Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3578, David Williams, N.C.
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SERVICE N.C. Williams, David NUMBER S. 3578
carded
CONTENTS
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West Tennessee /3825
David Williams of Rutherford Co. in the State of Tennessee who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Price of the regiment commanded by Col. Collier in the N. Carolina line for 5 months pr of cavalry 3 months 5 as [illegible] of June 
Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee at the rate of 41 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. Certificate of Pension issued the day of June 1833 and [illegible] Wm Ledbetter Murfreesborough Arrears to the 4th of March 8332 Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept. 2083 $104.15 {Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.} Recorded by Lance Bays Clerk Book 6 Vol. 7 Page 101
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8196 
David Williams 
From1780 private of cavalry [illegible character] Sept. 9 mo. 5 day 
Pr Cav. 5 mo. [uppercase C scribbled over 5 mo.] $20,83 
Sept [illegible] .3 5 days, 20.83 [illegible word written lightly] $41.66 
5. 14. 16._ 
P. 989 
West 
li in [illegible] [two words crossed out] 
Wm Ledbetter Murfreesboro :Ten: [A word is crossed out at the bottom]
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8196 BRIEF in the case of David Williams County of Rutherford 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? 78 
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
[Column Headings: Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.] 
Vol. In 1780 July [Years, Months, Days.] not stated As a Orderly - sergeant Gen. Capt. Price. Gen. Butler, Col. Collier_ 
Vol. 1781 Jan ditto " Gen. Butler, Gen. Green, Capt. Thomson_
Vol. [Period is underlined] 1781 Sept. no[crossed out] ditto " Col. Taylor, Col. Mabin ----- Gen. Gates
5. In what battles was he engaged? Gates Defeat, Guilford Ct. House
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Orange Cty. N.C.
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditionary & a witness
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? And if so, in what respect? The declaration is not attached to the clerk's seal as directed
I Certify [printed in different font] that he forgoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. 
T. Waugh Examining Clerk.
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David Williams for Pension 1896.
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State of Tennessee } Court of Please & quarter Sessions
Rutherford County } August Term 1832

On this 23rd day of August, 1832, personally appeared in open court before V D Cowen, Samuel Jones & Henry Trott        The justices of the court of pleas and quarter sessions for said County of Rutherford now sitting, David Williams, a resident of the said State of Tennessee & county aforesaid, aged 78 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 July 7th, 1832:
That his residence was always in North Carolina un-till the year 1799 when he removed to the State of Ten-nessee & settled in the County of Rutherford where he has ever since resided. In the year 1780, he believes in the month of July, but can not state the day, he volunteered for three months in Capt. Trice's company, in which [illegible] Taylor was Lieutenant, & Joseph Ellison Ensign. Said Company was attached to the command of Gen. Butler. Applicant was orderly sergeant in Trice's company. He was, at the time he volunteered, a resident of Orange County, N. Carolina. He entered service at Hillsborough whence the troops under Gen. Butler commenced their march, in which he remembers to have passed through a corner of Guilford County, & to have crossed the big Yad-kin at Moore's ferry in Rowan County. From Moore's ferry he marched with Gen. Butler down the Yadkin to the mouth of Rocky river. The troops waded the Rocky which came up to their waists. In their march thence to Rugly's mill (so called as he thinks) they crossed two creeks one called big Linch, & the other little Linch, & joined the main army under Gen. Gates. Col. Collier joined them soon after they left Hillsborough, & held command of the regiment in which applicant served. Collier was a large, rough looking Irishman, familiar in his manners & easily approached. Applicant does not remember to have seen Gen. Marion, but it was understood in the army that Gates had sent him with [illegible] Horry & others to destroy all the boats between the British army & Charleston, to pre-vent the retreat of the British. He does not remember that Gen Gates ever came into the Camps of the volunteer mili-tia; but DeHalb did, & he remembers to have seen him. The march of the army was very laborious, particularly so, near Camden. Provisions were very scarce. The night, on which the battle commenced in which Gates was defeated
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2 their only rations were molasses & a very small quantity of flour. The army under Gen. Gates', on their defeat, were dispersed in every direction. In making his retreat, applicant with many others passed through a swamp about a quarter or half mile from the battle ground. They were aiming to return to their camps, but just as he had crossed the swamp the British passed before them going on to the American camps; & he then saw the defeat was final & irreversible, & he made his way homeward in the best possible manner. He did not arrive at his home in Orange County till the first of November 1780, being delayed through fear of the Tories Before his arrival home he had separated from all his companions, except Robert Breege who stayed with him from the defeat. Applicant served as orderly sergeant as long as he remained in service in this his first campaign. Gates defeat he believed, was on the 16th day of August, 1780. In January, 1781, applicant can not state the day, he, with almost all the whigs in his section that could perform duty, volunteered under Gen Butler, with the understanding that if they would serve until after a general engagement with the British, it should be counted a three months tour. They first marched a few miles below Harrisburg, thence back through Hillsboro to the high rock ford on Hawe river, where they joined the main army under Gen Green. On their return through Hillsborough, applicant remembers that the enemy had been there, & copmletely plundered the adjacent country. There was not a cow to be seen. When they got to the high rock ford, the river was swollen, & the army went up it a few miles, & crossed on a bridge at Troublesome iron works. Between Hillsborough and high rock ford, they were stopped by a rise in a creek called, as he believes, Eno, which they waded when nearly waist deep. They marched from Troublesome iron works to Guilford courthouse, crossing several  creeks running into the Hawe. Applicant was in the battle at Guilford courthouse which took place, as well as he can remember, on the 15th of March, 1781. The American army retreated to Troublesome iron works, where applicant was permitted to return home, but did not, as he recalled, receive a written discharge. During this term of service, he was still orderly sergeant, but in Capt. Thompson's company, in which Lno. Whitsett was
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Lieutenant, ensign's name not now remembered. He belonged to the regiment commanded by Col. Taylor. He remembers to have seen Capt Lee of the horse, just as the general engagement was coming on. Lee had previously been in a skirmish with the enemy which brought on the battle. He rode along the lines of the American infantry, seemed in a great rage for battle, & told them it would be sufficient if they would stand to make only two fires. There then appeared to be blood on his sword. Applicant return ed home from the campaign last mentioned some time in April 1781. From that time untill[sic] the fall of the year he was almost constantly engaged in providing provisions for the army; & in skirmishing with the Tories. In the excursions against the Tories he was successively commanded by Col. Taylor, Col. Jesse Benton, Capt Wm. Williams, his brother, & by others.
In September 1781, as he believes, at least it was in fodder pulling time, applicant furnished a horse & volunteered in the company of cavalry which marched from Hillsborough under the command of Col. Taylor for the purpose of rescuing the whigg prisoners (among them was Thos Burk, governor of N. Carolina) who had been taken by the Tories. They went a circuitous rout, crossing Hawe river, as he believed, at Woody's ferry, & had a smart [illegible] with the Tories at Linley's mill on Lane creek. The American company of cavalry was about 200 in number, & were in that action ostensibly commanded by Col. Mabin. The tories were thought to be about 400 in number. Of the whiggs 5 or 6 were killed. The tories retreated carrying off the prisoners previously taken,, & the whiggs buried the dead of the enemy. They pursued the tories in the direction to Willmington, crossing Cape Fear river at Averett's ford. They were camped several days, the company being then about 400 in number. Thence they marched down the Cape Fear to Brown's ferry, where they recrossed & rested a day or two, & were reinforced with a company of cavalry 4 or 5 hundred strong under the command of Col. Wm. Moore. Thence they directed their course down the river to Livingston swamp in pursuit of the tories. At Livingston swamp they had a skirmish with the tories lacked, as was supposed, by
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4 about 300 British commanded by Maj. Craig. A retreat was on the onset ordered by their commander which was considered by every brave American as cowardly & shameful. They had tied their horses about 200 yards in the rear of the place where they first formed for battle. When they had retreated to where the horses were tied Col's Maban & Brown, with about 150 men, gave the enemy a sharp returning fire, which threw them into some confusion & prevented their pursuit. Applicant remained with Maban & Brown, the rest of the Americans retreated in confusion, thought there had not been one of them killed. It was said that the enemy cost a few. The [word smudged out] afterwards [illegible] at Capt. Lucas's, 18 miles from Livingston's swamp. Applicant was then about the last of October, 1781, dismissed without any written discharge. He entered the service in this horse company with the understanding that if he should serve in it 6 weeks it would be equal to & discharge him from 3 months service in the infantry. This was the last term he served in the revolutionary war. Applicant 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.
Sworn to and subscribed} David Williams
the day & year aforesaid}
J.R. Laughlin, WM.}
We, William Eagleton, a clergyman and Johnathan Currin, both residing in the county of Rutherford & state of Tennessee aforesaid, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with David Williams who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 78 years of age, that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. William Eagleton. Jon. Currin
Sworn to and subscribed}
the day & year aforesaid.}
J.R. Laughlin, WM.
The following interrogatories were propounded to David Williams the above named applicant for a pension in open court by the court on the day & year aforesaid the said Williams [illegible] on oath.
1. Where & in what year were you born?
Answer. I was born in Orange County N. Carolina on the 27th day of May 1754, as taken from a family record kept by my father.
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2. Have you any record of your age: & if so, where is it? 5 Answer. I have a record taken from my father's record.
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the revolutionary war, & where do you now live? Answer, when called into service, I lived as stated in my declaration, in Orange county N. Carolina, & continued to live there 17 or 18 years after the war, when I moved to Rutherford county where I now reside.
4. How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? & if a substitute, for whom? Answer. I was never drafted. I always volunteered when my country needed my services.
5. 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. For answer to this enquiry I refer to the facts stated in my declaration.
6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? Answer. I never received any written discharge.
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, & who can testify as to your character for veracity,& their belief of your services as a soldier of the revolution. Answer, Saml. Campbell Esq., William Ledbetter, Johnathan Currin, Wm. J. Lythe, Charles Niles, Col. Wm. Wade, Capt John Wade, John Malloy, Benjamin McCulloch, & Maj. Burrel [illegible]
State of Tennessee court of pleas and quarter session.
Rutherford county August term, 1832.
On this 23d day of August 1832, personally appeared in open court before Varner D. Cowen, Samuel Jones & Henry Trott. the policies of the court of pleas and quarter sessions, now sitting, for said county, William Mitchell, Esq. [crossed out: a reputed soldier of the revolution], who being first duly sword, according to law, doth In his oath, make the following statement to his personal knowledge of the services of David Williams [illegible] above applicant for a pension) in
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[page the same as the last]
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6. the war of the revolution. Said Mitchell states, that he was mustered into ^the service of the revolution with David Williams the above applicant under gen. Butler about the 1st of July 1780. He served with said William in that campaign until its termination at Gate's defeat. He was again mustered into service with said Williams in January 1781, & served with him during the campaign in which, the battle of Guilford was fought. He served again with said Williams in the cavalry under gen. Butler. Said Mitchell ^joined the forces a few days after the skirmish at Linley's mill. He remembers well that said Williams was one that remained ^at Livingstone swamp with the Cols Maban & Brown who stopped the pursuit of the enemy, which the main body of the whigs fled. In the two first campaign above mentioned he did not serve in the same company with said Williams, but was then personally acquainted with him, and knows that said Williams was always considered an active & brave soldier in the revolution on the side of the whigs. He became personally acquainted with said Williams when they were first mustered into service together. He does not remember that said Williams was orderly sergeant, but believes and in fact has no doubt but that he was, as stated in his declaration. And said Mitchell also fully believes that, after the battle of Guilford, & before the last campaign above mentioned for the purpose of rescuing the prisoners, said Williams was engaged in providing provisions for the army & skirmishing with the tories as by him in his declaration states.
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid} Wm Mitchell Sr.
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, & after pulling the interrogatories prescribed by the war department, that David Williams the above named applicant was a revolutionary solider, and served as he states. And the court further certify that it appears to them that Williams Eagleton who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in the county of Rutherford & state of Tennessee aforesaid, and that Johnathan Currin who has also signed the same is a resident in the same county & state, & is a credible person & that there statement is entitled to full credit.
V.D. Gowan
Saml. Jones.
[illegible]
State of Tennessee, Rutherford County, Court of pleas & quarter sessions. J. John R. Laughlin clerk of the court of Rutherford county in the state of Tennessee, do hereby certify that the foregoing
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contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of David Williams for a pension. I testimony whereof, & have here unto set my hand and seal of office this 23d day of August, 1832. John R. Laughlin, Sr.
Amended proceedings & declaration of David Williams. State of Tennessee, Rutherford County, Circuit court, April term, 1833. On this 1. Day of April 1833, in open court before me James C. Mitchell one of the judges of the circuit courts for the state of Tennessee now sitting for the county of Rutherford, personally appeared William Mitchell Sr. and made oath, that the preceding statement heretofore made by him on oath as to his personal knowledge of the services of David Williams (the preceding applicant for a pension) in the war of the revolution, is substantially true, and that said statement was by him said William Mitchell Sr. subscribed & sworn to in open court as it purports.
Subscribed & sworn to the day & year ^last aforesaid.} Wm Mitchell Sr. 
Wm Ledbetter clerk
And the said James C. Mitchell, judge as aforesaid, doth hereby certify that William Mitchell Sr. who has sworn to & subscribed the above [illegible] person, & that his statement is entitled to full credit. J,C, Mitchell
On this 1st. day of April 1833 in open court before me James C. Mitchell judge as aforesaid, personally appeared David Williams who being duly sworn, depaseth and sayeth, that by reason of old age & the consequent laps of memory he can not 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 one month & two weeks I served as orderly sergeant in Capt. Prices company lno Taylor Lieut, Joseph Ellison ensign under gen Butler; for two months  & three weeks I served as orderly sergeant in Capt Thompson's company, Whitsett Lieut. in Col Taylor's' regiment & joined the army of gen Green: The service in these two campaigns was on foot. For three months I served as a private & mounted gunman, furnishing my own horse, under Col's Taylor & Benton & Capt Williams ^in various excursions after the tories. For two months I served as a private & mounted gu^nman, furnishing my own horse under Col, Taylor in Capt Thompson's company being the same company in which was fought the engagements at Linley's mill & Livingston's swamp. For which service, in all nine months & 5 days I claim a pension.
subscribed & sworn to this 1st of April, 1833.} David Williams. Wm Ledbetter clerk
I, William Ledbetter, clerk of the circuit court of Rutherford county and State of Tennessee do hereby certify that the forgoing after the signnature of John R. Laughlin Clk', contains the amended proceedings of [illegible] court in the matter of the application of David Williams for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal^ of office this 1st. of April 1833.
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David Willaim [page is cut off]
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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 David Williams 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 for his not doing so? [line indicating question not applicable]
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[sic] of pension he is entitled? No
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?
VIII. 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?
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2
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? Yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? -
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? a witness
XIV. [cross] If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? No
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? -
XV. Does it appear from any of the appears that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes
XVI. [double cross] are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes
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 servcie, 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___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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3 It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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.
[cross]QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Departmebnt, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are requiried 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 be[sic] 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.
[cross with two lines] QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated 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 a narrow ribbon, the end 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.
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Rev War [check mark] 3578 Invalid.
File No. 3578 David Williams Pvt. N.6. Line
Act: June 7.732
Index:-vol. A, Page 407
[Arrangement of 1870.]