Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1,932, John Chisam, S.C.
Page 1


SERVICE SC
Chisam, John
Sarah
NUMBER R. 1932
Page 2


Nancy Fisher only heir of John Chisam a deceased Revolutionary soldier who died in Alabama Jan15, 1829 leaving a widow Sarah Chisam who remained his widow and died August 30 1848 at White County Farm. There were children then living, viz
Nancy Fisher
John Chisam 
Rachel Riddles
Polly Pullen,
Betsy Burnsides 
Sarah Chisam and
Francis Hately
 all dead but Nancy Fisher who applied in Sept 1855- service claim by widow who applied in June 1844, a volunteer from Spartanburg District S.C. under Col. Thomas and Capt Taylor and under General [Andrew] Pickens and General Green [Nathanael Greene] for more than two years
claims to have been married in 1774 by
a minister of the gospel-- Spartanburg district, knows of no marriage record - she knows of her own knowledge of his going into service . John Chisam son of John & Sarah swears in Feby 1853 that he is 71 years of age and that Nancy Fisher was then 31.
Lewis Taylor swears in June 1844. That he served with John Chisam under Capt. Thomas, Capt. Taylor Col Thomas, Genl Pickens & Genl Green-- That he was present at the date of marriage, that they have
lived together since their Marriage - has known them more than 60 years. Lewis Taylor was a pensioner under act of 1832
Page 3

Mary Chisam in Aug 1855 makes affidavit that she is the widow of one of sons of John & Sarah Chisam who is dead, that she drew a pension as only heir of Jonathan & Margaret Harris and filed in that case her family bible.
Has often heard the old man talk of his service in revolution. That they had 2 children of whom Nancy was next to the youngest -
Aug 2 1886. James White with an order for
John Chisam Drew £32.14.3 ¼
the indent numbered 3435- certificate
obtained Aug 6/55- 
William Adcock of Dekalb County Tenn  swears on Sept 5/55 that he was acquainted with John and Sarah Chisam prior to 1794 - Has heard his own father talk of the revolutionary services-- Knew them in 
Spartansbing district S.C. they had several
children in 1794
the oldest was then 15 or 20 years of age
Page 4

 Bible filed as evidence 
in the case of Margaret Harris
of Tenn 
Act 1838
Triplett Trom
Page 5


6297
Sarah Chisom
Tenn
R Lanning 18 Nov
1844 - Secy of Inter
June 8 1853-T. Lumpkin
on June 23 1853
Miller + Brown Sept.
22 1855 Same Oct 
25 1855-Same Jan
23 1856 - Same Sept
25 1856- Hon GW Jones
JUly 8 1836
.

1932

July 4 1836
Page 6


Comptroller Genls Office
Columbia July 21st 1855
Gentlemen
In reply to yours of the 7 inst would state that the name of John Chisam appears on the Revolutionary records in this office fees for certificate & claim will be $3.00

Your Respectfully
Thos. P Walker
Deputy Comp Genl

to
Messrs Miller & Browne
Washington City
D C
Page 7

Sarah Chisom's received application for pension under ast. of $3.00



We wish to know condition
Miller, Brown
Page 8

1932
REJECTED
Sarah Chisom
The application sent July
8. 1856 to Hon G.W. Jones
Chairman of Comt on Pensions
---
Page 9


Sept 3 1844
Der Sir
I herein enclose you two pension claims for examination, Mrs Lowden (widow of James Lowden) wishes to know if her
husbands name is on the Rolls. She says he was enlisted in the Revolution was, and entered the service in the State of Virginia and also the term of service.
Yours with respect
Richard Lanning

J.L. Edwards Esq.---


Address Richard Lanning
Sevierville
Tennessee
Page 10

Moore & Debrell
Jno M  McCalla
Power of atty
June 27 53
Page 11

Know all men by these presents that we Morris & Dibrell of Spark Tennessee have this my constituted and appointed
Genl John M McCalla of Washington City our attorney in fact to examine investigate and prosecute the Pension
claims undertaken by us and now on file in the Pension office and have been suspended one claim made and applied for by the heirs of John Chisom Deceased, our said attorney is fully authorized to investigate said claims and receive a certificate therefore payable at
the Nashville Tennessee agency this 27th day June 1853
Morris & Dibrell
Page 12

July 8 1836
Papers sent to
Hon G W Jones
Charman of the
Committee on
Pensions
U.S. Senate
Page 13

Suspended Pension claim under act of 1838
of the heirs of Sarah Chisom widow of
John.

Tenn. case
M
Page 14


Washington May 21, 1856
Com of Pensions
Term of Minut
The case of Sarah
Chisom (or rather her heirs, will be found on then suspended files under act of 1888, State of Tennessee

Yours
Miller, Brown
PS , in our letter of yesterday, we neglected to state where the papers would be found
Page 15

55,
2,55
Washington DC
Feby 18, 1853,
Thos Lumpkin appeal from decision
of Court, in the case of
Sarah Chisom


Referred to the Commissioned
of Pensions for Report
Dept Into
Feby 19/1853
M
Recd Feb. 19, 1853
Page 16

Washington DC
Act 18th 1833

By request of the heirs of Sarah Chisom, widow of John Chism Act 4 July 1836
Tennessee roll whose claim has been refused on the ground of insufficient
of proof of service, I examined carefully the proof on file by leave to on file and to join issue with the Department, and now have the honor to appeal from the
adverse decision made thereon the service is proven by Lewis Taylor, a pensioner who swears to his service.  the
marriage is satisfactory or should be so regarded.
the son testifying  whose years is proven to be seventy.
I have the honor to be Very respectfully 
yours,
Thomas Lumpkin

Hon. A. H. H. Stuart
secy. of the Dept 0f the Interior
Page 17

Sparta Tennessee
21st Sept 1853

L B True Esq.
Sir
I hand you annexed power of atty. to prosecute claims of Chisam & Knowles which I hope you will succeed in establishing soon

I would have sent you this sooner, But my former partner Moore who is interested in these two cases is a troublesome Customer

I want this if allowed sent to me and I will keep all things straight. I refer you to D G Barrett for Moore's [illegible] and Stubborness

Very resply
G. G. Dibrell

[different handwriting]
Sarah Chisam wid. of John - Case suspended for proof of Marriage & service from S. Ca.
Records - See Doc. 37, p 394-

John Knowles Case rejected-- Forage Master not military service
See. Dec. 37 p. 383

Please have rolls of
not ans'd will examine papers first.
Page 18

Agt
J. G. Dibble
& Moore   ---
______________
Power of Atty
in the case of
Sarah Chisam
& John Knowles
_______________
the one suspended
the other rejected

Mr. Anderson
Page 19

Know all men by these presents that We Moore &
Dibrell of the County of White and State of Tennessee have this
day nominated and appointed L B True Esq of Washington
City DC. our attorney for us and in our name to prosecute
the claim of Sarah Chisom, heirs and of John Knowles
heirs for Pension we being their attorneys and our
said Attorney is fully authorized to take any steps necessary
to secure the allowance of said claims, Witness our
hands this 21st day of September A D 1853
Moore & Dibrell
Page 20

Miller Brown
Tennessee
Page 21

copy
[all amounts in pounds]
Comptroller Generals Office
Columbia August 6th 1855.

No 3486
Lib FC

Issued 2nd August 86 to Mr. John Chisam L232 - 14 - 5 1/2 shg Principal duty done in
Roebuck's Regt pr not audited
Interest L2.47.9-

State of South Carolina
To John Chism Dr For Military Duty in Roebucks Regt be & since the fall of Charleston per Anderson's return direct to currency  L 299
St L32-14-3 1/4

Please to deliver the whole of my Indents if ready to Mr. James White, and you will
much oblige your very humble Servant
John Chisam
March 19th 1787.

Received the amount of the within in an Indent No 3435 pr order
James White

I do certify that the above Indent account - order and receipt are true copies of the originals in this Office,
Thos P. Walker
Deputy Comptroller Genl of S. C.
(no seal of office)

Copy
Captain
Col Thomas
Page 22

Washington D.C. Sept.= 17 -/55.


Hon J Minot
Com of Pensions

Dr Sir_  Herewitt, we file
power of att'y and additional evidence in the claim
to Pension by John & Sarah Chisan's heirs-
The original papers in this case were filed un
der the act of 1836. by Mrs. Sarah Chisam du_
ring her lifetime - since her death additional
evidence was filed by John Chisan Junior _
who is now dead_ The additional evidence now
filed is by Mrs. Nancy Fisher only surviving
child of John (Sr) and Sarah Chisam_
we wish this evidence consolidated with
what has heretofore been filed in the claim
and a reexamination made under act of 1886,

Yours Respectfully
Miller Brown
[illegible] Israel Williams
Page 23

Sparta Tennessee
21st Nov 1800
[illegible] Miller & Brown

Gent

Yours of the 27th Sept & 28 Oct
informing of the rejection of the Chisam claim, I have
tired to get other additional proof in this County, but cannot
None of the heir have any of John Chisans hand writing
[illegible] had been blind for 30 years previous to his death
and died in the State of Alabama where he had lived
several years prior to his death,
Wm Adcock lives about 40 miles from here in another County
and I have not seen him,    If you think such proof of his
as you regard would [illegible] the claim I would go & see him
_But it seems they would take his affidavit as it is without
having to state  facts to prove his [illegible], I am getting out
of heart with the case,

If you feel confident of success upon the papers filed I
am willing to risk it in the Court of claims

The son of Hannah Davis I cant get any other proof

And I suppose is out of reach

Very Respectfully
G. G. Dibral
Page 24

Col Thomas & Capt Thomas
Capt Taylor, Genl Pickens
& Green

Sarah Chisam  Died
31 August 1848. ---
-
John Chisam -1 Decd
Nancy Fisher  - 2 

£299
---
32,14,3 1/2

146               299
____              ____
                        5989
[illegible]/    71760 /  478
                       ______________
                        60 0        598
                        _____
                         1176
                         1050
                        _____
                             1260
                             1200
                          ______
                                   60/   6   / 2
                                   __/ ___/ __
                                 150/  15/  5
30/ 299
     _____
           9 - 29

[right side]

Captain Taylor
Col Thomas &
Captain Thomas
of South Carolina
Page 25

Washington Dec. 18/55

S Cole Acting Com of Pensions

Sir
In claim of the heirs of John Chisam filed from Tennessee under the act of July 4th 1836 we
would ask an examination under the act of July 7/38. The evidence of Marriage is conclusive under that act- We are aware that the case once went up to the Secretary upon appeal and the
action of the office affirmed but as you will perceive the principal objection urged by the Comr was the insufficiency of marriage proofs - As to the identity we have filed additional evidence and with all respect we think all that can be asked-- We have proved service by a fellow soldier who also swears to identity, we have proved identity by general reputation also. The only thing we have not proved, and your letter to us of Sept. 22/55 seems to contemplate we should prove it, is
that we have not the testimony of living witnesses who saw John Chisam receive the indent for L32, 14,3/4

We have proved service both by witnesses & reputation. The rolls show service by a man of same name and now after a lapse of 69 years to ask proof by living witnesses that he actually received his pay is asking an impossibility
Yours Respectfully Miller & Brown
Page 26

Col Thomas & Capt Thomas
Capt Taylor, Genl Pickens
& Green

Sarah Chisam  Died
31 August 1848. ---
-
John Chisam -1 Decd
Nancy Fisher  - 2 

£299
---
32,14,3 1/2

146               299
____              ____
                        5989
[illegible]/    71760 /  478
                       ______________
                        60 0        598
                        _____
                         1176
                         1050
                        _____
                             1260
                             1200
                          ______
                                   60/   6   / 2
                                   __/ ___/ __
                                 150/  15/  5
30/ 299
     _____
           9 - 29

[right side]

Captain Taylor
Col Thomas &
Captain Thomas
of South Carolina
Page 27

Pension Office Washington March 14/56
Hon. J. Minot
Commiss of Pensions, 
Sir
Some weeks ago, we filed some additional evidence [illegible] the marriage of John and Sarah Chisam at which time we also filed a letter from the Comptroller of S. Carolina to the effect that one James Taylor Served in the said State during the War of the Revelation. It will be observed that there is an affidavit on file of James Taylor, who says he was acquainted with Chisam in the service, and that they both served, together as would seem from the aforesaid affidavit

We write to the Court of S.C. with a view to know if James Tayler's name was on the rolls in order to strengthen his affidavit

There are a number of other affidavits going to shew that Chisam was a soldier of the Revolution. We now submit to the good Judgment of the Department of identity is not sufficiently established. - No man can entertain a doubt we think of the service rendered by Chisam. The
Heirs stand in need of what little may be justly due them from the Government - If James Taylor was entitled to a pension Chisam ought to be
Page 28

The Department admits the date of [illegible]
age to be established
We would most Respectfully ask the
Department to take the case up [illegible]
and give it a examination
Yours Respectfully
Miller & Brown

[bottom left]

Submitted for
Reexamination 

Sarah Clisom-
Ten - [illegible] 1836

[Bottom right]
Miller & Brown
Attys
Page 29

Washington May 18th/56
Hon J. Minot
Com of Pensions
Dr Sir. We would most respectfully submit the case of the heirs of Sarah Chisam widow of John for your personal examination the case has been suspended a several times, mainly owing to the date of marriage, at the last examination of the case, the date of marriage was admitted to have
taken place prior to 1794; But the identity has not, it is contested been sufficiently shown (But the great objection has been heretofore urged was the date of marriage not sufficient proved) To sustain the proof of identity we have filed some additional affidavits of those who have known him for many years and who testify that he was a refuted soldier of the War of the Revolution, We have also on file an affidavit of one Lewis Tayler who served with said Chisam, this certainly ought
to go far toward establishing the identity of said Chisam.  Besides we have filed a certificate from
the S Carolina rolls that this same Lewis Tayler did serve in the said War which ought to add much weight of his own statements, that he was a soldier. We will not pretend to say that the proof of identity is so perfectly conclusive that no additional evidence would render it stronger: and therefore useless, but we are prone to believe that no sane man could examine the papers and
arrive at a conclusion, after than that Chisam
Page 30

must have served in the War of the Revolution, and it would be difficult and gather unreasonable if a sane man to say that this John Chisam did not serve in the war of the Revolution

We are unable to learn from the South Carolina Research that there was any other man of this name. At least we can only get mention of but the one. It will be further considered that his name is not a Common name rather [illegible], which ought to have additional weight to establish his  identity - If his name was John Smith or some other common name there would be more reason to question is identity

We think we have substantially complied with the letter of the department written September ??/55 which reads as follows - "The identity must be shown by direct proof either if parties who had personal knowledge of John Chisam's service or of such incidents connected with it would render their testimony conclusive" - The evidence now on file ought to convince the department that the
letter has been so far as it regards all the material points have been complied with

In the letter of 25 of October last. In which the Department requests the hand writing of John Chisam compare with that contained on an indent of A D 1787. We
Page 31

can only say in answer to that letter that the children have no writing of his in their possession.
It would seem from all we can learn that many of his papers have been lost, at least they are
unable to procure his hand writing among any of the relatives

To require a facsimile of the order given the Soldier in the year 1787 is requiring something knowingly impossible and No one can pretend to say that writings and records are very perfectly kept in the frontiers of our country where everything else is preserved rather than old papers the old soldiers now living do not send back their discharges in applying for bounty land , not more than one out of twenty. If Revolutionary soldiers are to shew mere credential on the war of 1812 but few would have ever rec'd a pensions

We hope the case may be once more examined

We remain yours
Miller & Brown
-
Page 32

Sparta Tennessee
8th Sept 1850

Mssrs Snider & Brown

Gent
I send you the papers of Mrs Fisher only living heir of John & Sarah Chisam Decd, which is proved up about as good as I can provide

You will see by Mrs. Chisam's statement her family Bibles were filed in her application last spring as the only heir of Margaret Harris Deceased, which she thinks contains the date of John & Sarah Chisam's deaths, But I dont know that, that would be any better evidence than we have. You see the Justice certifies as to the dates of the widows death as on her tomb stone &C  If you think this is not sufficiently established write me what is wanting and I will see what can be done. I have paid $1.50 for in this case

Write me what proof is necessary in the cases of Davis and whether they will have to make new
Declarations. I think it & the Brown case almost hopeless
Very Respectfully
G. G. Dibrell
Page 33

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12-5-41

Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*



NAME  Chiseldon, Edward

Grade Private

Line Pennsylvania

WARRANT
NUMBER  9223

ACREAGE  100

ISSUED  September 23, 1791
 to Samuel Black, assignee

*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are 

registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates.

Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800.

Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.