Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 994, James Bolton, Md N.C.
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SERVICE                                                  NUMBER
Md.               Bolton, James                     R. 994.
N. b.

CONTENTS
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James Bolton
Declaration

26048

Direct to J E David
Marlborough District
So Ca
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832.

State of South Carolina
Marlborough District

Court of Common Pleas
Fall Term 1832

On this the first day of October AD 1832 James Bolton personally appeared in open court before the judge of the court of Common Pleas now sitting 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 7th, 1832.

That he was born on the twenty-eighth day of October AD 1748 in Queen Annes County State of Maryland aged eighty-four years on the 28th of the present month and resided in Queen Annes County State of Maryland when the revolutionary war commenced and in 1778 (to the best of his recollection) he was called out into service under Captain George Findley and Col Graves of Kenty County to the Head of Elk river for the purpose of guarding the military stores from whence the regulars were called away to Gen Washington as he had a call for them there serving a part of three months tour at the head of the Elk, we were called & marched to [illegible] where we finished the three months tour in the militia service and did no more service in Maryland in the fall following he moved with his family first to Richmond County North Carolina after residing one year in Richmond County No Ca he removed to Montgomery County N.C. then entered the service and volunteered under Capt. Pond for one year who was killed by the Tories at this own house, he then served as a volunteer under Capt. Thomas Jennings & Col Thomas Childs in which company he continued in service at different terms for two years (but cannot recollect precisely the length of either term) during the two years he recollects he served considerable more than one year and in one of the terms he was in one battle at Betty's Bridge on Drowning Creek at Col Wade defeat and continued on in service when called out as a volunteer until the war ceased. Then in 1783 moved to South Carolina Marlborough District (then called Cheraw District)
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where he now resides & has resided ever since 1783
He hereby relinquishes all claim whatever to a pension or annuity
except the present & declares that his name is not on the 
pension Roll of the Agency of any State.

Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid
B. J. Earle
Jas Bolton

residing Judge of the Court of Common
pleas & Sessions (illegible) aforesaid in open Court at Marlboro,
court house in the District & State aforesaid.

we George Bristow and Joshua Ammons residing in
Marlborough District So Ca do hereby certify that we are well 
acquainted with James Bolton who has subscribed & sworn to the
above declaration: that we believe him to be Eighty five years
of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood in
which he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and
that we concur in that opinion.

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
B J Carle
presiding judge in open court.
Joshua Ammons
in open Court
George Bristoe

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after
the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories
prescribed by the war department, that the above named
applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as
he States. And the Court further certifies that it appears
to them, that George Bristow & Joshua Ammons are residents
in Marlborough District & that their statement is
entitled to credit
B. J. Earle
presiding Judge
in open Court
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I, James C. Thomas Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas
for the District & State aforesaid do hereby certify that 
the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the
said court in the matter of the application of James Bolton
for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand
& Seal office this 4th Oct 1832
James C Thomas
(illegible) 
for A.R. Brown
Depty C. (illegible)

(seal)
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South Carolina }
Marlborough District }

Personally appeared 
before me James Bolton who on oath says that 
[blurred text] reason of old age and consequent loss of 
[blurred text] ory 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, at the times, places & under the 
officers there stated.

In the year (1778) three months as a volunteer 
private under Capt. George Findley of Col. Graves 
regiment, as marked A. on Declaration. 
[number 3 written in left margin]

In the year 1780 nine months as a private (volu
nteer) under Capt. Pond in a company of mounted 
militia men commanded by Col. Thos. Childs, 
raised for the purpose of pursuing & harassing 
the Tories & British in No. Ca. wherever their presence might 
be necessary, as marked B. on Declaration.
[number 9 written in left margin]

In the years 1780 also three months as a volun
teer private under Capt. Thos. Jennings in Col. Thos. 
[number 3 written in left margin] 
Childs regiment. In the years 1781 twelve months
as a volunteer private still under Thos. Jennings 
[number 12 written in left margin]
of Col. Childs regiment in a company of mounted 
militia men was raised for the purpose of purs
using the British & Tories in No. Ca. and in the 
[number 3 written in left margin]
year 1782, three months as a volunteer private under 
the same officers & for the same purpose as stated 
above, as marked C. on Declaration.
Thus making in the aggregate a service of two 
years & six months as a private in the militia.

And the said James Bolton further swears 
that for the periods above mentioned, he served 
with an embodied corps, called into service 
as he believes by competent authority; and 
(turn over)
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and for the times during which these services were 
performed, he was not engaged in any civil pursuit 
& that he was either in the field or in garrison
Sworn to & subscribed } Jas Bolton 
before me 4th Novr. 1833 }
Rn Bristow J.P

South Carolina }
Marlborough District }

I, James C. Thomas, Clerk of the Court 
of Common Pleas for Marlborough District 
do hereby certify that the annexed sheets, contain 
the original proceedings and amendments in 
the matter of the application of James Bolton for 
a Pension.  Also that Robertson Bristow who has 
subscribed this amendment as a magistrate, is such 
& that his certificate in that capacity is entitled 
to credit.
Given under my hand & seal of office 
this 4th day of November 1833.
James C. Thomas
for A. K Brown
Deputy C. C.
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South Carolina } Personally appeared before me 
Marlborough District } James Bolton who on oath makes 
the following amendment to his Declaration in order to 
obtain a pension under the Act of Congress passed 
June 7th 1832.  The Applicant {James Bolton) presumes 
that the services which he rendered under Capt. George Findley 
of Col. Graves regt. in the State of Mary Land [Maryland], and 
his services rendered under Capt. Saml. Pond of Col. 
Thos. Childs regt. of the State of North Carolina are 
satisfactorily proved to the Department, as the 
Department has expressed no objection to any, but the 
services rendered under Capt. Thos. Jennings.  The Applicant 
makes the following statement on oath respecting his services 
rendered under Capt. Thos. Jennings of Col. T. Childs regt. 
of No. Ca.  That he did not, it is true, serve continually 
but that he was, during the twelve months, at all times 
subject to the orders of Capt. Jennings; and was so 
often called out by Capt. Jennings, during the 
twelve months that he was under his command, that 
he could not make a crop, or do any thing else 
that benefited his family, although he had at 
that time, a wife and eight small children.  The 
Applicant further says, the manner he volunteered 
under Capt. Jennings, was to serve whenever called upon, 
and not for many specific or limited time.  And 
during the twelve months served under Capt. Jennings 
he was never out to the service, or at his home, or 
(turn over)
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or with his family, as much as two weeks at any 
one time during the whole twelve months.  Part 
of the time, he was engaged in collecting beef 
cattle from different parts of the country, by 
the orders of Capt. Jennings, for the purpose of 
supplying Genl. Gates Army, and also for the pur
pose of supplying Genl. Greens Army.  Also during 
that time under Capt. Jennings he was in a battle 
at Bettys Bridge on Drowning Creek between the 
Whigs and Tories, Whigs were commanded by Col. 
Wade and the Tories by Col. Fanning, in which 
battle the Whigs were defeated.  The remainder of the 
twelve months the Applicant was traveling from 
place to place pursuing the Brittish [British] and 
Tories, and did not do any thing else as he recollects worthy 
of mentioning.  Such was the nature of the service 
rendered under Capt. Jennings of Col. Childs 
& Col. Wade regts. by the Applicant, which he 
hopes will be satisfactory to the Department.
Sworn to & subscribed } Jas Bolton
before me Septr. 8th 1834 }
Jas. E. David JP
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South Carolina }
Marlborough District } I George Bristow Clerk 
of the Court of Common Pleas for Marlborough 
District, do hereby certify that James E. David, who 
has subscribed this amendment to James Bolton's Dec
laration for a Pension, as a magistrate, is such 
and that his certificate in that capacity is 
entitled to credit.
Given under my hand and seal of office 
this 9th September 1834.
George Bristow
C.C.Cpls.
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Amended Declarations
of
James Bolton
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South Carolina }
Marlborough Dist. }

James Bolton appeared before me & made 
oath as below which he intended as an amend
ment to his declaration for a Pension under the 
Act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832.  That his 
memory is much impaired by age & infirmity 
but that he well recollects having served nine 
months in the militia service under Capt. Pond 
as well as twelve months under Capt Jennings 
that this service was not continuous as the war 
Department supposes; but that he was called 
out for three months & one month at a time 
& that whenever he was called upon, he dis
charged his duty faithfully as a soldier.  That 
when at home during the war, he was al
most constantly out in skirmishes with the 
Tories, so that where called out as a soldier 
or sent home to refresh himself, his life was a con
stant succession of toils & dangers undergone as 
well for his own personal security, as for the in
dependence of the county which he claimed 
[words struck out] & he hopes that, that country, will not 
demand more from exhausted nature, than 
may reasonably be expected; but that after a lapse 
of so many years, it will be admitted as suf
ficient evidence that he served faithfully as 
a soldier & is entitled to the afficient gratitude 
of his country when he produces to the Department 
the certificates of two of the most respectable citizens 
of his district, that he is a man of veracity, 
when he states on oath that he served twenty 
one months as a private in the militia
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& this statement is accredited by respectable neighbours [neighbors] 
who know him best.  If this accumulation of testi
mony does not satisfy the Department that he is 
a fit subject for governmental bounty, he must 
yield to the necessity of his case & trouble them no 
further inasmuch as he can adduce no better evi
dence.  Be his fate what it may, he only says in 
conclusion, that he served twenty one months as 
a private in the militia service, whether he ever 
gets any thing for it or not.
Jas Bolton
Sworn before me this 19th }
day of April 1834 }
Rn Bristow [illegible]

South Carolina }
Marlborough Dist }

I, [name struck out] [struck out: George Bristow] Clerk of the Court of Common 
Pleas do hereby certify that [words struck out] [struck out: Roberston Bristow] who has 
subscribed the above affidavit is a [word struck out]
[struck out: Public] for [struck out: Marlborough] Dist & that 
his certificate as such is entitled to 
credit.  Given under my hand & 
seal of office this day of 
Jany 1834.
👉The above certificate being so much erased, we would 
refer the Commissioner of Pension to another certificate 
on the following page.
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South Carolina 
Marlborough District 

I, George Bristow Clerk of the Court 
of Common Pleas do hereby certify that 
Robertson Bristow who has subscribed 
this affidavit is a Justice of the Peace 
for Marlborough District, and that 
his certificate as such is entitled to 
credit. Given under my hand, and seal of 
office this nineteenth day of April 1834
George Bristow
C.C.Cpls.

👉Since the [illegible] of the Original Declaration at the War Office 
there has been a vacancy in the Clerk's Office which has been 
supplied by the election of George Bristow Esqr; which 
circumstance will account for the difference in this respect 
between the Original and the Amendment.
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Revolutionary  
Pension Claim 
of 
James Bolton 
decd. of 
So. Car.
Pr. of Atty
To 
M. Thompson 
Filed June 8, 1852 
Papers cald. for
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R. A. WATERS, Print., D street, bet. 9th and 10th

POWER OF ATTORNEY-Revolutionary Pension Claims.
---------

Know all Men by these Presents, That I, James H. Bolton, Grand
son & legal representative of James Bolton now 
deceased, who was a revolutionary soldier, do 
hereby constitute and appoint M. Thompson of the City of Washington 
my true and lawful Agent and Attorney, to prosecute the Claim of James Bolton 
for any amount of Revolutionary Pension, or Increase of Pension, that may be due; and I hereby authorize 
my said Agent to examine all the papers and documents in relation to said claim, on file in the Departments at
Washington City, or elsewhere; to file additional evidence or arguments; and to receive the Certificate which 
may be issued for said Claim, which Certificate I wish made payable to M. Thompson [struck out: and]
or to Jas E David, and ---
to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed; and to do all things that I 
might or could do were I personally present.  Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and 
Agent shall lawfully do in the premises.
WITNESS my hand and Seal this 31st day of May A. D., 1852.

Signed and Seal in the presence of } James H Bolton
Jas E. David

STATE of So. Carolina }
[struck out: COUNTY] District OF Marlborough } ss:

On this the thirty first day of May A. D. 1852
before me, the subscriber [struck out: Justice of the Peace] Clerk of the Court in and for the [struck out: County] 
District aforesaid, personally appeared 
James H. Bolton and acknowledged the foregoing Power, 
of Attorney to his act and deed, for the purposes therein mentioned.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand, }
the day and year aforesaid. and }
affixed my seal of 
office.  [struck out: J. Peace.]
P. McColl
Clerk of the Court
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[Image is a blank form]

Claim of 
Act of 
----------

STATE OF }
COUNTY } ss.

Be it known, That on this 
day of A. D., eighteen hundred and fifty , before the un
dersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared 
 a resident of in said County, and 
made oath according to law that he is the 

who was a Revolutionary Pensioner

at the rate of Dollars per annum; that has been 
informed that the said Pension ought to be increased; that he is directly interested as a claimant in said Pension, 
and makes this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as my Agent may use in prosecu
ting said claim.
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State of
County of

It is hereby certified that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited before me

that __ was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States at the rate of $__ per annum and that __ died on the  __ day of __ eighteen hundred and ___ leaving surviving __

and that __

the only surviving child __ of the aforesaid.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this ___ day of one thousand eight hundred and fifty - __
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n9-
James Bolton
S-6-

Act June 7- 1832
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Revolutionary
Act 7 June 1832
James Bolton
South Carolina
Suspended

Power of Attorney to
examine paper

Chs. C. Tucker
Atty
Present

15. July 54.
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The State of South Carolina

Know all men by these presents, that I Dorcas
Bolton, of the District of Marlborough, in the said State, do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Chas. C. Tucker , Esq. of Washington City, D. C., my true and lawful
Agent and Attorney to prosecute the claim of James Bolton for any amount of Revolutionary Pension that may be due under the provisions of the Act of or any other Act or Resolution of Congress, and I hereby authorize my said Attorney to examine all papers and documents in relation to said Claim on file in the Department at Washington City, or elsewhere
, to file additional evidence or arguments, and
to receive a certificate which may be issued for
said claim, and to appoint one or more substitute under him for the purposes herein expressed; and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney may lawfully do in the premises
Witness my hand and seal this thirty -first
day of January, 1854.
Dorcas Bolton her mark {seal}
In presence
Daniel F. Loyd
J. S. Caddell

State of South Carolina, District of Marlborough
On this thirty-first day of January, 1854, before me a Notary Public in and for the District and State above mentioned, personally appeared Dorcas Bolton, and acknowledged the foregoing power of Attorney to be her act and deed for the purpose therein mentioned
D. Matheson, N.P.
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The State of South Carolina
Marlborough District.
On this thirty-first day of January,
1854, before me the undersigned, a Notary Public in and
for the District and State aforesaid, personally appeared Dorcas Bolton, a resident of said District, and made oath according to law that she is the identical Dora Bolton who executed the foregoing power of Attorney, and that she is directly interested in said Claim as the widow of the said James Bolton, and
make this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as my said attorney may use in prosecuting said claim
Dorcas Bolton   her mark
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day
and year above written.
D. Matheson, N.P.
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The State of South Carolina, }
Marlborough District. }

I P. McColl, Clerk of the Court of Com
mon Pleas in and for the District aforesaid, do 
hereby certify that Donald Matheson, Esq., 
before whom the foregoing affidavit and ack
nowledgement were made and who has thereunto 
signed his name, was at the time of so doing a 
Notary Public in and for the District and State 
aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, and 
that all his official acts as such are entitled to 
full faith and credit.
[Blurred official seal] In testimony whereof, I have 
hereunto signed my name and 
affixed my official seal this 
sixth day of February, 1854.
P. McColl
Clerk
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S. Carolina
Revo.
Act 7. June 1832

James Bolton
Suspended

Letter to 
J. E. David 
5 Decr. 1833
do. to same Apl 30 '34
"" " Sept. 18. 1834
Hon J McQueen Jny 3 1854
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[struck out: Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.]

994
[stamp] REJECTED
[illegible initials]

P. O. James Bolton 
Service: ___

Enlisted: ___, 18__.
Discharged: ___, 18__.

Application filed: ___, 18 __.

Alleges: ___
Re-enlisted: ___

Attorney: ___
P. O. ___

___ Recognized. ___ Contract
___ Cert. of Dis. Searched for ___, 18
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[Envelope with notes]

Pension Office
15 Sept. 1834

[Address}
FREE

The Honrble Secretary of War
Washington City 

[Circular mail stamp}
BENNETTSVILLE
SEP
9
S.C.

Pension office
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Bennettsville So. Ca.
Honble L. Cass | Sept. 9th 1834

Dr. Sir

Jas. Bolton is now eighty 
seven years old & almost perfectly unably [unable] to move 
and there is no doubt but that his mind is as much 
impaired as his body. He says he is unable to state 
more distinctly his manner of serving in the Revolution 
than what he has done.  Therefore submit the whole matter 
to the consideration of the Department.

Direct to 

Jas. E. David
Bennettsville S.C.
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J. L. Edwards
Comm. of Pensions
[FREE stamp]

J. E. Davis Esq.
Marlborough C. H.
S. Carolina
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Department of War
Pension Office
April 30. 1834

Sir, 

The papers in the case of James Bolton, together 
with his amended declaration have been examined.

To render his course as plain and intelligible as in my power, 
I will again repeat that the rules require that every applicant under the 
act of June 7, 1832, for a pension for military services, shall specify there
by stating distinctly the period, the number of tours, and the duration 
of each, the place where the same was performed, the officers under whom 
he served, and the nature of the service.

The applicant has misconceived the Department altogether. 
There is no objection to the testimony offered, and no doubt existing 
of his having served; but inasmuch as he still declines conforming to 
the rules, his claim can receive no favorable action.

The applicant says that he served 12 months and not contin
uously under Capt Jennings.  How does he arrive at the conclusion?  Most 
certainly by computing his several tours; there can be no other possible 
way of forming a correct estimate; and it is the computation that 
the rules require should be exhibited to the Department, as above 
expressed.  The papers remain on file.

I am respectfully 
Your Obet. Servt.

J. L. Edwards

J. E. David Esqr.
Marlborough C. H. 
S. Carolina
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[Envelope with notes]

[Written vertically left margin]
Nov 11. 1833.
Pension Offices
S.C.
Retd

Bennettsville }
5 Nov }

[Address]

Free
The Honble Lewis Cass 
Secretary of War 
Washington City
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Marlborough District So. Called.
Nov 4th 1833

Sir  Enclosed I send you the Declaration 
& Amendmant [Amendment] of James Bolton. Your early 
attention to this will confer a favour [favor] on an old 
soldier, who is bent with age & infirmity.

Direct your answer to J. E. David Marlb
orough Ct. Ho. So. Ca.

I am respectfully your
Obt Servant 

The Hon. Lewis Cass | J. E. David