Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 2389, Joel Coward, S.C.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE
S.C.
Coward, Joel
Anna
NUMBER
R.2389
CONTENTS
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State of Tennessee
Hawkins County
On this day 21st day of October AD 1852 personally appeared before me the undersigned a justice of the peace within and for the county and state aforesaid, Nathan Vernon aged ninety years, who makes the following statement that is to say -
That said affiant was born in Queen Ann's County in the state of Maryland the 18th of September AD 1762 and came to the county of Hawkins and State of Tennessee in October AD 1789 and that he has continued to reside in said county ever since and that he still resides in said county and that he has been acquainted with Joel Coward and his wife Anna ever since the year 1810 intimately, and understood that said Joel Coward and his wife had been in said county living for about six years before the said affiant became acquainted with the family.  He had heard of them and may have seen them but never was well acquainted with said Joel Coward and his wife Anna untill about the year 1810.  And ever since [illegible] years up to said Joel Coward's death which took place in the month of November 1819.  The said Joel Coward and Anna Coward lived together as man and wife and their children, names and ages the said affiant is well acquainted with.  Their oldest child must be about fifty two years old or upwards and their youngest one must be about forty years old or thereabouts and they have four living children.
Said Nathan Vernon further states that he has heard Joel Coward aforesaid in his lifetime say that he was an enlisted
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soldier in the revolution for three years, heard him speak of being at the battle and engaged in & under General Gates near Camden in 1780 when that officer was defeated, have heard him tell how the soldiers run and dropped their guns &c.  Further states that his recollection is much blunted from his extreme age and cannot recollect many particulars but is confidant in the belief that the said Joel Coward was a soldier in the revolutionary army for about three years, that he married Anna Johnson before the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and that said Anna has remained ever since up to this day his said Joel Coward's widow, and that he has no interest whatever in said widows pension. 
Nathan Vernon
Sworn to and subscribed before me this day and year first also written and I certify that for many years I have been acquainted with the said Nathan Vernon, whose name be made with his own hand above in my presents and further certify that he has been a man of some learning and intelligence and for one of his age is as much so new as any one I know, and that to his statement also I give and it is justly entitled to full credit.
done at the house of the said Nathan Vernon in this county & state aforesaid on the day above
Witness my hand & seal
James H. Walker {seal}
JP for said county
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To the commissioner of Pensions

The memorial of the undersigned, the widow of Joel Coward, respectfully shows that her husband, the aforesaid Joel Coward, deceased, was prior to her marriage with him a revolutionary soldier.  That she has no documents to present in proof of this, except says he as [illegible] presented but upon her oath she declares that the said Joel Coward entered the service of the United States at some period prior to the battle between the American and British armies near Camden, South Carolina known as the battle of "Gates defeat" in August 1780 in which battle he was engaged as a private soldier at what particular place he enlisted she is not able to state further than at some convenient place to his residence before said enlistment which was in the county of Marlboro, state of South Carolina. That he was a regular enlisted for three years, she cannot state whether her said husband enlisted under but he served part (if not all) his period of service under Captain Herd, who must have belonged to the command of "General Marion" or "General Gates" of the Carolina troops.  That he served out the full period of his said enlistment and was honorably discharged.  That she has no knowledge of his written discharge, further than what is here presented.  She has heard him speak of it in his lifetime but knows not what may have went with it.
The undersigned further declares that she was married to the said Joel Coward in the county of Richmond, state of North Carolina in or about the 15thday of December AD one thousand seven hundred and ninety nine, that the person who married them was by the name of Darby Hennigen who was a Baptist Minister, and duly qualified to act in
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such capacity, that after her marriage as aforesaid and until the death of her said husband the said Joel Coward, they lived together in the bonds of affection as man and wife up to the time of his death which took place on the 6th day of November AD one thousand and eight hundred and nineteen.  That after her marriage as aforesaid her said husband made five crops in the county of Marlboro, state of South Carolina and then removed to the county of Hawkins in the state of Tennessee at which place they continued to reside up to the death of her said husband at the time aforesaid and at which place the said widow continues to reside.  That her said husband the said Joel Coward was at the time of his death aged fifty nine years and that the said affiant is now aged eighty years. That the family record has been worn out and lost, that she is now and has always been since the death of said Joel Coward, a widow that this is the first attempt she has ever made to obtain a pension, that her bodily infirmity and inability to secure counsel has been some of the reasons for its delay.
She makes this declaration in avail herself of the benefit of the  "Act of Congress passed 29 July 1848 granting pension to widows of revolutionary soldiers married before the 1 day of January 1800 to the end that she may be placed upon the pension roll of pensioners under that Law who are paid at Knoxville in the state of Tennessee, and that she may have the full amount of all back dues to her allowable under said act which has been by her heretofore unclaimed up to the date of her enrollment, and that the same be
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continued to her during her widowhood.
She further most respectfully requests that the following proofs be received in substantiating her said claim and declares that such evidence as is here presented is the best she at this late day is able to produce in absence of documentary evidence of which she has none, except that is here presented.  She lastly states that she has been a member of the Methodist Church for upwards of sixty years.
Anna (her mark) Coward

State of Tennessee
County of Hawkins
On this 21st day of October AD one thousand eight hundred and fifty nine personally appeared before me the undersigned a justice of the peace within and for this county and state aforesaid and chairman of the county court within and for said county.  The above named Anna Coward and made oath in due form of law to the facts therein set forth and in my presents signed the same.
And certify that the said Anna Coward with whom I am personally acquainted is unable from bodily infirmity to attend court and I further certify that from my own knowledge I believe her foregoing declaration to be substantially true and that she is the age she states.
In testimony whereof (having no seal of office) I hereunto set my name ad official seal of my own handwriting.  Done at the residence of the aforesaid Anna Coward on the day and year first abovewritten.
James H Walker, Chairman of the county, court aforesaid
Witness: William White, John Dotson
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Coward, Joel
(S.C.)
R. 2389
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This is to certify that Joel Coward inlistd under me in the Continental service, to escape of being punishd. as his Inlistmint not being according to Law, I do discharge from that inlistmint 
August A.D. 17 1780
Wm Johnson

[stamp] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES
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No 1205
Anna Coward
Widow of Joel 
Tenn

A L Burene  Apr 19/53


2589

Act 29 July 1848
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Mill Bend Ten.  Nov 5, 1852
Sir,
I have the honor to submit to you the enclosed documents in support of the claim for Anna Coward, widow of Joel Coward, decd, to a pension under the Act of 29 July 1848 and most respectfully by law to call your attention to the following explanation of the facts in this case.
In her declaration the widow could only rely upon her recollection of what she understood from her husband in his lifetime as to his period of service.  That he was actually a soldier in the revolution for some period is certain from the discharge herewith enclosed, and which discharge I found in searching her old papers after her principal declaration was written.  She believes and so insists that he served three years either as a regular or militia man, but for the proof of which she at present must rely upon the report of the rolls of the different Captains who may have served under Genl. Marion or Genl. Gates in Carolina, it is to be regretted that she is not so certain of the Captains name. Herd, to whom she refers, yet hopes that such examination will be made of the various rolls as to give light to her as to the name of her husband.
She introduces her sister Elizabeth Vernon aged 85 years, who says she was well acquainted with her husband, Joel Coward, before he went to the war, she believes said Coward served three years, she likewise
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heard Coward say in his lifetime he had so served & swear of the lawful marriage of her sister Anna to said Coward knows that they lived as man and wife to the day of Cowards death.
Said widow introduces Nathan Vernon aged 91 years who mainly corroborates with and substantiates the facts stated by said Elizabeth, be pleased to notice further this proves respectability and moral character of the parties.
As to her marriage to said Coward before the 1st day January 1800 this widow is certain, she knows well that it was about 10 days before Christmas, she knows well that her eldest child was born at a year after marriage and that she is going in her 53rd year yet she cannot state certainly having no record whether it was in 1798, 1799, it is put down 99. The widow states that her husband after marriage made five crops in Carolina and then removed to Tennessee. Vernon heard of them in Tennessee about the year 1804 which will carry it back to 1799- at least to the date of the marriage.
Be pleased to examine the papers and roles and repeat the result to yours
most obedient servant
Respectfully
Absalom L. Burene
P.O. Mill Bend Ten

Hon J. E. Heath
Com Pens.
Washington DC
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2389
Anna Coward
Wid of Joel

stamped: rejected
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State of Tennessee
County of Hawkins
On this 21st day of October A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty two and after searching the old papers of Anna Coward and after the foregoing declaration was sworn to and assigned, have found the following "old paper", which she saith And Coward in the prosecution of support to her claim as widow of said Joel Coward therein mentioned begs leave to present, which is herewith excused and is understood to be in the following words and figures to wit
"This is to certify that Joel Coward enlisted under me in the Continental service to escape of being punishd. as his enlistment not being according to Law. I do discharge from that enlistment August 17, 1780
Signed Wm. Johnson Com C. Troops"
---
Which paper she said Anna Coward who is widow of said identical Joel Coward Dd. therein mentiond. married before the first day of January A.D. 1800, who died as before stated the said widow begs leave that the Honorable Commissioner of Pensions shall take and put such construction upon as his better advantage gives him, and further begs leave to submit for explanation her construction of the said paper which is that said paper is dated the day after the Battle near Camden S.C. and the time of "Gates defect" and the said widow believes that said discharge is same paper to set said Joel Coward right "according to Law" and, and she has no
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idea that her said husband Joel Coward ever did in any way "desert or prove traitorous" but she, said widow declares that she has heard her husband speak of serving two tours in said war, and she understood too that Captain Herd under whom he said Coward said he served as a "militia officer." with this belief that there is something about this discharge that may give light upon her claim she begs leave to submit the same with the facts stated-
Anna Coward her mark X

Sworn to and subscribed to before me this day and year first above written And I certify that the facts therein stated as to the finding said paper submitted is true and the other facts stated I believe to be true and that the said Anna Coward whose name appears to the above is the same Anna Coward who is widow as aforesaid and is the age she has heretofore stated before me.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand & seal at the residence of said Anna Coward in the County aforesaid
James. H. Walker {JP}
JP for said County
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State of Tennessee
Hawkins County SS
I, James H. Vance Clerk of the County Court of said County do certify that James H. Walker Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavits were made is now and was at the several dates thereof an acting Justice of the Peace and Chairman and Presiding Justice of the County Court of said County legally commissioned and qualified and that his several signatures hereto are genuine
Given under my hand & official seal at Office in Rogasville the 1st day of November 1852
J. H. Vance Clerk
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State of Tennessee
County of Hawkins
On this 21st day of October AD 1852 Personally appeared before me an acting Justice of the peace in and for said County and State aforesaid Elizabeth Vernon aged eighty five years, who on her oath makes the following statement that is to say
That said affiant was born in Anson County North Carolina about the year 1767 and that she lived in said County and in the adjoining County of Richmond in said state up to about the year 1799 and is sister to and knows of course her history to wit Anna Coward. that said Anna and her both lived in their father's family together up to about the fall or winter she think not later than December 1798 or 1799 - and in that month her sister said Anna was married to her certain knowledge to Joel Coward and the man's name that married them was Darby Henniger a Baptist Preacher and they moved off to Marlboro District South Carolina. though said affiant frequently visited her said sister and was well aware of her situation in life all the time and after five years said affiant's Father and family and said Joel Coward and his wife Anna and his Children moved to Hawkins County Tennessee and settled in the same neighborhood and knew the situation in life all the time of her said sister Anna and her said husband Joel Coward up to the day of his death which occured in November 1819 and all of said period from the marriage of
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aforesaid up to said death of said Joel Coward her said sister Anna and said Joel Coward lived together in the bonds of affection as man and wife - she said affiant further states that she has resided in the same neighborhood with her said sister Anna ever since the death of her said husband up to this day and that she has never been since married and is now a widow living in said County and State aforesaid and after such statement she repeat that she knows her said sister Anna was married to said Joel Coward before the 1st day of January one thousand eight hundred and that they lived together as man and wife to the day of his death, and that her sister is now a widow.
The said Elizabeth further states that she knew and has recollection of seeing him the said Joel Coward pass by said affiants house frequently on his way to set his said Coward's Sister before he ever enlisted in the war of the revolution, and his stayd. all night at her said affiants Fathers house. She soons however heard that said Coward had enlisted in the army and this was before the year seventeen hundred and eighty and it was about three years before she ever seen him again and she then and thereafter was well acquainted with him said Joel Coward up to his said death She understood he was an enlisted Soldier for three years and was at the battle near Camden South Carolina
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which place was not as she thinks were than eighty miles from her Fathers house. Said affiant has heard said Coward often talk of the war and of being at the battle aforesaid and she has often heard him say that he had served under Captain Herd, and various the officers in Genl. Gates or Genl. Marion 's Command. to the end the said affiant Elizabeth fully believes that said Joel Coward was a soldier of the revolutionary war and that he served out his full term of service and was honorably discharged. married, and died as aforesaid she further states that she has seen a scar like a gash cut on said Cowards head which she has heard him say was done with a bullet whilst he was in the War.
She further and lastly states that she has no interest in her sisters obtaining a pension further than that of affection, and no further, and that she has been a member of the Methodist Church for more than sixty years.
Elizabeth Vernon her mark X

State of Tennessee
Hawkins County
on this 27 day of October A.D. 1852, personally came as aforesaid the above named Elizabeth Vernon and after fully understanding the contents of the foregoing affidavit was duly sworn to and subscribed the same in my presents and I certify that I have been acquainted with the said Elizabeth Vernon for many years
James H. Walker {JP}
JP for said county
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past and further certify that to the statements of the said affiant foregoing full faith and credit is due and ought to be given-
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this day above
James H. Walker {seal}
JP for said County