Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2,376, William Beck, N.C.
Page 1

( 3 - 1776)
SERVICE
N.C.
Beck William
NUMBER
S.2376
CONTENTS
carded
Page 2

12.537
North Carolina
William Beck
stakes in the State of North Car
who was a pri. in the commanded
Captain of the Regt commanded
Col. Taylor in the North Carolin
for 7 months

Inscribed on the Roll of North Carolina
the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum,
commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 7 day of May '33
and sent Hon. A. H. Shepard
Germanton, N. Ca
Arrears to the 4th of March.            1833 46.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept "        11.66 ½
                                                                     $58.32½
⎨ Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by William Miller Clerk,
Book 3 Vol. 6 Page 34
Page 3

North Carolina, Superior Court of law October
Stokes County, 1832

On this 18 day of October personally
appeared in open court before the Judge
of the superior Court of law for stokes
County now sitting William Beck
a resident in the County and State afore-
said, aged sixty six years, (illegible)
who being first duly sworn according to
law, doth, on his oath make the following
declaration, in order to obtain the benefit
of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.
that he entered the service of the United 
States under the following named officers
and sewell as herein stated, that he entered
the service as a substitute for his father John
Beck, at the court house in the County of
Granville and State of North Carolina an the
tenth day of June A.D. 1780 in the company
commanded by Captain Peter Bennet, Lieutenant
Cafton or Grafton as well as he now recollects
that he with his company marched to Hillston
rough in the County of Orange, where
they halted a day or two, when they marched
within about four miles of Fayetteville, where
they remained about a week, that they then
crossed Cape Fear River and marched
to Randolph old court house at the cross
roads recrossing in their march the case
Fear. From there they marched to South Carolina
Page 4

Carolina crossing the Yadker, near the
mouth of Rocky river, that they marched within
a few miles of Camden and halted near rongle
mills, Rugeley mills as well as he now recollects
that he was then at the time of Gates defeat that
he was not in the battle on that day although
he went within healing of the (illegibile) that he was
one of the guard on that day, who had charge
of the baggage waggons and some prisoners
that General Caswell had commanded the
North Carolina militia, that his regiment
was commanded by Col. Taylor from Hills
borough, North Carolina, that after the
battle they related back to Hillsborough
where they relocated a week or two, that he
recollects that the battle of Gates defeat was
fought on the 16 day of August, that
from Hillsborough, they marched
to the Waxan settlement in South Carolina
to six mile Creek, where they remained two
or three weeks, when they related back as
far as Salisbury in with Carolinawhere
he received a written discharge from
Captain Harrison, he having been (illegible)
feed to Hensons company after Gales,
defeat, that he received his discharge some
time in the last of October or in first of November
1786, that he served during this year
not less than four months
Page 5

That sometime in the month of February or 3
March 1781 he again entered the service
for the term of three months as a substi
tute for his father John Beck at the
court house in Granville in North 
Carolina, in the company of Captain
Hicks, & Lieutenant Gilliam as well as he
now recollects there names, that shortly
before the bade of Guilford he was placed
under Captain Hodge & Lieutenant Hicks, that
he was in the battle of Guilford, he remembers
that General Green commanded was the
highest office in command that his regiment
was commanded by one Col Taylor from
Granville, that he was not the same Col.
Taylor before spoken of, he well
recollects that Col. Taylor had posted
himself behind the trump of an ald
hee mounted upon his house, he
also recollects that his regiment
treated on or two fires, that after
the battle of Guilford he went come
(illegible) there a few days & joined
the army again at Ramsey's mill on
Depriver, that from Ramsey mill
they marched to a fort on Peder where
they remained a few days, from there
they marched in sight of (illegible), 
(illegible) having (illegible)
Page 6

that time, that they remained in sight of
lander a day or two, that they were march
& searching about in that neighborhood
for two or three weeks, recollects they
marched a day or two towards the
(illegible) & then returned, that they con
tended in that neighborhood could
her three months had expired, when
he returned home, that he received
no written discharge at this time, that
in this last expedition, he was placed (illegible)
and Lieutenant Campbell, the Captain being
absent, his Col was in Pick Eaton; that at
his time he served not less than three months
that he again entered the service as a
substitute for his father John Beck
in the County of Ganville in the year 1782
for the thirty three months, that as well as
he work recollects it was in the month
of March he entered the service of his
time, that he marched to Hillsborough
where he remained for one month
when he was discharged, that he
received a written discharge, which
is last
that he knows of no person by whom he
can prove his service except Socael
Frazier, who knows that he was in the
service at the second time alone (illegible)
Sworn to & subscribed
in open Court The Armstrong Clk
Wm Beck
Page 7

State the names of some of the equal officers
who were with the troops where you served 
such continental and maplite regiments
as you can recollect, (illegible) the general
circumstances of your service 
(the above is crossed out)

He hereby relinquishes every claim to
a pension or annuity whatever except
the present, and declares that his name
is not on the pension roll of the agency
of any state.                 Wm Beck

Sworn to and subscribed the due
and year aforesaid that Armstrong Clk
The William Herr and John Null
residing on the neighborhood of William
Beck do hereby make oath that we
are well acquainted with William Beck
who has subscribed and sworn to the
above dedication, that he we have known
him for many years, that we believe him
to be sixty six years of age or upwards
that he is a highly respectable man
that his character for veracity is above
suspicion, 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 to & Subscribed
in open court
The Armstrong Clk
Wm Hester
John Null
Page 8

Wm Beck 15857
and the said superior Court now holding
by James Matt Junior declares his pension
after the investigation of the matter, and
after putting the interrogations the
scribed by the war department that 
it alone named applicant William
Beck was a revolutionary soldier
and served as he states. And the
(illegible) further certifies that it appears
to the court that William Hester and
John Hull, who have subscribed
and sworn to the preceding certificate
are (illegible) a resident in the neighborhood of 
said applicant, that they are credible
heirs, and that their movements
entitled to cellet
James Martin

I Thomas T Herrishor clerk of the
Superior Court of law for takes and
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains
the original proceedings of the said court
in the matter of the application of William Beck
for a pension. In testimony whereof I have here
set my hand and seal of my office this 20th day
of October AD 1832
(illegible) Armstrong Clk
Page 9

Where, and in what year were you
born?
I was born on the 12th of February 1766 as
I have always been informed, in the County
of Granville North Carolina

Have you any record of your age
and if so where is (illegible)
I have a copy of a record of my age, the
where was made by my grandfather in
a book belonging to my father which
record stated my birth as above mentioned

where were you living when called into
service; where have you lived since the
revolutionary war, and where do you
now live
I was living on the hedge of Rocks Creek
in the Dutch District as it was then called
in the County of Granville, North Carolina
I resided in the County of Granville until
the 1793, in the month of December, when
I removed to the County of Stokes where
I have resided ever since
Where were you called into service; were
you drafted, did you volunteer, or were
you a substitute, alone (illegible) substitute
for whom?
my father John Beck was drafted
each time and I was a substitute for him
Page 10

State the names of some of the regular officers who
were with the troops where you served, such
such continental and mitted regiments
as you can recollect, and the general
circumstances of your service
I can recollect little more on this subject
then I have stated in my declaration I
however now recollect that Col. Mark
ington (illegible) a regular officer of
the light horse was one of the officers
at the time I have mention I was (illegible)
in the service the second time in the
Maxon settlement
Did you ever receive a discharge
from the service, and so by whom
was it given, and what has become
of it
I have received two discharges as mentioned
above they are both lost
the first was given by Captain Hanson
it was for three months service the
other was given by Captain Groge, it
was for one month is served at
Hillsborough as above mentioned
State the names of persons to whom you
are known in your parent neighborhood
and who can testify as to your
character for veracity, and their belief of
your services as a soldier of the revolution
William Hester, John Shull Jacob Conrad &
many there Beck
The Armstrong Clk
Page 11

Rev. and 1812
Wars Section
AWF/eel

October 4, 1929

Mrs. J. Frank Thompson
11 Kuhlman Court
Columbia, Missouri

Dear Madam:
I advise you that due to the very large number of
inquiries similar to yours and the lack of a clerical
force available for the purpose, the bureau is unable to
make a series of investigations and reports pertaining
to soldiers of the War of the Revolution and War of 1812
for one person. Only two histories are furnished each
person.
You are herewith furnished the Revolutionary War
histories of William Beck, of Stokes County, North Carolina,
and Elisha Evans, of Caswell County, North Carolina.
From the papers in the Revolutionary War pension
claim, S.2376, it appears that William Beck, the son of
John Beck, was born February 12, 1796, in Granville County,
North Carolina.
While residing on the ledge of Rocks Creek in the
Dutch District of Granville County, North Carolina, he
served with the North Carolina Troops as follows:
Page 12

From June 10, 1780, four months in Captain Peter
Bennett's and Harrison's Companies, Colonel Taylor's Regiment
from February or March, 1781, three months in Captains
Hicks and Hodges' Companies, Colonel Taylor's Reg
iment and was in the battle of Guilford Court House, a
few days after the battle of Guilford, three months under
Lieutenant Campbell in Colonel Pink Eaton's Regiment
in March, 1782, one month, names of officers not given.
He was allowed pension on his application executed
October 12, 1832, at which time he was residing in Stokes
County, North Carolina, having moved there in December,
1793.
There is no reference to wife or children.
Very truly yours,
EARL D. CHURCH
Commissioner.
Page 13

Rev War
2376
INVALID.
File No. 2376
William Beck
Privt Rev War
Act: June 7. 1832
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 26
(Arrangement of 1870.]

1929. Oct 4 (illegible) Mrs. J. Frank Thompson
1930 June 25 J. Frank Thompson
2561 advised that his was furnished
her on Oct 4, 1929. Rec letter 
in case of John Connelly
D. 1629
E E L
Page 14

Wm Beck
(illegible)
ation

(illegible)
Admit payments as
breth- $23 33
Page 15

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 Beck 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?
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 amout of pension
he is entitled? No
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
Page 16

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: two respectable witnesses
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtain
ing 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 produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath,
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the
regulations direct?
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age,
as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered? Yes

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 recolelection
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.
Page 17

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 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 objection-
able. 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 em-
ployed in any civil pursuit.
QUERE XIV Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must
prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of
the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the
regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths
must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate
must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not
written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate
must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass
under the seal of office of the certifying 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.
Page 18

State of North Carolina
Stokes County             Superior Court of Law
                                       & Equity Apl Term 1832

Sound Frazer maketh oath, that her
is acquainted with William Beck
that he now lives in Stokes County
when affical likewise resides. Affiant
further maketh Oath that whilst in service
during the revolutionary war in the year
(illegible) seventeen hundred and Eighty
in a militia company from the Court
of Granville State of North Carolina
having been marched to or Howard South Carolina
whilst on the march on their
return he got acquainted with Wm Beck
who was likewise in the service, in
the same corps, but not in said company 
affiant officiant understand & believes
that said Buck in that particular (illegible) 
was engaged three months
Sworn and signed     Lowell Frazer
in open Court
(illegible) Clk
Page 19

State of North Carolina
Supens County
Stokes County ⎬
Superior Court of Law and
Equal Ape Leon 1833

I John L Wilson a regular minute
the Baptist Church in the Court of Sloth
do hereby certify that I am well acquainted
with William Beck of Stoke County & have
known him a number of years and certify
that that he is a credible person and that
his statement is entitled to (illegible)
John S Wilson
Sworn to Subscribed
in open Court
Wm Armstrong Clk

State of North Carolina } Thomas Petite one of the
Stokes County }              Judges of the Superior Court of Law
equity for this sect forsaid do certify that John Citin who
(illegible)
On this 17th day of April 1833 personally
appeared in open Court William Beck
the applicant for the pension in the (illegible)
(illegible), and oath to his debt
as amended, to wit that during the
year 1780 he served not less than
four months, and in the 1782 that
he served not less than three months
Sworn to Subscribed         Wm Beck
in open Court
(illegible) Clk
Page 20

MRS. J. FRANK THOMPSON
I I KURLMAN COURT
COLUMBIA, MISSOURI

Could you give me the pensions
of the following persons there
names are copied from the
pension book of 1840
Elisha Evans, Coswell Co. N.C. age 80
John Graham, Davidson Co. N.C. " 78
Wm Beck, Stokes          Co N. C. " 75
Graham Ferguson, Fay (illegible)
John Hacket, Bottetourt Co age 81 
Samuel Hay, Moson Co. Va age 97
Thos. MC (illegible) Washington Co. Va age 99
James Ferguson, Philadelphia Co. Pa.
It I have asked for too many please
Page 21

MRS. J. FRANK THOMPSON
I I KUHLMAN COURT
COLUMBIA, MISSOURI

give me as many as you
Can, I will certainly thank
you very much-
Very Sincerely
(Mr .J. Jack) Stella A. Thompson