Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4034, for Samuel Rayl, North Carolina
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(3-1776)
SERVICE N.C. Rayl, Samuel NUMBER S. 4034
Carded
CONTENTS
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26586
East Tennessee 
Samuel Rayl
Of Jefferson Co in the State of Tennessee 
Who was a private in the company commanded By Captain Allum (John Elms) of the regt commanded By Col Martin in the North Carolina line for ___ months

Inscribed in the Roll of East Tennessee
At the rate of 30 Dollars___Cents per annum, 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of March 1834 and Hon. John Blair House of Rep

Arrears to the 4th of March 90.00
Semi-anl allowance ending Sept 4th 15.00
                            $105.00

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by Dan Boyd Clerk,
Book E Vol. 7 Page 59
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State of Tennessee
County of Jefferson
On the 21st day of February 1834 personally appeared before me Tidence Lane a Justice of the peace for Jefferson County and State of Tennessee Samuel Ray a resident citizen of Jefferson County and State aforesaid aged eighty one years and eleven months, who being first duty 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 the Declarant Samuel Rayl was born on the 20th of March 1752 about midway between Lancaster and the City of Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania of which he has a record in a book on religion. At nine years of age, he moved with is mother (his father dying when he was two years old) into Bermudian County, the upper part of the State of Pennsylvania. At the age of fourteen, he was bound by his mother to David Potts, a wheel wright of Bermudian County, until he was twenty years of age. Declarant served his time out and after he was twenty one in 1773 he moved by himself to the state of North Carolina, near Guilford Court House about five or six miles from it. At his company must ground at the house of Charly Bruce in Guilford County, near Guilford Court house, the Declarant, together with many
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Others, volunteered under Captain John Allums (John Elms) in the month of July, day not recollected in the year of 1776 for the purpose of marching against the Cherokee Indians, who had attacked the front in a short time before and has murdered some women and children and some men. Declarant had been elected Ensign in Captain Allums Company of Milita more than a year before and still was the Ensign of the Company, Declarant received his. Commission as Ensign from the hands of Colonel Alexander Martin, who commanded the regiment – Hezekiah Rhodes was the Lieutenant at Declarant believes – though he is not certain – James Delay was the orderly Sargeant, as he believes thought he is not certain – the other Sargeant and the corporal are not recollected. At the same place and time another company volunteered under Captain Leek – so pronounced. The place of Rendezvous was Guilford Court House and on the 13th day of July 1776 the Declarant reported there and within Sight of Guilford Court House, a large body of men, many companies, number not recollected, were collected – Colonel Alexander Martin Commanded them – This Declarant was Ensign in Captain John Allums (John Elms)  Company. Captain Forbes was one of the Captains – Declarant does not now remember any other Captain names – There were no regular officers or soldiers – Many of the men being unprepared with Guns and provisions and clothing, has to return to their homes to make ready – They were ordered to make ready and return.
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immediately. This Declarant returned home, prepared himself, and returned in three or four days to Guilford Courthouse. Thence we were marched under Colonel Alexander Martin towards the Cherokee towns. We marched a few miles only the first day, encamping the first night four or five miles from Guilford Court House. The third or second day we reached Salisbury, within sight of it. Thence in four or five days, we marched to Cathey’s Fort, 
crossing on our way the Catawba River at the Root Bridge Branch. Here we remained a day or two waiting for reinforcements, who were occasionally joining us. The Root Bridge Branch was about a mile from Cathey’s Fort. At Cathey’s Fort we remained for several days—about three or four—waiting for reinforcements. From Cathey’s Fort, in a few days, five or six, we marched to Cowee 
Town, a Cherokee town on the Hiwassee River, crossing on our way, the mountains between North Carolina and what is now east Tennessee. We crossed the French Broad and Pigeon Rivers—Little and the Little Tennessee Rivers. When we reached Cowee Town, it was deserted by the Indians. We burned the town. Here we found corn, fresh meat, hogs and chicken, and sweet potatoes, and we 
remained here several days, number not recollected. A considerable body of men from Georgia joined us at Cowee Town. While we were at Cowee, the Over-Hill
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Cherokees, we were informed, were coming upon us—about 400 of our men were sent in two divisions and ordered to take different 
routes. This Declarant was not in either division, though desirous of going, he was prevented by his captain on account of his having an attack of inflammatory rheumatism, brought on by wading French Broad. One of the divisions that took the right hand met the Over-Hill Cherokees who were coming on, about two miles from Cowee. Our men engaged with and routed them, killing nine of the Indians with a loss on our part of two or three men. From Cowee Town, we marched to a town, the name of which is not recollected, not far from Cowee, which we also burned. We also burned several towns not far from Cowee that were attached to Cowee Town, the names of which, if they had any, not recollected. We returned to Cowee Town on Hiwassee River after having destroyed the towns and provisions of the Indians near the Cowee Town, and thence returned home the same route we 
had gone on. We started in July, day not recollected, and returned the latter part of October, day not recollected, making a service of three months and twelve days. This Declarant received no written discharge, and never applied afterwards for a written discharge, never thinking it would be of any 
service to him to get one. This Declarant received pay for three months and twelve days service in this way—
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There was a sale at Cowee Town of property taken in the Indian towns. Declarant 
purchased a horse and his account was an offset against his pay. In the month of March 1777, day not recollected, Declarant volunteered at his company muster grounds at Charles Bruce's house under his Captain John Allums—for the purpose of marching against the Tories on Cross Creek, who had been 
committing many outrages upon the Whig families in that and adjacent sections of country. Thomas McCrory was lieutenant in this tour, as Declarant believes, though he is not certain from the impaired state of his memory. Declarant was Ensign—sergeants or corporals not recollected. At Guilford Court House, we collected together and thence we were marched under Colonel Alexander Martin 
towards the Cross Creek Settlement about seventy miles from Guilford Court House. Captain Leek was one of the captains. There were several companies, number unknown to Declarant, as they joined us on our way from different sections. We marched in a southerly direction towards Cross Creek, waiting for reinforcements. We got into a settlement of Tories eight or ten miles before we reached Cross Creek. About ten or twelve miles from Guilford Court House, we crossed Deep River. 
We delayed for some time in going to Cross Creek. The Tories were collecting in a body under Conner Dowd. On our approach, they dispersed. All the
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Tories, that we could catch, were compelled 
to take the oath of allegiance to the State of North Carolina, and to support and maintain the independence of the United States against George 3rd, or any other king or foreign power. After doing this and destroying the property of those Tories who had been committing outrages upon Whig families, and had been aiding and abetting the British power, we returned home. We took some Tories prisoners and had them tried at the Town House of the County, name of the town and county not recollected. These Tories were suffered to go unpunished after taking the oath as above, which they did. When we had finished the destruction of the property of such Tories as had been committing outrages, their trial and had compelled all that we could take to swear the oath of allegiance to the State, we returned to our respective homes, and this Declarant was discharged verbally by his Captain John Allums at Guilford Court House after a tour of three months—for which 
time he received no pay whatever. He never applied for a written discharge, thinking that it would be of no service to him to do so. Declarant volunteered in this expedition in the month of March 1777 day not recollected and returned and was discharge in the month of June 1777, day not recollected. In the month of March 1781, day not recollected, this Declarant was drafted at Guilford Court House by Captain Joseph Haskins for a tour of three months as a private soldier—he having resigned his commission as Ensign in Captain Allums' company in the
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intermediate time between his tour to Cross Creek and the tour that he was now drafted to perform. Being a wheelwright and blacksmith, this Declarant was detailed from Captain Haskins' company immediately after he was drafted, and was placed at Guilford Court House under Francis McNary, a Commissary who had charge of the wagons and provisions for the troops. We supplied the British 
prisoners who were at the Quaker Meeting House near Guilford and our own wounded men, that were at Guilford Court House. This Declarant was employed, when not with the wagons, in mending the wagons with both wood and iron and shoeing horses for the troops.  This Declarant was engaged in the service as a private soldier from March 1781 day not recollected, until late in May 1781, day not recollected. He was drafted and entered upon this tour early in March 1781, shortly before the Battle of Guilford, served out his term of three months as above stated, lacking twelve days, making two months and eighteen days. Declarant was discharged by commissary Francis McNary at this service, no longer requiring the assistance of Declarant and he accordingly received from the Commissary a verbal discharge.-- thinking it would be of no service to him – and he never received anything whatever for this tour – having immediately left that Section of Country for what is now East Tennessee and he never applied for his pay, knowing that he would be paid in the depreciated paper money, which would be of no Service to him. From Guilford Court House Declarant moved in 1781
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immediately after his discharge by Commissary Francis McNary to Dan River in North Carolina where he remained four years – then moved to Lick Creek in Greene County, there he lived five years – then to what is now Grainger County, East Tennessee where he lived in different parts of said County forty three years and ten months – thence he was moved about four weeks ago by his son George Rayl by whom he is now supported and with whom he has lived for several years past, into Jefferson County, East Tennessee, where he now lives. This Declarant was engaged in the Service of the State of North Carolina as a Volunteer, being an Ensign, for six months and 12 days – in two tours – and afterwards was drafted and having resigned his Ensigncy, he served two months and 18 days as a private Soldier – making in 
all a service of nine months. In the month of February or the latter part of January – one year ago, this Declarant's examination was taken by a lawyer of Grainger County and his papers were sent on to the War Department – made up from a short and imperfect examination of him at that time. His papers were returned on account of the want of precision and accuracy in the Statement of his 
Services and on account of his not showing what has become of his commission as Ensign, the same not being produced. The Declarant has since moved into Jefferson County. The Declarant's commission as Ensign was lost by him in this way – in the intermediate time between his Second tour and his last tour for which he was drafted, he loaned it to one William Hensley, who requested to borrow it – and W. Hensley living some distance from Declarant, Declarant neglected to obtain it 
again from him, when he removed from Guilford County in the year 1781, and thus it has been lost by him and he now
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knows not what has become of it. He knows of no living witness, by whom he can prove his official character as Ensign or by whom he can prove any of his Services. From the nature of this objection, as he was informed by his lawyer, who drew up his application in Grainger County, he had despaired of being able to obtain the benefit of the Act of June 7th, 1832, however, being informed by the Lawyer to whom he applied after removing into this County and who has drawn up this declaration – that the Department does not require in all cases the testimony of living 
witnesses in the cases of the militia under the Act of June 7th, 1832, the Declarant has determined to have his case again laid before the War Department, with such additional testimony as could be obtained, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act June 7th, 1832. There were no regular Soldiers or Officers that served with Declarant, the expeditions, in which he was engaged, being composed of 
militia entirely. The Declarant has no documentary evidence of his Services, nor does he know of any person living, by whom he could prove his services. He hereby 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.  
                          Saml Rayl 
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 21st day of February 1834  
                 Tidence Lane, Justice of the Peace
                 for Jefferson County
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1st: Where and in what year were you born?  
Answer 1st: I was born on the 20th of March 1752 about midway between Lancaster and the City of Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania.  
2nd Have you any record of you age and if so, where is it?  
Answer: I have a record of my age in a religious book belonging to me.  
3rd Where were you living when called into service? Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live?  
Answer: When called into service, I was living in Guilford County North Carolina near Guilford Court House. Since the Revolutionary War he lived a short time on Dan River, North Carolina, and in what is now Greene County, East Tennessee, he lived five years in Grainger County East Tennessee he lived 43 years and 10 months, and about four weeks in Jefferson County, East Tennessee, where he now lives.  
4th How were you called into service; were you drafted; did you volunteer, or were you a substitute and if so for whom did you substitute?  
Answer: I was an Ensign and a volunteer in the first two tours – in the third and last tour, having resigned my ensigncy, I was drafted.  
5th 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 service.  
Answer : There were no regular Officers or Soldiers where I served. In the Cherokee Expedition under Col. Martin, there was a Colonel Paisley --
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Owing to the very impaired State of my memory, I have not been able to give as accurate a statement as I could wish, and I may have misstated some Officers of which I was not certain. In the month of July – on 13th – 1776, I volunteered and served as Ensign, being duly elected and commissioned, and 
Captain John Allum's company of militia from Guilford County, near Guilford Court House North Carolina, for three months and 12 days – in an expedition against the Cherokee Indians under Colonel Alexander Martin, I volunteered on 13th of July 1776 and marched three or four days thereafter, and returned late in October 1776. In the month of March 1777 day not recollected, I volunteered and served as Ensign in Captain John Allum's Company for three months in an expedition against the Tories in the Cross Creek Settlement – about 70 miles from Guilford Court House. From March 1777 to of June 1777 I served in this tour three months as and Ensign. In the 
month of March 1781 day not recollected I having resigned my commission as Ensign, I was drafted as a private soldier by Captain Joseph Haskins for a term of three months at Guilford Court House – I was detailed for service in the commissary Department on account of my being a wheelwright and 
blacksmith – and served in that department for two months and 18 days, being engaged in attending upon the wagons employed in hauling provisions and forage, and in mending wagons and shoeing horses for the troops and for the teams. I served in this tour from March 1781 the day not recollected until late in May 1781
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day not recollected, being two months and 18 days.  
6th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service; and if so by whom was it given; and what has become of it? Did you ever receive a commission and if so, by whom was it signed and what has become of it?  
Answer: I received no written discharges. I was verbally discharged – and never applied for a written discharge, not thinking that they would be of any service to me – my two first verbal discharges were received from my Captain John Allums – my last verbal discharge was received from Commissary Francis McNary. I loaned my commission to one William Hensley and never received it from him. I do not recollect by whom it was signed.  
7th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify to your character for veracity and good behavior and your services as a Soldier of the Revolution.  
Answer: I was moved to my present home by my son George, when he moved into Jefferson County East Tennessee about four weeks ago, and consequently I am not well acquainted in this neighborhood. But there are several of the most respectable Citizens in and near the neighborhood, who have been long ac-
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cquainted with me; I live near the line between Jefferson and Hawkins counties, and I would refer (in addition to the testimony that was born in Grainger County to my character, as a man and a revolutionary officer and soldier my papers were first drawn of). I would 
refer to the Reverend Pleasant A. Witt of Jefferson County, Mr. Samuel Riggs of Hawkins County and Mr. Joseph Brittain of Jefferson County who can be examined touching my character as a man and their belief of my services as a Revolutionary Officer and Soldier. Samuel Riggs and Joseph Brittain of the references to have been acquainted with me for 40 years.  
                        Saml Rayl  
Sworn to in Subscribed before me this 21st day of February 1834.  
                   Tidence Lane, Justice of the Peace                                
                   for Jefferson County

We Pleasant A Witt a clergyman residing in the County of Jefferson and Samuel Riggs a resident Citizen of Hawkins County and Joseph Brittain a resident citizen of Jefferson County hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Samuel Rayl who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration and annexed answers;  that we believe him to be eighty one years and eleven months old;  that he has always been reputed and believed, when known, to have been an Officer and Soldier of the Revolution, and a man of veracity and integrity
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and that we concur in that opinion.
               Pleasant A. Witt Clergyman
               Samuel Riggs
               Joseph Brittain
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 21st day of February 1834.
     Tidence Lane JP
     Justice of the Peace for Jefferson County

And the said Justice of the Peace hereby declares his opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named Applicant Samuel Rayl, was a Revolutionary Officer and Soldier and Served as he States;  And the said Justice of the Peace further certifies, that it appears to him that Pleasant A Witt who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in the County of Jefferson, that Joseph Brittain who has also signed the same is a resident citizen of Jefferson County and that Samuel Riggs who has also signed the same, is a resident citizen of Hawkins county - that they are credible persons, that their statement is entitled to credit and the said Justice further certifies that the said applicant Samuel Rayl is very infirm from old age, that his memory is very much impaired and that on account of his bodily
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infirmity, he is unable to walk or ride any distance and unable to attend Court.
             Tidence Lane Justice
             of the Peace for Jefferson County

State of Tennessee
Jefferson County
     Personally appeared this 21st day of February 1834 before me, Tidence Lane, Justice of the Peace for Jefferson County, and State aforesaid, Joseph Brittain a resident citizen of Jefferson County and being first duly sworn, doth on his oath declare, that he has been acquainted with Samuel Rayl, who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration and annexed answers, for forty years - that he was well acquainted with him, when the said Rayl was living in Greene County, Te.  that he there frequently conversed with S. Rayl in regard to his services as an Ensign and as a Soldier of the Revolution, and that he then was informed by him that he served as an Ensign and a Soldier of the Revolution, and it was so believed in the neighbourhood, and that the said Rayl then, as he has since done, supported a good character as a man of veracity and integrity.
                             Joseph Brittain
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 21st day of February 1834.
         Tidence Lane
         Justice of the Peace for Jefferson County
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State of Tennessee
Jefferson County SS
     I Joseph Hamilton Jr. Clerk of the Court of Pleas and quarter sessions of Jefferson County do certify that Tidence Lane esquire as he has attested the signature and oath of Samuel Rayl to the foregoing declaration and annexed answers, and whose attestation appears to the certificate of the testifying clergyman and citizens and who has certified in behalf of said Rayl, is now, and was at the time an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Jefferson & State aforesaid, and that his signature wherever it appears in the foregoing papers is his genuine signature.
(seal)
     In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office at Office in Dandridge the 12th day of March AD 1834.
                  Joseph Hamilton Jr. clerk
                   of Jefferson County

(written vertically)
Samuel Rayl
Declaration
29972
from 1776 Pri
9 mo
$30

(illegible) Ensign
Sent me by P R Hudson
& to be placed on Knoxville Agency
G Blair Pension
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sion on file in this Bureau.
Samuel Rayl S.F. 4034
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OF APPOINTMENT
1776
1779
1781

LENGTH OF SERVICE.
3 mo. 13 days
3 mos
2 mo 18 days

RANK.
Ensign
Ensign
Private

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.

CAPTAIN.
John Allunis
John Allunis
Joseph Hawkins

COLONEL.
Alexander Martin
Francis McNary
Commissary (illegible)

STATE.
NC

Battles engaged in, (illegible)
Residence of soldier at enlistment, (illegible)
Date of application for pension, Feby. 24, 1834.
Residence at date of application, (illegible
Age at date of application, (illegible)
Remarks:  (illegible)
Very respectfully,
             Commissioner.
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1910 Sept. 10 Hist to
Mrs. Frank Barker
The Cecil Apt. 401, Washington, D.C.
1916 Oct 27 Mrs. H.E Henderson


Rev War
4034
INVALID

File No. 4034
Samuel Rayl
Pri. N.C. line

Act: June 7 32
Index:- Vol. A, Page 308

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Mrs. H.E. Henderson
806 W. Main St.
Knoxville, Tenn

Samuel Rayl N.C.
S.4034
Send to Mrs. H.E. Henderson
% Mr. Frank Barker
The Cecil Apt 605
Washington, D.C.

Oct. 24, 1916