Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21,394, for Sherwood Nance, North Carolina
Page 1

SERVICE
N.C.,

Nance, Sherwood

NUMBER
S 21.394
Page 2

16.125
South Carolina

Sherwood Nance
of Union in the State of South Car.
who was a pri. in the company commanded
by Captain Dervit of the reg.t  commanded
by Col. Thaxton in the North Car;
line for 10 months

Inscribed on the Roll of South Car:
at the rate of 33  Dollars  33 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 8th day of July '33
and sent D. HoldinUnionville S. C.

Arrears to the 4th of March '33            66.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept.      16.66
                                             Total        $83.32 1/2                       


Recorded by Wm. Miller  Clerk,
Book  E.   Vol. 6.   Page 75
Page 3

and the said court does hereby
declare its opinion after the 
investigation of the matter and 
after putting the interogatories prescribed
by the war department
that the above named applicant 
was a Revolutionary soldier and
lived as he states, and the said
court further certifies that it appears
on it that      (signature of Elias Mitchell)
who has signed the forgoing certificate
Page 4

State of South Carolina
Union District                          To wit.

On this 3d day of October 1832,
personally appeared in open Court
before the Judge of the Court of Common
Pleas and Sessions, now sitting for
said District, Sherwood Nance, a
resident of Union District, aged Seventy
Eight years; who being first duly
sworn according to Law doth on hid
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 
[illegible] as herein stated-- "In January
or February 1775, I entered the service
under Captain Dewit, in Col. Thaston's, 
Regiment, at Hillsboro in North Carolina
and were marched to a place called the
Chappell, where we remained about
one month, and were ordered home,
in a short time we were ordered out
under the same officers, and marched
to Cross Creek, where we remained a
few weeks and were discharged.  In
August 1776 I again entered the Service
as a Substitute for Edmund Adcock in
Capt. William Hubbert's company---
and Col. Wm. Mason's Regiment in
Caswell County North Carolina, and
marched to the frontier after the
Indians, and halted at Silver Creek
and were ordered back to Salisbury
where we remained some time, and
Page 5

there marched to Hillsboro when I
was discharged by Col. Moore.  In
August or September 1780 I was drafted
and entered Captain Wilson's Company
under Col. William Moore, and moved
to Hillsboro where we remained a
week or ten days-- and then marched
to Bells Mill on Deep River-- thence
to the Yadkin River where we [illegible]
about two weeks and then marched 
to Providence, below Charlotte
Court house, where we lay about
six weeks-- about this time Col. Washington's
troops, and the militia under his
command, took Col. Rugely and 
Major Cook and about one  hundred
Tories, who were conducted by a
guard (of which I was one) to Salisbury
Jail.  Where I was discharged regularly
by Col Moore.-- In June 1781 I was
again drafted for a tour of two
months, and went out under Captain
Adam Sanders as a guard to the
waggons loaded with military stores--
and marched from Caswell to
Salisbury, when apart of the loading
was delivered, and then to Charlotte
when the Ballance was delivered and
then returned home, and was again
ordered out as Guard to waggons from
Caswell to Salisbury--and employed
in collecting provisions for the army
during the ballance of my term--
I have no documentary evidence
of my Services, and know of no
one now alive who served with me
Page 6

I do hereby relinquish any claim to
a pension or annuity whatsoever
except the present and declare
that my name is not on the pension
roll of the agency of any State.
In answer to the interogatories
put by the Court & answers.

2nd.  I was born in Charlotte County
Virginia,  on the 17th October
1754-- and have the Record of
my age at hand.

3rd.  I lived in Caswell, No. Car. when
I was called into service, and
have resided in [illegible] where I
now live thirty one or two years.

5th.  I recollect Col. H. Dickson, Col.
Washington, and Col. Litrel and Genl.
Morgan.

6th.  I did since my discharge, but
have lost them.

7.  I refer to the Revd. W. Mitchell
and Handcock Porter for
proof of my moral character.
(signature of Sherwood Nance)
Sworn to & subscribed 
the day & year afsd.
(signature of Jno. M[illegible]
Pres. Judge

We Elias Mitchell a clergyman residing
in union district and Hancock
Porter , residing in the same, do
hereby that we are well acquainted with
Sherwood Nance, who has subscribed
and sworn to the above Declaration
that we believe him to be seventy eight
years of age, that he is reputed and
Page 7

believed in the neighbourhood where he resides
to have been a soldier of the Revolution
and that we concur in that opinion.
(signature of Elias Mitchel Sen.)
(mark of Handcock Porter)
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year afsd.
Jno. [illegible] 
Pres. Judge.

and the said court does hereby
declare its opinion after the 
investigation of the matter and
after putting the interogatories 
prescribed by the war department
that the above named applicant
was a Revolutionary Soldier and
served as he states, and the said
court further certifies that it appears
to it that Elias Mitchell who
has signed the forgoing certified is
a clergyman residing in Union district
and Hancock Porter who has signed
the same, residing in said Dist. are
credible persons, and their statements
are entitled to credit.
( signature of Jno [illegible]
Presiding Judge

I John Ragin clerk of the court
of common pleas and sessions for Union 
District do hereby certify, that the forgoing 
contains the original proceedings in
the matter of the application of Sherwood
Nance for a pension.
In testimony thereof I have
hereunto set my hand and
seal of office this day of October 1832.

J. Rogers  clk
Page 8

No 15280
Sherwood Nance
District South Carolina

admt 10no.
33.33
5.

P. 346

19apl. 33
Dav Holder


Home S. Carolina
Page 9

BRIEF in the case of Sherwood Nance
District of Union in the State of South Carolina
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  a Court

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3. How old is he?  78.

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period.
In 1775
Subst 1776
Drafted 1780
     "       1781

Duration of Service.
Years, Months, Days.
          about 1.
               "    1       -
                     3
                     3
                     2
                    10
                         1            12


Rank.
As a
Private
    "
    "

Names of General and Field Officers
under whom he served.
Gen.
Capt Dervet  Col Thaxton
   "
Capt Hubbert   Col Moore
Capt Wilson  -   Col Moore
Col Moore
  "  Sanders

5. In what battles was he engaged?  none

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Coswell (Caswell] NC.

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  Traditionary evidence

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct

X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Dyer Castor Examining Clerk.
Page 10

March 12, 1936.

BA-J/ILL
SHERWOOD NANCE
S. 21394

Mrs. C. H. Denton
Shelby, Mississippi.

Dear Madam:

The data given herein regarding Sherwood Nance were obtained from the papers on file in his claim for pension, S. 21394.

Sherwood Nance was born October 17, 1754 in Charlotte County, Virginia; the names of his parents are not shown.

While a resident of Caswell County, North Carolina, he enlisted early in the war and served as private on various tours until after the fall of 1781, amounting in all to about eleven months and two weeks, in the North Carolina troops under Captains DeWitt, William Hubbard, William Wilson and Adam Sanders ( Saunders), and Colonels
Thackston, William Moore and Williams; during these periods of service, he marched against the Indians on the frontier, guarded military
stores, was one of the guard placed over the prisoners taken when General Washington surprised Colonel Rugeley, and guarded wagons loaded with supplies for the army in the State of North Carolina.

Sherwood Nance was allowed pension on his application executed October 3, 1832, at which time he resided in Union District, South Carolina. He had resided in that county about thirty-one years.

There are no data regarding the family of the above noted soldier.

Very truly yours,

G. H. SWEET.
Acting Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Page 11

2134
INVALID.
Revolution

File No.  21.394
Sherwood Nance
Pri, Rev War

Act; June 7" 32"
Index    Vol. 2,  Page 294
Page 12

objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those [answe]red in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Sherwood Nance which require further proof or explanation.

1. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?

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?

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?

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

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?

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?
Page 13

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?

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

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?

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?
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?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?

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?

XVI. +
       +Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?

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

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 -----year -----months, and -----days, I served as a
----- days, I served as a ----- For ----- months
and ----- days, I served as a -----; and for such service I claim a pension.
Page 14

3

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 [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.
+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 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.
[symbol of hand with finger pointing] 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.
Page 15

March 12, 1936.

Mrs. C. E. Denton
Shelby, Mississippi.

BA-J/ILL
SHERWOOD NANCE
S. 21394
ZACHARIAH NANCE
S. 31272
LEWIS BINGLEY
W. 24325

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of David, Sherwood and Zachariah Nance.

There is no claim for pension on file based upon service in the Revolutionary War of a David Nance. The records of Sherwood
and Zachariah Nance are furnished you herewith, which are the records of the only soldiers who bore those names that are found
on the Revolutionary War pension records. The record of Lewis Bingley is furnished also, as it may be of interest to you in connection with that of Zachariah Nance.

Very truly yours,

G. H. SWEET.
Acting Executive Assistant to the Administrator.
Page 16

November 8, 1932.

Mrs. D. B. Hollingsworth
Edgefield
South Carolina.

BA-J/ILL
Sherwood Nance
S. 21394

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to Sherwood Nance and Joseph and James Caldwell, Revolutionary War soldiers and pensioners of South Carolina

The record of Sherwood Nance given below is obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 21394, based upon his service in that war.

Sherwood Nance was born October 17, 1754 in Charlotte County, Virginia; the names of his parents are not stated.

While a resident of Caswell County, North Carolina, he enlisted early in the war and served as private on various tours until after the fall of 1781, amounting in all to about eleven months and two weeks, in the North Carolina troops under Captains
DeWitt, William Hubbard, William Wilson and Adam Sanders ( Saunders), and Colonels Thackston, William Moore and Williams; during these periods of service he marched against the Indians on the frontier, guarded military stores, was one of the guard placed over the
prisoners taken when General Washington surprised Colonia Rugeley, and gaurded [guarded] wagons loaded with supplies for the Army in the state of North Carolina.

He was allowed pension on his application executed October 3, 1832, at which time he resided in Union District, South Carolina;
he had lived in that county for about thirty - one years.

There are no data relative to the soldier's family.
Page 17

Edgefield S. C
Oct 28. 32-

Bureau of Pensions
(War of the Revolution)
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir -
The sixth census gives Sherwood Nance as a pensioner in [? Marion] Dist. S.C. Will you please give me any information you may have on him, as to his Service & family.

In Anderson Dist. S.C. were Joseph & James Caldwell. Are there any family names mentioned in their statement for a pension.

With appreciation for any help on these Rev. Soldiers

Very truly yours
Mrs. D. B. Hollingsworth

Joseph - brother of James in Josephs claim

[stamp] numbered 1-12
RECEIVED
OCT 31 1932
[rest is illegible]
Page 18

State of South Carolina
Union District
Sherwood Nance
Personally appeared before and deposes
as follows in order to Explain & make
more explicit his application for a 
pension under the act of the 7 June 1832.
States as follows, On his first Tour of duty
and under Cap. David he served one month
returned home & in a few days thereafter was
ordered out again under the same officers &
remained out Some time, Certain one month
more but believe longer, again in Aug. 1776
I entered as a Substitute under Cap. W Hubbert
and was discharged at Hillsborough after 
Serving a Tour of three months, again.
In August or Sept. 1780 I was Drafted
Under Capt. McMillan and was again
discharged at Salsbury by Col. Moore
after Serving another Tour of three months.
Again in 1781 June, I was drafted & Served
another Tour of two months under Capt.
Adam Saunders, as a guard to military
stores, during which time I found my own
horse-----
Page 19

again I Served another Tour of Duty 
of Six Weeks during which tour I
was a Waggoner to the baggage under
Col. Williams---and was discharged near
Guilford Court House No. Carolina.
This deponant is confident that 
he did Serve at least Eleven months
& two weeks and thinks longer.
(signature of Sherwood Nance)
Sworn to & Subscribed
before me this 10th May  1833--
(signature of John Parham) JP
I John Parham do certify that Sherwood
Nance the applicant above Stated is
respectable and a Gentleman of Veracity.
Given under my hand & Seal this
10th May 1833.---
(signature of John Parham) JP
Page 20

State of South Carolina
Union District
I John Rogers
clerk of the Court of Sessions & Common
Pleas for Said District, do certify that
John Parham Esq. an acting Justice
of the Peace and properly authorized
to administer oaths, that his official acts
as Such are entitled to due faith and
credit as Such & that his Signature
is Genuine.---
Given under my hand & Seal of office at
Union Court House the 10th day of May AD
1833.--
(signature of J. Rogers) clk