Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3881, for William Shaw, Virginia
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SERVICE
Va.

Shaw, William

NUMBER 
S. 3881

carded

CONTENTS
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25322
West Tennessee
William Shaw
of Davidson Co in the State of Tennessee who was a private in the com commanded by Captain Snodgrass of the regt commanded by Col Campbell in the Virginia line for 10 months.

inscribed on the roll of West Tennessee at the rate of 33 dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 24 day of  Dec 1833 and Hon F. Grundy Senate US

Arrears to the 4th of Sept  83.33
Semi-anl, allowance ending 4 March  16.67
        $100.00

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by (torn) Clerk
Book E  (torn)
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William Shaw
11860
Pension Claim

admd
10 mo. pri
$33.33
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State of Tennessee 
Davidson County
     July Session 1832 on the first day of August 1832 personally appeared in open Court 
before the Justices of the Court now sitting William Shaw a resident of said County and State aged seventy-one years last April, 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 was born in the State of Virginia in the year 1761 in the month of April, as he believes from his Father's register in the old family Bible, and was raised to manhood principally in what is now Wythe County on the waters of New River, that in the year 1776, the Cherokees 
became troublesome, and that he William Shaw volunteered under Captain David Snodgrass to guard his Snodgrass' station, near where Abingdon is now situate in Washington County and remained in service about two months: sometime after Volunteered under Colonel William Campbell (afterwards General Campbell) against the Cherokees and went as far as the long Island of Holston on entire frontier, remained in service two or three months, this was some time after the Battle with the Indians at the long Islands of Holston, I next volunteered under Colonel William Campbell of New River in pursuit of Koyle & Brown two Tory captains who had raised a number of men & were committing depredations on the Whigs: we came up with them and dispersed them, wounded one man & took him and another prisoner and run the balance over the mountains into the Hollows of the Yadkin, was then in service about two months: in 1780 I volunteered with Captain Trigg under the command of Colonel William Campbell went over the mountains into the State of North Carolina was stationed some time at the Moravian town, we were informed that a number of Tories were collecting below Guilford old Court House, Captain Trigg with his Company of whom I was one was ordered by Colonel Campbell to go in pursuit of the Tories we came on them took upwards of twenty of them prisoners & drove them to headquarters to Colonel Campbell at the Moravian town, there some of them were whipped, one Hung, then returned
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over the Mountains back to New River & scoured the Country down said River of Tories running & dispersing them as low down said River as peppins' ferry was in service two or three months – and that time & then volunteered with Colonel John Stephens with about sixty men to guard the flowery Gap to prevent the British & Tories from crossing over to the lead mines on New River, the British Army then lay at the Moravian towns, in February 1781 – volunteered with Colonels 
Preston & Cloyd & went to General Green & his Army in North Carolina near Guilford & remained until after the Battle (or scrimmage) with the British at Whitesell's Mill ten days before the Battle of Guilford Court House, during the whole of my service I found my own Horse to ride & my rifle & shot Bagg – for which I never received any Consideration except our independence, which I Glory in – I have lived in Davidson County upwards of forty-six years, helped to defend this Country from the Indians, from that time was with General Jackson in the Creek Nation as a volunteer.  I never was entered on a pension roll, nor never applied before, I have no way of proving the above service, that I now know of except by my own oath as I believe most of my Companions in arms are dead, or so removed that I know not where to find them, Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. 
Test Henry Ewing Clerk of 
Davidson County Court 
                                 Wm Shaw, Ser.
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State of Tennessee 
Davidson County 
July Session 1832 on this first day of August 1832 personally appeared in open Court 
before the Justice of the Court now sitting Robert Weakley a resident of said County and state aged 68 years – who being first sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following statement, that he has been acquainted with William Shaw of Davidson County who is the applicant under the law of Congress passed June 7th 1832 ever since the latter part of the year 1785 & that he Shaw has ever during his acquaintance been considered an honest man & man of truth and is bound to believe his statement as to the service rendered during the American Revolution to be true – as I was in the Battle by him spoken of at Whitesell's Mill in March 1781 – and from the statement of Shaw am satisfied he was there, he Shaw is called by his acquaintances Honest Billy Shaw. 
Sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid. 
Test Henry Ewing Clerk of
Davidson County Court
                                   R. Weakley

Nashville August the 1st day 1832
     I have been acquainted with the above named William Shaw upwards of forty years last passed, have always heard him called an honest man.  I never heard his veracity disputed.  
                   Tho. Crutcher
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State of Tennessee
Davidson
Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County and State aforesaid
July Term 1831

Said court do hereby certify that they are and have been for many years past well acquainted with William Shaw the applicant before named, that they believe him to be an honest, upright, industrious man and that his statements may be implicitly relied on.  They also state that Robert Weakly and Thomas Crutcher who have signed the foregoing certificates are men of the first standing in county and that their statements may be relied on.  And said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states.
August first 1832

      J. Wharton
      Will Williams
      E.P. Connell
Justices of the court of pleas and quarter sessions for Davidson County, Tennessee

State of Tennessee Davidson County Ss.
I Henry Ewing clerk of the court of pleas and quarter Sessions for said county do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of William Shaw.
     In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of said court to be also affixed at office in Nashville on this first day of August AD 1832.
                 Henry Ewing
(seal)
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Rev War
INVALID.
AWN

File No. 3881
William Shaw
Pri Va. line

Act:  June 7 '32
Index: - Vol. A, Page 337

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Private Va
$33.33/100

admd

Hon. F. Grundy
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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
William Shaw 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?
Yes

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 of pension he is entitled?
Yes

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
No

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
No

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
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2
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? No 

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No

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?  witness

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? yes
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? The court has not
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes

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? yes

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 6.7

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 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 ___ yes ___ 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; 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.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he just 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 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.
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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The amended declaration of Wm. Shaw a Revolutionary soldier to be offered & considered as a part of his declaration made before the County Court of Davidson on the 1st day of August 1832 which said declaration of the 1st August 1832 was returned by the proper office of government on account of imperfections.
     On the 3d day of September 1833, personally appeared the aforesaid Wm. Shaw whose age & residence is stated in the original declaration aforesaid in the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of West Tennessee before the Honorable John McLean holding said oaths and make oath to the following amended declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the Act of Congress passed on the 7th June 1832 to wit The applicants states that to the bet of his recollection he served in all throughout the different tours reported to in his original application not less than ten months.  He has reviewed the time with all the accuracy that the infirmity of a man well worth with age could command and he is confident that he is, if anything, under the time of his actual service.  Because of old age & the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively to the precise length of his service but according to the bet of his recollection he did not serve less than the periods of ten months, aforesaid being give tours of Ten months each, and all the time in the capacity of a private soldier, and that the time & places stated in his original application. Applicant further states that he has not obtained the evidence of any clergyman except so far as his character for truth & veracity is concerned because he knows of no clergyman who can give the certificate as required by the Department.  He has decided to apply the deficit of vast evidence by the testimony of other respectable witnesses.  Applicant further makes oath on the subject of the 6th & 7th Interrogatory that he hasn't received any discharge from any official whatsoever for any tour of service.  He does not know why it was that no such paper was furnished by his officers but he is confidence none was ever given to him.  Applicant further states that he is well known to Col. Robert Weakly, Thos. Crutcher State Treasurer, C.P. Connell
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Saml Channon Isaac Hunter & Reuben Payne Esqs acting Justices of the Peace for Davidson County with the Honorable Felix Grundy, Governor Carrell, Captain Preston and a large circle of respectable friends from the County.
     He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension role of the agency of any state.  
Sworn to in open court Sept 6 1833.
N.A. McNairy Clk
                      Wm Shaw

     Came into open court aforesaid David Cloyd a clergyman residing in the county of Davidson, and makes oath, that he has been well acquainted with the aforesaid applicant Wm. Shaw for thirty years or more.  Most of the time he has been a near neighbor of affiant.  Affiant states that he does not know anything of the revolutionary services of said Shaw except from his own repeated declaration.  The said Shaw has always sustained an irrefutable respectable character for honesty, truths and veracity and affiant would not hesitate to place the most unqualified faith in any declaration he would make on oath or otherwise.  
                 David Cloyd
N. A. McNairy Clk

     Came into Court Robert Weakley a justice of the peace for Davidson Co., aged 69 years of age & a soldier of the revolution & John McCaslin aged ___ a pensioner under the Act of the 7th June 1833.  And the said Robert Weakley in addition to his statement of the Aug 1832 all of which is here referred to makes oath, that he knew nothing of the revolutionary services of the above applicant Wm Shaw but for many years past (perhaps 30 or 40 years ago) to have heard said Shaw speak of his service in said War and from the high character which said Shaw has uniformly sustained.
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a very long life he does not doubt a moment but that he served his country as he states in his declaration to which this affidavit is affixed.
     That the said McCaslin notes oath that he has been well acquainted with said affiant Wm. Shaw for about 30 years.  Said Shaw is a man of unqualified character for honesty, truth & veracity.  He has often times many years past years him speak of being a soldier in the war of the revolution and affiant is satisfied that he was as he does not believe that he would state a falsehood.
Sworn to 3 Sept 1833 in open court
N.A. McNairy Clk
                    R. Weakley
                    John McCaslan

     And the Court aforesaid does hereby declare an opinion after the investigation of the matter that the above named applicant Wm. Shaw was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states.  And the Court further certifies that it appears that David Cloyd who signed one of the preceding certificates is a clergyman resident in Davidson County and that Robert Weakley & John McCaslin who also signed the certificate above are residents of said County.  That they are all credible persons & that their statements are entitled to credit.
                          John McLean
                          Justice Sup Court USA

United States of America
District of West Tennessee
     I Nathaniel A. McNairy Clerk of the Circuit Court of the United States for the Seventh Circuit in the District of West Tennessee do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of William Shaw for a pension.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
(seal)
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my hand and seal of said office this 24th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three.
         N.A. McNairy Clk