Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31,576, Frederick Brown, Ga.
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Service Ga. Brown, Frederick Number S. 31,576 Contents (none)
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Georgia 30.449
Frederick Brown of Columbia Co. in the State of Georgia who was a Private in the company commandea by Captain Morrison of the Regt. commander by Col. Jackson in the Georgia State [unreadable] line for 12 months. Inscribed on the Roll of Georgia at the rate of 40 Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. Certificate of Pension issued the 4, day of March 1836 and sent to Wm. L. Blunt Applingville C. H. Ga. Appears to the 4th of March '36 200.00 Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep. '36 20.00 [=] $220.00 {Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.} Recorded by D. Brown Clerk, Book E. Vol. 6 Page 93
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31576
Reg INVALID. File No. 31,576 Frederick Brown Pri Rev [unreadable] Act: June 7th 32 Index:--Vol. 2, Page 54 [Arrangement of 1870.]
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Declaration of Frederick Brown In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. - State of Georgia Columbia County} √√ On this 4th day of January and year 1836 personally appeared in open court now in session, Frederick Brown of the age of seventy years and resident of the state & County afore said who being first sworn according to law, doth on his oath make this following declaration, in order to [unreadable] in the benefit of the provision made by the act of congress passed 7th day of June 1832, that he (served) in the State Troops of Georgia at Augusta in the County of Richmond on the 7th of June 1781 under the command of Capt John Morrisson - Henry Allison was a capt at the same time and place and James Stallings commanded a company of cavalry all under the command of Colonel James Jackson. He remained in garrison nearly the whole of the time for which he had enlisted - (twelve months) But a short time before it expired he was marched below August to a place called Ebenezer [unreadable] there a short time and was marched back to August under the command of Capt Allison and there received from him his discharge after having served twelve months. But the discharge was lost or mislaid so that it cannot be found. He was a resident of So Carolina at the time he enlisted - that he was not engaged in any more persuit at the time of his service
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the army. He hereby by relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of {illegible} a {illegible} in {illegible} State. Sworn to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid -
G. Jones Clerk Frederick Brown {illegible}
The Court {illegible} the interrogations as per instructions in the accompanying document To the 1st He answers he was born in the State of Virginia but does not know the precise year
To the second He answers he has no record of his age.
To the 3rd He answers he was living in So Ga when he enters the service, that he has ever since the war and now resides in Columbia County Georgia
To the 4th He answers he enlisted
For his answer to the 5 he refers to declaration
To the 6th He answers he received his discharge from Capt Henry {illegible} but has lost or mislaid it
To the 7th He answers {illegible} Fuller {illegible} {illegible}Harris
Sworn to and subscribed to in open court this day and year aforesaid
G. Jones Clerk  Frederick Brown {illegible}
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And the said court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states
John Carthage {illegible}
Nathan Crawford {illegible}
Stephen {illegible} {illegible}
We Josiah Harriss a clergyman residing in the county of Columbia and State of Georgia and John Harriss {illegible} and J Cochran residing in the same county hereby certify that we are acquainted with Frederick Brown who has subscribed the above declaration and that we believe him to be seventy years of age and {illegible} as that he is {illegible} 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 this day and year aforesaid
Josiah Harris {illegible}
John J Cochran
John Harris
Wm {illegible}
G Jones Clerk
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I Gabriel Jones Clerk of the Court of Ordinary do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original of proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Frederick Brown for a pension,
     In testimony whereof I have herewith set my 
     hand and seal of office this 4th day of January
     1836.
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30.740
Frederick Brown

7 May 21 Wm L Blunt
Col Jackson did command a sgt in stated militia

[illegible] by private
12 mos H 4A
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                                WAR DEPARTMENT, 
                                             Pension Office,
                                             May 9, 1834.
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 tubular 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 Frederick Brown

Supage 3

                   I am, respectfully,
                        Your obedient servant,
                            JAMES L. EDWARDS
                                Commissioner of Pensions.
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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 claim-ing 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  }ss.
           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 officers:
[Here set for the 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 rand 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 per-sons 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 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, subscribe a declaration similar to foregoing, with the following additions, via:     (k) We, A.S., 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 an 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 Sodier, 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.C., 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 eh foregoing contains the orginal proceedings of the said Court, in the mtter 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 of commis-sion; 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 ser-vices 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?
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
inquiry 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 invariable me 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 that served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the torus, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service.  This form of 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 apers 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.
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 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 declarations.
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