Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31015, John Ewing, Va.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Va.

Ewing, John

NUMBER
S. 31015

CONTENTS
Page 2

13. 653
Kentucky
John Ewing
of Logan Co. in the State of Kentucky
who was a private
in the Company command
by Captain Newell-- of the regt,
command by Col Preston in the Virga Mill
line for 9 month from 1748.
Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky
at the rate of 30 Dollars
Cents per annual
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30 day of May
1833 and [Illegible]
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $60-
semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sep, 33 15
$75.
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
recorded by Wm Allison Clerk,
Book 3
Vol. 7
Page 8
Page 3

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of
Congress passed June 7 1833 
State of Kentucky}
On this 3d day of April 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Judge of the Logan Circuit Court in the State of Kentucky
now sitting, John Ewing a resident in said County of Logan in the State of Kentucky aged Seventy two 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 act of Congress passed 7 June 1832
this deponant [sic] was born in Prince Edward County in the State of Virginia in the year 1761 in the month of June, this he knows from his fathers family record of which the foregoing is extracted when [marked out: his father was] he was two years of age his father removed to Montgomery County in the said State of Virginia, to that part of said County which is now included Wythe County here he continued Until he entered the service of the United States, which was to the best of
his recollection in year 1778 he volunteered with Company of Militia under the Command of Capt Henry Francis, William Glaves was Lieutenant in said Company. We rendezvoused at the lead mines in the said County, and marched from hence to the head waters Yadkin River in the Northern boundary of North Carolina Colon Crocket was in Command on this campain [sic]
Page 4

and also Gen'l William Campbell. we dispersed the tories which had Collected in this neighbourhood a Captain of the tory party was taken and hung under One Canes gate for the tories had assembled in Canes Settlement as it was Called, after we done the Work assigned us he returned home but he received no written discharge for this leve [leave] Which was for thirty days, previous to this performance of the above mentioned tour he had Served thirty days at Chissels [Chiswell's?] mines as a guard, over a parcel of tories who we[re] prisoners there at this time, Sergeant Jacob Kindor was the officer of the guard. He received no discharge in Writing for this duty.
By an order of the Govenor [s[c] of Virginia Isaac Campbell and Robert Sawyers of both of Montgomery were directed to raise two Companies of light horse or Rangers to serve for six months to hold themselves in readiness to march at a moments warning whenever emergencies might require their Service they accordingly succeeded and your declarant Volunteered in Said Service as a private under the Command of Said Isaac Campbell. Michael Glaves was Lieutenant and John Rent was the ensign, in Said Company, we rendezvoused at the lead mines, here Colon. Abrah Trigg took Command We marched hence up New New [sic] River and crossed said River at a place called Jame's ford & proceeded across the mountains to the head waters of the Yadkin River. here we fell in with a party of tories Commanded by One Captain Kyle We killed between twelve and twenty of the tories and dispersed the balance.
Page 5

his former Captain Henry Francis was killed in this fight and was the only whig that was touched by the enemy  from there we went on the the Moravian towns after being there a short time we returned to Virginia after being at home a few days, news reached us that the tories were embodied below the Moravian town. Genl William Campbell from Washington County joined our army there being about three hundred Strong we marched back to North Carolina to the Moravian towns, here we received an account of the defeat of Colon Beaufort your declarant was sent by Genl Campbell to the [illegible] Settlement to Colon Lock[e] an [illegible] not far from the Catawba River, On his return to the Camp at the Moravian towns, he was informed by Gen'l Campbell that Sumpter had been defeated everything seemed to be lost in this part of the State, Gen'l Campbell returned to Virginia where he was discharged having performed his Six months duty agreably [sic] to his enlistment; he never received a dollar for his services during the six months, not withstanding he furnished his own horse & equipage and arms. He did not receive a written discharge for this service.
In the year 1780 He again entered the Service of the United States in a Company of Militia (Volunteers) Commanded
Page 6

by Captain James Newel, William Glaves was Lieutenant; he thinks John Whitlock was ensign in said company but did not go out with us - We rendezvoused at a place on the South side of New River called Hasberd's ferry at the mouth of Poplar Camp Creek. Here we were placed under the Command of Colonels Preston Crockett & Clayed from hence we marched across the Mountains into Gilford COunty in the State of North Carolina here we were joined by Gen'l William Campbell who had about eight men under his Command, We marched to the Court House of Gilford County. We were ordered from Gilford Court House to the neighbourhood of Gen'l Greens army but we did not join his Army which was then on the waters of Haw River. We had previous to this dispersed a parcel of Tories not far from Gilford Court House, Gen'l Pickens from Georgia joined us about this time we Contemplated Capturing Colon Tarlton but a tory deserted from our Army And gave information of the contemplated attack and Tarlton left his Camp in the night by crossed Haw River at a place called the High Rock ford. We pursued him untill [sic] we met Colon Lee, who informed us that we must retreat, for we were in the immediate neighbourhood of the Main British Army under the Command of Lord Cornwallace [sic] we according re-crossed Haw River &
Page 7

and encamped in the Vicinity of General Greens Army, the Morning after we marched to the Cowpens Genl. Green sent his aid to us and advised us to send our horses home as it was probable we would soon come to a general engagement with the British and might loose there, We accordingly complied with his directions, We were ordered from our encampment to a place called Whitsell's Mills on the Reedy fork of Haw River here we formed the line of Battle and met the Army of Lord Cornwallace, we accordingly formed near the old Mills and fixed two rounds and were then ordered to retreat as we were by this time almost Surrounded by the overwhelming army of Cornwallace
he recollects that in the retreat an old grist man by the name of Buckleamer took shelter in the old mill and fired upon and killed an Englishman as he came down the hill on the opposite side of the River, We were defeated and dispersed we had orders from our officers in the event of a defeat to rendezvous at Gilford Ct. House we there
I DO hereby certify, that John Ewing Jun hath taken and Subscribed the oath or affirmation of allegiance and fidelity, as directed by an act of General Assembly intituled An act to oblige the free male inhabitants of this State above a certain age to give assurance of allegiance to the same, and for other purposes. Witness my hand and Seal, this 13th day of Sept.
John Montgomery Seal
for which he has received no Compensation, he took the Subjoined Oath of allegiance about the time he was detailed to guard the horses at the
Page 8

and encamped in the Vicinity of General Greens Army, the Morning after we marched to the Cowpens Genl. Green sent his aid to us and advised us to send our horses home as it was probable we would soon come to a general engagement with the British and might loose there, We accordingly complied with his directions, We were ordered from our encampment to a place called Whitsell's Mills on the Reedy fork of Haw River here we formed the line of Battle and met the Army of Lord Cornwallace, we accordingly formed near the old Mills and fixed two rounds and were then ordered to retreat as we were by this time almost Surrounded by the overwhelming army of Cornwallace
he recollects that in the retreat an old grist man by the name of Buckleamer took shelter in the old mill and fired upon and killed an Englishman as he came down the hill on the opposite side of the River, We were defeated and dispersed we had orders from our officers in the event of a defeat to rendezvous at Gilford Ct. House we there rallied and were ordered homeward, he was out on this Campaign thirty or forty days, This declarant can say particularly that he served his Country in the Revolutionary War Nine Months, for which he has received no Compensation, he took the Subjoined Oath of allegiance about the time he was detailed to guard the horses at the
Page 9

lead mines, Thomas Porter a Clergyman my neighbour and W. J. Morton a Neighbour also Will testify as to my character and veracity, and also in regard to the belief in my neighbourhood of my having been a Soldier, He can prove a part only of his service which he does by the Affidavit of Archibald Rutherford appended herein
He knows of no person living by whom he can prove the residue of his Service
He 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
Sworn and Subscribed the day & year aforesaid
John Ewing
We Thomas Porter a Clergyman residing in the County of Logan in the State of Kentucky and William J. Morton residing in the same hereby Certify that we are well acquainted with John Ewing who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy two years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn and Subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Thos Porter
W. J. Morton
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and Served as he states - And the Court further Certifies that it appears to him that Thomas Porter who has Signed the proceeding Certificate is a Clergyman resident in the County of Logan in the State of Kentucky and that William J
Page 10

Morton who has also singed [sic] the Same is a resident in the said County of Logan in the State of Kentucky and is a credable [sic] person And And [sic] that their statement is entitled to Credit
Asher W Gorham
Judge of Said Court

I Marmaduke B. Morton Clerk of the Circuit Court of Logan County do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Ewing for a [covered by seal: pension]
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of office this 3d day of April 1833
M. B. Morton
Page 11

John Ewing
24998
Page 12

No 24.998
John Ewing
Logan Co
Kentucky
from 1778 private
9 months
$30
W. J. Morton
J.M.
M. B. Morton Clk
Russellville Logan Co
Kentucky
Page 13

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 the 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 brae, (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,
Kentucky
A Statement, showing the Service of John Ewing Logan County
Period when the service was rendered. Duration of claimant's 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 abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Vol 1778, 30 Days, private, Capt. Francisco, 72 years Traditional Evidence
Vol 6 months, Col Crockett, Montgomery
Vol 1780 30 or 40 days, Genl Campbell County
he states his whole Col Trigg Virginia
service at nine Capt Campbell
months
Capt Newel
Colo Preston & Crockett
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 14

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 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. 0 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 the 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. 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 the _____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 first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers: [Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [pointing hand symbol]This form is to be varied as 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. [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 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 putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the ___ and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the ____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. I, _____ Clerk of the Court of _____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____ &c. Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of a least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstance 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
Page 15

3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person 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 the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if  one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.  If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party.  And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
  Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
  Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, of 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 [illegible] 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 resided.  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 that 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, 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 not public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers

Mode of authenticating papers
  In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon., the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

Proof of Service.
 [j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged.  The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
  The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
 [k] This traditionary evidence is 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. 
 
John N. Ashton
Page 16

31015
Revy INVALID.
---
File No.
31015
John Ewing
Sid Rev War
Act June 7th 32
Index:--Vol. 2, Page 128
Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 17

Russellville Ky
Apl 12.

free

J. L. Edwards Esqr.
War Department
Washington City

May 13 KY  24998

John Ewings
pension papers