Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2484, John Currey, N.C. S.C
Page 1

(3 - 1776)

SERVICE
N.C.
S.C.

Currey, John
or Curry

NUMBER
S.2484

Born in Penn
Carded.

CONTENTS
Page 2

7580
West Tennessee

John Curry
of Wilson Co in the State of W Tenn
who was a private in the com commanded
by Captain Wilson of the Regt commanded
by Col Hampton in the S. C.
line for 8 mo

S.C. and N.C. Line Records corrected

Inscribed on the Roll of West Tenn Jany 19 04
at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 3 day of May
1833 and sent to Josiah S.
McLean Lebanon

Arrears to the 4th of March 53.32
Semi-an. allowance ending Sept 13.33
[total] $66.65

 Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by Daniel Boyd Clerk,
Book E Vol. 7 Page 74
Page 3

20062
John Curry.

from 1779 private
8 months $26.66/100

Josiah S McLain CC
Wilson Co.
Page 4

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 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
you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.

A Statement, shewing the service of John Curry 
[table]

| Period when the service was rendered | Duration of the claimant's service. Years.Months.Days. | Rank of the claimant. | Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served | Battle 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 |

[1st row] | drafted 1779 | 0.3.0 | pr. | Capt Forst. | Lt Hancock Col. Hampton | none | N & S.C. | 70 N.C. | Docs: & Trady
[2nd row] | 1780 | 0.2.0 | pr | Capt Wilson | Col. Martin| none | N & S.C. | 70 N.C. | |
[3rd row] | Aug 1787 | 0.3.0 | pr | Capt Wilson Capt Philips | Col. Martin | none | N & S.C. | 70 N.C. | |

I am respectfully,
Your obedient servant,

J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 5

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 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.

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 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 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) ___, 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 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 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.
Ever 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 applicacation[sic] 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
Page 6

3

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 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?
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
inquiry 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 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.

[footnotes]

(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 resides. 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
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 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 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 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 the 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 no pub-
lic 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 contain
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 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 wit-
nesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer under his seal of office.
(k) 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.
Page 7

[bifold page]
[left panel]

Declaration
of
John Curry
Pension
20062

[right panel]

I Josiah McClain Clerk of Wilson County Court, Tennessee
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings
of said court in the matter of the application of John Curry for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and seal of office at office in the town 
of Lebanon this 20th day of September 1832.
Josiah S. McClain
Wilson County Court
Page 8

Declaration of John Currey
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress
passed June the 7th 1832.

State of Tennessee}
Wilson County} SS

On this 28th day of
September in the year 1832 personally
appeared before the Worshipful Jonas Frost
David C Hibbets & James M Martin Esquire
presiding Justices of the Peace of the Court
of pleas & Quarter Sessions for Wilson County
now sitting at the Court House in the Town ┃ of Lebanon John Currey of the County
of Wilson & State of Tennessee 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 7th 1832.
I was born in Pennsylvania thinking in Chester
County 30th April 1762 .when about 2 or 3
years of age my Father moved to North Carolina 
where I remained until 1777. When I
was about 17 years of age I was drafted & placed
under the command of Capt Jonas Frost, Isham
Hancock Lieutenant & Ensign Jas Lay and
about the 1st of Decr 1777 Capt Frost's
Company arrived at Charlott[sic] North Carolina
from whence we took our line of march
with several Companies towards Charleston
S. Caroline Wetaried near Camden S.C. seven
days & from thence passed on within about
a mile of Charleston where we continued
about a week before we entered into Town
& continued in the service untill the 24th of
Page 9

March 1780 agreeable to the certificate of Capt
Jonas Frost of General Lillington's Brigade
to the Southward Hampton & Hamright were
the Colonels of the Regiment. served 3 months
In the beginning of the succeeding winter I
went out a volunteer in Capt Andrew Wilsons
Company as first Sergent & in Col Jas Martin's
Regiment & continued in the service the greater
part of the winter in which time Col Jas
Martin's Regs were ordered to Join General
Green's Army & near the latter end of the
winter about 25 of Col Martin's Regt were
called on to volunteer to pilot Col Lee's Dragoons 
through the country. I was one of the
Volunteers & about the 1st of March 1781 we
served at least two months thence
all went home. Served at least two months this time. In Augt. 1781 Capt Andrew
Wilson & Capt Oneal took an excursion
against the Tories & immediately on our return
I was drafted & placed in Capt A Philips
Company Robt Smal Lieuty. Jas Martin Col
comandent[sic]. Stewart & Philips' Companies
marched on through Randolph & Chatham
I think we joined head quarters in Chatham
Genl Rutherford being the commander.
After we joined Genl Rutherfords army we
crossed Cape Fear River & passed down toward
Wilmington & were discharged about 10
or 15 miles of Wilmington. Served three months [illegible] discharge
served in all at least 8 months-
In the year 1797 I removed from North Carolina to Davidson County Tennessee & lived
there about 2 years & from thence I removed
to Williamson County & lived there about 11
years & from thence I removed to Wilson City
& have resided in the same ever since. I
have no living testimony or documentary proof
Page 10

of my services in Capt A Wilsons Company but
refer to the following gentlemen for their certificate
of my character, Joseph Rutland, Zedekiah Tate,
Hugh Telford Esqr. Shep A. Puckett Thos Kirkpatrick, Saml
Brown, John Roach senior & others
He therefore prays for the benefit of the Act aforesaid. 
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pention[sic] or annuity except the present
& declares that his name is not on the pension
role of any agency in any State of the United States. The discharges accompanying this Declaration constitute his documentary
evidence of his services.
John Currey
Sworn to & subscribed in open
Court Sept. 28, 1832

Josiah S. McClain Clerk
of Wilson County Court


We Ezekial Cloyd a clergyman residing in
son County & State of Tennessee aforesaid
& [Joseph Rutland  crossed out] Zedekiah Tate
residing in the County & State aforesaid do certify
that they are well acquainted with John Currey
who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration
that we believe him to be about seventy
years of age & the said Z. Tate makes oath that he is reputed & believed in the
neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier
in the Revolution & that he concurs in that
& the said Cloyd being well acquainted with said Cary & knowing him to be a man of veracity
opinion & the said Cloyd was well acquainted with said Curry & knowing him to be a man of veracity
concurs fully in the same opinion but does not know the neighbourhood opinion.
Zedekiah Tate
Ezekiel Cloyd
sworn to & subscribed in open Court
this 28th day of September 1832.
Test Josiah S. McClain Clerk
of Wilson County Court

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion
after the investigation of the matter & after putting
the interogatories[sic] presented by the War Department
Page 11

that the above named applicant was a soldier
& served as he states & the Court further certifies
that it appears to them that Ezekial Cloyd
who has signed the preceeding certificate is a
Clergyman resident in the County of Wilson and
that  Zedekiah Tate
who have also assigned the same are residents
of the aforesaid County & are creditable persons
that their statement is entitled to credit
D. C. Hibbets JP
James Lester JP
M. Martin JP

Declaration 
of 
John Curry
Pension
20062

I Josiah S. McClain Clerk of Wilson County Court, Tennessee
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceeding
in the matter of the application of John Curry for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and seal of office at Office in the town of
Lebanon this 28th of September 1832
Josiah S. McClain Clerk
Wilson County Court
Page 12

Rev War
2484
INVALID.
File No. 2484
John Curry
Privt Rev War
Act: June 7. 1832
Index: - Vol. A, Page 84.
(Arrangement of 1870.)
Page 13

Rev War
2484
INVALID.
File No. 2484
John Curry
Privt Rev War
Act: June 7. 1832
Index: - Vol. A, Page 84.
(Arrangement of 1870.)
Page 14

S.F. 2484
John Currey
N.C.
Page 15

This is to Certify,
THAT John Curry has faithfully served out
his Tour of Duty of three Months, in General Lillington's Brigade,
to the Southward.
Jonas Frost Capt
Charlestown,
March 24 1780.
Page 16

S.F. 2484
John Currey
N.C.
Page 17

Certified that John Curry soldier in Colonel James Martins Regimt Captain
Philips Company hath faithfully serve the present tour of duty in Hereby
discharged from the same. Certifd. by us the 20th day of November 1781
Jno Gillaspie Majr.
Page 18

[envelope]

Pension Claim
Nov 30
Tenn
20062

[round stamp]
Lebanon Ten.
Nov 13

FREE

Honbl Lewis Cass
War Department
Washington City
Page 19

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12-5-41

Division of Veterans' Administration

BOUNYY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

Name Currey, William Grade Private Line Pennsylvania

Warrant Number 9098 Acreage 100 Issued November 11, 1794
to Francis Kirkpatrick assignee

*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are
registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776 and subsequent
dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800.
Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.
Page 20

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12-5-41

Division of Veterans' Administration

BOUNYY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

Name Currie, Robert Grade Private Line Massachusetts

Warrant Number 3905 Acreage 100 Issued Mar. 3, 1797
to Samuel Fitch assignee

*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are
registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776 and subsequent
dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800.
Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.