Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 13728, Martin De Witt, S.C.
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(8-1776)

SERVICE.                                      NUMBER           

S.C.            Dewitt, Martin.         R. 13728


  Born in Va.


CONTENTS
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832, [ South Carolina Darlington District ] On this the 11th day of October A.D. 1832 personally appeared in the Court of Common Pleas  in open Court  before Bayles J Earle one of the Judges thereof Martin Dewitt aged sixty eight  years who after being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act  of Congress passed  June 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States on the 3rd of December 1789  under Capt. Charles DeWitt in the Regiment commanded by  Col. Morris Murphy  . That he was one of eighty men who were sent on an expedition to  Cain High  & Haddrill's point from the latter place decoyed thirty six of the British who were taken prisoners & carried to the camp at Cain High shortly after that he with the said detachment  joined Genl. Marion  near Dorchester  & continued with him until sometime in Feby 1781  when he
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was relieved and returned home  to Marlboro District and that he was constantly out either under Capt. McIntosh or Edwards  in pursuit of the  tories in the Districts of Darlington  & Marlboro  until June when he joined Marion at the place then called Benchs Mills  - that he  continued  with him on the  Great  & Little Pedee and Drowning Creek  routing the Tories until August , that he  then left Genl. Marion  & returned home; that  from that time to the close of the war he only done duty occasionally  as called on to quell the tories  on Pedee & these expeditions were generally commanded by Capt. Edwards , that he considers it an almost  uninterrupted service from Dec. 1780  when he commenced service until the war closed. That he recollects the following officers  of the army  Col .Peter Horry , Col.  Youngblood & other officers  & that  the whole duty amounted to  two years  & eight months  which he can safely swear to  and that he has no documentary evidence of these facts.
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I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the presence  and declare that my name is not on the  pension Roll of the  Agency of any State. Deponent further swears that he was born  on the 9th  July 1764  in Culpepper County Virginia , that his father's family removed to Marlboro  Dist. in 1773  and that he  the deponent has resided  here ever since ; and that he is now in the sixty  ninth year of his age. Martin De Witt ( signed )   BJ Earle ( signed ) presiding Judge  of the Court of Common Pleas  & Sessions  in open Court  at Darlington Court House  in the  District & State aforesaid.   We Robert Campbell a clergyman and John Sanders residing in the District of Darlington  and  State of South Carolina hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Martin De Witt  who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration , that we believe him to be  of the age of sixty nine years, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier  of the Revolution & we concur in that opinion .  Sworn to  & subscribed the day & year aforesaid . R. Campbell ( signed ) John Sanders ( his mark X )  B J Earle ( signed ) Presiding Judge  in open Court
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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 Robert Campbell   & John Sanders are residents of the District of Darlington and State of South Carolina and entitled to credit . B J Earle ( signed ) presiding Judge in open Court  I,  John B Bruce clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions  for the  District of Darlington  & State of South Carolina do hereby certify that  the  foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of Martin De Witt for a pension . In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 18th day of Oct.  in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred & thirty two.  Jno. B. Bruce ( signed / sealed ) CCP
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 Additional declaration of Martin De Witt in order to obtain a pension under the act of Congress passed  7th June 1832 required by the Commissioner of Pensions viz. Fifth Interrogatory - To this interrogatory applicant states that he was drafted on the third of December 1780 and that he continued in the service  either under General Marion or in detached partied routing the Tories  until the first day of August 1783  - and that he was  a private during his whole term of service. Thirteenth Interrogatory - Applicant has no documentary evidence  - John Sanders who subscribed the certificate in his original declaration is a witness of applicant's service. Interrogatories prescribed by War Department  Second Interrogatory   Applicant states  that he has a record of his age and now in  his possession. Fourth Interrogatory - Applicant states that he was drafted, never served either as a substitute or volunteer. Fifth Interrogatory - Applicant  recollects the following officers in the service of the United states   but whether they were regulars or Militia  he cannot state viz. Colonel Peter Horry , Colonel  Youngblood, Colonel Mayhem , Colonel Murphy , Genl. Marion - Captain Charles De Witt  under whom applicant served while with  Genl. Marion and when he served in detached parties against the tories was commanded by
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Captain John Edwards  & Captain McIntosh . He also recollects  Col. Burton - the general circumstances  of applicant's services as fully stated in his original declaration. the lapse of time and his advanced age will unable him to do so. Seventh Interrogatory - Applicant states that John Kobb  & Thomas Goodson are acquainted with him , will certify  to his character for veracity  & their belief of his having served as a soldier of the revolution together with every individual as applicant believes to whom he is known. The names of Kobb  and Goodson are given as  applicant is informed they have been place upon  the pension list  and their certificate it is believed from that fact will be regarded sufficient.  Martin DeWitt ( signed )     [ South Carolina Darlington District ] Before me  personally appeared  Martin DeWitt and made oath  that the facts set forth in this his amended  declaration are true . Martin De Witt ( signed ) Daniel Morrison ( signed ) J.P.
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Martin Dewitt
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[ South Carolina Darlington District ] Additional declaration of Martin DeWitt in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. Being required  by the department  to state the number of tours , and their duration ,  he says that he was drafted three different times, and each time server one month and a half - When drafted he served under command of Captain Charles DeWitt each time in Colonel Maurice Murphy's Regiment , Gen;/ Marion's Brigade. The first time  he was drafted he joined Genl. Marion's Brigade encamped  at Huger's Bridge in South Carolina. He was one of a detachment of eighty men  marched under command of Colonel Baxter by order of General Marion form Huger's Bridge  down to Cain High  and thence to Haddrill Point when Colonel Baxter with his men took twenty five of the British prisoners, and returned to Cain High where they remained  two weeks. when he rejoined General Marion at Dorchester. Deponent was then one of another detachment of thirty men , marched to Bonneau's Ferry on Cooper River  South Carolina under command of colonel  Horry , sent by Genl. Marion to sink the Flats at this  Ferry  and thereby prevent the British Light horse from crossing , after they had arrived the British Light horse came upon the opposite side, but  seeing the detachment of thirty men , they fled. They were fired upon by the detachment , that night they returned to General Marion's camp  and were marched to or near Strawberry  Ferry  where deponent was relieved. The second time he was drafted he served under Captain Charles DeWitt in  Colonel Maurice Murphy's  Regiment , General Marion's
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Brigade, at this time he joined General Marion's  below Black River in South Carolina was marched down to Santee , when General Marion's  troops  spent most of the time this deponent was out on his second draft. The principal services rendered were in  pursuing the Tories. The third draft he served under command of Captain Charles DeWitt in Colonel Maurice Murphy's  Regiment  and General Marion's Brigade at this time he joined General Marion at Burch's Mills in Marion District  formerly called  Liberty County  South Carolina where General Marion had  recently arrived with his troops from the lower country , not long after the Fall of Charleston, they remained there two weeks and were then marched up to Cashaway Ferry on Great Pedee River  in pursuit of the Tories ,  General Marion  marched them through the Drowning Creek and Little Pedee settlements , between the Little and Great Pedee  the troops were divided the greater portion with General Marion marched to Thaccaman  in George Town  District  South Carolina and Colonel Murphy  with his command of near two hundred men  ( in which command was this deponent ) returned  to the  Great Pedee  and crossed at Port's Ferry  where deponent was discharged, this was at the close of the war. The services above set forth  were rendered in the regular embodied Militia. The services set forth in former declaration under command of Captains's Kobb and Mc Intosh in pursuit of the Tories, deponent always considered were  rendered by the command of the State authorities and were not his mere individual  motion. This deponent  states that although the services set forth in this his amended declaration  ( that is to say  the  three different  he was drafted )  amount to but four and a half months services, yet he never considered it the entire amount of his services ,as  he was
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for more than a year at one time ( although not in General Marion's Camp )  ready at  any moments warning to  march should they be ordered to do so , and regarding himself at all times subject to orders could not of course engage in any civil pursuit during this time. Sworn to  & subscribed  this 6th day of August  1836  before me .  Martin DeWitt ( signed )  A M McIver ( signed ) N.P. 176.2 I, John B Bruce Clerk of the Court  of Darlington District certify that  Alexander M McIver is an acting Notary Public and ex-officio  Justice of the Quorum as above and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed  my seal of office and subscribed my name  this 24th day of October  Anno Domini 1834. Jno. B. Bruce ( signed / sealed ) Clerk of the Court of Darlington District
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February 29, 1932
BA-J/ AWF

Mrs. Lyda R. Caldwell
Dunkirk, Wright Apartment
New York.

Dear Madam: 

Reference is made to your letter relative to
Martin Dewitt, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.

You are furnished herewith the record of the
only soldier named Martin Dewitt, that is found on file in the Revolutionary War records of this
office.

The data contained herein are obtained from
the papers on file in pension claim, R.13728, based
upon the Revolutionary War service of Martin DeWitt.


He was born July 9, 1764 in Culpeper County,
Virginia. His father and family moved in 1773 to
Marlboro District, South Carolina. Name of father
and family not given. 

Martin DeWitt, while residing in Marlboro District,
South Carolina enlisted December 3, 1780
and served as a private for about four and half months in Captain Charles Dewitt's (no relationship to soldier stated) company in Colonel Maurice 
Murphy's South Carolina regiment; after which he served at various times under Captains John Edwards, McIntosh,
and General Colonels Baxter and Peter Horry, and General Marion, in several expeditions against the Tories and British.

He applied for pension October 18, 1832, then
a resident of Darlington District, South Carolina.

The claim was not allowed, as proof of six
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months service, as required by the pension law, was not
furnished.

There are no family data, other than the 
reference to father and family, as stated above.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
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[Leftside of page]

13728

P. 0.---Martin Dewitt
Service:---
Enlisted:---, 18
Discharged:---, 18

[Stamp]
REJECTED

Application filed:---, 18
The printed lish (list) of 1852
shows reasons for rejection

Alleges:---
"He did not serve six months"

Re-enlisted:---

Attorney: ---
--
P. O. ---
---Recognized.            ---Contract.
--Cert. of Dis.     Searched for _____, 18


[Right side of paper]

1915 May 13 Hist. to
Harriet Talbot
______
1932- Feb 29 - hist to Mrs.
Lyda R Caldwell  [illegible]
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Martin Dewitt

So. Ca

[Line struck though]

Letter 10 July 1834 not found

A. M. Mc [illegible]

[Next 2 lines struck through]
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REVOLUTIONARY  RECORDS SECTION.             3-525

                                                                   DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
R.  13728                                                          BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
                                                                                    Washington, D. C.,        19....


In reply to your request of..., received....
for a statement of the military history of....Martin De Witt
a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired 
information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for
pension on file in this Bureau.
DATES OF                   LENGTH OF            RANK.         OFFICERS UNDER WHOM             STATE.
ENLISTMENT OR        SERVICE.                                     SERVICE WAS RENDERED.     
APPOINTMENT.                                                                 CAPTAIN.            COLONEL
__________________________________________________________________________________
Dec 3 1780             served 41/2                     Prt.           Charles Dewitt   Maurice Murphy        SC     
                                 mos. at                                             John Edwards    Gen Marion      
                                 at various times                                       Mc Intosh   Baxter
                                 until Aug 1                                                                    Peter Horry
                                 1783

The cl. was rejected on the grounds that soldier did not
render 6 months actual service as required by the Act June 7. 1832 under which
he applied.


Battles engaged in,----------

Residence of soldier at enlistment,... Marlboro Dist.
Date of application for pension,... Oct. 18. 1832
Residence at date of application,...Darlington District. S.C..
Age at date of application,... Born July. 9. 1764 in Culpeper Co. Va
                                                 [illegible] I am moved tp Marlboro District in 1773

Remarks 
Soldiers father and family moved to Marlboro District S.C.
in 1773. No [illegible] are stated and there is no data as to family.

Respectfully,



Commissioner.


6-2856
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Wright Apartment  Dunkirk , N.Y.  January 25, 1932 Commissioner of Pensions Washington , D.C. My dear Sir, I am writing to ask if you will give me some information regarding my ancestor Harris ( DeWitt ) ( underscored )  who served in the  2nd South Carolina Regiment  commanded by Lieutenant  Colonel Francis Marion. In the 7th Company he was a corporal. From the War Dept.  C.H. Bridges, Major General sent the copy of a stub on file - entry on stub of the indent ( check )  No. 781 Issued 31 Dec 1785  to Mr. Harris DeWitt for Lbs. 11.13.4 sterling for duty  in 2d So. Carolina Regmt. in 1779  and 1780 P. acct audited. Principal Lbs. 11.13.4  Interest Lbs 0.16.4. I want to know if there was a pension , when he was  born, died & married. the birth date and death date of his wife Miss Elizabeth  Brockington. In Gregg's History of the Old Cheraws  on page 97  there is a paragraph relating to Harris DeWitt and his father Martin DeWitt  who also served
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in the Revolution. any dates concerning these will be so appreciated. I want to join the Daughters of the Revolution an d it required the exact dates - you know and I know he  was born  but when is the question . I must have sealed to be a member of this organization. . I thank you in advance Very sincerely  ( Mrs. ) Lyda R Caldwell ( signed )   ( post mark ) [ RECEIVED JAN 28 1932 RECEIPT SECTION PENSION FIL -- SUB-DIVISION ]
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25 Highland St. South Nashville, Tenn.  May 8th 1915. Mr. G. M. Saltzgaber; Dear Sir, Please give me the Pension record of Martin DeWitt who was a Revolutionary soldier from South Carolina . I think he was in Darlington District  when he enlisted. Oblige by prompt  attention  - Resp'fully  Miss Harriet Talbot .  ( signed ) ( post mark ) [ U.S. PENSION OFFICE MAY 10 1915  ] ( notes ) ( Rev sec )
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Dept. of War Pen. off Dec 22 __ ( illegible )  Sir , I have received the additional statement of Martin DeWitt and find it altogether unsatisfactory. The applicant has  misapprehended the principles  upon which the Act of Congress passed 7 June 1832 granting pensions to  soldiers engaged  in the army & navy of the U.S. during the revolution. He admits that his regular draft amounted only to  4 1/2 mos, yet he says  he " was ... ( illegible ) that a year at one time /altho  not in General Marion's camp / ready at a moments warning  to march , should he be needed to do so, and regarding himself at all times subject to orders, and could not of  course engage in any civil  pursuit. "... ( illegible ) the clamant has , it will all be readily seen  ... ( illegible )  an error  is not drawing a proper distinction between his actual service and the liability to be called upon to serve. The
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law above alluded to  provide expressly for them  who shall have  performed actual service with the army of the  U.S.  and for none others. The claim is disallowed  & the papers  ... ( illegible ) J.. ( illegible signature ) (vertical note ) (   AM McIver  Dec, 22 1834 OC )  A. M. Mc Iver  Esq Society Hill S.C.
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Martin Dewitt
17.744





[illegible]
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the  negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of  
Martin Dewitt  of Darlington district (illegible)       which require                                                
further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?  Yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any assigned for his not doing so? 

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?  Yes 

V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? ( Yes is changed to No with a check mark)  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
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                                                                                2 

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? Yes 

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? No 

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? 2. 4. 5. 7.

                                                          ________________________________
                                                                     EXPLANATORY NOTES. 

QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:

" Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; 
For _____year _____ months, and ____days,
I served as a_____ For_________mpnths   and ______days, 
I served as a __________; and for such service I claim a pension.
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3

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served
and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the
pensioner and the length of his service.  The use of the phrase about three or four months is too 
indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.  Some persons who apply for pension 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 embolied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either 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 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 nerrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass
under the seal of office of the certifying oflicer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly
attached to the certificate. 

(note) 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.


* Manner of yearly service
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Martin Dewitt

17.74



Suspended
10 July

A.M Mc Iver Esq
Society Hill
So. Ca.
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[ South Carolina Darlington District ] Before me personally appeared  John Sanders and who upon sworn makes oath that he knew Martin DeWitt in the service of the United States during the Revolutionary  War, and further deponent  says said Martin DeWitt  is a man of veracity  & his statement is entitled to full credit. Sworn  & subscribed 4th Nov. 1833 . John Sanders ( his mark X ) Daniel Morrison  ( signed ) J.P.  [ South Carolina Darlington District ]  I Jno B Bruce  clerk of the Court for said District do certify that Daniel Morrison  before whom the  foregoing was executed is an acting Justice of the Peace for said District and that all faith  & credit is due  ought to be given to his attestations as such. Given under my hand  & seal of office 4th November 1833  Jno. B. Bruce ( signed / sealed ) C.C.P.C.
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[ South Carolina Darlington  District ] Additional declaration of Martin DeWitt in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. By a reference to deponent's original declaration   it will be seen that he entered the service in December 1780  and continued until February 1781  when he returned home, and that from this time to   June following he was constantly  out under command either  of Captain McIntosh or  Captain Edwards in pursuit of the Tories in the Districts of Darlington  & Marlborough when he joined Genl. Marion at the place then called Burch's Mills and continued with him  on the  Great & Little Pedee  and  Drowning Creek routing the Tories until August , her then left Genl. Marion and returned home  ( not in original )  when he joined  General Marion in June  he served in the company commanded by Captain McIntosh , From this time that is to say august 1781  , he served as called on to quell the Tories in the Pedee Country  ( a section much infested with Tories )  commanded by Captain Edwards or Captain McIntosh , depending upon the District in which the services were rendered. Captain McIntosh commanded in Darlington and Captain Edwards in Marlborough. In regard to these latter services that is in the expeditions against the Tories from August 1781  to  1 August  1783  deponent cannot be more precise that he has been ,  he was out continually only returning home to get provisions and  as regards the services  uninterrupted during the time that is from December 1780  to August 1783 , he was not engaged in any civil pursuit. In regard to the discrepancy  in his statement as to the length of time ( in the whole )  that deponent served he states, that when his declaration was first
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drawn  he was informed the ( precise ) ( underscored ) length  of time he served was not important  and he stated a period to which he could with  safety swear , but  upon the declaration being returned with a requisition  that he should be more explicit , he complied in his  amended declaration  so far as he could , and stated the time  truly  as he believes and is willing to swear .  Sworn and subscribed this 14th day of April  1834. Martin DeWitt ( signed ) A. M. McIver ( signed ) N. Pub. & Qu   [ South Carolina  Darlington District ] I John B. Bruce clerk of the Court for said District do certify that  A M McIver  before whom the above  was executed is an acting Notary Public and Ex- officio  Justice of the Quorum for said District  and that all faith and credit is due and ought to be given this attestations as such.  Given under my hand and seal of office  this 25th day of June 1834. Jno. B. Bruce ( signed / sealed ) C.C.P.C.
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[ South Carolina Darlington District ] Before me personally appeared  Thomas Prestwood  and made oath that he knew Martin Dewitt in the service  in the War of the revolution was in Genl. Marion's  Camp  with him , and further  deponent says he is a man of veracity  &  his statement is entitled to  full credit . Sworn  & subscribed  31 May 1834.  Thomas Prestwood ( signed ) A M McIver ( signed ) N. P. [ South Carolina Darlington District ] Before me personally appeared Thomas E Hart  and Caleb Coker  and made oath  that they are well acquainted with Thomas Prestwood  who has subscribed the foregoing affidavit & that he is a man of veracity  upon whose statement  the greatest reliance may be placed. Sworn  & subscribed 31 May 1834  Thos. E Hart ( signed ) Caleb Coker ( signed ) A M McIver ( signed ) N.P.