Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 3454, Nathaniel Watson, N.C.
Page 1

3-1776

SERVICE
N. C.

Watson. Nathaniel

NUMBER
S3454

Carded
CONTENTS
Page 2

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[left side] East Tennessee 26975  20.97

Nathaniel Watson 
of Monroe Co. in the State of E. Tenn[essee]
who was a Pr  in the Company comm[anded] 
by Captain A. Bostick of the Regt commanded 
by Col Cleveland in the S Carolina
line for 13 Mo 7 dys [days] pri. $44.10
N.C. Line. Records corrected Feby 24 '04

Inscribed on the Roll of East Tenn [Tennessee]
at the rate of 44 Dollars 10 Cents per annum, 
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 30 day of July, 
and Sent to J A Coffin Madisonville

Arrears to the 4th of  Mch [March] 34  132.31
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept  22.15
$154.35

{Revolutionary Claim,} 
{Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by  J T Sprague, Clerk,
Book E   Vol. 7 Page 78

[right side] Dup cert. is.d [issued] Jan 29 18[cut off] & sent Hon. L. Lea. H. R.
Page 3

[The following transcript is extremely faint] 
State of Tennessee} 
Monroe County} Personally appeared before me Enos Hooper an acting Justice of the peace in and for said County Nathaniel Watson the same person who was qualified to the Original Declaration to which this is an amendment and who being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith as follows by way of amendment.
That by reason of extreme 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.
In the year 1778, he served two tours of three months in the Cavalry, in the office of Sergeant under Captain Absalom Bostick of militia against the Tories, ranging along the Yadkin River through that section of County.
Soon afterwards in the year 1778 or early in 1779, he thinks he served one tour of three months under Captain Robert Ralston of County in the militia -- and in similar service.
In 1780 he was in service five weeks in the trip to the King's Mountain battle under Captain William Meredy [William Meredith], as a private of Cavalry. In 1779 or early in '80 he went under command of Captain Robert Hill of County as a Sergeant down to Wilmington, and was gone three months. He got the office of Sergeant on the representation [?] of Captain Bostick who stayed at home, making in all 13 months and one week -- 9 months as Sergeant and
Page 4

[The following transcript is extremely faint] 

4 months and one week as a private of cavalry which he claims a pension. He always lived in Surry County North Carolina during the service, and rendered all his service in that County (except when he occasionally crossed the line) with the exception of the 2 tours to Kings Mountain and Wilmington. The foregoing service is all for which he claims: though he is convinced it does not embrace all, as his memory has greatly failed him. Various skirmishing parties of which he was a member he omits as he cannot particular rise the time, he was in service or the date. Captain Bostick was a great deal in service, and applicant is convinced he served under him more than what is stated. He was in actual service the terms mentioned above. 
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 15th of July 1834 
Nath'l [his x mark]Watson
E. C. Hooper, JP S
a justis of the pise [Justice of the peace] 

I Enos Hooper an acting justice aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing amended declaration was hereto subscribed before me as aforesaid: and also that the applicant is infirmed aged and not of good mind for his years though his memory is which impaired & that I [Illegible]  with his whole neighborhood believe his statement to be true
E C Hooper
a justis of the pise [Justice of the peace
Page 5

I W. S. Callaway Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions in and for the said County of Monroe do hereby certify that E. C. Hooper before whom the foregoing amended Declaration was sworn to is an acting Justice of said Court, and that his name as appointed to the foregoing certificate is in his own proper hand writing. 
Witness my hand and private seal (having none official) at Office in Madisonville this 16th July 1834. 
{Seal} Wm. S. Callaway Clerk 

See certificate of Hon Luke Lea to Original Decr [Declaration]
Page 6

[crossed out - 31 2. 31]
13,516 
Nathaniel Watson 
Tennessee 


[crossed out - Hon. L Lea H R J A Coffin Madisonville E. Tenn.]
J A Coffin Madisonville E. Tenn.
Page 7

State of Tennessee} 
Monroe County} On this 30th day of May 1834, personally appeared before me Enos Hooper one of the Justices of the peace in and for said County Nathaniel Watson, a resident of said County, aged from 90 to 95, 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.
He was born as he has always understood, on Appomattox River in Virginia, where he lived till four years old when his father moved into Surry County N. C. In what year applicant was born he does not know, having no record of his age; never having any education – being unable to read or write. His exact age he has already remarked he does not know. His youngest child, of seven, is about fifty years old. He was living in Surry County N. Ca. when called into service and lived there ever since till between twenty or thirty years ago when he moved into the adjoining County of Blount Tenn. where he lived till 12 or 14 years ago, since when he has lived in said adjoining counties Monroe and Blount, with his children, and now resides in said Monroe. There was one short period during which he moved into Georgia and So. Carolina, where he lived – perhaps a year – and then returned to said Surry, before he came to Tennessee.
Applicant's memory is so much impaired by old age and that he cannot state his services as distinctly as he could wish; but to the best of his recollection he served as follows - - 
Early in the revolution, he cannot say what year, while living in said Surry County, when matters were in great confusion as to who would hold on for King George and who would be for America, he took what was called, he thinks, the state oath. Not long afterwards the Whigs formed into companies in accordance with, he thinks, the orders of Governor Alexander Martin. The Tories were not formed into parties at first, but afterwards, when they found they would have to take the oath to be for America, or would be taken prisoners, they left their homes in many instances and formed into parties and did great damage when they got opportunity. In the year 1777 or 1778, he supposes, from the best he can remember, he was in service in the cavalry under Captain Absalom Bostick of militia
Page 8

against the Tories for several terms of three months. Indeed he was in service several years off and on against the Tories, being some times out longer and sometimes shorter periods. Once or twice while in Bostick's company for terms of 3 months he was in the minute service having taken an oath to be ready at a minute's warning – and in several terms he was out nearly all the time. Two years he acted as Sergeant – during which time he had a man hired to attend to his farm, and was himself from home, and saw little satisfaction during the time. He did one years service as Sergeant, he is well convinced. But, though he can remember old events much better than recent occurrences, and can tell many things which occurred, he cannot well distinguish the different periods (and their length) of his service. Applicant remembers helping to take a large number of Tory prisoners from Ramsour's Mill to Salisbury jail and afterwards from there to Guilford jail, to keep them from the British. He enlisted under Joseph Tate, a recruiting officer, during the war, and received a bounty of 8 dollars, but Tate died in a few days after he enlisted and applicant never went into service after the enlistment – but returned to his own troops. This is the only time he ever enlisted. He was out the campaign to King's Mountain and was in the battle there. He was not obliged to go, and did not go with his own company; but under Capt.n William Meridy [Captain William Meredith] the only Col. he knew in this Campaign was Col. Cleaveland [Benjamin Cleveland]. He was not out this tour more than a month or five weeks, and don't know that any one hired him, or whether he went without – but he never got anything – and never got any compensation during the war, except 8 dollars from Tate. He helped to take two or three hundred prisoners, Tories, from King's Mountain on to the Moravian town in N. Ca. and there kept them under guard. Applicant was at the battle of Guilford, under the command of Capt. Bostick. There he was for the first time with Genl Greene's [General Nathanael Greene's] Army. After the defeat at Guilford he went on homewards; and very soon afterwards he went as Sergeant under Captain Robert Hill down to Wilmington, where the British went off in their ships. Our men came ashore. This was a three months tour. Capt, Bostick stayed at home this tour; why, applicant cannot say. This is all the service applicant remembers; though he served in various tours against the Tories which he has not particularized and cannot distinctly remember. In those tours they took many Tories prisoners and killed several. Applicant was very large and stout, had a large sword, and two large pistols. His services were unanimously sought in the difficulties with the Tories and he was not backward in going. He is convinced he served three years of actual service, and always in the cavalry. At Guilford battle he had his horse shot from under him, and Governor
Page 9

Martin promised him as good a horse, or 30 pounds, but he never got either. He was well acquainted with the Govr {Governor] having known him well when he was a lawyer in Salisbury. Applicant claims for two years – one year a Sergeant and one year a private of cavalry & always in militia. 
Applicant received a discharge from Captain Bostick for three months, one from Capt. Hill for 3 months, and one from Capt. Meredith for how long he don't know. 
He is known to the following persons in his neighborhood who can testify to his character for veracity and their belief in his service as a revolutionary soldier, John Hooper, John Smalling, Samuel Smalling, Baptist McNabb. 
He has no documentary evidence, and knows of no person who can testify to his service. He is utterly unable to attend in court by reason of infirmity.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. 
Nathaniel [his x mark] Watson, 
Witness: E. L. Hooper
Sworn to and subscribed} 
before me the day above written}
E. L. Hooper,}
A Justice of the peace for} 
Monroe County, Tenn.}

We Jesse Leming a Clergyman and Henry Monroe both residing in Monroe County, Tennessee, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Nathl. [Nathaniel] Watson who has sworn to and subscribed the foregoing declaration; that he is of extreme old age, as old we believe as he states, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a revolutionary soldier, and that we entirely concur in that opinion.- 
Jesse Laming
Henry Monroe
Sworn to and subscribed the} 
day and year aforesaid} 
E C Hooper}
A Justice of the peace for said County}
Page 10

And I Enos Hooper an acting justice of the peace in and for the said County of Monroe do hereby declare it to be my opinion after investigating the matter, and putting the interrogators prescribed by the War Department, that the above named Applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. I also certify, that, owing to bodily infirmity, he cannot attend in Court. It also appears to me that Jesse Leming who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman and Henry Monroe who has signed the same is a respectable citizen; that both their statements are entitled to full credit 
E C Hooper
Justice of the peace for said Monroe County 

I. W. S. Calloway, Clerk of the County Court for said County of Monroe do hereby certify that Enos Hopper is an acting Justice of said Court, and that his signature to the above certificate is in his own proper hand writing. 
Witness my hand and private seal having none official, at Office in Madisonville, this 2nd June 1834
{seal} W. S. Calloway clk [clerk]

I Luke Lea a member of Congress for Tennessee do certify that William S. Callaway is clerk of the said Court in said Monroe County, and that his name is signed to the above certificate, as I only believe in his own proper hand writing. 
Luke Lea 
June 16th 1834.
Page 11

Nathaniel Watson's 
application for a 
duplicate Certificate.

considered sufficient 
by the Commr [Commissioner] Jan 29. 1836 
ZDW

Dind [send or delivered] to J. A. Coffin 
Madisonville E. Tennessee
Page 12

Nathaniel Watson's application for a new certificate 
County of Monroe Tennessee S.S. 

On this 31st day of December 1835, before me, the subscriber a Justice of the peace for the said County of Monroe, personally appeared Nathaniel Watson who, on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain -- Bostick -- in the Regiment commanded by Colonel --- in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of Tennessee, that he received a certificate, of that fact under the signature and seal of the Secretary of War; which certificate, on or about the 28 -- day of March 1835 at or near Knoxville, he has reason to believe, and does believe (that the said certificate) was lost by John Harris whom applicant had empowered to draw his money as his attorney in fact, and applicant has been unable to hear of or obtain said certificate since. applicant is informed and believes his said certificate was lost by slipping out of the docket of said Harris. 

Nathaniel [his x mark] Watson

Sworn to and subscribed} 
before me the day and year}
aforesaid}
E C Hooper}
A Justice of the peace in}
and for said County}
Page 13

State of Tennessee} 
Monroe County} Personally appeared before the subscriber and acting Justice of the peace in and for said County Henry Monroe and made oath in due form of Law that he is well acquainted with Nathaniel Watson a revolutionary pensioner, and well knows him to be the same person described in the foregoing affidavit made by said Watson 
[signed] Henry Monroe
Sworn to and subscribed} 
before me this Dec 31st 1835} 
E C Hooper} 
A Justice of the peace for} 
said County} 

I E.C. Hooper a Justice of the peace as aforesaid do certify that Henry Monroe who made the above affidavit before me, is a person of veracity and entitled to full faith and credit 
E C Hooper

State of Tennessee} 
Monroe County} I John Harris do solemnly swear that on or about the 28 day of March last I was acting as attorney in fact for the before named Nathaniel Watson, and after having drawn the pension money due him at Knoxville, did lose his certificate by the same slipping out of my pocket as I suppose, at Knoxville or on the way home, & I have not seen the same since. 
John Harris
Sworn to & subscribed before me}
Dec. 31st 1835. E C Hooper}
A. Justice of the peace for said County}
Page 14

I William S. Callaway Clerk of the Court of pleas and Quarter sessions in and for the county of Monroe in the State of Tennessee, do certify that E. C. Hooper whose name appears to the foregoing affidavit and certificate is now and was at the time of signing his name to the same an acting Justice of the peace for said County and that his name is signed as aforesaid in his own hand writing 
Witness my hand and private seal, there being no official, at office in Madisonville December 31st 1835. William S. Callaway Clerk 
By Jm. Broyles D Clk [Deputy Clerk]
{Seal}

I Luke Lea a member of Congress from the State of Tennessee do certify that William S. Callaway is Clerk of the County Court of Monroe County aforesaid, and that I am informed that James Broyles whose name appears above is his acting deputy, which I verily believe, and also that his name as above is in his own hand writing. 
Luke Lea 
January 23rd 1835.
Page 15

Jan 26

Nathl [Nathaniel] Watson Mo.r [Monroe] Ten. for duplicate 26,975
for Dub Cert. 
His Name of the
Co;. not given

Issue Dub.

Hon. Luke Lea H R

[written sideways] Col. James L. Edwards
{Commr. [Commissioner] of Pensions
{War Department
Page 16

Washington City 
January 25th 1836

Col. James L. Edwards 
Comm of Pensions,

Sir, 

I have the honor herewith to enclose to you the application of Nathaniel Watson an Invalid Pensioner, for a duplicate Certificate, having lost the Original, as set forth by him in his petition –

I am Respectfully 
your obt. Servt [obedient servant]
Luke Lea
Page 17

Hon.
Office
June 18th 1854

Sir, 
Your declaration of 
has been examined and is returned,
The claims for a number of tours of duty as a  specifying what the  during each tour were performed, under what officer he served, or the duration of each time of service as is performed in 
(I), in the 
A favourite Cannot be had until the applicant shall have complied with the regulations in these respects, 
I have the honour to be,
Very Respectfully
Your Obt. Servant
J.L. Edwards
Page 18

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

3454

Rev War  INVALID

File No. 3454

Nathaniel Watson

* Pri. S. C. line

Act: June 7th, 1832

Index: - Vol. A, Page 390

[Arrangement of 1870.]

* N. C. Line. Records corrected Feby 24 ‘04 
A.
Page 19

13.816 
Tenn.
Nathl [Nathaniel] Watson 
Tennessee 

from 1778 / 2=13 mos [months]
7 days $44.10/100

Cannot allow a [Illegible] without proof

J. A. Coffin Madisonville Tennessee
Page 20

3
Alleged service, as they are known to the Department.  A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted
; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his
Case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State
troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. To a Soldier: Did you ever receive a discharge from service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
To an Officer: Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be
the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform,
and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.

-----
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and 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. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the
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 ____ and for such service I claim a pension."
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 pensions merely state that 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 in highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown 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 embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil
pursuit,
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.


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 papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

PROOF OF SERVICE.
[j] 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 in their affidavits the time of the claimant's 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.
[k] The notes from [a] and [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.