Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 670, John Beard, S. C.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE
S.C.
Beard, John
Mary
NUMBER
R . 670
CONTENTS
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13311
Mary Beard 670
widow of John
Tenn
Act 7 July 1838
married 1785
670
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State of Tennessee
County of Williamson
On this the 1st day of March 1847 personally appeared in open court Mrs. Mary Beard, a resident of the County and State aforesaid, aged seventy seven years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 7th 1838, entitled an Act granting half pay and pension to certain widows.
That she is the widow of John Beard who was to the best of her knowledge a private horseman in the State of South Carolina and served as such at different periods during the Revolutionary War under Captain John Irwin and Col. William Bratton in the years of 1779, 1780, 1781, 1782, and 1783, serving in all at different periods enumerated about fourteen months. She further declares that she was married to the said John Beard in Spartanburg County State of South Carolina by one James Oliphant a Justice of the Peace on the first day of January 1785 that her name before she was married was Mary Blackstock, and that her husband the aforesaid John Beard died in Williamson County State of Tennessee on the 31st of May 1826, that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January 1794, that she still remains the widow of the said John Beard. Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written.
Mary Beard her mark X
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I Moses Beard of the County of Maury and State of Tennessee do hereby certify that the received record containing the births of John Beard Mary Beard And their children Nancy Beard, Mary Beard, Francis Beard, Cata Beard, Moses Beard, and Aaron Beard has been in my possession twenty one years and to the best of my knowledge is in the handwriting of one Anthony Beard.
Moses Beard his mark X
Sworn to & subscribed in open court this 1 day of March 1847
S. B. McCormico Clk

The state of Tennessee 
I Samuel B McCormico Clerk of the county court of Williamson County in the state of Tennessee Aforesaid do hereby certify that Mary Beard and Moses Beard personally appeared in open Court this day, that Moses Beard was sworn to the foregoing affidavit as above stated, that it appears from the records in my office that Mary Beard was the wife of John Beard deceased as is stated in his last will and testament as the same appears of record and that the names of the children in the annexed record of the ages (sworn to by Moses Beard) are also enumerated in said last will & testament of John Beard deceased.
In testimony whereof I have hereto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said court at office this 1 day of March AD 1847
S.B. McCormico
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[this page is not readily readable - it contains list from annexed papers of affiant.  Another source has the children's names and birth years.  
Nancy b. Jan. 6. 1786, Mary b. Oct. 1, 1789, Francis b. Mch 4, 1791 Cata b. Feb. 15, 1794, Moses, and Aaron b. Feb. 18, 1797]
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In reply to your request of , received for a statement of the military history of John Beard a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. R.F. 670,
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
1779- 1783
LENGTH OF SERVICE.
served at different times amounting to 14th mos.
RANK.
Pri.
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN. John Irwin
COLONEL. Wm. Bratton
STATE.
S.C.
Battles engaged in, [checkmark]
Residence of soldier at enlistment, not stated
Date of application for pension, Mch 1, 1847
Residence at date of application, Williamson Co., Tenn.
Age at date of application, B. Oct 1, 1771
Remarks: Soldier was born Mch 31, 1765 mar. Jan 7, 1785, in Spartanburg Co. S.C. Mary Blackstock; he died May 31, 1826 in Williamson Co. Tenn. Children Nancy b. Jan. 6. 1786, Mary b. Oct. 1, 1789, Francis b. Mch 4, 1791 Cata b. Feb. 15, 1794, Moses, and Aaron b. Feb. 18, 1797. The claim for pension was rejected on the ground of insuf. proof of service as required by the act of July 7, 1838, under which she applied.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
6-2856
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[left page]
1914 May 3. History to Mrs. Sallie Beard Smith For.

[right page]
Ex'r. INVALID.
REJECTED
Mary Beard
P. O.
Service:
Enlisted:
Discharged:
Application filed:
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P. O.
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Comptroller Generals Office
Columbia S.C. 29th May, 1847
Indent Book I
No. 590 - No 1 Issued in December 1784 to Mr. John Beard for L16.17.1 ½ for militia duty as horseman, in 1779 and 1783 as account audited
L 16.17.1 ½

The State of So Carolina
To John Beard Dr.
No 2 To private, horsemans duty pri pay bill of Captain John Irwin commencing 16th July 1779 ending 12th May 1780.
52 days L 52.0.0
To private horsem' duty pri pay bill of Captain Irwin, commencing 12 May 1780, ending in May 1783
66 days 66.0.0
Currency L 118.0.0
Sterling L 16.17.1 ½

I do hereby certify, that the above extract, No 1, is a true copy, taken from Indent Book I. No 590. And that No 2 is a true copy of the audited account, for which said Indent was issued.
William C. Black
Comp Genl. SC
for Daniel A. Hart Clk
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Comptroller Genl. Office
Columbia S.C. 18 May/48
Dear Sir,
Yours of the 9th inst. to the Comptroller General of So Carolina is now before me, in compliance of your request, I have searched the records of this office to ascertain the amount of services performed by Mr John Beard, during the war of the Revolution. I find that there were two indents issued to him for military duty. The first for the sum of sixteen pounds seventeen shillings and one penny for 118 days duty. The other amounting to forty-two pounds for 294 days duty.
The certificates for these two Indents cannot be sent from the office until the fees for each shall be paid, the amount of which will be five dollars. On receiving this amount in current money, they will be immediately sent. But
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In order that may meet with no delay in presenting this claim, I send the accounts, as filed in this office in each case.
The State of SoCa. To John Beard
1779 for 52 days duty as horseman [illegible] of L52 from 16 July 1779 until 12 May 1780
1780 For 66 day ditto ditto from 12 May 1780, ending in May 1789
66
Currency 118
Sterling L 16.17.0-
N B. those two tours of duty is Certified by Captain Irwin
B.H
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The acct. for which the other Indent was issued
The State of SoCa. to Jno Beard
1779
Feby for 212 days dury as horseman [illegible] L 42.0.0
27 Oct. To 50 days " " " " 50.0.0
1781
22 April for. 62 days " " " " 62.-
27 June 42 days " " " " 42.0.0
1782
12 July 10 days " " " " 10.0.0
28 Oct. from 28 days " " " " 28.0.0
Decr. To 60 days " " " " 60.0.0
294 days 118 total 412 days
currency L 294 Sterling L 42.0.0

On receiving the fees in these two cases, the certificates will be forthwith forwarded to any place you may direct.
Benjamin Hart
Deputy
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South Harpeth Tennessee
March 22nd 1847
J.L. Edwards Esqr
Dear Sir
Enclosed you will receive the application of Mrs Mary Beard of Williamson County Tennessee for a pension for the services of her husband John Beard late a resident of the County and State above mentioned. Should there be any thing deficient in this claim please write me to South Harpeth Davidson County Tennessee, and oblige
Your Obedient Servant
Jubal Richardson
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Pension Office July 14th 1848
Sir
I have the honor to inform you that the letter of the Comptroller Genl of South Carolina which you transmitted in support of the claim of Mary Beard widow of John Beard has been examined and filed with her other papers.
The Comptroller in his letter gives a transcript of two accounts against the state of South Carolina rendered by John Beard for service in the revolutionary war. And as they both cover the same period from 1779 to 1783, it would appear that there were two persons bearing that name attached to the service in that state. No evidence whatever has been addressed to identify Mrs. Beards husband with either of them. Satisfactory proof upon this point should be addressed. Claimant in her declaration states that her husband served under Capt. Irwin, the Comptrollers letter shows
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that Beard served under that officer amounted to 118 days only this, if admitted would not be sufficient to entitle her to a pension. A duplicate from the Comptroller in relation to the service under Irwin was presented by Jabul Richardson in August last, and a report therein made to him.
We cannot admit Mrs Beards claim upon the proof now before the Department.

Hon Washington Barrow
House of Reps
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G. W. Crump Esqr.
Acting Commr. of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.

South [illegible]
July 31

[sideways]
August 9th 47
Add to Mary Beard
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South Harpeth Tennessee
August 1st. 1847
Dear Sir
Your communication dated April 16th 1847 relative to the claim of Mary Beard widow of John Beard of Williamson County Tenn. for a pension has been received, and it appears that the date and particulars of the marriage are satisfactory, but the proof of service has to be established by Record proof from the Comptroller of South Carolina. Enclosed you will receive the Certificate of the Comptroller of South Carolina giving you a statement of the days he acted in the capacity of horseman that is 118 days, and L 16"17"1 1/2 Sterling the number of days not specified. If this is the evidence submitted to you in behalf of the Widows claim, you will please let me know the result as soon as possible and if the amount of service will entitle her to a certificate please forward the same to me to South Harpeth Davidson County Tennessee, and oblige
Your Obt. Servt
Jubal Richardson
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House of Representatives
July 7. 1848.
Sir,
I have received, and herewith inclose a letter (sent to me by Ezra Holstead Esq) containing a statement, from the Comptroller General's office of South Carolina, in the case of Mary Beard, which has been before you for some time. She resides in Williamson County Tenn., and her application was filed by Jubal Richardson, of Nashville-- I believe. You will find in your office a letter from G. W. Crump, dated 16 April 1847, to Mr Richardson, in which he states that the evidence furnished of the marriage of Mary B. to John Beard is sufficient, but that the husband's service should be proven by the certificate of the Comp. Gen'l of S. Carolina.
I inclose you the letter, with the hope
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that it is sufficient, without the necessity, on the part of the applicant, of going to any further expense in obtaining a certificate surely so called from the Comptroller's office in South Carolina.
Let me hear from you at your earliest convenience on this subject.
Very Respectfully,
Washington Barrow

J.L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner &c
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Catawba Cowan's Ferry Feb. 1st 1781. I am a descendant of each and want to establish D.A.R. records only, and will be very grateful for prompt reply.
Repety-
Mrs. Sallie Beard Smith
Murfreesboro Tenn.
John Beard of P Car-
Col. Daniel Hall of Maryland

[stamp]
U.S. PENSION OFFICE
MAY 11 1914
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Pension Office [illegible]
Washington D.C.
Dear Sirs - 
Will you tell me if pensions have ever been applied for in the names of John Beard of Capt John Irwin's Co. of So. Car. (Revolutionary soldier) or in the names of Col. Dan'l Hall of Md. the latter a field officer killed at the battle of