Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31878, for Andrew Nilson, Virginia
Page 1

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[3-1776]

SERVICE
Va.

Nilson, Andrew
or Nelson

NUMBER
S. 31878

Born in Pa.
CONTENTS
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

Alabama 13345

Andrew Nelson
of Morgan Co. in the State of Alabama
who was a Private in the Co. commanded by Captain Cunningham of the Regt. commanded by Col. Campbell in the Virginia line for 10 mos. & 19 days.
$35.44/100

Inscribed on the Roll of Alabama
at the rate of 35. Dollars 44 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 2nd day of July 1833 and sent to Reuben Chapman, Somerville, Ala.

Arrears to the 4th of March ‘33 – 70.88
Semi=anl. [annual] allowance ending 
4 Sept. 1833 17.72
$88.60

{Revolutionary Claim}
{Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by Wm R Palmer, Clerk
Book E. Vol. 8. Page 48

[right side] Date of death not on AB
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State of Alabama 
Morgan County. County Court August Term 1832 
On this twenty eighth day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court being a court of record having power to fine and imprison and proceeding according to the commr [Commissioner] of the common Law before the Judge of said County court now sitting in the county and state aforesaid Andrew Nelson aged about seventy years a resident of said county and state who being first duly sworn according to Law, makes the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed the 7th of June 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. 
He lived in the County of Augusta Virginia when he volunteered under Captain John Cunningham (Lieutenant and ensign not recollected) about the month of June 1779 and marched from Augusta County to a point on James River below Richm’d. [Richmond] where he was stationed with the company to which he belonged and one other for about three months during which time he was in a Scrimage [scrimmage] with the enemy. he was discharged from that service in September of that year he marched through that part of the State of Virginia between Augusta County and Richmond – he does not recollect of any field officers in the particular service above stated. 
The next spring about the month of May 1780 there was a requisition for men to go in pursuit of some hostile Indians of the Shawnee tribe who had massacred some families in the entire north western
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part of Virginia. and our Captain John McKitterick made up a volunteer company to which this affiant attached himself commanded by s’d. [said[ McKitterick [John McKittrick] Lieutenant Ambrus Jones [Ambrose Jones]. Ensign perhaps was one Shulds. were ordered out in that service which he performed for about three months In may [May] which time he was traversing the country and stationed at Fort Warick in Tigers valley [Fort Warwick in Tygart Valley]. in this service he marched through the North Western part of Virginia. There were no field officers on this service. 
In the year 1780 about December he volunteered under Captain James Tate Lieutenant Young (ensign not recollected) in which company he marched from Augusta County from which place they were ordered to North Carolina during which tour he was at the battle at Guilford Courthouse in N. Carolina [15 Mar 1781] and served for near five months. Col. [William] Campbell commanded the riflemen to which this affiant belonged (the Maj. not recollected). Gen’l. Green [General Nathanael Greene] had the command of the troops on that occasion. from this term he returned in May 1781. 
He has no documentary evidence of his service and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure except the affidavits of Joseph Nelson [pension # S32413] which is hereto annexed. 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 
Andrew [his X mark] Nelson
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first aforesaid in open count} 
M. M. Mackenzie 

Also on the same day personally appeared in open court Joseph Nelson aged about 76 years a resident of Madison County Ala who after being duly sworn according to law
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makes oath that he is personally acquainted in Andrew Nelson who has made and subscribed the foregoing declaration on oath and has been from the earliest youth he also states that he knows of most of the service of the said Andrew Nelson as stated in his declaration having been performed during the Revolutionary war from his own knowledge having been with him at the battle at Guilford Court house and all the time during that Campaign. 
Joseph [his X mark] Nelson
Sworn to and subscribed in open court on the day and year aforesaid first} 
M. M. Mackenzie Clk [Clerk]

We David McClung a clergyman residing in the said County of Morgan Ala. and John T. Rothan a citizen of sd [said] County and State and residing therein hereby certify that we are acquainted with Andrew Nelson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that er believe him to be seventy years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
David McClung

Sworn to and subscribed in open court the day & year fist stated} 
M. M. Mackenzie Clk. C. C.}

And I Charles W Peters Judge of said County Court of Morgan County and being the Judge do hereby declare in my appinion [opinion] after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war Department that the above applicant
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was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states and further certify that it appears to the Court that John T Rothen who has signed the preceding Certifficate [Certificate] is a resident in said County of Morgan and his state is a cretitabale [credible] person and his statement are entitled to credit.
Ch W Peters Judge

State of Alabama}
Morgan County} I M Mackenzie Clk. Of the County Court of Morgan County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Andrew Nelson for a pension 
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said Court at office this 28th day of August in the year of your Lord one thousand eight-hundred and Thirty-two and of Americas Independence the fifty seventy year
M. M. Mackenzie Clk. CC

[written sideways] Declaration of Joseph Nelson 73 yrs.
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7372 13,345
Andrew Nelson
Morgan Co Ala

Adm 10 months & 19 days

33.33
1.11
1--
35.44

Reuben Chapman
Morgan Co. Agt.
Somerville Ala.
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

73725

BRIEF in the case of Andrew Nelson, of Morgan Co. in the State of Alabama
(Act 7th JUNE, 1832.)

1.  Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge: open court

2.  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3.  How old is he? about 70 years -

4.  State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

[column headings: Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.]
about June In 1779 – about 2 [months] 15 [days] Private Capt. Jno. Cunningham Co -Volunteered
May 1780 – “ [about] 3 [months] 4 [days] “ [Private] Capt. Jno McKitterick Co “ [Volunteered]
Decr [December] “ [1780] near 5 [months] – “ [Private] Col. Campbell Regt. Capt. Js Tate Genl Green “ [Volunteered]

5.  In what battles was he engaged? in a skirmish & at the Battle of Gilford [Guilford] Court Ho.

6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service? Augusta Co Virga [Virginia]

7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? By one witness – as to part of his service & the traditionary evidence of two others – one a clergyman

8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct

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

E Stephens
Examining Clerk.
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

April 28, 1934 
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX 
Andrew Nilson – S.31878
BA-J/AW Own 
copied from Miss [Illegible] 

The Quartermaster General 
Memorial Branch 
War Department Washington, D. C. 

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your request for the Revolutionary War record of Andrew Nelson or Nilson. 

The data furnished herein were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S.31878, based upon the Revolutionary War service of Andrew Nilson, as his signature appears in the claim. 

He was born in the year 1762 in York County, Pennsylvania; the names of his parents are not given. 

While residing in Augusta County, Virginia, Andrew Nilson volunteered and served as a private with the Virginia troops, as follows: from June 15, 1779 to September 15, 1779 in Captain John Cunningham 's company; from May 11, 1780 to August 15, 1780 in Captain John McKitterick's company and was out against the Indians in northwestern Virginia; from December 15, 1780 to May 1, 1781 in Captain James Tate's company under Colonel Campbell, marched to North Carolina and was in the battle of Guliford [Guilford] Court House. 

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 28, 1832, then a resident of Morgan County, Alabama. 

It is not stated that soldier was ever married. 

In 1832, one Joseph Nelson was a resident of
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[typed form] 

Madison County, Alabama and aged about seventy-six years; no relationship to the soldier was stated. 
The application for headstone for Andrew Nelson or Nilson is returned herewith; there was no correspondence enclosed. 

Very truly yours 

A. D. HILLER 
Assistant to Administrator
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

March 21, 1933
XXXXXXXXXXXX 
BA-J/EEL 
Jeremiah Alexander-S.31515 
Andrew Nilson-S.31878

Mr. J. H. Dombhart 
Parrish Alabama 

Dear Sir: 

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the records of Jeremiah Alexander, David Walling, Stephen Garrison, Mathey Payne, Andrew Nelson and Varder Mabgly, reported in 1840 as pensioners of Walker County, Alabama, to aid you in your historical work in that county. [written on side] MMF

Requests similar to yours are received daily and the clerical force available for furnishing like information is very limited, therefore, it has not been possible to make a series of investigations and reports pertaining to soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Indian Wars between, for one person or organization. 

The records of two pensioners named on your list are given below as found in their respective claims for pension based upon their service in the Revolutionary War. 

Jeremiah Alexander 
S.31515 

Jeremiah Alexander was born July 4, 1763, in the state of Maryland. 

While residing in Washington County, Virginia, he enlisted and served as a private with the Virginia Troops as follows: from April 1, 1780 to June 10, 1780, in Captain Montgomery's Company; from June 20, 1780 to November 30, 1780, under Lieutenant Davidson and Captain Neil and Colonel Campbell; from January 5, 1781 to March 15, 1781, under Captain Montgomery and Colonel Campbell and was in an engagement at Whitsett's Mill on Reedy Fork of the Haw River in North Carolina . [written on side] Could not identify officers
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

After the Revolution, Jeremiah Alexander moved from Washington County, Virginia, to the state of Tennessee, thence to the state of North Carolina and thence to Morgan County, Alabama, where he had resided for thirteen years when he was allowed pension on his application executed August 28, 1832. In 1840, he was residing in Walker County, Alabama. 

[written on the side] From A B - He died January 26, 1847. 

There are no data as to soldier's family. 

● ● ● 

Andrew Nilson 
S. 31878 

Andrew Nilson was born in 1762, in York County, Pennsylvania. His name also appears as Nelson: he signed Wilson. 

While residing in Augusta County, Virginia, he volunteered and served as a private with the Virginia Troops as follows: from June 15, 1779 to September 15, 1779, in Captain John Cunningham's Company: from May 11, 1780 to August 15, 1780, in Captain John McKitterick's Company and was out against the Indians in northwestern Virginia; from December 15, 1780 to May 1, 1781, in Captain James Tate's Company under Colonel Campbell, marched to North Carolina and was in the battle of Guilford. 

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 28, 1832, while residing in Morgan County, Alabama. 

It is not stated that soldier was ever married. 

In 1832, one Joseph Nelson was a resident of Madison County, Alabama and aged about seventy-six years; no relationship to the soldier was stated. 

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, Andrew Nilson or Nelson (S.31878), you should address the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records

- 2 -
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[typed form]

Division, this city, citing all of the following data: 

Andrew Nelson or Nilson, Certificate No. 13345, issued July 2, 1833, rate $35.44 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, Alabama Agency. 

Very truly yours 

A. D. HILLER 
Assistant to Administrator.

- 3 -
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

WAR DEPARTMENT 
OFFICE OF THE QUARTERMASTER GENERAL 
WASHINGTON 
Pens 

APR 18 1934 ___ 1933 

Memorandum for The Surgeon General, Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department, Commandant, United States Coast Guard, Treasury Department, The Commissioner of Pensions, Interior Building, General Accounting Office, F Street, between 4th & 5th, N. W. 

1. The attached application has been submitted to this office for Government headstone to be erected at the grave of the decedent named thereon. In order that the proper inscription may be placed on the stone it would be appreciated if your office would verify the name and service on the application, checking and making such corrections in red ink as may be necessary to show the correct spelling of the name and complete designation of the organizations. 

2. In addition, please advise State from which decedent came.

[Illegible writing] 

[circular stamp with Numbers 1 -12 around the outside] RECEIVED APR 19 1934 MAIL SUB-DIV, U. S. V. READER 1
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Request for Rev War record of Andrew Nelson or Nilson, served as pvt. [private] in Capts. [Captains] John Cunninghan’s, McKitterick's James Tate’s companies Va. Troops – Case Ap. 28-34 – appli [applied] for [Illegible] returned no letter enclosed 
Awf. 
Apr. 28- 34
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[left side] 31878
Revy INVALID

File No. 31,8978
Andrew Nelson
Pri [Private] Rev War

Act: June 7th, 1832
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 296

[Arrangement of 1870.]

[right side] 1933 – Mar 21 – Hist. to JM. Dombhart. Letter in case Jeremiah Alexander S.31515 EEL
1934 – Apr. 28 hist. to Memorial Br. AWF copied EEL
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

(7372)

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 Nelson -- which require further proof or explanation.

1.  Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?

II.  Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?

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?

V.  *Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? – NO -

VI.  Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?

VII.  Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?

VIII.  Has the Court given their opinion? The Judge of the Court has

IX.  Has the Clerk given his certificate?

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?
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

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?

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? NO

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? – NO -
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?

XVI.  Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?

XVII.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not answered? – NO – 1st, 2nd, & 6th 

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.
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[Typed form]

3

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service.  The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectional.  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 in 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.
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The State of Alabama} 
Morgan County} Orphans court for said county held this thirteenth day of May in the year 1833. 
This day personally appeared in open Court before the Judge thereof (there being but one Judge of said court) Andrew Nelson who being duly sworn according to law makes the following statement on oath as an amendment to his original declaration heretofore filed in the county court of said county in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832 this being a supplement to the said original declaration filed on the 28th day of August 1832 and to accompany the same. That he entered the service of the United States on the 15th day of June 1779 as a volunteer and rendevouse [rendezvoused] at a noted place in the County of Augusta Virginia called the widow Tays on South river [According to the pension application of Christopher Hand (S6951) and William McCutchan (W1888), the place of rendezvous was at the Widow Teas’s at present Waynesboro, formerly known as Teasville or Teesville], and marched from there to a point on James River as stated in his original declaration and was discharged from this service on the 1st day of September 1779 below Richmond by Capt. Cunningham. in this tour he states that he served from the 15th day of June till the 1st day of September being two months and fifteen days The next Spring he again entered the service (on the [illegible] day of May 1780) as a volunteer under Capt. John Makitrick [McKitterick] [pension #S13647] as stated in his original declaration and was discharged on the 15th day of August 1780 as stated in his declaration. That he rec’d. no writen [written] discharge but was only dismissed by his officers from this service in this
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he served three months and five days.
On the 1st day of December 1780 he again entered the service as a volunteer Under Capt. James Tate and rendevous [rendezvoused] at the same point as stated in his second tour and after the end of the service as particularly stated in his declaration he was discharged on the first day of May in the year 1781. though he received no writen [written] discharge in this tour he served five months it being the third and last tour during the Revolutionary war in each of which he served as a private. and all of which several tours amount to ten months and twenty days for which he claims the benefit of the act aforesaid 
This affiant states that he has no documentary evidence of his service and can produce no other witness or further proof than what is contained in the affidavid [affidavit] of Joseph Nelson annexed to his original declaration and he further states that the said Joseph Nelson who is the only person by whom he could prove any part of his service since attaining his testimony has become so afflicted and diseased that it is impossible to obtain any further or explanatory proof from him and that he now lives (if he lives at all) in a remote part of the country In Answer to the 1st Interrogatory prescribed by the war department he states he was born in York County Pennsylvania that he has no record of his birth or age though he believes it was in the year 1762 he was born. To the 6th question he answers that he never received any writen [written] discharge from the service 
[signed] Andrew nilson

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
M. M. MacKenzie Clk. C. C.
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I Charles W Peters Judge of the County Court of Morgan County State of Alabama do Certify that Joseph Nelson whose affidavit is annexed to the original declaration of Andrew Nelson filed in the Court where I presided as judge was made in my presents [presence] and that said Joseph Nelson is a witness into then to Credit given under my hand and seal this 13th day of May 1833
Charles Peters Judge 

I M. M. McKenzie Clerk of the Orphans Court of Morgan County State of Alabama do Certify that Charles W Peters who made the foregoing Certificate was and is Judge of the County and Orphans Court of Morgan County State of Alabama and the foregoing is his genuine signature and I certify that the foregoing and annexed contains the original and amended proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Andrew Nelson for a pension 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 14th day of May 1833 and of American Independence 57th year 
M M Mackenzie Clk. C. C.
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[left side] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES 
Form VAM-51 
12-5-41

[center] BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

[right side] Division of Veterans’ Administration Archives

Name Nelson, Edward Grade Private Line Pennsylvania

WARRANT NUMBER 10149 ACREAGE  100         ISSUED June 10, 1794
to Silas Hart, assignee

*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of “Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800” which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.