Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 5878, William Brown, N.C. S.C.
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(8-1776)

SERVICE                              NUMBER   
N.C.          Brown, William    W.5878
Nancy

CONTENT

(Illegible)
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[Worn and torn page little can be transcribed]

September
1776 

Daniel
Son of Henry was born 18 day    Month. year 1782

tenley was born ...4 day of love 1780 and died the 2/ day of the same month
1780 

Daniel oneve was born the 15 day of September 

Thomas Brown 
Born October 
   Day 1791
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( left page ) 3rd Aud to  p agt  Apl 3rd : 49  ( right page )  16.407 North Carolina William Brown of Richmond  in the  State of No. Ca.  who was a pri. Cav in the __ commanded  by Captain  __ of the Regt. commanded b y Col. Thompson in the No. Ca. line for 9 months  . Inscribed on the Roll of No. Carolina at the rate of 37 Dollars 50 Cents per annum , to commence on the 4th day of March 1831. certificate of Pension issued  the 6th day of Augt. '80  and sent to  F.T. Leak Richmond, C.H. No Ca.  Arrears to the 4th of March 1833  $ 75.00 Semi- anl. allowance ending 4 Sept. 1833  $ 18.75 ( total $ 93.75 ) { Revolutionary Claim Act  June 7, 1832 } Recorded by N Rice Book E Vol. 6 Page 35
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632
North Carolina

Nancy Brown dec'd
widow of  William Brown
N C

Who served in the Revolutionary
war, as a Private of Cavalry

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
37 Dollars 50
cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1848 & end
January 26th 1849

Certificate of Pension issued the 13th day of April 1853

and sent to Isaac N Coffin,
Present

Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act
February 2, 1848, Page 196 Vol 1
(32)
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3676
Declaration of
William Brown
For Pension
July [illegible] 1832
[illegible] C Court

a Copy
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Declaration of William Brown to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress of the  United States passed  the 7thof June 1832.  [ State of North Carolina Richmond County ] Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions July Term 1832  Personally appeared before the  worshipful  Justice of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions  William Brown a resident of the County & State aforesaid  aged sixty nine or seventy years who being 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 some three or four months  before the taking of Savannah in Georgia by the British  he then resided in  Bladen County  was drafted in the  Rangers or Thompson's light horse & joined  Col. Thompson's corps  under Capt. Uriah  Goodwin , the Lieutenant 's name  not recollected distinctly  and served under them probably more than nine months , the fore part of said time in Wilmington North Carolina , and the latter part in South Carolina and was stationed  guarding  the magazine at Savannah under Lieutenant Newsom - that after the expiration of the time of service  he this deponent came home to North Carolina after which he served  several times under
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the foregoing declaration  except by his own oath . He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present  and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any  Agency of any State. Sworn to and subscribed the day & year above written . Sworn to  & subscribed the day & year above written . William Brown ( his mark X ) test M.D. Crawford  ( signed ) clk  And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that after putting  seven interrogatories to the said William Brown that he was a soldier of the Revolution and served as he states. An the  Court further certifies that  Daniel McKay whose certificate is appended  is a clergyman of good character and  Duncan Mc Laurin  who has also signed the same is a man of high character and that they are both  residents of this County.  Test M . D. Crawford ( signed ) clk  [ State of No. Carolina Richmond County ] We Daniel Mc Kay  clergyman  and Duncan McLaurin  both residing in the County of Richmond certify that we are well acquainted with  William Brown  who has subscribed  to  and sworn to the above declaration  that we believe him to be  about seventy years of age  that he is reputed  & believed in the neighborhood where her resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution  & that we concur in that opinion. Danl. McKay ( signed ) D. McLaurin ( signed )  Test M.D. Crawford ( signed ) clk
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[ North Carolina Richmond County ] I Walter Leak do certify that I am well acquainted with  William Brown who signed the above declaration, that I have always understood he was a soldier of the Revolutionary War and I fully believe he did serve as he states.  Walter Leak ( signed ) - 71 years old  Test M.D. Crawford ( signed ) clk  [ State of No. Carolina Richmond County ]  I, Martin D. Crawford clerk of the Court of Pleas  & Quarter  Sessions for the County aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing  contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of William Brown for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand  & seal of office this 5th day of August 1832. M.D. Crawford ( signed / sealed ) clerk
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[ State of No. Carolina Richmond County ] Court of Pleas  & Quarter Sessions  July Term  1833. This day personally appeared in open Court  It being a Court of Record  William Brown  aged between 70  and 71 who exhibits the following  as commentary or rather explanatory  of his  former declaration in order to entitle himself to the benefit of an act of  the 7th June 1832,  making provision for revolutionary soldiers . In the 1st place he states that he does not now know or can not tell in what year he was born, but from every circumstance he has  good reason to believe  that he was born in  1761 or 1762 , and that he thinks  from conversation which he has had with his old companions in arms  & others that he is  now about 70 or 71 . he may however be older for he has no record of his age owning to the circumstance  which he stated in his original declaration.  That he never  rec'd a discharge from the service  . If he did he has losed ( lost )  the same. That he is known to the following persons in his neighborhood who can testify as to his character for veracity  & their belief in his services as a soldier of the revolution ( viz. )  Walter Leak Sen, Isac Williamson. William Crawford high sheriff , W.F. Leak & others.  William Brown further states upon his oath that from  a letter which he rec'd  from the war department
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is advised that  some discrepancies or  summary  contradictions  appear between  his  original declaration and his amended declaration . to which his attention has been called by the war department and on which he wishes to be indulged in making explanation he state that when he first applied his declaration was drawn up by a gentleman of  high standing but who  being but little acquainted with  such business , did not set forth in the declaration , or for any time or number of months as the(  additional ) ( underscored ) service under Captain Pate and Captain Council, but  simply stated that he served several tours, he further states that he was under the impression that he had stated in his original declaration  that he served first 9 months & then 15 months (  additional  ) ( underscored )  but he discovered not , he yet that he cannot swear positively as to having served  ( precisely ) ( underscored )  15 months under Captain Pate . Council,  &  Coffin, but from  every circumstance which he as repeatedly resolved in his  .. ( illegible ) service he does say that according to the best of his recollection  he did serve as much as the 15 months before spoken of  in addition to the  9 mos. making in all  24 months  & for which service he claims a pension.  Sworn to and
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subscribed in open Court  the 16th  July 1833. Wm Brown ( his mark ) Test Elias Sinclair ( signed ) D.C.  Personally appeared in open Court  Moses Knight  and ( Isac Williamson - name drawn through )  both soldiers of the revolution  who being first duly sworn according to law  deposeth and saith that they were well acquainted with Wm. Brown   in the revolutionary war, that they knew of their own knowledge  that he was a soldier  of the revolution for they have seen him at different  times in service ,  they think in  1780 & 1781 of which however  they are not certain, that he is a man of undoubted veracity  & they have  all confidence  that he served as he has states in his declaration  . Sworn to  & subscribed  the 19  July 1833. Moses Knight ( signed )  Test Elias Sinclair ( signed ) D.C.  Personally appeared in open Court  W.F. Leak  , Walter Leak  Senr.  & Wm. Crawford  high sheriff  & Jno R Buir  who state that they have been acquainted with Wm. Brown  for a considerable  time  some of  us upwards of 40 years, that he is a man of undoubted  reputation and what he states as to his service in the revolution, they believe to be true.  Sworn to & subscribed this the 16th  July 1833. W.F. Leak ( signed ) , Jno. R. Buir ( signed )  Walter Leak ( signed ) , Will Crawford ( signed ) Test Elias Sinclair ( signed )  D.C.
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[ State of No. Carolina Richmond County ] Court off Pleas & Quarter Sessions  July Term 1833.  The Court   takes this occasion to say to the war department , that not withstanding  the  summary difference which may appear in the original declaration of Wm. Brown  and the amended declaration , yet they are confident  from their knowledge  of his high standing   & undoubted veracity that full faith should be given to his declaration as  having served as he sets forth in all 24 months. J Macalester ( signed ) chairman  [ State of No. Carolina Richmond County ] I , Elias Sinclair  Deputy Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter  Sessions  do hereby certify that Isac Williamson, Moses Knight, Wm. Leak Sen & Jno R. Buir  whose name appear to the foregoing affidavits are men of high standing  & that all  confidence is to be  given to what they  state & I further  certify that the foregoing contains a new statement of explanatory  and amended declaration in the case of Wm. Brown had before  Court  the 16th July 1833 in witness  I have placed my hand  & seal of office. Elias Sinclair ( signed ) D.C.
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No 13656

Nancy Brown

mo of William
N C
Act of July 1838
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[ State of North Carolina Richmond County ] SS. On this 15th day of April 1848  personally appeared  before the undersigned Duncan W Laurin  one of the Justices of the peace in & for said County , Nancy Brown , a resident of the  Beaverdam settlement  in the County of Richmond aforesaid  aged about 77 years , who being first duly sworn according to law , doth on her oath make the following declaration , in order to obtain the  benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed on the 2nd day of February  1848 , granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the revolutionary war, that she is the widow of William Brown  who was a private of Cavalry in the war of the revolution, & who received a pension of thirty seven dollars and fifty  cents per annum , in conformity with the act of Congress passed the 7th June  1832, and that he said William Brown  died on the 18th day of October 1847 . That she was married to said Brown in the year 1790 and that she is still a widow.  Nancy Brown ( her mark ) Sworn to and subscribed before me the day & year above  written. D.W. Laurin ( signed ) J.P.  I do hereby certify that I am acquainted with the above declarant  Mrs. Nancy Brown who was the wife of  the above named William Brown, and as stated by herself is now a widow. I further certify that I have been  acquainted with Mrs. Brown upwards of forty years. April 15th 1848 . D.W. Laurin ( signed ) J.P.  Wm. Brown's certificate of pension is dated 6th August 1833 and recorded in the pension office Book E. Vol. 6 Page 35 by N. Rice .
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[ State of North Carolina Richmond County ] I , R. S. McDonald  clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for Richmond County  certify that Duncan W Laurin is a Magistrate as above and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name this  17th day of Apl. 1848 . R S McDonald ( signed ) C.C.C.   [ State of No. Carolina Richmond County ] I, W F Leak  chairman of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions hereby certify that R.S. McDonald  whose name appears to the above certificate  is the clerk of our said Court  that the signature is in his own proper hand writing  , and full faith and credit are due his official acts and that the above is  in due form of law. given under my hand  and  private seal , having no official seal this 17  April 1848. W F Leak ( signed / sealed ) Chairman
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3676
Wiliam Brown
Richmond Co
N C

Admit
9m Pri lead
37.50

IV V
1. 2.6. 7'
Richmond 
   99
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3676

BRIEF in the case of William Brown
of Richmond Co   in the State of N C 
 (Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?open County
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity ?
3. How old is he? 69 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period.      Duration                        Rank.          Names of General and Field Officers
                  of Service .                                          under whom he served.
_______________________________________________________
 In 17.       Years,Months, Days.    As a              Gen.
                    " More than 9mo"      [illegible]      Col Thompson

5. In what battles was he engaged?  None

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Bladen Co N C

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 ?[illegible]

X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.


Examining Clerk.
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[ State of North Carolina Richmond County ] Personally came Israel Snead before me  one Duncan W Laurin an acting Justice of the peace in   & for said County  and maketh oath that from his infancy  he was acquainted with   William Brown ( thro'  whom the present claim is referred ) and Nancy his wife  till their death, That this deponent  is now in his fifty sixth year . That he lived always in Richmond County  & neighborhood of said William & Nancy Brown. That the common  prayer book from which the annexed leaf is taken he after saw in the house of said Brown, that the entry  of the age of Thomas Brown the oldest child of said William & Nancy Brown is in the hand writing of this  deponent's father  who he believes  did all or most of the writing  for  Wm. Brown. That if John Brown the 4th  child of said William  & Nancy Brown is alive he is  very near  this deponent's age. That said William & Nancy Brown  had a family of nine children who remained in the family till their arrival of age or longer, and that the said William & Nancy lived reputably  & uninterruptedly together as man & wife & that this deponent  never heard  the least insinuation  to the contrary. That the nearest  evidence known to this deponent of the  fact of the marriage of said William & Nancy Brown before the first of January  1794  is the record in his father's  hand writing of the birth of Thomas who it appears was born  the 20th of October 1791  & that he as well as  all the nine children were known  & never doubted to be the children of the married couple  said William & Nancy  Brown, and this deponent further states  on oath  that to the best information  he has had as to their residence that the children of William  & Nancy Brown  are as follows  , to wit,  Thomas Brown  died long ago . Henry Brown  died five years ago. John Brown is some of the .. ( illegible )
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State & not  heard from in many years . Wilson Brown now living in this County  & Mary , Martha, Nancy , &  Huldah  Brown live in this County. That Nancy Brown  widow of William Brown  was a resident of Richmond County  State of North Carolina  & died in said County  on the 26th  day of January 1849  & that  all her children dead &  alive are named above.  Israel Snead ( signed ) Sworn to & subscribed before me  this 11th April 1850 . D W Laurin ( signed ) J.P. ( notes - 4th line  "that " interlined , 16th line " very near " interlined  - 19th page ) ( 6th line " children " interlined  2nd page )  I certify in the presence of said Israel Snead  took the leave from the old common prayer book on which the entry of Thomas Brown's  ( among other )  birth is made & attached to this by .. ( illegible )  and further certify  that said Israel Snead is a credible person  & that full faith  & credit should be given to his oath  & the statement  by him above made.  D W Laurin ( signed ) J.P.
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[ State of North Carolina Richmond County ] Personally appeared before me  Duncan W. Laurin a Justice of the peace & duly authorized to administer oaths in said County   Daniel  B . Snead and Thomas Beasley  who being first sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God say that  they were acquainted with Nancy Brown , widow of William Brown late United States pensioner  ever since we knew any person. That we were both at the burial of  said William Brown who died in October 1847  that his widow said Nancy Brown  lived at the place where he husband died till  on or about the 26th day of January 1849 when she died. That we were both at the burial of said Nancy Brown, the deponent Daniel B Snead lived there  the same year & Thomas Beasley  was a very near neighbor to her since his birth. D. B. Snead ( signed ) Thomas Beasley  (signed ) Sworn to & subscribed before me  this 25th  Jan. 1855.  D W Laurin ( signed ) J.P.  [ State of North Carolina Richmond County ] I Louis H. Webb Clerk of the Court of Pleas  & Quarter Sessions  holden at Rockingham in and for the County of Richmond  in said  State do hereby certify that   satisfactory evidence has be exhibited to me by the foregoing deposition mad and sworn to  before  D.W. Laurin  an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid , who is duly commissioned  and sworn and  whose signature above is genuine.  That Nancy Brown widow of William Brown was a resident of Richmond County in the State
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Revy WIDOW, &c.
File No. 5878
Nancy Brown
Wid
Wm Brown
Pri Rev War
act Feby. 24th 48
:___ Vol A. Page 83

[Arrangement of 1870]
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Wm Brown
Page 37

Wm Brown
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Rev War    Brief…. formatted  page 1

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the  negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of  
                           William Brown                                  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 assigned for his not doing so? 

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?  No 

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? ( Yes is changed to No with a check mark)  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
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                                                                             2

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'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? Yes

Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? Yes

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? 1. 2. 6.     7 not answered

                                                          ________________________________
                                                                     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_________mpnths   and ______days, 
I served as a __________; and for such service I claim a pension.
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3

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 pension 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 objectionable. 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 embolied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either the field or  in garrisonand for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.

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 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 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 nerrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass
under the seal of office of the certifying oflicer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly
attached to the certificate. 

(note) 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.






9 Months at least

C.  (illegable)