Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6843, John Findley, N.C.
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Service:  N. I.
Findley, John
Number: S6843
Born in Va.
Carded
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North Carolina
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John Findley of Guilford in the State of N. Carolina 
Who was a Sergeant in the Company commanded by captain McAdow of the Regiment commanded by Col. Alexander in the N. Carolina line for 2 years from 1777. 
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Inscribed on the Roll of North Carolina at the rate of 120 -Dollars---cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1831. 
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Certificate of Pension issued the 5- day of January 33 and sent to anon: A.H. Shepperd. House of Reps. 
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Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832. 
Some=and. allowance ending – 4 Mar: 33
180+60=$240

(Died March 26, 1840--NR)

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Nathan Rice—Clerk Book L6 Vol. 8 Page 30—
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5714
John Findley 

Declaration Pension
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State of North Carolina
Guilford County

Be it remembered that at a Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions begun and held for the county of Guilford at the Court House in the town of Greensboro on the third Monday of August AD 1832. In being this 20th day of said month Present Joseph Gibson, George Nicks & Moses McGready Esquire. 

The following Declaration was made in open court in the following words. Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress. passed June 7th AD 1832

State of North Carolina Guilford County. 
Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions August term AD 1832 

On this 20th day of August personally appeared before the Open Court before the justices of the court aforesaid, now sitting, the name being as Court of Record; John Findley, a resident of the United States, in the County of Guilford, and State of North Carolina, aged about seventy seven 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 the 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated towit that he first volunteered & was out a month & some days in the fall, October or November, of 1776 or 1777 on a tour to Fayetteville in the State, after the Scotch Tories, under the command of Capt. Forbis and General Davidson, and was discharged on Haymount by word, no written discharged was given, that when he returned to Guilford whence he had let out he again volunteered in a company which were called Minute Men, and rode as horsemen, sometimes under one captain and sometimes under another, but mostly under Capt. John Gillaspie (a volunteer). That in this company he served as sergeant but does not recollect how many tours but not less than six.
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That in making therein he was marched down to the Carraway Mountains or high hills of Randolph County and frequently down in the State as far as Drowning
Creek after Col. Fanning who commanded the Tories. That in performing these 
tours he must have consumed as much as seven months. That in May 1780 in the county of Guilford, he volunteered under Captain McAdow, (a Volunteer) and joined the Militia Troops under General Davidson. That a Company of volunteers in which he was sent, under the command of said Davidson into the Forks of the Yadkin River after Col. Brian of the Tories, and that in this company he went in the character of sergeant; but Brian & his band evaded us; that he with others was marched under the command of May White back to Salisbury in Rowan County, whence they let out. That he marched in July 1780 from Salisbury and joined the Continental Army under General Gates near Cheraw Hill, on Peedee River in the State of South Carolina, and marched from thence under the command of General Rutherford, Col. Alexander, May White, of Capt. McAdow his particular and immediate militia commanding officers, and under the general command of General Gates to a place called Rugeley's Mill, 13 miles from Camden, that he believes that General De Kalb a French General was then a commanding officer in the army. That on the 15th day of August in the evening General Gates marched to attack the British, who it was said was intrenched at Camden, the British at the same time stealing a march on us; the armies met about midnight when the front guards had several skirmishes. At daylight the battle became general and cannon was used, that in this engagement he had the honor to command a platoon of 16 brave soldiers assigned to him by May White, two of whom were killed, and one wounded, that this in this defeat his general to wit Rutherford was wounded and taken prisoner, and General De Kalb and other brave men
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were killed. That he did not see his General to with Gates during the battle nor after, but on his ahead and return home about 30 miles from the battle ground (which was seven miles from Camden) he saw on the side the same beautiful sorrel horse on which General Gates rode coming before the battle, which he was told General Gates left there about 10 o’clock in the morning of the battle—that after this defeat he returned home. That in a few days after his return home which was rapid; he volunteered and was marched to New Providence, Mecklenburg County under Col. Paisley of Capt. Forbis (volunteer). 

Whence he was driven by the British before whom he retreated under General Green, over Dan River, to Halifax Court House in the State of Virginia. That the British did not cross Dan River, but turned towards Hillsboro Orange County N.C. and thence upon to Guilford and encamped in the New Garden settlement as he understood, that he went to New Providence under the command of Capt. Forbis of his own neighborhood a volunteer, that shortly after the army stopped at Halifax. Intelligence came that the Tories were making ravages therein Forbis and his companies neighborhood. That to quell this Forbis & his men were permitted return home. 

That on their return Capt. Forbis found that the Tories had escaped and determined to join the General Army again, which he did a very short time after the battle of Guilford. That he was not in this battle, but was left by Forbis to go home and get clothing with orders to join him again as soon as possible which he was unable to do before the engagement commenced; and found on his arrival at the battle ground, that he could not join his company or any part of the American Army, with certainty or safety. 

That after the battle he and others of Forbis Company conveyed their brave commander mortally wounded to his home; that he continued in the service until he was taken with smallpox, which
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which was 3 weeks after the battle of Guilford that as soon as he recovered he was sent by Col. Paisley belonging still to the Minute Company, down on the waters of the Alamance in his own county after some Tories, who were drafted to increase the American Army and refused to serve. That during the latter part of the summer and fall of 1781 until towards Christmas he was ready with the Minute Company to be but at the command of Col. Paisley of Capt. Robert Paisley by whom they were sent out on various and different tours consuming at least one half of his time. That from 1776 to 1781 he was always ready at the many calls of the Militia Volunteer officers of his county and that he was out on many other short tours of which he is unable from his memories being greatly impaired to give a correct narrative. That for the aforesaid period he was generally if not on actual service considered a soldier of the Revolution. That he has no documentary evidence of his Revolutionary services. That there are two persons in the bounds of his knowledge who can from their personal knowledge testify to his services towit Isaiah McBride and William Smith, who are from old age and decrepitude unable to come with any convenience to come to court. That he was born in Frederick County of Virginia of which a record is made in his father’s Bible; that with his father he moved in 1771 to Guilford NC that he has lived in Guilford ever since except five years on thereabouts spent in Williamsburg township in the
State of South Carolina. That he never had a willing commission, but served as a sergeant, quarter master, and forage master. That he is known to Rev. William D. Paisley Rev. Eli W. Cornelius, Rev. John Cox. Col Walter McConnell, Capt. Robert S. Gilmore, Joseph Gibson Esq. Findley Shaw, James Thom, Joseph Hanner, John Paisley of David McAdow and many other respectable citizens in his neighborhood who can and are willing to testify to his veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
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He the said John Findley 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. 

John Findley

Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid
AE Hanner CCC

We William Paisley a  clergyman residing in the county of Guilford, and Findley Shaw of Joseph Gibson residing in the county of Guilford North Carolina hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Findley who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy seven years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion. 

William Paisley Pastor 
Findley Shaw 
Jos. Gibson

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
AE Hanner CCC

Anon the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigations 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 that they are personally acquainted with said Finley, and the court further certifies that it appears to them that William Paisley who signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in Guilford County and that Findley Shaw and Joseph Gibson who have also signed the same are resident in the said county and credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to full credit. 

George Nicks JP
Joseph Gibson JP
Marshall McLain JP
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State of North Carolina

I Alfred E. Hanner, clerk of the court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County of Guilford 

Do hereby certify that the forgoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of John Finley for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and offered the seal of said court of office this 29th day of August AD 1832.

AE Hanner CCC
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John Findley 
North Carolina 
N05714

30 Nov
A.E. Hanner
Greensboro NC



Very faint word in the middle--perhaps "declaration"
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Brief in the case of John Findley of Guilford County in the State of North Carolina
(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? 77 years
4.	State his service as directed in the form annexed. 

Period:
	
Volunteered
“November in 1776 or 1777”
Volunteer year not given
Voluntary 1780 1781	

Duration of Service	Rank
Years, months, days

“six tours not less than”
One month each 
Service not stating	

Rank:
As a

Private 
Sargeant

Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served:

Gen Gates, De Kalb & Davidson
Capt Forbis
Major Morgan White
Capt John Gallaspie
Gen Rutherford
Col Alexander, Major White 
Col Paisley
Capt McAdow 


5.	In what battles was he engaged? Gates defeat, Camden
6.	Where did he reside when he entered service? Guilford 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 authentication? And if so, in what respect? Defective regard to period of service

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with evidence in the case above mentioned. 
[illegible Signature] Examining Clerk
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Rev. and 1812
EEL
Wars Section

November 5, 1929

Gena Grubb
Ishpeming, Michigan

Dear Madam:

I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.6843, it appears that John Findley was born in Frederick County, Virginia, and moved in 1771, with his father, to Guilford County, North Carolina. 

While residing in Guilford County, North Carolina, he enlisted in October or November, 1776, and served until about Christmas, 1781, at various times on short tours, amounting in all to not less than two years, as a sergeant, quartermaster and forage master under Captains Forbes, John Gallaspie, McAdow and Robert Paisley, Major White and Colonels Alexander and Paisley in the North Carolina Troops. He was in the battle of Camden, in which he commanded a platoon of sixteen men. 

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 20, 1832, at which time he was seventy-seven years of age and resided in Guilford County, North Carolina,
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He stated that he spent five years in Williamsburgh Township, South Carolina, exact date of his residence there not given. He died March 26, 1840. There is no reference to wife and children. 

Very truly yours, 
EARL D. CHURCH 
Commissioner
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1924 Feb. 28 Hist to Mrs. C. E. Vance and
1929—Nov. 5—Hist to Gena Grubb ECT

Rev War	 6843
INVALID
File No. 6843
John Findley 
Sergt. Rev War 

Act: July 7th 1832

Index:--Vol. [illegible],  Page 124

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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John Findley 
N. Carolina 

From 1777 sergeant 
2 years $120
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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 Findley 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 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 amount of pension he is entitled? No

VI. Has he given names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with 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 opinion? Yes

X. Is the Clerk’s seal affixed? And if so, has it a devise or inscription by which it can be distinguished by any other seal? Yes.
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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? Yes

XIV. If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?

XV Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of any such 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 answered? Yes

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."
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It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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.

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 be 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 authenticated 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 end 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.

(handwritten)
If the person stated by the claimant to be acquainted with his service cannot appear at court by reason of bodily infirmity let their testimony be taken before a judge or justice of some court of record at their own house. The official character and signature of the magistrate should be properly authenticated.
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State of North Carolina 
Guilford County

On this 18th day of December AD 1832 personally appeared before me Jedediah Smith one of the acting Justice of the County Court of Guilford William Smith and made oath in due form of law, that he has long known John Findley, who he is informed has made application to his government for a pension; and knows that he was often out on service during the Revolutionary War. 

Subscribed and sworn to
William Smith
JH Smith JP

State of North Carolina 
Guilford county

Be it known that on this 18th day December AD 1832 personally appeared before me Jediah Smith, one of the acting Justices of the County Court of
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Guilford, John Findley has made oath in due form of law that the declaration herewith unto transcribed contains a history of his revolutionary services that Isaiah McBride mentioned therein died a few weeks ago—that he still cannot give a precise account of the time he was out but believes he can say on his oath from the best of his recollection that in the six tours mentioned in his declaration he served as much as seven months as sergeant—that from May 1780 until spring 1781 he must have served as much as ten months as sergeant—that he served as sergeant in all not less than two years and for this service he claims a pension—and for more satisfactory statements as to his service refer his declaration. 

Subscribed and sworn to

John Findley 
JH Smith JP
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State of North Carolina 

I Alfred E Hanner Clerk of the Court of Please and Quarter Sessions for the County of Guilford 
Do hereby certify that Jedidiah Smith Esquire whom signed the appears to the foregoing affidavit of William Smith of John Findley is and was acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county legally commissioned & qualified as such and that due faith and credit is and ought to be given to all his acts as such. 
In writing whereof I have hereunto set my hand affixed the seal of said Court of Office in Greensboro this 19th day of December 1832
AH Hanner CCC

I certify that I am well acquainted with William Smith who has given his affidavit in the pension case that he is generally esteemed as by neighborhood to be a man of respectability and that as declared on oath enabled to full credit. 

RK Shepperd 
4 Jan 1883
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College Park, Ga
Jan 22 1924

Commissioner of Pensions
War Department 
Washington D.C. 

Dear Sir, 
On the NC Rev Pension Roll I find as applicant for pensions the names of John and James Findley, Revolutionary Soldiers, sergeant and private in NC Militia living in Guilford Co. N.C. 1831-1833, ages 69 and 74 respectively. 
Will you kindly furnish me with the statements made by these pensioners when they applied for pensions? 
Thanking you in advance for this courtesy, I am
Respectfully Yours 

Mrs. Laura Findley Vance
(Mrs. C.E. Vance) 

114 Washington St
College Park Ga
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Ishpeming, Mich. 
Sept 9, 1929

Pension Bureau
Washington, D.C. 

Dear Sir:
Will you kindly send me a copy of “the application for a pension” as sent by John Findley or Findlay who was a sergeant in the North Carolina Militia during the war of the Revolution? This application must have been written in 1834 or 1835. 
A report by the Secretary of State to congress in 1835 states that John Findley received this pension. 
I thank you very kindly for this application

Very truly yours, 
Gena Grubb

stamped Sept 10 1929
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Rev. and 1813
Wars Section.

February 28, 1924.

Mrs. C. E. Vance,
114 Washington St.,
College Park, Ga.

Madam; 
	I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 6843, it appears that John Findley was born in Frederick County, Virginia.	
	While residing in Guilford County, North Carolina, he enlisted in the War of the Revolution.
He was allowed pension, for two years service as a sergeant in the North Carolina troops, on his application executed August 20, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Guilford County, North Carolina, aged seventy seven years.
There is no data on file as to his family.

Respectfully,
Commissioner.
[illegible Signature]