Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31913, for William Potts, North Carolina
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(3-1776)
SERVICE 
N.C.
S.C.

Potts, William

Number
S. 31913

CONTENTS
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Georgia 3716

William Potts of Jackson in the State of Georgia who was a Private in the Compy [Company] commanded by Captain Hall of the Regt [Regiment] commanded by Hampton in the S. Car: [South Carolina] line for 21 months from 1779- 

Inscribed on the Roll of Georgia at the rate of 70 Dollars ___Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 29. [29th] day of Dec 32 [December 1832] and Sent to Hon: [Honorable] A. S. Clayton, House of Reps [Representatives]

Arrears to 4th of Sept [September] 1832 [$]105__ [$105.00]
Semi-anl. [Semi-annual] allowance ending [?] 4 Mar: 33 [4 March 1833] [$] 35__ [$35.00]
_______
$140__ [$140.00]

(Revolutionary Claim,
(Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by Nathan Rice Cler- [word cut off at page margin, Clerk]
Book D Vol. 8 Page 141
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Declaration of Wm [William] Potts to obtain a Pension
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State of Georgia)
County of Jackson) SS

On this 2 [2nd] day of October [no year shown] Personally appeared in open Court before the Inferior Court of said County now sitting William Potts resident of the State and County above named aged 73 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 7 1832[.] 

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated - Vis [Viz] - He entered the Service under Capt. [Captain] James Hall a Presbyterian Preacher (afterwards Called Doct. [Doctor] Hall), who raised a Company of Volunteers for three months, the service to Commence after joining the main army -

the date of entering the service he does not recollect but in the time of this tour the battle of [?] Hons or ? Stons] or Stone-ferry was fought by Genl. [General] Lincoln and the British - 

This Deponent was not. in the battle himself[.]  the Company to which he was attached having been ordered by Genl. [General] Lincoln to guard a particular point for the protection of a particular Settlement fifteen miles distant from [?] Stone __ He enlisted for the above tour in Rowan County N. [North] Carolina.

["Aft" is stricken through] the expiration of the above service, he received a discharge from Capt. [Captain] Hall which has long since been lost or destroyed -

He was in no other service until after the fall of Charleston, when the Tories began to
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Show themselves in the fork of the Catawba and Yadkin Rivers, he again entered the service in the Militia Commanded by Gen. Rutherford _ James Pervines Commanded the Company and Col [Colonel] Lock the regiment to which He was attached - He Continued in this service about nine months defending the Country from the tories and depredations of Lord CornWallis's [Cornwallis's] army and during this time the battle of Ramsour's Mills was fought - 

in that battle James Potts [?an] Elder brother of Deponent's was wounded for which he recd [received] (as he is informed) a pension from the U.S. before his death and if so his name will appear on the pension roll for N. Carolina - Deponent never rec'd [received] any discharge from the above Service -

In the Spring of 1781 he enlisted in the State Troops of So. [South] Carolina under the Command of Genl. [General] Sumpter - Col. [Colonel] Wade Hampton - Major Rutherford, son of Genl. [General] Rutherford, and Capt. [Captain] John Reid, at which time the British had So. [South] Carolina and Georgia Completely in Possession -

He was at the taking of Thompson's Fort at the junction of [?] Ulateree and Congaree rivers[,] also at the taking of one at orangeburgh on Edisto river and a number of others the names of which he does not now recollect.

He never was in a general engagement of any particular note - he was prevented from being in the battle of Eutaw Springs, by having been sent by General Green a short time before the battle with an express [express correspondence] to Col. [Colonel Shelby on Holston River and the [here it appears that the word "return" and several illegible letters following, were stricken through] battle was fought the day he arrived at the Hospital at what is now the Seat of Government
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in So. [South] Carolina on his return from Col. [Colonel] Shelby[.]

He Continued under Genl. [General] Sumpter until the fall of 1781 and at his resignation was placed under the Command of Genl. [General] Marion, under whom he remained but two or three weeks until the (Department) was placed under the Command of Major Moore (he thinks that was the name) and sent to Georgia where he Continued until the ten months Service for which he inlisted [enlisted] had expired - he recd [received] a discharge which has been lost or mislaid[.]  he does not recollect by whom it was Signed - 

He was in no further service and in 1784 moved to Georgia Wilkes Co. [County] and ^nearly ever since he was the head of a family he has resided in Jackson Co. Georgia[.]

He answers to Questions asked by Department as follows[:]

1st - I was born in Lancaster Co. Pennsylvania on the 7th or 11th June 1759 - 

2  Has no record of his age - was told it by his father -

3  I have answered that question above 

4  I volunteered in the first service - was Drafted once - and volunteered again - 

5  Has stated them above - 

6  Answered above 

7  Russel Jones [and] Samuel Barnett [and] Geo. [George] Shaw [and] D Witt

This Deponent has no Dacomentary [Documentary] proof to Establish his claim, nor does he Know of any body now living ^ who Served with him except Genl [General] Wade Hampton by whom he could establish his claim, and he
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resides in ["Louisiana" was stricken through] ^South Carolina - He has no claim exCept [except] the present to any Pension or annuity whatever nor is named on the roll of any State Agency whatever - 

[Signature] Wm Potts

Sworn to and Subscribed in open Court this 2 [2nd] day of Oct. 1832

We John W Glenn a Clergyman residing in the County of Jackson[,] Georgia and Edmd [or Edwd] [Edmond or Edward] Pharr residing in the Same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Potts who has Subscribed and Sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 73 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] J. W. Glenn
Edwd [or Edmd] [either Edward or Edmond] Pharr

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 putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above mentioned applicant was a revolutionary Soldier and Served as he States

And the Court further Certifies that it appears to them that John W Glenn who has Signed the preceding Certificate is a Clergyman resident in the County of Jackson and State of Georgia and that Edwd [or Edmd] [either Edward or Edmond] Pharr who also Signed the Same is a resident in the County and State aforesaid and is a credible person and that their Statement is
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is a resident in the County and State aforesaid and is a credible person and that their Statement is entitled to Credit[.]

[Signatures]
David Witt JJC [or JIC]
Robt Smithwick J.J.C. [or J.I.C]
J. W. [or J. N.] Glenn J. J. C. 

I. Sylvanus Ripley Clerk of the Inferior Court of the County of Jackson and State of Georgia do hereby Certify that the foregoing Contains the original proceedings of Said Court in the matter of the application of William Potts for a pension[.]

In testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and ^private (having no Seal of office, Seal [here "of office at office" is stricken through] this 2nd day of October 1832[.]
[Signature] Sylvanus Ripley[,] Seal 

I Certify that Sylvanus Ripley whose official attes - [torn paper] appears to the above Certification is and was at the time of the Same ^the Clerk of the Inferior Court of Jackson County and State of Georgia and that full faith and credit Ought to be given to his  attestation as Such and the Same is in due form according to the laws of Georgia where there is no seal of office - Washington City - Decr. 29th, 1832

[Signature] [Here the first initial, or initials, are unclear, but it may be A. J.] Clayton[,] Member of Congress from Georgia
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3 objections

1st as to the length of Service - He Swears distincly [distinctly] to 3, 9 and 10 months Service_making 22 mo. [months]

2 I will Certify as to the CercK's [possibly meaning Clerk's] certificate

3 Also as to the Credibility of the witness

  3
  8
10 
____
21 

battle of [illegible]. June 1779

[?] Admd [possibly meaning Admitted]
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Cong
3-871.
_________________
Record Division.
Department of the Interior, 
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
____________________________

Briefed by W. T. [?] Conboye
Claim No. Aug 18, '09 [possibly meaning August 18, 1909]
Certificate No. [blank]
Claimant [blank]
Soldier Wm Potts [William Potts]
Service N.C.  Rev War [Revolutionary War] 
Additional Service [blank]
No ___ claim, State records, _____, 190_
No claim, combination records, ______, 190_

REMARKS:
No claim. Try [?] O W Inv. 
File Nos. 31,913 and 3,708 [S.C] [South Carolina]

[In lighter ink:] 3708 not ident. [possibly meaning not identical.]  (S.C.) 
31,913 service part N.C. (sent) 

__________________________________________
0-8                                     Chief Division
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[Left side of the record]
31913
Revy [Revolutionary] INVALID.
________________________________
File No. 31,913
William Potts
Pri [Private] Rev [Revolutionary] War

Act: June 7th 32 [1832]
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 326

[Arrangement of 1870.] 

[Near the top of the right page]
Aug. [August] 19, 1909. History to Hon. D. V. Finley.  F.W.
__ __ __ __ ___

Letter of inquiry and carbon copy of reply with S.F. 3539, John White. 
__________________________________________________________________________
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William Potts.

from 1779 [illegible]
21 months 70.
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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 Potts 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? [blank]

IV.  Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war 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 [amount] of pension he is entitled? No.

VI.  Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?  yes.

VII.  Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?  yes.

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? No. #
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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? yes.

XII.  If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?  _ [blank]

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?  has a witness.

XIV. +If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that the, she or they are persons of credibility? No.
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? [blank]

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.  [Symbol for a double vertical cross] Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? - [blank] 

XVII.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily?  And, if not, which of them is not so answered?  [Illegible, possibly no 0/1] 
______________________

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, & 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 the 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 [here the next five words are in italics] about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.

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 [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.

[Symbol for a double vertical cross.]  QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated 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 end 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 be sent with the papers.
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Georgia)
Jackson County)

Personally appeared in open Court Henry Potts and after being duly Swon [Sworn] Saith that he was acquainted with William Potts the person who now applies for a Pension in the Revolutionary War and that he Served [?] there near [illegible two words] Capt [Captain] Hall at the time of the [illegible word] Battle after the fall of Charleston he Served under Capt [Captain] [?] Pervines untill the ten months men were raised and then enlisted for the term of [?] ten [? or two] more months under Capt [Captain] John Read in Col [Colonel] Wade Hamptons [Hampton's] Regiment

Sworn to and Subscribed in open Court 

Sylvanus Ripley Clerk

I certify that Henry Potts who has sworn to the above [the following word is partially blotted by ink] affidav__ [affidavit] is entitled to Credit upon Oath and is a Man of truth and good Character _ Decr. 29th 1832

A.S. [or A.I. or A.J.] Clayton  Member of Congress from Georgia

[In the bottom left corner of this record, there are partial notations "tation" and "making"]