Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1685, for John Maxwell, North Carolina
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
N.C.
CONTENTS
Maxwell, John
NUMBER
S. 1685
carded
Page 2


22.150
West Tennessee
John Maxwell
at Haywood Co in the State of Tennessee
who was a private in the company commanded
Captain Read of the Regt
commanded
by Col Irvin
in the N. C mil
line for 9 months for 1781
Inscribed on the Roll of W. Tennessee
at the rate of 30 Dollars - Cents per annum
commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 14 day of Oct.
1833
and sent to David
C. Shattuck, Brownsville
Arrears to the 4th of Sep 33 $75
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 34, 15-
$90
⎨ Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832. ⎬
Recorded by
Wm Allison
Clerk,
BookE
Vol.7
Page 89
Page 3

State of Tennessee
Haywood County ⎬
On this 14th day of
September 1832 personally appeared in open
Court before the Justices of our Court of Pleas and
Quarter Sessions now sitting for the said County
of Haywood, John Maxwell
resident of the said County of Haywood and
State of Tennessee aged sixty six 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 he entered the service of the
United States on the first part of the year-
1781 (when he was about fifteen years of age
under General
Rutherford Robt Irvine
Col. Joseph Grimes 1st Major in the company commanded by Capt David Read James
Porter Lieut and served about nine 
months mostly in North Carolina- that his
Marches were mostly on North Carolina, and
that the only battle in which he was engaged
was a skirmish with the army under Lord
Cornwallis at Charlotte in Mecklenburg County
North Carolina - That he still under Gen Rutherford
was marching to York Town and had advanced as far
as the Virginia line when they received the news
of Lord Cornwallis defeat that he then received
a discharge from Capt David Read - which
discharge has long since been last
That he was born in the County of Mecklenburg
and State of North Carolina, and there resided
after the war of the Revolution some ten or twelve
years - that he then removed to Blount County in
Tennessee where he resided six years- then removed
Page 4

to the County of Rutherford Ten. thence
to the County of Giles Tenn in 1812, and from
thence to the County of Haywood in 1827 where
he now resides that he has no documentary
evidence by which he can prove his service
and that he knows of no person in this State
who can personally testify as to his services-
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a
pension or annuity except the present and
declares that his name is not on the Pension
Roll of the Agency of any State
Questions by the Court
1 Where and in what year were you born
Ans in Mecklenburg County North Carolina
about the year 1765 or 66
2 Have you any Record of your age, and
if so where is it-
Ans there was a record at my fathers which
was destroyed during the Revolution
3 Where were you living when called into service
where have you lived since the war of the Revolution
and where do you now live
Ans my answer is as above viz in Mecklenburg N.C. and since the war of the Revolution
in N.C. and Blount Rutherford, Giles, and
Haywood Counties in Tennessee, and now
live in Haywood
4 How were you called into service, were
you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute
ans I was a volunteer  under Capt David
Read
5 as embodyed in the declaration above
Page 5

6 Did you ever receive a discharge from
the service
Ans yes from Capt Read, but I have
long since lost it
John Maxwell

Sworn to and subscribed the day and
in
year aforesaid

We Bowen Reynolds - a Clergyman residing
in the County of Hayward
and State of
Tennessee and Henry M. Coy of the said
County of Haywood and State of
Tennessee hereby certify that we are well
acquainted with John Maxwell who
has subscribed and sworn to the above
declaration that we believe him to be Sixty
six years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides
to have been a soldier of the Revolution and
we concur in that opinion

Bowen Reynolds
Henry MCory
Sworn to and subscribed
the day and year aforesaid

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
Bowen Reynolds
who has signed the
certificate is a Clergyman resident
the County of Haywood
as he states
and that Henry McCoy who has also signed
the same
is a resident of the County of Haywood
Page 6

and State of Tennessee and is a credible person
and that their statement is entitled to credit
M F. Johnson J.P
Jesse L. Kirk
J T Peshm JP

I William B.
Grove Clerk protem of the
Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for
the County of Haywood and State of Tennessee
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains
the original proceeding in the matter of
the application of John Maxwell for a
pension In witness whereof I have unto
set my hand and affixed the seal of office
this 15 September 1832 
Will. B. Grove clk pro tem
Ino Maxwell,
Petition
&
Declaration
11985
Page 7

11985
-
John Maxwell
Haywood Co
W
Tennessee
from 1781 private
9 months
$30
Davi C. Shattuck
Brownsville
Page 8

BRIEF in the case of John Maxwell
county of Haywood in the State of Tennessee
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 66
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period.
Vol In 1781
Duration of Service.
Years,
Months,
about 9 -
Days.Rank.
As a
Private
Names of General and Field Officers
under whom he served.
Gen Rutherford
Col Irvin, Major Grimes
Capt Read
5. In what battles was he engaged? None

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Mecklenburg
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? Correct
 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
CkA Forrest
Examining Clerk
Page 9

Rev. and 1812
Wars Section
MEE AND
Mrs. P. R. Minahan,
110 N. Washington Street,
Green Bay,
Wisconsin.
Dear Madam:
July 16, 1929.
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War
pension claim, S. 1685, it appears that John Harwell was born in
1765 or 1766 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.
While residing there he enlisted in the first part of the
year 1781, served nine months as a private in Captain David Read's
Company, Colonel Robert Irvin's North Carolina Regiment, and was
in a skirmish at Charlotte, North Carolina.
After the Revolution he lived in Mecklenburg County,
North Carolina for ten or twelve years, then in Blount, Rutherford
and Giles counties, Tennessee.
In 1827 he moved to Haywood County, Tennessee, where he resided
when he was allowed pension on his application executed September
14, 1832.
There are no data concerning his family.
The above is the history of the only John Harwell of North Carolina
, found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau.
Very truly yours,
Hanson Agency Beck
EARL D. CHURCH,
Commissioner.
Page 10

Clinton, Mo.
March 1815.

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
My dear Sir:
Will you
please give me the military history of my ancestor
John Maxwell in the Revolution. We are not
sure of the name of his wife. He had a son
John and they lived at one time in what is
now Haywood County Tenn
also kindly give me all the family history
filed with his
application for pension or land grant
Very Respectfully,
Martha Eleanor Tiffy
314 West
Jefferson
Clinton
Mo
Page 11

1915 Mch. 29 Hist to Martha E. Tiffy
1929 - July 16, Hist to
Mrs P.B. Minahan, M. E.E.

Revy War
File No
1685.
INVALID
1685
John Maxwell
Pri N Car Mil
Act June 7, 1832
Index: - Vol. A Page 234
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 12

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
John Maxwell
further proof or explanation.
which require
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
assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes
V. *Has 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 amout of pension
he is entitled? No
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
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? 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? yes
Page 13

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
ing it?
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtain
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? Yes
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? Yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered? Y
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; Foryear
--
months, and --- days, I served as a-
For --
and days, I served as a -; and for such service I claim a pension.
months
Page 14

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
able. 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.
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 man
ner 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
office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the
certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Page 15

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.
SF. 1685
-
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 John Maxwell
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.
[Chart] DATES OF
ENLISTMENT OR
APPOINTMENT./ LENGTH OF
SERVICE /
RANK,/
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
COLONEL.
/State

1781 / 9 mos / Pvt /David Read Robert Irvin / N.C.

Battles engaged in, at Charlotte Mecklenburg Co. C.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Mecklendurg N.C.

Date of application for pension,
Residence at date of application, Hayward County, Tenn
Age at date of application, born in 1765 or 1766 in Mecklenburg Co N C
Remarks: No data to family
 
6 -- 2856
Respectfully,

Commissioner.
Page 16

M.E.E.

IN REPLY REFER TO
Rev. and 1812
Wars Section.
3 - 2562
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
WASHINGTON

[Stamp] U.S.PENSION OFFICE JUL 13 1929

June 27, 1929

Mrs. P. R. Minahan
110 N. Washington Street
Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Madam:

I advise you that the data furnished by you are not sufficient to
enable this bureau to make intelligent reply to the queries contained
in your letter.
Please fill out such of the blank spaces below, as the information
in your possession will permit, and return to this bureau.
First name of widow Jane
Full name of soldier John Maxwell.
Residence of soldier at enlistment Probably Ashe Co, No. Carolina
Residence of soldier after service Ashe Co. N.C. and Orange & Lawrence Counties Indiana and Bloomington, ILL
Name of state from which he enlisted North Carolina
Approximate date of birth 1765
Approximate date of death Aug. 19, 1857
Kindly return attached letter with your reply.
Respectfully,
only of N
Earl D. Church
EARL D. CHURCH
Commissioner.

The above John Maxwell was the son of
John Maxwell of Ashe Co. N.C. who lived to
be 102 years old. Can you advise me
whether he had a Revolutionary record
Mrs. P.R. Minihan
Orange & Lawrence Counties
Page 17

State of Tennessee
Haywood County ⎬

On this 10th day of September 1833
personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of
our Court of pleas & quarter Sessions, now sitting for the
said County of Haywood, John Maxwell a resident of the
said County of Haywood and State of Tennessee, aged
Sixty Seven years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth upon his oath make the following
declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of
Congress passed June 7th 1832 - That he entered the service
of the United States as a volunteer in the first part of
the year 1781 when he was fifteen years of age)
under Gen. Rutherford, Robert Irim Col Joseph
Grimes 1st Major in the Company Commanded
by Capt David Read, James Porter Lieut and
served nine months, mostly in North Carolina
that his marches were mostly in North Carolina
and that the only battle in which he was engaged
was a Skirmish with the Army under Lord Cornwallis at Charlotte in Mecklinburgh County
North Carolina - That whilst under Gen Rutherford and marching to York-Town, and when we
had advanced as far as the Virginia line, we
received the news of the Surrender of Lord
Cornwallis- that he then received a discharge
from Capt David Read, which discharge has
long since been lost.- That he was born in
the County of Mecklenburg and State of North Carolina and there resided after the war of the
Page 18

Revolution ten or twelve years - that he then removed
to Blunt County Tennessee where he resided six
years; then removed to the County of Rutherford
Ten. thence to the County of Giles, Tenn in 1812
and from thence to the County of Haywood in
1827, where he now resides-- That he has not any
documentary
evidence by which he can prove
his Service
and that he knows of no person in
this State who can personally testify as to his
services. He hereby relinquishes every claim
whatever to a pension or annuity except the
present and declares that his name is not on the Pension
Roll of the Agency of any State
-
Questions by the Court
1 When and in what year were you born
Ans: In Mecklinberg County North Carolina in
the year 1766
2. Have you any
Record of your age and of so
where is It
Ans. There was a Record at my
Fathers which
was destroyed during the Revolution
3. Where were you living when
called into service where have you lived since the war of
the Revolution, and where do you now live
Ans. my answer is as above is in declining
County North Carolina, and Blunt Rutherford Giles
& Haywood Counties in Tennessee
Page 19

4 How were you called into service, were you
drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute
Ans. I was a volunteer under Capt David Reace
5th Question is embodied in the declaration above
6th Did you ever receive a discharge from
the service
Ans Yes from Capt Read, but I have
long since lost
7th State the names of persons to whom you are
known in your present neighbourhood, and who
can testify as to your character for veracity, and
their belief of your services as a soldier of the
Revolution
ans. Gen. Blackman Coleman
Dr William  C  Bruce - Dr Mason & Johnson, Maj. Edmond
Richmond-- David Hay Esq. James Smith
Henry McCoy & Bowen Raynolds &c &c
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
John Maxwell

We Bowen Reynolds a Clergyman residing in the county of Haywood said state of Tennessee and  Henry
McCoy of Said Haywood County hereby certify
that
we are well acquainted with John Maxwell who
has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration
that we we believe him to be Sixty Seven years
of age that he is reputed and believed to
in the Neighbourhood where he resides to have been
a soldier of the Revolution and we
concur in that
Page 20

opinion. Sworn to and subscribed the day & year
Aforesaid
Bowen Reynolds
Will B Grove Clk

Henry MCoy
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 John Maxwell was a Revolutionary Soldier
and served as he states. And the
Court further certify that Bowen Reynolds who
has signed the preceeding
Certificate is a Clergyman resident in the said County of Haywood
and that Henry McCoy who has also signed the above
Certificate is a resident of the said County of Haywood
and that both of the last named persons are credible
men of veracity
to credit and
and their statements entitled to
that the persons whose names are mentioned by whom the
above applicant is know are men of veracity
W. Conner J.P.
David Hay JP
M Johnson JP
I William B Grove Clerk of the Court of pleas &
quarter sessions for said Haywood County & State of
Tennessee do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of
the
application of John Maxwell for a Pension
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and affixed the Seal of Office this 13th September
1833
Will B Grove Clk
Page 21

[stamp] BROWNSVILLE SEP 17 TE
FREE

John Maxwell

J. L. Edwards
Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
War Department
Washington
District of Columbia
Page 22


Brownsville Sept 16th 1833
Dear Sir
During the present term of our
Court, I have been solicited by Mr
John Maxwell to have his declaration
amended. I have thought proper to
write a new declaration and also enclose
the first written, but in consequence
of a severe attack of the Rheumatism I
have with much difficulty been able
to write a legible hand-- you will
perceive that in the last declaration
the age of the applicant in different
from that stated in the first
this is owing to the different time in
which
the Declaration have written
the year latter than the other
Yours
most Respectfully