Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2760, for James Mc Adow, North Carolina
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(3—1776)
SERVICE
N. C. 
McAdow, James
NUMBER 
S.2760
Born in N. C. 	carded
CONTENTS
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7398
West Tennessee
James McAdow
of Wilson Co. in the State of W. T. who was a private [illegible] in the company commanded by Captain Gillispie of the Regt. commanded by Col. Davis in the N. C. line for 1 year.
Inscribed on the Roll of W. Tennessee at the rate of 50 Dollars – Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 4 day of April 1833 and sent to R. M. Burton Lebanon Tenn.
Arrears to the 4th of March 33 $100.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept. 25.00
$125.00
{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Daniel Boyd Clerk,
Book E Vol. 7 Page 88
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17300
Wilson County
Tennessee
James McAdow
From 1777 private of [illegibile] 12 month
$50
R. M. Burton
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]
BRIEF in the case of James McAdow
County of Wilson in the State of Tennessee
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
1.	Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court
2.	If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3.	How old is he? 73
4.	State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period.
In 1775
Ditto
Col. 1777
Col.
Duration of Service.
Years,
Months, 
3
2
2 [illegible] time for a [illegible] out in all this service 6
[illegible] 6
Rank. 
As a
Waggoner 
do 
Private 
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Gen.
Col. Gillispie and Capt. Gillispie
Capt. Gillispie
Col. Davie
5.	In what battles was he engaged? None 
6.	Where did he reside when he entered the service? N. Carolina Guildford Cty.
7.	Is his statement supported by living witnesses, documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living and Traditionary.
8.	Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct
9.	I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
John H. Ashford
Examining Clerk.
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State of Tennessee Wilson County
On the 28th day of September A. D. 1832 Personally appeared in open court before the undersigned Justices of the peace holding the court of pleas and quarter sessions for the County of Wilson at there September [illegible] A. D. 1832. And which is now sitting James McAdow a resident of the county of Wilson in the State of Tennessee aged seventy three years according to the family register, 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 the 7th A. D. 1832. I was born in Guilford County in the State of North Carolina where I lived until I moved to Tennessee 27 year ago, in the year A. D. 1775 I went with my wagon loaded with flour to Charleston while then I was pressed with my waggon and [illegible] into service for three months to carry the Baggage of the American Army that marched out from Charleston to [illegible]. I was there detained as long as the army remained and when they marched back I returned to Charlestown and carried their baggage after I got to Charlestown I was again pressed as a baggage waggon to carry the Militia to Orangsburg [Orangeburg?] and was detained for two months making in all five months
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of this kind of service for which I have never received one cent. In the years of 1777 or 1778 I volunteered as a minuet man in Cavalry under Captain Daniel Gillispie, and John Gillispie Colonel against the tories and British. I was often Cald. out some time for the space of two months and some times for a less period. 
I was often in perseute “ in pursuit of tories and routed Colonel Fanning a notid [noted] Torie. I was out in this service six months the next service I was a volunteer in the Cavalry under Captain Gillispie in Guilford and rendezvoused as Charlotte in Mecklenburg North Carolina and placed under the command of Col. Colo. Davie while at Charlotte was attacked the tories in [illegible] came and killed a number and took a number of horses and marched from Charlotte to Salisbury then to Guilford and joined General Green in that action I served out the whole six months I expect I can prove a part if not all my services by Captain William Donnell was out in the service with him his character for truth be one [illegible] he can prove by are his neighbours and acquaintances, he replies to Captain William Donnell, and the Revd. John Jones, he hereby relinquishes all right whatsoever to a pension, except the present his name is not on the pension roll of any state or agency in the United States. 
James McAdow
Sworn to in open court
28th Sept. 1832
[illegible] S. McCaine Clerk
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William Donnell hereby certifies that he has been acquainted with the applicant James McAdow for sixty years or upwards he served [illegible] for six months with him in the Revolutionary War and always understood that he performed other services as stated in his Declaration witness and applicant were raised in the same county Guilford North Carolina, said McAdow has always retained a high character for truth and veracity and witness has no doubt that he served as stated in his declaration witness is a citizen of Wilson County and is 72 years of age.
William Donnell [illegible]
Sworn to and subscribed in open court 
28th day of Sept. 1832
Test. Josiah S. McCaine Clerk
Of Wilson County Court 
John Jones a clergyman of Wilson County hereby certifys that he has known the applicant McAdow for about twenty years he has always been reputed in his neighborhood to be a soldier of the Revolution and witness concurs in that opinion he is a man of undoubted truth.
John Jones 
Sworn to and subscribed
In open court the day and year aforesaid.
Test. Josiah S. McCaine Clerk
Of Wilson County Court
State of Tennessee
Wilson County
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after investigating the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant James McAdow was a soldier of the Revolutionary soldier and served as he states and the court further certifies that it appears to them that John Jones who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident of the County of Wilson and State of Tennessee and that
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William Donnell who has signed the preceding certificate is a citizen of Wilson County a credible person and there statements are entitled to full credit.
[illegible] J. P.
D. C. Cobble J. P.
B. J. [illegible] J. P.
I Josiah S. McCaine Clerk of Wilson County court do hereby certify that that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of James McAdow for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 1st day of October A. D. 1832
Josiah S. McCaine
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2760
Rev War
INVALID
File No. 2760
James McAdow
Priv. N. C. line
Act: June 7, 1832
Index:--Vol. A, Page 243
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]
BRIEF objections in the admissions of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of James McAdow which require further proof or explanation.
I.	Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes
II.	Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes
III.	If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV.	Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war where he served? Yes
V.	* Has he mentioned 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? No
VI.	Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes
VII.	Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes
VIII.	Has the Court given their opinion? Yes
IX.	Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes
X.	Is the Clerk’s seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes
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XI.	* Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? Yes
XII.	If the clergyman’s affidavit has not been produced, is their any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
XIII.	If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
XIV.	If the applicant’s name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? Yes
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? Yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
XV.	Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have personal knowledge of the applicant’s service? Yes
XVI.	Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? Yes
XVII.	Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
*QUERE V. 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 -------; for such service I claim a pension.”
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3
It is important 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 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 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 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.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service
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 claimants 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 officers, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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, as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.
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LEBANON 
OCT 21
TEN.
FREE
Hon. Lewis Cass
War Department
Washington City
James McAdow’s
Application for a pension.
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Hon. L. Cass
Lebanon Tennessee
October 15th 1830
Enclosed I send you the application of James McAdow for a pension you will please let him know the result through me at Lebanon Tenn. and very much oblige your obt. Servant
R. M. Burton
To
The Hon. Lewis Cass