Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3555, Alexander Wiley, N. C.
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE: N.C.

Wiley, Alexander

NUMBER: S.3555

carded
---

CONTENTS

[stamped] This Envelope Includes 
FINAL PAYMENT VOUCHER
[illegible marks]
Received from GAO
Page 2

19010
19000
East Tennessee

Alexander Wiley
of Anderson Co. in the State of Tennessee who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Atkinson of the regiment commanded by Col. Folsom in the N. Caroline line for 9 months and 13 days. 
---
Inscribed on the Roll of East Tennessee at the rate of 31 dollars 66 cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March 1831. 
---
Certificate of Pension issued the 26th day of July 1833 and sent to Hugh Barton Clinton
--
Arrears to the 4th of March Seminal. allowance ending 4th Sept 

63.32
15.83
=
$79.15
=

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by Dan Boyd, Clerk
Book 6 Vol. 7 Page 66
Page 3

[two layered sheets of paper]

[first sheet]
[stamped] FINAL PAYMENT VOUCHER
Received from GAO

State of Tennessee, Knox County
- 
Be it known, that before me, Zac Boothe[?], a Justice of the Peace in an for the county aforesaid, personally appeared Martha Wiley, widow and wife of Alexander Wiley and made oath in due form of law, that he is the identical Martha Wiley, widow and wife of Alexander Wiley named in an original certificate of her [crossed out -is] possession, of which I certify the following is a true copy: War Department Revolutionary Claim.

[overlaid by second sheet] 
[stamped] FINAL PAYMENT VOUCHER
Received from GAO

War Department. 
[handwritten; fading] Revolutionary Claim

I certify, that in conformity with the Law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, Alexander Wiley of the State of Tennessee who was a private of Infantry in the army of the Revolution is entitled to receive thirty one dollars and sixty six cents [repeated word: cents] per annum. during his natural life, commencing[?] only on the 4th of March, 1831 and [illegible] the semi-annually on the 4th of and 4th of September in every year. 

Given at the War Office of the United States, this one thousand eight hundred and thirty three. Examined and questioned.

[signature] J.L. Edwards
Commissioner

John Robb, acting Secretary of War. 

That [s]he is entitled to a pension of thirty one and 66/100 dollars per annum. on account of wound and disabilities received, or of services rendered to the United States by her late husband during the Revolutionary War; that he served Captain ____ in company of ____in the ____ regiment; that he resided at his death in Anderson County Tenn. and had resided there for the space of one year past; and that previous thereto, he resided in Roane County Tennessee. Sworn and subscribed this 30th day of August 1833 before me.

[signature] Zac Boothe[?]
Justice Peace for Knox County

[signature] Martha Wiley, her X mark
widow and relict of Alexander Wiley decd
Page 4

201
Alexander Wiley 
Papers 
-

Knoxville, Tenn.

3 [illegible mark] 1833
B.54
C. 290

[stamped] FINAL PAYMENT VOUCHER 
Received from GAO

(Act of 7 June 1832.)
Page 5

State of Tennessee Circuit Court August term 1833 Anderson county

Personally appeared in open court James Nowell and Elizabeth Nowell who upon their oaths say that Martha Wiley who is named in the within certificate is the identical widow and relic of Alexander Wiley deceased who was a Pensioner of the U.S. and that he departed this life in the County on the 24th day of July last, and ordered by the Court to be certified. Given under my hand and publick seal this 29th August 1833 at office in Clinton--

[signature] C. J. Crozier Clk
Page 6

$75.56 

AGENT'S OFFICE,
KNOXVILLE, EAST TENNESSEE 

August 30th 1883 } 

Received of Robert King, Pension Agent for East Tennessee, Seventy five and 56/100 Dollars, being for Thirty one Dollars & sixty six cents per annum. pension due to Alexdr. Wiley decd from the from the 4th day of March 1831 to the 24th day of July 1833 [illegible] the day he died for which I have signed duplicate receipts.

[signature] Martha Wiley her X mark widow and [illegible] relict of Alexd Wiley decd.

Witness,
[signature] Joseph L. King
Page 7

State of Tennessee, Anderson County

On this 8th day of September 1832 personally appeared before me John Chiles one of the acting Justices of the Peace for said County Alexander Wiley a resident of the State and County aforesaid aged seventy eight years 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 the 7th 1832. 

Viz. he volunteered under Captain Atkinson in the year 1776 and was attached to a redgement [sic: regiment] of Militia commanded by Col. Folsom and served six months in the army of the United States under the above named officers that he entered the service in Orange in the State of North Carolina and marched to Cross Creek now called Fayetteville in the said state that he marched through Hillborough crossed Hay River Deep and Little Rivers on his way and served out the six months in Cumberland and the adjoining Counties and returned home about the last of November or the first of December and then received discharge from Capt. Atkinson which is lost or misplaced so that he cannot find it and also in the year 1781 he again volunteered under Captain William Sanders for a tour of three months and was attached to a redgment [sic: regiment] of Militia under the Command of Col. William Moore who had raised some troops for the purpose of meeting Cornwallis when on his way from the south--
Page 8

That he entered the service in Guilford County and State of North Caroline and served there about three weeks and was ordered home by Col. Moore to shoe horses for the army at his own shop and do black smith work for the neighborhood who was then destitute of a workman. The remainder of the troop remained in Gilford [sic: Guilford] County and there til after the Battle of Gilford [sic: Guilford] but he cannot now find his discharge- and some time in the summer of 1781 he was drafted to go south for purpose of supprising [sic: surprising] the British and Tories but was ordered to the public shop by Col. William Moore to do blacksmith work for the army of the United States that he worked in Caswel [sic: Caswell] County and State of North Caroline one part of his time and was then ordered to Gilford [sic: Guilford] County in said state that he worked under the direction of Quarter Master John Rutherford for the turn of three months and was discharged by the said Rutherford in the County of Gilford [sic: Guilford] and state of North Caroline but has lost or misplaced this discharged also so that he cannot find it. 

He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name has not been enrolled heretofore as a pentioner [sic: pensioner] of any agency in any state. Sworn and subscribed before me the day and year aforesaid. 

[signature] John Chiles

[signature] Alexander Wiley

I do hereby certify that the above named applicant Alexander Wiley was in my opinion a solider of the Revolution and served as
Page 9

he states and do further certify that he is unable from bodily infirmity to attend court. 

[signature] John Chiles, Acting Justice of the Peace for Anderson County 

State of Tennessee
Anderson County 

This day personally appeared before me John Chiles one of the acting Justices of Peace for said County, Thomas Sheddan and made the following certificate

I do certify that I ^was personally acquainted with the above named Alexander Wiley at the time of performing the above mentioned [crossed out] six months time of service and know of my own personal knowledge that entered the service as he states and returned home after the end of the six months [illegible] left that county before the other men end tours[?] was performed believed did perform them from his own statements and the statements of many others of his neighbors who were well acquainted with him and I believe  him to be of the age of seventy eight as he states and that he is a man of good moral caracter [sic: character] and that [illegible] should be given to his statements to sworn to and subscribed before me this 8th day of September 1832. 

[signature] John Chiles, Acting Justice of the Peace for Anderson County } 

[signature] Tho's Sheddan

State of Tennessee Anderson County } 

This day personally appeared before me John Chiles of the acting Justice of the Peace for said County Williams Gamble a clergyman and Robert Galbraith Esqr. both of County and state aforesaid and made the following certificate
Page 10

We do certify that we are well acquainted with Alexander Wiley who has sworn and subscribed to the above declaration. That we believe him to be of the age of seventy eight years and that he is reputed and believe in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion Sworn to and subscribed before me this 8th day of September 1832. 

[signature] John Chiles, Acting Justice of the Peace for Anderson County } 

[signature] William Gamble
[signature] Robert Galbraith 

State of Tennessee
Anderson County 

This day personally appeared before me Jon Chiles one of theJustice of the Peace for said County James Noel and made the following certificate viz. I do certify that I was raised in the immediate neighborhood where Alexander Wiley who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration resided in the time of the Revolutionary war and have often heard him spoken of by his old neighbors and contemporaries in the army as having been a soldier of the revolution that I have been intimately aquainted [sic: acquainted] with him for the last sixteen years and often heard him speak of having been a soldier of the revolution and his accounts have always appeared consistant [sic: consistent] and uniform and that I believe him to be of the age of sevety eight ears and of good moral carater [sic: character] and full credit should be given to his statements. Sworn and subscribed before me the 8th day of September 1832. 

[signature] James Noel

[signature] John Chiles, Acting Justice of the Peace for Anderson County
Page 11

No. 15475

Alexander Wiley

Anderson County
Tennesse Cont. 

from 1776 Private
9/12 month. 
$31.66

only 9 1/2 months can be allowed in this case the applicant having returned home during his 2nd tour after service of about [underlined] three weeks. 

Clinton
Hugh Barton Esqr.
Clerck County of 
Anderson Tennessee
Page 12

BRIEF in the case of Alexander Wiley 
Anderson County of Anderson in the State of Tennessee
(Act 7th June, 1832.) 

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? -- Justice of the Peace

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

3. How old is he? -- 78 years

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

[table]
Period. | Duration of Service. | Rank. | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. | } 
Vol [?] in 1776 | 6months | As a private | Capt. Atkinson Col. Folsom | } 
1781 | 3months | == | Capt. Sanders Col. Moore | }
drafted | did smithwork | -- | Col. Moore | } 

[end table]

5. In what battles was he engaged? [arrow from #6 below]

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? -- Orange County North Carolina

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

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? -- Clerk seal not affixed

x Certify that the foregoing statement and answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. 

[signature] J.M. Clas [?] Examining Clerk
Page 13

BRIEF in the case of Alexander Wiley
Anderson County of Anderson in the State of Tennessee
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? -- Justice of the Peace

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

3. How old is he? -- 78 years

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

[table]
Period. | Duration of Service. | Rank. | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. | }
Vol [?] in 1776 | 6months | As a private | Capt. Atkinson Col. Folsom | }
1781 | 3months | == | Capt. Sanders Col. Moore | }
drafted | did smithwork | -- | Col. Moore | }

[end table]

5. In what battles was he engaged? [arrow from #6 below]

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? -- Orange County North Carolina

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

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? -- Clerk seal not affixed

x Certify that the foregoing statement and answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

[signature] J.M. Clas [?] Examining Clerk
Page 14

Payment to be made 
at Knoxville by Robert King Esqr
Agent for paying Pensioners,
 in the Agency of East Tennessee

Recorded in the Pension Office,
in Book E Vol. 7
Page 66 by Dan M. Boyd
Clerk.
Page 15

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim. 

I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, Alexander Wiley of the State of Tennessee who was a private of infantry in the Army of the Revolution is entitled to receive -thirty one- dollars and sixty six cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year. 

GIVEN at the War Office of the United States, this 16 day of July one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three 

Examined and countersigned. } 

[signature[ John Bo[?] 
acting Secretary of War. 

J.L. Edwards 
Commissioner of Pensions.

[stamp] FINAL PAYMENT VOUCHER
Received from GAO
Page 16

August 20, 1938
XXXXXXXXXXXXX

BA-K/MCS
Alexander Wiley.S.3555

Miss Olive Hotchkiss
Box 1205
Abilene
Texas

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your request for information relative to Alexander Wiley, a solider of the Revolutionary War. 

The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, S.3555, based on the military service of Alexander Wiley. 

He was born in 1754 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The names of his parents were not given.

He enlisted in Orange County, North Carolina, and served with the North Carolina troops as follows: in 1776, six months as private
in Captain Atkinson's company in Colonel Folsom's regiment; in 1781, three months as blacksmith under Captain William Sanders and Colonel William Moore; in the summer of 1781, three months as blacksmith under
Quartermaster John Rutherford and Colonel William Moore.

Alexander Wiley was allowed pension on his application executed September 8, 1832, at which time he was living in Anderson County, Tennessee.

The papers in this claim contain a data relative to soldier's family.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension of Alexander Willey, the name and address of the person to whom it was paid and possibly the date of soldier's death, it is suggested that you address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, giving the following data; Alexander Wiley, Certificate 19010, issued July 26, 1833, rate $31.66 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831.
Page 17

Act of June 7, 1932, East Tennessee Agency.

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 18

Clinton T
3rd May 1833 

J.L. Edwards Esqr
Pension Office
Washington City, D.C.
Page 19

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Alexaner Wiley -- which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? -- yes

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

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason for his not doing so? --

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? -- yes

V. *Had 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 amount of pension he is entitled? -- yes 

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? -- yes

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

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? -- yes

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? -- no
Page 20

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? -- yes

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? -- no

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? -- no 

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And if not, which of them is not so answered? 1.2.
-----

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---------For ------ months and-----days, I served as a------ ; and for such service I claim a pension.
Page 21

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 objection. It must in every case be clearly shewn 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of
of the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Page 22

State of Tennessee
Anderson County 

I Hugh Barton Clerk of the County Court of please and quarter sessions do hereby certify that John Chiles before whom signature appears to the foregoing certificate was at that time and still is an acting Justice of the Peace in  and for said County of Anderson duly commissioned and sworn as such agreeable to law and that I believe it to be his own proper signature as affixed to the foregoing certificate given under my hand and private seal having no seal of office at office this 24th September 1832.

[signature] Hugh Barton, Clerk of Anderson County
Page 23

And I John Chiles of the acting Justice of the Peace for the County of Anderson before ^whom the above declaration was made to declare that in my opinion after the investigation of the matter and putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant Alexander was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states and I further certify William Gamble [illegible]^ has signed off of the preceeding certificate is a clergyman resident in the same County and is a creditable person and that their statements are entitled credit. 

[signature] John Chiles
Acting Justice of the Peace 
for Anderson County
Page 24

State of Tennessee
Anderson County

this day personally appeared before me John Chiles one of the acting Justices of Peace for said Country the above named applicant Alexander Wiley and in order to amend the foregoing declaration made oath that he has no documentary evidence of his service as a solider of the revolutionary war, and that he knows of no living witness for whom he can have prove the said service and that he has adduced all the testimony that is his power that he has  no record of his age but has learned from his mother that he was born in the state of Pennsylvania and County of Cumberland in year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty four.

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 26th day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three 

[signature] 
John Chiles 
Justice of the Peace

State of Tennessee
Anderson County

I John Chiles one of the Acting Justices of the Peace before whom the foregoing declaration was made do certify that at the time the said declaration was made there was no seal of Office in this County
Page 25

but since that time the court has procured a seal of office April the 28th 1833.

[signed] John Chilies JP

State of Tennessee
Anderson County

I Hugh Barton Clerk of [illegible] and quarter sessions in and for said county do hereby certify that John Chiles before whom this foregoing amended pention [sic] declaration of Alexander Wiley was made is acting Justice of the court of the county of [illegible] and quarter sessions in for said county duly commitioned [sic] and sworn as such and that full faith and credit is due and aught [sic] to be given to official acts and that the above signature perports [sic] to his is his genuine signature and that the original declaration returned to in this amendment and hereto annexed is genuine and I Hugh Barton who certified the original declaration was and am yet clerk of the aforesaid court and that I had [illegible] that time no public seal but have since procured a seal of office [illegible] in Clinton this 29 day of April 1833.

[signed] Hugh Barton
Clerk of Anderson County
Page 26

Oct. 24. 

Tenn. 13475[?]

Alexander Wiley 

[vertical text; illeigble]
Washington City
Page 27

[left side]

1913 Oct. 16, Hist to Mr. N. F. Wiley 
M.13.H
------
1938 Aug. 20 hist to Miss Olive Hotchkiss. N.C.

[right side]

3555.
[handwritten] Rev War 

INVALID.
File No. 3555

Alexander Wiley
Pvt. N.C. Line

Act: June 1932[?]
Index:--Vol. A, Page 406

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 28

RECORD DIVIDSION 
3-525.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.

Washington, D. C., .........., 19........

In reply to your request of ..........., received ...........
for a statement of the military history of Alexander Wiley, a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension
on file in this Bureau.    S.3555

[table]
Dates of Enlistment or Appointment | Length of Service | Rank | Officers Under Whom Service Was Rendered | State | } 
1776 | 6 mos. | Pvt. | Capt. Atkinson & Col. Folsom | N.C. | } 
1781 | 3 mos. | Blacksmith | Capt. William Sanders & Col. William Moore | N.C. | } 
Summer 1781 | 3 mos. | Blacksmith | Capt. [illegible] John Rutherford & Col. William Moore | N.C. | } 
[end table] 

Battles engaged in, none stated 
Residence of soldier at enlistment, enl in Orange Co. N.C.
Date of application for pension, Sept. 8, 1832. His claim was allowed 
residence at date of application, Anderson Co. Tenn. 
Age at date of application, born in 1754 in Cumberland Co. Tenn. 
Remarks: There is no family data on file.
[crossed out] The above is the only Alexander Wiley found on the Rev War records of the Bureau. 

Very respectfully, 
Commissioner.
Page 29

COMMERCIAL STANDARD
INSURANCE COMPANY
of Fort Worth, Texas

Connor-Moore Agency
Insurance-Loans-Bonds
Morris Building
Telephone 3622
Abilene, Texas

Box 1205
Abilene, Texas
July 29, 1938

Veteran's Bureau
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen: 

Can you give me the number of the pension on the service of Alexander Wiley?

Alexander Wiley was born in 1753 on the ocean and was a citizen of Anderson County, Tennessee on March 4th 1833. 

Alexander Wiley was in North Carolina in 1776 as Private, served six months under Capt. Atkinson and Col. Tolson [sic]. Enlisted in North Carolina in 1781 as Blacksmith, served three months under Capt. Wm. Sanders and Col. Wm. Moore. Enlisted summer of 1781 in North Carolina as Blacksmith under Quartermaster John Rutherford. Enlisted in Orange Col. [sic], N.C.
date of Application of pension Sept. 8, 1832.
Pension allowed. Resided in Anderson Co., Tennessee when application was made. 

Thank you very much for your attention to this request. 

Yours very truly,
[signed] Olive Hotchkiss
(Miss) Olive Hotchkiss
Box 1205
Abilene, Texas 

[stamped] Receieved AUG 1 1838
Page 30

Knoxville, Tenn., October 11th, 1913. 

Commissioner of Pensions, 
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sirs: -

I would thank you to furnish me the record of the services of [underlined] Alexander Wiley, ranked as private, North Carolina line and also supposed to have been a Lieutenant in the militia in Washington County, Va. 1777 to 1780.

Mr Wiley was put on the pension roll March 4th, 1831 and died July 24th, 1833 at the age of eighty years. 

Any information you may furnish will be greatly appreciated by Mr. Wiley decendents [sic].

Yours truly,
[signed] N.F. Wiley 
Great Grand Son.

1317 White Ave,.
Knoxville, Tenn.