Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 2,308, Aaron Copland, S.C.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE
S.C.
Copland, Aaron
or Copeland
NUMBER
R. 2,308
CONTENTS
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The State of South Carolina
Chesterfield District
On this the 29 day of Sept AD 1835 appeared, in the Open Court of Common Pleas at Chesterfield Court House, before his Honour A.P. Butler the presiding Judge of the said Court, Aaron Copeland, aged Seventy three or seventy four years, who upon oath made the following declaration in order to obtain a pension under the Act of Congress passed June 7 1832. That he was born in Chatham County in the State of North Carolina that his age was recorded in a family Bible which was burned up in his fathers house when the deponent was quite small - deponent states his age from a companion of it with that of his brother's who is yet alive & is two years & a half older than himself. That he was living in Chesterfield District, at the time he entered the service & was at the time of his so entering the service, not quite sixteen years of age & was drafted by one Capt Benjamin Hicks in the militia. Deponent further applied to Col Kolb to get deponent discharged on account of his now age but was told by Col Kolb that Deponent was so near sixteen years old that he had as well serve so that deponent continued in the service one month at Cheraw Hill in the District & State aforesaid guarding the public possessions deposited there for the army from the month which was expected there. This was in the Spring of the year before Gates defeat at Camden - recd. discharge from Capt John Wilson who commanded the forces at Cheraw & returned home. In the fall of the same year, or in the winter, was drafted a second time & served one month under Capt Thomas Ellerbe, - Col Murphy. Marched to Marion's Camps on the Santee River - recd. permission to return home & did so. In the winter of first of the spring of the following year was drafted again & served one month & under Capt Claudius Pegues, in the militia service - on & near the Santee River in Marion's camps which were at that time below the High Hills of Santee. When the month expired, deponent returned home. In the fall of the same year deponent volunteered under Capt Joseph Howell under the command of Col Wade in a troop of Horse, marched from Chesterfield to Harleys ferry on Great Pee Dee River, thence to Bettis' Ridge on Drowning Creek in No. Ca. where there was an engagement with the Tories under Col. Fanning & Col. Ellrod & Co.l McNeill - Americans were defeated
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deponent lost his horse saddle & bridle & a suit of clothes. After this defeat he returned home having served at this time six weeks. He staid at home until he was refreshed & joined Col. Wade again as a volunteer in a troop of horse. Sometime in the month of November in the same year went up to Anson County to [illegible Rejocia] River. - crossed again at Finleys ferry & marched down towards Wilmington No. Ca. Had no engagement. deponent served four weeks & returned home. In the Winter of the same year of the 1st of the succeeding year, deponent went over to Marlborough Dist. So. Ca. & volunteered under Capt Pledger of the militia & served four weeks - marched down towards Waccamaw River & there abouts in pursuit of one Capt Micajah Quincy who commanded a body of Tories - did not find him & returned home without having had any engagement. Deponent has no documentary evidence of his services. but knows of one James McMillan & Ripley Copeland who served with him in Marion's camps & can testify to his services. He further swears that for the periods above mentioned he was either in the field or in Garrison & was not employed in any civil pursuit. He hereby relinquishes all claim to any pension except the present & declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State.
Aaron Copeland
Sworn to & signed before me this 29th Sept 1835.
John Craig C.C.P.

South Carolina
Chesterfield Dist,
James McMillan Swears that Aaron Copeland was in the service of the US. States one month in Marion's Camps & that deponent served with him under Capt Thomas Ellerbe but does not recollect the year.
James McMillan his mark X
Sworn to & signed before me in Open Court 29 Sept 1835
Hugh Craig J.M.
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Aaron Copeland's heir
---
Capt. Thos. Ellerbe's Co. & S.C. Regiments
Revolutionary War
---
Act of 1832

Presented by Richard H. Clark
Atty. at Law
Present
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The State of South Carolina
Chesterfield District
On this fourteenth day of May A D one thousand eight hundred and fifty three personally appeared before me J. C. Craig Ordinary duly authorized to administer oaths within and for the District and State aforesaid Archibald Copeland aged Fifty years a resident of Chesterfield District in the State of South Carolina, who being duly sworn according to law declares that he is the son and only living hear [heir] of the identical Aaron Copeland who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Thomas Ellerbe in the South Carolina Regiment and the Battalion commanded by Major Truss Thomas in the Revolutionary War, that his Father the said Aaron was honourably discharged at the termination of the war, but if in writing the said discharge was afterwards destroyed by fire when his dwelling and all his property with three or four valuable horses was so consumed, and this deponent has no means of ascertaining the exact time when he enlisted or draughted, for what time he was so enlisted or draughted, or how long he served, and this deponent further says that he has been informed and believes that his said Father intermarried with one Polly Melton deponents mother and the daughter of One Isham Melton of the District and State aforesaid about the year 1784, that Aaron Copeland died about the year 1839 having survived his wife about six or seven years leaving ten children of whom deponent is the sole survivor, all which facts as to the service of the said Aaron will
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appear by the muster rolls of his company
And deponent further says that the said Aaron nor any one for him, has never received any pay whatever from the government for his services but died while make preparations to present his application therefore
This Deponent makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the pay bounty land extra pay pensions and whatever else he may be entitled to in behalf of his said Father's services under the acts of Congress passed from time to time for that purpose
Archabald Copeland
Sworn to before me the day and year above written, and I hereby certify that I believe the said Archibald Copeland to be the son and sole of heir of the identical Aaron Copeland who served as aforesaid and that he is of the age above stated
J. C. Craig Ordinary C.D.
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State of North Carolina
Anson, County
Personally appeared before me John Grady one of the acting Justices of the peace in and for said her County of Anson in the State aforesaid, Claudius Pegues now residing in the County & State aforesaid, and after being duly sworn the on the holy Evangelists of Almighty God: testifies and says as follows. Viz: That he was acquainted with Aaron Copeland in his lifetime, that they were born and raised not for a part in Chesterfield District in South Carolina, that Aaron Copeland intermarried with one Polly Melton the daughter of Isham Melton in the District & State aforesaid as near as he can tell about the year 1784. And that said Aaron died some time about the year 1839. Surviving his wife Polly some few years. He Claudius Pegues has good reasons to believe that said Aaron Copeland was a soldier in the Continental army in the Revolutionary war for American Independence, in the Company of Captain Thomas Ellerbe, and in the Regiment of Colonel Truss. Thomas. After the war said Aaron Copeland was residing with his family on the land belonging to his father (Wm. Pegues) where his dwelling house was consumed by fire together with his papers and the greatest portion of his property of every hand, and further this deponent Sayeth not.
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Signed Claudius Pegues
Witness F.D. Grady
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 18th day of May in the year of our Lord 1853.
Jno. Grady JP (seal)

State of North Carolina
Anson County
I Norfleet D. Boggan Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County aforesaid do hereby certify that John Grady whose name appears attested to the foregoing affidavit of Claudius Pegues was at the time of signing the same an acting Justice of the Peace in & for the County of Anson duly commissioned and qualifying and that due faith & credit should be given to his official acts as such and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of Office and subscribed my name at Wadesboro this 19th day of May in the year 1853.
Norfleet D. Boggan Clerk
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South Carolina
Chesterfield District
Personally appeared before me W A Mulloy a magistrate in and for said district John Evans & Edward Mulloy who being duly sworn saith that they were acquainted with Aaron Copeland in his life time that he intermarried with Mary Melton the daughter of Isham Melton, and that said Aaron Copeland died in the year 1839. they further state that they have no reason to doubt but that he was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
Jno. Evans
Edward Mulloy
Sworn before me 20th May 1853.
Wm A. Mulloy Magt.

South Carolina
Chesterfield District
I, J. C. Craig Clerk of the Court for said district do hereby certify that Wm A Mulloy before whom the foregoing affidavit was made was at the date thereof an acting Magistrate in & for said district duly qualified as such and that his signature thereto is genuine
Given under my hand & Seal of Office this 20th day of May 1853
J. C. Craig Clk
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[bleed through from other side of paper]
[stamp] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES

Marlborough Ct. House
Oct 27 1835

J. L. Edwards Esqr
Comr. of Pensions

Sir
I have [illegible] recd. your letter containing an answer application of Aaron Copeland for a Pension. I must confess that it was of a Nature together unexpected & struck me with inquire, inasmuch as I conceived that the Mr. Copelands papers contained a strick compliance with the letter & spirit of the Requisitions of the War Department. His claim however has been decided upon by that tribunal to which the matter has been referred by the proper authority & I will proceed without more acts to satisfy the Department on those grounds of objection stated in your letter 1st "That the service sworn to by the applicant was not of that character which was used in No. Ca. at the time of the Revolutionary war." - By referring to his declaration
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[bleed through from other side of paper]

(I speak from memory) you will find that he did enter the service at any time in the State of No. Ca., but in So. Ca. & that his tours of service were regulated by So. Ca. usages. I believe that he marched from So. Ca. to No. Ca. & served in the latter State, but did not enter the service there. But suppose he did, it very possible that he may have been called out on extraordinary occasions & I certainly should presume such to be this case where there was such strong evidence that the applicant is a man of veracity.
2nd. "That he has postponed his application for so great a length of time, a presumption is poised against the justice of it". This supposes that every applicant has known of the Pension Law ever since its passage, & nothing is further from being the fact. Many, to my own knowledge, who are now on the Pension Roll, delayed a year or two in applying because they were of opinion that they must prove by living witnesses that they had served in the revolutionary war & would never have made any application of their friends had not investigated the matter

COPLAND, AARON (S.C.) R-2308
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[bleed through from the other page]
The Judge was perfectly satisfied & none doubted. Had he perjured himself? And his witnesses perjured? Has the Judge forgotten the dignity of his station & colluded with the Applicant? And yet one or all of them things [illegible] have these done if the Applicants claim is to be rejected. I am thus past [illegible] & this tedious, because I believe that of all the applications I have ever made for these old soldiers that of Aaron Copeland was grounded in truth. If in fraud, - surely the inducement is very trifling as I believe his claim but per annum. And if he had contemplated a fraud originally why is it that his several [illegible] of duty and not having been [illegible] out with [illegible] referenced. To the history of these times & thus have avoided any objections or that found we hope sir that you will [illegible line] in [illegible] with the explanations I have [illegible] to make, & form such a decision as your [illegible] right may dictate from further consideration.
Respectfully
Your Obt Sert
C W Dudley
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[hard to read from bleed through - this is addressing letter to Commissioner]

J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

[illegible] to the claim of Aaron Copeland.

[stamp] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES

COPLAND, AARON
S.C.
R 2308
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[sideways]
Aaron Copeland
S.C. Jun 1832
Cole

Jno McQueen
MC

J Minot
Commr of Pensions
Pension Office
Washington
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2308
P.O.
Aaron Copeland
Service:
Enlisted:
Discharged:
REJECTED
Application filed:
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P.O.
Recognized. Contract.
Cert. of Dis. Searched for
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Washington June 8th 1853
Hon. L.P. Waldo Commissioner of Pensions
Sir: Enclosed you will please find the claim for Pension &c due to the heir of Aaron Copeland decd. late of Capt. Thomas Ellerbe's Company in the S.C. Regiment of the Revolutionary War under the Act of 1832, which you will please has attended as early as possible and oblige
Your most obt. servant
Richard H. Clarke
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Archd. Copeland
Pension Claim
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The State of South Carolina
Chesterfield District
Personally comes before me Moses Moore and Miles Hurst who being sworn say that Aaron Copeland father of Archibald Copeland both of the said District and State, departed this life on or about the ninth day of May in the year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty nine
Moses Moore
Miles Hurst
Sworn to before me Aug 10th 1854
W L T Prince
Not Pub.

South Carolina
Chesterfield Dist.
I, J. C. Craig Clerk of the Court for said district do hereby certify that W. L. T. Prince was at the date of the above affidavit a Notary Public in and for said district duly appointed and qualified and that his signature thereto is genuine
Given under my hand & Seal of Office this 25 August 1854
J. C Craig Clk
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Ripley Copeland and Jas. McMillan were both in the regular army and Militia. In their own declarations, they say [illegible] of [illegible] served under Capt Ellerbe, attach is the affidavits for Aaron Copeland, they both [illegible] that they served one month with Aaron under said Capt.
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The State of South Carolina
Chesterfield District
Personally came before me Claudius Pegues who says on oath that Aaron Copeland of Chesterfield District deceased who was a soldier in the Revolution had three Brothers with all of whom deponent was acquainted their names were John Jr Riply and Moses Copeland
Claudius Pegues
Sworn to before me Oct 3d 1855
Daniel Douglass
Magistrate

South Carolina
Chesterfield District
I, J. C. Craig Clerk of the Court for said district do hereby certify that Danl. Douglass before whom the foregoing declaration was made was at the date thereof and is still an acting Magistrate in and for said district duly qualified and appointed and that his signature thereto is genuine
Given under my hand & Seal of Office at Chesterfield Court Above this 3d day of Oct. 1855
J. C. Craig Clk
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Ho of Reps.
Feby 5th 1856,

J Minot Esq.
Commr. of Pensions

Sir
I enclose herewith additional evidence to be filed with the application of the Heirs of Aaron Copeland of So Ca for a pension, which application I am informed by the Heirs was placed in the hands of an agent of this City, by the name of Clarke. Will you do me the favor to examine this case and inform me what proof, if any are required to establish their right to a pension
Very respectfully
You Obt Servant
Jno McQueen
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The State of South Carolina
Chesterfield District
Ripely Copeland swears that Aaron Copeland served one month in Marion's camps under Capt Thomas Ellerbe in the militia service & that deponent served with him.
Ripely Copeland
Sworn to before me in Open Court 29 Sept. 1835
Hugh Craig J.M.

South Carolina
Chesterfield Dist
We Lewis Gainey a Clergyman & Hugh Craig a citizen both residing in the District & State aforesaid do hereby certify that we have been long acquainted with Aaron Copeland who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be Seventy four years of age, that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood in which he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion
Lewis Gainey
Hugh Craig
Sworn to & Subscribed before me in Open Court this 29 Sept 1835
John Craig C.C.P.

And the said Court hereby declares its opinion after having investigated the matter & having put the Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the said Aaron Copeland was a revolutionary soldier & served as he has stated. Also that it appears to them that Lewis Gainey is a clergyman & that Hugh Craig is a citizen both residing the Dist & State aforesaid & that their certificate is entitled to full faith & credit.
Sept 29 1835
A. P. Butler
Presiding Judge
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South Carolina
Chesterfield Dist
I, John Craig, Clerk of the Court of General Sessions & Common Pleas for the District of Chesterfield do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of Aaron Copeland for a Pension. Also that James McMillan & Ripely Copeland who have subscribed their names as witnesses on behalf of Aaron Copeland are credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit.
Given under my hand & seal of office this 29 Sept A.D. 1835
John Craig C.C.P.

Direct to C W Dudley
Marlborough Ct House
South Carolina

[sideways writing]
C.64.W.D Aaron Copeland
12 October 1835 So Ca
33095
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Recd Aug 11th 53
Adams
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Washington Aug. 10th 1853
Hon. L. P. Waldo, Commr. of Pensions
Sir:
On the 8th of June last I sent by mail to the Pension Office to be filed the claim of the heirs of Aaron C. Copeland decd. of South Carolina, who served in Capt. Thos. Ellerbe's Co in the S. C. Regiments under Col. Truss Thomas, in the war of the Revolution. I now enclose in the same case as additional evidence the affidavit of Thomas Preswood, who served with Copeland.
Your obt. servant
Richard H. Clarke
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The State of South Carolina
Chesterfield District
On this the 13th day of July AD One thousand Eight Hundred and fifty three personally appeared before me Benjn. C. Cassady a Magistrate duly authorised to administer oaths within and for the District and State aforesaid Thomas Preswood aged about ninety three years a resident of Chesterfield District in the State of South Carolina, who being duly sworn according to Law declares that he was a Soldier in the Company commanded by Captain McGee and others not recollected, in the South Carolina Regiment's during a period of the Revolutionary war, at Charleston, that he knew Aaron Copeland the father of Archibald Copeland who was also in the Same Company, that the said Copeland Served and was honorably discharged, returned home and died. Cannot recollect whether the said Copeland was married at that time or not, said Copeland died with a Gravel Complaint, so said, he cannot recollect exactly when the said Copeland died but thinks about the Spring AD 1839.
Thomas Preswood his mark X
Sworn to and Subscribed before me the 13th day of July AD 1853
Benjn C. Cassady
Magistrate
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South Carolina
Chesterfield District
I, J. C. Craig Clerk of the Court for said District do hereby certify unto all whom it may concern that Benj. C. Cassidy before whom the foregoing affidavit was made was at the date thereof an acting Magistrate in and for said district duly appointed and qualified and that his signature thereto is genuine
Given under my hand & Seal of Office this 13th day of July 1853
J. C. Craig
Clerk
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Washington Sep. 28th 1853
Hon. L. P. Waldo. Commissioner of Pensions
Sir: I am requested by the heirs of Aaron Copeland of S.C. to return the papers filed in the Pension Office in support of their claim for Revolutionary Pension. If your rules forbid the return of these papers, you will please send me at your earliest convenience official copies of all the papers filed by me in this case certified by the Commissioner
Very respectfully
Richard H. Clarke
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Aaron Copeland
South Carolina
Suspended see let.
C W Dudley [illegible]
Richard H Clarke Aug 24 1853
same Oct 14 1855
Hon John McQueen Feb 9 /56

Act 7 June 1832