Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6747, Burrel Bradley, N.C.
Page 1

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[3-1776]

SERVICE
N. C.

Bradley, Burrell

NUMBER
S.6747

carded
CONTENTS
Page 2

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[left side] Let [Letter] 27 April 1837 – Pen. Agent

[right side] 16443
North Carolina

Burrel Bradley
of Edgecomb [Edgecombe County] in the State of North Car: [Carolina]
who was a pri. [private] in the company commanded by Captain Clinch of the Regt. commanded by Col. Eaton in the North Car.
line for 8 months

Inscribed on the Roll of North Carolina
at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 25th day of June ‘33 and sent J. W. Potts Tarborough [Tarboro] N. C.

Arrears to the 4th of March ‘33 - 53.32
Semi=anl. [annual] allowance ending 4 Sept. “ [‘33] - 12.33
$66.65

{Revolutionary Claim}
{Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by Wm. Miller, Clerk
Book E. Vol. C. Page 34
Page 3

State of North Carolina} 
Edgecombe County} Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions August Term 1832. 
On this 28th day of August personally appeared in open Court, before the Justices of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions now sitting Burrel Bradley a resident of the County of Edgecombe No. Ca. [North Carolina] aged 78 -- 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 of June 7, 1832. 
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. 
He was drafted in the Revolutionary service and was attached to a company commanded by Capt. Edw’d [Edward] Clinch of which company Wm. Hall was Lieutenant. The company was of the Regiment of Col. Thomas Eaton assisted in command by Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Clinch. Having organized at Halifax the Company proceeded to Elizabeth Town on Cape Fear [River] where they met Genl Ashe [General John Ashe], and marched to Charleston. Leaving Charleston he went to Augusta and after some irregular movements met the enemy at Brier Creek [March 3, 1779]. He was in the battle at that place, he was discharged at a point on the Savannah River and returned to North Carolina. He entered the service just before Christmas and was discharged in the beginning of May, so that his service embraced a period of at least five months. 
Having remained at home until the following February he was again drafted and attached to a com -
Page 4

pany [company] commanded by Capt. Randolph. This company belonged to the Regiment of Colonel Linton [Lt. Col. William Thomas Linton]: Having organized at Halifax he was ordered up the country and met Genl Greene [General Nathanael Greene] near Guilford. He was in the fight at Guilford [March 15, 1781] and after the battle he was marched southwards and at Camden he was again engaged with the enemy [Battle of Hobkirk's Hill, April 25, 1781]. -- After the battle he was directed to the Wateree [River] under Col. Read [James Read] and having returned to Lynches in South Carolina was discharged. 
The facts set forth in the declaration he proves by the oath of Jacob Braswell who served with him. 
He hereby relinquishes all claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any Agency of any State. 
Sworn to & subscribed 
Burrel [his X mark] Bradley

I Jacob Braswell [pension #W.3933] of the County of Edgecombe North Carolina do hereby certify that I was with Burrel Bradley in the service of the United States and believe the facts set forth in this declaration to be correct to the best of my knowledge & belief. 
Sworn to & subscribed 
Jacob [his X mark] Braswell
Page 5

State of North Carolina} 
Edgecombe County} April 27th 1833 
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, Burrel Bradley who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith – 
That he was born in Sussex County Virginia -- in the year 1754 -- He had a record of his age left by his father it has been lost. He was brought to the County of Edgecombe about the age of nine years. -- He states that by reason of old age and consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise date at which he was drafted into Captain Edward Clinch's Company -- but is distinct in his recollection that he was employed in the service, embracing the Brier Creek fight, five months. 
The same reasons operate in putting it out of his power to specify the year in which this tour was performed under Captain Randolph. He is equally certain however as to length of time he was engaged in this service. He was drafted for three months and served thro’ [through] the whole period -- So that his two tours include eight months during which time he faithfully discharged his duty and for this he claims a pension. 
Deponent further saith that he did not produce the certificate of a clergyman in consequence of
Page 6

none being resident in Tarborough [Tarboro] and his age and infirmities put it out of his power to encounter much fatigue. He was induced to think that as he had proven his service by the positive evidence of Jacob Braswell to whose certificate he refers, the necessity for the former would have been obviated. 
He refers to the certificate of Demsey Bryan in answer to the 7th interrogatory. 
Sworn & subscribed 
H. Austin, JP 
Burwell [his X mark] Bradley

I Michael Hearn Clerk of Edgecombe County Court do hereby certify that Henry Austin is a Magistrate as above - and that the above signature purporting to be his is genuine. 
In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal of office - April 27. 1833 – 
Mich Hearn Clk [Clerk]
Page 7

Burrel [Burrell] Bradley's declaration for a pension
7722

24. 5. 11. 7
Page 8

I Demsey Bryan do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Burrel Bradley - that he resides in the County of Edgecombe - and 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 the opinion. 
D Bryan
Sworn to & subscribed

[Ink Smear] said court do hereby declare that after the investigation in the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war Department they are of opinion that the above named applicant was a soldier of the Revolution and served as herein stated - 

And the Court further certifies that Jacob Braswell & Dempsey Bryan whose certificates are given above are residents of the County of Edgecombe and that their statements are entitled to credit - -
J C Wright [Chairman p.t.?]

I Michael Hearn Clerk of said Court do hereby certify that above contains the original proceedings of said court in the matter of the application of Burrel Bradley for a pension. 
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 28th day of August 1832. 
Mich Hearn Clk [Clerk]
Page 9

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

In reply to your request of [blank], received for a statement of the military history of Burrel Bradley a solider of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired Information as contained in his [crossed out (or his widow’s)] application for pension on file in this Bureau. S. F. 6747

[column headings: DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN. COLONEL. STATE.]
* Dec. [check mark] 5 mos [months]. Pri. [Private]. [Captain] Edwd. [Edward] Clinch. [Colonel] Thomas Eaton. N.C.
* Feb. [check mark] 3 mos. [months]. “ [Private]. [Captain] Randolph. [Colonel] Linton

Battles engaged in, * Briar Creek, * Guilford

Residence of soldier at enlistment, not stated

Date of application for pension, Aug 28, 1832, His cl. was al [His claim was allowed]

Residence at date of application, Edgecombe Co. N. C.

Age at date of application, B. 1754, Sussex Co. Va.

Remarks: There is no data relative to family

Respectfully,

Commissioner.

6-285G
Page 10

Burrel Bradly [Burrell Bradley]

Admit as a private
8 mo [months] - $26.66
Page 11

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Barrell Bradley Edgecombe Co. N. Carolina which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes 

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? 

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? No

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 [amount] 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? yes 

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? yes
Page 12

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

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? no 

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

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? 

XIV. +If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? yes 
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? yes 
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes 

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes 

XVI. +Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes 

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 1. 2. 7

EXPLANATORY NOTES. 
# {QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: 
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For __ year ___ months, and ___ days, I served as a ___ For ___ months and ___ days, I served as a ____; and for such service I claim a pension.}
Page 13

[Typed form]

3

{It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service.  The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectional.  Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service.  This form of a declaration is highly objectionable.  It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.}
+QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line in which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
+QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
In every case where the Clerk of the Court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Page 14

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[left side] 1914 Mch. [March] 17 History to Mrs. M. E. Hogan, F.W.

[right side] Revy War 6747
INVALID

File No. 6747

Burrel Bradley
Priv Rev War

Act: June 7th, 1832
Index: - Vol. A, Page 45

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 15

J. L. Edwards Esqr [Esquire]
Page 16

Tarborough [Tarboro] N. C. 
April 27th 1833 

Dear Sir

Herewith I enclose papers relating to the application of Burrel Bradley for a pension - the objections in the brief I believe have been all met -- The Clerks Seal you will observe in all the amended declarations has been placed, (I mean the seal connecting the amended sheet with original sheet) at top - this has been done for convenience alone and of course cannot be amatorial - as soon as your convenience will allow you to examine the claims from this County it will afford me great pleasure to inform the applicants of their success. 

Yours &c 
Jno. W. Potts
Page 17

[circular stamp] PENSION D MAR 10 1914 U. S. OFFICE
Page 18

College Park Ga. 3/9/14 

Bureau of Pensions 
Washington, D.C. 

Dear Sir: 
In Senate Document 514 of the 23rd Congress on the Roll of Revolutionary Soldiers of North Carolina on page 101 there appears the name of Duke Williams pt [private] & ser [sergeant] of the N. C. Contl [Continental] Line 1833 age 80, in Orange Co. please send me all the information he gave of his service and family when he applied for pension. 
Also on page 78 - N. C. Roll you will find Burrel Bradley pt [private] N. C. Mil. 1833 age 80 - Edgecombe Co. all information on record please. 
Thanking you for this courtesy hoping to hear at an early date, I am,
Very respectfully 
M.E. Hogan