Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21,497, for Charles Spann, North Carolina
Page 1

3 - 1776)
SERVICE
N.C.
S. C.
Spann, Charles
NUMBER
S.21.497
CONTENTS
Page 2

Died 7 June 1844
Let to 3 [illegible] 11 in
clk- a B-

12.635
South Carolina
Charles Spann
of Sumpter in the State of South Car
who was a pri. in the company commanded
by Captain Moore of the Regt commanded
by Col. Long in the North Car.
line for 10 months
Inscribed on the Roll of South Carolina
at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents
per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 16. day of May 33
terville C. H.
and sent J. B. Miller Sump
Arrears to the 4th of March '33 - 66.66
allowance ending 4 Sept. 16.66
$83.32
⎨ Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by William Miller Clerk,
Book E. Vol. 6. Page 80
Page 3

Charles Spann, ser.
23759
Page 4

The State of South Carolina
Sumter District
On this Twenty Eighth day of February in the year
of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty three
personally appeared in open Court before the Court of
Equity now sitting Charles Spann Senior a resident of the
District & State aforesaid aged Eighty 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 7. 1832 - That in the year 1775 he
resided in Halifax County in the State of North Carolina
that he was at that time about Twenty one or Twenty Two
years of age, that there was a call made for volunteers
to march to the Town of Norfolk in the State of
Virginia, that he volunteered in a company of a Capt.
Samuel Welding Infantry commanded by a Captain Samuel Welding and that the Regiment was commanded by
Col [illegible] Long that he marched with the company &
regiment aforesaid to Norfolk where he remained doing
duty as a volunteer for the space of the months-
That in the year 1776 he was still residing in Hallifax
County in N Carolina when there was another call
for volunteers to march to Wilmington in that date
that he again volunteered his services and attached
himself to a company of volunteers called "minute men"
under the command of Capt. Robt Peobbs, the
A
Regiment was commanded by Col [illegible], Genl.
Thos Eaton - that he marched in said company of
minute men" to Wilmington where he remained till
he was discharged which was more four months
That in the year 1778 or 1779 he removed to a
County now [illegible] District in the State of South Carolina, that in the same year he volunteered
Page 5

his services under Capt Nathaniel Moore who commanded
a company of Infantry that he marched to what was
called the Augusta Camp on the South Carolina side of the
Savannah River opposite to the Town of Augusta where he remained doing duty for better than three months at which
the company was discharged- That in the year 1780 or
1781 he was taken prisoner by the British & Tories and carried to the Town of Camden So Ca and was detained
until he got the small Pox when he was permitted to
go home, that as soon as he recovered, he went to the
Camp of Genl Francis Marion and affixed his services
that he was placed in the Company of Capt Josiah
Furman, that he was with Marian at the taking of Fort
Watson and Scotts Lake in So Ca also at the taking of Fort
Mott - The said Charles Spann also states that he had no
written discharge, or any other documentary evidence by which
to prove the above statement and further that he knows of
no person, whose testimony he can procure the only mad who
knew of his services having died about 3 weeks ago, who can
testify to his service - He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever
to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his
name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State
Sworn to and subscribed the day year aforesaid before me
of the Chancellor of the said state in open court

Charles  X Spann, 
his mark X X
Job Johnston
mark
We James Parsons a clergyman residing in Sumter District
& State of South Carolina and Hastin Jennings residing in
the same District & State aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with
Charles Spann Senior who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration
that we believe him to be about Eighty years of age, that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution
that we concur in that opinion
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
James Parsons
Hastin Jennings
Page 6

And the Court do hereby declare after the investigation
of the matter and after putting the Interrogatories presented
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 James Parsons
who has signed the
preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in
the District of Sumter & State of South Carolina and
that Hastin Jennings who has also signed the same
is a resident of the place last aforesaid and is a
credible person & that their statement is entitled to credit
Job Johnston

I Jno. B Miller Commissioner & register of the
Court of Equity for Sumter District in the State
of South Carolina do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court
in the matter of the application of Charles Spann
for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereto
set my hand and seal of office
this 28th day of February AD 1833
John B Miller
Comm. Eq. S. D.
-
Page 7

23757
Charles Spann
Sumter District
South Carolina
Admit as a private
for 10 months $33.33
John B. Miller
Sumterville C. H.
South Carolina
Page 8


WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office,
183
Sir: The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has
been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of
your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and
the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed,
before a pension can be allowed. the notes and the regulations will shew what is
necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed,
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when
you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and
you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.

A Statement, showing the Service of Charles Spann, sen.
Period when the service was Rendered
Volunteer
1775
do 1776
do 1778 or 1779
1780 1781
a prisioner,
and after releasing volunteered

Duration of the
claimant's service.
Years         Months       Days
                      3
                      4
                      3
Rank of the claimant.
private
Names and rank of the Field officers
under whom he served.
Col. Thomas Eaton
Col. M. Long
Capt. Moore
Gen. Marion
Capt Furman
Age at present, and place of abode
when he entered the service.
Halifax
Co. N.C.
---
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
tradition
I am, respectfully
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 9

2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army,
and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia and volunteers, all
persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who
were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to
Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are
also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1 The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming
the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first
instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of
Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is
considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of
County of
On this  day of   personally appeared (a) before
A. B.  a resident (b)     in the county of
and State, Territory or District
of    aged (c) 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed
June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) with   and 
served in the
(e) regiment of the    line under the following named officers.

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served
under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the
town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons
who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he
declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of
the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary
soldier, and served as he states.
I    of the Court of
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
the application of
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this   day  
& c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be
found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia,
except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and
subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the   and C.D. residing in (the same)
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with

subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier
of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after
putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary
Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the
and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I    Clerk of the Court of
do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this
day of
& c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if
possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services
of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will
also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful
in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
Page 10

3
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case The facts stated will afford one of the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his
case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of
service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State
troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such
Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
{To a Soldier. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
{To an Officer. Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify
as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are
requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court,
without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be
the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character
and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the
enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before
required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper
county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform,
and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper
Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a
Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is
his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before
the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the
declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period
of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the
opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not
conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the
claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so
definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the
loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason
of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but, according to the best of his
recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades. For ___ year _____months
days, I served as a _____  For months and - days, I served as a ___  ; and for such service I claim a pension.
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law
directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months,
is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years
in the militia, &c without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is
highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement;
the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public
seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the
papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains
the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must
pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses
who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as
the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must 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.
The notes from [a] to [i] are equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 11


March 21, 1934
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Charles Spann-S.21497
BA-J/AWF
Mrs. Marie B. Owen
Department of Archives and History
Montgomery, Alabama
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you
request the Revolutionary War record of Charles Spann
of South Carolina.
The data furnished below were obtained from
the papers on file in pension claim, S.21497, based
upon the Revolutionary War service of Charles Spann.
The date and place of birth of this soldier are
not shown in the claim, nor are the names of his parent
given.
While residing in Halifax County, North Carolina,
Charles Spann volunteered in 1775, served three months
in Captain Samuel Welding's company, Colonel Loring's
North Carolina regiment. He volunteered in 1776, served
four months in Captain Robert Peebles' (?) company, Colonel
Thomas Eaton's regiment.
he moved to Craven County (later Sumter District),
South Carolina, and in 1778 or 1779, served three months
in Captain Nathaniel Moore's South Carolina company. He
was taken prisoner by the British and Tories in 1780
or 1781, carried to Camden, South Carolina, while there
he had smallpox and was allowed to go home; as soon as
he recovered, he enlisted in Captain Josiah Furman's
company, served under General Marion, was at the taking
of Fort Watson and Fort Motte, length of this service
not stated.
Charles Spann was allowed pension on his applica-
This letter copied of Jan 23, 1939
Hon.  William L. Nelson see [illegible]
The land
letter in William Goode
S. 86'81
Page 12

tion executed, February 28, 1833, at which time he
was living in Sumter District, South Carolina, aged
eighty years. He died June 7, 1844.
There are no data in this claim concerning the
family of Charles Spann.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
Page 13

December 6, 1930.
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
AWF/ILLV.
Mrs. J. C. Robert
Experiment Station
Poplarville, Mississippi.
Dear Madam:

You are advised that it appears from the papers in the
Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 21497, that Charles Spann, while
residing in Halifax County, North Carolina, enlisted in 1775 and
served three months in Captain Samuel Welding's Company, Colonel
Loring's North Carolina Regiment. He enlisted in 1776 and served four
months in Captain Robert Peebles (?) Company, Colonel Thomas Eaton's
Regiment.
He moved to Craven County, South Carolina, and in 1778 or
1779, served three months in Captain Nathaniel Moore's South Carolina
Company. In 1780 or 1781, he was taken prisoner by the British,
carried to Camden, South Carolina, had the smallpox and was sent home?
as soon as he recovered, he enlisted in Captain Josiah Furmen's Company,
served under General Francis Marion, and was at the taking of Fort
Watson and Fort Motte, length of service not stated.
He was allowed pension on his application executed February
28, 1833, at which time he was living in Sumter District, South Carolina, aged eighty years, and was referred to as senior.
There are no data relative to his family.
Very truly yours,
E. W. MORGAN,
Acting Commissioner.
Page 14

21497
Revolution
INVALID
File No. 21,497
Charles Spann
Pri. Rev. War
Act: June 7th 32
Index: -- Vol. 2  Page 389
(Arrangement of 1870.]
Jan. 7. 1844
Page 15

Apl 10-1900. History to 
Miss Nora Spann   City
1929 Apr. 24. Hist. to
Mrs. P. E. Weir awy
---
1930 - Dec 6 - Hist to
Mrs. J C. Robert A W. F.
1934. [illegible] 21 Hist. to Mrs.
Marie B. Owen awf
Page 16

21.497. Sur
Chas Spann
Feby 28. 1883
Sumpter [p struck out] Dist. S.C. 80
1775 Halifax Co. N.C.
Capt. Sam'l. Welding
Col Long
3 m
1776
Capt Robt P
N.C
Col Thos. Eaton [illegible]
78 or 79 Capt. Nat'l. Moore
3 m
S. C.

Capt. Josiah Furman
Gen. Marion
H. Watson
J. J. Matt
Page 17


Poplarville, Mississippi
Nov. 14, 1930
Tl The Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C
Please give me all information you
can regarding the Revolutionary soldier
Charles Spann who was born at in
Northampton county, North Carolina and
enlisted
at Halifax, North Carolina
You have given information regarding
his brother James Spann who was
born and enlisted at some places
as did
Charles Spann
Sincerely,

Mrs. J. C. Robert 
Poplarville, Mississippi
Experiment [illegible]
[stamp]
PENSION
NOV
U  19  S
1930
OFFICE
Page 18

Bunningham Ala
Sept. 24, 1928
Commissioner of Pension,

Please send
me record in full of Revolutionary soldier Charles Spann
from Sumter District, I think, S.C.
Your truly
E
Mr. P. E. Wier
1053 31st. St South
Birmingham
Ald.
Page 19

STATE OF ALABAMA
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY
Founded by Thomas M. Owen, LL. D., 1901
MONTGOMERY
[Alabama State seal]
Reply REFER TO FILE No. A912
Spann
February 26, 1934
Dear Sir:-
Will you kindly send us the record of
Charles Spann, of South Carolina, who drew a revolutionary
pension. If his children are listed we
would be very glad to have this list.
Sincerely yours,
(Mrs) Marie B. Owen
Director.
Per M. M.
U.S. Pension Bureau,
Washington, D.C.


,
Page 20

Rev. and 1812
Wars Section
AWF/eel
April 24, 1929
Mrs. P. E. Wier
1053 - 31st Street, South
Birmingham, Alabama
Madam:

I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War
pension claim, S.21497, it appears that Charles Spann,
while residing in Halifax County, North Carolina, enlisted
in 1775 and served three months in Captain Samuel
Welding's Company, Colonel Loring's North Carolina Regiment. He enlisted in 1776 and served four months in
Captain Robert Peebles (?) Company, Colonel Thomas Eaton's
Regiment.
After which he moved to Craven County, South Carolina, and served in 1778 or 1779, three months in Captain
Nathaniel Moore's South Carolina Company. In 1780 or
1781, he was taken prisoner by the British, carried to
Camden, South Carolina, had the smallpox and was sent
home; as soon as he recovered, he enlisted in Captain
Josiah Furman's Company, served under General Francis
Marion, and was at the taking of Fort Watson and Fort
Page 21

Motte, length of service not stated.
He was allowed pension on his application executed
February 28, 1833, at which time he was living in Sumter
District, South Carolina, aged eighty years, and was referred
to as Senior
There are no data as to family.
Respectfully,
E. W. MORGAN
Acting Commissioner.