Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 913, John Blake, S.C.
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( 3-1776 ) SERVICE S.C. Blake, John NUMBER R. 913
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Declaration  [ State of Indiana Monroe  County  ] On the  seventh  day  of October in  the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two  personally appeared   before me ( the undersigned ) Stephen P. Seall one of the Associate Judges of the Circuit Court  of said County in said State, being a  Court of Record composed of a Circuit   or  Presidential   Judge and two  Associate  Judges   John Blake  a resident of Martin  County  on the same Judicial Circuit with one said Monroe  County  in the same Judicial Circuit  and in one said State , aged seventy one 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 7th 1832. That he  was born on the Wateree River  in Fairfield County   in the  State of South Carolina in the year seventeen hundred and  sixty one or two or  thereabout. He can neither write nor read.  He has a record of his age but it is not ow in possession, it being at  his residence in  Martin County and  he being in Monroe County  & not knowing it was necessary. He states that  although  at this time he is unable to ride he is frequently unable to walk or ride owing to  a decay in his kidney, on account of which he has not been able  heretofore  since the passage of said act to attend Court at its term time, and  there being no  Courts holden  until next spring he is under an apprehension  that it is extremely uncertain   ( if not improbable )  whether he will be able personally  then to appear in Court, by reason of  his said bodily infirmity  and his witnesses being in Monroe County  where he is now staying and the part of the being  also unable to appear in Court, he is advised to submit to  an examination  before said Judge of said Court  in  vacation . He states his age by  having it read to him  by other persons no being able to read. He volunteered in the  service of the United States  in the Militia of the  State of South Carolina about  the year seventeen hundred and  seventy seven or eight  (his memory   of the year  very uncertain  nor can he recollect the day or month and his memory confused  an  uncertain  as to  the season of the year, ) in the company commanded  by Captain Thomas Starks . He knows that some part of his services were under said Thomas Starks , his best  impression is the above . He entered the service whilst living in said Fairfield County  South Carolina  and was
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there rendezvoused and mustered  into the service. He was marched to a place  he  thinks called Orangeburgh and stationed there about two months and ten days , the period ( or rather the expeditions ) for which he volunteered. He cannot state the names of  any other officers. He was very young  as well as ignorant  and in attentive. At the end of said two months and ten days he received a written discharge from is said Captain ( which he has lost long ago . ) and was dismissed at said place and immediately at  said place hired as a substitute  for  and in the place of a man by the name of Yarby or Yarberry , his first name he cannot recollect.  Said Yarberry  alias Yarbry  had been marched to said place in new troops in the  South Carolina Militia . He hired as  said substitute  and entered the service for something upwards of two months, but did  much, but  not serve as more that two months. His services as such substitute were performed in the  Company of foot commanded by Captain ___Lewis . He thinks the Colonel commanding  the Regiment was __Taylor . He never  returned home from the time of his first entering the service  but was stationed at said place  under said officers  & scouting the country  about until the time of enlisting in the Continental  Army as herein after stated, and which was by  permission  and approval of is officers, having served said two months faithfully  and to the acceptance of his officers. He recollects the names of o officers except those mentioned or  circumstances of consequence. At the expiration  of said two months  near said place or town he enlisted in the  Army of the United States as a regular private soldier for the period of one year in the company of Infantry commanded ( he thinks  )__ McKinzie . He cannot remember  the names of the  Colonel or number of the  Regiment.  He was first  marched either to the Cheraw Hills or Monks Corner he  best thinks the first, thence to  a little village on Pede River  the name of which he has forgotten  thence back again to the Catawba , and then he thinks to  Charlestown or the neighborhood where he was stationed sometime and then marched again to the  Cheraw  Hill or neighborhood  where his said  years time of service expired and he received a written discharge, which is lost long ago  said discharge  was  dispensed at said place  and  returned home.  But having to lie out as close as a deer
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he went back in a few days  to the Army   about or near  Camden  and enlisted in the regular Continental  Army  of the United /states as a private soldier in a company of Foot for the period of  seven years or during the  War.  He cannot recollect  the year, month  or day of this enlistment nor name of   his  Captain , Colonel nor  Regiment  nor other officers  he thinks the  Captain   in this service was not any  of his former  Captains. He remembers the battles  better than  anything else in which he fought except he cannot remember the dates  nor their order. He was in the Battle of the Hanging Rock , the Battle of Camden, and the Battle of the Eutaw Spring. At the Battle of  Camden he remembers  that Sumpter retreated across the  Wateree  and marched up the west side of the  river seventy five miles the night after the battle before he encamped. In the Battle of Eutaw Spring he was near the center of the army under General Greene and was much exposed . I was an old  field with a bundh of  rising ground  across it  , as he ascended  the rising ground  the  Battle commenced. The British  beat us back and  we  reinforced and return beat them back   taking the  vantage which  we kept.  After they , the  British had got out of the reach of our small arms our cannon  was used and fired  into the tops of the pine trees above them and the  falling of limbs killed many.  After the Battle  of the  Eutaw Springs he was marched in many directions before he was disbanded  . He cannot recollect  where he was when dismissed but thinks it was not  near any  remarkable place and was on the march . He was in the  Battle of Monks Corner near Charlestown  which he thinks was long before the  Battle of Eutaw Springs . He was in  a skirmish  at the  Four Hole Bridge, He was during his said service  twice at Orangeburg and  twice or more at Monks Corner . He was in the Battle at Orangeburgh . In the Battle of Eutaw Springs he was wounded  in his belly with a British Bayonet. Altogether he served in the service of the United States  & in the  War of the Revolution  in said last engagement two years.
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which services he  performed  faithfully , cheerfully and to the acceptance of his officers. From the time he entered the service which was he thinks  ( about ) in his fifteenth or sixteenth year he continued  constantly in the service and was never at home during the  War ( nor out of said service )   but at one time of about two weeks  except when marched through his Mother's lane  at another time he stopped a few hours. He received  a  discharge in writing  which he  has long  ago lost no knowing it would be of any value to him. He received  he supposes from his Captain . During a part of said time he was mounted and was under the command of Colonel __ Washington,, his first name e does not know, being no scholar and young he was always very ignorant  of the regulation s of the army as well as things generally of a public nature. He scarcely  knows how he  came to be mounted in said Sol. Washington's  Corps of Light Horse, but thinks he was ordered into ( & with his own consent he entered ) said  Light Horse to supply some  deficiency  of numbers at or after the Battles of the Eutaw Springs. How long or when he marched in said Light Horse he  cannot state. Doubting somewhat it seems most probable & he thinks it is the best impression  of his memory  upon reflection , that he was mounted in said  Troops of Cavalry  after  the heat , and during the  Battle of Eutaw Springs. He thinks he was not loin in said Light Horse after the said Battle. He well remembers that he was discharged about the time of the   Battle of  Yorktown  & surrender of Cornwallis in Virginia. He thinks afterwards , but how long precisely he cannot state. After the War he removed  to  Broad River the County  he cannot recollect. He then married  & removed back to  Fairfield , and there lived about two years.  Then he removed to  Nort Carolina  he does not certainly recollect the name of the  County  his best impression is it was Anson, he resided there three years and removed to  Chesire  & there  resided one year. He then removed to Tennessee
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in Granger County  where he resided  about four years . Then he removed to  Cumberland  River in Kentucky  where he resided three or four years. He then removed to  Hardin  County  Kentucky  and the resided  twenty years, then he removed to  Maihn (Monroe) County Indiana  where he now resides  and has for five years. He never received one cent of pay  for any of  his services,. He has no documentary evidence of any of his services. He received his bounty money  at both  of the said times of his enlistment but  cannot recollect how much. He knows of no person whose evidence or testimony he could procure of his services or any part thereof except  those herewith given  . He herby 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. His memory  is  very much impaired  in consequence of old age and especially  defected as to dates. He  cannot recollect the names of  any other officers  not the first names that  were herein omitted , but he  expressly served as  long as stated. From old age , sickness and loss of memory  he cannot state no further. John Blake ( his mark )  We John Sanders and Dicy Sanders  resident in Monroe County Indiana certify  to wit,  I the said Dicy  Sanders  that I have been well acquainted with  John Blake who has subscribed  & sworn to the foregoing declaration from his infancy  having resided  fifty years or upwards in the same neighborhood with  him ( excepting about  fifteen years now past )  great part of the time  & during  the  War of the Revolution  within half a mile of his residence.  Said John Blake departed from  home as I know  and as it was reputed and usually  believed in the neighborhood to enter the service of the United States  in the  army  thereof and was about in the service  until the end of the  War except during a short visit once or perhaps twice. After the War I resided the above length of time  with the  above exception in the same neighborhood  with & was  well acquainted with   him during said time. In all said neighborhood  during all said  time he was reputed and believed to have  served faithfully  for  a long time   & to have been honorably  dismissed & to have been a solider of the Revolution  ,and I am next to  positive  knowledge satisfied thereof  . My age is seventy two years or thereabouts  And I the said John Sanders aged forty years certify that I  have been well acquainted with the said John Blake, from my
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infancy   that he until about  8 or nine years ago  resided in the same neighborhood , in all which  during all  which time he was reputed  and believed universally  to have been  a soldier of the revolution  and that he concurs in that opinion. Sworn to  and subscribed the day  & year aforesaid . Dicy Sanders ( her mark X )  John Sanders  ( signed )  I Henry  Sanders a Clergy man  of Monroe County in the  State of Indiana  hereby certify that  I have  been well acquainted with   John Blake who has  subscribed and  sworn to the above declaration   a period of fifty years  , they were from the  neighborhood  up in the same neighborhood  in Fairfield County  South Carolina . They were in the service of the United States  in the  Militia of South Carolina together in the same company during all or a part of one tour. commanded as he thinks by Captain  Thomas  Starks in the  Regiment ( his last impression  )  commanded by  Colonel  __ Taylor  in  & during  a tour to Orangeburgh  &  when this deponent  was dangerously sick  of the  quinsy said John Blake  waited upon him  & nourished  him in his sickness. He has  known him familiarly  ever since the war,  except not  having seen him  for some years about me & now  and  as well as from his  infancy  up to the War & its end.  During the time of the  War  & since he resided a near neighbor ( with the exception  of some years now past , ) to him that he was always in said neighborhood , since the War reputed and believed to have been a soldier of the revolution  & this deponent personally knows that he  was a soldier of the revolution .  (  not being able from disease and old age   & loss of memory  to state the precise period  here  & manner of services ) & after entering  the service served as he has stated during the whole  War with  the exception of a few short intervals .  Henry  Sanders ( his mark X ) Sworn  and subscribed the day & year aforesaid .  I. Stephen P. Seall the said  Judge of the Monroe  Circuit Court in  our said  State of Indiana declare my opinion  after the investigation of the matter  and after putting the  interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that John Blake  the foregoing and  above name applicant  was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states, and I do further certify  that it appears  satisfactorily  to me  that Dicy Sanders , John Sanders  and Henry  Sanders  who has signed the preceding certificates  have been residents and well acquainted with the same neighborhoods and with the  said  John Blake  and  have knowledge of his services as they state , and are credible persons, that the said  Henr Sanders is a highly respectable clergyman   & that their statements are entitled to the fullest credit.  I do also  further certify that I am satisfied from  appearances , as well as
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[ State of Indiana Martin County ] I  Siles L  Halbert  clerk of the  ... ( illegible )  testimony  that said applicant is diseased of the kidney with  a decay that his memory  must have greatly  failed and  on account of which disease it will be improbable that he will be able to  attend Court, and  that his  witnesses being here  it is much more  convenient for him that they  be sworn out of  Court  & that two them are  very infirm  , and  one pf them  unable to  attend Court. That the memory  of said Dicy Sanders ,must also  greatly have failed from her old age. I have therefore  in pursuance of the act of Congress  attended at the place of his temporary abode, or stay , and sworn him to his said declaration , put said interrogatories  to him and sworn said witnesses to their  foregoing certificates, whose testimony could not be  procured in  Court without too much   inconveniences one of whose not all, and that the foregoing  an original and true   proceedings in said matter.  Stephen P. Seall ( signed )  [ State of Indianan Monroe County ] I, Jacob B Lowe clerk of the ( Circuit ) Court of the County of Monroe in the  State of Indiana aforesaid  do certify that  the  Honorable Stephen P. Seall  is one of the Judges of  said Court  as he has above certified  himself and that the above signature purporting to be his is  genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this the seventeenth day of October  A.D.  one thousand eight hundred and thirty two. J B Lowe ( signed / sealed ) clerk of the Court of Monroe County Indiana
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[ State of Indiana Martin County  ] ( Deposition or affidavit of John Blake  Amendatory of his declaration of the 17th day of October  1832 . )Deposition  On this the eleventh day of  August   in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and  thirty four personally appeared before me  the undersigned a Justice of the peace in and for said County  in said  State John Blake and he being by me duly sworn  according to law  states upon his oath that he is the same person who made the foregoing declaration  dated the 17th  day of October 1832. That he is not yet able to recall to his memory  the names of any officers under whom he served other tan those in said declaration  mentioned. He cannot  from his old age bodily infirmity  and consequent loss of memory  recall not state the numbers of the regiments or its officers names in which her served in the  regular service as mention ed in  the said declaration , not can he designate  the company  & any in the line of South Carolina  he believes & thinks he recollects. Since making said declaration he has  discovered an old  Revolutionary soldier by the name of Reuben Demoss  by whom this declarant  expects to prove his services as a regular soldier and as set forth  in said declaration . Said Demoss also as this applicant is informed  by him   knows where there resides another old revolutionary soldier   who may probably know something of his ( applicant's ) services. With his reflection  he still thinks he must
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have served  more  and at least  as much as stated in his said declaration .  Said Demoss recollects  perhaps more than he did. John Blake ( his mark )  [ State of Indiana Martin County ] On the eleventh day of  August  in the year of our Lord one thousand  eight hundred and thirty four personally appeared before me the undersigned  a Justice of the peace in and for said County  in said State Reuben  Demoss and being by me duly sworn  according to law  upon his oath says that he  is about  eighty four years of age . That he resided in said County  of Martin , that he was during the  Revolutionary  War  well acquainted with   John Blake who has made the foregoing  declaration for a pension. This deponent  from old age  bodily infirmity   and the  consequent loss of memory  cannot state  with  accuracy  the dates of services or certain  times not   precisely  the period which said John Blake served in the  Revolution but well recollects  and identifies his person and states that he was with him  in the  army  , that said John Blake of his the said Reuben Demoss's own personal knowledge  served several tours or campaigns in the Militia service of  South Carolina , and at least one engagement  in the  Continental or regular service of the United states, or in the  State troops of  South  Carolina, he cannot state certainly   which . That said  John Blake in  what year the deponent cannot  be certain , but believes it to have been about the time as mentioned by
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said John Blake  in his declaration did as he states at and while living in the County of Fairfield in said State of South Carolina  enter the service  of the United States  in the Militia of said  State and served about  and at least two months.  That he was marched to a place called Orangeburgh  and perhaps at other places. That afterwards  said Blake served  in the same Militia  as a substitute  in another tour , or at any rate entered the  Army  at Orangeburgh  and after the expiration  of his first period of engagement  continued in  said Militia serviced for some time. This deponent  can't state how long , but from  circumstances of his  knowledge unhesitatingly  believes that said Blake served as he states in his declaration  at least two months. He states that he has personal knowledge  of the services stated by said Blake in the regular or Continental  service (  in his said declaration described )  . his deponent  cannot state the periods of engagements nor whether was  one more than one  or not in said regular of Continental service but that Blake served i such regular service more  probably  at least two years. This deponent  believes he served  much longer  but cannot  state more certainly  in relation thereto. This deponent  had so far lost the recollection of the events of the  War, that    a portion of them seems much like a dream, but  many of the circumstances  stated by said Blake are recalled to his mind. He has been intimately acquainted with said John Blake  in all as much as forty  years and indifferent neighborhoods and that in all said neighborhoods said  Blake has a good reputation  for honesty in dealings & truth  and innocence and the reputation of having been a revolutionary soldier. During the interval in which this deponent  has not resided in the same neighborhoods
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.. with said Blake  he has every reason to believe  that he  has sustained  the same reputation. Reuben Demoss ( signed )  On this same day aforesaid  John White  being by me duly sworn according to law upon his oath  states that he is  near ninety years of age that he  was well acquainted with John Blake  who has made the  foregoing declaration  during all   or the greater part of the  Revolutionary  War.  and her well knows him   being a part of the  Revolution and recognizes him now. That he has personal knowledge of he having entered the services of the United States  in the  State of South Carolina  and of his having served several say two or three ( at least to me ) months upwards of two years. This deponent  from his age and bodily infirmity cannot state  when he entered the  War nor whether he was  as the said   Blake states in the Militia and regular service, during said  tours mentioned as Militia man  and for the  period stated  .. ( illegible ) nor can he said deponent  state any circumstances in addition to those stated in said declaration  of any importance., many of them   he is  able to recollect and many not ,but that said Blake  served  upwards  two years said Blake entered the service he best thinks , about  the time by him stated and  thence forward continued in the service without  any interest  within this deponent's knowledge until near the  close of the War.  John White ( signed )  We the undersigned residing in the neighborhood of John Blake certify that he has the reputation of having been a soldier of the  revolution and of an honest man, and that we concur in that opinion.  Thomas Eaton ( signed )  Wm. Fields ( signed )
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After the foregoing affidavits were signed and sworn to as well as from the character of the persons making the same I do certify that   I believe  said Reuben Demoss who is a witness and as he states a  Revolutionary soldier , and well acquainted with sad John Blake, and that I believe his statement is true, that said Reuben Demoss has duly  subscribed and sworn  to sad affidavit according to law , the day and year aforesaid ,that he resides  in the same County and is a credible person. That said John White  has also sworn and subscribed his said affidavit,  that I believe  they are of the ages by them stated, and that the  said Reuben Demoss resides in the  County of Martin  aforesaid and is a credible person and the said John White  in  Davies and is also a credible person . That said  Thomas Eaton and  William Fields ( of Martin County aforesaid )  who have signed the last  foregoing certificate  reside in the same neighborhood with said John Blake and that are in their said certificate entitled  to the fullest credit.  That said John Blake  has this day also sworn  and subscribed  to his said amendment  to his declaration  and I am satisfied of the truth of the statements  of himself and said witnesses.  Willoughby  Blake ( signed / sealed ) J.P.
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[ State of Indiana  Martin County ] I Siles L Halbert Clerk of the  Circuit Court of said County of Martin  in the State of Indiana  aforesaid do certify that   Willoughby Blake is one of the Justices of the peace in and for said County   of Martin  ( duly elected  , qualified  & commissioned  according to law )  as he has above certified  himself  and that the above signature purporting to be his is genuine.  In testimony  whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office  this the eleventh day of August  A.D.  eighteen hundred and thirty four.  Siles L. Halbert ( signed / sealed ) clerk of the Court of Martin County  Indiana
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suspended 913 Hon.  G. L. Kinnard HR
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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 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 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, showing the service of John Blake
==================================================

Period when the   service was  rendered.   
1778
                                                                                                                                                 
 Duration of the claimant's service Year Months Days 
1778
2 Months 10 days
2 Months
1 Year
2 Years

Rank of   the   Claimant 
Pr.
Pr.
"
"

 Names and rank of the  Field Officers under whom he served.  
1778
2 Months 10 days     Cap Stark
2 Months                      Cap Lewis
1 Year                             Cap Mc Kenger
                                         Col
2 Years                            Leut
                                           Col


Age at present and place of abode  when he entered the service.
71
S.C

Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary
Witnesses        

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES L EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions
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REGULATION 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 claim
ing 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} ss.
County 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_______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. (e) 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
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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 Solder.     } 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 be come 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,
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.

[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
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 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 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 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 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 insepensible 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 19

Suspended  See letter to Hon. G.L. Kinnard 30 Jan. 1835 let to Hon. W.W. Wick  June 2 ' 48 :et/ G.W. Harden April 25/50  Hon . W.A. Gorman  Sept. 6/52
Page 20

INVALID No. 913 John Blake AC Service Ind
Page 21

Comptroller Genl's Office  Columbia S.C.  15 July  ' 50  Dear Sir, I have searched for the services in the  Revolution of John Blake and find only 70 days  in the Militia in  1782  tohis credit. If  this will avail  you  I can send a copy  for  $2. The Continental service of which  you speak  may possibly  be shown by the pay rolls of that service in this  State  said to be in the Pension office at Washington. Respectfully yr obt. servt.  James A Black ( signed ) Deputy    Bloomington  Indiana July 30, 1850 Col. James L. Edwards Comm. of Pensions  Sir, My letter on the subject of John Blake's claim to pension under the act of June 7, 1832  was replied to   April 25th  1850 - The above addressed to me is the nearest I can meet your requirements in said letter of said  25th  and submit  the case unless entitled to same and from the records if any  in your office favorable to the claim. Very respectfully yours , George W. Hardin ( signed )
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Bloomington  Indiana January 14, 1850 Colonel James L. Edwards Comm. of Pensions  Sir,  The widow  & children , heirs of John Blake  deceased late of Martim County Indiana   wishes me to investigate their right to the pension claimed  by said John Blake in his life time under the act of June 7th 1832 which was dis-allowed. Will you please  inform me  what proof  was required to substantiate his claim also any further information on the subject which is consistent with  the  rules of your office - any reply  as early or practicable  will be much esteemed. I am respectfully your obt. servt. George W. Hardin ( signed )
Page 23

Martin County Ind. August 7 .. ( illegible )  Dear Herman , I this day .. your letter of the 27th  June, in answer to mine, which you  call a strange letter. I will now tell you    that  since I wrote that letter  I   received from you a  bundle of your  speech  on the public printing  and have distributed them . , but I have never  ... the land warrant  you sent me  for  Jas. Benefield nor any   ... of the pension office nor  have I  answers to the application of Sarah Blake  & J Haygood  and Mrs. McBroom for revolutionary pensions, not to the applications of  E. Hodge, Wm Broughton and  Alford Mc Curly  for pensions for wounds rec'd  in the  American War not to the application  for land warrants of the  heirs of James Shiplaw of the heir of  H. Clements, as to  heirs of M. Elliott and the heirs of  H Baker nor have I rec'd  answers to the applications of  Willis Jones , Jos Neil , J. Lington, and  E. Doughty   . All other cases of particular importance. I have had answer to . Either from you or direct from the Department  I ( unintentionally ) omitted the case of Julius Saunders  , now some of the applicants have died, some have moved away  and some have lost confidence in me and have made new applications through  other agents , etc.
Page 24

I again humbly request that you  lift from the  department the original certificate of discharge of  Jessee Elliott and send it to me , as he is not allowed by the act , any bounty land, he  wishes to have his discharge. In  conclusion  I will say , that by  your last  letter I am convinced that all my dis appointments  and the loss of confidence which has heretofore been   reposed in me  and the loss of  some profits in a  pecuniary point has been no fault of your , but must certainly be in the neglect or  bad management of the post  master on the line  of the mail betwixt us. Confidential As once before , & now again , request that you inform me   how  our Piere will go with the voters of the past  for  the next  presidency. He will walk in the high path that  ... ( illegible )  in  / 44  with us ... your truly John Moses ( signed )
Page 25

Hall of Representatives 27 May  1848 Com. of Pensions  Sir, I am requested to ascertain  the fate of the pension application of John Blake , and  George Black of  Indiana . I have the honor , etc. W.W. Wick  These applications are under the act of June 7, 1832  If objections  exist I am requested to obtain an explanation of their character.