Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 32,241, Lewis Ferguson, Va.
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Va            
Ferguson, Lewis          
S. 32,241
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Dead 
Paid at the treasury under the Act to Afrie 1838 from 4 Sept to 23.  Nov 1842 Age
Notification 25 Oct. 1844

ILLINOIS 22.742
Lewis Ferguson
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Continental 




On this 3rd day of June the year of 1883 appears before the honorable county commissioner of the court, Lewis Ferguson of resident of the county and state of one said and seventy three who first being duly sworn according , who doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by he act of congress passed June 7, 1883. That his enlistment in the army of the United States in the year of 1778 with Captain Garland
and served in the regiment of Guards commanded by Col. Francis Layton, Mayor Roberts. Captain James Purvis and Captain White, also commanded companionist in there regiment and I believe that Captain Thomas Porten did also. I do not know if the regiment was numbered or not. It was called the regiment of Guards because they were employed in pursing Burgoyne army. I enlisted at Albemarle Barracks and made to continue at the Albemarle as the prisoners were kept at that place. When I enlisted Indiana in Culpepper County, Virginia. About twenty six years since I served from (?) North Carolina. From there I moved to Kinsley and from there to this county. I remained in the service at Albemarle Barracks until the first spring of 1780 when the prisoners there were moved to Winchester, Virginia about the middle of May 1780, I was discharged. I received a written discharge signed by a Col.Taylor. About six months after I enlisted I was appointed Sargent and continued one until I was discharge. I never was in any action. I know of no person whom I can prove my service. I have since put in my discharge. I hereby relinquish every claim ? to a pension or an annuity (unable to decipher the rest.)
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And the said Court do hereby declare
That the above named applicant is
Revolutionary Soldier and served as
States
Joseph Smith} Com
Thomas Moffett} Comm
Reuben Harrison}

I Charles R Mathney Clerk of the County Commissioners Court of Langamsh County do hereby Certify that the foregoing Contains the Original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Lewis Ferguson for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of Office this fifth day of June in the one thousand Eight hundred and thirty three
C. R. Mathney CE
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Declaration of
Lewis Ferguson
for a Pension
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22.742
Lewis Ferguson
Illinois

Va Roll

Adm 2 years 1 yr $6.
Months thereof Serg.

90
20
____
110
220
55
____

Edward Jones
Springfield
Illinois
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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
29th Novr 1833.-

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 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 show 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 Lewis Ferguson

Period when the service was rendered.:
1778
Duration of the claimant's service.:
__ Years. __ Months. __ Days.
Rank of the claimant.:
_____________
Names and rank of the field officers under whom he served.:
Col Taylor
Cap. Garland
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.:
73 years
Culpeper County Va.
Proof by which the declaration is supported.:
__________________
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Jero 3 18 Mo _ Serg._
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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 } ss.
County of
On this____   day of ___ personally appeared (a) before_________
A. B., a resident 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. [pointing finger symbol] 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 
of _________ & 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______
who has 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
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3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person 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) [in italics] 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.
6. To a Soldier [italicized]. 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 [italicized] 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 inquiry 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.

[footnotes in square brackets]
[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 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 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____year ____months, and ____days. I served as a ________. For _____months and _____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 [in italics] 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 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.
[pointing finger symbol] The notes [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] The 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.
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December 19, 1938

Lewis Ferguson
S. 32241
AW
BA-J/AWF

Mr. B. J. Walter
American Legion, Wabash Post #423
Mt. Carmel, Illinois

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to Lewis Ferguson, born in 1760 in Virginia, served in the Revolutionary War from Culpeper County and died about 1842 in Illinois.

The data furnished herein were obtained from pension claim, S. 32241, based upon the service of Lewis Ferguson in the War of the Revolution.

The date and place of birth of Lewis Ferguson are not shown, nor are the names of his parents given.

While residing in Culpeper County, Virginia, he enlisted in the year 1778, served as sergeant until sometime in 1780 in Captain Garland Burnley's company, Colonel Francis Taylor's Virginia regiment. His service was as guard at Albemarle Barracks.

He moved about 1809 from Virginia to South Carolina, then to Kentucky and thence to Sangamon County, Illinois. He was allowed pension on his application executed June 5, 1833, then aged seventy-three years and living in said Sangamon County.

He died November 23, 1842.

There are no data concerning his family.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
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32241
Revy INVALID.
_____
File No. 32,241
Lewis Ferguson
Sergt Rev War
_____
Act: June 7th 32"
Index:-Vol. 2, Page 135
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1911 Aug. 29 Hist. to Georgia L. Osborne
Letter in S.F. 31044 James Turley - V.L.M.
1911 Sept. 8. above ref to and. letter in John Burton S. File 321467
1930 - May 22 - Hist to Crug. Ewin L. Davis AWF.
1930 - Sept 2 - Hon. Luis Ferguson - adv. as to place of residence AWF
1916 Dec 19 - hist to B. J. Walter AWF
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September 2, 1930

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
AWF: MLB

Hon. Louis Ferguson
House of Representatives
State of Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee

My dear Mr. Ferguson:

Reference is made to your letter of August 27, desiring information concerning the Revolutionary War soldier, Lewis Ferguson.

You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 38241, that Lewis Ferguson stated June 5, 1833 that he was then a resident of Sangamon County, Illinois, and as follows: - "When I enlisted I resided in Culpeper County, Virginia; about twenty-four years since, I removed from Virginia to South Carolina; from thence I moved to Kentucky, and from thence, to this county."

There are no further particulars as to said places of residence.

In order to obtain the name of the person to whom the last payment of pension of Lewis Ferguson, S. 32341, and the address to which this pension was sent, you should address the General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D.C., citing all the following data:-Lewis Ferguson, Certificate No. 22742, issued December 17, 1833, rate, $110 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act June 7, 1832, Illinois Agency.

Very truly yours

E. W. MORGAN
Acting Commissioner
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[Header]
House of Representatives
State of Tennessee
NASHVILLE

LOUIS FERGUSON
Representative
Coffee County
MANCHESTER

[Body]
Rev. and 1812 wars August 27th, 1930.
Section AWF.

Hon. E. W. Morgan,
Acting Commissioner,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:-

In your letter to Hon. Ewin L. Davis, dated May 22, 1930 you gave information of Lewis Ferguson, stating that after the Revolution he moved to South Carolina, and then to Kentucky and then to Sangamon County, Illinois.
Does the records discloses to what part of the State of South Carolina and to what part of the State of Kentucky Lewis Ferguson moved to ?
Can you inform me where he resided when he died November 23, 1842. ? I am
Yours very truly,
[Signed] Louis Ferguson
Louis Ferguson.

LF:RA

[Stamp]
DEPUTY
AUG 29 1930
COMMISSIONER
Page 14

[Header]
EWIN L. DAVIS
FIFTH DISTRICT TENNESSEE

Congress of the United States
House of Representatives
Washington, D.C.

[Typed body]
May 19, 1930.

The Commissioner,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:

I am advised that Mr. Lewis Ferguson served in the American Revolutionary Army from Virginia.
I shall appreciate it if you will advise me whether a pension was ever granted to this soldier and any other information in regard to his service which your records may show.
Thanking you, I am
Yours very sincerely,
[Signed] Ewin L. Davis.

[Stamp]
PENSION
A
MAY
U 20 S
1930
OFFICE
Page 15

GIDEON, PRINTER.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
June 4th, 1844.

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," and the third section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pension agents, The Admr of Lewis Ferguson, decd a Pensioner on the Roll of the Illinois Agency, at the rate of one hundred & ten - Dollars and - Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept. ~ to the 23d Nov. 1842.
Respectfully yours,
[Signed] Albion K Parris
Comptroller.

To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS,
Present.
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[Header]
AMERICAN LEGION, Wabash Post No. 423
MT. CARMEL, ILLINOIS

B. J. WALTER,
DEPT. OF MILITARY RECORDS
AND GRAVES REGISTRATION

[Body]
December 8, 1936.

The Veterans Administration,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:

Please furnish the pension record and nay other information available of a one Lewis Ferguson who served during the War of the Revolution. -
This soldier was born in the State of Virginia in 1760. Enlisted from Culpeper County in 1778 serving until 1780; private first class; promoted Lieutenant under Captain Garland Burrly and Colonel Francis Taylor. Died about 1842 in Manard County, Illinois.

Very truly yours,
[Signed] B. J. Walter
B. J. Walter,
Dept. Military Records and
Graves Registration,
American Legion,
Wabash Post #423.

BJW:rpf

[Stamp]
RECEIVED
DEC 10 1936
MAIL SUB-DIV
VETS. ADM.
REAADER #24
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information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. Lewis Ferguson S. F. 32241

DATE OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.:
1778
[illegible]
May 1780
RANK.
Pvt and Sgt.
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
Garland Burrly
Burrley
As Albemarle Bar as a guard
COLONEL.
Francis Taylor
STATE.
Va

Battles engaged in, 1
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Culpeper Co. Va
Date of application for pension, June 5, 1833. His cl al
Residence at date of application, Sangamon Co Ill.
Age at date of application, 73 years Died Nov 23 - 1842
Remarks:
After Rev moved to S.C. then to Ky then Ill.
No fam data
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
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May 22, 1930

Honorable Ewin L. Davis
House of Representatives
Washington, D.C.

My dear Mr. Davis:

In response to your letter of the nineteenth instant I have the honor to advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 32241, it appears that Lewis Ferguson, while residing in Culpeper County, Virginia, enlisted in 1778 and served as a private and sergeant until in May 1780 in Captain Garland Burrley's Company, Colonel Francis Taylor's Virginia Regiment. His service was as a guard at Albemarle Barracks.

After the Revolution he moved to South Carolina, then to Kentucky and then to Sangamon County, Illinois.

He was allowed pension on his application executed June 5, 183, at which time he was living in Sangamon County, Illinois, and was aged seventy-three years.

He died November 23, 1842.

There are no data as to his family.

Very truly yours,

E. W. MORGAN
Acting Commissioner.