Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 11,910, William Wright, N.C.
Page 1

[printed form, handwritten responses]

[3-1776]
SERVICE
N. C.

Wright, William

NUMBER
R.11.910

CONTENTS
[blank]
Page 2

Act 7th June 1832
Power of Attorney
Heirs of William 
Wright deceased
of 
North Carolina

Th Lumpkin 
Atty
Page 3

Know all men by these presents, 
That we, Nancey Wright & Sally Gates
of the County of Rockingham, State of North Carolina & daughters of William 
Wright decd. [deceased] a late Revolutionary
soldier 
and resident of said County, do hereby constitute and appoint Thomas Lump-
kin of Washington City our true & 
Lawful Attorney, irrevocably for us, and 
in our name and place, to examine all 
papers, Records and Documents, connected with the application of said Wm Wright 
under the law of 7 June 1832 for pension which application was made by said 
Wright, from said County, about the year 
18 [blank]; that we hereby revoke all other powers
of Attorney that may have been heretofore given by said Wright to any person or 
persons whatever, and authorize our 
aforesaid Attorney to do all things 
necessary in the premises for us as if we 
were present at the doing thereof, and 
to prosecute to some result the applica
tion aforesaid with all dispatch and 
diligence - hereby confirming & ratifying whatsoever he may do in the premises by virtue of these presents. In Witness
Page 4

whereof we hereto set our hands & seals this 
3rd day of February 1853 
Nancey her x mark Wright (seal)
Sally her x mark Gates (seal)
Witness
A.M.Scales
Martha A Scales

On this 3 day of February 1853, before 
me a Justice of the Peace for the aforesaid County, personally appeared the above men
tioned Nancey Wright & Sally Gates and acknowledged the above power of Attorney 
to be their own act and deed for the purpo-
ses therein mentioned. In Witness whereof
I hereto subscribe my hand & seal, the day above mentioned.
A. M. Scales J.P. (seal)

State of North Carolina 
Rockingham County 
I T B Wheeler Clerk of the Court of Pleas 
and quarter Session for the aforesaid county do hereby 
certify that A M Scales Esqr before whom the foregoing declaration 
and acknowledgement was made was at the time thereof a 
Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Rockingham 
and State of North Carolina and duly
authorized to take acknowledgements & to administer oaths for general 
purposes and that his Signature to the above is genuine. 
In testimony whereof I have hereby signed 
my name and affixed the seal of our said 
court at Wentworth this the 10th day of February AD. 1853 
TB Wheeler C.C.C.
Page 5

William Wright
N 3693
Rockingham Cy [County]
NC

Served 
only 3 mo [months]

Rejected
Special letter
Rob Gallaway
Rockingham
NC
Nov 26 1832

Page 92
Page 6

[printed form, handwritten responses]

BRIEF in the case of William Wright
of Rockingham C inn the State of NC
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1.  Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? open Court

2.  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? [no response]

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.]

In 17 [blank]. Years, Months, Days. Served only 3 mos.  As a [blank]. Gen. [blank]

5.  In what battles was he engaged? [no response]

6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service? [no response]

7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? [no response]

8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? [no response]

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above 
mentioned.

Examining Clerk.
Page 7

State of North Carolina )
Rockingham County      )
August Sessions 1832 
On this 29 day of August 1832 personally appeared in 
open Court before Francis Rose, Ebenezer Odeneal & C L Ladd
the Court of pleas & Quarter sessions now sitting William 
Wright Sr of the County of aforesaid aged seventy-eight 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 7th June 1832.
[He was] living in Guilford County N Carolina entered the service of the 
United States under the following named officers and served as herein 
states volunteered in the month of March 1775 for a tour of three 
months in the N.Carolina Millitia [militia] under Capt. John Leek, Lieutnt.
John Davis & Ensign William Lewis marched to Salisbury in Rowan 
County where we joined our Regmt.  James Martin was our Colo
Comdt Mr. Pawley was Lt. Colo. and a Mr. Blair was Major, all of the 
County of Guilford marched from Salisbury to the head of the Catawba 
River to Cathey's Fort where we were joined by troops from other 
parts of the State under the Command of Gen. Griffith Rutherford 
from Cathey's Fort we marched on over the Mountain to Tennessee against the Indians. Genl Rutherford detached Col. McDowell with 
1200 troops to attack the indian Towns. My Captain & his company made a forced march in order to attack the indians at a certain point of their Town Watauga. But the South troops arive [arrive] there before we did 
& engaged the indians defeating & pursued them to 
what was called the Valley towns our Company only arive [arrive] in time to aid 
in destroying their towns in a few days we took up our return march to Catheys Fort our term of service having expired we were discharged the service & returned home. The 2nd time I was drafted to go into the service 
but I hired a substitute for to serve in my place. A third time I was 
drafted but the situation of my affairs at home required my attention & 
I gave a man ten Barrels of Corn to go in my place. About this 
time I took up a couple of Continental deserters one of them was 
by the name of Benjamin Land who had been at his Father's house 
a considerable time dressed in female clothes & passed for one of his Fathers 
Daughters. The other mans name was Reuben Land – after this 
I was very frequently called out into service sometimes ten or twelve 
days at a time. This continued to be the case for upwards of a 
year a little while before the Guilford Battle I was called into 
service & entered as a volunteer under my former Capt. Leek & Joined 
General Greens Army we were mounted troops. I had a fine fleet 
Horse and was very frequently sent out on expresses to different 
places. Just before the Battle of Guilford Col. John Williams was ordered 
with an express to Col. Butler who was then laying at Fasets mills 
in the County of Orange. Col. Williams took myself and another 
trooper with him & we set out. But before we reached Butler 
Williams Horse tired down & he had to stop, he then gave me the 
express & directed me not to eat nor sleep until I delivered it to 
Col. Butler, which, I soon delivered to him & he immediately 
made preparations to take up the line of March to join Greens
Page 8

Army who was then near Guilford Court House I returned 
immediately & reported to Gen. Green and in a very short time Col. 
Butler Joined Genl. Green with all his troops which I believe was
on Sunday morning_ & in a few days the Army engaged the 
British under Lord Cornwallis_ & in a short time thereafter 
I was discharged the Service & returned home.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever 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.
William Wright
Sworn to & Subscribed this day and year aforesaid. 
Robert Gallaway CCC 

We James Scales Sr. & Chsley Barnes Sr. residing in the County of Rockingham & in the neighbourhood of the present applicant do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Wm Wright who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that 
we believe him to be from his appearance & from his own declaration 
78 years old, that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood 
where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution. 
And we do further certify that we do know of
our own know
=ledge of his having served in the war of the revolution as one of the 
State troops in the Militia of North Carolina.
Chesly his x mark Barnes

And the said Court do hereby declare
their opinion that the above named affiant 
was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states
James Scales
Page 9

Questions propounded by the Court
Qst [Question] 1st where and in what year were you born
Ansr. I was born in the year 1755 in Frederick County Virginia

Qst [Question] 2nd where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the revolutionary war & where do you now live
Ansr. I was living at the same place where I now live at the time of the 
Revolution & have continued to do so to the present which is now Rockingham 
County NC.

Qst [Question] 3rd How were you called into service, were you drafted did you 
volunteer or were you a substitute
Ansr: I always turned out as a volunteer

Qst [Question] 4th State the names of some of the regular officers who were with 
the troops when you served such Continental & Militia regiments 
as you can recollect.
Ansr: Alexander Martin was a Col. of the continentals I believe. I do not 
now recollect the names of any others except those as already set 
forth in the body of the declaration.

Qst [Question] 5th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so, by whom was 
it given and what has become of it?
Ansr: I do not now recollect whether I did or not, & if I 
did, I do not know what has become of them.

Qst [Question] 6th State the names of some persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood & who can testify as to your character for veracity &
their belief in your services in the revolution.
Ans: James Scales and Chesly Barnes know of my having served in 
the war of the Revolution &c.

I Robert Gallaway Clerk of Rockingham County Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains 
the original proceedings of said Court in the Matter 
of the application of William Wright for a 
pensi [pension] 
In Testimony whereof I have 
hereunto set my hand & Seal 
of office the 30th of August 
1832 
Ro. Gallaway C.C.C.
Page 10

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[written sideways] Own

information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen-
sion on file in this Bureau: William Wright S. Ref. 11910 

[column headings: Dates of Enlistment or Appointment.  Length of Service.  Rank.  Officers Under Whom Service Was Rendered.  State.]

Mch [March] 1776. 3 mos. Pvt.  Captain. John Leek. Colonel. James Martin.  N.C.

[check mark]. 1 year served 10 or 12 days at different times, No officers stated.

1781. [check mark].  Captain. John Leek .

Battles engaged in, aided in destroying Indian Towns
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Guilford Co. NC
Date of application for pension, Aug. 29, 1832
Residence at date of application, Rockingham Co. NC.
Age at date of application, born in Frederick Co. Va. in 1753
Remarks: Soldiers daughters Nancey Wright and Sally Gates were 
living in Rockingham Co. N. C. in 1853. Name of wife is not 
stated. 
Said claim was rejected there was not sufficient proof 
of six months service as required by the Act of June 7 1832 under which 
he applied 
Very respectfully,
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[printed form, handwritten responses]

1910 Apr. 26 Hist. to Mrs. L. W. Rihl

REJECTED
11.910
P. O. [blank]
William Wright
Service: [blank]
Enlisted: [blank],18 [blank]
Discharged: [blank] ,18 [blank]
Application filed: [blank] ,18 [blank]

Alleges: Printed list of 1852 
gives cause of rejection
Re-enlisted: as follows: "did 
not serve six months."

Attorney: [blank]
P. O. [blank]
___Recognized.  _____ Contract.
___Cert. of Dis.  Searched for ____, 18 [blank]
Page 12

[printed form, handwritten responses]
Aot
3-871. 
RECORD DIVISION. 
Department of the Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS. 

Briefed by W.T.C. 
Claim No. 4/22/1910 
Certificate No. [blank]
[crossed out – Claimant] wife-- Elizabeth 
Soldier Wm Wright 
Service Va. Rev. 
Additional Service. 
Mar. Elizabeth Allison of Alexandria, Va. 
Lived in Frederick Co Va.

No [blank] claim, State records [blank], 190[blank]
No claim, combination records [blank], 190[blank]

REMARKS: 
No claim as above 
except OWWF 6,596; [^ widow mar. 1st Elizabeth Wade 2nd Elizabeth Woodson]
Wid Rej. 11,884; [^ of Rockingham Co. N. C. wid. Elizabeth] 
I Rej. 11,910; [^ born in Frederick Co. Va.]
OWIF 32,087 [^ born in King George Co.]; 
OWIF 17,213; [^ born in England Berkeley Co. Va. later Culpeper Co. Va.]
OWIF 11,905.

Chief Division

0-8
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No. 3693 
Wm. Wright 
No. Ca. 

11910 

Rejected - see let;
to R. Gallaway 
Novr. [November] 26. 1832 -
Page 14

Letter to R. Gallaway 
War Department 
Pension Office 
Nov. 26 1832 

Sir
The declarations of [two names crossed out]
William Wright and Thomas Lowe R. 6138 have been examined - ["the" is crossed out] William Wrights claim 
has been rejected, he having served only three months ["himself" crossed out] as set forth in his declaration - 
the papers [two words are crossed out] will remain on file in the 
Office - (other half of letter in Thomas Lane’s Case)
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[typed form]

1433 Fairmont Street, N.W.
April 16, 1910.

Hon. J. L. Davenport,
Commissioner of Pensions

Sir:
In reply to your letter of the 14th inst., in regard 
to records of William Wright, I have to say that I cannot 
furnish you with much of the requested.  I only know 
that was the name of my great-grand-father--he married a 
Miss Elizabeth Allison of Alexandria, Va., and he owned 
property and lived in Frederick County, Va., but the counties 
have so changed that it may have not been Fredrick in those 
days.  I can give you no dates.
I know that the Wrights of New England go back directly 
to Revolutionary times, but the Wrights I came from are the 
Virginia Wrights, but my grand-mother went about seventy-five 
years ago to Kentucky, with several brothers, and no records 
have been preserved, save an old family bible that has passed 
into hands of those not interested and I have not access to it.
Any information you can give me will be deeply appreciated.
Very respectfully,
(Mrs.) L. W. Rihl

[stamped] APR 10 1910

[circular date stamp] 
PENSION
A
U. APR  18 1910 S.
OFFICE.