Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7,669, for Mathias Swing, North Carolina
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N.C.    Swing, Mathias           S.7669
carded
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5750
North Carolina
Mathias Swing of Guilford in the State of North Carolina who was a Pri. in the Compy commanded by Captain Whitesell of the Regt. commanded by Col. Martin in the N. Carol. line for 2 years from 1775.

Inscribed on the Roll of North Carolina at the rate of 80 - Dollars - Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 5th day of Feby. 1833 and Sent Hon. A.H. Shepperd  house of Reps.

Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1832                 120
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar: 33   40
              $160 -

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Nathan Rice Clerk
Book D    Vol. 8

(right panel)
D. not on AB
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Mathias Swing
Declaration for a Pension.

Guilford Cty.  N.C.
from 1775 private
2 years
$80.
Filed by A.H. Shepperd
31 Jany 1833

all entered.
Hon. A.H. Shepperd.

(right panel)
OWN
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State of North Carolina Guilford County: November 1832 
On this 1st November A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of 
our County Court the same being a Court of Record Mathias Swing aged 84 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 served under the following named Officers and as is herein after stated, to wit, That he was born in Union County Pennsylvania in the year 1749 has no record of his age but has often been told so by his father.  That when a child he moved with his father to North Carolina and settled in that part of it now called Guilford County where he has lived ever since.  That at the commencement of the Revolutionary war in the spring of 1775 or 1776 he was called 
out on the Cherokee expedition (drafted) under the command of Captain Whitsell,  Lieutenant Jacob Clapp Colonel Paisley and Colonel Martin – that he was marched westward to the head waters of the Catawba near to a small stream making into 
the Catawba River – that he there joined 
the troops under General Rutherford and marched thence
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to head quarters 12 miles East of the 
ridge that he was marched over the bridge over the French Broad River, the Pigeon River and destroyed the Watauga Towns and destroyed many other Indian towns in the Eastern part of the Western Territory now the State of Tennessee that he was then marched back to a place called Hickory Ridge where the troops that were separated again collected – that thence he was marched [word written over and obliterated] returned home and separated from General Rutherford near the Catawba River – that he was dismissed by word.  That he arrived at home in the Fall after being from home four months – that from this time '75 until 1780 he was always ready at the call of his Captain Whitsell Captain Forbis – Colonel Paisley and Colonel Gillespie and consumed in short tours after the Tories the half of the time (from '75 to '80) – that owing to his advanced age he is unable to give any correct or satisfactory account of them that he was 
frequently marched down to the Caraway mountains or high hills of Randolph and to the Raft Swamps near Fayetteville in both of which places the Tories under one Colonel Fanning were in the habit of taking refuge after their ravages on
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the Whigs – that he recollects of one trip to Fayetteville rather longer than usual and he thinks it was in the summer of 1777 in which he consumed 5 or 6 weeks – that he was frequently called out to quell the insurrections of Tories commanded by one Colonel Brian, living up on the Yadkin, that was marched 
another time and consumed several weeks from home which deep Creek South of Fayette will now called Drowning Creek, so called from the circumstances of many Tories being drowned therein: that he has no documentary evidence of his services – that he is known to George Neese, Joseph McLean & William Albright who can and are willing to testify from their personal knowledge to his services that all his neighbors can from report do the same – that he hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension whatever and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. 
Subscribed and sworn to in Open Court
                           Mathias X Swing
                             (x his mark)

Test
A.E. Hanner CGC
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We Joseph McLean & William Albright hereby certify that we have long known Matthias Swing who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration and knows from my own personal knowledge that everything stated therein is substantially true
Subscribed and sworn to in open court.    
                               Joseph McLean
                               Wm. Albright
J.E. Hanner  CGC

I George Neese hereby certify that I have known Matthias Swing for near sixty years that I have heard the foregoing declaration read and know that what he says is true. 
                        George X Neese
                           (X his mark)
Subscribed & sworn to in open Court 
A.E. Hanner CGC

I hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Mathias Swing who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that he is a man of respectability and truth that he is reported and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion.

Subscribed & sworn to in open Court.
                      William Adams
                      B. Ross
A.E. Hanner CGC
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And the 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 all the persons who have signed the preceding certificates are credible persons, residents of Guilford and that their statement is entitled to credit.
                     William Adams    JP  (seal)
                     F. Fenthys (?)  JP (seal)
                     B. Ross  JP  (seal)

State of North Carolina
     I Alfred E. Hanner Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County of Guilford
     Do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the Original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Mathias Swing for a pension.
     In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of said Court of Office this 28th day of December 1832.
                        A.E. Hanner  CGC

State of North Carolina
Guilford County
Be it known that on the 23rd day of January AD 1833 personally appeared to me an acting Justice in and for the County of Guilford Geo. Needs who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following affidavit (to wit)
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that he has been informed that the preceding declaration has been forwarded to the Honourable Augustus H. Shepperd his representative in Congress to be by him forwarded to the War Department - that it was returned by him suggesting certain amendments, one of which is that those who have made certificates should explain more fully how they acquired their knowledge of the applicants services - that he and said Mathias Swing served with each other often very often from the commencement of the Revolutionary War to the end of it, that his first service with him was on a tour of 4 or 5 months - after the Indians in which they marched over the mountains into what is now the eastern part of Tennessee - that said Swing was a faithful Whig and was famous for his hatred to and services against the Tories and that with him he performed many and various tours up and down the country sometimes down among the high Hills of Randolph County called the Caraway Mountains often down among the raft swamp toward Fayetteville, up on the Yadkin River
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and frequently out in the immediate neighborhood - that the country was during the war greatly distressed owing to a division existing among the citizens that there were two parties the Tory and the Whig- that the Tories from the South Country were almost constantly in the habit of rising in rebellion and committing depredations on the Whigs living higher up the Country, a good many of whom lived in the lower part of Guilford, and who were compelled as it were always to be on the defensive even when at home - that there was a certain Col. Fanning among the Tories of great influence, who took refuge among the Raft Swamps who often marched bands of Tories to plunder, murder and pillage the Whig part - that affiant and said Swing have often given him a close, warm and long chase, and altho often successful against his men in killing, dispersing and taking them prisoners, yet they never had the gratification to catch this chief
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that there were many tories wherever upon the Yadkin River headed by our Col. Brian, against whom and his men he and said Swing were likewise and that the Whigs in his section of the country had to endure hardship and trouble to an extent experienced by few who were true friends of American freedom and Independence during the struggle of the revolution and this affiant states that there are a few of his brothers in arms alive, men who went the whole length for freedom, who served (with faithful service too) for more than two years and among them he would name his old friend for whom he makes this certificate.
          Subscribed and sworn to the day and year aforesaid.
                         George X Neese
                            (X his mark)
R. Mayben JP

I Robt. Mayben Justice as aforesaid certify that I am well acquainted with Mathias Swing George Neese and William Albright - that they are very old men but have a very respectably standing, are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit - in short they are considered men of unquestionable truth.

                        R. Mayben  JP
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North Carolina Guilford County 
     Be it known that on this 23rd day of January A.D. 1833 personally appeared before me an 
acting Justice in and for the County Guilford Matthias Swing who being first duly sworn 
according to law doth on his oath make the following affidavit by way of amendment to the preceding declaration (to wit) that his declaration has been forwarded to his representative in Congress the Honorable Augustus H Shepperd who has returned it suggesting the propriety of having it amended as to the precise time he served etc.  That he was a private volunteer in the minute company commanded by Captain Whitsell and Lieutenant Clapp – that the most of his 
services were performed and in fact all except his Cherokee expedition in short and frequent 
tours after the Tories – sometimes a few days & sometimes many, and again weeks at a time –down into Randolph County among the High Hills called the Caraway mountains – down 
towards Wilmington and Cross Creek (now Fayetteville) up on the Yadkin, and often out 
into the
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immediate neighborhood – that the Inhabitants South of him and as far down the 
Country as Wilmington were pretty generally Tories – that he lived as it were near the dividing line between a great body of Tories and some Whigs – that the Whigs were either compelled to submit to the insults, ravages and murders of the infamous, cowardly and crude Tories – join their party, or bear arms constantly and fight in defense of themselves and the cause which they had espoused – that he was out as aforesaid one half his time from the commencement of the termination to the war and that he was compelled to go armed even when at home or at church – that he recollects of plowing with two guns with him in the field, one at one end of the field and 
the other at the other – that there was one Colonel Fanning who stayed mostly in and about the Raft Swamps down the country as a place of refuge that he (Fanning) was influential among the royalists and would sometimes in person lead and often cause bands of Tories to be marched into his the Whig settlements
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to murder and pillage – that to act with efficacy against these frequent & severe attacks the Whigs early saw the propriety of forming themselves into companies and there 
were accordingly formed two companies in his section of Guilford one commanded by Captain Forbis and the other by Captain Whitsell – the former and Irish or English company – the latter a German or Dutch company – that these companies stood always ready to march with a minutes warning at the call of Colonel Paisley his commanding Colonel, which was frequent – very frequent – that these companies were generally successful in dispersing, taking prisoners, and killing the many companies – mobs and bands of Tories that would rise and were sent against them – that the prisoners were sometimes released on a promise and charge to do better – and 
some who were thought to be the worst and most dangerous were conveyed and imprisoned at Martinsville Guilford Court House – that he might be said with some propriety to have been a soldier throughout the War and must have done service
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regularly called out not less than 2 years – that there lives no preacher in his neighborhood who knows anything either about him or his 
services – that their lives within a few miles of him the Reverend Mr. Crawford but that he has 
not been long in the County and consequently knows nothing about him 
Subscribed and sworn to the day and year aforesaid 
R. Mayben, JP     
                     Mathias X Swing
                      (X his mark)

And I Robert Mayben hereby certify that I have for sometime lived in the neighborhood of Mathias Swing - that he is a credible person and that his statement is entitled to credit - that his statement is entitled to credit - that I have not many years lived near him but have often heard him say that he was a soldier of the revolution and have never heard it contradicted.
                    R. Mayben
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North Carolina Guilford County 
      Be it known that on this 23rd day of January A.D. 1833 personally appeared before me an acting Justice in and for the County Guilford Capt. Wm. Albright, who being first sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following affidavit - to wit that during the Revolutionary War he served with Mattias Swing named in the preceding declaration in the company of Capt. Whitesell, called the Muench company - that he was often very often with him after the Tories down the country into Randolph county down towards Fayetteville, towards Wilmington, up on the Yadkin River and in the immediate neighbourhood - that he served much and faithfully, that he is a man of good moral character and unquestionable veracity.
Subscribed and sworn to the day and year aforesaid.
                         William Albright
Marshall McLean  J.P.
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I Marshall McLean an acting Justice in and for the county of Guilford and State of North Carolina hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Matthias Swing Capt. Wm. Albright, Joseph McLean, Geo. Neese, Wm. Adams and Benj. Rop mentioned above, that they are credible persons - & that from their old age and opportunities have it truly in their power to make the statements they have made.
             Jany. 24th AD 1833
                      Marshall McLean  JP

State of North Carolina
     I Alfred E. Hanner Clerk of the Court of pleas & quarter sessions for the county of Guilford
     Do hereby certify that Robert Mayben & Marshall McLean Esquire whose signatures appears (in their own genuine hand writing) to the foregoing certificates is and were both acting Justices of the Peace in and for said County legally commissioned & qualified as such and that due faith and credit ever has been given to all these Acts and Attestations as such.
                  In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at office this 25th day of January 1833.
                   A.E. Hanner CGC
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            Washington    August 22, 1931
                         BA-J   MMHF

Miss Marie Sellars,
Box 112,
Miltona, Minnesota.
   
Dear Madam:
     You are advised that photostatic copies of original papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, S.7669, Mathias Swing, will be mailed to you in a short time.
                     Very truly yours,

                     A.D. HILLER
                     Assistant to Administrator.


Carbon copy of requisition sheet misplaced-
not with claim when photos were mailed.
Aug 29-31
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(stamp)
RECEIVED
AUG 8 1931
RECEIPT SECTION
PENSION FILES SUB-DIVISION

                          Box 112
                          Miltona, Minn.
                          Aug. 1, 1931

Veterans Administration
Rev. and 1812 Wars Section  M.M.H.
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sirs:
     In your letter of July fourteenth you advised me that there were fifteen pages in the pension application for Mathias Swing S.7669 and that photostatic copies of these pages of his Revolutionary War pension claim could be received at the rate of fifteen cents a page.
     I am inclosing a money order for the amount of two dollars and twenty-five
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cents ($2.25) for the photostatic copies and shall appreciate it if you will send them to me at your earliest convenience.
                    Very truly yours,
                    (Miss) Marie Sellars
                                          29828

Fee - copy of pension record
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           xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

                                     July 14, 1931.
                                    
                         Rev. & 1812 Wars Section.
                         MMHF

Miss Marie Sellars,
Box 112,
Miltona, Minnesota.

Dear Madam:
     You are advised that photostatic copies of original papers on file in the Revolutionary War pension claim of Mathias Swing, S.7669, will be furnished you at the rate of fifteen cents a page.
     The number of pages to be copied is fifteen.
     Should you desire to have them certified, allow twenty-five cents additional for the set.
    The proper amount should be forwarded by money order drawn to the order of the Treasurer of the United States.
                 Very truly yours,
                 
                  A.D. HILLER
                  Assistant to Administrator.
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                           Box 112
                     Miltona, Minn.
                     June 4, 1931

Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sirs: 
     Will you kindly advise me the charges for securing photostatic copies of the application for a Revolutionary pension made by Matthias Swing of Guilford County, North Carolina in 1833.

                        Very sincerely,
                        (Miss) Marie Sellars


(stamp)
U S 
PENSION OFFICE
JUN 8 1931
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Rev War
7669

INVALID

File No. 7669
Mathias Swing
Pri Rev War

Act:  June 7th 32
Index:- Vol. 1st, Page 366

[Arrangement of 1870.]

(Right panel, written vertically)
1931 July 14 Marie Sellars adv. cost of photos.
1931 Aug. 29  Photos mailed to Marie Sellars & MMHF
Account. div. ntfd.  ADY