Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30319, William Carson, S.C.
Page 1

(8-1776)
SERVICE
S.C.

Carson, William

NUMBER
S. 30319
Page 2

19223
Kentucky
Wm Carson
of Warren Co in the State of Kenty
who was a pr in the Co commaned
by Captain Bretter of the (illegible) commanded by ____ on the S.C. line for 6 mo.

Inscribed on the Roll of (illegible) 
at the rate of 20 Dollars __ Cents per annum, 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.

Certificate of Pension issued the 17 day of Augt
1833 and Wm S Underwood (illegible)
Arrears to the 4th of March 40.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending July 10.00
$50.00
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by D Boyd 
Clerk, Book E Vol. 7 Page 5

See letter 11 Nov 37 to R.Elliott
Duplicate Certificate issued 19th Dec 1838, and sent to Hon J.R Underwood.--House of Rep.
Paid at the Treasuary under the Act of the 11th April 1838 from 4th March 1838 to 4 Sept 1838.  Agt notified 1 July 1839.
Page 3

State of Kentucky Warren County (illegible)
On this 3rd day of September 1832 personally 
appeared in open court before the Justices of the Warren County Court now sitting William Carson a resident of (said?) County state aged 71 years the 15th of last July. Who being first sworn according to Court doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress passed June the 7th 1833.
That he entered the services of the United States under the following officers and served as herein stated.  
1st that he enlisted from the County of Edgefield State of South Carolina in the militia on a six months roll under the command of Capt Linkfield the ensign in whose company was named Dyson.  Our company was assigned to the brigade of Gen. Williamson.
He enlisted in the fall of the year 1781 but does not remember the month.  All the services which (illegible) (illegible) can't here formed on this town were rendered at a block house on Saluda river not far from Ninety Six.  The tories were thick & hostile in that quarter of the state and it became necessary for the (illegible) to entrench themselves in fortified places, and thus protect themselves & the Country as well as they could.  For this purpose Capt. Linkfield
Page 4

(pulled company to which your (officer?) can't be and the company of a Capt Tolls were stationed at the block house aforesaid.
They were fully engaged in scouring the Country & preventing the ravages of the tories.  He stated his times out in this situation and was discharged at this (illegible) of his town.  During his service in this state on the Tories captured a Mr. Tolls, who was an officer in Linkfields company, but his grade is not remembered, and he (illegible) a hearing by them.
After the confirmations of his terms of service under Capt Linkfield in (illegible) block house as aforesaid, his (illegible) engaged under a Capt. Bretter in skirmishes against the tories.  This was in spring & summer 1782.  He has lost his discharges.  From S.C. he moved to Ky for he has no living witness of his service that he knows of.  His age is recorded in the family register.  He hereby relinquishes all claims to a pension or annuity (enable the present)?, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
William Carson
Page 5

Mr. Augustine Clayton a Clergyman residing in the County of Warren State of Kentucky and William Shanks residing in the same, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Carson who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration.That we believe him to be of the age stated.  That he is respected & believed in the neighborhood which he resides to have been a solidier of the Revolution and that we concur in that observance.
A Clayton
William Shanks
And this (illegible) Court do hereby declare their decision after the investigation of the matter and  after putting the (illegible) forwarded by the War Department that the above named William Carson was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Augustine Clayton who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the County of Warren State of Ky and that William Shanks who has also signed the same is a resident in the same and is a credible person and that their statements are entitled to credit.
W.C. Payne (JPOC)
Sami Pontress J. Peace
Edmd. Duncan J.P.
Page 6

State of Kentucky
Warren County (S.C.)
I, Jonathan Hobson, clerk of the County Court of said county, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original recordings of the said Court on the matter of the application of William Carson for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 30th day of October 1832
Jona Hobson
State of Kentucky, Warren County (illegible)
Be it known that before me Richard Curd subscribed justice of the peace in & for the County aforesaid physically appeared William  Carson who made the foregoing applications for a pension who being first duty sworn offered & made the following amendment thereto.  This 3rd day of May 1833. (illegible). That during his service in the Revolutionary War, he was engaged mainly, as before stated, in garrisoning the Block house on Saluda River.  Under the commands of Capt. Linkfield & Tolls.  That not being with the more active portion of the army, commanding by a Col. he had no personal acquaintances with the Col: of the Regiment to which he belonged.  He states that to  the best of his recollection he was named Williams.  He further (illegible) as with that by reason of old age & the consequent loss of memory he cannot state the precise time that he joined the army nor the day he left it but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the period mentioned below & in the following grades.
For six months I served as a private in the company of Capt. Linkfield.  For one week he was engaged as a scout under Capt. Butler and for such services he claims a pension.  He states that he is known in his present neighborhood & they can state his verification  for (illegible) their behalf of his services as a solider of the Revolution.  Geo & Jacob Wrighte
(Illegible) date, Jacob Gibson, (illegible)
Sworn & subscribed to before me the day & year aforesaid.
William Carson
Richard Curd J.P.W.C
State of Kentucky
Warren County SCt
I, Jonathan Hobson, clerk of the county Court of said County, do certify, that Richard Curd is a Justice of the peace of said County, and that the preceding signature purporting to be his, is his genuine signature.  In testimony whereof I hereto set my hand and affix the seal of said County, this 3rd day of May 1833.  
Jona Hobson
Page 7

No 22537
William Carson
Ky
Warren Co
from 1781 private
6 months.
e. (illegible) $20.
Capt Bretter 
SC
William S Underwood
Bowling Green
Ky
Page 8

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office

183

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 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 show 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, showing the Service of William Carson Warren Co Kentucky

Period when the service was rendered.  Enlisted 1781 fall  | Years. -- | Months. /1 | Days. --
Period when the service was rendered.  1782
Years. -- | Months. -- | Days. --
Rank of the claimant. Prv (fall 1781) and do (1782) | Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.  Capt Linkfield Capt Bretter | Names and Rank of the General and Field officers Gen Williamson | Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Skirmishes | Country through which he marched. SC | Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.  Aged  71 Edgefield Co S.C | Evidence by which the declaration is supported.  Traditionary Evidance

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant; 
J.L. EDWARDS,
Comissioner of Pensions
Page 9

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.  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 Toops.
2.  The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3.  Persons employed in the Naval service.
4.  Indian Spies.

As a roll of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this 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 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 County of } ss.
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 provion 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 forth 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 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 though 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 subscrribed the day and year aforesaid.
[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, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virgina, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, resideng 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 in the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day 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 the Court of            do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of a pension.

In testimy 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 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 his personal knowledge of the services 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 if his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alledged service, as they are known at the Department.  A very full account of the services of each person
Page 10

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?
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, when you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. {To a Solider.} 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 solider of the Revolution.  The Court will see that he answers to these 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 inconvenice 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 solider, 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 enquiry 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 the seal of office will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of the 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 intererested 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 this rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or solider 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 recollecton, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: ____For _____ year ____months, and _____ days, I served as ______.  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 they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service.  This form of a declaration is highly objectionable.  It must, in every case, be clearly 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 opinon 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 papers authenticiated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbons, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officers, so as to prevent any paper from being inappropriately attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 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.  
[j] 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 interrogatoaries must all be written, and sent to the War Department with the declaration.
Dyer Castor
Ex Clerk
Page 11

Rev. and 1812 War Section.

February 6, 1925.

F.M. Patch,
4780 Ashbottom Rd.
Louisville, Ky.

Sir;
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 30319, it appears that William Carson was born July 15, 1761, place not stated.

He enlisted from Edgefield District, South Carolina in the fall of 1781 and served six months as a private in Captain Samuel Sinkfield's Company, Colonel Williams' South Carolina Regiment.

In the spring and summer of 1782, he served as a scout under Captain Butler.

He was allowed pension on his application executed September 3, 1832, while a resident of Warren County, Kentucky.

There is no data on file as to his family.

Respectfully,
Acting Commissioner
Page 12

30319
INVALID.
Revy

File No. 30319
William Carson
Prv Rev War

Act: June 7, 1832

Index:--Vol. 2, Page 62

[Arrangement of 1870.]

1925 - Feb. 6 - Hist. to F.M. Patch
Page 13

State of Kentucky}
County of Warren} SS

On this 6th day of December 1838 before me the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for said County of Warren personally appeared William Carson who on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the Company commanded by Captain Samuel Linkfield (or Sinkfield) in the regiment commanded by Col Williams, in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of Kentucky -- that he received a Certificate of that fact under the signature and seal of the Secretary of War.  Which Certificate in or about the Summer or Fall of the year 1838, in or near the town of Bowling Green Kentucky, was lost in a manner & by an individual not particularly known to him.  As there were several persons in whos possession it might have been about that time and by any one of whom it may have been lost.
Sworn & subscribed before}
me the day & year aforesaid}  William Carson
Wm V Loving J.P.
Page 14

State of Kentucky Warren County SS
Be it also known that on this 6th day of December 1838 before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for said County, personally appeared Warren L Underwood, who on his oath declares, that he is personally acquainted with William Carson who has sworn & subscribed to the foregoing affidavit -- that he is the same person described in said affidavit and the (illegible) individual who held the Certificate of Service, which he swears to be lost.  
And the subscriber a Justice of the Peace as aforesaid also certifies that the said Underwood is a person of veracity.
WL Underwood
Sworn & subscribed before me}
the day and year aforesaid}
Wm V Loving J.P.
State of Kentucky - Warren County SS
I Jonathan Hobson Clerk of the Court of Warren County certify that WV Loving is a magistrate as above & that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his is genuine.  In testimony which I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and subscribe my name this 7 day of December 1838.
Jona Hobson CWC
Page 15

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
June 19th, 1839.

Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April. 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," William Carson, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Kentucky Agency, at the rate of Twenty Dollars per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March 1838, to the 4th Sept. 1838.

Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.

To the Commissioner of Pensions.
Present.
Page 16

(illegible) Dec 18.
Mr. Evans

J.L Edwards Esq
Court of Pensions
Washington
Hon. J.R. Underwood
H.R.
Page 17

Sir
Will you be so good as to have the pension certificate renewed mentioned in the above  papers & sent to me as soon as practicle.  I know the officiant W. L. Underwood.  He is my Brother & I am sure all is right in regards to this matter.
Respectfully
J.R. Underwood
17 Dec 1838
Ref. Cham.
Page 18

4780 Ashbottom Rd.,
Louisville, Ky.
Jan. 12, 1925.

Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir:

I will appreciate it very much - if you will send me the Pension record of - 
William Carson, private
South Carolina Militia.
He received pension, Aug. 17, 1833, $20.00, age 74.  He was living in Warren County Kentucky at that time.

Yours truly,
F. M. Patch