Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1740, Brittain Willeford, S.C.
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE 
S. C. 

Willeford, Brittain        

NUMBER
S.1740

carded

CONTENTS
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[left side of page]
22003
West Tennessee

Brittain Willeford
of Giles Co in the State of Tennessee
who was a Lieut & Pr in the com commanded
by Captain West of the regt commanded 
by Col Thomas on the N Carolina 
line for 6 months sergeant
12   "[months] Private of Cavy
South Carolina line Records corrected

 Nov 7 '03

Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee
at the rate of 80 Dollars - Cents per annum 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1934.

Certificate of Pension issued the 23 day of Sept
1833 German Lester Pulaski

Arrears to the 4th of Sept                200.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar    40.00
                                           [total]   $240.00

{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Danl Boyd, Clerk,
Book C Vol. 7 Page 99

[right side of page]
Dead.  See letter Nov 19, 1836 to Pulaski
P. Agt
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State of Tennessee}
Giles County}

November sessions of the Court of Pleas and quarter sessions for said County for the year 1832.
This the 20th day of November in A. D. 1832 personally appeared in open court, Willis Willeford aged 59 years on the 16th day of June last a citizen of Callaway County in the state of Kentucky, formerly a citizen of Giles County Tennessee who being first duly sworn according to law, upon his oath made the following statement.  That he was born on the 16th day of June 1773 that he is the son of Brittain Willeford of Giles County, Tennessee, who he is informed intends making application shortly to the war department for a pension under the provision of an Act of Congress passed June 7th 1833 and he has always understood & believed since the first of his recollection that the said Brittain Willeford was a soldier of the Revolution.  That indeed, he himself distinctly recollects that Brittain did enter the American Service in said war sometime in the year 1780, as he believes he knows it was the same year that Charleston in South Carolina was taken by the British forces.  He does not recollect how long he was absent on this, or any other expedition during the war.  But he well recollects that he was frequently absent from home during that latter part of the war.  And that he always heard it said then he never doubted then nor since, that he was absent in the service of the United States according to the
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had information that deponent is possesed of, he must have been in the service something like eighteen months in said war.  He also well, he remembers, that the said Brittain received a wound on his head, the scar of which he still wears.  Which was said then to be given by a Tory, who was called Capt. Young, & this deponent saw the said wound shortly after it was given before it was bound up, and while it was fresh and bleeding.  He also states that he saw him taken prisoner, by the tories and that he was absent in their custody for some time, he can not now state positively how long that at the commandment of war the said Brittain lived as he has always understood in the County of Warren in the state of North Carolina that he removed from there into the state of South Carolina in that part of the state, which has ^since been called Spartanburgh County now  & past being a district in the year 1779.Where he resided during the remainder of the war from thence, in the year 1815, immediately after the close of the late war he moved to the state of ^Tennessee Giles County, where he now resides.  He further states that the said Brittain Willeford has been respected and believed to have ^been a soldier of the Revolutionary
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man in the neighborhoods respectively where 
he has resided since the war.  And that 
this deponent has never known it to 
be disputed or questioned.
He also states, that from what he has always 
understood and believes the said Brittain 
was ninety years of age on the 1st day 
of June last.

                                 Willis Willeford

Sworn to & subscribed in
open court 20th Nov. 1832.

German Lester Clerk

State of Tennessee
Giles County Court of Pleas and quarter sessions a Court of Record 
now in session August 30th,1833.  We John Dickey 
Benjamin Williams and James McCallum Justices of 
said court now presiding and holding the same do hereby certify 
that Willis Willeford who subscribed and swore to the above 
affidavit is a citizen of said county and a man of good 
morral character and deportment and that his statements are entitled
 to credit and belief and that we do believe the said statement 
by him above scribed and sworn to.

                                        John Dickey
                                        Benjamin Williams
                                        James McCallum

State of Tennessee  
Giles Count Court of Please and quarter session Augt term 1833
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I German Lester Clerk of said court do hereby 
certify that John Dickey Benjamin Williams and 
James McCallum whose names are signed to the 
foregoing certificate are Justices of said court and were 
presiding in and holding the same when they signed said certificate
and by hand and seal of office this 30th Augt 1833.
                        German Lester Clerk
                        of Giles County Court

Willis Willeford
22552

State of Tennessee)
Giles County)
I Alexsander Black presiding Justice of the Court ^of Pleas & quarter 
sessions, holden for said county do hereby certify that German Lester 
whose name is signed to the 
foregoing certificate is clerk of said court and 
was at the time of signing said certificates, and that 
full faith & credit are & ought to be given to his 
official acts as such & that his certificates are in due 
form of law given under my hand and 
seal at Pulaski this 10th of Sept 1833.

                      Alexander Black presiding
                      Justice of Giles County Court
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State of Tennessee}
Giles County}

At the dwelling house of Hardy 
Willeford the present residence of Brittain Willeford.
On this the 26th day of November in A. D. 1832 personally
appeared before me Robt M. Bugg Esq. an acting 
justice of the peace in & for said County, Brittain 
Willeford aged about ninety one years by 
the 20th day of Mar next who is unable to 
appear in court by reason of bodily infirmity 
& a resident in the county and state aforesaid, who 
being first duly sworn according to law 
doth on his oath make the following statement 
or 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 and served as herein stated under the
named officer.
     In January 1780 he volunteered 
and entered the service under the command of 
Capt. Benjamin West.  He does ^not now recollect 
the names of the batallion officers.  This was a part of 
the term of his service in Col. 
John Thomas, Regiment and occasionally 
under the command of Col. Rombuck.  
He states he acted as Sargant during a part 
of his service.  He was principally 
engaged in scouting parties in this service.  
He ^was never in any engagements except two little
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skirmishes.  He was marched to join General 
Morgan as he was retiring before 
Tarlton but did ^not reach him before 
the engagement took place between them 
at the company.  But he reached 
him in time to guard the prisoners, that were 
taken.  And he was marched with said 
prisoners through part of North Carolina.  
He does not recollect that he ever got any discharge.  
He was returned as a soldier of the 
Revolution so the general assembly of the 
State of South Carolina. here he got a certificate 
or indents as they were vulgarly called for 
land.  But he does not now remember for 
how much, he also states that he was under 
the Command of General Pickins in South 
Carolina near a little place called Ninety Six 
where most of his service were performed 
except the time that he was engaged in guarding 
the prisoners.  The prisoners above referred 
to are the same, that were taken by Gen. Morgan 
when he defeated Tarlton.  He also 
states that he had an encounter with a Tory 
Capt. by the name of Nat. Young, who 
gave him a ^wound on the head with a stick 
& the scar of which he still wears.  He was 
also taken prisoner by the tories, but he remained 
but a short time in confinement.
Page 9

The Capt. of the party finding that they 
could not proceed with significant speed 
with this encumbrance of him along 
dismissed him.
He positively states that he was in the service 
of the United States in said war for the term 
of at least eighteen months all 
together.  He lived during the war in Spartanburgh 
County in South Carlina in 
1815, he removed to Wilson County Tennessee 
lived there one year, in the latter part of the 
year 1846 he removed to Giles County Tennessee 
thence he moved to Maury County Tennessee.  
Thence back to the said County of Giles where 
he has lived ever since and where he now 
lives.  Applicant is so exuding by age 
& infirm that he can remember 
but few of the incidents that occured
during his service or much 
of the country through which 
he passed while in service.  He has 
no documentary or other evidence by which 
he can prove the above services, nor any 
persons whose testimony he can procure 
to establish the same except 
Mark ^Jackson of Maury County 
& his son Willis Willleford of Callaway 
County State of Kentucky.
Page 10

He hereby relinquishes ever claim whatsoever 
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.

Questions to be put by the court by the 
direction of the War Department.
1st.  When and in what year were you born? 
I was born in the State of Virginia 
South Hampton County on the 20th of May A.D. 1742.

2nd.  Have you any record of your age and 
if so, where is it?
     I have a record of my age in an old 
family Bible of mine, which I left 
at my son Wiley Willeford's in 
Maury County Tennessee.

3rd.  Where were you living when called into 
service, where have you lived since 
the Revolutionary War and where do 
you now live?
     I have already answered 
this question fully in my declaration.

4th.  How were you called into Service, did you volunteer were you drafted or were you
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a substitute, and if a substitute for whom?
     I volunteered in all of the above service.

5th.  State the names of some of the regular officers, who were with the troops, where you served, and such of the Continental and Militia officers as you can remember and the general circumstances of your service.
     I have set forth the enquiries in this question as fully as I can from memory.

6th.  Did you ever receive a discharge and if so from whom.  
     I never received a discharge as I now recollect of.

7th.  State the names of the persons to whom you know in your neighborhood, who can testify as to your character for varacity and their belief of your services in the Revolution.
     I am known to John Laird Elisha White William Draving John Fry Joshua Sacker John Sacker Martin Laird Martin McCall and George Malone & Basil Compton & Allen Hill.

                 Britain Willeford

State of Tennessee Giles County

November 26th 1832 I Robert M Bugg one of the Justices of 
the Peace in & for said county do hereby certify that the above
applicant Britain Willeford who is a citizen of said county and with 
whom I am acquainted and who I believe is unable to attend in 
court from bodily infirmity this day appeared in proper person before me
and make oath that the facts stated in his above declaration
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are true according to the best of ^his knowledge recollection 
and belief.
                                Robert M. Bugg JP

Mr. Allen Hill a clergyman residing in the said 
County of Giles and State of Tennessee and Basil 
Compton resides in the same 
County & State ^do hereby certify^ that we are well acquainted 
with Brittain Willeford.  Who has subscribed and 
sworn in the above declaration that we believe 
him to be ninety years of age.  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 that opinion.
                                        

                                                Allen Hill
                                                Basil Compton

Sworn to & Subscribed
the day & year 
aforesaid
           German Lester Clk

And the said Court after ^an examination of^ the above
proceedings before the justice of the peace 
& after an investigation of the matter so 
far as they could from the above 
testimony do hereby declare the opinion, 
that the above named Applicant was 
a solider of the Revolution, & served as 
he states.  And the court further certifies 
that it appears to them, that Allen Hill
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who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in said County of Giles, and that Basil Crumpton who has also signed the same, is a resident in the said county, and is a credible person and that his statement is entitled to credit.
Tho. S. Webb. one of the Justices of Giles County Court.  A M M Upshaw one of the Justices of Giles County Court
Jacob Jones one of the Justices of Giles County Court.
I German Lester Clerk of the Court of Pleas and quarter sessions holden for the County of Giles in the State of Tennessee do herby certify that Robert M. Bugg before whom the foregoing declaration was made and sworn to and was at the time of signing his certificate an acting Justice of the Peace for said County and that the balance contains the original proceeding of said court in the matter of the application of Britton  Willeford for a Pension.
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In testimony whereof I have hereunto 
set my hand and affixed the 
seal of said court at office 
this 2d day of January 1833.

                             German Lester Clk

Brittain Willeford

State of Tennessee}
Giles County}

I Arthur Mall [illegible] 
presideing justice of the Court of Pleas & quarter 
sessions, holden for said county do hereby certify that 
German Lester, whose name is signed to the foregoing 
certificate, is Clerk of said Court & was at 
the time of signing said certificate and ^that full faith 
& credit is and ought to be given  to all his official 
acts as such, and that his said 
certificate is in due form of law.  Given 
under my hand and seal this 11th day of
January 1833

Arther Mall Upshaw
   Presiding Justice of the Court 
of Pleas & Quarter Sessions.
Page 15

No. 22552.
Brittain Willeford
            Tenn.
Giles Co.

from 1780 private 
of Cav. & Sgt 18 months,
Pvt 1 yr     [50.00]
Sgt 6 mos. 30.00
          [total]  $80.00

Pulaski
German Lester, Clk
Giles County Court
Tennessee
Page 16

                          WAR DEPARTMENT
                            Pension Office.
                                      May 10 1833

Sir:

     The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, 
has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned.  The following is a statement
 of your case in a tabular form.  On comparing these papers with the following rules, and 
the subjoined notes you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, 
before a pension can be allowed.  The notes and the regulations will shew what is 
necessary to be done.  These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, 
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }).  You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and 
you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your 
claim.

A Statement, shewing the Service of Brittain Willeford Giles Co Tenn
____________________________________
Period when the service was rendered.
     1780 Jan. Vol.
__________________________________________
Duration of the claimant's service
Years. --
Months     18 altogether
Days.  --
________________________________________
Rank of the claimant.
     Private and Sergeant during part of his service.
_______________________________________________
Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.
     Capt. West
_____________________________________
Names and Rank of the General and Field officers.
     Col. Thomas.
__________________________________________
Battles in which the applicant was engaged.
     Skirmishes
__________________________________________
Country through which he marched.
     N. C.   S. C.
____________________________
Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.
     Aged about 91
     Spartanburg Co S. C.
________________________________________
Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
     Traditional and Living Witness
________________________________

                              I am, respectfully,
                                 Your obedient servant,
                                       J. L. EDWARDS
                           Commissioner of Pensions.
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REGULATION UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army,
and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia" and "volunteers," all
persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who
were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to
Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are
also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claim
ing the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first
instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of
Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is
considered a Court of Record.

                                                                  DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory or District of} ss.
County of                                 }

On this______day of_____personally appeared (a) before
A. B. a resident (b) of______in the county of _______and State, Territory or District
of_____aged_______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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed
June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)____, with  and
served in the_____ (e) regiment of the_____ line, under the following named officers:

(Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the
town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and the country through which he marched. ☞This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he
declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of
the Agency in the State of

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid._______________A. B.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary
soldier, and served as he states.

I _____________of the Court of
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
the application of__________________ for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
________ day of _____________& c.

If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be
found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out ___________

Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia,
except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and
subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:______________

(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____________ and C. D. residing in (the same)
hereby certify, that we   _____________      are well acquainted with ___________ , who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be ___________
years of age; 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 that opinion.

Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

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 them that A.B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the___________
and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the __________
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I, ____________-Clerk of the Court of ____________ do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of ____________
for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this ______ day of      ____________ & c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission
; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if
possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services
of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
upon the transaction.

If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will
also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful
in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
alleged service, as they are  know at the Department.  A very full account of  the service of each person
Page 18

3

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case The facts stated will afford one of the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected.
All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his
case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of
service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State
troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, 
and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such
Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. 
To a Solder.     } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, 
and what has become of it?
To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what
has be come of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify
as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.

The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are
requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.

The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court,
without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be
the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character
and standing of other persons giving such certificates.

The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the
enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.

Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before
required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper
county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform,
and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.

Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper
Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a
Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is
his genuine signature.

No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before
the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the
declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure,
taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period
of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the
opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.

[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the
claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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."

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 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 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 place 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.

[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i ] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.
                                                                                     
                                                                                          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 papers 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.
                                                                                        
                                                                                                    Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
☞ The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j]  applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is insepensible in militia cases.
[l]  If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m]The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

Dyer Castor
Claim Clerk
Page 19

Rev War
   1740.
INVALID
____________
File No. 1740
Brittain Willeford
Priv. N. C. Line.
______________
Act: June 7, 1832.
Index:-Vol. a, Page 406

(Arrangement of 1870)
South Carolina Line Records corrected
                              Nov. 7,'03
Page 20

Planters Bank of Tennessee
Pulaski Nov 4th 1836
Sir
Mr H Williford of this County this
day presented me the enclosed certificate and
proof to draw the balance due to his dec.
Father Brittain Willeford. The difficulty is
this two of the children of the said Brittain
Willeford are non residents, and are situated
at a point to which  there is some difficulty to
Communicate in order for them to enter into the
necessary proceedings  to draw the pension due
to the said Brittain Willeford at the time of his
death. From the instructions given me I do
not consider myself authorised to the balance to
one of the Children the amt due as
aforesaid. Neither do I conceive that
I am authorised to pay any part unless a full
Page 21

liquidation of the claims can take place. 

     Will you please advise me what disposition to make of the case.  Oblige

                      Yr obt sevt
                      Thomas Martin
                      Pension Agent

To J L Edwards, Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
Page 22

State of Tennessee}
Giles County}

     At the dwelling house of 
Hardy Willeford in said county. 
This day being the 25th day of August 1833
 personally appeared before me Robert M 
Bugg a Justice of the peace for said county, 
Mark Jackson aged 90 years the 12th 
of November last a citizen of Maury 
County & and said state who being first 
duly sworn according to law - doth 
upon his oath make the following 
statement, to wit:  That he has become personally 
acquainted with Brittain 
Willeford of Giles County & said State 
for the last seventy years.  That he knew 
him well before & during the Revolutionary 
War.  That he knows that the said Willeford 
was a soldier of the Revolution, that 
said Willeford entered the service of the 
United States in Spartanburgh County, now 
Spartanburgh District in the state of South 
Carolina in the month of January 1780 
under the command of Colonel John 
Thomas.  Deponent does not recollect the
names of the subaltern officers under whom 
said Willeford served, nor the length of said
Page 23

Willeford's service, Deponent being at that 
time attached to another Regiment and 
under the command of different officers.  
But he distinctly recollects to have frequently 
met with the said Willeford when 
on scouting parties.  Some considerable 
length of time after the said Willeford had 
entered said service.  He does not recollect 
when said Willeford left said service 
but he thinks he was discharged in 
the said county of Spartanburgh in 
said state of South Carolina.  
That the said Willeford has been believed & 
reputed to be a soldier of the Revolution 
in the respective neighbours, where he 
has lived since the Revolution.  That he 
never heard the same disputed.  That 
the deponent knows that the said Willeford 
was a true Whig & Republican and at 
an early period in the war took a firm 
and decided stand on the side 
of liberty & that said Willeford has 
always been an excellent ^character & has
always been a man of unquestionable 
integrity &  varacity.  And that this
Page 24

deponent has entire faith & confidence 
with the statements in which the said Willeford 
now makes of ^his services in the 
Revolution.

                                    Mark Jackson
Sworn to & subscribed
before me the day &
year first above
written.
Robert M Bugg, JP

And I the said Robert M. Bugg Justice 
as aforesaid, do hereby certify that I 
believe that the said Mark Jackson 
is a credible person and that his 
statement is entitled to credit, and that 
he is a citizen of Maury County in 
said state & of the age he represents 
himself to be.  
Given under my 
hand & seal the day & year above 
written.
                             Robert M Bugg, JP
Page 25

State of Tennessee
            Giles County.

I German Lester Clerk of the Court of 
Pleas and quarter Sessions holden for the 
County aforesaid do certify that Robert 
M. Bugg before whom the foregoing 
annexed declaration of Britton Willeford 
was taken, and before whom the foregoing 
affidavit of Mark Jackson and 
who certified the credibility of said Jackson 
was at the said several official acts.  
An acting Justice of the Peace in and for 
the County aforesaid duly commissioned 
and qualified and that full faith & credit 
is and ought to be given to all his official acts as such.  
In testimony 
whereof I have hereunto 
set my hand and affixed 
the seal of said Court at office 
this 10th day of September 1833.

               German Lester, Clerk of Giles Cty Ct.

[physical seal affixed]
Page 26

State of Tennessee)
Giles County)

At the house of Hardy Willeford in said County.

The amended declaration of Brittain Willeford 
of said county in order to obtain the benefit 
of an act of Congress passed June 7th 
1832.  Personally appeared before me, the undersigned 
a justice of the Peace for said county 
Brittain Willeford aged 91 years on the 20th 
of May 1833 old style.  Who being first 
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 the different terms of his said 
service, but according to the best of his recollection 
he served not less than the periods 
mentioned below & in the following grades.  
To the best of his recollection he served 
on the part of the United States in the war 
of the Revolution as orderly Sargeant for 
the term of six months under the command 
of Col. John Thomas.  For the whole term 
of eighteen months, mentioned in applicant's 
declaration, he was under the
Page 27

command of the said Col. Thomas.  Except 
when he was occasionally dispatched 
on scouts, or foraging parties, then 
for the time that their expeditions required 
he was placed under the command 
of Col. Rombuck.  Applicant 
was thrown into this service occasionally 
& also said to carry dispatches on the 
account of his being a good horseman.  
And also on account of his 
having a good horse of his own during 
the [illegible] time of his service. During the 
whole term of his service he was a militia man 
& a private soldier enlisted the 6 months above 
stated when he served as an orderly sargeant
as above set forth. 
     He was principally while in service in South 
Carolina after he had been marched out 
of North Carolina as mentioned in his declaration, 
he was in no said service 
during the said term of eighteen months, 
he was as he formerly stated under the superintending 
command of General Pickens 
during all of his said service.
Page 28

Col. Rombuck above mentioned was Col. of the Cavalry.  The length of time that applicant was with him in the scouting parties above referred to, he cannot recollect precisely, he thinks, he was under the command of Col. Rombuck altogether during his said service for the period of three months, for which service he claims a pension.

                            Brittain Willeford

Sworn to and subscribed
before me this 3rd day
of July 1833
Robert M. Bugg, JP