Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31776, for John Jenkins, South Carolina
Page 1

[Black star over name]
(3-1776)

SERVICE
S C 

Jekins, John

NUMBER
S 31776

CONTENTS
Page 2

31776
Revy INVALID

File No. 31,776
John Jenkins
Sergt Rev War

Act: June 7th   32

Index: - Vol J , Page 209

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Alabama 13 28 6
________________________________________
John Jenkins
of Limestone in the State of Alabama
who was a Pri Sgt  in the Compy commanded
by Captain Winn of the Regt commanded
by Col Thompson in the South Carolina 
line for 18 months Private
1 [illegible] Sargt
===================================
Inscribed on the Roll of Alabama
at the rate of 65 Dollars _______ Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
===================================
Certificate of Pension issued the 14 day of June 
1833 and  sent to and Hon C.
C. Clay  Huntsville Alaba
===================================
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833                 $130.00
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Sept                   32.50
                                                                                    =====
                                                                                 $162.50
{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by J W Clageto Clerk,
Book E. Vol 8, Page 46

[left side]

See letter 12 Dec '34
to Hon J M. Mc Kinley
Page 4

John Jenkins
Limestone County
Alabama

Adm for 1 year and 
7 months    1 month
there of Sergeant

Hon C. C. Clay
Huntsville
Alabama
Page 5

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
11. June 1843
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 shew what is
necessary to be done. Those 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.
_____________________________________________________
A Statement, shewing the service of John Jenkins Limestone Co Ala
===================================================
Period when the Service Was rendered.
1776
1 April 1776


1 April 1776



Sept 1780

Oct 178?

April 1 1782

Duration of the claimant's service.
Years
1 [1776]
Months.
1 [1776]

2 [1780]

3 [178?]

1 [1782]

Days


Rank of the claimant.
Sergt 


Names and ficers under whom
Capt Bonds               [1776]
Major H Brown
Gen Simpson


Capt Winn.                    [1776]
Col. Thompson
"       Mason
Maj Speers

Capt Cotterson            [1780]

   "                                       [178?]

   "  Anderson.                  [1782]
   "  Brannon
Genl Greer


Age and place of abode when he entered the service.
80 years
[illegible] Co
So. Carolina

Proof by which the declaration is supported



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 constructed to extent, 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 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, etc., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefit 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 the Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians 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 applicants reside. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

                                                                   DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
                                            State Territory, or District of
                                             County of
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 named offices:

(Here set forth the names and ranks of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service ; (and if he server under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particlar 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.                                           A. B.
        (And then will follow the certificate of the Court.)

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above 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 name 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 the 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 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. 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 Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the orginal proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for pension.

 In testimony whereof, I 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 orginal 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 hid personal knowledge of the service oh the applicant, and such circumstance connected therewith as may have a tendency to throw lightupon 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 material facts, which can be used 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, it 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 nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, fromtheir 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 certity to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.

The traditionary evidence of service is deened 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 inquiry whether the belief is general or 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 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 ofice, 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 genine signature.

No payments can be made upon 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 theopinion 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 of the war when he served.
(e) Every continental officer or soldiers 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 depots and saith, that by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positive as to the precise length of his service; but according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the period mentioned below, and in the following grades: ---For____year_____month____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 service.  The use of the phrase about three or four months, is too indefinite and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.  ome persons who apply for pensions mere state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of officers, and other particulars respecting their service.  This form of a declaration is highly objectionable.  

It must begin every case, be clearly shown under what officer the applicant severed; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corp 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 n 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 fix 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 certified officer, should accompany the papers.                                                   
                                                                  
                                                                    Mode of authenticating papers.

In every instance where the certifing officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certiicate 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 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 verify 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 note
 from (a) to (i) are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule is 
The 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.
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 1832
The State of Alabama
County Court of Limestone County ⎬ 
On this 13th day of May 1833 personally appeared in Open Court before the Judge of said County Court in & for the County of Limestone in the State aforesaid state
now sitting, John Jenkins a resident of said County aged Eighty years, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following declaration 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 & served as he herein stated that in the month of January 1776 he being then a resident Craven County in the State of South Carolina, Joined a
company of the militia of said State as a volunteer, said company was commanded by Captain Moses Bouar in the Regiment or part of the regiment commanded by the
William Brown & that he was marched from said  county under the command of General Simpson, to a place on Rohen's creek in the western parts said State, where they dispersed [illegible] some tories -  that he served only
one month in the on the company, as an orderly Sergeant in said company of infantry
& was discharged
That on the first day of April 1776 he enlisted or volunteered in the army of the united states
for the Term of twelve
months in the regiment of Rangers of the South Carolina troops under the following named officers, Captain Richard Winn commanded the company in which he
enlisted & one Liam Hart was lieutenant,  said company belonged to the Regiment commanded Colonel Frederick Thompson
Lieutenant Colonel, Mason & Major Speer -  That on the 18th of April 1776 he was marched from Craven County the place where he enlisted as aforesaid to the Eutaw
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Springs where he joined his said Regiment from thence he was marched to Sullivan's Island opposite Charleston where he was
under the command of General Moultrie & was stationed there until the attack made by the enemy in June 1776 in which battle he was engaged - that during the battle
he was stationed on the East end of Sullivan's Island that he remained a few weeks there after the battle - was afterwards
stationed on the Congaree river the greater part of the Term of his enlistment where after serving out the full term of his enlistment, as a private, be received
written discharge signed by said Colonel Thompson, which has long since lost - That in September 1780 he joined
the Company of South Carolina Militia commanded by Samuel Patterson & was marched by him in pursuit of several
small parties of Tories, until affiant was taken prisoner - he was carried to the Camp of Col. Ferguson by whom was detained a prisoner six weeks then made his escape - that the time he served & the time he was a prisoner as aforesaid was in all two months, as a private - that immediately on his return to [illegible] in October 1780 he
again joined the company commanded by said Otterson. I marched for the high hills of Santee, where he was in a skirmish with the enemy - others marched with
one hundred fifty picked men under Colonel Branson to Orangeburg where they attacked the enemy & took fifty
prisoners, British & Tories - from thence he was marched to Black River from thence home again - that he served as
private in this campaign three months in the infantry - that on the first of April 1781 he again was marched in the Company
commanded by Phillip Anderson as Captain in the regiment commanded by Colonels Brannon & [illegible] or Major Otterson & shortly afterwards joined the army
under General Greene at Ninety six, where they were beaten back by the enemy & retreated to Enoree river, where
he was discharged & only served one month in this com-
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paign - That during the war his home was plundered
the enemy took from him five head of horses his cattle &
dogs left him impoverished. - That he served as a
private as aforesaid nineteen months, as a footman
---
That he was born in Landon County State of Virginia
the 18th day of January 1753 that he ascertained his age
from a registry of the same made by his father in a book
that after the revolutionary war he continue in said
County of Craven untill he removed to Franklin County
State of Georgia continue in said State untill he
removed to Limestone County State of Alabama in 1823
there he has ever since resided still resides. That
he has no documentary evidence of his said service
having lost the only [illegible] discharge ever received
by him - that he holds of no person by whom he can prove
his said services, that he never transmitted to the war
Department the affidavit [illegible]
is now dead, proving his said service, which affedavit
he has not seen since. He hereby relinquishes his every claim
whatever to a pension except the presented & declares that his
name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any
state  -
                                                                                            John Jenkins
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid

Robert Austin Jr Clk
The John Favour Jr
now residing in the
County of Limestone aforesaid & he has [illegible] and residing
in said County hereby certify that we are well acquaint
ed with John Jenkins who has subscribed & sworn to the
above declaration, that we believe him to be in the Eighty
first year of his age, that he is reported & believed in the
neighbourhood where he resides to have  been a soldier
regimenut of Rangers
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vof the revolution that we concur in that opinion-
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court
the day & year aforesaid
John Faver, Jr
John [illegible] Beard


And in the Court doth 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, and the Court further certifies
that it appears to them that John Farver Jr who has signed the preceding certificate is a
Clergyman residing in the County of Limestone and State of Alabama and that John N
Beard who has also signed the same is a resident in the said County and State and is a
credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit

I Robert Austin Jr. Clerk of the County Court of the County of Limestone and State of Alabama
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the Original proceedings of the said Court
in the name of the application of John Jenkins for a pension

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office
this 13th day of May 1833 57 year of American Independence
Test Robert Austin Jr Clk
Limestone County Court

The State of Alabama I George  W Lane Judge of the County Court of the County
of Limestone and State aforesaid do hereby certify that Robert Austin Jr whose name
is signed to the foregoing certificate was at the time of subscribing the same
Clerk of the Court aforesaid and that the said Certificate is in due form of Law

Given under my hand and seal this 13th day of May 1833 - 

Geo W Lane    SEAL