Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 11197, William Wadkins, N.C. S.C.
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(3-1776) 
SERVICE NUMBER
NC Wadkins William R 11197
SC

CONTENTS
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William Wadkins
23736
Send answer to [crossed out Fall Post Office care of Col Joseph Graham]
Col Miles M Norton
Pickens CH
SC
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State of South Carolina
Pickens District SS} March Term 1833
On this twelfth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three, personally appeared in open court, before the Honorable Jonah J Evans in the court of General Sessions & common Pleas now sitting William Wadkins a resident of Pickens District and state aforesaid aged about seventy two or three 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 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated He lived in Orange County in North Carolina when he was drafted to serve a tour of nine months he turned out under Col Litel went up to Moons Creek on Dan River from there he was marched southward by Cambridge into the low country of South Carolina, he was discharged after his term expired by Col Litel at some place near the Charleston or rather between there & Savannah He then returned home and moved into South Carolina on the waters of Broad River he thinks into Fairfield county He then turned out a volunteer with Col Sumpter was with him at the Battle at Blackstock, he thinks some two three or four months He afterwards enlisted under under capt Dawkins as well as he recollects during the war joined General Greene about or some time before Charleston was evacuated He was in the cavalry commanded by Capt Dawkins and was in several skirmishes but in no general battle took presonies He was discharged by col Litel and General Greene at Ashley Hill the date he does not recollect He went hom as peace was then established This claimant does not know of any person who can testify to his services or the facts herein stated, Has no documentary evidence of his said services He was young and inexperienced and without education had no means of preserving the papers he received nor did he ever suppose they would be of any value
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he fought for Liberty, that obtained he was satisfied but now that provisions is made for those who contributed to establish our free & happy institutions he makes this appeal as he is poor & advanced in years This claimant was born in Louden county in the state of Virginia his father moved to North Carolina when this claimant was a small boy He recollects when his father moved from Gransville where he first settled to Orange where he lived when called into the service This claimant does not now recollect when or the date of his removing to South Carolina after the first tour of duty but he moved into Pendleton thirty six years ago & has lived there ever since. He hereby relinquished his 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 William his x mark Wadkins
Sworn to & subscribed in open court the day & year above written
William L Keith CC}
We John Cobb a clergyman residing in Pickens District and Joseph Grisham residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Wadkins who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy two or three years of age as he states, that he is reputed & believed to be in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion John his x mark Cobb Joseph Grisham
Sworn to in open court the day and year aforesaid William L Keith CC
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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 John Cobb who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergy man resident in the District of Pickens and that for Joseph Grisham who has also signed the same is a resident in the same district and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit
Josiah J Evans
Presdg Judge
12 March 1833
I William L Keith clerk of the court of Pickens District do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of William Wadkins for a pension In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this the twelfth day of March 1833
William L Keith
clerk of the court
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Aug 26 1845
Amended dec
Wm Wadkins

Pickens Hrle by 20
19 Aug 
Hon JL Edwards
Comr of Pensions
Washington City DC

23756
Wm Wadkins
Pickens District 
South Carolina
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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 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 William Wadkins, Pickens

Period when the service was rendered /
Duration of the claimants service Years/months/days/ Rank of the claimant /
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.

Drafted / 9 months / private / Col Lytle / 72 or 73 Orange County NC / tradition
Volunteer / 3 Months Col Sumter / Fairfield SC
Enlisted / 6 months / cavalry / Capt Dawkins Col Lytle 

+ some 2, 3 or 4 months not definitive enough


I am respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES L EDWARDS
Commissioner of Pensions
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2
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 serviced 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 applications 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 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 certified, 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
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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 corrobating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be at 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 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?  {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 he 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 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 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  [illegilbe]
[i] 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 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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Pickens 18th Aug 1845
Dear Sir these papers were placed in my hands and I have obtained the certificate of the comptroller of NS but the amt of service proven by it is so small as not to avail except merely to prove that he did do service and all the circumstances I hope will be sufficient to satisfy the department that he served as he states as there is no doubt of the fact with those who know him very respectfully your obt servt Miles M Norton
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[crossed out Act of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.]
REJECTED
11197
P.O. 
William Wadkins
Service: 
1-0
Enlisted: 18
Discharged: 18
Application filed: 18
Alleges
Re-enlisted
Attorney
P.O.
Recognized Contract
Cert of Dis Searched for 18
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No 23756
William Wadkins
SC
Sd to Miles M Norton  Sept 19 1845
11197
act 7 June 1832
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Raleigh NC
Comptr office
I William F Colliers comptroller of Public Accounts in and for the state of North Carolina do hereby certify that the name of William Wadkins appears of record in this office as having had a specie certificate issued in his name for Fourteen shillings see book N027 page 13 given under my hand and seal this 25 day July AD 1845
Wm F Colliers Comptr
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State of South Carolina Pickens District} personally appeared before me FN Garvin a justice assigned to keep the peace in and for the District of Pickens and state affore said William Wadkins and made oath in due form of law and on his oath saith that by reason of old age and consequent loss of memory he cannot positively swear 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 follow grades The first service he done was nine months in Col Little regiment of infantry for which service he received a due discharge but has by some means lost the discharge he then volunteered under general Sumpter and served three months during which time he was in the battle at Blackstocks he then enlisted under Capt Dawkins a commander of a troop of cavelry and was in several skirmishes but in no general engagements and served not less than six months amounting in all to not less than eighteen months but he thinks more but from loss of memory and want of education he cannot recollect dates but this he does recollect that far the greater part of the war he was not allowed to follow any civil pursuit on account of being so often called in to the service Wm his m mark Wadkins
sworn to before me and subscribed this twelfth day of Sept 1833}
TN Garvin JP
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State of South Carolina Pickens District} I William L Keith clerk of the court of Pickens District certify that Frederick N Garvin Esquire is a Magistrate as above and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name this day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty three William L Keith
Clerk of the court of Pickens District South Carolina
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POWER OF ATTORNEY - Revolutionary Pension Claims
Know all Men by these Presents That I William Wadkins for any amount of Revolutionary Pension or Increase of Pension, that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said agent to examine all the papers and documents in relation to said claim, on file in the departments at Washington City, or elsewhere; to file additional evidence or arguments; and to receive the Certificate which may be issued for said claim, and to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed; and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present.  Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said attorney and agent shall lawfully do in the premises, and revoking all former powers.
WITNESS my hand and Seal this 18th day April AD 1853
William his n mark Wadkins
Signed and sealed in the presence of
Dorcas Watkins
STATE OF South Carolina
District of York} ss:
On this 18th day April AD 1853 before me William Wadkins and acknowledged the foregoing Power of Attorney to be his act and deed for the purposes therein mentioned.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand, the day and year aforesaid}
Wm S Grisham N Public & Ex off no to D

In this blank, if the Claimant be alive, he will insert his name, and execute the power. If he be dead, the widow, if alive will insert her name, (stating the fact that she is his widow,) and execute the power. If both be dead, than any one of the children may insert his, or her, name, (stating the fact that he or she is the son or daughter) and execute the power.
If there be neither father, mother, child, or children, then there is no person entitled under the existing rules of the Department, and the power of Attorney need not be executed.
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PAGE 2
Claim of
Act of

STATE OF
COUNTY} Be it Known, That on this day of AD, eighteen hundred and fifty , before the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the  County and state aforesaid, personally appeared a resident of in said County, and made oath according to law that he is the identical who executed the foregoing power of attorney, and that he is directly interested in said claim, and makes this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as said Agent may use in prosecuting said claim.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid, before J Peace}
I, Justice of the Peace in and for said county do hereby certify that who executed the foregoing paper, is a respectable resident of this county, and is I believe, directly interested in said claim as therein set forth J Peace
I Wm L Keith clerk of the court in the county and state aforesaid, do hereby certify that before whom the foregoing papers were executed, was, at the date of the same, a Justice of the Peace in and for said county, duly authorized by law to administer oaths; and the name thereunto subscriber, is his signature, duly authorized by law to administer oaths; and the name thereunto subscriber, is his signature. 
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my official Seal, this day of AD 185
Clerk
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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES Form VAM 51 12-5-41  bounty land warrant record card Division of Veterans
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD
NAME Wadleigh, John GRADE Sergeant LINE New Hampshire

WARRANT NUMBER 3546 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED Nov 28 1789
amt 42-60-55to not shown

The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates.  Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.