Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3083, Morris Brashears, Md.
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Md.
Brashears, Morris
NUMBER
S. 3083

Carded
CONTENTS
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13758
East Tennessee

Morris Brashears
of Roan Co in the State of Tennessee
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain Burges of the Regt commanded
by Colonel Hall in the Maryland
line for Two years

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

Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of June
1833 and Sento Hon
S. Standifer

Arrears to the 4th of March         160--
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept    40--
[total]  $200--

{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }

Recorded by Daniel Boyd Clerk,
Book  E   Vol.  7   Page 37
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State of Tennessee Roane County Circuit Court
September Session 1832
On this 12 day of September 1832 personally appeared in before the Honorable Charles F. Keith Jude of the 7th Judicial Court, now sitting for the County of Roane, having a clerk and seal, Morris Brashears a resident of the County of Roane & State aforesaid aged 76 years old 24th of this ins,t, 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 1776 with Lieutenant Alexander Estep & Joseph Burges Captain and served in the 4th Maryland Regiment under the above named officers, Applicant was born in the State of Maryland Prince George County in the year 1756. that his Farther had a record of his age, but do not now know where it is as left his Farther in Maryland applicant was living in the County & State above named when he enlisted as a private, applicant states that Colo Benjamin Hall Maj. Thomas Bell & General Smallwood were the field officers that he enlisted for the term of three years that he was ingaged in battles at York Island, the battle at White Plains in Pensylvania and at Monmoth, that General Lea & General Morgan & General Miflin last mention officers were at the Battle Monmoth, that applicant marched from the County where he resided to Annapolis thence to the head of Elk on the eastern shore of Maryland, thence to Philiadelphia thence to the City of New York thence about 7 miles harlom hights, and a few days after they arrived gave General How a battle and defeated him at said York island= from then they went to the white
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plains where they had another battle as above mentioned from there they retreatd to the Tuckaho hightts applicant was at the celebrated better of Monmoth aforesaid then had slight battle at Branchwine creek, the ballanc of his term was engaged in scouting parties that he continued until he served out his said term of three years Applicant receive his discharge at Philadelphia from General Small Wood which is now lost applicant then returned home, where he remained about a year, then entered the service of the United States as a substitute in the place of Absolem Beddo under the following officers, Captain Zaphenegher Bell & Lieutenant [illegible] that he engaged for nine months was marched to Baltimore, and was dismissed of before his said term ispired[??] applicant has resided in the State of Maryland & Tennessee since the revolution applicant has no documentary evidence of his services nor does he know of any person living that can prove the same by he here by relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State
Morris his x mark Brashears
Sworn to in open Court the day and year above written 
M. S. Purvis  DC.

W Robert S. Gilliland residing in the County of Roane and James Taylor, residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Morris Brashears who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we bilieve him to be about 76 years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he lives, to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Robert S. Gilliland
James Taylor
Sworn to open Court day and year above written
H. S. Purvis  DC.
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Maryland
11,256
Morris Brashears

from 1776 private
2 years
$80

Hon J. Standefer
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11,256
BRIEF in the case of Morris Brashears
County of Roane in the State of Tennessee
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1.  Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court
2.  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? _____
3. How old is he? 76
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
[table 4 columns]
[Headings}
[c1]  Period  
[c2]  Duration of Service
[c3]  Rank
[c4]  Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
[contents]
[c1-a]  Enlisted in 1776
[c2-a]  3 years [0] months   [0] days]
[c3-a]  as a private
[c4-a]  Gen. Capt Joseph Burges, 
4th.  Maryland regmt. 
Col Benjamin Hall
Major Thomas Bell,

[c1-b]  Sub. --
[c2-b] [years  Months  Days] not stated
[c3-b]  [As a] private
[c4-b]  [Gen.]  Capt. L. Bell

5.  In what battles was he engaged?   York Island White Plains, Penn: Monmouth
6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service? Prince Georges Cty. Md.
7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?   Traditionary 
8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
T. Waugh
Examining Clerk.
Feb. 8. 1833
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January 22, 1936
Morris Brashears -- S. 3083
BA-J/AWF

Mrs. Sallie C. Ladd
Kingston, Box 65
Tennessee

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the record of Morris Brashears, soldier of the Revolution from Maryland, and a pensioner from Roane County, Tennessee.

The record furnished herein was obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 3083, based upon the service of Morris Brashears in the Revolutionary War.

Morris Brashears was born September 24, 1756 in Prince Georges County, Maryland, names of his parents not stated.

While residing in said Prince Georges County, Morris Brashears enlisted in the year, 1776, served as a private in Captain Joseph Burgess' Company, Colonel Hall's 4th Maryland Regiment; he was in the battles of White Plains, York Island, Brandywine, and [illegible-faint handwriting], was discharged in Philadelphia after a service of two years. He returned home where he remained about one year and again enlisted and served in Captain Zephaniah Beall's Company, length of this service not shown.

Morris Brashears was allowed pension on his application executed, September 12, 1832, then a resident of Roane County, Tennessee.

The papers in this claim contain no reference to
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the family of the soldier, Morris Brashears.

If you desire information in regard to the last payment of pension, name and address of person paid, and possibly the date of death of the pensioner, Morris Brashears, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D. C., and cite the following:

Morris Brashears
Certificate # 13758
Issued June 13, 1833
Rate $80.00 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
East Tennessee Agency.

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
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Land Office, Annapolis Feby 21st, 1833, I certify, that it appears by the rolls of the Flying Camp, remaining in this office, that the name of Morris Brashears, appears upon the roll of Captain Edward Burges's Company of Militia in the Lower District of Frederick County

George G. Brewer
Regr. Pn. off.  W.S. [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   Morris Brashears    which require 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 reason 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 amout of pension he is entitled?   Yes

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

VII. 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?  
No official seal.
Just his official character is certified by a Member of Congress
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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?    Two Citisens

XII.  If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?   No

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? Yes

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?   No
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?
[blank]

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 --- months and  --- days, I served as a --- and for such service I claim a pension.
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It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served. and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite , and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state 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 objection able. 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 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.

+ 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 in 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 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. 

[finger pointing at] 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.
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Rev War
3083

INVALID.
File No. 3083
Morrix Brashears
Pvt. Md. Line

Act: June 7. of 32
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 43
[Arrangement of 1870.]


1936 - Jan 22 - hist to Mrs. Sallie C. Ladd  [illegible]
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11.256
Morris Brashears
Applicant--
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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 abovementinod applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states, and the Court further certifies that Robert S. Gilleland who signed the preceding certificate is a resident in the County of Roane and James Taylor who has also signed the same is resident of said County and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit
Charles F. Keith
Presidint Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit.

State of Tennessee
I William Brown, clerk of the Circuit Court of Roane County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Morris Brashears for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & private seal not having seal of office at Office in Kingston the 18th day of September 1832
Wm  Brown Clk
[illegible]
Henry S. Paris

I certify that William Brown is clerk of the Circuit Court of Roane & Henry S Purvis is his deputy & that the signature of the said Henry Purvis is genuine I also certify that to my knowledge ther is no public seal of office for said County
January 22nd 1833
James Standifer M.C.
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Kingston, Ternn.
Dec. 3, 1935
Veterans Administration
Washington, D.C
Please give me all the family data of Morris Brashears, who was a Revolutionary Soldier, from Maryland and pensioned under Act 1832, drawing a pension while in Roane County, Tennessee.

I am very anxious to get this at an early date and shall greatly appreciate any thing you do for me.
Yours.
Mrs. Sallie Cooper Ladd
Box 65
Kingston, Tennessee