Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 672, Richard Beardon, S.C.
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SERVICE  SC
Beardon, Richard
or Bearden
NUMBER R.672
born in Va.
CONTENTS
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State of Tennessee, Wayne County: Court of Pleas & Order Sessions March Term 1825
On this 29th day of March 1825 personally appeared in open Court being a Court of record for said County Richard Bearden aged 65 years last July resident in the County of Wayne & State aforesaid who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that he
served in the Revolutionary War as follows to wit, that he enlisted under Captain William Smith in Spartanburg District State of South Carolina in the month of April 1781 for the Term of
10 months, that he continued to serve under Captain Smith in the fifth Regiment commanded by Colonel John Thomas [Jr.] of the South Carolina line in the Continental establishment until discharged at Orangeburg South Carolina by said Thomas about the last of March or first of April 1782 having served 12 months, or thereabouts which discharge he has long since lost, that
he was in the battle of Eutaw Springs  & at the taking of the Congaree and
Orangeburg Forts in [BG Thomas Sumter] Sumter's Brigade, that he has no other Testimony in his power of his service at this time but his own oath but he hopes that he can procure the affidavit of John Blasingame who knows of my said service & resides in the State of Alabama. That his family consists of
himself aged as aforesaid infirm & unable to support himself by labor & a farmer by occupation My wife named Sarah aged 56 very infirm, & my son John aged 19 able to work for his living. That the reason he did not sooner apply for a pension was because he was informed that none
could draw except those who had served for three years & it was not till very lately that he was better informed, that he has not deposed of his property since 18th day of March in the year 1818 except to buy provisions for my family and I do solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 & that I have not since that time by gift sale or
in any other manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provision of an act of Congress “entitled an act to
provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service
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of the United States in the
Revolutionary war passed on the 18th day of March 1818 & that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed & by me subscribed. S/ Richard Beardon
Schedule
1 Horse 15 or 16 years old $20.00
2 Cows & Calves 20.00
2 Sows 7 Pigs & 10 Shoats 16.00
1 Spinning wheel 1 falling ax 4.00
4 Chairs 1 pale & 2 peggins 1.75
3 Blades & 3 knives & 3 forks 1.50
2 Plows 2.00
I owe about fifty dollars & $64.25
have about fifteen dollars owing to me S/ Richard Beardon
William Barnett Clerk
By his Deputy James C Alderson

State of Tennessee
I William Barnett Clerk of the Court
of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County of Wayne do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true Copy
of the record of this Court & I do further Certify that the whole amount of the property contained in the
foregoing Schedule was lent to sixty four dollars & twenty five cents by the said Court . Benjamin Hardin
James Allen, James May & Thomas Lawson Esquires presiding
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court at office this 31st day of March
William Barnett Clerk
By his Deputy
James C. Alderson
Sworn to
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Declaration of Richard Bearden in order to obtain the benefit
of the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832
State of Tennessee McNairy County
On this the sixth day of June in the year of our lord 1836 Personally appeared in Open Court, before the justice of the County Court for said County now sitting Richard Bearden a
resident of McNairy County and State aforesaid aged Seventy Six 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 the 7th June 1832.
That he was Born in Granville County State of Virginia On the Sixth day of July in the year of Our Lord 1760. When I was six or seven years old my father moved from Granville to
Mecklenburg County North Carolina there We continued to reside until I was Eleven Or Twelve years of age When I moved with my Father and the balance of the Family to Ninety Six District South Carolina. (this District having afterwards been Divided). I fell in the District called Spartanburg there I resided until the year 1781 When I volunteered about the first of March in the Dragoon Service for the Term of Ten months under Captain William Smith after the Company was Organized. We joined Col. John Thomas Regiment of Dragoons in Ninety Six District in South Carolina Regiment of Dragoons a few days after Our Junction with Col Thomas
we marched down to near the Congaree Fort on the Congaree River there we joined Genl Sumter. from hear we marched under Genl Sumter to the Congaree Fort then in the possession of the British. We lay round the fort for about two weeks. When Col. Washington joined us with his Troops. Then we made an attack on the fort and took it with a number of Prisoners the fort was taken as well as I now recollect the last of April Or first of May 1781. from hear in a short time after the fort was taken we marched across the Congaree river and Encamped at a place called
Ankrums [Ancrum's]. Here we lay about One month guarding the Prisoners Col. Washington having parted with us after the taking of the Fort. From the place called Ancrum's we marched under Genl Sumter to Ninety Six District in South Carolina. We there joined General Greens
[Nathanael Greene] Army in a few days after we joined Genl Green
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I was attacked with the small pox and was carried to the Camden Hospital there. I remained about one month before I recovered. From Camden I was sent with an express from Maj Taylor then at Camden to Genl Green On the Congaree River. hear I again joined my Company then under the command of Genl Greene. From hear the whole army marched to Orangeburg South Carolina where the
British had fortified. Some Cannonading passed between the armies at this place. Col Wade
Hampton’s Regiment and Col. Thomas Regiment was ordered by General Green to march down the Charleston road at the Ten Mile house we took some British Prisoners from hear we marched to a place called the quarter house five miles from Charleston. hear we had a severe engagement the victory was on our side. hear we took a wagon loaded with arms and clothing. from hear we
marched to Nelsons Ferry on the Santee River not far from the Eutaw Springs. from hear We marched a very short distance and again adjoined Genl Greens Army then Encamped on the high hills of Santee.
Here we lay until we marched to meet the British at the Eutaw Springs which was in September 1781 as well as he recollects. at the Battle of the Eutaw I was stationed with my  Captain as an out guard so I was not in the heat of the Battle. We staid at this place a very short time after the Battle. When Genl Sumter and the whole of his troops marched to Orangeburgh
South Carolina where we lay until sometime in the winter When we marched to a place called the four hole bridge On Edisto river. hear we lay some time then we marched back to Orangeburgh when I was discharged having served Ten months the time I volunteered for. I received a written discharge signed by Col Thomas but not believing it would ever be of any benefit to me I used it so carelessly that it is now lost or destroyed. I have the record of my age now recorded in a large family bible taken from my fathers register of ages. I have no Documentary Evidenced to prove my services nor does he know of any person now living who he can prove said services by but he can prove by Captain John
Henderson now of McNairy County who was a Captain in the
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Revolutionary War that he was
with Genl Sumter and acquainted with all the affairs above mentioned and that history of my services mentioned in the Declaration did take place said Henderson will further State that he has no doubt of my services from Circumstances which I have mentioned to him concerning the campaign which I served in. Aaron Gage now of McNairy County and who served in Col Hammond's regiment in the Revolution will state in substance the same as Capt Henderson I can prove my character for veracity and good moral demeanor by Parson Francis Beard and James Campbell of my neighborhood they can also testify as to their belief and the neighborhood’s
belief generally of my being a soldier of the Revolution. I hereby relinquish every claims whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. This applicant applied for a pension a short time after the passage of the law of 1832 the
papers was returned for some informality they have been lost so I can not return them back to the
War Office. After I was discharged I resided in Spartanburg District for about twenty years from
there I moved to Warren County, Kentucky and lived there about three years from there I moved
to Livingston County Kentucky and lived there two years. from there I moved to Giles County, Tennessee and lived there one year. From there I moved to Lauderdale County Ala and lived there about four years from there to Wayne County Tennessee lived there seven or eight years
from Wayne to McNairy County where he now lives given under my hand the date above. s/ Richard Bearden
Sworn to & subscribed in open court the day and date above
s/ Benjamin Jones Clk
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We Francis Beard a Clergyman residing in Mcnairy County
Tennessee, and James Campbell residing in the same hereby
certify that we are well acquainted with Richard Bearden who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration that we believe him to be seventy six years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn to and subscribed in open
Court the day and year aforesaid
James Campbell X his Mark
s/ Benj Jones Clk
F Beard

We John Henderson and Aaron Gage both Revolutionary soldiers do hereby certify that we served in the campaign when the Battle of the Eutaw Springs was fought that we did not personally know this petitioner but from the Circumstances
Marches the which he has stated to us concerning the Revolution
we have no doubt but what he served as described in his declaration
s/ John Henderson
Aaron Gage X his mark
Sworn to and subscribed in open
Court the day and year aforesaid
s/ Benjn Jones Clk

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 it appears to them that James Campbell John Henderson and Aaron Gage who
has signed the preceding certificate are residents of the County
of McNairy and State aforesaid. And that Francis Beard who has
also signed the same is a resident the same and a Clergyman and that they are respectable and credible persons and that their statement are entitled to credit given under and hands and seals the day and date above
s/ G G. Adams
S.D. Pace
A.M. Brown
I Benjamin Jones Clerk of the County Court of McNairy do hereby certify that the foregoing contains
the Original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Richard Bearden for a pension. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed my seal of Office in Purdy this 6th day of June 1836 s/ Benjn Jones Clk
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.
3 -- 525
R. 672
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _ 19 _
In reply to your request of _ received
_ for a statement of the military history of Richard Beardon or Bearden a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau.
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR
APPOINTMENT. April 1781
LENGTH OF SERVICE. [Illegible]
RANK. Dragoon
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN. Wm Smith
COLONEL. John Thomas Jr.
STATE. SC
Battles engaged in, at Congaree, Orangeburg, Eutaw Springs
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Spartanburg Dist. So. Car.
Date of application for pension, March 29, 1833
Residence at date of application, Wayne County, Tenn.
Age at date of application, b. July 6, 1760 in Granville Co. Va.
Remarks: In 1825 he stated his wife Sarah was 56 yrs old and son John 19 yrs old. No further family data. His pension was not allowed as he failed to give satisfactory proof of his alleged service.
Respectfully,
[iIlegible]
Commissioner.

6 -- 285c
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Richard Bearden
Tennessee
Suspended
See letter 2 Augt
1836 M. Cross
672
673
Rejected
Nov. 24, 1825
per letter to
Agent
not conl
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M. Cross
Augt. 2 1836
of
Record Vol 41 P45
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War Dept. Pen Office
August 2, 1836
Sir
The declaration of Richard Bearden has been examined and filed with suspended cases. Before a final
decision can be had in his case he
should obtain some proof of his service from W. Laval Esq. Comptroller Genl of the State of S. Carolina at Columbia who has rolls in his office of those who served in S. Carolina. Some proof should also be obtained from said office showing that there were engagements to serve
as dragoons under Colonel Thomas for so long a term as ten months as alleged.

Marlin Cross Esq
Purdy
Tennessee
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19,789
Richard Bearden
Wayne Co.Ten
Wm Davis,
Lawrenceburg, Tenn
Recd 23 Nov. 1825

Lawrenceburg Ten Nov 4th
War Department Washington
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State of Tennessee, Giles County
Personally came before us John Laird & John B. Armstrong, Justices of the peace in and for said County John Bearden and Britain Williford, being in to the best of our knowledge of
Probity & respectability and made Oath in due form that Richard Bearden was a regular Soldier
in the Ten months service, and the Revolutionary War, in the year 1781, and General Sumter's Brigade, Colonel John Thomas's Regiment & Captain William Smith's Company; and that said Richard Bearden Enlisted himself in the said Ten months Service called the State Troops of South Carolina, in the latter part of the Winter or first part of Spring of the aforesaid date, and
that they have no hesitation in saying that they believe he is said Richard served the full term of Ten months aforesaid and that they know him to be the same Richard Bearden who did Enlist, served & come out of the aforesaid the Service of Ten months, Sworn and Subscribed to before
us this eighth day of September 1825.
S/ John Laird, JP S/ John Bearden 
S/ John B. Armstrong, JP S/ Britain Williford
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State of Tennessee
Giles County Court 
I German Lester Clerk of the court of pleas & Quarter Sessions held for the County of Giles aforesaid do hereby
certify that John Laird and John B Armstrong who swore and signed to the within Certificate of oath were at the time of signing the same acting Justices of the peace in and for the County of Giles aforesaid, and that due faith and credit are and ought to be given to all of the Official acts as such.
In testimony thereof I have
hereunto set my hand and affixed
Seal of Said Court at Office, in Pulaski, the 9th day of September
1825. s/ German Lester clk
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State of Tennessee
Giles County ss
I Henry Hagen presiding Justice of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions holden for the County
aforesaid do certify that German Lester shoes name is signed to the foregoing Certificate is clerk of said Court duly qualified as such
and that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to his official acts and that his Certificate is under law of the land. Given under my hand & seal the ninth day of September 1825
s/ H. Hagen

Lawrenceburg Nov. 3d 1825
Sir
the testimony of Bassings could not be [Illegible] & it was ascertained that the within deponents would
answer the same purpose & their deposition [Illegible]
Respectfully &c
Secretary of War.
William Davis
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War Dept.
Pension Office
Nov. 24, 1825opy of letters

William Davis, Esq.
Lawrenceburg, Tenn

Sir
The claim of Richard Bearden to a pension on account of revolutionary service, has been examined. there is no evidence in this Dept that Col. John Thomas, under whom he states
to have served, belonged to the South Carolina line of continental Troops, and as the law of the 18 of March 1818 under which Mr Bearden claims,
provides for those only who served on the continental establishment, his claim cannot be admitted. The papers in the case will remain on our files, agreeably to the regulations of
this Dept.
J. L. E.
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original July2d
Tenn.
free
J L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
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Purdy McNairy County
16th June 1836
Sir Enclose you will receive the declaration of Richard Bearden for a Pension please examine the same as early as conveinant the old man
is very infirm and almost an object of charity. I hope his case may meet with a favourable decission, let me hear from you
I am your obt st
Maclin Cross
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23.860
Richd Bearden
Tennessee
Richard Beardin
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1919 Oct 8 History to Mrs SB Allen
Send record of Richard Beardon
R. 672, S.C. to Mrs. SB Allen 4301 
Alabama Ave. St. Elmo
Chattanooga Tenn
personal mg of Oct 4 1919
1919 Oct. 8. History to
M. S. B. Allen, andto

Ex'r. INVALID.
REJECTED
672
Richard Bearden
See printed list of 1852
gives cause of rejection as
Reventisted: "For further proof.
from the South Carolina
records "