Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21,770, Reuben Golding, S.C.
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( 3-1776 ) SERVICE S.C.  Golding , Reuben  NUMBER S. 21.770 Born in Va.
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( left page and vertical on page )  Let. to Hon. Wm. Barksdale May 26/ 58 ( right page )
 23.260
 South Carolina 
Reuben Golding  Laurens in the State of So Car. who was a  Pri & Lt.  in the compy commanded by Captain  Leonard of the __ commanded by  __ in  the So. Car line for 10 mo : 19 days  

Inscribed on the  Roll of So. Carolina  at the rate of 51 Dollars 79 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831. 

Certificate of Pension issued the 14th day of Dec. 33  and sent to  Hon Jno R Griffin H.R. 

Arrears to the 4th Sept.  1833  $129.47 Semi-anl. allowance ending  4 March  34 $ 25.89 ( total $ 155. 36 ) 
{ Revolutionary Claim Act June  7, 1832 } Recorded by N. Rice Clerk Book E. Vol. 6 Page 68
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[ State of South Carolina Laurens District ] In the Common Pleas  On this  seventeenth day of October personally  appeared  his Honor Richard Gaut  one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting   Reuben Golding  aged 89  years a resident of  the  District of Laurens  S. Carolina who being 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 the 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States in the year 1774 0r 1775   under  Capt. John Caldwell oof Major Taylor's Battalion in the  Regiment commanded by  Col. Mayson and served three years as a Sergeant - has no written discharges ; his papers having been burnt by the depredating  Tories. He afterwards went as a volunteer Lieutenant  under Capt. Lenard in an expedition  against the Cherokee Indians , Col. Williams commanding & was about   in service about 7 weeks . He then went under  Capt. Lenard & Col. Williams as a volunteer and was at the siege of Ninety  Six - returned on by home, continued under the command  Captain Lenard until the  Battles at  Engills when Lenard was killed. He afterwards  volunteered  & was  at the expedition  to  Charleston , was at the  Battle of Stono, was stationed on  Sullivan's Island about  3 months and also at Beaufort about six months. He was at Orangeburg  and was under  his active service until the militia  was disbanded. serving the time he was in  eight battles or engagements, and served in  whole about five years, and under  several officers, part of the time under Capt. .. ( illegible )   & Col. Hopkins , Capt. Wallace & Major Harris  & other officers not recollected. He was a resident of Craven County  now  Laurens District  So. Carolina when he entered the service
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pension roll of the agency of any State. I was born in Orange County   State of Virginia in the  1743. I have no record of my age. I was living in  Craven County now Laurens District   So. Carolina  when I entered the service where I have lived ever since. I served the first term as an enlisted soldier  under Capt. Caldwell , the balance of the time  I served as  a volunteer. I have no  recollection of the  names of  Regular officers except  Capt. Caldwell , & Major Taylor &  Col. Mayson. I never received a discharge, that I recollect if so it was lost.   We Rev'd Joseph Babb  and John K Griffin  are persons  acquainted with me  &  can testify  as to my character for veracity  & Honorable Andrew Burnsides will testify to my revolutionary  Lieut. Sworn to  & subscribed the day  & year aforesaid. John Garlington  ( signed ) Clk L. Dis. Reuben Golding ( signed )  We Joseph  Babb a clergyman  residing in the District of  Laurens  So Carolina  & John K Griffin  residing in Newberry  District  do hereby certify that we are ell acquainted with Reuben Golding  who has subscribed  & sworn to the above  declaration , that we believe him to be  about the age of  89 years and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood  where he reside to have been a  revolutionary soldier and that we concur in that opinion.  Sworn to & subscribed the  day  & year aforesaid .  Joseph Babb ( signed ) John K Griffin ( signed )  John Garlington  ( signed ) Clk L. Dis.
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and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion  after the investigation of the matter  & 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 Curt further certifies that it appears to them that  Joseph Babb  who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman  residing in Laurens  District So. Carolina  and that John K Grifin who has signed the same is a resident in the  same and is a credible person  & that their statement is entitled to credit. Richard Gautt ( signed ) [ South Carolina Laurens District ] Personally in open Court  Andrew Burnside who being sworn  sayeth that he is  well acquainted with  the applicant Reuben Golding  & well knowns that he served in the  Revolutionary  war, as he saw him at the  siege of Ninety Six - was with him at the Battle at Engills where we were both taken prisoners  .. ( illegible ) a tour of duty   under the applicant  who was Lieutenant in  Capt. Wallace's company  at Orangeburg. The applicant was reputed to be a brave & reliable officer  & soldier. Sworn to  & subscribed the day and year above written. John Garlington  ( signed ) CCP L. Dist.  Andrew  Burnside ( his mark X )
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I, John Garlington  clerk of the   Court of Laurens District do hereby certify that  the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application  Reuben Golding for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this seventeenth day of October 1832.  John Garlington  ( signed / sealed )  clk L D  ( vertical notes )  ( Reuben Golding appl. for Pension    John K Griffin )
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( left page and vertical )  Pension Office  May 24/58 The 3rd Auditor will please certify date to which   within named pensioner was paid. Very respectfully  John Robb  ( signed ) for  Commissioner ( right page ) 3rd Auditor Office May 24/ 1838 Sir : Reuben Golding  S.C.  roll, act 1832  appears to have been paid  to  Mar. 4 1835 Very Respy  Robt. J Atkinson  ( signed ) Auditor  Geol C. Whiting  Esq. Comm. of Pensions
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Revolution 21770 INVALID File No. 21770 Reuben Golding  Pri. Rev War  Act : June 7th  ' 32 Index : - Vol. 2 Page 157 [ Arrangement of 1870 ]
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[ South Carolina Laurens District ] I John Garlington   Clerk of  Laurens District do hereby  certify that  Patrick  Todd before whom  John  Cummings made the annexed affidavit is an acting Justice of the  Quorum  for the  District aforesaid  & that   John Chapman  who took  James  Tinsley's deposition  is an acting Justice of the Peace  for said District and that all due faith   & credit ought to be given to their official acts as such.  Given under my hand  & seal of office at Lauren's Court House this 6th day of November 1833. John Garlington  ( signed / sealed )
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Columbia May 9th  1858 Dear Sir,  The heirs of Reuben Golding  deceased claim that he was  a soldier of the  Revolutionary  War. that he was a 1st Lieut.  until is  Captain was killed when he was promoted to Captain they think he went into service in Virginia, was stationed at Bluford's Island was under Genl Pickens part of his service, that he continued to the end of the war , was wounded and drew a pension for three years say  32,22 & 34  and died about the time another was due in  1835 - he was residing in  South Carolina when he drew the pension. If from this disconnected statement you can  in  examine  and  inform me  whether  there is a  sum due  to said Reuben Golding and the amount and proof necessary to  recover  the amount for the heirs, I will take it to be a great   favor - and it will furthermore  confer a great  favor on those directly interested.  Yours Respty . Amgi E Love ( signed )  Geo . C. Whiting Commissioner of Pensions  Washington DC
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Sir, In the claim of Reuben Golding  as applicant for a pension, I am  calling  as said agent for  said applicant , to receive from the Department  any   such money  as may now be deemed his due,  leaving the case open  for a  .. ( illegible ) of pension , should  he be able  heretofore to address an  additional  evidence in support of a  further claim.  I am y John K. Griffin ( signed )  J L Edwards Com Pen  Dec 13 1833
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[ South Carolina Laurens District ] Personally appeared  before  me one of the Justices of the peace  James Tinsley   & being du== sworn saith on oath that he  is well acquainted with  the applicant Reuben Golding  and that he has good reason to believe that he the said Golding was in the  Continental services  at  Charleston,  under  Capt. John  Caldwell  &  that he believes the said applicant   continued in the said Captain Caldwell . ( missing )  for some years and also he the said Tinsley  was with him one tour  at Stono  & another at Edgills old fields & there continued with him to the end of the war. Sworn to and subscribed  before me this 21st Oct.  1833 .  James Tinsley  ( signed )  J. Chapman ( signed ) JP
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[ South Carolina Laurens District ] Personally came before me  John  Cummings  who being sworn saith on his oath that he is well  acquainted with  the applicant Reuben Golding  and that  he has good reason to believe that he  the said Golding  was in the Continental services at Charleston  under Capt. John Caldwell and that he believes he the said Golding continued under the said Capt. Caldwell  in  Charleston for some years  and also he the said Cummings was in  company with the applicant  two tours in the  Cherokee Nation  and one at  Edgels old field where we were both taken prisoners . Sworn to before me this  28th day of September .   John Cummings ( signed ) Patrick Todd ( signed ) J.Q.
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[ No. 474 Lib. W. ] Issued the 22nd  August  1785  to Reuben Golding  for twenty six pounds , five shillings for duty  both as Lieutenant  & Private  per account passed by the Commissioners.  Principal Lbs. 26.5. 0 1/2  Annual interest  Lbs. 1.16.9  Comptroller's Office Columbia 26 Sept  1833  I certify the above to be a true  copy taken from Indent Book W in this office. John T. Seibels  ( signed ) Dep. Compt. Genl.
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STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA BY HIS EXCELLENCY  Robert G. Hayne GOVERNOR AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF IN AND OVER THE STATE AFORESAID. To all to Whom these Presents Shall Come  Know ye that John  T Seibels  above signature appears to the  annexed instrument of writing  is the Deputy Comptroller  General in the place . Therefore all due Faith, Credit, and Authority  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 Columbia the twentieth day of September  and in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty  three and in the fifty eighth year of the Independence of the United States of America. BY THE GOVERNOR.  S. Hammond  ( signed ) SECRETARY OF STATE (SEALED )
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SC Reuben Golding  S.C. Roll No . 32 No. 28260  B Miss   Cole  ( vertical on page ) (  Wm Barksdale MC  Hon. G.C. Whiting  Comm. Pensions  Washington  DC
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R Golding  Admt  Private 9 mo 30 Lieut.  1. 19ds 2179 ( ret $ 51.79 )Hon Jno R Griffin  HR
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WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office

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, shewing the Service of

Period when the service was rendered /
Duration of the claimants service Years/months/days
1 Month 19 days
3 Months pri
6 Months pri
10 Months 19 days
Rank of the claimant 
Lieut
pri
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served /
Age at present and place of above when he entered the service / Proof by which the declaration is supported.

I am respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES L EDWARDS
Commissioner of Pensions
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THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, 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 and who 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, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are
also excluded from the benefits 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 this Department, all persons claim
ing the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians 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 applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is
considered a Court of Record.

                                                                  DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory or District of} ss.
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_______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 officers:

(Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular 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 named applicant 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 names 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 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 believe him to be ___________
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.

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.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the___________
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 the Court of ____________ do hereby certify 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, this ______ day of      ____________ & c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original 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 his personal knowledge of the services
of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
upon 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 the material facts, which can be useful
in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his

Army
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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, if 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 Solder.     } 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 be come 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
the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their 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 certify to the character
and standing of other persons giving such certificates.

The traditionary evidence of service is deemed 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
enquiry whether the belief is general, and 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 a 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 office, 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 genuine signature.

No payments can be made on 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 the
opinion 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 or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier 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, 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."

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 objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that 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 shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement;
the particular place or place 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.

[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 affix 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 certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
                                                                                     
                                                                                          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 papers 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.
                                                                                        
                                                                                                    Proof of Service.
[j] 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 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 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.
☞ The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j]  applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is insepensible 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.

Militia 

Regular