Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21581, John Wilson, N.C.
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(8-1776)
SERVICE					NUMBER
N.C.		   Wilson, John		S.21581
Born in Penn.
CONTENTS
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12.676
South Carolina
John Wilson

of Greenville in the State of South Car who was a pri. [illegible] infty in the company commanded by Captain Bell of the Regt. commanded by Col. Ledbitter in the North Car line for 17 months

Inscribed on the Roll of South Carolina at the rate of 58 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 17 day of May ’33 and sent Jas Osburn Pickensville So. Ca.
Arrears to the 4th of March ’33		 116.66
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Sept “	   29.16 ½
								$145.82 ½
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7 1832
Recorded by William Miller Clerk,

Book E. Vol. 6. Page 83.
Hon J. S. Orr
Mar 29, 1855
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24252
John Wilson
Grenville District
[illegible]ville, SC June 1778
9 mo. ---
Admit as private
Infantry 15 mo	  50
Private   2		    8.33
				$58.33
James Osburn
Pickensville
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WAR DEPARTMENT, Pension Office, 183

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 shew 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, showing the service of John Wilson S C
Period when the service was rendered.	Duration of the claimant’s service	Rank of the claimant.	Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.	Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.	Proof by which the declaration is supported.

[column headings: Period when the service was rendered. Years. Months. Days. Rank of the Claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which declaration is supported.]
1.	volun. . 6. . private. Cp Bell Col Pacely Genl Rutherford. 77, born in P.a Entered in Guilford Ct N.C. Now lives in Grenville Dis. S.C. 2 Surviving witnesses proves first and second tours – and general service besides – one Credible and the other not Certified Certificate of a Clergyman and Citizen.
2.	drafted. . 9. . private. Genl Ash others forgotten. 
3.	volun. . 2. . Horse service. Cp Crump Col. Ledbetter.
4.	“”.  .  . 8 or 10 days and other times 2 or 3 days at a time. . Col Hamilton.

15 Inf
2 Cavy.

I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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REGULATIONS UNDER 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 claiming 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 County of	} ss.

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 (c) ___ 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 alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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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 Soldier} Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
6. {To an Officer} Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become 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 are the declaration will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make the 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 who 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 if the Pease, &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 that the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: --- For ----- year ----- months, and ----- days, I served as a -----. For ----- year ----- 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 server; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place of 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.

[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 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 affidavit 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 office, under his seal of office.

=> The notes from [a] to [i] are equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in [j] applies to continental troops only.

[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable 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.
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March Term 1833 
State of South Carolina 
Greenville District

On this Eighteenth day of March 1833. Personally appeared in open Court before the Honorable Josiah J. Evans in the Court of Sessions & Common Pleas for the said District and State aforesaid now sitting.

John Wilson a resident of Anderson District and State aforesaid, aged Seventy seven 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 act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. That he entered the service in Guilford County North Carolina a volunteer for a Six month tour under Capt Bell Col John Pacely & Genl. Rutherford and marched to the Cherokee Nation and served out the tour returned, and was discharged at Guilford Courthouse N.C. after that was drafted for a nine month Tour was under the command of Genl Ash but cannot recollect the other officers, was marched threw South Carolina to Augusta in Georgia, from there to Brier Creek, and was in the battle there. Marched from there to the two sisters, and was there discharged -- after that volunteered in the horse service, for a two month Tour under Capt James Crump, and marched from Guilford N.C. to the Narrows of the Adkin and there was stationed to the end of the Tour and was there again discharged. Again volunteered in the Horse service under Capt. George Hamilton, to go in pursuit of the Tories that were collecting on the Adkin and served about Eight or ten days - was several other times after the Tories in the neighbourhood but only a few days at a time that he cannot recollect the times when he entered the Service or when he left the same having lost all his papers of that time. That 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 

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid In open Court 
J. McDaniel			John Wilson
 C.C.P. [illegible] J.Q

We James Dauthit a clergyman residing in Anderson District South Carolina and William Holcombe residing in the Same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Wilson who has subscribed and Sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be of the age there in Stated. that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the revolution and we concur in that opinion 
[illegible] in open Court 

J McDaniel		James Dauthit 
C.C.P. 			Wm Holcombe
Page 8

In answer to the interrogatories proposed by the war department this deponent answers as follows 

1th. I was born in the State of Pennsylvania in the year 1755 as I have been informed by my mother.

2. I have no record of my age but have been informed that it was entered in a family Bible and was burned in a Schoolhouse.

3. In Guilford County North Carolina, about four years after the close of the American Revolution I removed from North Carolina to Pendleton Dist South Carolina to the Plantation I now live on & have occupied ever since I came to the State.

4. I first Volunteered, then was drafted and after that Volunteered again. 

5. I do not recollect the names of any of the Regular officers I was with regulars at the battle of Brier Creek but do not recollect to what regiment they belonged.

6. I Recd. Several discharges but have lost them.

7.  I have allready proved my services as a Soldier of the revolution, and I believe that any of my neighbours will testify as to my Character for Veracity -- Especially James Douthitl Esq. Col John Easley, Mr Saml A. Easley John H Rosamond and John Smith.

Sworn to in open Court 
J McDaniel		John Wilson 
C. C. P
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And the Said Court do hereby declare their opinion after this investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories presented by the War Department that the above mentioned Applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he States. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that James Dauthit who has Signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman Residing in the District of Anderson, and that William Holcomb who has also signed the same is a resident in the said Dist and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to Credit.

Josiah J. Evans 
Residing Judge. 

I James McDaniel Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas & General Sessions, do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the Matter of the application of John Wilson for a pension. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of office this Eighteenth day of March 1833
J McDaniel  C.C.P
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John Wilson’s Application 
24252
War Department Pension Office
Washington City
Page 11

[illegible]
From the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, Survivor File No. 21531, it appears that John Wilson was born in Pennsylvania, in 1755. 

While living in Guilford County, North Carolina, he enlisted and served as a private, in the North Carolina Troops, as follows: 
•	Six months in Captain Bell's Company, Colonel John Pacely's Regiment. 
•	Nine months, under General Ash and was at the battle of Brier Creek, Georgia, on March 3, 1779. 
•	Two months in Captain James Crump's Company, under Colonels Ledbetter and Davidson. 
•	Eight, or ten days, in Captain George Hamilton's Company. 

Date of enlistments and discharges not stated. 

He was allowed pension, on his application executed March 18, 1833, while living in Anderson District, South Carolina. There is no data on file as to family. 

Respectfully, 
Acting Commissioner. 

Last half of letter to Mr. Folger, Bureau of Pensions, first part [illegible] John Wilson
June 16, 25
Va. W26081
Page 12

Revolution
21581
INVALID
File No. 21,581
John Wilson
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7 1832
Index:--- Vol. 2  Page 451
[Arrangement of 1870]

1925 June 16. Hist. to Mr. Folger
B. of Pensions Act
Page 13

South Carolina
Pickens Dist.

Personally came George Adams before me the Subscribing Justice and made oath in due form that he is personally acquainted with John Wilson of said Dist and was knowing to said Wilson Bearing arms in defence of the United States against the British and Tories in the time of the American revolution and that he Served with the said Wilson Nine months at one time as drafted Militia under the command of Genl Rutherford & Col John Pacely and that he fought at the battle of Briar creek in company with the Said Wilson and under the command of Genl Ash and that he served a two month Volunteer Tour with the Said Wilson under the command of Col Ledbetter and Col Davidson,  James Crump Captain and that he knew of the said Wilson being out on Scouting parties at different other times against the British and Tories.

Sworn to, and Subscribed before me this 17th Day of Sept 1832 
James Osborn J.Q 			George Adams (his mark) 


South Carolina 
Pickens Dist 

Personally came Andrew Hughes before me the subscribing Justice and made Oath in due form that he has been personaly acquainted with John Wilson from the time they were boys, that he distinctly recollects of being in the Campains with said Wilson in the time of the American revolution against the British and Tories. This deponent further says that owing to his extreem age and loss of recollection he cannot now remember the particulars but that he does believe the above Oath made by George Adams to be just and true 

Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 18th day of Sept 1832 
Ja. Osborn J.P 				Andrew Hughes
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State of South Carolina 
Anderson District 

I James Dauthit one of the Justices of the quorum in and for the District aforesaid and also a regular minister of the Gospel do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Andrew Hughs and that he is respectable and that due faith and credit is to be paid to his signature 

Given under my hand and seal this 19th day of September 1832 
James Dauthit J.Q. 


State of South Carolina
Perkins Dist

 I do hereby Certify to all whom it may concern that I am personally acquainted with Andw. Hughes the within Deponant, and that he is in respectable Standing and that due faith and credit aught to be paid to his Oath.

Given under my hand and Seal this 18th day of January 1833 
James Osborn J.Q
Page 15

State of South Carolina 
Greenville District 

I James McDaniel Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the peace for Greenville district do hereby Certify that James Osburn and James Douthit is and was at the Signing of this paper both acting Justices of the Quorum and that they are Entitled to all due faith & credit in any of these official acts.

Given under my hand and the Seal of the Court at Greenville Court house this 18th day of March 1833 
J McDaniel 
C.C.P