Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 6,774, for Matthew Mc Right, South Carolina
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(3-1776)

SERVICE
S.C.

McRight, Matthew
or McWright

NUMBER
R.6774

CONTENTS
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Georgia
Gwinnett County

Before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace of said county, personally appeared Blueford McWright, of said County Son of Matthew McWright late of said County deceased and being duly sworn in order to amend the Pension declaration of the said Matthew he deposeth as follows to wit.

that he has always heard the said deceased (up to the time of his death in November last) say that he had served as much as ten months as a private soldier in the Revolutionary War in the State of South Carolina.  that from his (deceased) statement he entered the service in Fairfield District South Carolina each time & that his services were rendered in various parts of that State and that the time he first entered was in the year 1781 and the whole services were endured in the years 1781 & 1782 - deponent further Saith that his brother James McKnight has in his possession a record of the age of the said deceased which shows that he was born in Antrim County Ireland on the 2nd day of February 1762.  That John S Wilson a Clergyman & George M Grisham Esq who have testified, Jourdan Ginn, Elisha Winn Esqr & William Hamilton Esq were all well acquainted with the Character of the said deceased and they and many others of his neighbours can testify to their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution and of his character for truth & veracity
Blewford McRight

Sworn to & Subscribed before me this 24 August 1833
John Mills, JP
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Georgia
Gwinnett County

I John Mills a Justice of the peace of said County do certify that Blewford McWright who has this day taken & subscribed the aforegoing affidavit before me is entitled to full credit on his oath.

Given under my hand & seal this 24 August 1833
John Mills J P 

Georgia
Gwinnett County

I William Maltbie Clerk of the Inferior Court for said County do hereby certify that John Mills whose name applies to the foregoing affidavit of Blewford Right as a subscribing witness and also to the foregoing certificate is and was at the time of subscribing the same an acting Justice of the Peace for said County and that full faith and credit ought to be given to his attestation as such. Given under my hand and seal of Office this 29th day of August 1833.

Wm. Waller, C I C
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Matthew McWright
14197

(written vertically)
Mathew McRight
Revolutionary Soldier
Declaration
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State of Georgia
Gwinnett County

Inferior Court September term 1832. on this 25th day of September 1832 personally appeared in open Court (it being a Court of Record), now sitting Mathew McRight, resident of the said County of Gwinnett & State of Georgia aged Seventy 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 7th 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That he entered the service in Fairfield District South Carolina wherein he then resided in the year 1781 or 1782 under Captain James Craig, Lieutenants Nimrod Mitchell and William Smith, as a drafted Militiaman for the term of two months; was attached to the command of General Sumpter; was stationed near stone and Bigum Church; afterwards was drafted & served one other tower of two months on the Congarees under the same officers & one other tower under the same officers against the British at Orrangeburg of one month. after wards drafted again & went under the same officers and stationed at the fore hole Bridge under Colonel Brotton for two months; drafted again for one month under the the same Company officers but attached to Col Taylor's Regiment at the time of the battle of the Eutaw Springs & one other tour of one month under Genl Green. 
all of those several tours served in South Carolina & was discharged from each of theaforesaid tours by his officers but never took a written discharge from any of them. was on duty from the time he was first calld into
service (when ever cald on untill peace was made.) that after the Revolutionary war that
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he lived first in Fairfield Dist South Carolina from there to the state of Georgia in the County of Elbert. from there to Jackson County in said state & from there to the County of Gwinnett & state of Georgia where he now resides and that he has no documentary evidence whereby he can prove his said services - and that he knows of no person now living whose testamony he can procure who can testify to his services except Owen Andrews whose certificate & affidavit is herewith submitted. 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
Matthew McRight X his mark

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open court
(Attest) Wm Maltbie C.J.C.

Georgia Gwinnett County
We John S Wilson a clergyman residing in the said County of Gwinnett & state aforesaid and George M. Gresham residing in the same state & county hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Mathew McRight who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy 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
John S. Wilson
G M Gresham

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open court
(Attest) Wm. Maltbie C.J.C.

Georgia Gwinnett County 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
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them that John S. Wilson who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the County of Gwinnett state of Georgia and that George M Gresham who has also signed the same is a resident in the state & county aforesaid and is a credible person and that their statements is entitled to credit
John Brewster J. G. C.
(illegible)

I William Maltbie Clerk of the Inferior Court for the County of Gwinnett & State of Georgia do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Mathew McRight for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 25th day of September 1832
Wm. Maltbie C.J.C.
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REJECTED

6774
P. O. _____

Matthew McWright
Service: ___
Enlisted: ___, 18  .
Discharged: ___, 18  .

Application filed: ___, 18  .

Alleges: ___
Re-enlisted: ___

Attorney: ___  
P.O. ___
___ Recognized.  ___ Contract.
___ Cert. of Dis.  Searched for ___, 18  .
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Mathew McKnight
Geo

Letter 17 Oct 1832 to William Maltbie

I.A.W. Johnson 6th June 1853

Act of 7 June 1832
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Feb. 17.1853
Rel: to claim of 
Matthew McRight

Tos. A. W.  Johnson
Spring Place
Georgia

Spring Place Ga. FEB 9

(written vertically)
FREE

Com. Pensions 
Washington D.C.

(circular stamp)
SPRING PLACE Ga.
FEB 9
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Spring Place GA
Feb'y 8th 1853

Sirs:

Some years ago Mathew McRight filed a Declaration with the usual certificate in your office for a Pension.  The Declaration was made out and filed by Nathan S Hutchins of Lawrenceville Ga.  Mr. Hutchins declined further prosecuting such claims and the matter has not been looked after for many years.

Mr. McRight has employed me to look after his claim.  Will you be kind enough to examine your office for the papers and inform me if they are in a position to draw the money; if not, what is lacking &c.

Respectfully

Jas A. W. Johnson
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Brief in case

Mathew McRight
Ga
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Brief case Mathew McKnight Ga.
Math: McKnight. (25th Sept. 1832 before open court),
declares he entered U.S. service under 
following named officers & served in Fairfield S.C. in 1781 or 82 under Capt.: James Craif Lts. N. Mitchell & Wm Smith as drafted militiaman for 2 months & was attached to Genl. Sumters Command.- Afterwards drafted & served another tour of 2 months. again one other tour of 1 month, again drafted under Col. Broughton for 2 months. & again for 1 month. & one other tour of 1 month - served them all in S.C. and was discharged, never had a written discharge. was on duty whenever called  till  the Peace. Has no documentary evidence & knows of no person living who can prove his
Services.
 Witness proves much reputation of 
Service.
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Matthew McKnight
14.197
6774

Suspended - see letter 17 Oct 1833 to Wm Maltbie, Lawrenceville GA
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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                                 Matthew M Knight                                                                      which require                                               further proof or explanation. 

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?  

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

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 of pension he is entitled? 

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? 

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? 

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?

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? 

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? 

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? 

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? 

Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 

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?

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? 

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 
1. 2. 3. 7. not ans

                                                          ________________________________
                                                                     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.
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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 objectionable.  Some persons who apply for pension 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 shown 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 embolied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either 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 to 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 oflicer, 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.
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Georgia Gwinnett County 
Before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace of said County personally appeared Owen Andrews and being duly sworn deposeth & saith that as well as he can now recollect the time he was in the year 1781 acquainted with Matthew McWright late of said county deceased that said McWright was then a private soldier attached to Col Thomas Layton's command in the state of South Carolina and that at the time of his first knowledge of said McWright he said McWright was stationed at or near Bigum Church - but cannot say how long he remained in service at that time. That he also knows that said McWright was in the service at the time of the Battle of Eutaw Springs which he thinks was in the same year to the best of his recollection. He knows that in that year & the next (1782) said McWright was in the service a great portion of his - that they both resided in Fairfield District South Carolina at the time of each service & that said Matthew entered the service then. deponent cannot possibly designate the length of each tour but from his knowledge of the services of said McWright he must have served at least six months and is of the opinion that he served much more than that length of time - and was ever reported an excellent soldier - he being one of the Irish who had emegrated to this country
Owen Andrews

Sworn to & subscribed before me this 24 August 1833
John Mills JP
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Georgia Gwinnett County
I John Mills a Justice of the peace of said county do certify that I have for a short time been acquainted with Owen Andrews of said county who has this day taken & subscribed the aforegoing affidavit before me, that I have the most satisfactory evidence that he is entitled to full credit on his oath.
Given under my hand & seal this 24 August 1833
John Mills JP

Georgia Gwinnett County
I William Maltbie Clerk of the Inferior Court for said County hereby certify that John Mills whose name appears to the foregoing affidavit of Owen Andrews and also as a subscribing witness and also to the foregoing certificate is and was at the time of subscribing the same an acting Justice of the Peace for said County& that full faith and credit ought to be had and given to his attestation as such. Given under my hand and seal of office this 29th day of August 1833.
Wm. Maltbie C.J.C.