Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5649, for Abner Johnson, North Carolina
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(8-1776)  

SERVICE
NC

Johnson, Abner
Nancy
 
NUMBER
R.5649

CONTENTS
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(left panel)
7464
West Tennessee

Abner Johnson 
of Maury Co in the State of W. Tenn who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Nelson of the Regt commanded by Col Pasley in the N.C. line for 11 mo

Inscribed on the Roll of W. Tenn at the rate of 36 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 16 day April 1833 and (illegible) Porter Columbia

Arrears to the 4th of March                 73.32
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept      18.33
                        $91.65

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by Daniel Boyd Clerk,
Book E  Vol. 7 Page 85
---
(Right panel)
Order to pay & sent to Wm 
Peleau 28 Mar 1838-do.
P. Agt May 21. 1838
-
Paid at the Treasury under the act of the 6 April 1838 from 4 Mar 1831. to the 4 Sept 1831. Agt note filed 15 June 188

(seal)
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(left panel)
No.13.402
Abner Johnson
Maury

From 1778 private
11 months
$36.66/10 0.
Nelson
Pasley
N.C.
Thos. J. Porter
Columbia
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BRIEF in the case of Abner Johnson of the County of Maury in the State of Tenn
(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 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
---
Period. | Duration of Service. | Rank. | Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
-
| Years, Months, Days. | As a | Gen.
In 1778 | -- 5 -- | Volunt. | Col. Paseley, Capt. Nelson
after this | -- 3 -- | do. | 
after this | -- 3 -- |do. |
---
5. In what battler was he engaged? none
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Guilford Cy N.C
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Depositions & tradition
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Levin Belt
Examining Clerk.
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State of Tennessee 
Maury County
     This day personally appeared before me Thomas P Wortham a justice of Peace duly authorised to administer oaths within and for said county, Nancy Johnson, who being duly sworn according to law, under oath that she is the widow of Abner Johnson deceased, a soldier of the Revolution and late a pensioner of the United States and whose name will be found upon the pension rolls at Washington - that she inter-married with said Johnson on the 14  day of March 1783 the evidence of which said marriage are herewith filed - that she continued to live with him until his death, which happened on the 22nd day of October 1850. The makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the pension to which she is entitled in right of her deceased husband, under the act of congress passed for that purpose.
             Nancy X Johnson
              (X her mark)
-
Subscribed & sworn to before me this 11 day of October 1852
Thomas P Wortham Justice of the peace in Maury County Tennessee
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State of Tennessee}
Maury County}
 This day personally appeared before me Thomas P Wortham a justice of the Peace duly authorized to administer oaths within & for said county William Pillow & Elizabeth Due and made oath that the said Nancy Johnson mentioned in the declaration is the evidence of Abner Johnson, that they were married on the 14 day of March 1785 that the said Johnson was a pensioner on the pension rolls of the United States, that he died in the county of Maury and state of Tennessee on the 22nd day of October 1850
                  Wm. Pillow
                  Elizabeth X Due
                    (X her mark)

Subscribed & sworn to before me this 11 day of October 1852
         Thomas P Wortham Justice of
                Peace for said County of Maury and 
                State of Tennessee

State of Tennessee
Maury County
     I John B. Padgett Clerk of the County Court of Maury County, do hereby certify that Thomas P. Wortham whose genuine signature appears officially signed to the above affidavit is now and was at the time of signing the same an acting
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Justice of the peace in and for said State & County duly elected commissioned and sworn and that all his official acts are entitled to full faith and credit as such.
(seal)
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the Seal of my office at office in Columbia this 14th day of October 1852.
                John B. Padgett Clerk

M Campbell
Columbia
(illegible)
Page 8

State of Tennessee
Maury County: Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions September Term 1832 
     David Dobbins who made oath that he was a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary war -- that he is well acquainted with Abner Johnston [sic] the present applicant -- that he has had much conversation with him upon the subject of his services in the revolutionary war -- that from many circumstances spoken of by him as having happened & occurred during the war & he entertains no doubt but that he was in the revolutionary war.  He is well acquainted with him & would place full & entire confidence in his statements upon his oath.  He thinks he served a tour in which he himself was & that this tour was 6 months long. 

                             David Dobbins
Sworn to September 1832 in open Court. 
      Thos. J. Porter, Clerk
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State of Tennessee
Maury County: Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions Term 1832 
     This day personally appeared in open Court Gideon Johnston [sic] a resident of 
Williamson County who made oath that he was in the Revolutionary War with Abner Johnston 
[sic] the above applicant -- that he knows the fact that the said Abner was also a Soldier of the revolution -- that Affiant entertains no doubt but that Abner Johnston served as a Soldier in the revolutionary war at the least is long as he and his declaration has stated.  This affiant was with the said Abner in the tour with the Governor to Nutbush.  He has heard the above declaration of Abner Johnston read & believes it to be substantially true.  He is well acquainted with said Abner & knows that he has always been reputed to have been a soldier of the Revolution where he lived.  This Affiant is now in his 78th year. 
                  Gideon Johnson
Sworn to in open court September 22, 1832. 
                 Thos. J. Porter, Clk
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State of Tennessee
Maury County 
     Came personally before me, Alexander Johnson, a Justice of the peace in and for said 
County Sarah Johnson, widow of William Johnson, now in the 77th year of her age, & infirm, too much so to attend to Court with convenience; who being by me Examined touching her Recollection of Abner Johnson's Serving as a Soldier in the Revolutionary war, in Substance deposeth and saith -- that the said Abner Johnson, a brother of her deceased husband, William Johnson, was a single man, and living immediately in the neighborhood of deponent & her husband, on Dan River, Rockingham County (then Guilford County) North Carolina, was much, & often at the house of Deponent, during the Revolutionary war; that she distinctly Recollects that the said Abner Johnson was absent, & said to be, & she has no doubt was in the Service of his Country.  She never then, nor since, has ever heard it called in Question but that the same 
Abner Johnson, took an active part in defense of his Country; during that war; but cannot 
recollect how many tours, nor how long he served.  Further deponent saith that she having long been acquainted with said Abner Johnson, unhesitatingly can say, that his general character is, and has been, that of a man of
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of undoubted truth.  Further this deponent saith not. 
                             Sarah Johnson

The deponent, Sarah Johnson, being duly sworn according to law says the facts stated as above as being of her own knowledge are true & then as stated as impressions, information from others she believes to be true.  
Subscribed & sworn to this 17th of September 1832
           Alex. Johnson JP

State of Tennessee
Maury County
     I hereby certify that Alex Johnson whose name is official signed above is now and was at the time an acting justice of the peace for said county and that full faith and credit are due to all his official acts.
     Given under my hand this 22 day of September AD 1832.

                        Thos. Porter Clerk
                        of said county Court
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State of Tennessee
Maury County: Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions September Term 1832 
     On this 22nd day of September 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for Maury County Tennessee now sitting Abner Johnson a resident of said County of Maury and State of Tennessee, Aged seventy-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. He entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served 
as herein stated -- In the year 1777 (and as well as he can remember in the month of October of that year) he volunteered in Guilford County North Carolina under Captain John Nelson who was a militia Captain in his neighborhood, -- and when the men were called for all who did not volunteer to make up the number wanted were to be drafted, -- this deponent volunteered -- and as did all the rest, except one who was drafted -- the name of the Lieutenant was Charles Hughes 
& the name of the Ensign was George Parks, -- and this deponent & one Allen Walker were 
sergeants of the company; -- his company belonged to Colonel Paisley's Regiment -- which together with Colonel Saunders’ Regiment from Granville County NC were under the command of General Rutherford.  The place of rendezvous was Guilford Court House, and after Colonel Saunders’ Regiment got to that place -- they all marched to South Carolina, -- and on the march they passed through the towns of Salisbury & Charlotte (as he supposes) N.C. and Camden in S.C. to a place called Smokey Camp near a little village called Purrysburg on Savannah River, from which after some time, they were marched
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to a place called the black swamp and then to a place called the Two Sisters -- and several times changed this camp.  Whilst he was out on this campaign General Lincoln commanded the Regulars in that part of the Country.  During the same campaign General Ashe was defeated at Briar Creek -- during the 
time he was out they were a part of the time in the country between Augusta & Savannah on the Savannah River, -- and were occasionally on the Georgia side; he was in no regular battle, -- but there were some little skirmishes with the British & Tories.  The length of this service he cannot state with positive certainty, -- he knows it was more than five months, -- and he thinks he was absent from home more than six months, -- he knows that after he volunteered in October -- they were marched a few days after the 7th of November, he thinks about the 10th of November; he remembers a particular circumstance that took place on the 7th and he knows it was two or three days afterwards that the troops were rendezvoused.  And his time was out either on the 10th of 
April or the 10th of May following & he cannot after so great a lapse of time be positively 
certain which.  When the time was out the troops were discharged and he came home with his Captain who was Captain John Nelson and who lived in the same neighborhood with him, -- and whether he ever received a written discharge or not he cannot now remember.  He knows he served out the time and was dismissed with the other troops, and if he received a written discharge he does not know what has become of it.  --  After this campaign was over, but the precise date or year he cannot remember with certainty, -- he was again engaged in the public service as follows; -- he lived in the same County  with Governor Martin who was then Governor of the State.  -- There was a call for men to guard the Governor against the Tories and British, from his residence to a place called Nutbush where the assembly was to meet, and
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this service was to stand as a three months 
tour of duty as he now believes; This deponent volunteered in this service -- as they were 
requested to do by the Governor, and went with him to the place where the assembly was to meet, where they remained some time, but in consequence of the times being troublesome a sufficient number of members did not meet to make an assembly -- when they were dismissed & returned home.  After this term was over he again volunteered & went with the Governor to a place called the Moravian Town or Salem where the assembly was to meet, -- and after getting there waiting some time a sufficient number of members failed to attend to make a house.  They 
were again dismissed & sent home.  This last tour was also to stand as another tour of duty of three months, -- as the Governor told them.  These were the only regular tours of duty which he performed during the revolutionary war; -- except in scouting parties in several of which he was engaged against the Tories. 
He states that he has no documentary written evidence of his services; and that he knows 
of no other person whose testimony he can procure, except that of David Dobbins, Gideon 
Johnson & Sarah Johnston whose testimony of companies this declaration. 
      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 & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. 
                     Abner Johnson  
 Thos. J. Porter, Clerk
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13462
Mr. Robert Mack residing in the county of Maury and William Pillow residing in the County of Maury hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Abner Johnston who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy three years of age, that he is reputed and believed to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.  sworn to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid.
                         Rob. Mack
                         Wm. Pillow
Tho. J. Porter Clerk

Anda the said Court do hereby declare in 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 Robert Mack who has signed the preceding certificate is a resident in the County of Maury and that William Pillow who has also signed the same is a resident in the County of Maury and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
                    Jas (illegible) JP
                    John Vincent JP
                    John C. Wormelly Sec

I Tho. J. Porter clerk of the court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of Maury County aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the said Court in the matter of the application of Abner Johnston for a pension.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 22 day of September 1832
(seal)
                             Thomas J Porter Clerk
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May 20 '99
GR Kenamore
Salem Mo

5649 
P.O. ___
Nancy Johnson
Service: widow of Abner
Enlisted: ___, 18
Discharged: ___, 18
Application filed: ___, 18
Alleges: ___
REJECTED
Re-enlisted: ___
Attorney: ___
P.O. ___
Recognized.
Contract
Cert. of Dis.
Searched for ___. 18
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No. 14.833
Nancy Johnson
widow of Abner 
Tenn
M. Campbell Ap 11 1852

5649

Geo. W. Jones
Ho of Reps
Acts July 7 1838
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                   Columbia, Oct. 15th 1832.
Dear Sir,
     Enclosed please find the petition of Nancy Johnson, praying a renewal of her deceased husbands pension for the benefit of herself.  I trust that it will receive your earliest attention.
                   Yours
                         M. Campbell
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(stamp)
SEP 29

Free

Oct 9
13,462

Lewis Cass
Secretary of War of the 
United States
Washington City
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Treasury Department,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
June 13, 1838

Sir,
     Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Abner Johnson a Pensioner on the Roll of the Nashville, Ten Agency, at the rate of thirty six Dollars and sixty six Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832 has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March 1837 to the 4th of September 1837
               Respectfully, yours,
               Albion K. Parris
                    Comptroller

TO THE COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS,
Present.
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                Union Bank of Tennessee
                Nashville 12th March 1838

J.L. Edwards Esq.
Dear Sir
     At the request of Col. William Pillow the attorney of W. Abner Johnson a Revolutionary Pensioner under the act of the 7th June 1832 and to whom there is one year pension due up to the 4th Instant.
     I herewith transmit you his Pension Identity for your examination & permission of his payment.  Please to return his claim to Col. Wm. Pillow at Columbia Tennessee with your instructions.
                    Your Obt. Servt,
                    John M. Bap Pres. 
                    & Pension Agent
                    by S. Cantrell
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No. 13,402
Abner Johnson
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Abner Johnson 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 when 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 amout of pension he is entitled?
Yes

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
No

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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2
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?  supplied

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there 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? yes

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? no
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes

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 a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?  no

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 ___ yes ___ months, and ___ days, I served as a ___ For ___ months and ___ days, I served as a ___; and for such service I claim a pension.
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3
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 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 shewn 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 just 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 officer, 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, so 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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(stamp)
APR 14 1899


Salem Missouri April 11th 1899

To the Hon. Commissioner Pensions
Washington D.C.

Air
     Enclosed please find a chronicle of my military service as per your request.
     Would you kindly have sent to me what the Records say of "Abner Johnston" who was a Revolutionary soldier who died in State Tenn sometime in the fifties, and oblige.
     Your obedient Servant
             G.R. Kenamore
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(letterhead)
     This Bureau can furnish the military record of only such Revolutionary soldiers as were pensioned or whose widows were pensioned for their services.
     Such of the original muster and pay rolls of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 as are now in the possession of the Government are on file in the Record and Pension Office, War Department.  Original rolls and other records pertaining to service in the Revolutionary War may also be found on file in the archives of many of the original States.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
WASHINGTON , D.C.

L.W.B.
R. 5649.

                    May 20th, 1899.
Sir:-
    In response to your recent communication you are advised that Abner Johnson made an application for pension on September 22nd, 1832, at which time he was 73 years of age, residing in Maury County, Tenn., and his pension was allowed for eleven months' actual service as a private in the North Carolina troops, Revolutionary war.  He enlisted in Guilford County, N.C., and served under Capt. Nelson and Col. Paseley.  He died in Maury County, Tenn., October 22, 1850.
                  Very respectfully,
                               Commissioner.

Mr. G.R. Kenamore
Salem, Mo.