Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16389, Ralph Griffin, S.C.
Page 1

SERVICE
S.C.

Griffin,
Ralph

NUMBER
S. 16389

CONTENTS

carded
Page 2

13.896

Indiana

Ralph Griffin
Jefferson Co in the State of Indiana
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain Leafy (?) of the Regt commanded
Col Brown in the S. C. Ma
line for 13 months for 1779.
===============================
Inscribed on the Roll of Indiana
the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents per annum,
commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
===============================
Certificate of Pension issued the 11 day of July
1833- and sent to William
Lyle Madison, Ind
================================
Arrears to the 4th of March              1833 $86.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep      "        21.66
                                                                            $108.33
                                                                              ======
{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Wm Allison.  Clerk,
Book E Vol. 7 Page 112

[right side]
Date of [illegible]
Page 3

State of Indiana
Jefferson County ⎬
On this 14th day of May 1833
personally appeared in open Court before the
Judge of the Probate Court of the County and
State aforesaid now sitting Ralph Griffin, a
residue of Jefferson County and State of
Indiana, aged 79 years, 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 in the month
of January 1799 drafted as a militia man
that he belonged to Capt Edward Lacey's
Company and Col. Joseph Browns Regt

That he marched from Camden District
when he there resided to the Quarter House 
at Charleston thence to Perrysburgh on
the Savannah River and joined Genl
Lincoln's army at that place which was
his head quarters at that time. Thence
up the Savannah River near Augusta in
Georgia and his tour of service which
was 2 months having expired he was
discharged and returned home

That he was again in the service as a volunteer
in the 80. That he entered the service in the
month of July in that year (1780) That he
again joined Capt Lacy's Company Col.-
Patton's Regt That he joined the main army
under command of Genl Sumpter in
what was called the Waxaw settlement
and was [illegible] and attached a party
of British at rocky branch and was 
[illegible] thence into the edge of North Carolina
Page 4

and had a skirmish with another party
of the enemy at a place called the Hanging Rock thence returned with the wounded
to a place called the Waxaw Meeting House
in North Carolina. Thence crossed the
Catawba River into Camden District
near the Town of Camden where they
arrived on the day of Genl Gates defeat
Thence return marched to Fishing
Creek near Lands Ford on the Catawba
where the army under Genl Sumpter was
defeated. Thence being dispersed they
reassembled at Charlotte in North 
Carolina_ Thence to the Catawba River
and encamped, Thence (Sumpter having
left the army) they marched under the
command of Col. formerly Capt Lacy
up the Catawba River thence by a circuitous
back to the [illegible] and joined Col.
Campbell's Regt. Thence by a circuitous
route to King's  Mountain where then
defeated Ferguson _ Thence having
obtained a furlough to see his family
returned home and remained
few day, at which time the inhabit [illegible]
of his neighborhood erected a fort from
which those who took refuge were [illegible]
in a short time by Cornwallis_ there
in pursuit of the Tories from [illegible] to
place until the (all of March) on 1st of April
1781 when the Americans (himself being one)
under command of Genl Sumpter attack
the Congaree fort and were [illegible]
That immediately thereafter he was but on
Page 5

as a spy, and having been left by the army
he [illegible] house about the middle of
April 1787. That he served in the
whole at least 12 months but that
he may not and in his own favour
he will put it down at eleven
months: That he served the
whole time as a private soldier
that he was born in Halifax
County Virginia  Jany 5, 1754 and migrated
thence to Camden District South 
Carolina where he resided when he enlisted
in the service as aforesaid: That he never
received a written discharge. That he
removed from South Carolina to Kentucky
in the autumn of 1786 .Thence to Jefferson
County Indiana in April 1806 where
he now resides and has ever since. That
he has no knowledge of any person whose testimony
he can procure who can testify to his service
hereby relinquishes all claim whatever to
a pension or annuity except the present, and
declares his name is not on the the Pension
Roll of the Agency of any State.

Swore to and Subscribed the day and year
aforesaid

his
Ralph / Griffin
mark

and Samuel  Ryker
Joseph Hawkins [illegible] in the County
and State aforesaid hereby certify that we are well
acquainted with Ralph Griffin who has subscribed to
and sworn to the above declaration, that we
believe him to be 79 years of age
that he is reputed and believed in
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the neighborhood where he resides to [illegible]
a solder of the Revolution, and that we
concur in that opinion
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year
aforesaid

Joseph Hawkins [signature]
             his
Samuel X Ryker  
            mark

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion
after the investigation of the matter, and after
putting the interrogatories prescribed by
War Department that the above named
applicant was a revolutionary soldier  did
served as he states. And the Court further
certify that it appears to them that Joseph
Hawkins who signed the preceding certificate
is a clergyman resident in the County of
Jefferson and State of Indiana and that
Samuel Ryker who has also signed the 
same is a resident of the same County,
and state is a credible person and that
their statement is entitled to credit

Jos G Marshall  [signature]
Judge of the Jefferson Cty Prob Court
May 4 1833

I Richard C. Talbott Clerk of the [illegible]
Probate Court, do hereby certify that 
the foregoing contains the original proceedings
of the said Court in the matter of the
application of Ralph Griffin for a pension
In testimony whereof I have 
hereto set my hand and seal
or office this 14th day of May
1833 
R C Talbott Clk  JC  [signature]

SEAL
Page 7


No 25490
Ralph Griffin Jefferson County
Indiana

from 1779 private
13 month
$43.33/100


Wm Lyle Madison Indiana
Page 8


WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office

183

Sir:

The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has
been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of
your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules and 
the subjoined notes you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed,
before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed,
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when
you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and
you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.
A STATEMENT, showing the service of Ralph Griffin  Jefferson County Indiana

Period when the service was rendered.
Drafted Jany 1777
Vol July 1780

Duration of the claimant's service
2 Months
11 Months

Rank of the claimant.
private

Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.
Genl Lincoln
Cap Lacey,  Col Brown
Cap Lacey,  Col Patton

Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.
79 years
District of
Camden
South Carolina 

Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary evidence - paper correct-

[Handwritten note:]
Battle at Hanging Rock, and
Kings Mountain


I am, respectfully
Battle at Hanging Rock, and
Kings Mountain
your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions
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                                                                                                2
                                                      REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been constructed to extent, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State Troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, etc., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefit of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual
military service.  Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in the Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicants reside. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

                                                                   DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
                                            State Territory, or District of
                                             County of
On this             day of                                personally appeared (a) before  
          A B. a resident (b) of                              in the county of                        and State, Territory, or District of           aged (c)            years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)           , with.        and served in the                (e) regiment of the line,                under the following named offices:

(Here set forth the names and ranks of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service ; (and if he server under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particlar period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.)

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.                                           A. B.
        (And then will follow the certificate of the Court.)

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I                                                                                     of the Court of
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of                                                                       for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand and seal of office (i) this 
                         day of                                          &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the name of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.

Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers, or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and the State Troops of Virginia, will make and
subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz: 

(k) We, A.B., a Clergyman, residing in the                             and C.D. residing in (the same) hereby certify that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.

Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
(And then will follow the certificate of the Court)
And the said 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 Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B. and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I Clerk of Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the orginal proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for pension.

 In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand and seal
 of office, this day of &c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the orginal discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath and will then procure, if possible , the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail hid personal knowledge of the service oh the applicant, and such circumstance connected therewith as may have a tendency to throw lightupon the transaction.

If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all material facts, which can be used in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
Page 10

3
alleged service, as they are known at 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, it 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 the 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 nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, fromtheir 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 certity to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.

The traditionary evidence of service is deened 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 inquiry whether the belief is general or 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 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 ofice, 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 genine signature.

No payments can be made upon 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 theopinion 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 of the war when he served.
(e) Every continental officer or soldiers 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 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.  

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 depots and saith, that by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positive as to the precise length of his service; but according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the period mentioned below, and in the following grades: ---For____year_____month____days, I served as a ______ for _______ 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 service.  The use of the phrase about three or four months, is too indefinite and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.  ome persons who apply for pensions mere state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of officers, and other particulars respecting their service.  This form of a declaration is highly objectionable.  

It must begin every case, be clearly shown under what officer the applicant severed; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corp 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 n 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 fix 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 certified officer, should accompany the papers.                                                   
                                                                  
                                                                    Mode of authenticating papers.

In every instance where the certifing officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certiicate 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 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 verify 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.
The note
 from (a) to (i) are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule is 
The note (j) applies to continental troops only.
(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.
Page 11

January 11, 1936
Ralph GriffinS.-1882
BA-J/AWF

Mrs. W. M. Einsel
East Main Street
Madison, Indiana

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you
request the Revolutionary War record of Ralph 
Griffin, who received a pension in Jefferson County,
Indiana in 1832.

The record of Ralph Griffin which follows was
obtained from the papers on file in pension claim,
S. 16389, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.

Ralph Griffin was born January 5, 1754 in Halifax County, Virginia; the names of his parents are not stated.

While residing in Camden District, South 
Carolina, he enlisted sometime in January, 1779 and
served two months as a private in Captain Edward Lacey's
Company, Colonel Joseph Brown's South Carolina Regiment;
He volunteered sometime in July, 1780 and served in
Captain Edward Lacey's Company, Colonel Patton's South Carolina Regiment; he was in the battles of Rocky Mount,
Hanging Rock, Fishing Creek, Kings Mountain, after [illegible]
he obtained a furlough and went home to "his family",
remained a few days, returned to the army and continued
to serve in pursuit of Tories, had an engagement at
Congaree Fort and served until the middle of April, 1781.

Ralph Griffin moved from South Carolina in the fall
of 1786 to Kentucky and in April, 1806, moved to Jefferson
Page 12

County, Indiana.

The soldier, Ralph Griffin, was allowed pension
on his application executed May 14, 1833, then a
resident of Jefferson County, Indiana.

There are no data in this claim concerning his
family, other than the reference given herein.

If you desire data in regard to the date of
last payment of pension, name and address of person
paid, and possibly the date of death of this pensioner,
you should apply to The Comptroller General, General
Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D. C.,
and cite the following:
Ralph Griffin
Certificate # 13896
Issued July 11, 1833
33.33 per annum [43.33]
To commence March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
Indiana Agency.

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Page 13

Madison, Indiana
November 21, 1935

Veterans Administration,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir;

Please send me the pension record of
Ralph Griffen, who received a pension in
Jefferson County, Indiana in 1832. He was
with the South Carolina troops.

Yours very truly,
Marion Einsel
(Mrs. W.H)

East Main St.

[2 -3 stamps are on the other side of letter.]

Stamp:
arrow pointing to 1:30
RECEIVED
NOV 22 1935
MAIL SUB-DIV
VETS ADM
[illegible]
75


[Handwritten note:]
Mrs Finch
Navy Dept Bldg -
Page 14

[left side]
16.389
INVALID

File no. 16.389
Ralph Griffin.
Priv  Rev War

Act June 7th 1832

Index: - Vol. A, Page 153

[Arrangement of 1870.]

[right side]

1936 Jan - 7 - Hist to 
Mrs. W. M . Einsel
Page 15


[illegible] May 15 1838

Sir,

I forwarded to your office four applications
for pensions about the 1st of Feby last, from
which have not heard one word.  I now 
send another and I trust I shall
have a [illegible] as soon as possible
from this but I shall not be much
[illegible] disappointed as to the former
I most confidently believe
Very Respectfully [illegible] 
W Lyle

J. L. Edwards Esq