Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 8916, for Samuel Nelson, North Carolina
Page 1

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[3-1776]

SERVICE
NC

Nelson, Samuel

NUMBER
S.8916

Carded
CONTENTS
Page 2

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[left side] let to E. H. Brown May 23d 45
[written sideways] died May 22, 1837 See Agency book

[right side] North Carolina 16,077
Samuel Nelson
of Orange in the State of North Car.
who was a pri & ensgn [private & ensign] in the company commanded
by Captain Williams of the Regt. commanded
by Col. Thaxton in the North Car:
line for 9 2/3 mos.

Inscribed on the Roll of North Carolina
at the rate of 89 Dollars 99 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 27th day of June ‘33 [1833] and sent Jas. A. Craig Hawfield Orange Co. N. C.

Arrears to the 4th of March 33 – 179.98
Semi=anl. [annual] allowance ending 4 Sept. “ [1833] 44.99
$224.97

{Revolutionary Claim}
{Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by Wm. Miller, Clerk
Book E. Vol. 6. Page 50
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8351
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Declaration, 
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed the 7th June 1832. - -

State of North Carolina} 
Orange County} S. S. 
On this 27th day of August 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions now sitting Samuel Nelson a resident of the Hawfields in the County of Orange and State aforesaid in the 77th year of age, 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 the 7th June 1832. 
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. 
That he was in three different Tours (viz.) 
The 1st was a tour of one month, when he entered the service of the United States as a Light horse man, sometime in the Spring of 1776 or '77, our officers were John Williams, Captain, James Thaxton [sic, James Thackston] Colonel, we were organized in Hillsboro – our object was to suppress the Tories who were becoming troublesome South of us – we marched from Hillsboro crossing Deep River at Ramsey's Mills & proceeded to what was then called Cross Creek; we then marched up the River 20 or 25 miles, crossed the River and attacked, a body of Scotch Tories commanded by McDaniel and McNeil, near Smith's Ferry. Took them all the prisoners being several hundred and about 500 stand of arms, the arms were put in a boat and sent down to Cross Creek, we recrossed the River, and went down to Cross Creek where I with the rest of the company was dismissed. 
This applicant again entered the service of the United States for a term of 5 months, as Ensign in a company of which Joseph Young was Captain, & William Rogers Lieutenant.
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That said company was organized and marched from the Town of Hillsboro in this County, about the latter part of the month of October 1778, and proceeded to General Rutherford's Camp above Salisbury & upon arriving at said camp he was put under the command of General Rutherford and that Francis Locke was Col. of the Regiment he was in – he was from Rutherford's Camp marched to Charlotte; Thence to the Santee River, crossing it at Nelson's ferry, thence towards Charleston to what is called “the 10 mile house” -- Thence to Augusta where we were joined by General Ashe; Crossed the Savannah; went down the said River on the Georgia side to “Briar Creek” bridge where we were routed by certain British forces; driven across the River to the South Carolina side, where we again joined with General Rutherford – From this place we went down the River to “the two Sisters” [Ferry] - Thence to “the Black Swamp,” where we remained till our ‘five months' term expired, being as well as this applicant now remembers about the 10th of April 1779. 
This applicant as a volunteer again entered the service of the United States in the early part of February 1781. The company to which he belonged was commanded by Thomas Thompson – the Lieutenant, now not recollected, and that he himself was Ensign. 
That they marched out of the Hawfields in Orange County, under General Butler, to Harrisburg in Granville County. From Harrisburg they returned to Orange, passing through Hillsborough to the high Rock on Haw River, where he joined General Green [Nathanael Greene], and under Greene was marched to Guilford old Court House, and was in the battle fought at that place on the 15th day of March 1781, and remained with Greene's Army till about the 21st of March, when by permission from General Butler he returned home.
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And the Said applicant being further interrogated made the following additional declarations
That he was born in the Hawfields in this County 
That he has no record of his age, but from the best information he is of the age he has stated that is in his 77th year of his age. 
That he was living in the Hawfields in the said County of Orange when called into service. 
And that he now lives there and has ever since the war of the revolution. 
That he was called into the Service – volunteered & drafted. 
He was acquainted with the following officers, Genl [General] Butler, General Rutherford, Col. Lytle & Col. Jos: [Joseph] Taylor of Granville &c 
That he received a discharge from General Butler but it is now lost – as also the one he got from General Rutherford. 

That he is acquainted with James Mebane Esq. & Duncan Cameron Esq. of his neighborhood. 
That he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure to prove his services except that of Thomas Tate [pension application # S7675] & James Turner [pension application # W11573]. 
He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the present and that his name is not upon the pension roll of the agency of this State or any other State. 

Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid. 
J. Taylor, CC
[signed] Saml [Samuel] Nelson
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State of North Carolina 
At a Court of pleas & quarter Sessions begat held for the County of Orange at the Court house in Hillsborough on 4th Monday of August 1832. 
Present the Worshipful Justices of said Court 
Samuel Nelson a Citizen of this County came in open Court & exhibited his declaration & proof to entitle him to a pension from the United States under an act of Congress approved 7th June 1832 entitled an act for the relief of the Surviving Officer & Solders of the Revolution. 
The Court having considered the matters contained in said declaration & the proofs in support thereof ordered to be certified as their opinion that said declaration & proofs in support thereof are entitled to full credit.
I John Taylor Clerk of Orange County Court of pleas & quarter Sessions do hereby certify that the forgoing contains the Original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Samuel Nelson for a pension. 
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of Office this 27th August AD 1832
J. Taylor CC
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

November 19, 1934 
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 
BA-J/MCS 
Samuel Nelson, S. 8916

Mrs. J. S. Welborn 
High Point, P.O. Box 1486 
North Carolina 

Dear Madam: 

Reference is made to your request for the Revolutionary War of Samuel Nelson. 
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, S. 8916, based upon the military service of Samuel Nelson. 
He was born “in the Hawfields" in Orange County, North Carolina, where he always lived. The date of his birth and the names of his parents were not given. 
He enlisted in the spring of 1776 or 1777 and served one month as private in Captain John Williams' company in Colonel James Thaxton's North Carolina regiment. Late in October, 1779 he was commissioned ensign and served five months in Captain Joseph Young's company in Colonel Francis Locke's North Carolina regiment. He served as ensign from early in February, 1781, until about March 21, 1781, in Captain Thomas Thompson's North Carolina company and was in the battle of Guilford. 
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 27, 1832, at which time he was a resident of "the Hawfields" in Orange County, North Carolina, and was seventy-six years of age. 
He died May 22, 1837. [written below] See Agency Book 
The papers in this claim contain no data relative to the soldier’s family. 

Very truly yours 

A. D. HILLER 
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[circular stamp with Numbers 1 -12 around the outside] RECEIVED NOV 18 1934 MAIL SUB-DIV, VETS. ADM. READER #26

[circular stamp] HIGH POINT NOV 10 2:30 PM 1931 N. C.

[One cent stamp with picture of Jefferson] UNITED STATES ONE CENT

THIS SIDE OF CARD IS FOR ADDRESS

Veterans Administration
Revolutionary Pension Records Dept.
Washington D. C.
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Veteran’s Administration, Please [Illegible] give me the record of Samuel Nelson - a pensioner of the Revolutionary war. [Illegible] 1st a private later an Ensign. Pension was granted 1831. He was evidently from Rowan Co. North Carolina - but later lived in Orange Co. N.C. and perhaps died in [Illegible] Co. N.C. He is my direct ancestor & I am most anxious  to get record of service & all the information you can give me about his family. 
Sincerely
Mrs. J.S. Welborn
P.O. By 1486
High Point N.C. 
11-10-1934
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[left side] 1934 Nov. 19 hist to Mrs. J. S. Welborn M.C.S.

[right side] Rev War 
8916
INVALID

File No. 8916

Samuel Nelson
Priv Rev. War

Act: June 7th, 1832
Index: - Vol. 1st, Page 274

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Samuel Nelson

Admit as private
One month - 3.33
as Ensign 8
months & 43 - 86.66
$89.99

Jas A Craig
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[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 Samuel Nelson Orange Co. N Carolina which require further proof or explanation.

1.  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? yes

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? yes

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
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[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? 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? no
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? 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?

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 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 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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[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.
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Samuel Nelson

1st Tour - 1 Month private
2 do [Tour] - 5 do [Months] - (Ensign)
3 do [Tour] - 1 2/3 do [Months] (do) [Ensign]

Months 7 2/3
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State of North Carolina} 
Orange County} SS 

On this the 24th day of May AD 1833 personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the peace for the aforesaid County of Orange, Samuel Allen [pension application # S6480] of the County of Orange aforesaid, now in the 72nd year of his age, who being duly qualified maketh oath that in the Spring of the year of 1781 he was in the service of the United States a three months tour in the militia in Captain Thomas Thompson's company and in said Tour, he was well acquainted with Samuel Nelson, of Orange aforesaid, who has become an applicant for a pension, and well remembers that Nelson, was commissioned and performed the duties of Ensign during said 3 months tour and at the Guilford Battle, said Nelson, gave orders to our platoon to fire! - Hodges and our Co. were in the same platoon – 
Sworn and subscribed the day and date aforesaid
Sam Allen 
Witness
James A Craig JP
I do hereby certify that Samuel Allen, who has Sworn to and subscribed the above affidavit before me, is a man of truth and veracity, & I do further certify that said Allen, is understood and believed to have served the United States in the war of the Revolution.
24th May 1833}   James A Craig JP 

I Thomas Lynch a Clergyman and residing in the County of Orange and State of North Carolina do 
hereby certify, that I am well acquainted with Samuel Nelson, of the County of Orange aforesaid now an applicant for a pension, that I believe him to be in the 77th year of his age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that I concur in that opinion - 
Sworn to & subscribed the}
First day and date aforesaid}
James A. Craig JP}
Thos Lynch
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I do hereby certify Thomas Lynch, who has subscribed and sworn to the above affidavit is a regular clergyman, residing in Grange County aforesaid 
24th May 1833} 
Orange, County N.C.} James A Craig JP

State of North Carolina 
I John Taylor Clerk of Orange County Court of pleas and quarter Sessions, do hereby certify that James A Craig esq. who hath witnessed the preceding affidavits was at the time a duly qualified Justice of the peace 

Witness my hand and seal of office 
29th day of May A.D. 1833. 
J. Taylor Clk [Clerk]
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Supplementary evidence to the Declaration of Samuel Nelson for a pension under the act of June 7th 1832.

State of North Carolina} 
Orange County} Sct.
On this the 24th day of May 1833, personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the peace for the County & State aforesaid James Turner a resident of the County of Orange aforesaid, who being first duly sworn maketh oath that, he was a private in Captain Young's Company of militia in the United States Service for a five months tour in 1778– 9 and that Samuel Nelson of Orange, aforesaid, was commissioned, and performed the duties of Ensign in our Company, during said five months Tour, 
And this affiant further states that he was again in the Service of the United States in the Spring of 1781 – and that sd [said] Samuel Nelson in this tour also was Commissioned and acted Ensign in Captain Thomas Thompson's Company – and remembers distinctly of said Samuel Nelson's commanding a platoon at the Guilford Battle on the 15th of March 1781 and hearing him give the word “Fire!” to his platoon. 
Test: 
James A. Craig, JP 
James Turner

I do further certify that James Turner who has subscribed and Sworn to the above declaration, is a man of truth and veracity - and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution. 
24th May 1833 James A Craig JP

State of North Carolina} 
Orange County} Sct 
On this the 24th day of May 1833. personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace for the County of orange aforesaid - William Allen of the County of Orange aforesaid, who being first duly qualified, maketh oath, that in the
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year of 1781, he was a private in Captain George Hodge's company was in the engagement at the Guilford Court House 15 March of that year, and well remembers that Samuel Nelson, of the County of Orange aforesaid, gave command to a platoon of militia in said engagement to Fire. 
William Allen
Witness 
James A Craig J P

I do hereby certify that William Allen, who has sworn and subscribed the above affidavit, is a man of truth and veracity, and is reputed to have served a three months Tour in the war of the revolution 
James A Craig JP 
24 May 1833

State of North Carolina} 
Orange County} Sct
On the 24th day of May A.D. 1833 personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the peace for the County of Orange, aforesaid, Thomas Tate, Now in the 77th year of age of Orange aforesaid who being first duly qualified, maketh oath that Samuel Nelson of Orange aforesaid now an applicant for a pension / was in the Scotch Camp Tour in the Spring of the year of 1775, with us under Col. Thaxton & Butler, and that it was as well as this affiant now remembers, about Four or five weeks before the expiration of our tour, when said Nelson Joined us, who were of Captain John William's Light Horse men -- Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first above written
Thomas Tate
Witness 
James A Craig JP

I do hereby certify that Thomas Tate, who has sworn to and subscribed the above affidavit, is a man of truth and be veracity, and that it is generally understood and believed that said Tate served the U. States in the war of the revolution 
24th May 1833.} 
James A. Craig JP
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[left side] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES 
Form VAM-51 
12-5-41

[center] BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

[right side] Division of Veterans’ Administration Archives

Name Nelson, Thomas Grade Private Line Crane’s Continental Artillery (Massachusetts)

WARRANT NUMBER 4775    ACREAGE  100         ISSUED May 20, 1789 to --- not shown----

*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.