Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 9875 1/2, for William Smith, Pennsylvania
Page 1

Penn Smith, William R. 987511/2 
Enl. from Md or Pa.
En 1834 had resided in Abbeville District for 44 yrs.
All original papers sent to claimant and JC Calhoun
see correspondence section
Page 2

Calhouns mills      R/war
9 Jany 1836
Gen John c. Calhoun Washington City
Page 3

Calhoun Mills S.C. Jany 7th 1836
Dear Sir: Mr Wm Smith applied for a pension under the late act of Congress and it was refused because he could not prove his service by a living witness. He regards this as a hard case and particularly request that you will call for his papers at the Pension office and determine whether it is worth his while to petition Com Pet Ofc. The reason why he applies to you instead of his immediate representative is that you once did him a great service he says that after Mr. Larson had failed, in procuring the bounty land of his son who died in the service of the U.S. during the last (March or War). The other man is in very mentally incapacitated and no doubt is understanded (spelling understood)  in his neighborhood, where he has
Page 4

lived, I believe for 30 or 40 years, but that he is a revolutionary soldier. Service and among his papers a certificate of this fact signed by highly respectable serviceman know to  you. I am unacquainted with the  rules of the Pension office, but suppose such a note  as yours will find on the opposite page will be necessary The old man must get his pension soon if it is ever to benefit him, as he is not likely to live till spring. 
Very Sincerely Yours, H.H. Townes 
Hon. John C. Calhoun
Page 5

Calhoun Mills S.C. Jany 7th 1836
L.L. Edwards Esq
Sir: You are requested by Mr Wm Smith to hand over all of his papers to the Hon. John C Cahoun
Very Respectfully
Your (Unreadable signature)
H.H. Townes agent for Wm Smith
Page 6

All original papers gone 
Those under Act 1818 set to claimant
Those under Act 1832 sent to claimant  John C Calhoun
All statements in correspondence
(written on left side of pamphlet: The papers in 2 suspended cases of Wm Smith- have been mixed and the 2 claims corresponded over  No 34.319 is that of Wm Smith of Beaufort District. See rejected 9875 SS. This other is from Abbeville District  No (scratched out) All original papers returned see statements in correspondence.
(Right side of pamphlet)
William Smith So Ca
Suspended Letter 9 Sept 1824
Letter 11 October 1834
 Henry H Townes
Same 22 Dec 1834
Hon. F.W. Pickens Feb 3 to Hon J.C. Calhoun 
Jan 22nd 1836 same
ending papers March 24 1836 Hon RB Rhett Of  jany 5 39  1832 The letters to Wm Secretary of (unreadable words
Page 7

Calhouns Mills  
26th Sept  (Unreadable signature)
J.L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pennsylvania
Pension Office
Washington City
Page 8

Catharine Miller So Ca
Sept 23, 1834
J.L. Edwards Esq
Sir:
Your letter of the 9th (unreadable) calling for some explanation why Wm Smith did not apply for a Pension under the act of 1818, when many survivors of that service were in (Unreadable) has been  (unreadable words in sentence)  now to (unreadable)  old gentleman. Mr Smith says, "he did apply fro pension under the act of 1818 and that he was required to prove his services by living witnesses but that he had been so long removed from the place of his enlistment that he knows of no such witnesses, that his situation in life (unreadable) was such as to make him much more indifferent about a pension than now."  There may have been living in 1818 (as there may be now) some (unreadable) by (unreadable)
Page 9

his service I could not provide but the uncertainty and expenses of hunting such testimony has obliged Mr Smith from his attempts. Your early attention to this claim is respectfully solicited 
Your Obs Servant 
Henry G. Townes 
J.L. Edwards E 
(It looks as if there is writing on the back of this paper or the writing is to light. Either way, it is unreadable)
Page 10

Hon: F.W. Pickard
5 Fby: 1835
AC
Page 11

Dept of war  
Leonard of (unreadable) Pension Officer Feb 2nd 1831  
I release herewith Mr Mays letter and reply to the inquiry upon the subject of William Smith claim have the honor F. State, that I now responded on the 9th of Sept ( unreadable) The correspondence upon the (unreadable) of his claim has been all Mr Townes of (unreadable) Mills, SC and copies of  letter addressed to M Townes are also enclosed.
(unreadable signature)
Page 12

Calhoun's Mills Abbevile Dis S.C. Nov. 12th 1834
Sir:
Your letter of the 11th (unreadable) has been received and I began to perceive from it that you have put the successful claim of William Smith to a pension on a condition which it is next to impossible he can complete 
with viz. to proof of service. When you recollect Mr Smith is now in his 80th year, that he enlisted I believe Maryland and (he is not now present, his declaration will show where) that he has not seen any of his (unreadable) soldiers in 50 years. That he has been living in this diseases 44 years you must see and feel the very hardship of resting his on a condition which it is entirely probable it is impossible to comply within  because there may not be a living witness to prove his services by out of  the numbers who could have testified in his favor 30 or 40  years ago.  Again when you recollect Mr Smith's (unreadable) resources are pinching as scarcely to enable him to keep his and his wife's soul and bodies together. You will perceive the hopelessness of any effort of his to hunt up
Page 13

witness in distant states. Permit me to call your attention to the name of one of the witnesses who certifies as the veracity and general belief in the fact of the revolutionary services of Mr Wm Smith that witness is the Rev. M. Waddel D.D. The distinguished teacher of the South and lately President of Franklin College, Athens Ga. I mention this gentleman's name particularly because his character is no doubt familiar to you. Mr Smith has always been regarded in this community as a soldier of the Revolution and his veracity is unquestionable and his case is regarded as a particularly hard one in being denied a part of the bounty of his which  has been liberally bestowed on others and on many far less many than himself. I do hope sir, you will again give all the facts of Mr Smith case and attentive consideration and trust the helpless old soldier may yet be gladdened by the news of his success 
Very Respectfully Your Ob. Servt H.H.Townes 
J.L. Edwards Esq.
Page 14

Hon JC Calhoun
S Sen Jan 22nd 1836 to Rec. Vol. 40 Pa. 399
Page 15

War Dept Pension Office Jan. 22nd 1836

Sir: 
I received this morning your note of the 20th inst. The claim of William Smith has not been admitted because it was considered of so doubtful a character as to require some proof of his service other than his own declaration   so long ago as in the year 1818. No such proof has yet been exhibited. Since that period he has applied for the benefits of the act of June 7, 1832. The papers which were sent to another to this Dept. in 1818 were returned to him and I have not since bee in this office. I enclose herewith the papers in support of his claim under the act of 1832, and I will be obliged to you if you will be so kind as to acknowledge the receipt of them.
JLaw (unreadable signature)
Hon. J.C. Calhoun (unreadable) U. States 
Enter this as J.C. Index
Page 16

J.L. Lands of the Pension Office
Page 17

Sir, I will thank you to transmit to me the papers in the case of William Smith of  South Carolina for a  pension. With respect
(Unreadable signatures)
Page 18

Hon. J.C. Calhoun May 24, 1836  
O.C.
So. Caro
Rec. Vol. 40 pa . 452
Page 19

War Dept Pension Office Mar 24 1836
Sir: In compliance with your request I have the hand to enclose herewith the papers in the case of William Smith. Be pleased to acknowledge the receipt of them. 
I have the (unreadable) 
Hon. J.C Calhoun, Senate U States
Page 20

Henry H Townes
9 Sept 1836
OC
Page 21

Penn. Smith, William R.9875 1/2
Enl. from [illegible] Pa.
In 1834 had resided in Abbeville District S.C. For 44 yrs. All original papers sent to claimant and J.C. Calhoun.  See correspondence [illegible]
Page 22

Dec 22 -1834  AC

R. Vol 40 P.4.


(Faded words appear to be words from the opposite side of the page which have "bled" through.)
Page 23

Department of War Pension office December 20, 1834
Sir:
I have received your letter of the 12th  AW. and upon the subject of the claim of William Smith.  
The Department possesses no discretionary power admitting I am not (unreadable) within the rules of evidence adopted by it for the (unreadable) of the Act of (unreadable) prepared June 7 1832. Then only having received  the Sanction of Congress constitute is fail  a part of the law, and cannot be disregarded. (Unreadable) therefore refer you to my letter of the 9th of Sept and 11th of Oct Cont -upon the claim of Wm  Smith.
The papers remain on file.
(Unreadable) H Townes Esq Calhoun Mills S.C
Page 24

9 Feb 1836
Pension Ofice 
Report (Unreadable words)
Dear Sir, May I ask you to examine the enclosed case! I have not doubt it is a  (unreadable words). I know the petitioner and all (unreadable words) to be admitted to full credit
thanks J C Calhoun
Page 25

Jan 22
Cert Wm Smith
E J (unreadable)
 Of the Pension Office
Hon JC Calhoun March U S
Page 26

Senate Chamber 
20th Jan [illegible] 1836
Sirs, On what ground was the written petitione granted? If it be a cause of any doubt I will thank you to send me the papers; but if not it will not be accepted.
Respectfully,
J. C. Calhoun
Page 27

Calhoun's Mills S.C. 
21st Novr 1834 Free
J. L Edward Esq
Commissioner of Pensions 
Pension Office
Washington City 
(unreadable) letter to Hon JC. Calhoun Feb 19, 1820
Page 28

Calhoun's Mill S.C. 21 Novr/34 Free
J.L. Edward's esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Pension Office
Washington  County
See letter to Hon J. C Calhoun from Rev. War
Feb 9 1836
Page 29

Depart. (unreadable)
Pension Office Oct 11, 1844
Dir
Your letter of the 25th of Sept of Sept. Last, has been (unreadable) upon the subject of the claim of William Smith. The same difficulty now present (unreadable) or did in his application under the Act of March 1818, the absence of  proof of service. The papers all remain on file. What said proofing addend.
papers of 1878 claim returned to soldier Papers of 1832 claim sent to J.C. Calhoun Jan 22. 1836 see Bureau Letter Nov 24 1836 See Bureau Letter 
Henry H Townes Esq
Calhouns Mills (unreadable signature)
Page 30

H.H. Townes
11 Oct 1836
OC
Page 31

copy    War Department Pension Office January 23 1838
Sir, I return herewith the letter of Mr William Smith, and in reply have the honor to state, that the rules adopted by the Department, or the execution of the act of June 7, 1832 are imperative. These rules require a clear and specific detail of the applicants service showing the number of time he was on duty and the duration of each said term of service. The names of the officers JC. Mr Smith has omitted to comply with the rules upon this point, leaving the length of his actual service in the army involved in uncertainty.
Hon. R.B. Brett House of Representatives
I Have the honor to be very respectfully House of Representative Your Obt Sert 
(Signed) J.L. Edwards
Page 32

War Department Pension Office May 10 1838

Sir, Agreeably to your request I enclose herewith a copy of my letter to you of the 23rd of January last in relation to the claim of William Smith. I have the honor to be Very Respectfully Hon Tom Obt Senr
J.L. Edwards
R.B. Rhett
House of Representatives