of my above tours of service I received from
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 my officers Honorable discharges, these I have lost or mislaid, not thinking they would ever be of any service to me. 
     I aver that I have no documentary evidence by which I can prove my service in the war of 
the Revolution, and I know of no person whose testimony I can procure who can testify to my 
service. 
     After the war of the Revolution I continued to reside in the State of Virginia until about 
twenty-seven years ago, at which time I removed to the State of Kentucky, in which State and in the County of Mercer I now reside.  I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present; and do declare that I am not now, nor ever have been, a pensioner of the United States or of any State. 
     As witness my hand this seventh day of                    November 1832. 
                    William X Pearson
                       (X his mark)

State of Kentucky
Mercer County Sct.
     We Martin C Duncan a clergyman residing in Mercer County, State of Kentucky and Robt. B. McAfee & Ransdal Pouler residing in the county of Mercer, State of Kentucky, do certify that we are well acquainted with William Pearson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration and that we believe that he is ninety four years of age and he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that in this opinion we fully concur.
                  Martin C. Duncan
                  Robt. B. McAfee
                  Ransdall Poulter
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(upside down)
Sworn to Nov 9th 1832

Wm. Pearson's
Declaration

1832 Nov. Co. Cer to be certified
Certified

State of Kentucky Mercy County Sct. Mcr. County Court 1832

This day William Pearson the applicant for a pension herein together with Martin C Duncan a Clergyman & Robert C. McAfee & Ransdal Poulter severally came into Court & swore to their Respective Statements - and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matters and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and swerved as he States.  And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Martin C Duncan who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the County afd and that Robert B McAfee and Ransdel Poulter who have also signed the preceding certificate are residents in the County afd and are credible persons and that their Statements are entitled to credit.
     I Thomas Allin Jr. Clerk of the Court of MErcer County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of William Pearson for Pension.
   
(seal)  Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 9th day of November 1832 and in the 41st year of the Commonwealth.
           Tho Allin Jr.
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16.507
INVALID.
File No. 16.507
William Pearson
Pri Rev War

Act:  June 7 32
Index: - Vol. 1, Page 294

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Wm. Pearson
Mercer Payments to be made
at Lexington, Ky.
by the Presd. U.S. Br. Bk
Agent for paying Pensioners,
in the Agency of Kentucky

Dead

Recorded by N. Rice
Clerk, in Book D  Vol. 9  page 55

Dead
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Isham Pearson
MC Duncan
Proof of Death
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WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary claim.

I certify that in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 7th June, 1832, William Pearson of the State of Kentucky who was a private in the Army of the Revolution is entitled to receive Thirty Seven dollars and eighty eight 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 February one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three.

                 Lew Cass
                 Secretary of War.

Examined and Countersigned.}
JL Edwards

Cancelled
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from 1776 private
11 months & 14 days
Dec. 13.

$37.77/100

Ky
20971

Honble Lewis Cass
Secretary of War
Washington City


Revolutionary claim

Hon. RM Johnson
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Frankfort (Ky) Dec. 6th 1832

Dear Sir
     I enclose you the claim of William Pearson from this place where I expect to remain for the ensuing six weeks in the Legislature.  You can continue to direct your answers to my claims to Harrodsburgh (Ky) - I hope you have disposed of those heretofore sent - Wm. Pearson I have known ever since he came to Kentucky.  He has the character of an honest old man and his services not on tradition as far as I know, but he has claimed to be a soldier of the Revolution ever since I know him.
            Yours with Respect
                 Robt. B. McAfee
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               Northern Bank Ky
               Lexington April 15 1837

J.L. Edwards Esqr
Com of Pensions

Sir
      I enclosed to you the original Pension certificates of Wm Pearson, John Bridges, James Hilton & James Allsop who have died & whose heirs have sent in the certificates not wishing to incur the trouble which would be necessary to receive the small balances that might be due the decedents.
                     Respectfully
                          Your Obt Servt


                          Wm Ernst
                          Clerk