Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7563, for William Smith, North Carolina
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
N.C.

Smith, William

NUMBER
S. 7563

carded

CONTENTS
born in Ireland in 1758.
Res at Enl & 1833. Mecklenburg Co. N.C.
Died Aug. 27, 1837
Page 2

16.793

North Carolina

William Smith
of Charlotte in the State of N.C.
who was a Pri. in the __ commanded
by Captain ___  of the Rich. commanded
by Col. Polk in the
line for 16 months

N.C. Line, Aug. 1 1904
Records completed.

Inscribed on the Roll of N. Carolina
at the rate of 53 Dollars 33 Cents per annnum
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of Sept. 33
and Sent J. H. Wilson
Charlotte N.C.

Arrears to the 4th Sept 1833 $133.32
Semi-anl. allowances ending 15 Mar '34  $26.66
                         $159.98

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7 1832

Recorded by N Rice-- Clerk
Book E  Vol. 6  Page 56
Page 3

William Smith
N Carolina

Ret

Admt as a
Pri 16 mo

$53.33

4.5
Int 1.2.6
Apl 27. 33--


12244

P 336

J H Wilson
Charlotte
N. C.
Page 4

BRIEF is the case of William Smith
County of Mecklenburg
in the State of N C
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court
Judge? in Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 74
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period.
does not recollect
the mont or year In 17 volunteer
2nd Campaign no date
3rd  "  "  "

Duration of Service.
Years,    Months,     Days
     about 3
    about 3
      "    10

Rank.
As a
private
Names of General and Field Officers
under whom he served.
Osborn Col Alexander
   "            "
Cap Shelby Col Polk

5. In what battles was he engaged? Siege of Charleston several skirmishes
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Mecklenburg NC
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by
incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditionary
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? no period given
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
George Taylor
Examining Clerk
Page 5

William Smith
12.244.
Page 6


State of North Carolina
Court of Pleas & quarter Sessions
Mecklenburg County   August Term 1832
On this the 31th of August AD 1832 personally appeared in said Court William
Smith a resident of the County & State aforesaid, aged about 74 years, who being
first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration
in order to allow the benefit of the act of congress passed June the 7th, 1832 that he
entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served
as herein stated. Your declarant states that he is a native of Ireland, and has no
record of his age. That he was living in the County of Mecklenburg & State of North Carolina when called into service, and that he is living in the same County & State
& has lived in the same place ever since the Revolution. Your declarant further
States that he volunteered his services in all the campaigns in which he was
engaged that he never received a discharge from any of the officers under whom
he service or if he did, he has no recollection of it. The first campaign in which
your declarant was served was called the Cherokee campaign. Rutherford was the general of the army Adam Alexander was the colonel of the regiment of the
regiment in which he served- he does not recollect the month & year in which he in lived that service - in no engagement- marched from the county & state aforesaid served with no continental troops in that campaign was in service about three months- has no documentary evidence of the fact. The second campaign that your declarant was in was the Siege at Charleston South Carolina.  Lincoln was the general of the army - the balance of the field officers your Declarant cannot recollect James Osborn was the captain of the company to which he belonged-- there were continental troops there, but your declarant cannot remember their officers - served about three months in this tour as well your declarant recollects-- Your declarant States that he was taken prisoner at that place and was paroled home-- has no documentary evidence of the fact-- The third company in which Sumpter was the general William Polk was the colonel of the regiment to which he belonged Thomas Shelby was the captain
marched into South Carolina - engaged in several skirmishes with the Tories and parties of
British, but engaged in no regular pitched Battle-- served about ten months in that tour- has no documentary evidence of the fact. 
 your declarant refers to William
Witherspoon, Isaac Alexander & Matthew Miller
authenticate his services-- He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity whatever, except the present
and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency of any State
Sworn to & subscribed the day year aforesaid
Page 7

We James Spratt & Matthew Miller, residing in the County of Mecklenburg and
State of North Carolina, do hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with William
Smith who has sworn & subscribed to the above Declaration, that we believe him
to be about 74 years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood
where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that belief
Sworn & subscribed to the day & year aforesaid

Matthew Miller
Jas Spratt

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 service as he states. And the Court further certifies that James
Spratt & Matthew Miller, who has signed the preceding certificate are
residents of the County of Mecklenburg & State of North Carolina & and
credible persons and that that statement is entitled to credit

I Isaac Alexander Clerk of said court do herby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter
of the application of William Smith for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal office this the Day & year aforesaid

Isaac Alexander Clerk
Page 8

Wm Smith Second Declaration
for a pension
Page 9

State of North Carolina 
Mecklenburg County  
Court of Pleas & Quarters Sessions August Term 1833

On this the 28 day of August A.D. 1833, personally appeared
in open Court, William Smith, a Resident of the County
& State aforesaid, aged 75 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 the 7th 1832.   That he
entered the service of the United States under the
following named officers & service as herein after
stated. Your Declarant States, that he was Born
in Ireland in the year 1758-- That he has no record
of his age-- That he was living in the County of 
Mecklenburg & State of North Carolina where called out to serve
that he is now living & has lived in the same County
& State ever since the Revolutionary War-- That he 
Volunteered his services in thirteen months of his service
& was Drafted the other three months-- That he Received
a Discharge from Captain Polk at the determination
of the Cherokee Campaign, but does not know about 
any other Discharges--.  The first Campaign in which your
Declarant served, were called the Cherokee Campaign--
the Service-- Rutherford was Genl-- Adam Alexander
was Coln-- Charles Polk was Capt.-- Marched from
the County & Stated aforesd to the Cherokee nation-- Engaged
in no Battle-- Served with no Continental Troops-- In 
Service Three monts.  The second Term in which your
Declarant Served, was the siege at Charleston-- Cannot
Recollect when he either entered as left the service at this
time-- Lincoln was General-- The Rest of the field officers
your Declarant cannot Recollect-- Osborne was Captain
He served with Continental Troops, but cannot
recollect the names of any of their officers-- Served
Page 10

Three months at this time-- Your Declarant states
that he was taken prisoner at that place & parolled
home.  The third Campaign-- Cannot Recollect where
he either entered or left the Service at this time-- Sumpter
was General-- Wm Polk was Colonel Thomas Shelby
was Captain-- Marched from the County of Mecklenburg
& State of North Carolina, into the State of South
Carolina-- With no continental Troops-- Engaged
in several skirmishes with the Tories & British
but in no Regular pitched Battle-- Served at this
time Ten months-- Has no Documentary evidence 
of any his Service.  The whole length of Service
Set forth by your Declarant & for which he claims
a pension is sixteen months.  He Refers to Wm Black
& John Witherspoon As, who can certify to his character
as to truth-- Your Declarant further states
that in consequence of his advanced age & mental
infirmity it is out of his power to give a clear
& distinct narrative of the circumstances attending
his services.

He hereby Relinquishes every claim whatever to
a pension, except the present; and declares that his
name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of
any state

William Smith

Sworn to & subscribed the day
& year aforesaid

Mathew Miller maketh oath, that the
above Declarant did the service, set forth in
on the first & second Tours set forth in the
above Declaration & that his narration
of the circumstances are correct, & that he also
did the service of the third Campaign, making
is, all Sixteen months, to the best of his
Knowledge & Belief.

Matthew Miller

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Page 11

We Isaac Greer, a Clergyman, Residing in
the County of Mecklenburg & State of North
Carolina, & Hezekiah Alexander of the County
& State of aforesaid, do hereby certify that we
are well acquainted with William Smith
who has subscribed & sworn to the above
Declaration; that we believe him to be
73 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 belief.

Isaac Grier

Hezekiah Alexander

Sworn to & subscribed
the Day & year aforesaid

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after
the
investigation of the matter, & after having put the
Interrogatories by the War Department prescribed, that
the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier
& served as he states.  And the Court further certifies that
Matthew Miller, who has proven the services of said 
applicant is a credible & that his statement is entitled to
credit.  And the Court further certifies, that Isaac
Greer, who has signed the preceding Certificate is a Clergyman,
Resident in the County of Mecklenburg & State
of North Carolina & that Hezekiah Alexander, who has
also signed the same, is a Resident in the same County
& State, & is a credible person, & that their statement
is entitle to credit.

I, Bruly Oats, Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for
the County of Mecklenburg & State of North Carolina, do hereby
certify that the foregoing contains the original proceeding
of said Court, in the matter of the application of
William Smith for a pension.  In Testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand & affixed
my seal of office, this 2nd of September A.D. 1833

B Oates Clerk of
Mecklenburg Co. Court
Page 12

May 1, 1939.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/CC
William Smith
3. 7563
Mrs. Susie C. Palmer
5746 Harrison Street,
Kansas City, Missouri.
Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Charles Smith, William Smith, William Porter and William Smith of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina aged seventy-six years in 1833.
Because of the great demand for Revolutionary War data and
the limited trained clerical force available for furnishing this
information it is impossible to comply in full with each request
pertaining to soldiers of that war.
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file
in pension claim S. 7563, based upon service in the Revolutionary War
of William Smith.
William Smith was born in 1758, in Ireland; names of his
parents are not shown.
While a resident of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina,
William Smith enlisted, date not stated, served three months in
Captain Charles Polk's company, Colonel Adam Alexander's North Carolina
regiment and was in the Cherokee Campaign; enlisted,
served three months in Captain Osborn's North Carolina company,
was in the Siege of Charleston where he was taken prisoner and
was released on parole and went home; enlisted, date not stated,
served ten months in Captain Thomas Shelby's company, Colonel
William Polk's North Carolina regiment, was in several skirmishes
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the
Revolutionary War record of Charles Smith, William Smith, William
Porter and William Smith of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina,
with Tories and British, his entire service was as a private.
Page 13

The soldier was allowed pension on his application
executed August 31, 1832, at which time he was a resident
of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, where he had lived ever since
the Revolution.
No family data are shown.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension,
the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of
death of William Smith, you should address the Comptroller
General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this
city, and cite the following date:
William Smith
Certificate #16793
Issued September 25, 1833
Rate $53.33 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
North Carolina Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.
Page 14

7563
INVALID.
Rev. War
File No. 7563
William Smith
Priv. Rev. War

Act: June 7th 1832
Index: -- Vol. [illegible], Page 347
Arrangement of 1870.}
1939 - May 1 His. to
Mrs. Susie C Palmer ce
Page 15

S. F. P.
Kansas City, Missouri
Mar 7th - 1939
Bureau of Pensions
Department of Interior

Dear Sir,-

I wish to have the pension
records of Charles Smith, Private
who drew pension from Perron Co.
pension commenced Mar 4th, 1831,
age 76 years, and William Smith
from Mecklenburg, Sept 25, 1833, age
76 think, also William Smith
private $80, 89 years old died in
1838 petition in 1831. I think, from Green
Co. One of these is an ancestor,
also I would like the record of one
William Porterof Washington Va
live there in 1749, helped lay out the
town, before Washington D.C. was named
one those of William Porters
was in Revolutionary War
very truly yours
me. Susie Cave Palmer.
5746 Harrison St.
Kansas City, Missouri
Page 16

[stamp]
RECEIVED
Mar 10 1939
MALL SUB-DIV.
VETS ADM.
READER # 75
Page 17

Wm Smith
Jos H Wilson Charlotte NCa
Page 18

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
William Smith.
which require further proof or explanation.
1. 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?
No
V. *Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he
served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? no
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes
Page 19

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?
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?
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?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the
regulations direct?
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age,
as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered? yes
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 persons mentioned below, and in the following grades; For-____ years ____months, and --- days, I served as a_____ for_____ months
--- days, I served as a ____ ; and for such service I claim a pension.
Page 20

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 must
prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of
the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the
regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths
must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate
must be certified by the proper 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.