Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 8728, for Nicholas Skain, South Carolina
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( 3-1776 ) SERVICE S,C, Skain , Nicholas  Rachel NUMBER W. 8728
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( left page ) 5506   South Carolina Rachel Skain widow of Nicholas who served in the Revolutionary war, as a private  Infy  & Cavy  . Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of  21 Dollars  80 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1848. Certificate of Pension issued the 29 day of Aug 1850  and sent to  Hon D. Wallace House of Reps. Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act  February 2, 1848 , Page 333 Vol. 2  ( right page ) Rejected
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No. 12.468 Rachel Skain SC Act 7 July 1838 direct answer to Miles M. Norton Pickens C.H. S.C.
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress of the 7th July 1838  entitled " an Act  granting half pay and Pensions to certain widows " , and  the several acts in continuation thereof .  [ State of South Carolina Union District ] SS. On this twenty first day of March 1845 personally appeared before the Court of Ordinary of the District aforesaid. Mrs. Rachel Skain a resident of the above named District and State aged as near as she can count at it about seventy eight years: who being first duly sworn , according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to  obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7th 1838 , entitled " an act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows " and the  .... ( illegible due to ink blur )  thereof. That she is the widow of Nicholas Skain who was a private in the war of the Revolution, that she was not married to him until after the war, and can only state what she  recollects to have heard him say of his services ; That he resided in Union  District  , and entered the service as a volunteer she thinks in the year 1780 , but she  cannot state what officers he served under except  Col. Farr, thinks he was part of the time  one of the life guard of Col. Farr and was in a skirmish in this neighborhood some  where, and in one down near Ninety Six. , she has always understood from his talk  with others, who served with him , and from his conversation  on the subject generally , that he served until the war ended, after he entered: but  she is  now old  and never took much notice so as to recollect about  his services, he was not wounded in the  war. If he ever got a discharge she does not know any
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thing of it ,or what became of it. There are some old soldiers in the country by whom she hopes to be able to prove something of his service, so as enable her to come at what she supposes to be  her just rights, and to enable her to obtain something to  render her comfortable in her old age. She further declares that she believes , she was married to her said husband Nicholas Skain in the year 1790 or 1701 , she cannot tell certainly which and she thinks in the month of May . the ceremony was performed by Barnett Glenn  Esquire  in this District : and  that her husband , the aforesaid Nicholas Skain  died on the first day of September eighteen hundred and seventeen ; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January seventeen hundred and ninety four. viz. at the time above stated. If there is any documentary evidence  in support of her claim , she is not aware of it.  Rachel Skain ( her mark  ) Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year last above written before J.J. Pratt ( signed ) Judge of the Court of Ordy. for Union Dist. S.C.
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[ South Carolina Union District ] Before me  personally appeared Leonard Baker who has the appearance of and represents himself to be  seventy six years of age, and who is a respectable citizen, and made oath  indue form of law , that he is well acquainted wit h Mrs. Rachel Skain the widow of Nicholas Skain dec'd who was reputed and believed  to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that before he was himself fairly grown, he was at the marriage of the said Nicholas  Skain  to Rachel Ashby , which he is certain must  have been at least fifty five years ago; that they  were married in the  Fish dam  settlement by Barrett Glenn Esq.  at his own house; that he knew the said Nicholas Skain & his wife from that time until the death of the old man, which took place some twenty odd years ago, and has known his widow the said Rachel Skain ever since, and that she has not since married, but yet remains his widow, and is the same who is making application  for a pension. Leonard Baker ( his mark X ) Sworn to and subscribed this 20 March 1845 before S.J. Ashby  ( signed ) Mg.
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I, William J Keenan  Clerk of the Court of Union district S.C. do certify that J. J. Pratt is Judge of the Court of Ordinary of this District, and that S. J. Ashby  is a Magistrate and that the foregoing  signatures purporting to be his are genuine , and also that the declarant Mrs. Rachel Skain , and the affiant  Leonard Baker  are reputed to be truthful  and respectable. In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office , and subscribed my name this 22nd day of March 2845 . Wm. J. Keenan ( signed / sealed ) Clerk of the Count of Union District. ( vertical on page ) (  12468 Jan 14, 1846 No. 12468 Rachel Skain  S.C.  Act 7 July 1838 direct answer to Miles M. Norton Pickens C.H.S.C. )
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8881 South Carolina Rachel Skain widow of Nicholas Skain who was a priv Infy & Cavy  in the Revolution . Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 21 Dollars 80 Cents per annum , to commence on the 4th day of March 1843.  Certificate of Pension issued 29 say of Auf '50 Hon D. Wallace House of Reps [ Acts of March 3. 1843 & June 17, 18444. ] Recorded in Book A. Vol. 2 Page 169
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No. 12468 ( check mark ) Rachel Skain  S.C. Let. to Miles M. Norton  Mar 21,'46 to same  July 22, '46  Let Hon D. Wallace  April 4/50  to same  24 May  1850 Act 7 July 1838
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Resolution South Carolina WIDOW, &c. File No. 8728 Rachel Skain Wid  Nicholas Skain Privt Rev War Act : Feby 2nd 1848 Index: - Vol. M Page 216  [ Arrangement of 1870. ]
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10970 South Carolina Rachel Skain Widow of Nicholas Skain who was a pensioner under the  Act of __ and who died on the 1st September 1817  of Union Dist in the State of So. Carolina who was a priv Infy & Cavy  in  the company commanded by Captain __ of the __ commanded by __ in the __ line for 6 months . Inscribed on the Roll of Charleston at the rate of 21 Dollars 80 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1836. Certificate of Pension issued  the 29 day of Augt. 2850  and sent to  Hon. D. Wallace HR [ Act July 7, 1838 . ] Recorded by  J.B. Chase Book D . Vol. 1 Page 313
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House of Reps Washington  Augt. 22, 1830  Sir, I  enclose additional testimony in the case of Nicholas Skain a  Revolutionary soldier , whose widow is claiming a pension. The parties to this case are my immediate neighbors. I have no earthly doubt about the justice of this claim. During the war of the Revolution  Union District where I reside was completely over run by the British & Tories numerous battles which history has not recorded were fought in it.  Christopher Brandon , a Revolutionary pensioner of the U.S. was my near neighbor and intimate friend for many years and until his death. He was the nephew of Genl. Thomas Brandon , the celebrated partisan officer & served under him . He has often  related to me the services of the most efficient &
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daring kind of the Skain family. There were several brothers of them. Brandon informed me  that he saw one of them killed in battle at a place about two miles from where I now reside. He was  near him when he fell & he informed me that he received many wounds  almost in the same instant. The families of the Brandons, Skains, Mc Junkins   , Hughes & Young , Sharp , Giles and Thomas's with many others , were ever in the field &  by the most damning  acts , kept the country from being devastated. Their descendants are now my constituents and the acts of them all are as familiar to the country  as household words. The case of Nicholas Skain is like hundreds of others in South Carolina. There is no record of half the services of the men of  that day. They could live no
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where with safety, but in the Army . This remark has often been made to me by Mr. Brandon - Mssrs. Mc Junkin & Young , who were loved  and honored by the whole people  during their lives. I think the case as ow before you entitles the applicant to a pension for six months. I have the honor to be your obt. servt D. Wallace ( signed )  Hon J L Edwards
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House of Reps US Washington  April 22nd 1830  Sir, I have the honor to  make  record evidence in the case of Rachel Skain , widow of Nicholas Skain of South Carolina , a soldier of the Revolution. this claim was I believe first presented by Col. Miles M. Norton  of Pickens S.C. if I mistake not in the year 1832 - or sometime since. If the enclosed testimony brings the case within the rule,  please forward me a certificate for what is due . I suppose the amount of the pay received upwards of ten pounds sterling , for at least six months services. This proof ,with the other proof filed  , I suppose will establish more than six months services. I have the honor to be your obt srvt. D Wallace ( signed )   Hon J L Edwards
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Rachel Skain widow of Nicholas South Carolina  Union District ... 1 Sep 1817 Admitted Pr Inf & cavy  6 months $ 21.80 per ann  com 4 March 36 to 41  - from 43 to 48for 48  Act 7 July 38 etc. Hon  D. Wallace HR
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House of Reps Washington  March 28, 1830  Sir, Will you have he kindness to   report to me the condition of the Revolutionary Pension claim presented to the Department  about the year 1845  a little sooner or later by Col. Miles M Norton of Pickens C.H. South Carolina , in the case of Rachel Skain, widow of Nicholas Skain who served in the War of the Revolution . Your early attention to this matter will very much oblige me . I have the honor to be yr obt servt. D Wallace ( signed )  Hon J. L. Edwards
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Nicholas Scain
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Comptroller Gen'ls office Columbia So. Ca.  16th Apl. 1850   [ No. 2414 Book X ] Issued the 15 April 1786 go Mr. Nicholas Scain  for ten pounds  four shillings and three pence farthing sterling for duty done in Capt. Hughes company Brandon's Regiment as pr. account audited.  Principal Lbs. 10 :4 : 3 1/4 annual interest O : 14 : 3[ No. 104 No. 2414 Book x ] 15 April 1786 Nicholas Scain for 56 days duty as a horseman  and 31 days as a footman from  1 Jany to 1 June 1782 in Capt. Hughes  company of Colonel Brandon's Regiment amounting to  Sterling  Lbs 10 : 4 : 3 1/4  The State of South Carolina to Nicholas Scain  Dr.  To 56 days duty as horseman from the 1st Jany to 25th  Febru. 1782 p Pay Bill of Captain Hughes act'd p Col. Brandon. To 31 days duty  as a  private footman from 1 May to 1st June 1782  inclusive p Pay Bill  of  do. cer'd do 15.10 Lbs 71.10 Stg Lbs 10 : 4 : 31/4  received full satisfaction for the above in an Indent No 2414 X ( signed ) Nicholas Scain ( the mark of )  ( signed ) Tho. Nicholls  I do certify that the foregoing
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to be a true copy taken from the records in this office . For Comptroller Genl James A Black
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[ State of South Carolina Union District ] Personally appeared Samuel Harris before me  Robt V Harris an acting Magistrate  in and for the District aforesaid and made oath in due form of Law and states that he was brought  up in the State of Virginia and removed to this State in the neighborhood of Nicholas Skain and his wife Rachel Skain in the year seventeen hundred and  ninety two. they were the living together as man and wife and had four or five children  the eldest a daughter  named Rebecca and this deponent further states that given his long  acquaintance with the children of the said Nicholas  and Rachel Skain he has no hesitancy in say that the oldest child is sixty five or sixty six years old, he also states that Nicholas Skain  was acknowledged and revenerated as a soldier of the Revolutionary war and from what he has heard other Revolutionary soldiers say and from the report of the neighborhood in  which said Skains lived  he is fully satisfied that the said Skains done more than six months service in the said war and this deponent  further states that he is fully satisfied that the widow  Rachel Skains justly is entitled to a pension for her husband's services in the Revolutionary war this deponent also states that he is now seventy eight years old. Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 12th of August 1850. Samuel Harris ( signed ) Robt . V Harris ( signed ) Magt.  I do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with this witness and he is a man whose statements is entitled to full faith and credit this the 12th of August 1850. Robt. V. Harris ( signed )
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[ The State of South Carolina Union District [ SS. I William J Keenan  Clerk of the Court of Union District in the  State aforesaid do hereby certify that Robt. V. Harris is a Magistrate as appears from the foregoing certificates , 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  this tenth day  of  August  in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty  , and in the seventy fifth year of the  Sovereignty  and Independence of the United States of America.  Wm J Keenan ( signed / sealed ) Clerk of the  Court  of  Union Dist. So. Ca.  I am personally acquainted with the name James Harris & have been for near twenty  years . He is a man of undoubted  credibility . He was for many years an efficient officer of the Court for  Union District  and is  extremely  acquainted  with the people of the District - perhaps no one more so. D. Wallace ( signed )
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[ South Carolina Union District ] Personally appeared before me Gideon Steen one of the Magistrates  appointed to Justice of the peace in said District ,  Abram Mc Junkin and made oath  according to law that he is about sixty three years old and that he has been well acquainted  with  Nicholas Skain  & his wife  Rachel (  who is now making application for a pension for her husband's services in the Revolutionary War ) from his earliest recollection  and having been  brought up in the same neighborhood  knows some of their children  are much older that himself and from he heard the said Nicholas say  ( & other old Revolutioners )  that he did serve inthe  war and that he was always regarded as a Revolutionary soldier and further that he must have done more than six months  service and that she , the said Rachel Skain  is justly entitled  to a pension . Sworn  to & subscribed this 9th  Augt. 1850. A Mc Junkin ( signed ) G Steen ( signed ) Magst   I do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with this witness  & he is a man whose statements is entitled to full faith & credit this 9th  Aug. 1850.  G Steen ( signed )   I am personally acquainted with  all the parties to this affidavit  they being my near neighbors . Their credibility is of the first order  & unquestionable. D Wallace ( signed )
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[ The State of South Carolina Union District ] I William J. Keenan  Clerk of the Court of  Union District in the State aforesaid  do hereby certify that  G. Steen  is a Magistrate as appears from the foregoing  certificates and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed  my seal of office and subscribed my name  the thirteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty and on the seventy fifth year of the Sovereignty  & Independence of the United States of America. Wm J. Keenan ( signed / sealed ) Clerk  of the Court  of Union Dist. S.C.
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[ South Carolina Union District ] Personally came before me  Gideon  Steen one of the Magistrates appointed to keep the peace in said Dist. Isaac Gregory  and made oath in due form of law that he became acquainted with  Nicholas Skain and his wife Rachel when he was about fifteen years old who is now claiming a pension for her husband the said Nicholas Skain for his services in the Revolutionary war. They were then living together as husband & wife and had some children  and further with that from this long acquaintance with said Nicholas & Rachel and their children that he has no hesitancy in saying that their oldest must be sixty five years or 66 years old. And further  deponent saith that he was born  the 3rd Oct. 1773  and that he has no doubt from what he has heard old Revolutionary characters say that the said Nicholas served more than six months in the war of the Revolution and further thinks that the widow Rachel Skain is entitled to a pension. Sworn to & subscribed 9th Augt. 1850.  Isaac Gregory ( signed ) G. Steen ( signed ) Magt.  I Gideon Steen  do certify that the above named  Isaac Gregory is a man of good character & that his statements are worthy of full faith & credit. G. Steen ( signed )
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Pickens C. H. S.C. 6 Jany                                      20   Hon. J. L. Edwards Com. of Pensions Washington City  D.C.  ( vertical note) ( 12,468 Jan 14, 1846 July 7 1838 )
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[ South Carolina Union District ] Before me  personally appeared  Major Joseph Mc Junkin an old and highly respectable citizen of this District , and a Revolutionary Patriot , and made oath in due form of law , that he was acquainted with  Nicholas Skain and his wife ( now widow )  Mrs. Rachel Skain  whose maiden name was Ashby , and that the said Nicholas Skain  did serve in the war of the Revolution in defense of his country , thinks he entered the service very soon after the taking of Charleston, and that he then served till the close of the war, that he cannot now state  what officers he served under or he  has been called upon to prove the services of such a great number of persons, whom he knew in the war, that the circumstances have all been  so much connected to his name, that he cannot recollect all under whom they all served, and all the circumstances under which they served. He knows that  Skain was a good  soldier and that  all his family were good friends to their country  and several of the fought for her liberties, and has no doubt but his widow the said Rachel  Skain is justly entitled to a Pension for which she is making application. Joseph Mc Junkin ( signed ) Sworn to  & subscribed this 21st March  1845 before  J.J. Pratt ( signed ) Ordy  & Magst Ex- officio     [ South Carolina Union District ]  Before me personally appeared  Majr. Thomas Young  , an old man  and highly respectable citizen  of this District , and a Patriot of the Revolutions , and made oath in due form of law that he was well acquainted with Nicholas Skain  formerly of this District , who died
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some twenty years ago , and whose widow  Rachel is now making application for a pension , and that he was in the service in the  War of the Revolution with the said Nicholas Skain , in that , he himself entered the service on the 10th day of May 1780 and that he found the said Nicholas Skain  in the service at that time, and that he there served until the close of the war , that the said Skain was not in the same company with himself but  was in the same Regiment  Col. Brandon commanding and Lt. Col. Farr attached to it . He cannot state how long he served , with precision but  the above statement will  show that he must have served at least two years, that he has known the said  widow  Skain ever since & that she is a worthy woman  and not doubt deserving. Thomas Young ( signed ) Sworn to  & subscribed  this 21st March  1845 before J. J. Pratt ( signed ) Ordy  & Magst. Ex-officio  I . William J. Keenan Clerk of the Court of Union District  S.C. certify that John J. Pratt is Ordinary  and by virtue of said Office a Magistrate as the foregoing , which are his own signatures indicate, and that the  affiants Major Joseph Mc Junkin and Major Thomas Young are highly respectable citizens , and reputed to be soldiers of the War of the Revolution. In testimony whereof I have hereto affixed my seal of Office  & subscribed my name this 22nd day of March A.D. 1845 . Wm J . Keenan ( signed / sealed ) Clerk of the Court of Union District
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Pickens C.H. S.C. 6th Jany 1846  Hon J. L. Edwards  Dear Sir , I have retained the papers in the case of Mrs. Rachel Skain until now to endeavor to obtain  undoubted proof , but am unable to obtain other than that  herewith sent , as yet . The name of her late husband cannot be fund on the  Records of S.C.  but this does not disprove his service. I  hope the affidavits of Major Young & Major  Mc Junkin will suffice. Very respectfully your obt. servt. Miled M. Norton  ( signed )
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Pickens C.H.S. C. 22nd May                          10 Hon. J. L. Edwards Com. of Pensions Washington  City, D.C. ( vertical on page ) 9  May 28, 1846 add'l to case Rachel Skain )
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Pickens C.H.S.C. 22nd May 1846  Dear Sir , I answer to yours of the  24th March last , I now forward additional proof of Mrs. Skain's marriage but no proof of the services of her siad husband Nicholas Skain can be found in the Office of the Comptroller, it is hoped however the evidence sent  viz.  that of Majors Mc Junkin  & Young will suffice on that point, in the absence of better, and that of the latter is thought & hoped to be sufficient as to the length of services. Yours respectfully your obt servt. Miles M. Norton ( signed )
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[ State of South Carolina Union District ] Personally appeared Mrs. Elizabeth Glenn before me  R. G. Otts a Magistrate in and for said District, and made oath ion the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God  that she was present  and witnessed the marriage of Nicholas Skain to with Rachel his wife , this deponent states further that at the time of the marriage above named, she ( this deponent ) had two children , and the younger of the two  was at the breast, having been born according to her family  record  Oct 11. 1791  Elizt Glenn ( signed ) Sworn  and subscribed before me  May 15th  1846. R. G. Otts ( signed ) ( Magistrate ) [ The State of S. Carolina Union District ] Personally appeared  Mrs. Rachel Skain before me  R. G. Otts a Magistrate in and for said District , and made oath on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God  that she is the widow of Nicholas Skain , and that she has no family record or other writing that shows the date of the marriage between herself and the said Nicholas Skain.  Rachel Skain ( her mark X ) Sworn and subscribed this May 16th  1846  before me R. G. Otts ( signed ) ( Magistrate )
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[ The State of South Carolina Union District ] I , R. G. Otts one of the Magistrates in  & for said District do hereby certify that James Johnson, Thomas Sartor, Samuel  Harris, Rebecca Sartor and Rachel Skain  , the several deponents herein named are persons of respectability  and  truth  , and are entitled to credit and belief. Given under my hand and seal this 16th day of May 1846.  R. G. Otts ( signed / sealed ) Magistrate  I ,  William J. Keenan Clerk of the Court of Union District in the State of South Carolina  do hereby certify that R.G. Otts 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  the sixteenth day of May Anno Domini  1846.  Wm J. Keenan ( signed / sealed ) Clerk of the Court of Union District
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[ The State of South Carolina Union District ] Personally appeared  James Johnson before me R.G. Otts , a Magistrate in and for said District , and made oath  on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God , that he was personally acquainted with Nicholas Skain  and Rachel his wife from his earliest  recollection, and that at , and previous to the time this deponent  was enrolled on the Muster list which was in the year 1771 ,  they were living together as husband and wife. James Johnson (signed ) Sworn  and subscribed  this May 4th 1846  before me R.G. Otts ( signed ) ( Magistrate )  [ The State of South Carolina Union District ] Personally appeared Thomas Sartor  before me  R. G. Otts , a Magistrate in and for  said District and made oath that he knew  and was personally acquainted with Nicholas Skain  and Rachel his wife from his earliest recollection , that he was raised within  a mile of their residence, and that they  lived together as husband and wife  when he was a very small boy or as long as he can remember. This deponent states that he was born in the year 1787 . Thomas Sartor ( signed ) Sworn and subscribed  this May 4th 1846  before me  R.G. Otts ( signed ) ( Magistrate )
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[ The State of South Carolina Union District ] Personally appeared  Samuel Harris before me R. G. Otts , a Magistrate in and for said District , and made oath on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God that  he was well acquainted with Nicholas Skain and  Rachel his wife previous to their marriage, that he was  quite small at the time they were married,  he does  not think he was exceeding ten years old when they were married, and that he  ( this deponent ) was born in the year 1777.  Samuel Harris ( signed )  Sworn  and subscribed  this May 4th 1846 before me  R.G. Otts ( signed ) ( Magistrate ) [ The State of S. Carolina Union District ] Personally appeared Mrs. Rebecca Sartor  before me R. G. Otts , a Magistrate in and for said District, and made oath on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God that  she was well acquainted with Nicholas Skain and Rachel his wife, both before  they were married, and afterward, and this deponent  states further that she knows they were married and had one child born  during the time Daniel Sartor  was at the breast, and that agreeably to her family record , her son Daniel sartor was born  February 10th  1799. Rebecca Sartor ( her mark ) Sworn  & subscribed this May 15th  1846 before me . R.G. Otts ( signed ) Magistrate