Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 9305, William Carson, S.C.
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
S.C.
Carson, William
NUMBER
S. 9305
card
Page 2

32774
Reported
South Carolina
William Carson 
dec. York dist in the state of So Carolina who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Peters in the Regt commanded by Col. Bratton of the So Car. line for 15 months, 6 days

Inscribed on the roll of Charleston of the rate of 50 dollars 66 cents per annum, to commence the 4th day of March, 1831 to end 5th December 1849, when he died.
Certificate of Pension issued the 11th day of Sept. 1850 and sent to Hon D Wallace [illegible]
Payable to his only surviving children viz. B.S. Carson. Matilda Givens & Elizabeth Givens. 

{Revolutionary Claim, }
{Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by J. P. Chase Clerk
Book E Vol, 6 Page 72
Page 3

State of South Carolina
York District 
To the Honorable the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives of the said state The Humble petition of William Carson respectfully showeth That he entered the militia in the service of this state at the commencement of the Revolutionary 
War and served during the whole of the war under General Sumter, Col Neal and Cole Graham. That he was in the battles at the Congaree, at Hook's defeat, and the battle at King's Mountain and a number of skirmishes. That at the battle of Friday's Fort on the Congaree, he was severely wounded being shot through the wrist of the right arm, and much disabled. That same year since he had the misfortune to get his left arm broken and shattered which has been stiff and useless to him ever since whereby he is rendered totally incapable of supporting himself and family by his labor; that he has a large and helpless family and is very poor and has no means of subsistence but by his labor. He therefore prays that he may be placed on the pension list of the state.  And your petitioner as in duly sworn will pray &

signed William Carson 
South Carolina
York District
Personally comes the within named William Carson before me and made oath that the matter of things set forth in the written petition are just and true.  Sworn to and subscribed before me this 22nd Sept. 1821
Signed R Clendenen [illegible]
Signed, William Carson 
South Carolina
York District 
Personally appeared Captain James Martin before me and being duly sworn saith William Carson was attached to the Company he commanded in the Revolutionary War and that he was wounded
Page 4

in the of his right arm at the battle of
Friday's Fort, this deponent seen him after he was wounded and assisted in dressing it. Sworn to and
subscribed before me this 23rd Nov. 1821
W. G. Martin
Com. E.G. D.

Signed James Martin.
The Committee on Pensions to whom referred
the petition of William Carson by leave to
report that after duly considering the same they are of opinion he ought to be placed on the
Pension Roll and recommend that he may be so
placed - (Signed) Saml Warren Chairman
In the House of Representatives
Dec. 10 1821
Resolved that the House do agree to the
Report - Ordered that the same be sent to the
Senate for concurrence. By order of the House
(Signed ) R. Anderson
Resolved
C. H. R.
In Senate 11th Decr. 1821
Resolved that this House do concur in the
Report. Ordered that it be returned to the
House of Representatives. By order of Senate
(Signed ) Wm D Martin C.S."
Office of Clerk of House of Rep Columbia S.C. 31st May 1850.
I do hereby certify that the foregoing contains a
true copy of the original papers in the matter
of the application of William Carson for a
pension, on file in the office.
For Clerk of the House
of Representatives
Bery Hart
Page 5

No 38010,
Declaration case
of William Carson,
Act June 7, 1832,
Adm 15 Nov [illegible]
$ [illegible]
per 4 March 1831 to 5th
Decem 1849, the day of
his death payable to
B S Carson, Matilda
Givens and Elizabeth
Givens only surviving
Children of William
Carson dec
Hon D. Wallace
House of repr
Page 6

State of South Carolina
York District
On this 12th day of April 1850
personally appeared before me Josiah Evans
one of the Law Judges of the State of South Carolina
B.S. Carson a resident of said district
aged 48 years
who being first duly sworn according to law
doth on his oath make the following declaration
in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress
passed June 7th 1832. That this declarant the
aforesaid B. S. Carson in behalf of himself and the
other surviving children of William Carson
revolutionary soldier decd. states that the said
William Carson was a soldier as the heirs 
understand and as such he served the United States
against the common enemy as follows. That
he the said William Carson entered the service
Shortly after the fall of Charleston South Carolina in the Militia as a volunteer under Capt.
Walter Carson Col. Brattons Regiment Gen. Sumpters
Brigade (Militia) and served in said Company for
some weeks as a fifer after which he was discharged
and returned home and in a few days he again volunteered under Capt John Hood and remained under
him for a short time and was again discharged
and that soon after said discharge he joined Capt
Cunninghams Company who with others were
in pursuit of Col. Furgason whom they [illegible]
and defeated at Kings Mountain in the month of
October 1780. That from the time he first volunteered
in the month of June until the battle of Kings Mountain
in October he was but a very few days out of the
army and that during the above service he was
in the following engagements viz 1st a skirmish
at a place called the Big Glades in the low County
where they captured fourteen wagons laden with military stores
Page 7


Hucks defeat - The taking of Fridays Fort
on the Congaree- and the battle of Kings Mountain
and that his next tour of service was in the fall
of the year 1781. He volunteered for three months
under Capt John Hood. Col Bratton, and was
marched down to Orangeburg which was 
headquarters of the army and there remained until
his three months expired. and he returned home
and was generally in service to the close of the
War- He further declares that the reason of his
fathers not making application under the above
mentioned act that he was for many years
previous to the 7th of June 1832 in the receipt
of a pension of sixty dollars per annum
granted him by the State of South Carolina
in consequence of a wound received in his wrist at the taking of Fridays Fort in the summer of 1780 and that during the whole of the above services
William Carson was a fifer as above stated-
Sworn to and subscribed on the
day and year above written in
open Court
John G Enloe
Clerk
BS Carson
And the Court doth hereby certify that 
satisfactory evidence has been shown in open Court
that William Carson above named died at the residence
of his son B.S. Carson in said district on the fifth
day of December one thousand eight hundred and
forty nine (1849) leaving the following children
surviving viz. B S Carson Matilda Givens-
Elizabeth Givens who were his only surviving
Page 8


Children and are still living and of lawful age -
Given under my hand at York Willis
the day and year above written ordered
that the Clerk certify -
It was further shown to the satisfaction of the
court that B S. Carson who has sworn to and subscribed the 
foregoing declaration is a man whose veracity
is undisputed and that William Carson his father
days been regarded by this community as a
of the Revolution and a very correct man
Done in open Court
Josiah J Evans Judge
Yorkville 12 April 1850
South Carolina
York District 
I J. G. Enloe Clerk of the Court of
common pleas and General Sessions for York
District do hereby certify that the above contains
the original application of the heirs of William
Carson deceased for a pension and that Josiah
J. Evans is Judge now presiding and that the foregoing
signature purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony
Whereof I have hereunto affixed
my seal of office and subscribed my
name this 12th day of April AD. 1850
John G Enloe
CCC Pls

I am personally acquainted with John G Enloe-
I know him to be clerk of the Court for
York District S.C. & that the above signature
is genuine
D Wallace
July 29 1850
Page 9

I certify that Josiah J Evans Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in South Carolina whose name appears to the written
declaration, is a Judge as stated - that
his signature is genuine, and that he
is a superior man for intelligence
Legal knowledge integrity & honor
& this his acts as Judge, are entitled to
full faith & credit-
Sep 10 1850)
D Wallace
Page 10

January 13, 1932
BA-J/MOS/ILL
Miss Mary W. Carson
Box 125
Kershaw, South Carolina
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter relative to George Miller
and William Carson, soldiers of the Revolutionary War.
The data furnished herein relative to William Carson are obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 9305, based upon
his service in that war.
While living in York District, South Carolina, Willaim Carson
enlisted shortly after the capture of Charleston, South Carolina, and
served at various times until the close of the Revolution, entire length
of service not given. He served as fifer with the South Carolina troops
under Captain Walter Carson, Peters, James Martin, John Hood and Cunningham
and Colonels Neil, Graham and Bratton and was in engagements at
Mobley's Meeting House and at Hucks Defeat, in a skirmish at Big Glades
and in the battle at Friday's Fort where he was severely wounded by a
bullet shot passing through his right wrist, and was in the battle of
Kings Mountain.
The soldier was allowed pension of $60 per annum by the State of
South Carolina on account of the wound received in his wrist daring
the taking of Friday's Fort.
He died December 5, 1849 at the residence of his son, B. S. Carson in York District.
In 1850, B. S. Carson, aged forty-eight years and a resident
of York District, South Carolina, Matilda Givens and Elizabeth Givens,
the only surviving children of the soldier, were allowed the pension
by the United States due their father on account of his service in the
Revolutionary War.
Reference was made to a large family of the soldier but the above are the only names given.
In order to identify the record of the particular soldier
1.
Page 11

George Miller in whom you are interested, should it be on file, as much
as possible of the following data is essential: approximate dates
of birth and death, places of residence at enlistment and after service
and given name of widow,

Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER,
Assistant to Administrator,
M.C.S. (service)
He was pensioned for 15 mos & 6 days, service supposedly
taken from report from Comptroller General's Office,
Columbia S.C. from other evidence in case, it
appears that this was not the entire length of
service, so I did not use it.
2.
Page 12

1932 - Jan. 13 - Hist. to Miss Mary
W. Carson - [illegible]
Rev War
93055
INVALID.
File No. 9305
-
William Carson
Priv Rev
War
---
Act:
June 7th /32
Index: -- Vol. 1, Page 59
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 13

No 38010
William Carson dec
S.C
Let Hon D Wallace Aug 6/100
" to same Augt 20/50
act 7 June 1832
Page 14

Gen Chase [illegible]
papers of Wm Carson
ed 32
Washington
Hon J.L. Edwards
War Department
Washington DC
D Wallace 
MC
W. Cole [illegible] the [illegible]
with Wm Carson papers
Page 15


House Rep US
Washington July 29 1850
Sir
I present the evidence in the pension
claim of the heirs of Wm Carson
You will observe that the accounts
from the Comptrollers Office are made out
for William Carson Jnr- but are
Signed William Carson, without the word junior being appended.
The fact that they were they signed & filed is
considered conclusive, for if the right
man had not signed them of course
they
would not have been filed.
This case seems to be
fully made out by the proof
presented

I have the honor to he
Hon J L Edwards
Your obt Servt
D Wallace
Hon JL Edwards
Page 16


House Rep US
Washington Augt 9 1850
Sir
I recd your letter of the & that in the
case of William Carson Revolutionary Soldier
Mr Carson in his petition to the
legislature did say he was in the Battle of
Kings Mountain if my recollection serves me.
The certificate of the Comptroller
Genl of South Carolina, is before you, and
that is relied upon to fix the time of
Carsons Service
By an examination
of this certificate, if I remember right
it will appear, that the Comptroller
General has certified to the fact
that the signatures to both residents are
the same handwriting
These accounts were hardly
ever made out by the Soldiers themselves
The distinction of Jnr which appears to
the one, and not to the other
I believe
is in making out the accounts,
& not in the Signature. The soldier
Page 17

or his heirs, cannot be firstly held accountable
for the stroke of the pen of a Clerk in
the treasury department.
The habit of writing a name and
appending the words Senr or Jnr, all
experience shows, is not uniform- I have
never seen it invariably followed
by men mused to business transactions
and where the keeper of the Records
as in this case, certifies that the
handwriting to both residents is the same,
 I think it conclusive & would
be as regarded in any Court of Justice
there is no other way to identify the
handwriting of any man.
As to the claim of Service
in his petition to the Legislative of
South Carolina, it cannot have
escaped your notice, that these
petitions here never been drawn up
with any special care. They
usually contain a few facts as
to the most prominent items of
service, with the view simply
Page 18

to establish the fact, that the petitioner
had served in the Revolution- and
upon the right side
the Petitions
were usually backed by the testimony
of living, witnesses, and the amount
of pension granted by the State
was not always in proportion to the
Amount of Service performed, and
exactness in the Statements made
was not deemed strictly necessary,
There is one other fact which
has come to my knowledge from many
cases, which have come to my own
knowledge, in taking the examination
of Revolutionary Soldiers.
I have never get met with one of
these of soldiers, who understood their
own, rights under the Pension Laws, and
the opinion long prevailed among them in
South Carolina that the receipt of
a pension from the State, excluded
them from Receiving a pension from
the United States.
Among this class
of errors is another, that a widow
Page 19

of a deceased Soldier, is deprived of the
right to a pension, if she enters marriage 
again, although she may be again a
widow at the time the Law is passed
There are indeed but few persons who
understand the pension laws, and this
ignorance of the Law, is the reason why
so many claims continue unadjusted.
I dont know it to be the fact but I
have little reason to doubt, that the
case of Wm Carson has been delayed
first because the Common impression
prevailed as I have stated, that the
receipt of a pension from the state
precluded the party from receiving one
from the United States This is a
Common error among our people,
The loose manner in which the Records of
the day here kept, is sufficient to
Show, that they should not be at all
times strictly construed against the
Claimant. Where the keeper of
the Records, on his official
Responsibility, certifies to the
identity of a signature to
different documents, I think
Page 20

2
Hon J L Edwards
it ought to be held sufficient proof.
The history of the Revolutionary
Struggle in South Carolina, established the
fact, that the Whigs litterally lived in
the army. They were obliged to
join the army for personal safety
There was no county any where
else, for the whole state, was one
scene of war & bloodshed. The
Records in Columbia, it comes within
my own knowledge from testimony the
most Satisfactory, do not contain a tithe
of the services actually rendered by the
men of that day.
I must therefore respectfully
request to reexamination of the use
of Wm Carson
I think the indents
presented
establish his service without
doubt-- and to the extent of the proof
made by them, we ask a pension
I have the honor to be
Mr Obt Sevt
D Wallace
Hon JL Edwards
Page 21

South Carolina
York District

Personally appeared
Capt Robert Wilson before
me and made oath in due form of
how that he became acquainted with
William Carson of York District So Ca
the summer of 1780 in General
Sumpters camp and served with
him for sometime but cannot
say with certainty how long or
under what capt the Wm Carson
served but recollects that Carson was
in Col Bratton Redg ment
Deponent has often heard the said
Wm Carson speak of being suspicious
of [illegible] Church by a party of
the British and that he and John
Hood who was afterwards a capt and
one or two other land into the meeting house and defended themselves
untill they were relieved from Sumpters Camp shortly before deponent joined
General Sumter on [illegible]
Deponent was well acquainted with
the said William Carson and
saw him often at Yorkville near
which place he lived untill after he
become blind and knows the said
Wm
Carson was regarded by the community as a good soldier of the Revolution and a very correct man up to
his death which occurrence took
place as I understand December last 
Before me on oath
A.S. Wallace [illegible]
Robert Wilson
Page 22

South Carolina
York District    
I A. S.  Wallace an
acting Magistrate in said District
do herby certify, that Capt Robert Wilson
who has sworn to and subscribed the
within is a man of sound mind
and his statements [illegible]
Given under my hand at Blairville this 5th day of March 1850
A. S. Wallace (Magt)
I John P Hood do hereby certify
that the foregoing affidavit was
read to to Capt Robert Wilson and
acknowledged in my presence this
30th day of April 1850 and that
[illegible] was stricken out Mobley
[illegible]
J. P. Hood Magt
State of South Carolina
York District
I John G Enloe Clerk of the Court of Common
Pleas & General Sessions for York District do
hereby certify that A. S. Wallace & John P Hood
are magistrates as above and that the foregoing
signatures purporting to be theirs are genuine and
I further certify that the witness Robert Willson
is well known to me and that he is a man
of high respectability
Given under my hand and seal of office
at York Court house this sixteenth
day of July in the year of our Lord one
thousand Eight hundred & fifty
[illegible seal]
John G Enloe
C. C. C. Pls.
I certify to the credibility of the witness Capt Robert Wilson as I have often done before
DWallace
Page 23


Comptroller Genl. Office
Columbia S.C. May 23 1850
No. 166
Book 1
Issued the 4 September 1784 to Mr William
Carson [illegible] for Seven Pounds Eleven
shillings and five pence sterling for 86 Days
Militia duty p. Account audited
Principal L 7: 11: 5 Annual interest L 0:10:7 
Mr William Carson for his account of
86 days Militia duty account to L 7. 11.5 Stg
The State of South Carolina D to Wm Carson Jun
for service done under Capt Riley 20 days at
L 1.0.0

Total L 20.000
Dito under  Capt 66 Days at 10 shillings
per day
L 33.00.00
L 53
L 7: 11: 5
Reciepted 4th Sept. 1784 by " William Carson
No 253 Issued 11th July 1785 to Mr William Carson for
Ninteen Pounds 8/6 3/4 stlg for militia Duty
as private per account audited No 50
Principal L 19:8: 6 3/4 Annual Interest L 1.7.2 -
July 11th 1785
Mr William Carson his account of
Duty in the militia as private service in the
reduction of Charlestown [illegible] to stg L 19:8:6 3/4
(Receipted by "Will Carson "not dated)
I do hereby certify the above to be a true
copy taken from the Records of this Office
with the exception of the remarks in parenthesis
they which are mine & correct as warranted
by the accounts, and I further certify that where the
name of Carson is written to the Receipts above named, there
is not the addition of the term Junior
[illegible] Comptroller Genl
James A. Black
Page 24

Box 125
Kershaw S. C.
November 30, 1931
Department of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Dear Sirs,

I have been told that
you could give me information
regarding the Revolutionary war
records of two of my ancestors
George Miller who lived near
Hanging Rock, South Carolina and
William Carson who was born in 
Ireland but after wards lived in
either Chester or York Counties
South Carolina.
He did service as a Patriot
and the Battle of Brattonsville in South Carolina
and the Battle of Briar Creek in Georgia
were two of the battles in which he was
engaged.
I understand that there was
more than one William Carson in the state at that time
but I believe you will be
able to distinguish this one from the
others-
I will appreciate any information you
can give me
yours truly
(Miss) Mary W. Carson
Kershaw S.C.