Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17920, William Dawson, Ga. N.C. S.C.
Page 1

(3 - 1776 )
SERVICE
Ga.
N. C.
S. C.


Dawson, William
NUMBER
S. 17920

carded

CONTENTS
Page 2

rep'd.

31,824

South Carolina
William Dawson
of Edgefield in the State of S. Carolina
he was a private in the Compy commanded
by 
Captain Maxwell of the regt commanded by
Col. Hammond in the {S. C. N.C. Ga.} line  
for 2 years

Inscribed on the Roll of S. Carolina
at the rate of 80 Dollars -
Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 12 day of Feby
1841 & sent to Hon. F.W. Pickens
H. Reps

Arrears to the 4th of March 1841 $800.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sep 1 40.00
$840.00

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by D. McCurdy
Clerk.

Book C. Vol. 6 Page 65.
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State of South Carolina
Edgefield District
On this first day of November in
the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and
thirty two personally appeared in open court before me
Richard Gantt one of the Judges of said State now
sitting in and for the District aforesaid William
Dawson a resident of the District & State aforesaid
aged seventy four years, less a few days 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 the
7th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States in
July 1776. His first tour of military service being
against the Cherokee Indians within the chartered limit
of this State, as a volunteer in a militia company with
the command of one Capt Jefferson Williams of
said District, the expedition was commanded by
Col. Andrew Williamson who commanded a  [obscured}
of S. Carolina Militia. We encountered [obscured}
in considerable force on the Tugalo River, and again
 a few days subsequently at a place called [Tomasse]
 or Sugar Town near the last mentioned place - where
several of the Enemy were slain.
In the early part of 1779 the applicant having
 repaired to his native place Cumberland County in No.
Carolina he then and there was drafted for three months.
and served in a company commanded by Capt. Nathaniel
King, attached to Col. Johnson’s Regiment and Gent
Butler’s Brigade of North Carolina Militia.  We [?] crossed 
at Crop Creek and from thence, we were ordered to the south,
and effected a junction with the army under the command
 of Genl Andrew Williamson near Augusta.  The
applicant was at the defeat of the army of Genl Ash
(which was a detachment from Genl Williamson’s Army),
at Briar Creek in Georgia in March 1779. In April following
 or May following the army which was defeated at
Briar Creek,  now under the command of General 
Lincoln commenced its march to the defence of
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[page torn-the lower?] section of this State, and engaged the enemy
 at the Battle of Stono which was fought in 1779.
After this the applicant having a discharge from the said Capt 
King to whose company he was yet attached (which discharged has
long since been lost) he returned to his home in Edgefield.
In June 1780 the Brittish having obtained possession of all the
strong posts in the [illegible] counties of So Carolina, Gen Williamson
acted treacherously to his country & surrendered all the
men (whom he could) under his command near Cambridge.
 The applicant having been paroled
remained in this situation, till the fall of
the same year, when he volunteered in the service and [joined an]
Expedition under the command of Genl Elijah Clarke and
____McCoy of Georgia, which eventuated in an engagement
with a detachment of the enemy from the fort of Cambridge
at Cedar Creek,  which [illegible insert] after William Cunningham a Tory Col.
and several were killed and wounded, among the latter of whom
was Genl Clarke-- In May succeeding, the applicant [joined]
the army under the command of Col Clarke & Genl Pekins, which united
with a detachment of Genl Green’s army Cavalry under Col.
Lee at Augusta, and was actively engaged at Fort Brown at
said place, when Col. Brown surrendered the garrison
[obscured] command. From thence we repaired to [Mead?]
[obscured]  near the vicinity of Cambridge, and formed a junction
with Genl Green’s army which was then lying before the fort
 at Cambridge attempting its reduction-- the garrison was commanded
 by Col. Conger. The sudden appearance of Lord
Rowden in the vicinity of that place, forced us to retreat
from our position and make a movement toward to the
 low country in this State. At Eutaw our army encountered
a considerable body of the Enemy in September 1781 who
after a [fiercely or filthy] severe engagement retreated. In this last
 expedition, the applicant was attached to a company under and
Capt. Maxwell (then a resident of this district). The officers
Engaged in that battle were Genl Green & Pickens,  Col. Martin, Col.
[illegible]  &c. The last were those he had made acquaintance with.
After this the applicant returned home to Edgefield where he now
resides and attached himself of to a militia company commanded
 by Capt Henry Col [King] & of Col. [Putnam’s] [insert duty Hammonds?] Regiment.
From the fall of 1780 till the termination of hostilities in So. Car.
the applicant was frequently actively engaged in scouting
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and reconnoitering parties against disaffected provincials
 normally called tories. The applicant never received a discharge, 
Except the one from Capt King above referred to. In the
above declaration the applicant has [obscured] stated some of the principal
 events of his military campaigns and has omitted the
detail of his minor service, which would nearly fill up the interval
[obscured] of time between the more prominent Events above.
[obscured] period of time when he was not actually engaged
[obscured] in service were comparatively short and
bear a very small [portion] in point of time, to those periods when
he was so engaged in the military service and added together
it would greatly exceed two years.
 This deponent has no documentary evidence to adduce for the
verification of his declaration, but would refer to the
accompanying certificate of Col Sam’l Hammond, 
who was an active and efficient officer in the Revolution, 
a corroboration in part of the said declaration.
The applicant hereby 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. Except
[Georgia], which pension he hereby relinquishes on the
 establishment of his claim now presented.
Willm Dawson x

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
Richard Gaute P. J.

We William Garrett a citizen residing in Edgefield District
 & State aforesaid and David Richardson residing in the same
district & State hereby certify, that we are well acquainted
with William Dawson who has subscribed & sworn to
the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy four
age lacking a few days as he declares.  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.
Wm Garrett Senr
David Richardson

Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
A B Addison QM

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after the
investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogators
prescribed by the War Department, that the above named
applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states.
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And the Court further certifies that it appears to them
that William Garrett Sen. who has signed the preceding certificate
is a resident in Edgefield District and that David Richardson who
 has also signed the same is a resident os
said district & state, and is a credible person, and that
their statement is entitled to credit
Richard Gantt, [J.P.?]

I Jefferson Richardson Clerk Clerk of the County Court for said
County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains
the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of
the application of William Dawson for a pension-
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my and
seal of office this Second day of November in
the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred
thirty two.
J. Richardson C. C. C.
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Dawson
Amended
declaration
Page 8

Amended Declaration of William Dawson

South Carolina
Edgefield District

Personally appeared before me the undersigned
a Justice of the Peace for the District & State aforesaid
William Dawson who deposeth & saith that in his
original Declaration, he omitted many material
facts as to his revolutionary services, which he
now sets forth; that in the expedition against the
Cherokee Indians in July 1776 as set forth in his original
declaration, that he volunteered for three months
and was in actual service for that time. The
applicant further states that on the return of
Capt Williams to the Fort on the Senaca River in this state
that Capt Benjamin Tutt, who was attached to
Col Isaac Hughes Regiment, was there station, with
his company, & after being discharged from his, Williams, 
company, he substituted and took the place
of one Peter Scott, who was enlisted in said Capt
Tutt’s Company and served out his time which [served?- page torn]
months and was then given a written discharge
by said officer, which is now lost. He refers the
dept to his declaration for his services at [‘Stony Point’ - crossed out, word ‘no’ inserted above].
In the same year he substituted in Capt ______ company,
 in place of John Reid, which company was attached to
 Col Leroy Hammond’s Regim’t. for three months, and march
 with said regiment to the siege of Savanah. And was actively
 engaged in said siege untill the close of the action, or dispersion
 of the militia. In explanation of his service from Jany 1780,  
states that he volunteered under Capt David [Hopkins?]
of this district, for three months.  At the expiration 
of that time he again volunteered for three months
and served out both periods but no written discharge.
That he was also under said
Maxwell as a volunteer for three months, during the
Battle of the Eutaw Springs. that he was engaged
in said Battle. That he was discharged, but no written
Discharge. In the months of October or November.
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the Battle of the Eutaw 1781. The deponent volunteered
under Capt John Cain, whose company was attached
to Col. Hammond’s Regiment in an expedition
against the Cherokee Indians and Tories,
Genl Andrew Pickens Commanding the expedition.
In this expedition the deponent states that he was
selected with nine others from the different companys
as an advance guard. That they succeed in Capturing
 & killing four Indians who were supposed to be
acting as [paper torn] for those who had embodied
 at [time town Sortiry or Sortiz?]. That in this expedition
 he was a volunteer, but
for what period he does not recollects, but belives
that at that time he was not in actual service
more than one month.
The applicant further states, that he was in the Florida
expedition of 1778. that he was drafted in a company
 commanded by [crossed out- ‘Jefferson Williams’] Joseph Dawson
attached to a regiment commanded by Col Leroy
Hammond, the Brigade comman’d by Genl Williamson.
That the company to which he was attached was
discharged in Georgia.  That he was drafted for six
months. That he remain in actual service with the
company until they were regularly discharged
but no written discharge that he now recollects.
And the applicant states that owing to old
age & consequent loss of memory, that
is unable to state any further facts to Department.
Willm Dawson x

Sworn to and subscribed before
me this 25th day of January 1841
Aaron Hill Magistrate
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Wm Dawson
So Ca
No. 20890
Rev

Allow 25 yr $80 per
ann.

S. & N. Carolina Militia
Capt Maxwell

l. m.
not auth

Jef. Richardson
Clk Edgefield
Dist So Ca

Hon F.W. Pickins
H R
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WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office,
April 18 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. 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 by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A Statement, showing the service of William Dawson

Period when the service was rendered | Duration of the claimant's service. | Rank of the
Claimant. | Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. | Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. | Battles in which the applicant was engaged. | Country through which he marched. | Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period | Evidence by which the declaration is supported

July 1776 vol | [blank]  | Private| Capt J. Williams | Col A. Williamson  | [blank] | [blank]  | 74 years Edgefield | [blank] |

drafted | 3 months  |  “ “ | Capt. N. King | Col Johnson, Genl Butler, Genl Lincoln  | Briar Creek, Stono
| From Cumberland Co., No. Ca. to Stono | [blank] | Traditionary

vol. | [blank]   | “ “ | Col. Clark, Capt. Maxwell, Capt. H. Reymond | Genl E. Clark, Genl Pickney, Col. Hammond | Fort Brown to Eutaw | From Fort Brown to Cambridge  | [blank] | [blank] 

his whole service would greatly exceed two years

I am, respectfully
Your obedient servant,

J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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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, claiming
the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians 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.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
of
On this
DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory,
County of
or Districo ss
day of
A.B. a resident (b) of
personally appeared (a) before
in the county of
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 provion made by the act of Congress, passed
June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)
served in the
(e) regiment of the
with
and
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 enered 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
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.
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
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
and C. D. residing in (the same)
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 day 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
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
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of
do hereby certify that the foregoing 
for a pension.
and State, Territory or District
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.
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 13

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 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
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
ing 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.
low the rule laid down for his guidance.
The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will of
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
The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
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, deposes 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 ___year___ 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. 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 officer 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.
The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
The opinion of the Court is always required.

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 papers.
seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the

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.

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 claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well
in the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witness
, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
note applies to continental troops only.
The notes from (a) to (l) are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops, The proof required by rule in
This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 14

17920

INVALID.
File No. 17920

William Dawson
Pri. Rev War

Act June 7" 32
Index: -- Vol 1 , Page 429
{Arrangement of 1870.}
Page 15

State of South Carolina
Edgefield District
Personally appeared
before me a justice of the
Peace in and for the District aforesaid,
Abner Corley aged 83 years and
now a Pensioner of the State of South Carolina
for Revolutionary services, who after being duly sworn
as the Law directs sayeth that he knew William
Dawson [Sen.] now an applicant for a pension
from the Gen’l Government during a [part]
of the Revolutionary War. That he first saw
him, in actual service, at the siege of Augusta.
That he again met with him at the siege of
Cambridge or ninety six where he was in
active service. And that he believes all the
statements set forth in his declaration as to his [memory]
to be just & true.
Abner Corley his mark

Sworn to before me this 25 day of
January 1841.
Aaron Hill Magistrate

South Carolina
Edgefield District 
I T. J. Hibbler a Justice of the
peace certify that I have known
the above named Abner Corley for a number
 of years & that I would believe him on his oath
Feby 1st 1841. Tho. J. Hibbler Q.M.
Page 16

The State of South Carolina 
Edgefield District
I, Geo. Pope, Clerk of the
Court of Common Pleas & Genl
Sessions for the District & State aforesaid
 do hereby certify that Aaron Hill
and was at the time of signing the within
a magistrate for Edgefield District aforesaid 
said and that due faith and credit
are and of right ought to be given
to his attestations as Magistrate aforesaid.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and affixed my Seal of Office this 1st
day of February AD. 1841.
Geo. Pope C.C.C.
Page 17

Abner Corley
aff't
Page 18

Col Hammond
aff't

Wm Dawson's
Petition for pension
Page 19

State of South Carolina
Edgefield District
I do hereby certify that I was acquainted with
 William Dawson in the year 1779 and
saw him frequently during that year in actual
service, in Gen A. Williamson’s Brigade So. Carolina
Militia. His rank if any I do not now recollect,
but he was an active soldier & in several detachments
with which I served. I saw him at the siege of 
Savannah Commonly called the French siege.
He was also, in what is called the Stono Campaign
in the latter part of 1779.  & so I saw him in actual
service, but at this distance of time & [Duly or duty] & particularly
circumstances, not connected with his own command, 
are imperfectly recollected. I have however recollections
 enough to state that he was constantly
in service from Feby 1779 to May 1780 after
which I know nothing, untill the siege of 
Ninety Six & Augusta in 1780 - when I saw him
again in actual service, untill my {Soney?]
Genl Green in the neighborhood of Bacon Bridge
near Charleston, after which I know nothing of his
service, but believe he still continued an active & [illegible] 
officer in the militia. & was generally, as far as my
memory serves me, considered an active & [useful] soldier.
L Hammond
Page 20

3 - 871.
RECORD DIVISION.
Department of the Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Briefed by
Claim No.
Certificate No.
Claimant
William Dawson
Service. S. C.
Additional Service Rev. War.

No.  claim, State records , 190
No. claim, combination records , 190

REMARKS:
No inv. claim as
above except
Sur File 17920.

ACM
Nov. 15/09.
Chief Division
Page 21

State of South Carolina 
Edgefield District
Personally appeared before
me a Justice of the peace
in and for the District & State
aforesaid Henry Timmerman, said to be age
84 years, and a Pensioner of the General Gov’t, 
who after being duly sworn as the Law directs
sayeth, that he saw William Dawson Sen’r, who
applies for a Pension from the Genl Gov ‘t.

In the action at the Battle of Stono in this State
in 1779. That he also saw in him in active service
at the siege of Cambridge in this state. And
that he also said him in the engagement at the
Battle of the Eutaw Springs.
And that he believes are the facts set
forth in his original and amended declaration
is just and true.
Henry Timmerman his mark
Sworn to before me this 25 January
1841. Aaron Hill Magistrate

South Carolina
Edgefield District . Personally appeared
before me Jeremiah Cook who deposeth
&  sayeth that he has known the
above named Henry Timmerman for
 a number of years & that his testimony
is entitled to full credit. 
J. Cook

Sworn to before me
this 1 Feby 1841
Geo. Pope
C. C. C.
Page 22

The State of South Carolina
Edgefield District
 I Geo. Pope Clerk of the
Court of Common Pleas & Genl
Sessions for the District & State aforesaid
do hereby certify that Aaron Hill is 
and was at the time of signing the within
a magistrate for Edgefield District
aforesaid and that due faith &
credit are and of right ought to be
given to his attestations as Magistrate
aforesaid. 
In Witness whereof I have
hereunto set my hand
and affixed my seal
of Office this 1st day
of February A.D. 1841.
Geo. Pope
C. C. C.
Page 23

Henry Timmerman's
aff't
Page 24

Indent Book M No. 315

No. 1
Issued the 13th July
1785 to William Dawson
for six pounds 11/5 Sterling
for military duty as a private, 
[pay] Acc’t audited.
# 6. 11.5

No. 2
The State of So. Carolina [Dec]
To William Dawson
for duty for Col Anderson [reling]
#4.6
Sterling # 6.11.4

Comptroller Gen’l office
Columbia Decr 1840
I do hereby certify that the above
record marked No 1 is a true
copy taken from the margin of
Indent Book M. No 315 deposited
in this office and that No. 2 is
a true copy of the account to
which the said record  acc’t [service] refers.
William E’d Hayne
Com Gen 
Mr. B. Hart
Page 25

[seal of South Carolina]

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
BY HIS EXCELLENCY
John P. Richardson Esq
I John P. Richardson Governor and Commander-in-chief in and over the state aforesaid
To all to Whom these Presents Shall Come.
Know ye that William E. Hayner above whose
signature appears to the Certificate hereunto
annexed is and was at the time of signing
 said certificate, Comptroller General of the
State of South Carolina. That to him is committed
 the custody of the Indent Book and that B. Hart who signed for him the
said Certificate was at the time his lawful authorized Deputy.
THEREFORE, all due Faith, Credit and Authority is, and ought to be had and
given to his proceedings and Certificates as such.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my Hand, and caused to be
affixed the Seal of the State in the Town of Columbia
the twenty ninth day of January in the
year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty one
and in the sixty fifth year of the Independence of the
United States of America.

BY THE GOVERNOR.
M. Laborde Secretary of State
Page 26

Return the letter to Hon.
Mr. Pickens with certificate

Hon'l F. W. Pickens
Washington City
Page 27

Edgef’d  1st February 1841

Hon F. W. Pickens
Dear Sir
By the request of
William Dawson, I forward you his application
for a pension. You will see from his original declaration
 that he applied in 1832. His declaration was returned,
 he made no further effort, and in 1833 he moved
to the State of Ala. He has recently returned to this State,
 and has endeavoured to procured such testimony as the
 war department requires. I have no doubt myself of the old man’s
 correctness of statements and from traditionary reports [illegible]
more service than he has mentioned in his original or amended
 declara’ns. You will be so good as to write me so soon as the
 Dept reports on the subject.

Respectfully yr &c
B. M. Blocker

I also enclose you additional Testimony in favour
 of [Mrs Holesonback] & [Jeremiah?]  Cook who swears to the credibility
of H. T.  [Henry Timmerman] is a Resp’d. man
B. M. B.
Page 28

Commissoner of
Pensions
Page 29

F. R.
8. Feby 1841

Sir
I enclose you the within
papers - as to pension. Be so kind
as to examine them and let 
me know what the Department
will do. They are respectable &
worthy people. Be so good as to
enclose me back Mr. Blocker's
letter.
Very respectfully
F. W. Pickens
Page 30

Geo. Pope
C. C. P.


Wm Dawson
20890


Hon F W Pickens 
HR
Page 31

[seal of South Carolina]

Robt Y. Hayne
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
BY HIS EXCELLENCY
Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the State aforesaid.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME
Know ye that Rich’d Gantt whose signature
 appears to the annexed Instrument of [writing] is &
was at the time of the execution then of true and lawful
 apprentice to Judge of the
State of So. Car. and that J Richardson
 is a Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas.

Therefore, all due Faith, Credit, and Authority
is and ought to be had and given to his proceedings and
certificates as such.
In Testimony Whereof, I have here unto set my hand, and
Caused to be affixed the Seal of the State, in the [blank]
the  [blank] of  [blank] in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and  [blank] and in the  [blank]
year of the independence of the United States of America.

BY THE GOVERNOR.
S. J. Hammond
Secretary of State