Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 10383, for Elisha Talley, Virginia
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SERVICE Va.
Talley, Elisha
NUMBER R 10383
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State of Georgia
Heard County
On this the ninth day of May in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty three, personally appeared in open court before the Justices of the Inferior Court now sitting for said county Elisha Talley a resident of said County of Heard in said state, aged eighty two 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 Term 7th. 1832.
That he entered the service of the U [United] States under the following named officers and served as herein stated, to wit, in the year 1777, he entered the service under Capt Elisha White who commanded at Williamsburg and continued the Service throughout the campaign which he believes lasted about three months, he was in no engagement with the enemy, nor did the enemy place himself in a situation that would justify our  troops in attacking them, that the Commanders name was General Wm Nelson who was Commander in chief, that he believes that Col Samul. Meredith Commanded the regiment to which deponent belonged
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that he resided at the time of his entering the service in the County of Hanover in Virginia deponent was drafted. He marched from Hanover through New Kent thence unto Charley [Charles] City, thence to Williamsburg & from thence to York, he cannot recollect the regiments or Companies with which he served. That the malitia [militia] met at Williamsburg from various quarters & there the regiments were made out. He has forgotten the names of all the regular officers, he has lost all his documentary testimony relative to his service, and there is no one whom he knows of now lives who was associated with him in the above campaign.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Elisha Talley [unknown]
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Georgia
Heard County
The William Atkinson a clergyman residing in said county and Lewis Zachry  [Talley] residing in the same, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Elisha Tally who now subscribed and sworn to the forgoing declaration that we believe him eighty 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 to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid
William Atkinson Clergy
Lewis Zachry

And the said court does hereby declare the 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 Wm Atkinson who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman & has also signed the same is a resident thereof and is a credible person & that there statement is entitled to credit.
A G Pedly J.J.C
John W Ware J.J.C
Samul. War J.J.C
Thomas Aubry J.J.C
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Georgia
Heard County
I P. H. Taylor clerk of the Inferior Court of said county do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of application of Elisha Tally [Talley] for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this sixth day of May 1833
P H Taylor- Clerk CCO
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No. 25623
Elisha Tally [Talley] Heard County Georgia
Reject served only 3 mo [months]
Rejected - See let. [letter] from W. H. Houghton Esq
Aug. 2nd. 1833
Heard County
Georgia
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WAR DEPARTMENT, Pension Office,
183
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. Tose points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
[tabular form]
A STATEMENT, Showing the Service of Elisha Talley Heard County Georgia
Period when the serve was rendered. 1777
Duration of the claimant's service. [blank] Years 3 Months. [blank] Days.
Rank of the claimant. private
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Cap White, Col Meredith Genl. Nelson
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. 82 years Hanover County Virginia
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary evidence, papers defective
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS
Commissioner of Pensions
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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 be 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 County of
On this [blank] day of [blank] personally appeared (a) before [blank] of [blank] of aged (c) [blank] years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, i n 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) [blank], with [blank] and served in the [blank] (e) regiment of the [blank] line, under the following named officers: [blank]
{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 [blank]
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. [blank] 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.
I [blank] of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original of the Court of 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 [blank] day of [blank] & 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
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
and C. D. residing in (the same) who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be [blank]
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 [blank] and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the [blank] and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. 
I, [blank] Clerk of the Court of [blank] 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 [blank] day of [blank] & 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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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 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 the 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 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 his 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 days, I served as a [blank], For [blank] months and [blank] days, I served as a [blank]; 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 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 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 as 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 fond 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 is note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] The 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 declaration.
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Elisha Tally -
Georgia
10383
Rejected
26 Augh: 1833
Letter to W.H. Houghton
Heard C.H.
Ga
Hon. [crossed out]
Tho F. Foster [unknown of 14. [crossed out]
[unknown] [crossed out]
Act of June 1832
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Virginia Hanover County
I DO hereby certify, that Elisha Talley hath taken and subscribed the oath or affirmation of allegiance and fidelity, as directed by an act of General Assembly instituted An act to oblige the free male inhabitants of this state above a certain age to give assurance of allegiance to the same, and for other purposes. Witness my hand and seal, this 30 day of August 1777
S. Meredith
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Hon. T.F. Foster
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I am not acquainted with Paschall H. Taylor, but am satisfied from the information that [crossed out] I have received that he is the Clerk of the Inferior Court of Heard County, Georgia - and that the signature of his name to this certificate on the annexed paper is genuine -
7th. July 1834 -
Thomas F. Foster.
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Feby 11th 1834
AD
R. Vol 34 p 87.
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Depart of War
Pen [Pension] Off [Office]
July 14 1834
Sir
Upon a re-examination of the paper of Elisha Talley, I had no reason for receding from the decision had a valid claim in any [unknown]in [unknown]. Applicant - did not allege why.  [unknown] that served but three months consequentially - was not entitled to a pension. -
The claim of new and additional seems not mentioned why - [unknown [unknown]. Must be material to [unknown] - proof.
[unknown]
Hon
The F. Foshee
H R
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Georgia
Heard County
In the Inferior Court of said County sitting for Ordinary purposes.
Personally appeared in open court Elisha Tally who being duly sworn, disposeth and maketh the following additional declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of June 7th. 1832 for a pension that he served three tours which he believes were of three months duration each. The last of the tours the deponent does not recollect how long it lasted that on this tour he understood it to be for the purpose of demolishing the breast-works which had been erected at York Town in Virginia that the two first tours lasted for three months each and that deponent served throughout each one of them, that deponent through his attorney Wm. H. Houghton has received from the department of war a letter dated August 29th. 1833 which reads as follows. Department of War Pensions office August 29th. 1833 - Sir. The claim for a pension under the act of June 7th. 1832 by Mr. Elisha Tally, has been examined and rejected upon the grounds that his whole service did not amount to six months a period less than which will not enable him to avail himself of the benefit of the provision of the above recited act, his papers are placed upon the files of this office. I am respectfully your obit servt - Signed Geo Wm Crump acting  Com. of Pensions, by reference to the original petition and the certificate your petitioner believes that it may be seen that his term of service upon the whole amounted to a period longer than six months to which your petitioner respectfully refers the department, that his certificate and other vouchers having been sent with the original petition, he is unable from great age & a consequent derangement of his memory to refer at this time at what particular times he entered the service on each tour and
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how long they each lasted, but of this fact he feels certain that his whole service amounted to a period larger than six months, by comparing the oath of allegiance which was sent with the original petition, and a reference to its date & by comparing it with the time when the war closed it may be seen what length of time deponent was liable to serve & deponent further saith that he served each tour & throughout each one during the above interval when he was called on, and under the officers whose names (those which he could recollect) appear on the original petition.
Sworn to and subscribed in open court this 23rd. day of January 1834
Elisha Talley

And the said Court further states that it is their opinion and belief that the deponent above named statement served as he states in his petition and that he is a man of reputation and good standing
Saml. Ward J.J.C
A. G. Pedly J.J.C
Thos. Awbry J.J.C

Georgia
Heard County
I Paschal H Taylor Clerk of the Inferior Court & court of ordinary of said County do certify the above contains the additional original proceedings of said court in the month of the application of Elisha Tally for a pension
Given under my hand and private seal there being no seal of office this 23rd. day of January 1834
P H Taylor CJC.
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Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1878. [line crossed out]
REJECTED
10,383
P.O. Elisha Talley
Service: [blank]
Application filed: [blank], 18[blank].
The printed list of 1852 shows reasons for rejection
Alleges: "Did not serve six months"
Re-enlisted: [blank]
Attorney: [blank]
P.O. [blank]
[blank] Recognized. [blank] Contract.
[blank] Cert. of Dis. Searched for [blank], 18[blank].