Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3685, for William Phillips, North Carolina
Page 1

North Carolina

Phillips, William

Number S. 3685

born North Carolina

carded
Page 2

25446
West Tennessee
William Phillips
of Overton Co in the State of Tennessee
who was a private in the co commanded
by Captain Berringer of the regt commanded
by Col Locke in the N Carolina
line for 6 months

Inscribed on the Roll of West Tenness
at the rate of 20 Dollars -- Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 9 day of Jan
1834 and
George W.
Sevier Monroe

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 50. 00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March 10 00
$60.00
Revolutionary Claim, ⎬
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Danl Boyd  Clerk,
Book E  Vol. 9  Page 92

Letter to 3 Auditor 29 Sep 1838
Paid at the Treasury under
the act of the 6 April 1838 for
4 Sept 1835 to 4 Sept 1837.  Agt
notified 26 Oct 1838.

Paid as above from 4 Sept
1837 to 4 Sept 1838. Agt noti
-fied 31 Aug 1839

Paid as above from 4 Mar
to 4 Sept 1839. Agent notified
17 June 1840

Letter to W. B. Livingston 19 Feb 1841.

Date of death
not on AB
Page 3

No. 21046
William Phelps gave to County Tennesee
from past 6 months
#20

George W. Sevier, clerk
Overton County Court
Page 4

Brief in the case of William Phelps
County of Overton in the State of Tennesee
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

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

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3. How old is he? 76

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period. 
Duration of Service. 
Rank. 
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.

Years, Months, Days.
As a
Gen.

Vol [BLANK} In 17 Fall of
3
Private
Captain Berringer
Colonel Locke

5. In what battles was he engaged? [BLANK] skirmishes with [BLANK]

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Rowan County North Carolina

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary evidence

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? the paper [BLANK] the regulations require [BLANK] 

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

Dyer Castor Examining Clerk.
Page 5

State of Tennessee
Overton County Circuit Court
September Session 1832

On the 24th day of September 1832
personally appeared in open court, it being
a court of record before the Honorable
Nathaniel W. William Circuit Judge in & 
for the third Judicial Circuit in the
State of Tennessee. William Phillips, 
a resident citizen of the
County of Overton with State of
Tennessee aged seventy six years past
who being  first duly sworn according
to the laws of the Court doth on his
oath make the following declaration 
in order to obtain the benefit of the Act
of Congress passed on June the 7th
1832. He entered the service of the
United States as a private soldier under 
the following named officers, and
served as a private soldier.
He states that in the Fall of the year(cannot
say with certainty the year) He entered the service
of the United States as a volunteer rifleman for a tour
of three months, in the County of Rowan North
Carolina. Marched into a place now called Hiwassee
in the State of Tennessee, then Cherokee nation, against
the Indians. His Captain was by the name
Berringer. General Rutherford commanded, Col.
Francis Locke was in command. They had a
small engagement at the Valley towns, but the Indians
Page 6

soon fled. They destroyed the town & took
some prisoners. took an Indian called Hicks
and his wife with many other prisoners. & some
property. They found some tories with the Indians.
Upon another occasion while he with some other
were cutting down corn they were fired on
by the Indians & some were killed. One man
who was standing by him was shot down.
Nothing more of importance happened during
his tour of service. He was discharged &
returned home.
Some time after this he was drafted for three
months and marched under the command of
the same officers that is, General Rutherford
Col. Locke & Capt. Berringer. He marched
to a place called New Providence
in the same e State, and was there stationed &
remained for the whole time of his service
and was discharged without being in any
engagement.
He states that owing to the frailty of his
recollection arising in part from his old
age & in part from the effect of a wound
on his head, which he received during the
war from some tories, he is unable to state
with certainty the dates and to be very
minute in his details. He knows of no person
by whom he can prove his service.
& hereby relinquishes all claims whatever to a pension
or annuity except the present
and declares that his name is not on the
pension roll of any State.

William Philips

Sworn to in open Court 24th September 1832

George W. Sevier Clerk
By E.N. Cullom
Page 7

William Philips makes this additional
statement, that he has no written or documentary
evidence of his services nor does
he know of any one in his power by 
whom he can prove his services.

William Phillips

Sworn to and subscribed
in open Court this 8th day
of September 1833

George W. Sevier Clk
By E.N. Cullom D.C.

1. When and in what year were you born? Rowan County, North Carolina
and in the year 1756.

2. Have you any record of your age, and if so where is it?

I have, and it is at home.
Page 8

3. Where were you living when you were called
into service. Where have you lived since, and where did you ever live.

Rowan County, North Carolina. Continued to
live in that State. he moved next into Blount County
Tennessee and from that County to where I now live & 
ever since have lived, that is Overton, County, Livingston.

4. How were you called in to the service; 
were you drafted, did you volunteer
or were you a substitute, and if so, 
for whom?

I volunteered the first tour of service &
the second  I was drafted.
Page 9

Aswer: I cannot tell the names of all other
regiments or officers than I have already
stated.

5. 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 discharge.

6. State the names of persons to whom you 
are known in your present neighbourhood
and who can testify as to your character
for veracity and their belief of your
service as a soldier of the revolution.

Joseph Looper, Stephen Upton, Magnus
Looper, Riley Miller Es & Hugh Miller


William Philips
        his X mark

Sworn to in open Court
24th September 1838

Geo W. Sevier
by E N. Cullom

[The following section is marked through]


This day a clergyman & both citizens of the County
of Overton & State of Tennessee, that they
have for many years been acquainted with
the applicant.           that they believe
he is of the age he represents and that
they believe he is reputed and believed
in his neighbourhood to have been a revolutionary
soldier and they concur in that opinion.
Page 10

This day John Ashburn & Isaac Crabtree
personally appeared in open
Court and made oath that they are
citizens of Overton County, that they live in the same part of the County
with William Philips though some distance
from him, they state he lives remote 
from the settlement & they know of no
clergyman or preacher who lives near him.
They state they are intimately acquainted
with, and have known him for
many years, that they believe he is of
the age he states, at least he is a very
old and infirm man, and that they
believe he is reputed and believed in
his neighbourhood and among his acquaintances
to have been a soldier in the revolution.
and they concur in that opinion.

Isaac Crabtree

Jesse Ashburn

Sworn to in open Court the
24th day of September 1832

George W. Sevier clerk
By E.N. Cullom D.C.
Page 11

And the said Court doth hereby give it as
his opinion after the investigation of the matter
and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by
the war department, that the above named applicant
was a soldier of the revolution, and served as
he states, And the court further certifies that
it appears to the court, that Isaac Crabtree
and Jesse Ashburn who have signed the 
preceding certificate are citizens of Overton
County, and that they are credible persons
and that their statement is entitled to credit
and the court further certifies that it appeared
that no clergyman lived in the neighbourhood
of the applicant.

Nath. W. Williams Jst.

State of Tennessee
Overton County

I George W. Sevier clerk of the Circuit
Court of the County aforesaid do hereby certify that the
foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of
the application of William Phillips for a pension. In testimony
          whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and affixed my private seal (there 
being no official seal provided for our
said Court) at office the 12th day of 
December A.D. 1832

George W. Sevier  clerk
By E. N. Cullom D.C.
Page 12

George W. Sevier is clerk of the Circuit
Court of Overton County Tennessee. And
E.N. Collum is his deputy who is his deputy who acknowledge to
me the due execution by him of each of the
above certificates in his name. I believe there
is no seal of said Court. 1st May 1833

H. Isaaks

[the rest of this page has been struck through]

State of Tennessee
Overton County

I James McDonald a clergyman residing in the County of Overton
in the State of Tennessee hereby certify that I am
well acquainted with William Phillips
who has subscribed and and sworn to the foregoing
Declaration that he is reputed and believed in the
neighbourhood where he resides to have been a
soldier of the revolution and I concur in that
opinion and believe him to be of the age he states he is. 
Given  under my hand and seal this
31st day of August
Page 13

July 20, 1937

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

BA-J / EEL

Miss Mary Phillips William Phillips-S.3685
Byron
Georgia

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of William Philips, Senior, a pension-er of the state of Tennessee, probably Maury County.

You are furnished herein the record of William Phillips, who applied for pension while residing in Overton County, Tennessee, the only soldier of that name or similar spelling who applied for pension while residing in that state, that is found on the Revolutionary War records of this office. The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S.3685, based upon the military service of William Phillips in the Revolutionary War.

William Phillips was born in 1756, in Rowan County, North Carolina. The names of his parents are not shown.

While a resident of said Rowan County, William Phillips vol-unteered and served as a rifleman in Captain Berringer's [HANDWRITTEN ASIDE: Could not identify this captain] Company, Colonel Francis Locke's North Carolina Regiment, marched against the Cherokee Indians, was in a small engagement with the savages, and burned their town and took some prisoners, length of service, three months: sometime afterward, he enlisted again, served under the same officers, marched to a place called New Providence, where he was stationed during the whole of this tour which was three month. No dates are given for either of the above named tours. Soldiers stated that he was wounded on his head during the war, said wound inflicted by some Tories, name of engagement in which he received the wound not shown.

After the Revolution, he remained in North Carolina for some-time, then moved to Blount County, Tennessee, thence to Overton County, that state. He also lived at one time in Montgomery County, North Carolina.
Page 14

William Phillips was allowed pension on his application executed September 24, 1832, while residing in Overton County, Tennessee. He was not referred to as William Phillips, Senior.

There are no data as to soldier's family.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of the Revolutionary War pensioner, William Phillips (S.3685), you should address the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:

William Phillips
Certificate No. 25446
Issued January 9, 1834
Rate $20 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
West Tennessee Agency.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.
Page 15

Invalid

File No. 3685
William Phillips
Pvr. NC. line

Act: June 7/32

Index: Vol. A, Page 298

(Arrangement of 1870)
Page 16

William Phillips. West Tennessee 07 June 1832

$20.--

To what [BLANK] last paid

March 1840
Bogan

Pension Offices
19 Feb 1841
Page 17

William Phillips
Page 18

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of William Phillips 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?

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 amount 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? No
Page 19

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? No

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 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? No

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

---

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 recol-lection 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 ------; ad for such service I claim a pension.
Page 20

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 to four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that 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 obection-able. 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 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 magis-trate 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 authenticate 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 congree, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Page 21

Treasury Department,
Second Comptroller's Office,
August 22, 1839.

Sir:

Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," William Philips, --- a Pensioner on the Roll of the Nashville, Ten. Agency at the rate of Twenty Dollars and --- Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department from the 4th of Sept., 1937, to the 4th Sept., 1838.

Respectfully, yours,

Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
Page 22

NY.

Payments to be made 
at Nashville
by [BLANK]
Agent for paying Pension-
ers in the Agency of West
Tennessee

Recorded in the Pension Of-
fice, in Book 8 Vol. 7
Page 72 by Danl Boyd
Clerk.
Page 23

WAR DEPARTMENT.

REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.

I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, William Phillips of the State of Tennessee who was a private in the Army of the Revolution is entitled to receive Twenty dollars and -- cents per annum, during his natural life, com-mencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September in every year.

Given at the War Office of the United States, this ninth day of January one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four

Lew Cass
Secretary of War.

Examined and Countersigned.

J L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 24

Treasury Department,
Second Comptroller's Office
20th Oct. 1838.

Sir:

Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," William Phillips a Pensioner on the Roll of the Nashville, Tenn. Agency, at the rate of Twenty Dollars per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832 has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept. 1835 to the 4th Sept. 1837.

Respectfully, yours,

Albion K Parris
Comptroller.

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
Page 25

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
June 12th, 1840.

Sir:

Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," William Phillips, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Nashville, Tenn. Agency, at the rate of Twenty Collars per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March 1839, to the 4th Sept. 1839.

Respectfully, yours,

Albion K Parris
Comptroller.

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
Page 26

State of Tennessee
Overton County
SS.

Be it known, that before me Doke J. Capps a justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid, personally appeared William Phillips and made oath in due form of law, that he is the identical person named in an original certificate in his possession of which, I certify, the following is a true Copy:

War Department
Revolutionary Claim

I certify that in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June 1832 William Phillips of the State of Tennessee who was a private in the Army of the Revolution is entitled to receive twenty dollars and -- cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September in every year.

Given at the War office, of the United States this ninth day of January one thousand eight hundred and thirty four

Lew Cass
Secretary of War.

Examined and Countersigned

J L Edwards
Commissioner of pensions

the he now resides in said County of Overton and has resided there for the space of twenty years past and that, pervious thereto, he resided in Montgomery County North Carolina. Sworn and subscribed this 12th day of January 1841 before me,

Doak. A. Capps, justice of the peace

William Phillips
Page 27

State of Tennessee
Overton County
SS.

I Doke H. Capps a magistrate in the County above named, do hereby certify that I have the most satisfactory evidence towit from my own personal knowledge that William Phillips who has this day appeared before me to take the oath of identity, is the identical person named in the pension certificate which he has exhibited before me numbered 25440 and bearing date at the war office the ninth day of January one thousand eight hundred and thirty four and signed by Lew Cass, Secretary of War.

Given under my hand at Livingston in said County on the day and year above written
Doke H. Capps Justice of the Peace

I John S Dangherty clerk of the County Court of Overton County in the State of Tennessee certify that Doke H. Capps is a magistrate as above, and that the foregoing signature, purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my seal of office, and subscribed my name this 12th day of January in the year of Christ Eighteen hundred forty one

John S. Dangherty Clerk of Overton Tounty Court
Page 28

[BLANK] 28 1841

Livingston [BLANK]

War Department
Pension Office
J L Edwards C. Pens.
Washington City
D.C.
Page 29

Livingston Tenn. January 13th 1841

Dear Sir

I have to state to the Department
some of the reasons amongst others why
William Phillips (the within mentioned
Pensioner) has neglected to apply
for his pension regularly 1st that
he is very old & his health very infirm
being about Eighty five years of age that
he is seldom able to leave home.
that it is with great difficulty that
he can at any time travel any
considerable distance and that
he resides about twenty miles
from the Court house of the County.
2ndly that there is no person in his
neighbourhood qualified to prepare
his pension papers so as to enable 
him to draw the several instalments
as they have become due & payable
all which, he informs me, is true.
he also informs me that he cannot
recollect distinctly how long it
has been since he drew any monies
on account of his Pension claim
but thinks that he has not drawn any
thing since the 4th of Sept 1835.
Says that since that period he made
an effort to draw the instalments
then due but owing to a defect in the power
of attorney the money was not drawn.

Yours Respectfully
Wm. B. Richardson
Page 30

State of Tennessee
Overton County Court of
Pleas and Quarter Sessions
Nov. Session
1833

This day being the fifth day of the present
term and eighth day of the month, James
McDonnald a preacher of the gospel &
citizen of said County of Overton and
made oath that he knows William
Philips an applicant for pension in said
County of Overton. that he lives about fifteen
miles or perhaps a little upwards, distant
from he that he knows of no clergyman
nearer to him-- That Wm Philips lives in
a very remote part of the County
and where is very thinly settled. That 
he has made some inquiry about said
Philips. Believes from his character that
he is entitled to credit on his oath in
a Court of Justice. And that his reputation
as far as he has been able to learn it from
some inquiries is that he was a soldier of
the revolution, and he concurs in that belief.

James McDonnald
 
Sworn to in open Court 8th day of
November 1833

William Gow  Clerk

We Adam Winningham, William Snodgrass & James Dennis
members of the Court of Please & Quarter Sessions for Overton
County State of Tennessee, now sitting do hereby certify that
James McDonnald whose name is signed to the
foregoing certificate is a preacher
of the Gospel in said County.
November 9th 1833

James Dennis
Wm. Snodgrass
A Winningham
Page 31

State of Tennessee
Overton County

I, William Gow Clerk of the Court
of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of the County and State
aforesaid do hereby certify that the within contains the
original proceedings in the matter of amendment to the
Declaration of William Phillips for a pension and
that James Dennis, William Snodgrass and Adam
Winningham whose names are attached to the foregoing
certificate are Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter
Sessions of Overton County State of Tennessee and
that James McDonnald whose name is attached
to the foregoing Affidavit is a clergyman of the
County aforesaid. In Testimony whence of I have
          hereunto set my hand and seal
          of office the 30th day of November
          1833.

          William Gow   Clerk
Page 32

[circular stamp]
Received 
May 5 1937
MAIL VETS [illegible] -DIV:
[illegible] 12
THIS SIDE OF CARD IS FOR ADDRESS

[circular stamp]'
BYRON
May 3
12
1937

Veterans Administration
Washington
D.C.
Page 33

Byron, Georgia
May 12, 1937

Dear Sir:

Please send the Rev. pension record of William Phillips Sr. 1840 pensioner of Tenn., probably of Maury County.

Thank you

(Miss) Mary Phillips
Page 34

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives
Form VAM-51
12-5-41

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

Name Phillips, William
Grade Private
Line Pennsylvania

Warrant Number 10715
Acreage 100
Issued June 10, 1794 to Silas Hart, assignee

* 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 resolution 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.