Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7004, for Alston S Massey, South Carolina
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
S.C.

Massey, Alston S.
Emeline

NUMBER
R. 7004
B.L. Wt. 87024-160-55

Born in Va
---------------------------------
CONTENTS
Page 2

218.231 Act Mar 3
                    Oct 16     '55
----------------------------
Emeline Makey [Massey] (wid)
Alston S. Makey [Massey]   Pri       (13)
----------------------------
Capt Wm Hendricks
Genl Marion

Ent Oct 1778
Disc                    So. Ca M

Rev War
----------------------------
Ala Rej June 32
-----------------------------
Admd 160 acs 
Mar 28/59
Dodge
-----------------------------
Claimant   M
Monroeville
Ala

Vol M1. page 61.

[written diagonally over the above]

[note on left side of page]
End R.
Let Claimant Oct 23/55
J. W. Posey  Oct. 21/58

Wt. No 87024 of March 29/59
Page 3

37595
Alston Massey
Declaration for 
Pension
Page 4

The State of Alabama
Monroe County

On this first day of 
April 1848 personally appeared in Open 
Court before the Circuit Court for said
Monroe County Alston Massey a resident
of the County of Monroe and State of Alabama
of about Eighty four years 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 June 7. 1832 -
That he entered the service under the 
following named officers and served as herein
stated - William Hendrick was his
Captain - Peter Dubose and James 
Oldfield were Majors - Lamb Burton
was Colonel - under General Francis
Marion -  He cannot recollect the
day or year he entered the service - but 
states that it was about two months 
before the discharge of the Army in 
South Carolina by General Marion
That he served one month and 
twenty seven days.  that when he entered the 
service he resided in Chesterfield District
South Carolina - that he was draughted [drafted]
That he does not know of any person 
who knows that he served in the Revolution
Except what William Holly knows who 
lives i Covington County Alabama
and whose affidavit is hereto annexed -
and that he has no documentary evidence
of his service -
Page 5

He says that he entered the Army when 
he was sixteen or seventeen years
of age - He was draughted [drafted] as he 
recollects in 1781 or 1782 - for 
two months - that he went from 
Chesterfield District to Watboo [Wadboo?]
where 
they stayed until discharged - That 
soon after he went into General Marions
Camp - The Brittish evacuated
Charleston - General Marion 
discharged his up country soldiers
and went to Charleston - That he 
got no written discharge because 
none was given to any of the troops
He says he was born in Virginia
about 25 miles above Halifax - That
when he was a child his Father moved
to Chesterfield District in So. Car.  That
since the Revolutionary War he resided
in Chesterfield District So. Ca. forty five
years - then he removed to Georgia
where he resided until three years
ago when he removed to Monroe County
Alabama.
He says the reason of his 
not earlier applying for his pension is 
that he was told that no one but six 
months soldiers were entitled to the 
provisions of the Act of June 7 1832
That within a year he has heard
that other soldiers who were draghted
for two months were receiving their
pension in So. Ca.   That he had a 
petition or declaration written by
Page 6

Justice of the peace in Georgia - but he was
advised by Wilburn a Congress of Georgia
that no one but 6 months men were intitled 
to pensions -
He herby relinquishes Every claim
whatever 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 -

Alston Massey X his mark

Sworn to & Subscribed in open court on the 
day and year aforesaid - 

Attest.  Daniel M Coll Clerk


We John Daily a clergyman residing in 
Monroe County Alabama & near Alston Massey
and Saml J Cumming, residing in said Monroe
County Alabama & near Alston Massey hereby
Certify that we are well acquainted with
Alston Massey who has subscribed and sworn
to the above declaration  that we believe
him to be Eighty five 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 & Subscribed the day and year aforesaid

John S. Daily
Saml. Jas. Cumming
Page 7

The State of Alabama
Monroe County

I John Bragg Judge of 
the Circuit Court of the Sixth 
Judicial Circuit of Alabama including
said Monroe County do hereby declare my
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 that John
S Daily who has signed the preceding certificate is 
a clergyman and that S. J. Cumming who has signed 
the same are residents of Monroe County
Alabama and are credible persons and that 
their statements are entitled to credit -

J. Bragg.

I Daniel McColl Clerk of the Circuit Court
of Monroe County do hereby certify that the 
foregoing contains the original proceedings 
of the said Court in the matter of the
application of Alston Massey for a 
pension.
In testimony whereof I have 
unto set my hand and seal of
office the first day of April 
1848 -

Daniel McColl, Clerk
Page 8

(3)

The court propounded interrogatories
to the said Alston Massey who upon oath
answers as follows --

1st  That he was born in Virginia about
twenty five miles above Halifax - That 
he is in his Eighty sixth year -

2nd  That he has no record of his age -
he had one but gave it to his son about 24
years ago in South Carolina

3rd  That he was living in Chesterfield District
State of South Carolina when 
he was called into service & for forty five years after
war - he then removed to Georgia thence to Alabama

4.  That he was draughted - [drafted]

5.  That he was with General Francis
Marion - Lamb Burton was Colonel
James Colonel Horry was also with
them - James Oldfield and Peter Dubose
were the majors -  That he went 
into the camp of General Marion
at Watboo [Wadboo]- about thirty miles
from Charleston --

6.  That he never received any written
discharge - That he was discharged
by General Marion verbal declarations 
to his soldiers discharging
them

7.  He names John Daily - Alden Clark
Samuel James Cummings esqs. and William
W McColl and John J Rouch [Roach?] Esqs. as persons 
to whom he is known in his present
neighborhood & can testify as to his character
for veracity and their belief as to his service as a 
soldier of the revolution
Page 9

(7)

State of Alabama
Monroe County

On this the 6th 
day of October A.D. one thousand eight hundred
and fifty-five, personally appeared
before me a Justice of the Peace
within and for the County and 
State aforesaid Emeline Massey, aged
fifty-two years, a resident of Monroe
County in the State of Alabama,
who being duly sworn according to 
law, declares that she is the widow
of Alston S. Massey deceased, who was
a private soldier in the company commanded
by Captain William Hendricks, in one of the regiments
under the command of General 
Marion; (She belies that Peter Dubose
and George Evans were lieutenants
in said Company; and James Oldfield
and Lamb [Lemuel] Benton were officers
commanding in said regiment
she believes there were Majors) - in the 
revolutionary war, that her said
husband was drafted in Chesterfield
District State of South Carolina, on 
or about the month of October A.D.
seventeen hundred and seventy-eight,
for the term of two months, and 
continued in actual service in said
war for the term of nearly two months, 
and was honorably discharged somewhere 
near Charleston in the State 
of South Carolina.
She further states that she was married
to the said Alston S. Massey, on the
Page 10

fourteenth day of April A.D. eighteen hundred
and twenty, by one Aaron Knight,
and that her name before her said 
marriage was Emeline Allen; that 
her said husband died near Monroeville
in Monroe County, Alabama,
on the seventeenth day of July A.D.
eighteen hundred and fifty-three, and 
that she is now a widow.
She further states that at the time of her
marriage with the said Alston S. Massey
in the State of South Carolina, there was 
no public record of marriages kept
in said State; and that there is no public
record of said marriage; that there 
is no private or family record of the said
marriage in existence.
She further states that the said Alston S.
Massey never received any written discharge,
so far as she knows or believes.
She makes this declaration for the 
purpose of obtaining the bounty land
to which she may be entitled under 
the act approved March 3rd 1855.
And she also states that neither she 
nor her late husband Alston S.
Massey, have ever received any
bounty land under said act, or any
other Act of Congress.  

Emeline Massey X her mark

We Henry Honeycut & Nancy Honeycut 
residents of Monroe County in the 
State of Alabama, upon our oaths declare
that the foregoing declaration
Page 11

was signed and acknowledged by Emeline
Massey in our presence, and that we 
believe, from the appearance and statement
of the applicant, that she is the 
identical person she represents herself
to be; and that the said Alston S.
Massey and the said Emeline Massey
lived together as man and wife, and 
were so reputed to be; and that the said
Alston S. Massey died in the year 1853.
And that the said Alston S. Massey
and Emeline Massey were known by us
for about Thirty Three years to the death of the 
said Alston S. Massey.

Henry Honeycut X his mark
Nancy Honeycut X her mark

The foregoing declaration and affidavit
were sworn to and subscribed before
me on the day and year above
written; and I certify that I know the
affiants to be credible persons; that I 
believe the claimant is the person she 
represents herself to be, and that I have 
no interest in this claim.

John C. Kimberl     [seal]
an acting Justice of the peace in and for the 
County of Monroe
Page 12

The State of Alabama
Monroe County

I, C H Foster Judge of Probate of 
said County do hereby certify that John C
Kimberl (whose genuine signature appears written)
is & was at the time of signing the same an
acting Justice of he Peace in & for said County
duly commissioned & sworn -
Given under my hand & Seal of Office
the 8th day of Octr. A D 1855

C H Foster
Judge of Probate
[seal]
Page 13

(6)

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.

REJECTED

7004
P. O.  [blank]
Alston Massey
Service:  [blank]
Enlisted:  [blank]
Discharged:  [blank]
Application filed:  [blank]
Alleges:  [blank]
Re-enlisted:  [blank]
Attorney:  [blank]
P. O.  [blank]

[blank] Recognized.   [blank] Contra- [edge of paper missing]
[blank]  Cert. of Dis.   Searched for [blank]
Page 14

(5)

No 37595
Alston Massey
Ala
Let to Hon. John Gayle Apl 29
1848.

7004

Rejected, did not have 
6 mo

Act 7 June 1832
Page 15

(8)

FREE

[post mark]
MONROEVILLE
ALA.
OCT 
9

Comr. of Pensions
Washington
D.C.


[written sideways on left side]
218.231
Page 16

(10)

Monroeville Ala
Oct 4th 1838

To the Comm
of Pensions

Dear Sir

I write to inquire
the reason of the suspension 
of the claim or application of E. Massey, wid
of A S Massey, for Bounty
land under the Act of March 
3rd 1855, No. 218,231.
If she has ever recd a letter
containing such information
She knows nothing 
of it now.  Please answer

oblige yours.
J W Posey Atty
for applicant


address
J. W. Posey
Monroeville
Ala
Page 17

(14)

87,024

160 acres
Page 18

(12)

Monroeville Ala.
Feb 26th 1859

To Comm. of Pensions

Sir,

in the case of the claim of
Mrs. Emeline Massey - widow of Alston
Massey - for bounty land.  No. 218,231.
In pursuance of the directions or suggestions
in your letter of the 21 Oct 1858, I have 
applied to the Comptroller General of 
S.C. for evidence of the service of Alston
Massey - which you said was the reason 
of the suspending Mrs. Masseys claim -
and have obtained a transcript from 
that office, which I herewith enclose
as evidence to obtain the warrant in 
this case - if sufficient please forward
if not please inform me what more 
is required - 

Yours Respectfully
J W Posey
Atty for client

Comm. of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.
Page 19

Alston Masseys
Memo [? - Number?]
Page 20

(1)

The State of Alabama
Covington County

Personally appeared before me James Ward an acting 
Justice of the peace in and for said county
William Holley who after being duly sworn 
deposeth and sayeth on his oath that he the said William
Holley was personally acquainted with Alton Massey
at the time that he said Alston Massey
went out in the campaign under Jineral 
Marrian [General Marion] in the Revolution ware [war].

William Holley

Sworn to and subscribed this the 20th Day of 
July 1847

Attest James Ward
Justice of the 
Peace


The State of Alabama
Covington County

I Charles G Lynch
Clerk of the County
Court of Covington County do Certify that 
James Ward is an acting Justice of the 
Peace in and for the County of Covington
given under my hand and private
Seal there being no seal of office this 19th 
day of July 1847

Charles G Lynch, Clk


State of Alabama
Covington County

I Lemuel S. Harvill Judge of the County Court 
do hereby Certify that Charles G. Lynch is at 
This time an Acting Clerk of our County Court, And that the
Above mentioned James Ward is also an Acting Justice of
the peace in and for said County.  Given under my hand At Chambers this July 21st AD 1847

Lemuel S. Harvill Judge CCCC
Page 21

(4)

Washington   17th Apl 1848.

Sir,

I have the honor to enclose, herewith, the application of 
Alston Massey, a soldier of the revolution, to be 
placed on the pension list.  I hope it will be found
sufficient for that purpose & will be very glad to 
have it in my power to communicate the glad tidings
to this old man.

Very respectfully   I have the honor 
to be yr obt sert [your obedient servant]
John Gayle


Hon Jas L. Edwards
Comm. Pensions
Page 22

(9)

Act Mar '55
Oct 6 '55

218.231

Emeline Massey
wid of 
Alston S. Massey
Pri

Capt Wm Hendricks
Genl Marion 
So. Car.
Revolution


Claimant,
Monroeville
Ala


[written over the above at a diagonal angle]
[illegible] Issd 29 Mar 59 [or 60?]