Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6612, Joshua Betterton, S.C.
Page 1

S.C. Betterton, Joshua S6612
Carded
Page 2

Let Agt June 14 35 payt susp
" JWhitna 28 March 1836
" " 31 May 
" Agent " " 
" 53d And May 26 1838
Paid at the treasury under the act April 6 1838 from 4t March 1836 to 4 Sept 1837 Agt notified 4 June 1838
Paid as above from 4th Sept 1837 to 4 Sep 1839 agt notified 3 June 1840
order to pay 5h Oct 1840

South Carolina No 23.878
Joshua Betterton of Andrson Di in the state of S Carolina who was a private in the commanded by captain of the Regt commanded by Col James in the S Carolina Troops tine for 15 months 
Inscribed on the Roll of South Carolina at the rate of 50 Dollars - cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 19th day of April 1834 and sent to Jas W Whitner Anderson C H SC

Arrears to the 4th of March 1836 130.00
Semi-anl allowance ending 4th Sept "  25.00
$175.00
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7 1832} 
Rcorded by D Brown Clerk,
Book C Vol 6 Page 63
Page 3

Application  
Joshua Betterton
Pension June 7 1832
Page 4

The State of South Carolina
Anderson District

On this 5th day of March 1833 personally appeared in open court before the Judge of Sessions and common pleas of said state for said District now in session.  Joshua Betterton of that state and district  aforesaid who being duly sworn  according to law doth on oath duly sworn according to law doth oath make the following declaration in order to  obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.  This deponent was born in Frederic County Maryland and removed to Spartanburg in South Carolina shortly before the Revolutionary War concluded in his seventeenth year but has record of his age and been in no other way state his age precisely.  He lived there during the struggle and first entered the service as a volunteer under Lt. William Smith with whom he served then hereafter - was afterwards drafted and served a tour of eight months into Georgia under the command of Gen, Twiggs, Col Manual and Major Boykins - was in the battle of Brier Creek and another on the Ogechee
Page 5

against the Tories.  He was afterwards in a tour against the Cherokee Indians under the command of Col. Charles James - He was again out on a tour of three months under Capt. Smith  to Bacon Bridge about the end of which term peace was made.  This deponent believed himself to have been in the service for two years.  He never had a discharge nor has he received any compensation for his service - knows of no direct proof he can now make of his service other than from a petition of which accompany this declaration sworn to and subscribed this fifth day of March one thousand eight hundred and thirty three in open court 5th March 1833 Josh his X mark Betterton 
Van A Lawhorn CC
We John B Chappell & Thomas Skelton residing in the state and district aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted Betterton who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration..  We believe him to be of the age he has stated He is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood in which he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and we concur in that opinion
sworn to & subscribed in open court day & year aforesaid John B Chappel
Thomas Skelton
In open court 
Van A Lawhorn CC
Page 6

I Josiah J Evans Judge of the said court do hereby declare my opinion after investigation the substance of the interrogatories prescribed by the war department having been answered as far it is said as is in the power of the applicant from his general appearance reputed character and preceeding certificates that he was a revolutionary soldier and served as stated John B Chabbell who has  signed the preceeding certificate is a clergyman and together with Thomas Skelton who reside in said district are each credible and respectible persons as represented by those  in whom I can rifose confidence having no personal knowledge of any of this parties myself
Josiah J Swans
Prendg judge

5 March 1833
I Van A Lawhorn clerk of sessions & common pleas for and in district do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said court in the application of 
Joshua Betterton for a pension
In testimony whereof I have set my hand & seal of office this 5th day of March 1833
Van A Lawhorn
CC
Page 7

24275
Joshua Betterton
SC Rev
admit as a private
15 months $50
jem
Van A Lawhorn
Anderson CH
JN Whitner
Anderson CH
SC
Page 8

WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office
183
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 show what is necessary to be done. Those 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 Joshua Betterton SC

Period when the service was rendered /
Duration of the claimants service Years/months/days/ Rank of the claimant /
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served /
Age at present and place of above when he entered the service / Proof by which the declaration is supported.

Volund / 3 months / private Cap Smith / born in Timderuk Ma
after ob drafted 8 months / private Col Manuel Genl Twiggs / innrell service Spartanburg SC now lives in Anderson Dist SC
again time not given 1 month / Col Jamy / 
1781 3 months / Cap Smith / 
Sais he was in service 7for 2 years / knows of no one to prove his service
15 months / Certificate of clergyman and a citizen 
I am respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES L EDWARDS
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 9

2
REGULATIONS 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 serviced 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 claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will in the first instance, make applications 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
County of } ss.
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 (c)      years who being 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 certified, 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 known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
Page 10

3
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case.  The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corrobating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be at 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 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 Soldier.} 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 become 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 he 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 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.
[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. 
[i] 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 indispensable 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.
Page 11

amended declaration 
F
Joshua Betterton
Page 12

The State of South Carolina
Anderson District
Joshua Betterton of the state and district aforesaid appeared personally before me and being duly qualified on oath declare as follows ameudatory of the Declaration made by him in open court on the 5th of March 1833 in order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress of 7th June 1832.
His first tour of three months under Capt 
William Smith was entered upon about the time of planting born either March or April in the year 1780 and he was marched in the direction of and into the neighbourhood of Augusta and was attached to the command of General Lincoln
His eight months tour was commenced in February in the year 1781 on the first day of which month he is satisfied they commenced the march His tour against the Indians since he cant to recollect date was for one month (the month of March) in 1782 His captain  was not out this time and he was commanded by Lieutenant O'Shield and his last three months tour in his original declaration to Bacons Bridge was before this tour against the Indians was in November 1781
Joshua his E Mark Betterton
sworn to & subscribed before me Feby 21 1834
Joseph N Whitner
Notary Public
QW Ex off
Page 13

The state of South Carolina
Anderson District
I Van A Lawhorn clerk of the county sessions and Common Pleas for and in District certify that Joseph N Whitner is an acting Notary Public for said district and that full faith is due to his official act and that the foregoing signature is genuine
In testimony whereof I have set my hand and seal of office this fifth day of March one thousand eight hundred & thirty four
Van A Lawhorn
Page 14

Rev War
6612
INVALID
File No 6612
Joshua Betterton
Pri Rev War
Act June 7th 32
Index: Vol A Page 27
[Arrangement of 1870]
Page 15

TREASURY DEPARTMENT 
Second Comptroller's Office
May 20th 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," Joshua Betterton a Pensioner on the roll of the S Carolina Agency at the rate of Fifty Dollars and - cents per annum, under the law of the 7 June 1832 has been paid at this Department from the 4th of Sept 1837 to the 4th Sept 1839.
Respectfully yours
Albion K Parris
Comptroller
To the Commissioner of Pensions
Present
Page 16

Treasury Department
Second Comptroller's Office
May 31, 1838

Sir
Under the act of the 6th  of April 1838 entitled "An act directing the transfer of money unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States, Joshua Betterton, a Pensioner on the roll of the  S. Carolina Agency , at the rate of fifty Dollars a
-----Cents per annum ,  under the law of 7th June 1832 has been paid at this Department from the 4th of March 1836 to the forth of September 1837.

Respectfully yours,

Albion K Parris 
Comptroller

To the Commissioner of Pensions
Present.
Page 17

Charleston 29 Sep 1840
for Howard Kenneth for authority to pay voucher of Joshua Betterton David Holder & Pery Evans
I am very respectfully your obs
N Spears for agent
JL Edwards Esq
Commissioner of pensions
Washington DC