Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 8347, Andrew Donnell, N.C.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)

SERVICE
N.C.

Donnell, Andrew
or Donnel

NUMBER
S.8347

CONTENTS

carded
Page 2

[bipanel]
[left side]

7097
North Carolina
Andrew Donnel*
of Guilford Co in the State of N. Carolina
who was a private in the Company commanded
by Captain Bell of the regt commanded
Col. Martin in the No. Ca ma
time for 7 mo from '76

Andrew Donnell*
Records corrected Oct 11/04.

Inscribed on the Roll of North Carolina
at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 1 day of March
1833 and sent to
Hon. A H. Shepperd H of Reps.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $46.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 1833. 11.66
[total] $58.32

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk
Book R. Vol 1 Page 387

 [right side]
Dead- see pen cert. within.
Page 3

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of
Congress passed June 7th. 1832
North Carolina 
Guilford County 
County Court
August Term AD 1832

On this 23rd day of August, personally appeared
in open court before the Justices of the Court of
Pleas and Quarter sessions, now sitting the said
being a court of record Andrew Donnel
a resident of the United States in the County
of Guilford and State of North Carolina aged
seventy five years of age, 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 entered the service of the United States
under the following named officers and
served as herein after stated, to wit,
that he was drafted in or about the
year 1777 in the company of Capt. Bell
and was marched to the County of
Cumberland not far from Fayetteville
that with companies from many of the
Western Counties he assisted serving in
Bell's company to scour the swamps and
drive the Tories out of them - that some
of the Tories were taken prisoners. Others killed
and all were routed from the swamps
Page 4

that Genl Davidson and Col Martin he believes like
wise commanded- that he was discharged
in Fayetteville and returned home after being
out two months - that he has lost his memory to a
great extent and does not recollect the time to
his own satisfaction. that he is very much
afflicted with the palsy, but forms his opinion
from the distance and stays at several places
after his arrival near the swamps, that after
he returned from Fayetteville he was again
drafted in the Company of Capt Stewart &
marched to Wilmington to assist in confining
the British and Tories to the town, that his
memory will not enable him to say how
long from the end of the tour to Fayetteville
to the commencement of this tour- that
after he arrived in the neighbourhood of
Wilmington he was engaged with his company
in checking the ravages of the Tories
and British, who were sent out in parties
from the town to pillage the country
that for this tour he was drafted for three
months - that he staid all the time &
is satisfied of this fact; for he recollects
that some of his company became dissatisfied
from the impression that they were kept
by their Officers Col Martin and Genl
Rutherford more than three months and
went home before they were discharged
but that he continued until he was discharged
with all his company at the forks of
the North East River where there was a
bridge over the river 10 miles from
Page 5

Wilmington that when he came over Haw River
Capt Stewart permitted him and all his men who
were there with him to return home. that
knows it was in the fall of the year when he was
at Wilmington that it was towards the latter
part of the war and believes it to have been in
1780 or 1781, that in addition of the above stated
tours he was out on many short expeditions
after the tories down the country and after
down into the high hills of Randolph County
not far from Cox's Mill and consumed in
there several months- that he has put the
time consumed in the tour to Fayetteville
at two month in order to be safe and careful
but from the fact that the custom in drafting
when a draft took place, was to draft
them for 3 months he does not know whether
he was not kept on service longer than two
months - that at the commencement of
the war he was young, but always stood
ready at the many calls of his country for
which he has never received the first cent.
that he was born in the County of Guilford
and has always lived in the same - that he
has a record of his age given to him
to him by his father, that he knows
of Daniel Donnell and John Montgomery
who can testify from their personal knowledge
to his aforesaid services- that he does
not recollect whether he was discharged in
writing or by word but has not now any
documentary evidence of his services
that Rev. Eli. W. Caruthers and Rev. Wm.
Paisley, and David Woodburn Esqr.
Page 6

known to him and can and are willing
to testify to their belief of his services as a soldier
the Revolution and to his character for veracity
He hereby relinquishes 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 and subscribed in open
Court
Andrew Donnell

Test
A.E. Hanner C.C.C.

Jno Montgomery in Open Court on his oath
said that he went from the County of
Guilford to the neighbourhood of Wilmington
with Andrew Donnell who has subscribed
and sworn to the above declaration and knows
of his own personal knowledge of his being
in the company of Capt Stewart and serving
the time stated in his declaration which he
has heard read, and believes from what
he has heard that he served many other
this as he has stated.
Sworn to and subscribed in open
Court
John Montgomery

Test
A.E. Hanner C.C.C.

Joseph Denny saith on his Oath in open
Court that he was a revolutionary solder
and knows of Andrew Donnell having
served on various expeditions during the
revolutionary war
subscribed and sworn to in
Open Court
Joseph Denny
Test
A.E. Hanner C.C.C.
Page 7

Daniel Donnell maketh oath that he
saw Andrew Donnell in the company of
Capt Bell in the tour mentioned in his declaration
down the country to Fayetteville
Sworn to and subscribed in open
Daniel Donnell
Test
A.E. Hanner C.C.C.

We Wm. Paisley a clergyman residing in
Guilford County and David Woodburn
rending in the same hereby certify that
we are well acquainted with Andrew
Donnell who has subscribed and sworn
to the above declaration; that we
believe him to be 75 years of age; that
he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood
where he resides to have been a soldier of
the revolution and that we concur in
that opinion
Subscribed and sworn to in Open Court
Wm Paisley Past.
David Woodburn
Test
A.E. Hanner C.C.C.

And the Court do hereby declare
their opinion after the investigation
of the matter and after putting the interrogatories 
prescribed by the war Department
that the above named applicant was a
soldier of the revolution and served
as he states. And the Court further certifies
that it appears to them, that William Paisley
who has signed the preceding certificate is
Page 8

a clergyman resident in the County of Guilford
and that David Woodburn Esqr who has
also signed the same is a resident in the 
same county is a credible person and that
their statement is entitled to credit
Jos Gibson Pres. Jus
James Fulton J.P.
B. Ross J.P.

I Alfred A.E. Hanner Clerk of the County
Court of Guilford hereby certify that the
foregoing is a true copy of the Original
proceedings of said court in the matter
of the application of Andrew Donnell
for a pension taken from the records
in my Office
In testimony whereof I
have hereunto affixed my
Official seal, this 21st day
of February AD 1833
AE Hanner CCC
Page 9

7097
Andrew Donnell
NC

from 1776 private
7 months

$23.33/100

46.66
11.66
58.32

Honbl
A.H. Sheppard
HoR
Page 10

BRIEF in the case of Andrew Donnell
County of Guilford in the State of North Carolina
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 75
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
|Period|Duration of Service: Years, Months, Days.|Rank.|Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.|
|drafted in 1777|0,2,0|Private|Gen Davidson, Rutherford, Capt. Bell, Col. Martin|
|1780 or 81|0,3,0|"|Capt Stewart|
|"|not stated|"|Capt Stewart|
He says "He must have served not less
than seven months
5. In what battles was he engaged? hunting tories.
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Guilford N.C.
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by
incidental evidence, or by the rolls? living witness & traditionary
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? not properly attached
*Certify that the foregoing statement and
the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
mentioned.
Chs. W. Forrest
Examining Clerk.
Page 11

Oct 28
file certs
[illegible]  "dead"
on back of papers

James L. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
Page 12

James L. Edwards Esqr.
Commissioner of Pensions

Sir
Inclosed the Certificate
of Andrew Donnel, and James Roper
pensions under the act of 1832. & both dead.

[illegible] sir
Jno [illegible]
Jno Huske
Agents

Pension Office
Fayetteville [illegible]
Page 13

Declaration
of
Andrew Donnell
7 months
Page 14

8347
Rev War
INVALID.
File No. 8347
Andrew Donnel
Priv Rev War

Act: June 7th 1832

Index: -- Vol. [illegible], Page 99
(Arrangement of 1870.)
Andrew Donnell*
Records corrected.
Oct. 11, 1904
Page 15

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Andrew Donnell 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 reason
assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes
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 amout[sic] of pension
he is entitled? 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
Page 16

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? Witnesses
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? the Court has
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the
regulations direct?
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? yes
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered? yes

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 ____ months
and ____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension.
Page 17

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
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 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 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.
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 in 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 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.
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.
Page 18

Andrew Donnell
Decd
Claim abandoned
Payments to be made
at Fayetteville
by Pres. U.S. Br Bank
Agent for paying Pensioners,
in the Agency of N Carolina

Recorded by W.L. Williams
Clerk, in Book E. Vol. 6
page 38.
Page 19

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.
I certify that in conformity with the Law of the United 
States, of the 7th June, 1832, Andrew Donnel
of the State of North Carolina
who was a Private in the war
of the Revolution
is entitled to receive Twenty Three dollars and
Thirty three cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing
on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually, on the
4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year.
Given at the War Office of the United States, this
1 day of March
one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three
Lew Cass
Secretary of War.

Examined and
Countersigned.)
J L Edwards
Page 20

Died about Decr. 1835
Page 21

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.
I certify that in conformity with the Law of the United 
States, of the 7th June, 1832, Andrew Donnel
of the State of North Carolina
who was a Private in the war
of the Revolution
is entitled to receive Twenty Three dollars and
Thirty three cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing
on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually, on the
4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year.
Given at the War Office of the United States, this
1 day of March
one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three
Lew Cass
Secretary of War.

Examined and
Countersigned.)
J L Edwards
Page 22

North Carolina
Guilford County 
County Court
February Term AD 1833
On this 2 day of February personally appeared in
open Court before the Justices of the County Court
now sitting the said being a Court of record
Andrew Donnell a resident of the United States
and in the County and State aforesaid aged
75 years who being first 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 AD 1832
That he entered the service under the
following named Officers and served as herein
after stated, to wit, that he was drafted
in or about the year 1777 in the company of
Capt Bell and was marched to the County
of Cumberland near Fayetteville. That with
Companies from the western part of the state
he then assisted to scour the swamps and to
drive the tories from them-- that Genl Davidson and he believes Col James Martin
were commanders- that he was discharged
in Fayetteville and returned home after being
out not less than two months. that [illegible] he
returned from Fayetteville he was again drafted
in the Company of Capt Stewart and marched to
Wilmington to assist in confining the tories
Page 23

and British to the town, that his memory
will not enable him to say how long it was
from his Fayetteville to his Wilmington tour
but that it was some time-- that after he
arrived in the neighbourhood of Wilmington
having marched down the Cape Fear river
he was engaged with Capt Stewart and under
Col Martin and Genl Rutherford in checking
the ravages of the Towns and Brittish[sic], who
were sent out in parties from the town
to pillage the country-- that he with Capt
Stewarts Company was discharged at the forks
of the North East River- that he march on his
way home with his company and was discharged
near Haw River- that in this tour he served
not less than three months - that it was in
the fall of 1788 or 1781 - that during the tour
he was out on various other short tours after
the Tories, down the country in the County of
Randolph among the Caraway Mountains
after Col Fanning a Tory, that in these
he consumed several months, some times out
a few days and sometimes weeks. that
from the commencement to the end
of the Revolutionary war he stood ready
at every call of his country-- that by
reason of old age and the consequent loss
of memory he is unable to state the
Page 24

precise length of his service but that he must
have served not less than seven months as a
private drafted as stated above and in many
very many small tours a volunteer. that he
always commenced his service from Guilford
that he was born and has always lived in the
County of Guilford - that he has a record of his
age given to him by his father - that he knows
of Jno Montgomery & Daniel Donnell who can
from their personal knowledge testify to his services- 
that he has no documentary evidence
of his services that James Gray & Wm.
Paisley known to him and can and are willing
to testify to their belief of his services as a
soldier of the Revolution and to his character
for veracity
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to an
annuity or pension except the present and declares that
his name is not on the pension roll of the agency
of any State.
And this affiant further states that at August
Term last of his County Court be filed a 
declaration in substance the same with the
above and has since been informed by his
representative in Congress the Honorable
A. H. Shepherd that he has recently sought
for it at the War Department but could
not find it and "least it might be mislaid [illegible]
is advised to have this forwarded
Andrew Donnel
Sworn to and subscribed in open
Court
A E Hanner CCC
Page 25

We Wm Paisley a clergyman residing in the
County of Guilford and James Gray residing
in the same hereby certify that we are well
acquainted with Andrew Donnell who has subscribed
and sworn to the above declaration that
we believe him to be seventy five years of
age that he is reported and believed in the
neighbourhood where he resides to have
been a soldier of the revolution and that
we concur in that Opinion
subscribed and sworn to in open
Court the day and year aforesaid
AE Hanner CCC
William Paisley Pastor
James Gray

And the court do hereby declare these opinions after
the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories
prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant 
was a soldier of the revolution and served as he states
And the Court further certifies that it appears to them
that Wm Paisley who has signed the preceding certificate
is a resident in the County of Guilford and that James Gray
who has also signed the same is a resident in the same
County and is a credible person and that their statement
is entitled to credit. And the Court further certifies that
it appears from the records of this Court that said applicant
at last August term filed a declaration in substance
the same with the above a copy of which is hereunto
attached, and that Daniel Donnell and Jno Montgomery
and also Joseph Denny who have therein signed certificates
are very old men, credible persons and that the statement
is entitled to credit
J.A. Mebane JP
William Adams JP
TB Adams JP

And I A.E. Hanner Clerk of the County Court of Guilford
do hereby certify that foregoing contains the
proceedings of the court in the matter of the application 
of Andrew Donnell for a pension by
way of his filing a second declaration and that the
foregoing is hereunto attached a true copy of
the original proceedings had in the same
at last August Term of said court. In testimony
whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal
of Office the day and year aforesaid
AE Hanner CCC