Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4707, James Vandiford, N.C.
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Service 
N.C. 

Vandiford, James

Number 
S.4707

carded
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13977

West Tennessee

James Vandiford of Hickman Co in the State of Tennessee who was a private in the company commanded by Captain -- in the Regt commanded by Col Dobbins in the N Carolina line for 14 months. 

Inscribed on the Roll of W Tennessee at the rate of 46 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834. 

Certificate of Pension issued the 18day of July 1833 and sent to H Nixon Centerville 

Arrears to the 4th of March                    93.32
Semi-anl, allowance ending 4 Sept         23.33
                                                            $116.65

Revolutionary Claim, 
Act June 7, 1832

Recorded by Danl Boyd Clerk,
Book E    Vol. 7  Page 100
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James Vandiford
[Dumbarton?]

25360
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State of Tennessee  SS
Hickman County 

Given in Court Septr [illegible] 1832

On his 10th day of Septr, in the year of our lord Eighteen hundred and thirty two and of our independence the fifty seventh year personally appeared in open court befor James Cauffield [Mitchell?] present & holding that his courthouse of the [Seat?] of Hickman County aforesaid now [calling?] James Vandiford a resident of the County and State aforesaid and Haleys Creek aged seventy one years the 1st day of September 1832 who first being duly sworn according to law who on his oath, makes 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:  I was drafted as a private soldier for the term of five months, as a militia-man of the state of North Carolina in the Service under the command [3 illegible words] of the United States against
Great Britain.  I was then about the age of sixteen or seventeen years.  [obscured]  & I think it was in the year seventeen hundred & seventy seven or seventy eight to the best of my recollection.  I then resided in the State of North Carolina in the County of Anson with my father James Vandiford in about five miles of the then Seat of Justice in said County called Mount Pleasant at the close of the ar it was moved & called Wadesborough. the cause of this removal wa because the county was divided & by the division it threw Mount Pleasant over the County line.  The name of my Captain is Ledbetter that of my Lieutenant, Fletcher, about five of us iwent in fours [illegible] to Salisbury where we were met by the other troops and transferred into service at the plan line about one week waiting for the troops to collect forces this place we were marched under the command of Col. Dobbins marching in the town  of Charlotte in Mclin-burgh County State of North Carolina into the State of South Carolina through the town of Campden from thence went [illegible] a place called the Salt Catcher, & from thence we went to Savannah River the Dividing line between the State of South Carolina & the State of Georgia, here we [arived?] by end September & part of our troops passed over the river & had a skirmish with the British at Brier Creek in the State of Georgia, I was not in the ingagement with the enemy being left on the South Carolina side of the River with part of the troops as a rear guard, from this place we went to a little town called Orangeburgh in the State of South Carolina, in the vicinity of this place we remained with occasional changes untill I was discharged which was at the end of five months after being mustered into service.  I do not recall if whether Gen Lincoln remained here all the time I was here or not, from this place after being discharged I went home to my father in Anson County aforesaid, I arrived there as well as I can recollect in the month of April after I had been drafted & discharged
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I remained with my Father untill the following december when I [illegible/obscured] entered 
Service of the State for the [3 illegible words] of the United States for the term of three months as a substitute,  Captain Fain hired me but in whose place I do not recollect if I ever knew.  He was the capt of the Company in which I served.  He marches us [obscured] Charlotte Court house State of North Carolina where we met the troops mustered into service commanded by Col Hampton from [Mecklinberg?} we marched under his command untill we joined Gen Lincoln near Charleston where we re [work?] and served short term & was marched into town & aided in making earthworks  I hjere remained untill the end of my term of [choice?] when I was discharged, from there I went to my father in the aforesaid County of Anson a distance of about two hundred miles when I again arrrived it was the month of April, here I remained with my father as a free man about [obscured] command of Capt. John Lejannen unt-ill the [obscured] June, when I was draft as a militia man of the State of North Caroina for the term of [obscured]  [illegible] a Capt by the name of Brackin commanded the company in he marchs us to a[illegible] called the haning rock in the State of South Carolina, there we were joined by the other north North Carolina Militia [obscured] Thence we marched to the Congaree River where a French Col. by the name of Malandy took command of [obscured] [interposed:  at Camp  was stationed under Capt. [Mitchin?] deserted us & went home, we were then put under command of Capt. Bell it [2 illegible words] or near it we joined by Gen Green & in a few days we fought the battle of the [cowpens?} I was in this battle, we took three or four hundred prisoners who were conveyed to Salisbury for safe keeping under a gurad of whom I was one but before we got to Salisbury those of the Militia who lived low down in North Carolina were dichared I amongst the rest  after having [ilegible] they town of Tryon [illegible] abou five iles above Campden in South Carolina at a place called Rugeley's Mill from here I went home to my fahter in the County of Anson aforesaid, where I rmained about [one?] week after which I volunteered for the term of three months in the Company of 7 commanded by said Capt John Dejarnett who was in the command of General Rutherford  he marched us down near Wilimington within the State of North carolina[1-2 illegible words] called the brick house here we had a little skirmish with the [illegible tories?] who were forted in the house  we killed ten of their number [illegible] none of ours   We reckoned it [illegible] to work our [obscured] so strongly for the safe [illegible] day time & waited untill night but before we attacked there they mustered to Wilmington where his B [several illegible words]  We remained June untill we heard of the Captain Lord Cornwallis at York town & we were discharged not having served out the term but what I [illegible] o fit I are  not nor recolelct, but I think it was not [illegible] the whole of the war in the South  I was eneterd in service of the United States as a militia-man or ready as minute man, against the British and Tories  I further tTate that I lost or mislaid my discharges many years ago, not then thinking they would be of any use to me  I have no documentary evidence of the parts above stated as to my service in the revilutionary war.  I know of know of no person by whom I can prove any services in said war.  Proceed. 

Questions - James Vandiford where and in what year were you born
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Anr.  In the State of Maryland Queen Ann County 21st Sept 1761. 

Do you have any record of your age & if so where is it? 
A.   I have no record my age it was once put in writing but is lost, there are two facts by which I know my age the first is from the age of my Brother George which is tn years younger than mySelf his age is set down in a book.  The other fact is taking of lord Corn Wallist at York Town I was twenty years old on the 21st Day of September preceding the [taking?] of Lord Corn Wallis. 

[?] Where were you living when called into Service.  where have you lived since the revolutionary war & where do you now live
Ar.  When called into Service I was living in Anson County, State of North Carolina, at the close revolutionary I returned home  after being discharged out of the service, and there I lived untill I was fifty years of age & something the rise of it & from thence I moved to Hickman County State of Tennessee in the first [obscured] part of the month of December, if I Should live to the next December after the date of this declaration I shall have been in Hickman County twenty one years, which if I do live that long I expect to live in Hickman County [illegible] a [illegible] no opinion, inclination, or much power to remove. 

How were you called into service?  Were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom. 

Anr:  I was drafted the first time I went in as a private soldier for the term of five months, the second tour that I performed was as a substitute, for the term of three months, the Capt of the [illegible] hired me in a man's place but his name I do not recollect, if ere I knew it.  the Capt name was James Fare.  the next tour that I served was also for three months & I was drafted.  During this I was in the battle of Eutaw Springs.  The next tour which I served I was a volunteer for three months under Gen Rutherford. 

State the names of Some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served. [illegible] continental or Militia regiments as you can recollect & the general circumstances of your Service? 
Anr:  At the Eutaw Springs Gen Green commanded in chief and a French-man was Col & took command of our regiment at this battle by the name of Malmody.  Genl Lincoln commanded the 1st & 2d tours and the 2d. [illegible] Col Hampton commanded  our Regiment, I do not know whether he was a regular officer or not.  The first tour I served we had a battle on Brier Creek in the State of Georgia [illegible] of the troops were ingaged in it I was not being kept back as a fuard on the north side of Savannah river.  Gen. Lincoln  commanded the second tour I was commanded by Gen lincol.  The third tour I was commanded by Gen. Green & Col Malmody.  I was in the battle of Eutaw Springs
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The fourth tour I was in a little skirmish a short distance above Wilmington in the State of North Carolina at  place called the Brick House, in this house there were about three hundred British & Torys we attacked there & killed 9 or seven & they killed one of our men,  we [obeyed?] [proof?] the House as they were staying forted inside, but the remained before it that night at which time they retreated to Wilmington while the British were stationed   in a few days we heard of the capture of lord Corn Wallis I was discharged & went home

I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & $80  I declare that my name is not on the pension rolls of the agency of any State.  Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid

James Vandiford
his X mark 

Sworn to and Subscribed the day aforsaid
Test 
Millington Easby Clerk 
by deputy S Sebastian

[2 illegible lines] hereby certify that we are well acquainted with the said Jamed Vandiford who has subscribed 7 sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be about seventy one years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we continue in that belief. 
Earl Parmalee
Jard Rice
Joseph Walker
Test Millington Easby, Clerk
by deputy S Sebastian 

And the Said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the interrogations of the matter, with after putting the interrogatories presented by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary Soldier and Servied as he states, and the Court further certifies that it appearing that to  him that Edward Mander who has signed the preceding certificate in the county aforesaid is a [illegible] resident County aforsaid & that Joel Walker Josiah Rice who has also signed the same is a resident in Hickman County aforesaid and is a creditable [obscured] that whose statements is entitled to credit 
James Vandiford
JC Mitchell 

I Millington Esaby clerk of the circuit court of Hickman County do hereby certify taht the foregoing
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contains the original procedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of James Vandiford for a pension. 

In testimoney whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of office this 14th day of September in the year of our lord Eighteen hundred & thirty two and of our independence the fifty seventh

Millington Easby, Clk 
bu deputy S Sebastian
[seal]
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No. 25360

James Vandiford  Hickman
County Tennessee

from 1778 private 
16 months 

$46.66/100

Col Dobbins 
NC
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[Lower half of page]

A Statement, shewing the Service of James Vandiford Hickman County Tennessee

[Top Row]  Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served:  Genl. Lincoln

[Next row]

Period which the service was rendered
Draft 1777-1778

Duration of the claimants service 
- years  5 months - days

Rank of the clamaint
private

Names and rank of the field officers under whom he served 
Cap Ledbetter, Col Dobbins

Age at present and the place of abode when he entere the service
71 years   Anson County N. Carolina

Proof by which the declaration is supported
Tradiditionary - papers not properly attached

[next row]
Subt. Div. 
- years  3 months  -days
" 
Cap Fair, Col Hampton 

[next row]
Draft Serve
-years 3 months  -days

Cap Bracken, Colonel Malenody

[Next row]
Vol- 
-years   3 months - days
Cap Lejarrett, Genl. Rutherford

[bottom right]
Battle of Eutaw Springs
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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, mucicians 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} 88.
On this
day of
personally appeared (a) before
A.B. a resident (b) of
in the county of
and State, Territory or District
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 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.
[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.
I                   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 day 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 the application 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
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3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department.  A very full account of the services of each person
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 exexpected.
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 the service, and if {so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
6.{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 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. 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."
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 the 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 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.
>The notes from [a]to [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 only.
[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
Page 13

[top left corner] Revolutionry

4704 
Invalid

File No. 4704 

James Vandiford
Pvt N.C. line

Act:  June 7 1832

Index:  Vol. A, Page 387

(Arrangement of 1870)