Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 9690, for Arthur Smith, North Carolina
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SERVICE 
N.C. 
Smith, Arthur
NUMBER
R9690
CONTENTS 
rec of Sumter District, S.C. in 1837
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No 34271 
Arthur Smith 
[illegible]
Act 7 June 32 
W M Miller
[illegible]
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State of South Carolina }
Sumter District - }
On this thirtieth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty seven, personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Common Pleas for said district now sitting and held by John B. O'Neale one of the Associate Judges of said State, Arthur Smith a resident of said district and State, aged near ninety 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 June 7. 1832: 
When he entered the service of the United States he was a resident of Bladen County in the State of North Carolina but from extreme old age and loss of memory, he is unable to State at what time he enlisted in said service: all that he can say is that for the first two years of the Revolutionary War he did not under any service of much consequence as well as he can recollect. After that time he served as a private in said service until the close of the war, he was however occasionally relieved but how long the intervals of rest were he cannot say, nor can he specify the different periods of time he was out nor the names of the officers under whom he served during each of those periods. He must therefore make a general statement. The names of the different captains he was placed under during the war
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as many of them as he remembers were Captain John Turner - Peter Robertson - Hairgrove - Clark - Cahoun - Richard Brown - John Brown Wingate - Baldwin and Morrison. (The two last afterwards joined the tories. The names of the different Colonels as far as he can state them were Col Leonard (as he heard him called) Col Thomas Robertson and Col. Thomas Brown (afterwards General Thomas Brown. The Generals as far as he remembers their names, were General Moor and General Thomas Brown. He never was in any battle or skirmish during the whole war. Prisoners were however sometimes taken by the company and Regiment to which he belonged. All the service he performed was done in the State of N. Carolina. As to the places he marched to and was stationed at during the war, he remembers of having been at Elizabeth Village in Bladen County - at Woods Creek about 30 miles distant at Rockfish - at Blennen's Creek in Brunswick County and at Brown's Marsh. He was also at near Wilmington. There was a severe engagement at Woods Creek between the British and Americans which took place a few hours after he was relieved. At Brown's Marsh there was a [illegible] the between the Americans and Tories, the tories were captured. He was not present at the battle having been relieved a few hours before it took place.
As he has such an indistinct recollection of the service he performed during said war he must only refer to the affidavits of John Powell and Peter Dubose, which accompany this
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declaration. 
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. 
Sworn to and subscribed }
this day and year aforesaid }
John Bolton ONeal }

Pres Judge
Sumter Fall Town
1837

[illegible]
Arthur Smith
[illegible]
 
W Moab Huitt, a clergyman, residing in the district of Sumter, and Wm H. Bowen residing in said district, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Arther Smith who has subscribed and Sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be near ninety 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. 
Sworn and subscribed }
the day and year aforesaid } 
Moab Hewit
Will W Bowen
John Bolton O'Neall 
Pres Judge 
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the Interrogatories prescribed by the
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the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier & served as he states. And the Court further certified that it appears to them that Moab Huitt who has signed the preceding certificate, is a Clergyman resident in said district and that Wm H. Bowen who has also signed the same, is a resident of said district and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit 
John Bolton O'Neall 
Pres. Judge 
Sumter Hall 
Term 1837 

South Carolina 
Sumter District 
I, John M. Dargan Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, for said district, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Arthur Smith for a pension. 
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this eleventh day of November in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and thirty seven.- 
Jn. M. Dargan 
[illegible]
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South Carolina 
Sumter District 
Personally came before one the of the Justices of [illegible] and for the District aforesaid Peter Dunn who being duly sworn sayeth that shortly after Gen'l Gates defeat near Camden in 1780 he was in North Carolina Bladen County and that Arthur Smith now of Sumter District South Carolina was drafted for one months time of duty under Capt Peter Robertson commanded by Col Thomas Brown which months duty Arthur Smith hired this deponent as a substitute to perform said tour of duty under the above specified officers and further this deponent sayeth not 
Sworn to before me this 28 of March 1834
Peter Dufore 
M. DuBose
South Carolina 
Sumter District
I do hereby certify that the above Peter Dubose is a man of Respectful standes in Sumter District and that full confidence is to placed on his oath 
March 28, 1834 
Middleton Dubose
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South Carolina 
Sumter District
I, John M. Dargan Clerk of the Court of Common [illegible] district [illegible] that Middleton Dubose, whose signature appears to the foregoing affidavit is an acting Justice of the Quorum for said district and that all full faith and credit is due to his certificates and attestations as such 
Given under my Hand and Seal of office at Sumter Court House this 11th day of November A.D. 1837 
J. M. Dargan 
[illegible]
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Arthur Smith
Act 1832
S.C.
[illegible]
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State of South Carolina 
County of Sumter District 
Be it Known, that on this Fourteenth day of January A. D. 1853, before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the District and State aforesaid, personally appeared Elias Smith & Rhoda Gibbs. resident of Lynchburg P.O. in said district, and made oath according to law that [illegible] legal heir of the [illegible] Arthur Smith who was a Soldier in the war of the Revolution, and who has heretofore made application for the benefit of the Pension Act of that they are directly interested as a claimant in said pension and makes this affidavit to be filled with such additional evidence or arguments as my Agent may use in prosecuting said claim. Countermanding and revoking all Powers of Attorney, and authority heretofore given, I hereby constitute and appoint SAMUEL M. KNIGHT, of Washington City, my true and lawful Attorney, to prosecute the claim of Arthur Smith for any amount of Revolutionary Pension, or increase of Pension that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said Attorney to examine all papers or documents in relation to said claim on file in the Department at Washington City, or elsewhere, to file additional evidence or arguments, and to receive for my exclusive benefit, the certficate which may be issued for said claim, which certificate I wish made payable at the Washington City, D. C. Agency; to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed, and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and Agent shall lawful do in the premises.

Jos M. Nettles 
X his mark
Elias Smith 

Sworn to, Subscribed and Acknowledged before me the day and year above written, and I hereby certify that I believe the said Elias Smith and Rhonda Gibbs to be directly interested in said claim as set forth, and to be the identical party therein alleged and that are both of legal age- 
A. A. Nettles Magistrate 
State of South Carolina 
County of Sumter District
It is Hereby Certified, that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited before me, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas & General Sessions that Elias Smith the party who has sworn to, and accorded the foregoing Declaration and Power of Attorney is the children of the reputed soldier aforesaid. I further certify that J. A. A. Nettles Esq. before whom the preceding affidavit and Power of Attorney were made and acknowledged, was, at the time of so doing, Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, and that the signature purporting to be his, I believe is genuine. 
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of Office this Fourteenth day of January 1853 
J. Singleton 
[illegible] 
1. Claimant's name or names in full. -
2. Post Office address. 
3. "That he is the identical man," or "that she is the widow of the identical man," or "that he or she is the legal heir of the identical man,"  
4. Leave this line blank. -
5. "He is," "she is," or "they are," 
6. Revolutionary soldier's full name.
7. Claimant's signaturea
8. Claimant's name
9. Magistrate's signature
10. "Identical," "widow of," or, "child of," 
11. Magistrate's name
12 Clerk's signature
N. B. - Should two or more heirs join in the foregoing, the plural should be substituted for the singular number.
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October 16, 1939 

Mrs. Truman E. Johnson 
171 East Houston Street 
Paris, Texas 

BA-J/AWF 
Arthur Smith 
R. 9690

Dear Madam: 

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Arthur Smith, of Wayne County, North Carolina. 

The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in claim for pension, R. 9690, based upon the service of Arthur Smith in the War of the Revolution. This is the record of the only Arthur Smith found on file in the Revolutionary War pension records of this office. 

The date and place of birth of Arthur Smith, and names of his parents are not given. 

It was stated that he was reared in "Hampton" County, North Carolina. 

Arthur Smith applied for pension October 30, 1837, then a resident of Sumter District, South Carolina , and stated that while a resident of Bladen County, North Carolina, he did not render much  service the first two years of the Revolution, but after that he served at various times and [illegible] private until the close of the war, in the North Carolina troops, under Captains John Turner, Peter Robertson, Hairgrove, Clark, Cahoun, Richard Brown, John Brown, Wingate, Baldwin, Morrison, and Colonels Leonard, Thomas Robertson, Thomas Brown, and that he was in no
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battles. 

The claim for pension was not allowed as he did  not furnish proof of service as required by the pension law.

This soldier was still living in 1843, in South Carolina, and it was then stated that he was one hundred four years of age. the date of his death was not stated.

His children, Elias Smith and Rhoda Gibbs, of Lynchburg, South Carolina, survived him in 1853.

The papers on file in this claim contain no further discernible family data. 

Very truly yours 

A. D. HILLER 
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
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State of South Carolina 
Darlington District 
Personally appeared before me the under signed a justice of the peace John Lowell who being duly sworn Deposeth and saith that by Reason of old age, and the consiquent [illegible] of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of time served, but to the best of his recollection - Arthur Smith served five months, the time that said John Powel service. Personally in the same company with Arthur Smith, which was in 1775 under Cap John Turner and that said Auther Smith entered the service at the same time that he the said John Powel did-- General Moor Colonel [illegible] - Col Thomas Robertson Col. Thomas Brown and the Staff Officers of such Regiments as were then in service and stationed at Rockfish in North Carolina - in order to meet a Regiment of Tories - who were under the command of Major General McClead and Brig. Genl Donald, where we had no engagement we were then ordered down to Wilmington in order to guard that place, and while in the service was imployed in no civil persuits- In that same tour of Duty the Tories were dispersed by Colonel Caswell, within hearing of our Regiment while upon our march down to Wilmington were the Tories expected to embark on Board of the British shipping- Sworn to before me this 21st day of March 1834 Clement J. Cole John Powell
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NB This is to Certify that [illegible] John Powel is a worthy and good citisen - C. S. Cogdell 

South Carolina 
Darlington District
J. M. Bruce Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the district aforesaid, do hereby certify that C. S. Cogdell, whose signature appears to the foregoing affidavit, is an acting Justice of the Peace for said district and that all full faith and credit is due his certificates and attestations as such 
Given under my hand seal of Office at Darlington Crew House this 21 day March 1834 J. M. Bruce 
[illegible]
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Arthur Smith 
Nov 23 1887 
W M Miller
9690
Act 7 [illegible]
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F Andron 
A. Smith 
D Wetherspoon
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Mount Elis
March 17th
S. Lacoste
Mr J L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
mails
Mar 15 1810
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Mount Elis Sumter District 
March 17th 1843

Mr E L Edwards  
Dr. Mrs Francis Anderson, widow of Mr J Anderson a revolutionary soldier and she herself a pensioner died at her residence Bradleyville on Sunday the 8th March at 8 Oclock of the morning, I am requested by [illegible] Law to enquire of you if she was not entitled to her pension on the 4th September 1842 to 4th March 1843 - Mrs Anderson died sudderly on Sunday morning. If she is entitled to his pension for the time stated - will you be so good as to furnish me with the mode and manner in which the amount be drawn. I would suppose it [illegible] some special mode - such as to prove the time of her death & your early attention to this matter is respectfully requested 
I wrote you some time since requested you to inform me what was still delinquent in the application of Mr Arthur Smith to be placed on the pension list. Mr Smith is a very aged man, (104) his claims was presented to you by Mr Franklin Moses, you will please let me hear from you also as [illegible] Mr Smith- Mrs Mary Witherspoon an elderly lady the wife of Mr David Witherspoon who was at the time of his death a pensioner to know if she is not entitled to a pension according to the act of 1838 if so please let me know, so that she may receive a pension. your respectfully S Lacoste
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S Lacoste
Mar 9
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203 
Pension Office 
March 9 1843 
Sir
In answer to your letter of the 10th of January last I have to state that the papers in the case of Arthur Smith of S. Carolina were examined and filed in this office and a letter addressed to Wm M. Miller [illegible] the 23d Nov 1837 enclosing a copy of the regulations of the Department showing the requisitions to be complied with in presenting claims under the act of 7th June 1832. Since the date of the above named letter nothing has been received in regard to the matter. I now again enclose the regulations from which it will be seen that in applying the claimant must specify particularly the kind and extent of services and the names of the officers under whom they were rendered. A certificate from the Secretary of State of North Carolina will be the best evidence in the present case. The affidavits on file are too vague to amount to any thing. All in [illegible] service

No 34271
Act 7 th June '32
S Lacoste
Mount Elis. Sumter District
SC
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May 29 1843
Arthur Smith
S.C. 
Mount Elis
May 19th
J Lacoste
L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
Mail
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Mount Elis May 17th 1843 
Mr J L Edwards 
Ser. Will you be to good (if not inconsistent with the rules of your office) to send me the papers of Mr Arthur Smith that are on file in your office-- I have written to the Secretary of the State of No Ca who says Mr Smiths name is not on the rolls in his office and that perhaps he served in the militia-- [illegible] services when all performed in the Militia of N Ca. he served under Capt Peter Robinson and [illegible] Capt Thomas Brown afterward unted to General Peter DaBose who is now a Pensioner served a time of three months John Smith says he serve 3 year at different times in the War. Mr Smith mental faculties are now so impaired by age (105) that he cannot remember nor can he answer such questions as are requested to establish his claim. But I think there is now [illegible] of his having served the County in the war of the Revolution - he says that the Peter Dubose who is now a Pensioner under government has sworn to that fact and he says that he was in a fight at or near [illegible] Wilmington No Ca was in several fights but can
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now remember the place nor time-- Mr Smith was raised in Hampton County No Ca and after the war to Bladen County - has resided more than a year since in Sumter Island No Ca. He is a man of general good character and of unquestionable veracity - but having removed so long from No Ca he cannot tell whether any of his brethren in arms are still alive - are they any pensioners on the pension list from County that Mr Smith lived in during the War. perhaps we might establish his claim by referring to them if any are on the list -
yours respectfully
S Lacoste
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[stamp]
RECEIVED
SEP 22 1939
MAIL SUB-DIV
Reader No. 6
VETS ADM
[/stamp]

171 East Houston Street
Paris, Texas
September 22 1939

Veterans Administration
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sirs,
Will you only please send me data on the Revolutionary War record, if any, on Arthur Smith who died in 1808 supposedly in Wayne Co. N.C. 
His wife, Sarah, died in 1814 and her will is recorded in Wayne Co, N.C. dated Dec. 13, 1814.
The children were Lazarus, Sampson, Drewery, Joseph, John, Phoebe Howell, Amy Rouse, Polly Bigger and Sarah Parnall.
I certainly will appreciation any information you can give me.
Yours truly,
Mrs. Freeman E. Johnson
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S.
I.S.C.
Rejected 9690,
Rev. War.

July 14, 1905.

Sir:
In reply to your request for the military history of Arthur Smith, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you are advised that he applied for a pension October 30,  1837, at which time he was a resident of Sumter District, S. C., and nearly ninety years of age.
He stated that during the first two years of the Revolution he rendered no service of consequence, but after that he served in the State of North Carolina until the close of the war as a Private under the following officers: Captains John Turner, Peter Robertson, Hargrove, Clark, Calhoun, Richard and John Brown, Wingate, Baldwin and Morrison, and Colonels Leonard, Thomas Robertson and Thomas Brown. He was in no battles.
This claim was rejected on the ground that the soldier failed to file a specific statement of his services or any record evidence from the Secretary of State of North Carolina in support of the same. Date of his death not shown. 
His children Elian Smith and Rhoda Gibbs of Lynchburg, S. C., survived him in 1853.
Very respectfully,
Mr. Charles G. Smith,
94 Wentworth St.,
Charleston, S. C. 
Commissioner.
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copy

March 9, 1843.

Sir:   In answer to your letter of the 10th of January last I have to state that the papers in the case of Arthur Smith of South Carolina were examined and filed in this office and a letter addressed to Wm. M. Miller, Esq. on the 23d November 1837, enclosing a copy of the regulations of the Department showing the requisitions to be complied with in presenting claims under the Act of 7th June 1832. Since the date of the above named letter nothing has been received in regard to the matter. I now again enclose the regulations from which it will be seen that in applying to claimant must specify particularly the kind and extent of services and the names of the officers under whom they were rendered. A certificate from the Secretary of State of North Carolina will be the best evidence in the present case. The affidavits on file are too vague to amount to anything. All circumstances connected with the service that can throw light on them should be stated. 
No. 34,271, Act 7th June, 1832.
S. Lacoste, Mount Elis, Sumpter District, S. C.
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O. W. M                                        R 
                                                     date stamped
94 Wentworth St. , Charleston, SC  June 26,1905

To the Honorable Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, DC

Dear Sir, Please do me this favor:
My great grandfather was a soldier of the Revolution in the Continental army of South Carolina I think. He lived to an extreme age - 106 years old when he died. and drew a pension till his death. He died at Lynchburg, South Carolina. (word struck through) I think between the years of 1840 and 1850. Now the favor: Please give me any record that may be on the pension books of one Arthur Smith, Lynchburg, SC. who died about 1840-1850.
In case you cant furnish me this or rather my inquiry in not properly put, with you please notify me how to Pub?
(faint notation  9690
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it. I am exceedingly anxious to get this data and I thank you in advance for any favor you can do us.

yours truly,
Chas. B. Smith.

94 Wentworth Street
Charleston, SC

Any record, time of service, under whom. what service he did - anything
will be thankfully rec'd.
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Charleston S. C.
1939 October 16 list to Mrs. Truman
E. Johnson and 

Rejected
9690
P.O.
Arthur Smith
Service:
Enlisted: ____, 18
Discharged: ____, 18
Application filed: ____, 18
The printed list of 1852 shows reasons for suspension.
Alleges: ____
"Period, length, grade, and names of officers and places and proof from the Secretary of State of North Carolina"
re-enlisted:____
Attorney:____
P.O.
Recognized.
Contract.
Cert. of Dis. 
Searched for ____, 18
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Jan 16 48
Mount Elis
January 10th
Mr. E. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D of Columbia
Mail
S.C.
S. Lacoste
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Mont Elis Sumter District 
January 10th 1843 
Mr E L Edward 
Will you be so good as to state to me what is [illegible] on the papers of Mr Arthur Smith of Sumter District So Ca the papers were sent to your office by Col Franklin J Moses of Sumter District Mr Smith is a very old man (104) and request me to take charge of his his [illegible] this affair (his application for a pension) also Mr Smith was formerly from No.Ca. and it is more than probable that he may obtain some information of his services from the Secretary of that office of No Ca your early attention to this matter will greatly oblige Mr Smith 
yours respectfully
S Lacoste
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The National Archives         Bounty Land Warrant 
Form VAN-51                      Record Card
12-9-41 
                                            Division of  Veterans 
                                            Administration
                                            Archives

Name: Smith, Arthur   
Grade: Corporal
Line: Rhode Island

Warrant Number: 3503 and 14155(Muecl?Roll)
Acreage : 100
Issued: Jan. 11, 1800 to Sarah Smith, heir

*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.