Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2547, Joseph Fennel, N.C.
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Service NC Fennel Joseph Number S. 2547 Contents Carded
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12432
North Carolina
Joseph Fennel of Orange County in the state of N.Car who was a [illegible] in the  commanded by  Of the regt commanded by Col. Hawkins in the [illegible] line for 9 mo. 21 days
Inscribed on the Roll of North Carolina at the rate of 32, Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of Apr. 33 and sent to P.H. Mangum Hillsboro NC
Arrears to the 4th of March 1873 Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept-
6466 
16.16 
$80.82
Revolutionary Claim, ⎬ Act June 7, 1832. Recorded by Nathan Rice Clerk Vol. 6 Page 41 
 Letter to [illegible] W. Montogomery 27. Apl’38
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6. April 1838 from 4 March 1837. to the 13 January 1838 the day of his death. Agent notified 14 July 1838
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North Carolina Orange County.
On this day, of March 1833, personally appeared in open court, before the justices of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the said County of Orange, now sitting, Joseph Fennel, resident of the County and State aforesd, aged eighty eight years on the 4th day of November 1832, who being first duly sworn accord to Law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress pass June 7th 1832. That he entered service of the United States under the following name officers did as herein stated
In December 1775, the declarant volunteered as a private in the militia of North Carolina, in the county of Bate, now Warren, when he resided, for the purpose of marching to the city of New York to meet the [illegible] A company of 60 or 70 was formed under the command of Col Phill: Hawkins, Capt James Denton-He was marched from N.C. beyond Meherron in in Virginia, when an [illegible] that [illegible] was called into service of his company has passed away-whereupon his company turned home after being disbanded [illegible] The term for which he volunteered was not fixed, as well as he remember nor do he receive a written discharge.-- In may following, the declarant volunteered for three months with the militia of No. Ca. in the same County above mentioned, when he then resided company officers were Capt James
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Denton, Lieutenant J. Harrison. His company was organed in Bate, now Warren County, & was marched by way of Tarborough to Wilmerton Noca, [illegible] of Militia collected under the command of Ashe, Col Dozier, Col Gee and Major Roger. Here the declarant remained  [illegible] of the vice & then his company with [illegible] was marched back home, & he was discharged at the expense of the then months for which he volunteered. He did not receive a written discharge. A short time before the Battle of Guilford in 1780, declarant was drafted for three months, as a private, in the militia of North Carolina, in the said County of Bate, which was then called Orange, where he then resided, he then resided & was attached to a company which was organized at Warrenton, under the command of Capt Wm Christmas & Lieutenant Jno White. His company with himself was marched to haw river in the neighborhood of High rock ford, & there joined Genl Green's Adms. Genl Butler was [illegible] of the militia No. Ca . The declarant continued with Genl Green until the battle of Guilford was in that battle. He continued with Genl Green in his March to Ramey Mill on Dupurd. From Ram-he marched to Hunters old Quarter on Crabton, Wake County under the command of Col Ben Will, & there remained until the end of his term of three months, for which he had been drafted from Hunter’s Quarter, declarant’s company was marched home by Capt Christmas & was discharged. He did not receive a written discharge, all as he remembers On his return home, declarant was drafted again in the as a private Militia of the State in the same County when he died, for the term of three months. This term of service was rendered.
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by declarant, in constructing, as a carpenter, a [illegible] for the American Army. He finished this building about Christmas 1831, [illegible] the dimensions of the House, which consisted of said timber, were ful wide & sofarly. This service was [illegible] of service in the ranks, by Capt Wm Christian  who was charged with the duty of having such a building constructed. He hath no written evidence of this service. He was born in Brunswick County in Virginia 4th of November 1744. He hath no record of his age. [illegible] from Warren County, he removed to Orange County & to the same place in Orange county. where he now resides two or three years after the close of the Revolution & has ever since resided in Orange. He hath no documentary evidence of his service nor doth he know any witness by whom he can prove his service. He is very infirm in body & hath gone from home very little for some years. He is known to [illegible]  Wm M. Ballard & who reside in his neighborhood. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.---Sworn to & subscribed, the day & year [illegible] Joseph Fennel [illegible]
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Where he resides to have been a [illegible] & the Revolution; Joseph Finnel maintain, in the [ Illegible] where he resides & is known the character of a man of unquestionable & unquestioned veracity and integrity. -- [illegible]
Thos J Fowler
William M. Ballard
Aquila Herndon 
[Illegible]
And the said Court do herby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the dates [illegible] prescribed by the War Department that, above named applicant was a revolutionary Soldier & served as he states - And the Court further certifies that it appear to them that Thomas J Fowler who hath signed the  [illegible] certificate is a Clergyman & is a credible person & that William M Wallard Aquilla Herndon who have likewise signed the preceding certificate are credible persons & that their statement entitled to [ illegible ] Taylor Clerk of Orange County Court of pleas & quarter Sessions do hereby certify that the [illegible] contains the agent pending in the face of the application of Joseph Pennell  for a pension in forth In Witness whereof I hereto set my hand List of Office 1st day of March 1833
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Joseph Fennel
N.C
No 24104
[Illegible] 
P. H. Mangum
Hillsboro
N.C
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War department
Pension office
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claims, under the act of June 7th, 1832, has been examined and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (This }). You will, when your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A statement, showing the service of Joseph Fennel
| Period when the service was rendered. | Duration of the claimant’s service. | 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. |
Decr 1775 | 21 days | Private | | Col. P. Hawkins | 88 years Bute C. N.C | Traditionary 
1781 [Illegible] | 3 | | 3 | | 3 | Genl Green & Butler | Traditionary
                                              Col. B. Sewall
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REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:

This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line." "State troops," "militia" and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who 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, mucicians 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 this   day of   personally appeared (a) before  A.B. A resident (b)  of in the country of  and state, territory, of (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. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
; A.B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I  of the court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of   For a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this  day of    & c.
  If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia. except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same)
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
         And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further 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 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
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---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 ex-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 giv-en, 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?
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, 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, 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 by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[B] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for 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 he served.
[E] Every continental officer or other must give the name of the one under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every continental officer or other must give the name of the one 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 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 the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but it, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: --For year months, and ---- days, I served as a----. For---- months and ---- days, I served as a----; and for such service I claim a pension.”
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pensioner 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 its 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 place 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 [illegible], and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the open character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
                                         Mode of Authenticating Papers.
In every instance where 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 certificates 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, to us 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 proves 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 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 [] are 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.
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Rev War
254th invalid
File Number: 2547
Joseph Fennel
Priv Rev. War
Act: June 7th 1832
Index --- Vol. A Page: 122
Arrangement of 1870
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Second Comptroller’s Office
July 10th, 1838
Sir: 
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States,” The children of Joseph Fennel, a pensioner, on the roll of the N. Carolina Agency,  the rate of Thirty Two Dollars and Thirty Three Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832 has been paid at this department, from the 4th of March 1837 to the 13th of January 1838, the day of his death.
Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.
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J. L Edwards
June 27th, 1838
Sir, 
Enclosed in the papers of Mr. Fennel, a pensioner, please say what cause must be taken to draw their money as the agent has referred to pay them
Yours respectfully, 
Mr. Montgomery
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Bounty Land Warrant Card
Name: Joseph Fennel,
 Grade: Private 
Line: Virginia Lee’s Legion.
Warrant Number: 12136 and 14125
Issued: August 3rd, 1795