Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3,418, Robert Griggs, N.C.
Page 1

N.C.         Griggs, Robert                S.3418
                Greggs

Carded
Page 2

(left panel, upside down)
43
7
50.

(right panel)
24807
West Tennessee
Robert Greggs of Henderson in the State of Tennessee who was a Pri. of Cavl in the Company commanded by Captain Walker of the Regt commanded by ___ in the N Carolina line for 6 mos.

Robert Griggs Records corrected Mar 7 '04

Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee at the rate of 25 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 6th day of June 1834 and sent Hon. W.C. Dunlap of the H. Reps.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1834          $75.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 2 Sept. "      12.50
                   $87.50

{Revolutionary claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by D.D. Addison clerk,
Book E2   Vol. 7   Page 91
Page 3

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832

State of Tennessee, Henderson County: Circuit Court October Term 1832 
     On this 11th day of October 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Honorable John C. Hamilton one of the Circuit Judges in and for the said State and now presiding as Judge of the said Circuit Court now sitting in and for the County of Henderson in the State of Tennessee Robert Griggs aged about seventy-four 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 June the 7th 1832. 
     This Declarant States that he entered the Service of the United States as a Soldier as a militia Private in the year 1781 about one month before the Battle of Guilford Court House in the Volunteer Company of Militia Cavalry commanded by Captain John Powers whose family afterwards having been taken sick impelled him to resign the Command of this Company and which command afterwards was transferred to Captain Samuel Crowel or Crowell of the County of Halifax in the State aforesaid been in this Company this Declarant marched from said County of Halifax and joined the American Army at Lindley's Mills not far from Guilford Court House then under the command
Page 4

of General Nathaniel Green who had succeeded General Horatio Gates in the Command of the Southern Army.  This Declarant states that he was not in the 
battle of Guilford Court House because he was placed in one of the Guard upon the out posts and so also was the same post assigned to him at the Battle of Lindley's Mill.  The Regular officers were General Nathanael Greene Brigadier General Stevens Colonel William 
Washington of the South Carolina Cavalry Colonel Henry Lee of the Virginia Calvary and Colonel Daniel Morgan of the Virginia Riflemen.  His Lieutenant was by the name of William Merrit and was from the County of Halifax and his Major was by the name of Read. 
    This Declarant has now no recollection to what Regiment or what Brigade he was attached or who were his immediate Field Officers except Major Read. 
      This Declarant now states that after this tour of Service which lasted about two months had expired he removed to the County of Granville in the same State and in the same year again Volunteered his services to his Country in consequence of a requisition either from the Executive of North Carolina or the Constituted Authorities of the United States as a Militia Cavalry Private for and during the war and served as such in the company commanded by Captain Nathaniel Waller.  The 
Requisition thus spoken of was occasioned by a belief
Page 5

 that a Considerable Body of Tories had 
assembled at the Ridge in North Carolina but upon the turning out of the troops and the promptitude of their march to the spot the Tories Dispersed This was but a short period before the capture of Lord Cornwallis. 
     This Declarant States that after the Capture of Cornwallis he still Continued in the service and in the Command of Captain Nathaniel Waller there being no immediate Field Officer has now recalled by him – the object of this Service was for the purpose of dispersing and putting down the Tories who infested the Country and were plundering and committing many depredations upon the property of the 
Whigs. 
     This Declarant states that he believes as well as he can now recollect that the whole period of his service is about two years and further that he is now a Citizen and resident of the County of Henderson and State aforesaid and that whilst in the Service and during his first Tour he marched through the Counties of Warren, Granville and Orange and thence on to Guilford Court House passing Lindley's Mills. 
     This Declarant has no Documentary evidence nor does he know of any person whose Testimony he can procure who will testify to his service. 
     He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity whatever except the present, and
Page 6

declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State. Sworn to and subscribed in open Court the day and year aforesaid in open Court.
           E.H. Tarrant Clerk

We Robert Marshal and Wilson H. McKisic residing in the County of Henderson hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Robert Griggs who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration that we believe him of to be of seventy five years of age; that he is reputed and believed to be a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
                Robt. Marshal, Sheriff of
                   Henderson County
                Wilson H. McKisick

Sworn and subscribed to in open court the day and year aforesaid.
   E.H. Tarrant, Clerk

     And the said Court do hereby Declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories presented by the war Department that the above named applicant was a soldier of the Revolution and served as he states.-
     And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Robert Marshall who has signed the preceding certificate is the Sherriff (sic) of the County of Henderson and that Wilson H. McKisic who has also signed the same is a resident in the same County and are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to Credit.
                   H Hamilton
                   Judge of 9th Circuit

Questions by the Court
Quest 1st  When and in what year
Page 7

Quest 1st  When and in what year were you born? 
Ans:  I was born in Westmoreland County in this State of Virginia in the year 1757 -- 
Quest 2nd  Have you any record of your age and if so where is it? 
Answer I have none -- 
Quest 3rd  How were you called into service; were you drafted; did you volunteer or were you a substitute, and if in substitute, for whom? 
Answer I was a volunteer -- 
Question 4th  Where were you living when called into service: where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live? 
Answer.  In my first tour of Service I lived in the County of Halifax in the State of North 
Carolina afterwards removed to Granville County in the same State and lived there during the war I afterwards removed to Hancock in the State of Georgia and from thence to Henderson County in this 
State where I have resided ever since 
Quest 5th  State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops when you served, such Continental and militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service.
     The names of the Regular Officers were General Greene, General Stevens, Colonel Daniel Morgan of the Rifle Corps Colonel William Washington of the South Carolina Cavalry and Colonel Henry Lee of the Virginia, the Continental Regiments with whom I served were commanded by the above named Colonels.
     I Edward H. Tarrant Clerk of the Circuit Court held in and for the County of Hendeson in the State of Tennessee do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Robert Griggs for (last line is cut off)
Page 8

I Edward H. Tarrant Clerk of the Circuit Court held in and for the County of Henderson in the State of Tennessee do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Robert Griggs for a Pension.  In testimony whereas I hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 11th day of October 1832.
               E.H. Tarrant Clerk
(seal)

      I certify that E.H. Tarrant whose name is signed to the above certificate is clerk of the Circuit Court of Henderson County.
      June 6th 1834
                          W V Dunlap 

     I agree to take a pension for two months service for the above applicant.
                     W.C. Dunlap
Page 9

17345
Declaration of Robert Griggs for a pension under the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
Page 10

State of Tennessee, Henderson County: Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions May Term 1833 
The Amended Declaration of Robert Griggs 
     On this 19th day of May 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of the said Court of pleas and quarter Sessions now sitting Robert Griggs now in his seventy fifth year and who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following amended Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1833.  
     To the first objection of the War 
Department as to the periods of his service he answers and says that it was about one month before the Battle of Guilford Court House and which battle was fought as well as he now recollects in the month of August 1781 and he thinks the 16th day of that month consequently he must have entered the service of the United States on the 17th of July of the same year but as to the exact and positive day He cannot and will not Swear but he believes it to be the same – for further particulars and 
the Historical facts of this Tour this Declarant refers to his former Declaration now amended and returned and to which this is prayed to be taken as part of the same.  This Tour of service was only for two months. 
Second Tour of Service – on the first day of October 1781 this declarant again entered the 
service of the United States as a private Cavalry Soldier for and during the war or until peace was proclaimed in 1783 and which period of service he faithfully served out under his Captain Nathaniel Waller for further Historical facts this Declarant refers to his former Declaration -- 
To the second objection this Declarant states that there is no public seal of office to the current Court of Henderson County.
Page 11

To the third objection of the Department that there is not nor was at the time a Clergyman 
residing in his neighborhood consequently he could not procure such a certificate but procured the signature of two respectable Citizens.  The Second Sixth and Seventh questions is stated by the Department not to have been answered, this Declarant states that he has answered the second question in relation to the record of his age never having had any.  To the Sixth Question he states that in both his first and second tours he received a discharge the first was a verbal discharge from his Captain Samuel Crowel or Crowell he being a volunteer, in my second tour of Service I was a volunteer also under Captain Nathaniel Waller and only received a verbal discharge from him. 
     As to the 7th Question I can refer to Robert Marshall the former Sheriff of Henderson County, Doctor Wilson H. McKisick, William Burton chairman of the County Court of Henderson County, John Cain William Cain and Alexander T. Carruthers who can testify to my character for veracity and so to their belief of my services as a private soldier of the revolution. 
                     Robert X Griggs
                      (X his mark)

Sworn and subscribed to in open Court the day and year aforesaid.
          Jno A Wilson Clerk
          By Jno McClelen DC

      I John A. Wilson Clerk of the court and Pleas and Quarter Sessions held in and for the county of Henderson in the State of Tennessee do hereby certify that the foregoing writing the (faded) and proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of the said Robert Griggs for a pension.
     In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of office this 19th day of May 1833.
              Jno A. Wilson Clerk
              Clerk of the County Court of 
               Henderson
Page 12

The State of Tennessee
Henderson County
     I William Burton Chairman of the court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions held in and for the County of Henderson in the State of Tennessee do hereby certify that John A. Wilson who name is attached to the foregoing certificate is and was at the time of signing same Clerk of the said Court and John McClelen who has also signed the same is the Deputy clerk of the said court.
     In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 19th day of 1833.

               Wm Burton JC
               Chairman of the Court of Pleas &                                               Quarter Session of Henderson County in the State of Tennessee

(seal)
Page 13

7345
Robert Griggs
Tennessee

f 1781 pri cavalry
$25.

H. W.C. Hamlet
H.R.
Page 14

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,

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 note, 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 brace, (thus: }).  You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them, and you will, by compling with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A Statement, showing the Service of Robert Griggs
Period when the services were rendered.
Feb. 1781 ent. 1781

Duration of the claimant's service.
Years.
Months. 2
Days.

Rank of the claimant.
Pri. cav.

Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.
Cap Power
Cap Waller

Age at present, and place of above when he entered the service.
76
N.C.

Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary.
See note.

     I am, respectfully,
     Your obedient servant,
           JAMES L. EDWARDS.
           Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 15

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 offices, 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 

     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 first being 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, if 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 or any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____.                         A.B.
     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) herby 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. 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 product 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 product 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 16

 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 or 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?
     How were you called into service;  were you drafted, did you volution, 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 the 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.

(The following are small type footnotes at the bottom of the page.)

[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 claim cannot be had.  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 Just of the Peace, &c. A.B. who, being duly sworn deposeth and saith, that, by reason 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 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 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 ribbons, 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.
     [j]  The notes from [a] to [i] 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.
Page 17

Rev War
3418
INVALID.

File No. 3418
Robert Greggs
Prv. N.C. line

Act:  June 7, 1832

Index:-Vol. A, Page 149

[Arrangement of 1870.]

*Robert Griggs.  Records corrected March 7 '04
C