Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3147, Silas Dunn, N.C.
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
N.C.
Dunn, Silas
NUMBER
R. 3147.
CONTENTS
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act
of Congress of the 7th of June 1832.
State of Tennessee 
Rutherford County
On this 3rd day of October 1848 personally appeared in open court in the county court of Rutherford County in the state aforesaid John R. Dunn a resident of the County of Rutherford and State aforesaid aged thirty nine years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832. That he is the son of Silas Dunn who was a captain in the revolutionary war. That his father Silas Dunn entered the service of the United States, that he is not positive in what way he went
into said service, but believes he enlisted. That at the time he went into said service he resided in the state of North Carolina, and belonged to the North Carolina line. That he is not positive whether he went into service as a private or an officer. Declarant believes said Silas Dunn joined the army of the United States at Solsberry in North Carolina. And after he Joined said army he marched through different parts of the United States serving against the British and tories. Declarent states said Silas Dunn has been dead so many years, that he does not at this time recollect any of the officers names under whom he served except as to this general. That George Washington was his
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General. That but a short time after he entered the service of the United States, he was elected, and received the office & commission
of a captain and served in that capacity till peace was made in 1782. He states that said Captain Silas Dunn served but one six-month tour and that was five years which term of time  was the time which rolled around after he entered in service till peace was made. He states that on the 3rd day of January 1809 said Captain Silas Dunn died. That he died six miles from Solsberry in North Carolina. But declarent does not know what was done with his commission. He states twelve children, all of whom are all still living are Elizabeth Dunn who from last information lived in Rowan County North Carolina. Henry Dunn & William Dunn, who from last information lived in Union District in the State of South Carolina. George Dunn who from last information lived in McCrackin County Kentucky. And Charles Dunn who from last information lived in Rowan County North Carolina. He states that his mother Mary Dunn is dead. That she died on the ___ day of ___ 1922 in North Carolina. He declares that the name of the said Captain Silas Dunn his father was never on the pension  roll of any agency in any state in the United States
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nor that he never did in his lifetime receive one cent as a pension from the Government of the United Stated as he is fully advised and believes. Declarent prays that as said Capt Silas Dunn and his widow said Mary Dunn are both plead that the department will issue a pension certificate directing the pension agent at Nashville Tennessee to pay over to declarent the part of the pension, or annuity which is owing & due to said Captain Silas Dunn or at least declarent's part thereof. He states that he does not at this time know of any living witness by whom he can prove the services of said Captain Silas Dunn. Declarent states that he wants the department to transmit said Pension certificate and make all their returns to John Bruce. You're my attorney to Murfreesborough Rutherford County Tennessee.
John R Dunn

Sworn to and subscribed in open court the day & year aforesaid.
John Woods Clerk
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And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after puting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department & that the above named Captain Silas Dunn was a captain in the Revolutionary War and served as stated in the foregoing declaration. And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that John R. Dunn who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration is a credible person & entitled to credit on oath this 3rd of October 1848.

John R. Dunn

James F Fletcher
Lend M. Baird
Benj Clayton
members of the court

I John Woods Clerk of the county court of Rutherford County in the State of Tennessee do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of John R. Dunn for a pension.

In testimony whereof
I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office.
This 3rd day of September 1848.
John Woods Clerk
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Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
AWS

December 13, 1923

Mr. Theo. Maddox
Union, S. C.

Madam:

I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim R. 3147, it  appears that John R. Dunn, aged thirty-nine years and a resident of Rutherford County, Tennessee, applied on October 3, 1848 for pension on account of the services of his father, Silas Dunn, and alleged that Silas Dunn enlisted at Salisbury, North Carolina, as a private, was shortly afterward commissioned Captain in the North Carolina Troops and served until 1782, five years and six months in all.
He died January 3, 1809, six miles from Salisbury, North Carolina and his widow, Mary, (maiden name not stated) died in North Carolina in 1822.
They had twelve children, six of whom were alive in 1848, namely: John R., Henry and William, of Union District, South Carolina; George of McCracken County, Kentucky; Charles and Elizabeth, (married name is illegible) of Rowan County, North Carolina. The  names of the other six children are not on
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record.
The pension claim was not allowed as the children had no title to pension in their own right.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.
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REJECTED
3147
P. O. Silas Dunn
Service: ___
Enlisted: ___, 18__
Discharged: ___, 18__
Application filed: ___, 18__
Alleges: The printed list of 1852 gives cause of rejection as "Died before the passage of the act."
Re-enlisted: ___
Attorney: ___
P. O. ___
Recognized. ___ Contract
___ Cert. of Dis.    Searched for ___, 18__
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No 37666
Silas Dunn dec
Ten
Let. to John Bruce
June 23 49
Rejected, died 1809
3147
Act of June 1832
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State of Tennessee
Rutherford County
County Court for Rutherford County, State aforesaid
November term 1848

This day personally appeared in open Court Lewis Bivins and made oath that he has been personally acquainted with John R. Dunn from his birth to the present time. That he was acquainted with Silas Dunn the reputed father of the said John R. Dunn at and before the birth of the said John R. Dunn. That he knew Mary Dunn the Mother of the said John R. Dunn at the time of his Birth. That Silas Dunn and Mary Dunn lived together as man and wife and were reputed to be lawfully married at the birth of the said John R. Dunn. And that the said John R. Dunn was then and has been since reputed to be the legitimate son of the said Silas Dunn by his wife the said Mary Dunn.
Subscribed & sworn to in open Court this 6th November 1848
Lewis Bevins
James F Fletcher Chairman
Benj Clayton
L. M. Baird
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Nov 24 48
John Bruce
Murfreesborough
Resp. John R. Dunn dec

Original

J. S. Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City D.C.

[seal]
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Nov 24 48
John Bruce
Murfreesborough
Resp. John R. Dunn dec

Original

J. S. Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City D. C.

[seal]
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Murfreesborough Rutherford County Tenn.

Sir

I have transmitted to you the papers In John R.  Dunn case and hope for a favorable decision in his favour. Please report to me in Wm Crenshaw's case. In which case the papers, were put in the Post Office here on the 4 of October last.

J. S. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City D.C.

Your obedient servant
John Bruce

P. S.
Sir you will see that Capt Silas Dunn has six children yet living and consequently said pension must be divided in six parts. And one six part must be payed to John R. Dunn.
John Bruce
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No 37666
Silas Dunn dec
Ten
Act 7 Jun 1832

Rejected
died 1809 see declaration within
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1923 - Dec. 13 Hist to Mrs Theo. Maddox [illegible]
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Tho Bruce
June 23. 49
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Pension Office
June 23 1849

Sir

The papers in the case of Silas Dunn dec, have been examined and pled under the act of 7 June 1832, with rejected claims.
It appears from the affidavit of John R Dunn, that Silas Daven his father died in 1809. He of course could have acquired no right to a pension under the law above referred to which was not passed until 23 years after his death. Children have no claim to pensions in their own right and as Silas Dunn and his widow both died prior to any law granting pensions for service rendered in the War of the Revolution, we know of (no claim) nothing due to either of them (at this time) from the General Government to be paid to their Children.
John Bruce Esq
Murfreesboro
Ten.
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And said court do hereby declare their opinion after investigating the matter, of in the application of John R. Dunn for a pension, and do hereby certify that it appears to them that & Lewis Bivins and Ann Bivins who have subscribed and sworn to the foregoing affidavit is a credible person, and her statement is entitled to credit on oath.
In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands on this 6th day of November 1848.
James F. Fletcher Chairman
Benj Clayton
L. M. Baird
Members of said Court
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I John Woods Clerk of the county court of Rutherford County in the State of Tennessee, do hereby certify that the foregoing affidavit which have been subscribed sworn to by Lewis Bivins and the foregoing certificate of said court are a part of the record in the case of the application of John R Dunn for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and public seal of office at offices in the town of Murfreesboro, on this 6th day of November 1848.
John Woods Clerk
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Union S. C
Oct. 3, 1923.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Will you kindly tell me if you have any record of Silas Dunn Revolutionary soldier. He was from North Carolina, Salisbury, I think. Also Thomas Leonard from Maryland.
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Thanking you for any information you can give me.
I am Yours truly
(Mrs. Theo.) Mary L. Maddox
Union
S.C.

U.S. PENSION OFFICE
NOV 3 1923