Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 21556, for Joseph Lafar, South Carolina
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(3-1776)
SERVICE NUMBER
SC Lafar, Joseph W21556
Catharine
CONTENTS
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1959
South Carolina
Catharine Lafar widow of Joseph Lafar decd SC
who died in the year 1795 of Charleston in the State of So Ca who was a Sergeant in the company commanded by Captain Toomar of the Regt commanded by in the So Ca line for 
Increased  him $40
Inscribed on the Roll of South Ca at the rate of 100 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 12th day of June 1838 and sent to J Geny R Poinsett Secy of War
Arrears to the 4th of March 1838 $700.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept 50.00
$750.00
{Revolutionary Claim Act July 4, 1836 Section the 3d}
Recorded by DD Addison Clerk
Book A Vol 2d Page 172

Hon Wm Aiken
Feby 5 1836
Hon SA Douglass
Feb 16 1858
Catharine Foote
July 1, 1858
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The evidence contained in the S Carolina & American Gen Gazette of the 29 Jan 1778 is sufficient as to Mrs Lafars marriage
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State of South Carolina
District of Charleston } on this tenth day of April 1838 Personally appeared before the Honorable Thomas Lee one of the judges of the United States court in the city of Charleston and district of South Carolina Mrs Catharine Lafar a resident of said city aged seventy five years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to be entitled to the provision of the 3d section of the act of Congress of the 4 July 1836 that she is the widow of Joseph Lafar deceased who was a sergeant in the "antrent artillery of Charleston" So Carolina militia during the war of the revolution and served as such during the periods herein mentioned To wit, he enrolled himself in said corps in the year 1777 for when she married him in January 1778 he was a member of said corps for some time previous & with said rank of sergeant saith that with afew intermissions he was constantly under arms with said corps until the fall of Charleston on the 12 May 1780 more especially from the landing of the Bosteh at port royal in February 1779, and during the siege & saith when the said surrender of the city took place he was taken a prisoner while under arms as a sergeant as aforesaid and after being detained a prisoner of war he in about two months because a prisoner on parole and continued as such to the time of the evacuation saith that in about a month after this event took place, said corps of artillery was reorganised under the command of Capt Anthony Toomer and her said husband was rank of sergeant given him which he continued to hold to the time of his death which took place in 1795 saith that she has remained unmarried ever since and is now a widow saith she was married to said Joseph Lafar on the 25 January 1778, saith she states the above
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parts to rebcol of her recollection and that her memory of them grows more indistinct saith that many who could give direct proof are dead or left the state or by reason of decline of memory unable to give evidence in her behalf but saith the services of her husband as aforesaid was matter personally known to Charleston saith she is now feeble in health and poor in circumstances and humbly hopes the war department seeing the shortness of life in the south and the difficulty of procuring proofs will take her case into its kind considerations C Lafar

sworn to before me this 10 April 1838
Tho Lee Drdd Judge of U States for So C

We the subscribers citizens of Charleston take a pleasure in certifying that we knew the late Joseph Lafar and his widow who now applies for a pension that Mrs Lafar is a woman of unexceptionable character and we believe that all which she has sworn is strictly true Tho Lee
John J Pringle Wm Purse
John cert
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I certify that I know the applicant Mrs C Lafar & with pleasure confirm all that she has said of herself but did not know her husband personally. I also concur in the testifying to her uniform good character thro out her life
Jos Johnson 
I hereby certify that I was acquainted with Joseph Lafar in the Revolutionary War and was on guard duty with him in the Charleston Artillery some time during the war and have no doubt on my mind that he served in his station during the continuence of the war; but I have had but little acquaintence with his widow
Job Palmer
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Charleston Carolina June 12 1858
To the President of the United States

Honorable Mr Buchanon I hope you will not think it interdisy in my Addressing you to my Mothers claim who one of the pensioner and one of the half pay widows of the revolutionary war as her husband was a Sergeant in the Domint Bultuten of Artillery and served from the commence of the war to the ending my mother who remained in the place during the whole war she suffered many hardships being so pulster she would not have myself and another daughter in the last Sevury of children my mother was the sole support of myself and daughter who has no support but our industry which make it very hard us I am declining in health as I asrense in years my sight is very bad I wish to pethure you the Honourable Mr Buchanan to beg of you is a Price of Friendship to Move me my mother pension in the place of her as I am getting feeble and not able to work in [illegible] you in for Bestowing it on me I assure you it will be will given to a poor widow and orphan who has had the misfortune of losing her husband who dying young had not belonged to any socity which leaves me very destitute I also lost my only son who would have assisted me through life by allowing me this pension it will then the lonely heart of a widow and orphan who one left truly destitute
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If granted may the Almighty bless you for your kindness and Friendship if it is not taking you too much pleas if granted you confer a favor to let me know I reside in Quen Stact in the vireny of mills house and next door to the home of Kny and ment to the East Engine house
Respectfully yours
Mrs Foote Quen Stet
I am the daughter of Joseph and who was a Cathine Lafar sergeant in the Ament Battatos
Artillery of the Revolutary war
My mother was a pensionr and a half pay widow 
I am her daughter Mrs Catherine Foote
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Rev & 1812 Wars Section
December 27, 1934
Mrs. Branch LaFar
510 E Duffy St
Savannah GA

Madam

I have toadvise you that from the papers in Revolutionary War pension claim W21556, it appears that Joseph Lafar was born May 16, 1753.
He enlisted in 1777 served as sergeant in the Charleston South Carolina Artillery Company whenever called upon until the fall of Charleston when he was taken prisoner and detained as such about two months, then on parole until the evacuation of that city after which he served as sergeant under Captain Anthony Toomer in said company. 
Soldier married January 25, 1778, Catharine Boillat or Boillut who was born April 16, 1763. He died in 1795 and the widow Catharine was allowed pension on her application executed April 10, 1838, while a resident of Charleston, South Carolina.
In 1858, a daughter, Mrs. Catharine Foot was living in Charleston South Carolina. She referred to her daughter
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and an only son, then dead, but did not give their names. There is no further data on file as to family.
Respectfully,
Acting Commissioner.
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Catharine Lafar
wid of Joseph
SC
Married 1778
died 1795
8 mo Seg artl
$40 per anm amy
4 March 1837

Hon HS Legarl
HR
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Jos Lafar decd
Catharine in Jany 78
77 Antant artily of Charleston SC Segeat
taken prison May 1780 pad in two month
In Seven [illegible] that intenal pes 77
to Feb 79 then continualy to May 80 
the no after the evac of Charleston he [illegible]
his plan you a seg of co Capt Toomer
Jos Righton states that the co was a countant 
sena 6 mo before the siege
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WAR DEPARTMENT
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM
I certify that in conformity with the 3d section of the law of the United States of the 4th July 1836 Catharine Lafar of South Carolina widow of Joseph Lafar decd who was a sergeant in the war of the Revolution is entitled to receive Forty dollars and - cents per annum, during the time she may remain unmarried, commencing on the 4th of March 1831 and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March and 4th of September

Given at the War Office of the United States this 20th day of April one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight
S Cooper
Secretary of War
Examined and Countersigned
JL Edwards 
Commissioner of Pensions
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Washington
May 19 1854
Mrs Catharine Foote
Charleston SC} Madam
In reply to your favor of the 10th ist I have to state that if you will execute and return to me the power of attorney enclosed in my former letter together with my usual fee of $3 in advance I will take the necessary steps to procure an allowance of your claim for an increase of pension
Send me all the particulars of service and the old pension certificate and any old papers which may be in possession of the heirs will also be of service in establishing the claim. 
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servt
SM Knight
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1957
South Carolina
Catharine Lafar
widow of Joseph Lafar decd
who died in the year 1795 
Charleston in the State of So Ca who was a sergeant in the company commanded by Captain Toomer of the Regt commanded by in the So Ca
line for 8 months
Increase to $100 per ann
Inscribed on the roll of So Carolina at the rate of 40 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of April 1838 and sent Hon HS Logan Hou of Reps
Arrears to the 4th of March 1838 $280.00
Semi=annual allowance ending 4 Sept 20.00
$300.00
{Revolutionary Claim Act July 4, 1836 Section the 3d}
Recorded by DD Additon clerk
Book A Vol 2d Page 172

Let Sec War May 21 1838
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Washington City DC Apl 20 1854

I address you for the purpose of offering my services as Government Claim Agent in obtaining an Increase of the Revolutionary Pension of Catharine Lafar. The amount of yearly Pension granted in this case was determined at the time of granting the Pension by the grade or rank in which the soldier served and by the period of his service as then proven but in this as well as every other case of like character where additional service or service in a higher grade can be established a corresponding yearly increase of the pension is on to the soldier as well as to his widow under certain circumstances; and in the event of their death to the surviving children. This increase dates back to the commencement of the pension lasts during its continuance ceasing only with the annuity and may be realized in one entire and accumulated service whenever properly applied for Hundreds of Pensioners and representatives of pensioners have received this increase and altho some addition to the original pension may in the present case have already been granted I may be able to obtain a further allowance I am not [illegible faded] until with the enclosed Instrument as my authority I have explained all the papers in the case be prepared to state with any degree of accuracy what amount there is or may be due This authority as your attorney will enable me to obtain a certificate upon which you will receive all that may be recoverable Should there be several heirs it will not be necessary for all to recite the power enclosed any one of them may act for himself and represent the interest of the remainder From an examination of the enclosed form you will see that the certificate to be granted upon an admission of the claim will command the money at the pension agency of your state, or where the original annuity was paid it is appearant therefore that as no money is drawn here I can exercise no control over what may be recovered but for my fee or percentage of the amount drawn must trust entirely to your nitequly to promptly send it to me after you have turned the certificate into cash If I am employed in the prosecution of this claim I will for my own interest as well as yours exert every means to establish as much service by the soldier as possible The more service we are able to prove, the greater will be the amount recovered In doing this I will of necessity incur some outlay searches of voluminous files will have to be made certified copies of papers will be required and probably an exemplified record from one or more of the state comptrollers all this I will have to pay for in advance To protect myself against absolute loss therefore I shall expect from you an advance fee of $3 which will be the only charge made until the claim is allowed Without this advance fee I cannot proceed in your behalf. Should you see proper to place your services in my charge you may expect to be served to the best of my ability and I entertain no doubt with results as satisfactory to all concerned as have heretofore attended my labors before the pension office My fee will be 10 percent of the amount recovered a fee less than half the usual charge in protraded claims The peculiar arrangement of business in this office renders it essential that those intending to apply for increase empower me to act for them as soon as possible after receiving my proposal Several meretorus claims from your veracity have been delayed owing to neglect on the part of clamants while those more prompt to reply have not with securing success For my integrity competency and attention to business you are at liberty to address the member of Congress from your District
Very Respy your obt servt
SM Knight
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So Carolina
City of Charleston
Sir
Eno myself the pleasure of enclosing your certain evidence for the purpose of procuring a pension for a very respectable but very indigent old lady whose husband was a revolutionary soldier It is very difficult this day to procure evidence which may satisfy the requesetions of the acts of congress It happens however that Mr Jos Righton a very respectable citizen was a cotemporary of Mr Lafar and served in the same corps who swears to more than for months of actual service I have been acquainted with Mr Righton for nearly 50 years and put entire credit in what he swars to no man under commenit stnads higher for veracity & integrity by mind appsad to be strong and by memory good I am yr very respecty 
your obt servt
Tho Lee
dist judge
of Ch S for So Carolina
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So Carolina Joseph Righton aged 76 yr being duly sworn maketh oath that he knew the late Joseph Lafar well that he was in the ancelat Battalleon of artillery of Charleston with him during the revolutionary war that the said Joseph Lafar was a good and faithful soldier always prepared and ready to do his duty that the sd Jos Lafar was at the lines during the while siege of Charleston and that for five or six months before the siege the anceat Battallion of artillery were unconstant service liable to be called out and almost constantly on duty that the artillery and the rest of the militia were for many months before the siege engaged before the city of Charleston w [illegible] upleases and preparing for the sualny that for at least 6 months before the fall of Charleston no man was able to follow his biuep that it was apensd of general indeed deponent has no hestiation in saying that they were in actual service for
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at least sev months before the surrender of Charleston Jos Righton
sworn to before me in open court this 10 April 1838
Thos Lee Dist Judge of 
US for So Carolina
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MRS BRANCH LAFAR
510 EAST DUFFY STREET
SAVANNAH GEORGIA
Dec 6 1924
Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir
Will you please be kind enough to give me the Rev pension record of Catherine LaFar
Charleston South Carolina
She was the widow of Joseph LaFar of South Carolina
Very truly yours
(Mrs) Mabel F LaFar
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Rev WIDOW &c
21556
File No 21556
Catharine Lafar
Wid of Joseph Lafar
Sergt Rev War

Act
Index Vol A Page 421

[Arrangement of 1870]

1924 Dec 27 Hist to Mrs Branch LaFar
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state of South Carolina
District of Charleston } On this 26 day of April 1838 personally appeared before me Patrick Cantwell notary public & Qtr for said district Mrs Thompson a resident of said city aged 77 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declarations that she was well acquainted with the late Joseph Lafar of Charleston and knew him to be a volunteer soldier serving under arms against the British during the war of the revolution that she knew him to be at the commencement of the year 1778 a sergeant in the artillery company of sd city and to be serving as such during the siege and up to the surrender of the city in May 1780 a period of more than two years that she had frequent occasions to see said Joseph Lafar durring sd period and can speak therefore with confidence as to the time of his service and his rank saith that some short time after the surrender of sd city said Lafar was permitted to go at large through the city on parol and that after the evacuation of the city say in one month the said corps of artillery was reorganised and said Lafar had his rank of serjeant restored to him which he retained to the time of his death in 1795 saith said Jos Lafar was married about the year 1778 to the claimant Mrs Catharine Lafar his widow who has remained a widow since 1795 and that she is in poor circumtances Mary C Thomson
sworn to before me the day and year above written & I certify the credibility of the affiant P Cantwell
not perle y Th frs said dist
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C1328
State of South Carolina
District of Charleston } on this 20 day of april 1838 personally appeared before the undersigned Mrs Margaret Barbara Gruber a resident of Charleston aged 78 years and widow of Daniel Cobin who was a revolutionary soldier who being duly sworn deposeth she knew the late Joseph Lafar during the war of the revolution to have been a volunteer soldier serving under armed agnt the British and she believes attached to the artillery saith she remembers ile to have heard it a matter of talk how said Lafar where he got married to his widow the present Mrs Catharine Lafar widow then Miss Cath Boillat brought her home to the barracks and this she believes took place in 1778 saith that having had the affidavit of Mrs Thompson at the other side she has every reason to believe that the statements therein as regard the services and marriage and death of said Jos Lafar to be true and that Mrs Lafar has maintained a respectable character MB Gruber
sworn to before me and suscribed the day and year above written and I also certify the credibility of the affient the word "heard" in 10 line first edited 
P Cantwell
Not Pub & Qtr for sd District
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(copy)
United States of America
State of South Carolina
Charleston District ss
Be it known that before me P Cantwell notary Public in and for the district aforesaid personally appeared Catharine Lafar and made oath in due form of law that she is the identical person who drew a pension under the Act 3d March 1843 on account of the Revolutionary service of her husband the late Joseph Lafar at the rate of $100 per annum that she now makes this affidavit for the purpose of drawing a pension under the Act of Congress passed on 17 June 1844 entitled "An act to continue the pensions of certain widows" that she has not intermarried but continues to be a widow; that she now resides in Charleston in the District of Charleston and state of South Carolina and has resided there for the space of seventy years past and that previous thereto she resided in the said district 
sworn to and subscribed this 4 march 1846
C Lafar
notes
married January 25 1778 Joseph Lafar to Catharine Boillut
Catharine Boilett (Lafar) born April 16 1763
Joseph Lafar born May 16 1753
Catharine Lafasr decd about 1838
Joseph Lafar was a sergeant in ancient bat artillery