Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 9446, Edmund Forns, S.C.
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S.C. Forns, Edmund W.9446
Edith
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4905 South Carolina
Edith Forns widow of Edmund Forns who died on the 1774 of SC in the state of South Carolina who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Goodnough of the Right commanded by Col Thompson in the line for...
Inscribed on the roll of South Carolina at the rate of 43 dollars o8 cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831
Certificate of pension issued the 24th day of October 1849 and sent to...

Letter to James A Black Dec 12 1849
Letter to Alegt 15 October 1851
Letter to Same  10 October 1837
Letter to Same   22 March 1854
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The State of South Carolina
Richland District

On this twenty fourth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty nine personally appeared before the undersigned a Magistrate in and for the said district and state Edith Forns a resident of Richland District in the State of South Carolina aged about one hundred years who being first duly sworn according to law doth and her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress paper July 4th 1836 and of the subsequent acts. That she is the widow of Edmund Forns or Foins, deceased who was a private in Captain Uriah Goodwyn's Company in the third regiment of South Carolina on the Continental Establishment Commanded by Colonel William Thompson. That her said husband Edmund Forns deceased enlisted in said company of said Regiment in the year 1777 or 1778 but probably in the latter, that the enlisting or recruiting officer said named as well as she recollects Lieutenant John Gaskins that her husband the aforesaid Edmund Forns stayed in the regular service from the time of his enlistment
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until the siege of Savannah in the year 1779 when he was killed in battle in the engagement which then and there took place. She further declares that she was married to the said Edmund Forns on the _day of_ in the year1700 at the house of the Reverand Luke Gibson's a Baptist Minister near Little River now in Hairfield District then called Craven County that the clergyman who pronounced the marriage ceremony was Reverand Gibson. That said Edmund Forns was in service about when he was killed. That her husband and herself lived together as husband and wife at Bear Creek in said District of Fairfield, that he enlisted at the house of John Wilson who lived near them and whose son Mr Theophilus Wilson she recollects perfectly well. That Robert Doolie her said husband's brother-in-law and James Nipper who also enlisted were of his comrades that she had one child before he entered service, that she was married to said Edmund Forns about three years before he entered the said service and that he died at the time and place aforesaid as she learned from survivors who were his comrades
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marriage as afoursaid or the births of her children, that neither she or her husband could write. She further swears that ever since the enlisting of her said husband she has resided in the District of Fairfield and Richland and more recently in the latter being now under the care of the Commipiouen of the Poor for said District. That a short while after the war of the Revolution in which she lost her husband, the State of South Carolina granted her an annuity or pension as the widow of the aforesaid Edmund Forns even as early the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety which she continued to receive many years. All of which will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereunto annexed to which she most respectively craves attention from to and subscribed on the day and year first above written before me. 

Daniel B Miller
Magistrate
Edith Forns
Her Mark
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to law depose and say that they are neighbors of
the declarant Mr Edith Fors who hath sworn
to and subscribed the foregoing declaration and are well acquainted with her that she is very aged and in their opinion near the age of one hundred years, that she is a person to whose statements upon oath is due full faith and credit and that they are disinterested so far as any amount which may be due her by the general government is concerned.  Sworn and subscribed before me this twenty ninth day of January 1849.


DB Miller
Magistrate
Thos Parker
Johnson Elkins
State of South Carolina
Richland District

I James S Guignard Clerk of the Court of Common Place and General Depious in and for the District afore said sixty nine years of age doherty certify that I have acutely examined the books of the Treasury Department of the State of South Carolina Upper Division and find that Edith Forns was a pensioner of the State of South Carolina being the widow of Edmund Forns a deceased Revolutionary soldier that she had received eight years annuity up to the month of March 1799 that the first payment was made to her in May 1792 at which time she was mentioned as the widow of Edmund Forns and four years arrears allowed her and her children and that the last payment was in July 1800 at which time I was acquainted with said Edith Forns being then a clerk in said office and have seen her occasionally for several years
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since-that the said Edith Forns came to my residence last week and whom I recognized to be the identical Edith Forns who received an annuity from the state as above stated 

South Carolina
Richland District
James S Guignard

Personally appeared before me DB Miller a Magistrate for the District and State aforesaid James S Guignard Esquire Clerk of the Court of Common Plea and General sepions for said district and made oath that the contents and purpose of his above certificate are true. 

Sworn to before me
this thirty first day of January AD 1849
James S Guignard
DB Miller
Magistrate

And I the said Magistrate do hereby certify that Norman Parker Johnson Elkins and James S Guignard Esquire who have been subscribed the foregoing on this before are one person's residing in Richland District South Carolina and to whose statements upon oath are one full faith and credit and I further certify that from the old age and bodily infirmity. Of other aforesaid declarant Mrs Edith Forns it would be quite inconvenient if not impractical for her to attend court at the court Honor of said District in order to make her said Declaration and that her names, the state of her mind and her recollection were those of a person testifying to the truth. 

February 6th 1849   
DB Miller
Magistrate
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Ref Widow, &c.
File No. 9446
Edith Forns
Edmund Forns
Private Rev War
July 4th 1836
Index:-Vol A Page 246
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No 7272

Edith Forns
SC
Hon AP Butler
March 17, 1849
Why letter is ? up with ? letters

Oct 4 July 1836
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No 13842
Margaret Weston

Lt James Hathaway
May 10 1849
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No 7272
Edith Forns
Widow of Edmund
 IC
Oct 4 July 1836
Amount 12 Hr 28 Days
$43.08 pension
4 March 1831
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Pension Agency
Charleston 2 October 1852

I herewith forward the vouchers of Edith Forns a pensioner under Act 4 July 1836 for authority to pay the same

I am Respectfully
Your Obsent
Jno C Cochran
Page

JE Heath Esq

Component of Pensions
Washington DC
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Personally appeared
before me to her
A Moore a Magistrate in and for the
District and State aforesaid, Theophilus
Wilson who being first duly sworn
according to Law doth on his oath state
that he is about eighty five years of age, that
he was well acquainted with Edmund
Fors who enlisted at the house of the
father of this deponent in Captain Mich
Goodwyn's Company Col Wm Thomson's
Regiment on the Continental Establishment
during the Revolutionary war - that the
enlisting officer was named Lieut John
Gaskins - that he afterwards saw said
Four in said Regiment with his brother in
law Robert Dooley - that he and his wife
Mrs Edith Huns had been living within one
mile of this deponents father's on Bear
Creek in Fairfield District, then called
Craven County, that they were to his
certain knowledge living together as
husband and wife one year or more
before said Tours so enlisted, that they
had one child before he did enlist, and
that it was said and believed that said
Edmund Forns died at the seige of
Savannah. That his wife Mrs Edith
Fours has remained a widow ever
since and is the same person who
lived with said Hins as his wife before
he entered the service - that in the opinion
of this deponent her age is about one
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hundred years, that this deponent is in no
may interested in any amount which
said Edith Horn may recover for the
services of her said husband Edmund Towns
Sworn to before me this sixteenth day
of January A.D. 1849.
John A Moore ⎬
his
Mayt
Theophilus
Wilson
mark
We
the undersigned
Columbia S. C. Feby 3rd 1849
do hereby certify that
we are neighbors of the above deponent Mr
Theophilus Wilson and are well acquainted with
him and that he is a person to
whose statements upon oath is due full
faith and credit
William Watts
The State of South Carolina
W. T. Wilson
Richland Cutret
I James S Guignard Clerk
of the Court of Common Pleas in
and for the citrict aforesaid do hereby certify unto all whose
it may concern that B Miller and John A Moore Esquires
who have attested to Sundry affidavits on two preceding
Passes including this are Magistrate in and for the Duties
aforesaid duly qualified and acting as such - that all due
furth of Credit is and ought to be given to their acts as such
and that the signatures are genuine. In Testimony whereof
I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Court at
Colvember the 6th day of February Anno Domini 1849
Guignard
James
Clerk
Com
of Court
Pay R. Dr
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Treasury Office
Columbia S.C Feb 7th 1849
This is to certify that I have examined the Books of
this Office and fined in May 1792 four years and
it was paid Mrs Edith Forms as the widow of Edmund
Four to March 1790, & an annuity was paid to her from
time to time till July 1800, and at that time she is
mentioned as of Richland District.
Frances Burt
Treasurer
Wm Ben Hart
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I certify that D. Bettiller & [Illegible]  whose
names are signed for the authentication of the
within papers are persons of respectability
and [illegible]
July 13th 1849
A. P. Butler
[Illegible]
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1272
Edith Forns
IMO of Edmund
SC
Act 4 July 1836
Named before the service
Anunuted
1779
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South Carolina ⎬
Richland District
on the twenty first
day of June in the year of our Lord
One thousand Eight hundred & forty nine
personally appeared before the undersigned
Judge of Ordinary for the District of
Richland in the State of South Carolina
in open Court of the said Ordinary
now setting in the Town of Columbia
for the District of Richland in the State
aforesaid Mrs Edith forms a resident
of Richland District in the State of South Carolina
, aged about One hundred years
who being first duly sworn according to
Law doth on her oath make the
following declaration in order to obtain
the benefit of the provision made by the
act of Congress passed July the 4th 1836. That
she is the widow of Edmund Horns
deceased who was a private in Captain
Uriah Goodwyn's Company in the Regiment
of South Carolina on the Continental
Establishment commanded by Colonel
William Thomson, in the war of the Revol
tion - That her said Husband Edmund
Forms deceased enlisted in company aforesaid
of said Regiment in the year 1777 or
1778 but probably in the latter that the enlist
-ing Officer was named as she believes Lieutenant
John Gaskins That her husband was absent
in the regular service from the time of his
enlistment till the seige of Savannah
in 1779 where he was killed in battle. That they
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were married at the Revd Luke Gibson's a
Baptist Minister near Little River now in
Fairfield District then called Craven County
that he was in service about one year and a
half as well as this deponent recollects before he
was killed or taken by the enemy and died at this
Declarant was always informed by his surviving or
rady. That her husband and herself lived on
Bear Creek in said District of Fairfield and
that he enlisted at the house of one John
Wilson who lived near them. That Robert
Dooley by brother in law and James Nipper who
also enlisted were of his comrades - that she had
one child before he entered the service. She further
declares that she was married to the said Edmund
Fors or Towns deceased about two or three years
before he entered said service on the
of
day
in the year Seventeen hundred and
seventy four, five or six, but at all events before
he enlisted a good while having one child and
being pregnant with another and that her
husband the aforesaid Edmund Towns deed
died as above stated and that she has
remained a widow ever since the death of
her said husband and still is a widow as
will more fully appear by the proof already
submitted to the Pension Office in February last
and by reference to the additional proof hereunto
annexed. That she has no family Record
shewing either the date of her marriage to Edmund Fors
aforesaid or the births of her children. She further
swear that ever sum the enlisting of her said husband
she has been living in the District of Fairfield and
Richland and more recently in the latter. That
-
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of Ordinary
a short while after the Revolutionary war he was paid
an annuity as the widow of said Edmund Fors decd
by the State of South Carolina which she continued
to recieve till July 1800. That from old age andbodily

infirmity her memory may be some what
impaind but that the above are the substantial
facts- That of recent date the Commissioner
of the poor for Richland District in said State
have had her in charge and allow her a partial
support. In proof of all her allegations in this
Declaration contained and in the Declaration
She now has on file in the Pension Office of the
United States at Washington City District of Columbia, she craves a reference in all candor to the
1
proof already furnished that Department and
to such as herewith accompany the Declaration
all of which is now most respectfully submitted
Sworn to and subscribed in open Court
on the day and year first above written
her
James S Guignard
Edith
Fors
Judge of the Court
mark
And the said Court doth hereby certify
that it hath been shown in evidence to the
satisfaction of the Court that Edith Horns
the Declarant above is a person to whose statements upon oath are due full faith and
credit and it is within the personal knowledge
of the Judge of said Court that the Declarant
above is the identical person to whom he
of Clerk in the Treasury Office of South Carolina
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James S & above referred to in her said Declaration
Given at Columbia the day and year first
above mentioned under my hand and seal
Ginguart
Judge
of
of
Ordinary
Replaind Dutrect
Court
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THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
BY HIS EXCELLENCY
Whitemarsh B. Seabrook
GOVERNOR AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IN AND OVER THE STATE AFORESAID:
To all to whom these presents shall come.
Know ye that James S Guignard whose seal & signature appear to ┃
his certificate on the Declaration of Edith Forms hereunto innexed
, is & was at the time of signing. Judge of the Court of order
┃ uary for Richland District, & as such by law entitled to the
custody of original wills & Records of said Court & that
his certificate is in due form
Therefore, all due faith, credit, and authority is and ought to be had
and given to his proceedings and certificates as such
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused
to be affixed the Seal of the State in the Town of Comelia
the ninth day of August
in the
year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty nine
and in the Seventy fourth year of the Independence of
the United States of America.
BY THE GOVERNOR:
Whitemath B. Seabrock
SECRETARY OF STATE.
B. K. Hanagan
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Sir
D
Pension Agency
Charleston 18 March 1854
I herewith forward the vouchers of
Edith Forms a pensioner under act 4th July 1836
for authority to pay the same -
L P Waldo
Esquis
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
H.
Sam
See Respectfully
Your absent
M. Cochran
Agent
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Pension Agency 14
Charleston 6th October 1851
I herewith forward the Vouchers of Edith
is a pensioner under act 4 July 1836
authority to pay
the same.
I am Sir Respectfully
Your absent
E. Heath Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
C.
In Cohan
Pensions
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Dear Sir

Columbia  SC Dec 5th 1849
The pension certificate of Mr Edith Forns Widowof Edmund Forns under act 4th July 1836
dated 24th Oct last at the rate of $43 dollars and18 cents was duly received and the amt
of Pension to 4th Sept last recd thereon -
It is however accompanied by no
statement (or preceded by such, that your
Rolls show the number of months he served
prior to his death, consequently I am
unable to make the calculation.
This
I know is your duty and my object is
now to ask if there was not a
mistake in not allowing a greater Ann
ual pension. The Act of 1836 says nothing
about half pay and what more can a man
11
do than loose his life in the service
R
The fact that Edmund fForns a regular soldier
lost his life in his country's
service ought in my opinion to entitle
Mrs Forms to the full pay $80 per annum-
There is another fact I would State of E. Forns
entered the service in 1778 & served till siege
of Savannah 1779 (Oct) would not that length
of service entitle his widow to more than
$4308 per annum. I still think
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she is entitled to the whole pension for
who could say whether had he lived he
would not have served two years & more-
It surely is reasonable to pay the full pension
to the widow of one whose life was lost in
the service. I beg you let me hear to
soon on this subject. I propose
return the present certificate for
one calling for $80 per annumwas
there not a law passed soon after
the Key war under which she should
have claimed & is it in force
to
By an early reply you will greatly oblige
Your obedient servant
James A Black
for Mr Edith Forms
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Resolved That each and way freeman or white sement
who was resident in this State before the 1st January 1775 and
who has been wounded and disabled in the defence of this State to
that he is rendered thereby unable to follow his daily employment
which he used to do before he was so wounded or disabled to sup
=port himself and family shall be allowed and paid out of the Public
Treasury of this State the sum of five pounds annually during
his life and residence within the limits of this State and also the
sum of two pounds per annum for each and every child which
he had in his family at the time he was wounded during the life
of such Child or children until such child or childen
respectively shall arrive to the age of twelve years. And
in case the said German or white servant shall die and leave
a widow with a child or children or shall have been taken
in the field of battle and kept by the enemy confined until they
died the said widows respectively shall during the time he or
she have the care of such child or children and also during their
widowhood be entitled to recieve the sum of five pounds annually for
herself and two pounds for each child during the life of such child
until such child shall arrive to the age of twelve years. But
case the said Freeman or white servant or their respective wid
now or the widows of all those men who were taken by the
enemy in the field of battle and kept confined by the enemy until
died and possessed of in his her own right of a tract of land
and two or more working negroes or other Have he or she shall not
be entitled to the above annuity and when it so happens that the
father who has been wounded and disabled as aforesaid or
died in confinement or been killed fighting in the defense of this
┃ State and the mother is also dead the Executors Administrators
or guardians of such child or children shall receive for the
┃ use of such child of
pay during her wife of
such child or children the allowance hereby provided
until the said Child or children shall have arrived to the age of twelve
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years provided that the said Freeman or white servant their respective
widows and the widows of all those who died in confinement as aforesaid
shall when they apply to the Treasury for payment produce upon
every such application a certificate from under the hands
and seals of the Judges of the County Court or a majority
of them dated in the year wherein such application is made
where the said Herman White servant or widow do respectively
reside and sworn to by the said ferman or White servant or widow
that they an inhabitants of this State and where there are any child
or children who are entitled to the said Annuity that the child
or childern are living and under the age of twelve years and the said
freeman or white servant or those who died in confinement were actually
friends to America at the time they were so wounded and disabled
killed or died in confinement and in those Counties or Parishes
1
where County Courts are not established the certificates shall
be certified by the Magistrates of said County of Parish"
March 15th 1785
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Columbia SC Aug 10 1849 
Comm of Pensions
Washington City DC
Sir
In compliance with your letter
to Hon. A.P. Butter U.S. Senator, of March 15th 49, I now send you another Declaration of Mrs Edith Fours widow of Edmund Forns deed under act 4th July 1836 signed before
the Judge of the Court of Ordinary for this District,and also the copies of such papers upon which Mr Forns was paid a pension by South Carolina as near as I can be
found at this late day
The Ordinary's certificate fully
identifies the present applicant as the one to whom & can paid ammity as widow of Edmund Forns. See also J.S. Lingard's
affidavit on file in this case in your Office) the affidavit of Theophilus Wilson also identified her as his (Edmund Forns, widow
After spending about four days diligent search & labor I found among the old Vouchers of Treasury Office the Original Documents of which I herewith send you
copies. I also send you a copy of the Resolution passed by our Legislature soon after the war & in exact accordance
with the spirit of which Mrs Forns was paid said pension as early as 1792 in consequence of her producing the proof taken before the Judges of the County Court she was paid the
4 years Annuity due her (see copy enclosed item 1st) Day Book of State Treasury 17th a Copy of Robert Craig's receipt dated
28th Sept 1793 by which it appears bot. of Annuity due Edith Hornswas paid him a certificate sent to Congress" (where sent. some of your Public Office ought to show this certificate
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except what your S.C. Cont Rolls may furnish)-
see also copy of Edith Forn's affidavit before John Taylor Justice of Quorum 29 July 1800 by which it appears Edmund was in Captain
Goodwyn's Company in Col Thomson's Regt was taken a prisoner at siege of Savannah & died a prisoner - See also John Taylor Jr
certificate 29 July 1800, also that of Simon Taylor J.P. & John Malone J.P.-All three of three gentlemen were I think, officers in Rev War
One thing is certain that the certificate of the three J.P. or two & one - were in accordance with provision of said State Resolution sufficient to establish the fact of his service & death her widowhood. Well from before 1800 Maj J.S. Ginguard knew her so that the case is clear as much so as any can be Judge Butler's letter to you last February - Now if ever there was a moratory no claim this one examines your own Rolls she is now on the poor list of this District is very aged & helpless and I hope your good feelings are enlisted for her
Her case is proved up & let me respectfully solicit as hasty a reply as you can give & as the honesty necessity & justify of the claim require-I have the honor to be very respectfully
Your Obt Sevt
James A Black
for Mrs E. TForns
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Annuities Dr To Sundries May 15th 1792.
To Edith Forns widow of Edmd & children
4 year annuities due her and 2 children
to March 1790  L36
1 year due her 25 & 1 yr due one child
to do 1791
7 $43.00

Day Book of 1792
September 1793
Edith Forns paid
Day Book of 1793
Recd 28 Sept 1793 of Baring Mr Seven pounds
for bal of Annuit due to Edith Fours up to March
1791 as certif sent to Congress (signed) Robert Craig
27. (Vide Loose Receipts letter F.
November 1795
Edith Forns For 3 yrs (1794)  15
June 1796
Edith Forns paid her to March 1795 21
July 1800
Edith Forns
29th 4 years annunity  $85.71
(Day Book of 1800)
Edith Forns
7
To Cash pd in part to R. Craig
236
of
3
To do pd R Craigin balance to 1791
7
Edith Fors
43
To Cash
15
0
To Ditto
21
Edith Forns
To Cash
(See Ledgers 1792, 1793, 1795, 1796 & 1850)
$85.71.
State of South Carolina ⎬ Personally appeared
Richland County
Edith Foms rnsbefore me John Taylor Justice
of the Quorum and made oath the Edmund
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Forns was her lawful husband, that she said
Edward Forms was a private soldier in the Company
of Captain Uriah Goodwyn in Col Thomson's Regiment
of Regulars raised by the State of South Carolina
that the said Edward Forns was taken a prisoner by
the British at the seige of Savannah and died
a prisoner soon after that from the best 
information she believes he never enlisted or joined
with the British but remained true to his country till
death that this depenent hath never been married
since his death but now remains a widow and
doth not own any lands or negroes. Sworn & before
me the 29 July 1800
(Signed) John Taylor J.D.
her
(signed) Edith {her mark} Forns

I certify that from the within affidavit as well as
from the certificates of Mr. John Hopkins & Captain  John Malone & Simon Taylor Esquire that
I believe the written named Edith Forms is still
a widow as within stated and that she doth not
own any lands or negroes July 29th 1800
(signed) John Taylor J.D.

State of South Carolina
Richland District ⎬ This is to certify Edith
Forns widow of Edmund Forns who fell in the late
war still remains a widow & has neither land or
negroes. Given under our hands the thirtieth day
of July 1800
Signed
Sim Taylor J.P.
R
John Malone J.P.
Treasury Office
Columbia So. Ca. May 8th 1849.
I do hereby certify that the foregoing one correct copies taken from the Original Archives of my Office
R.C. Griffin
Treasury
Thomas Frian
D.T.