Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18071, for Daniel Keels, South Carolina
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
S.C.
Keels, Daniel
NUMBER
S.18071
carded
CONTENTS
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No: 31.640
South Carolina
Daniel Keels. Sumter Dist. in the State of South Carolina who was a private in the compy. commanded by Captain [Moses] Gordon of the Regt. commanded by Col. [Richard, Sr.] Richardson in the South Carolina mila. line for 16 months.
Inscribed on the Roll of South Carolina at the rate of 53 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24th day of July, 1839 and sent to S. Lacoste Mount Clio, Sumter District. So. Ca.
Arrears to the 4th of Mar. 1839   $426.64
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept. 26.66 = $453.30
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by S. M Stewart Clerk, 
Book E Vol. 6 Page 72
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26956
Daniel Keels
S. Carolina

Declaration and
amended declaration
of Daniel Keels
for a pension.
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State of South Carolina
Sumter District
Personally appeared in open court on the thirty first of October 1832 the Court of Common Pleas for Sumter District now sitting Daniel Keils who being duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the Act of Congress, passed the 7th June 1832. This applicant says that he was born in Williamsburgh District in State aforesaid that while very young he was brought into Sumter District where he has resided ever since and now resides and is now 75 years of age that he entered the service of the United States in South Carolina under the command of General [Andrew] Williamson where he remained some months that Col. [Lt. Col. Matthew] Singleton commanded the regiment Capt. John Nelson [Neilson]  his officer.  That he was a draughted militia man.  That soon after Gates Defeat or in Spring after he joined General [Francis] Marions Brigade where he remained in service alternately untill the British left Charleston and this applicant do hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and that his name is not on the pension Roll of any agency of the States.  That he served two years. s/ Dan. Keels  
Sworn and subscribed to the day above mentioned in open court
s/ B. J. Earle presiding Judge
of the Court of Common Pleas & Sessions in open court
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We William McElvain and John McDonald of State and District aforesaid do hereby certify that we were well acquainted the within named Daniel Keils during the Revolumatry [Revolutionary] war and do know this he served a Revolutionary as stated that we served him much of the time and believe him to be of the aged stated by him
Wm McElvain his mark X
John McDonald
Sworn and subscribed to in Open Court the day and year within written
B J Earle
presiding Judge 
in open Court

We Moab Hewit a Clergyman of District aforesaid and Robert Roberts resident of the same do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with the above applicant Daniel Keils and believe him to be of the age stated by him. That he is a resident of District aforesaid and is reputed and believed to have a Soldier of the revolution and are acquainted with William McElvain & John McDonald who have sworn to and subscribed to the preceding certificate and we concur in believing their Testimony to be true.
Moab Hewitt
Robt Roberts
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year within written
B J Earle presiding Judge
in open Court
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D /
Daniel Keels

Hon S. Miller
U.S. Senate
14 Dec. 1832
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Additions by way of amendment to the declaration of Daniel Keels for a pension.
On this the third Monday in May 1833 appeared before me William D. Martin one of the associate Judges of the said State, now holding a Court of Common Pleas & Sessions for district of Sumter, Daniel Keels who being duly sworn, deposeth & sayeth, that he served not less than two years in the Revolutionary war, that he has no record of his age, that he did not receive any written discharge from the service, & that he refers to Moab Hewitt, John McDonald, William McElvian & various others in his neighborhood who can testify to his character for veracity, and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
Danl. Keels
Sworn to in open Court the day & year above written. 
Wm. D. Martin
Presiding Judge
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And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the said William McElveen and John McDonald whose affidavit made in open Court, accompany the foregoing declaration of said Daniel Keels, are entitled to full belief, and that full faith & credibility are to be attached to their said affidavit.
This 12th April 1833.
Wm. D. Martin
presiding Judge
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South Carolina
Sumter District
I Thomas J. Wilder Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas & Sessions of Sumter District in said State do hereby certify that the foregoing sheets of paper together with this, both attached together with a ribbon contain the original proceedings in the matter of the application of Daniel Keels for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said Court this 19th day of April 1833,
Th. J. Wilder
C.C.Pl
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Daniel Keels
S. Carolina
Suspd -
let 23 Augt 1836
F. J. Moses
do. do Oct 21 1837
do J. P. Richardson 23 Feb. 1839 & 28 " " [Feb 1839]
to do
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P
18071
INVALID.
cw
File No. 18,071
Daniel Keels
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7" 32
Index:- Vol. 1, Page 204
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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[stamp] COLUMBIA S.C. JUN 30
Free
Stephen Lacoste Esquire
Post Master
Mount Clio
Salem County
S.C.
mail
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Comptroller General's Office
Columbia 26 June 1839
Dear Sir,
Agreeable to your request I searched the Books deposited in this Office for the name of Daniel Keels, who you state, claims from the United States a Pension, for services rendered during the War of the Revolution. I cannot however find his name mentioned in any of the Books of this Office. I find the name of Abram, but not Daniel Keels.
very respectfully
your Obt. Sert.
Ben. Hart
for
William E. Hayne
Com. Genl.
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Hon J L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
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Sumterville So. Ca.
Aug 8, 1836

Hon J L Edwards
Sir -
I forward to you under cover with this, at the request of the applicant, the declaration, and amended declaration of Daniel Keels for a pension.
He is desirous of knowing, if his claim in the form in which it is now presented will be allowed by the department over which you preside. The applicant has furnished as much proof of his services as could be reasonably expected of after so long lapse of time. The fellow soldiers who served with him are (with the exception of those whose affidavits are attached
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to his declaration) dead, or beyond the effort of his reach, and he is much in need of the bounty which the Government has allotted for those who aided to establish it.
The whole community regard him a veteran of the Revolution, and he has grown up, always bearing the proud reputation of having been one of the gallant band to whom we are indebted for the political happiness which we now enjoy.
I trust that his papers will be regarded as sufficient and that in his old impoverished age, his distresses will be allinated by his Country.
Will you be pleased to let me hear from you on the subject.
Very Respy yours
Franklin J. Moses
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Free
John P. Richardson

J L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions


Jno Feb 26.
S.C.

Hon. J. P. Richardson
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House Reps. Feby 25th 1839.

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions

Sir -
In the case of Daniel Keels of Sumter District So Carolina the applicant is referred to the Comptrollers office of that State, for the evidence of his Revolutionary Services. I presume it is known to the Department that many cases of this kind, and some of the most obvious must have been omitted to be recorded in that office, from the fact that the Country having been overrun and occupied by the enemy, there was no opportunity for organized enlistments, and the currency in which their services were paid for, being regarded at that time as valueless, very few applied after the war, for the compensation to which they were entitled. The records in our
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Comptrollers office furnish therefore a very imperfect evidence of the merit of our Revolutionary characters - and in point of fact the Department has so far deviated from this rule of evidence, that many of our citizens who receive the largest pensions have never had their names enrolled on the books of that office.
The object of the present communication is therefore to inquire, if the evidence in the case of Mr Keels is not sufficient without this reference to the Books of the Comptroller; and in the event of his name not being found on those Books what other evidence of his services will satisfy the Department.
Very respectfully
Yr obt sevt
John P. Richardson
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Daniel Keels affidavit
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South Carolina
Sumter District
Personally appeared before me Daniel Keels Senr. and being duly sworn, Sayeth. That he can assign no reasons why his name is not entered in the Comptrollers Office in Columbia unless it was through neglect of his not going forward, at the close of the war and proving his services as many others did not, for he had no expectation at that time of ever receiving a pension for his services, nor he never did receive a cent for his services in the war, nor never knew any other militia man that did, they were Continental soldiers that served in the Revolutionary war that received wagers, and I suppose that there were indents handed in after the close of the war for their services, and there are others drawing pensions whose names are not on records.
Danl. Keels sener
Sworn before me July 9th 1839.
C. J. Goodman Q.M.
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Mount Clio
July 17th

PM.
free
S Lacoste

Mr J L Edwards
Pension Office
Washington

mail

[sideways]
S.C. July 22
add proof
Danl Keels
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Sumter District July 17. 1839
Mr. J L Edwards
D Sir,
Mr. Daniel Keels requested me to write to the Comptroller Genl. of the State of South Carolina to ascertain of his name was recorded in his office for services rendered to the U. S. during the War of the revolution - enclosed you will find the answer of that officer. Mr. Keels name is not enrolled on the books in Office.
I also enclose Mr. Keels affidavit on the subject giving his resones why his name was not recorded, as he never expected at that time that pay would ever be allowed to those that served in the Revolution
Mr. Keels no doubt in my mind, was a soldier in the revolutionary war. I have conversed with some, who are now drawing pensions, who say distinctly that he was in service, whose names are not recorded. Mr. Danl. Keels is a worthy and respectable citizen of Sumter District, far advanced in old age, and has no property at all, but a horse furnished him by one of his sons. I am Tax Collector of Salem County Sumter Dt. and adjust what I do about his property authoratively - his wants are many, all of his children from and his stands in need of a pension. I am acquainted with [illegible] owning 25 Negros who are drawing pensions who admit Mr. Keels to have been in service with them. I hope you therefore grant Mr Keels a pension.
your respectfully
S Lacoste
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Amended declaration of Daniel Keels for a pension.

Allow 16 mo pr.
$53.33 per ann.

S Lacoste
Mount Clio
Sumter District
SC.
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South Carolina
Sumter District
On this twenty seventh day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty seven, personally appeared before me, John Hanks, one of the Justices of the Quorum for said district, Daniel Keels, Senior, a resident of said district & State, aged about eighty two years, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth, on his oath in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832, make the following declaration, as an amendment of the declaration which he sent to the War Department in 1833.
That he entered the service of the United States, as a private, under the following named officers & served as herein stated.
As to his first tour, he was placed under the command of Col. Richardson & Capt Gordon & the first movement they made was to the upper part of said State where they encamped for two months among the Mountains, at a place known as "Snowy Camps". During this time they took as prisoners, a body of tories commanded by one Col. Fletcher. At the end of these two months, they were all discharged & sent home. 
His 2d, 3, & 4th tours were to the City of Charleston & from there to Ashley river under the above - named officers, during each of which tours he was out one month - making in the whole three months. During this time, there was no fighting nor any prisoners taken or captures made. At the end of each tour they were all regularly discharged & sent to their homes.
His next tour was to the town (then village) of Beaufort, under the command of the officers above stated together with Col. Kershaw. They remained at that place one month without having affected any thing. They were then discharged.
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The next tour he made was to Purysburg under Capt. Nelson's Command & from there to the Sister's ferry on Savannah river; thence to Hudson's ferry on said river. All these movements were made during two months, which was the length of time he served on this tour, during which there was no fighting.
After this period, he was again called out & went to Augusta, Georgia, where he stayed four months. He was not engaged in any battle or skirmish although there were skirmishes between the British & others of his party. All the names of the officers which he recollects on this tour, are Genl. Williamson, Col. Singleton, Maj. Fullwood & Captn. Nelson.
After this tour of service, he was placed under the command of Col. Richardson (the names of other officers he does not remember) & marched to Wadboo Swamp in Charleston District & was out four months. No engagement or skirmish took place during this period.
From old age & extreme loss of memory, he is unable to state the months & years when the above stated services were performed. All that he can say is that his tour to Purysburg, he thinks was in 1778 & his tour to a Augusta in 1779.
The reason why his other Amendment to his said declaration was made at so late a period & why his present amendment has been delayed so long, is to be attributed to his extreme old age & bodily infirmity & the great distance he lives from the Court House of said district & the difficulty which he finds in getting here.
Dan Keels
Sworn to before me at Sumter Court house on 27th Sept 1837.
John Hanks Q U
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South Carolin
Sumter District.
I John M Dargan Clerk of the Court for the said district & state certify that John Hanks is a magistrate as above, and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this ninth day of October A.D. 1837.
Jn. M. Dargan
C. C.Ps.