Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31120, William Headen, S.C.
Page 1

Form with Handwritten responses)

(8-1776)
Service               Number

Headen, William    S31120
______________________

Content
Page 2

Left side of page -written sideways
Date of Death not on A B


Top Right of Page

Louisiana 30,438
William Headen
of Tammany in the State of Louisiana

who was a Private in the company command
by Captain McGee of the Regt command

by Col. Thomas in the S. C. Mil.
line for 6 month

_________
Inscribed on the Roll of Louisiana
at the rate of 20 Dollars per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
_______
Certificate of Pension issued the 25th day of Feb
1836 and sent to Hon. E. W.
Ripley, H. R
________________
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. '35
90.00
Semi-an. allowance ending 4 Mar. '36.
10.00

$100.00
_______


Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by D. Brown

Book E. 2.    Vol. 8     Page 75
Page 3

State of Louisiana 

Parish of W Tammany           LL 

On this fourteenth day of November --- 

in the year of our Lord one thousand

eight hundred and thirty three 

personally appeared in Open Court 

before the Eighth District Court of 

the State of Louisiana now sitting --- 

in the parish of It Tammany,

William Headen a resident of the parish

 of Tammany State of Louisiana 

aged Seventy three year on the

14th December next, 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, has

(illegible) June 7th 1832 - That he entered

 the service of the United States

 under the following named officer Carl

and served as herein stated

(illegible)  He was born in Loudon  County State of Virginia on 14th December 1760.

(Page 1 of 12)
Page 4

as appears from a Record in his family

Bible copied from his fathers family

Bible, that he was living in South Carolina

 in what was then ninety - 

Six District when he was called 

into the service of the United States 

by Captain Wardery Magee to whose

 company he belongs, he cannot 

say whether it was a volunteer 

company properly speaking or 

(this is page 4 and this continues to page 5)

not but they were called minute 

men and liable to be called 

out time, it was in the
 
latter and of the year 1779 or 1780 that 

he was first called into serve 

and continued in nearly constant 

service until the close of the 

war which he thinks was in the 

year 1783 and all the time as a 

Militia Soldier, that the Colonel 

who commanded the Regiment 

he entered was John Thomas 

and the General he thinks was 

Pickens, that Jeremiah Dickson

(Page 2 of 12)
Page 5

was his Captain during part of the 

time he was in the service. That 

Major John Ford and Colonel Roebuck

were officers that commanded 

him part of the time also Genl Henderson and that 

John Mapp was the Captain and 

William Fair the Colonel under 

whose command he was when 

discharged. He was under the command 

of General Green of the 

Regular Army during the siege 

of Ninety Six in the year 1781 or 1782 

and when the British were reinforced 

that he retreated with said General 

Green from that place, he declares 

that he was at least three years in
 
the service most of the time with 

scouting parties in different parts 

of the State of South Carolina, that 

he marched at different times over 

the Pacolet river, Edisto, Tiger, Broad

 river, Wateree, Congaree and Enoree

(Page 3 of 12)
Page 6

rivers, the order of there marches with

 regard to time he cannot recollect,

 He some times received Furloughs for
 
a few days, and he believes that

 he was several times drafted to 

perform particular tours of service

He was in no battle except at the 

Cowpens on the 17th January 1781 

where Tarleton was defeated by 

Morgan he was there as a Volunteer

and attached to no company.

having a Furlough from Captain 

Vardery Magee for four days 

and being in the neighborhood he

the went voluntarily to the place and 

was in the engagement - 

He was discharged by Captain 

John Mapp at the close of the 

war which he thinks was in the 

year 1783 he does not recollect 

whether he ever had a written 

discharge or whether it was

(Page 4 of 12)
Page 7

a mere verbal dismissal ---

He was in the service with Swann

 Thompson now an inhabitant of 

the State of Mississippi and whose

affidavit  is hereunto annexed --- 

 He has no documentary evidence 

and he knows of no other person 

whose testimony he can procure, who 

can testify to his services-- soon after the 

war he moved into North Carolina and

remained about two years then returned  

to South Carolina and in the 

year 1786 moved to (illegible) County 

State of Georgia where he remained 

until the year 1811 then moved to 

his present residence parish of St 

Tammary  State of Louisiana -  

he is intimately acquainted with 

the Reverend Reuben Beavers 

a Clergyman of the parish of St 

Helena State of Louisiana, and with 

Lemuel Thompson and Jesse R 

Jones of the parish of St Tammary

(Page 5 of 12)
Page 8

who can testify as to his character for 

veracity and their belief as to his services 

as a soldier of the Revolution. 

He hereby 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 

Wm Heden (Signature or Headen?)


Sworn to & subscribed 

in open Court this 14th

day of Nov (illegible) 1833

Wesley Mallory (illegible)


 We Reuben Beavers a Clergyman of 

the parish of St Helena State of Louisiana 

and Lemuel Thompson and of 

Jesse R Jones of the parish of ST Tammary

State of Louisiana hereby 

certify that we are well acquainted 

with William Headen who has 

subscribed and sworn to the above 

declaration; that we believe him 

to be seventy three years of age 

on the 14th day of December next 

that he is reputed and believed 

in the neighborhood where he resides, 

to have been a soldier of the

(Page 6 of 12)
Page 9

Revolution and that we concur in that

opinion 


Reuben Beavers Beavers (Signature)

Lemuel Thompson (Signature)

Jesse R Jones (Signature)

Sworn to and subscribed

in open Court this 

14th day of Nov AD 1833

Wesley Mallory (illegible) (Signature)

And the said Court do hereby declare 

their opinion after the investigation of 

the matter, and after putting the 

interrogatories prescribed by the war (illegible) 

the answers to which are (illegible) 

that the above name 

applicant was a revolutionary 

soldier, and serves as he states.

 And the Court further certifies that

it appears to them that Reuben 

Beaver who has signed the preceeding
 
certificate is a Clergyman  

resident in the parish of ST Helena 

State of Louisiana 

and that Lemuel

Thompson and Jesse R Jones who have 

also signed the same are residents

in the  parish of St Tammary State of 

Louisiana and are credible persons 

and that their statement are entitled 

to credit Nov. 14th 1833. 

C. Woodruff

Judge of the 8th Order Louisiana 

Opinion

(Page 7 of 12)
Page 10

Page 8 of 12)
Page 11

Int 4th   How were you called into the service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom

answer  I was called into the service
by Captain Vardery Magbee to whose company I belonged.   I cannot say whether it was a volunteer company properly speaking, but we were 
called minute men and liable 
to be called out at any time I believe I was several times drafted 
to perform particular tours of duty - 

Int 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 Service

(Page 9 of 12)
Page 12

Answer  General Green belonged 
to the regulars I was with him at 
the Seige of Ninety Six and during 
his retreat, I do not recollect 
the names of any of the Officers 
of his command 
I was present 
at the battle of the Cowpens 
when the americans were commanded 
by Colonel Morgan
I cannot say what Regiments 
I served with but recollect 
that John Thomas, Roebuck, and 
William Fair were Colonels and John Ford Major, Pickens and Henderson Generals under whom I served all I believe Militia Officers, most of the service 
I performed was with scouting parties-

Int  6   Did you ever receive a discharge, from the service, and if so by whom was it given

(Page 10 of 12)
Page 13

and what has become of it 

Answer   I was discharged by Captain 
John Mapp at the close of the war but do not remember whether I ever 
received any written discharge, or 
whether it was only a verbal dismissal --- 

Int 7  State the names of the persons 
to whom you are known in your neighborhood and who can testify 
as to your character for veracity 
and their belief of your services as a Soldier of the revolution 

Answer   I am acquainted with Reuben Beavers of the parish of St Helena in the State of Louisiana a Clergyman and  with Lemuel Thompson and Jesse R Jones of the parish of it Tammary who testify to my character for veracity and their opinion of my service

(Page 11 of 12)
Page 14

as a soldier of the revolution
Wm Headen (Signature)

Sworn to and subscribed 
in open Court this 14th day of 
Nov. AD 1833 
Wesley Mallory (illegible)

State of Louisiana
Parish of St Tamara

8th Dist Court  
? Wesley Mallory
City Clerk of the 8th District
Court do hereby certify that the foregoing Contains the Original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the Application of William Headen for Pension 

In testimony whereof I have set my name affixed  
the seal of said Court this 22d Nov. 1833

 Wesley Mallory (signature) (illegible)

I hereby certify that Wesly Mallory whose name is affixed to the above 
certificate is Deputy Clerk of the District Court for the Parish of St Tammary  State of Louisiana and that his attestation is in due form- Nov 22d 1833.

(illegible)
Judge 8th District
Louisiana

(Written Sideways on the right side of the page)
Hon P. Thomas
HR

(Page 12 of 12)
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                                                        June 25, 1931
Hon. Henry St. George Tucker 
445 House Office Building 
Washington, D. C. 

My dear Mr. Tucker: 

Reference is made to your letter with two enclosures, 

returned herewith, requesting the records of soldiers with 

surname Haddon, War of the Revolution. 

The following are the histories of the only soldiers 

named William Haddon of any southern state (searched under all 

spellings of the surname) found in the Revolutionary War records 
of this bureau: 

S. 31120, WILLIAM HEADAN

It appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension 

claim, S. 31120, that William Headen was born December 14, 1760, 

in Loudoun County, Virginia. 

While residing in Ninety Six District, South Carolina, he 

belonged to a company of minutemen commanded by Captain Vardey 

Magbee, and from the fall of 1779, or early in 1780, he served 

at various times in the South Carolina militia under Captains Vardry 

Magbee, Jeremiah Dixon, John Mapp, and Colonels John 

Thomas, Roebuck and William Fair.  He was on furlough at the 

house of his father (name not stated) about seven miles from 

Cowpens, and volunteered at the time of that battle but did not 

reach there in time for action. He was out on many scouting 

parties and at one time was elected captain and served one 

month against the Cherokee Indians. His other service was as 

a private.  He served until in 1783, amounting to two or three years.

Soon after the Revolution he moved to North Carolina where 

he lived two years then returned to South Carolina, and in 1786 

moved to Washington County, Georgia, and in 1811 moved to the 

parish of Saint Tammany, Louisiana. 

He was allowed pension on his application executed November 

14, 1833, at which time he was living in the parish of Saint 
Tammany, Louisiana. 

There are no data as to his family. 

Rightside of page -Handwritten sideways

(illegible) letter (illegible) William Hadden  W7697
also Hon Henry St George Tucker's letter of Request in William Hadden W7697

Rightside of the page
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section 
AWF: MLB
Page 16

31 120 
Revy INVALID.
____________ 

File No. 31 , 120 

William Headen 

Pri   Rev   War 
_____________

Act: June 7th  39 

Index: - Vol. 9, Page 180 

[Arrangement of 1870.]

Right side of the page
Written sideways

1931 - June 25 (illegible) to Hon Henry St George Tucker

For S.W. Hadden - see letter (illegible) William Haddon
Page 17

Suspended

See letter Jany 

5, 1835 N. E. W.

Ripley

can not find
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State of Louisiana 

Parish of St Tammany   On this Twentieth day of October

in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight Hundred and thirty five, 

and in the year of the Independence of the United States of America 
the (illegible)

Personally came and appeared, into the Honorable the 

Parish Court in and for the said Parish of St Tammany, began and 

held as the Court House of said Parish in the town of Covington 

on the date above written, Mr William Headen of the aforesaid 

Parish of St Tammany, and State of Louisiana, aged about Seventy 

five 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 

and answered the Interrogations to him(illegible) as follows (To Wit) 

Int. 1st Where and in what year were you born? 

Answer, I was born in Loudon (Loudoun) County, Old Virginia in the year 

One thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty, on the fourteenth day of December 

Int. 2 Have you any Record of your age, and if so, where is it?

Answer, I have my age is Recorded in my family Bible, which is at 
my residence now in this Parish, and which record was made from
my fathers family Records 

Int  3 Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived 
Since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?

Answer, I was living in the State of South Carolina, in what was then called Ninety Six District, now Spartenburg (Spartanburg) County, I have lived since in different places in the United States, from the termination of the War until the year 1811. I lived alternately in the States 
of North and South Carolina and Georgia. I then removed to my 
present place of residence in the State of Louisiana, Parish of St Tammany where I have resided ever since 

Int 4 How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute for whom?
 
Answer, I was first called into the service as a Minute Man under the command of Captain Maybee, I was not drafted, nor did not volunteer formally, 
at first but the company was what was then called Minute men, and was generally in the field in active service as scouting or foraging parties
Page 19

 I never was a substitute for any person during the war

Int 5th  State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the troops where you served, Such Continental and Malitia (Militia)Regiments as you 
can recollect and the general circumstances of your services 

Answer  When I first entered into the service, the fall after the surrender of Charleston, my Cols name was John Thomas, and my Captains Vardony Magbee  (Vardry McBee) as before stated. The scouting parties of the British army (illegible) had
been advancing into the County, and in the fall your deponent was 
called into service, your deponent recollects that it was in the fall from this circumstance that on arriving as the rendezvous people were gathering their corn, deponent continued in service with said Magbee (McBee) till after Farthous defeal, our duty consisted in scouring the Country, during the scouting parties of the Enemy, collecting foraging. My fathers residence was about seven Miles from the Cowpens and Magbee (McBee) had given us a furlough for four days to go home and of refit our baggage. On arriving at home I learned that Tarleton and Morgan were in the neighbourhood, and I took my rifle and repaired to the army, but was to late for the action at the Cowpens. Soon after this a (illegible) come that the Cherokees were coming down upon us, and a part of two or three companies was gathering together and Marched to John Penneys old station so called On arriving there none of the Captains had joined and they elected 
this Deponent Captain of the party, deponent does not remember the exact time he was in this tour but knows that it was one month of by at least, after I returned from this tour Captain Magbee (McBee) had left the service and deponent served immediately afterwards under the command of Captain Jeremiah Dixon, and Marched with him under the orders of General Andrew Pickens to White Hall where we remained a short  period, and then returned, at this period the tories were out through the Settlement where I lived, they were called by the name of the bloody Scouts, and Dixons Company was constantly on the alert to protect the Inhabitants and I was out with them, after this deponent marched still under the command of Capt Dixion, to join General Green at the siege of Ninety Six, did not arrive as the (illegible) but met the army under the command of Green, returning, Dixons Company  soon retired from Greens army and marched again to deponents settlement  In the mean time one John Mapp was Elected a Captain in
Page 20

Magbees place, and deponent service under him during the remainder of the war. The first tour of duty deponent served under Capt. Mapp was on little River at Hugh Neills Mill where they were stationed some time but deponent does not recollect how long, under the command as deponent believes of Col. John Thomas, deponent being discharged from this tour returned home and the enemy being very troublesome, was called out a few days after his return, and still under Captain Mapp went to the same station on Little River where deponent believes that Genl, (General) Henderson commanded, does not recollect the time he was stationed at that place the second time. Deponent says that twelve months before the surrender of Cornwallis he was drafted and went to the Congaree River at Anchrom (Ancrum's 
plantation) where he served two Months, under the command of Col. Roebuck, Deponent next afterwards served a tour of two months in guarding the prisoners at Orangeburg Goal (note: anarchic term for jail), still under the command of Captain Mapp and Col Roebuck or Major Ford deponent does not recollect which was the commanding officer. In October before the capture of Cornwallis deponent was again drafted and went again to the Congaree at Anchrums (Ancrum), where he remained under the command of Captain Mapp and Major Ford until the news arrived of the surrender of Cornwallis. Then depondent was discharged from the service, all the foregoing tours of durty were performed by deponent exclusive of the three months tour certified by Mr. Swain Thompson whose affidavit is (illegible), which duty was performed under the command of Captains Mapp, Major Ford, and also under the command of Major General Green, and deponent further says that he was first called into service in the latter part of the year 1779 or the beginning of the year 1780, that he served from that time to the close of the war, excepting some few times when absent on furloughs, was drafted sometimes to perform special duties, and served as a Militia Man, under the command of Captains Major Dixon and Mapp, and the Colonel of the regiment was John Thomas, when Colonel Thomas assigned Colonel Roebuck took command when he died. Major Ford was commanding officer, during the service under Captain Mapp Roebuck commanded part of the time and Ford the residue, Genl Green, General Henderson and deponent believes General Pickens was the General officers during this whole period, and depondent further saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory together with the length of time since
Page 21

the rendition of the above services
he cannot recollect the precise length of time of the same tours of duty by him performed, but knows that he served (four words X'd out) not less than two years, deponent thinks more, but his recollection is so frail that cannot delare positively that he served with an (illegible) collect into service by competent authority, that he was either in the field or garrison and for the time during which the service was performed he was not employed in any civil pursuit, 

Int 6th   Did you ever receive receive a discharge from the service, and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it; 

Answer, I do not know that I ever received a written discharge but have often been verbally discharged, 

(X'd out words)
Interrogatory 7th   State the Names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and then belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution 

Answer, I am acquainted with Alexander G Penn Esquire and _________
 _____  both of this Parish, and I know of no person whose testimony I could procure who is acquainted with the services I rendered in the war, there being no person to my knowledge living in this Section of Country who served in the war with me, Excepting Thompson as before stated and whose certificate is hereto annexed 

And now the said deponent declares that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a person or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of any agency in any State 

And the said William Headen now declares further that since his application for a person has been returned to him, which application was taken & subscribed by this affiant on the fourteen day of November 1833, made before the Honorable the 8th District Court in and for this Parish, he discovers two Material Errors, which this deponent did not discover at the time of making said declaration which are these (To Wit) That this deponent was with General Green as the siege of Ninety Six during the year, and also that he was as the battle of the Cowpens, which Errors from the (illegible) of the District Court and from this deponents being somewhat deaf he did not discover at the times but which are herein corrected
Page 22

Sworn & Subscribed to before me in open Court this 20th day of October AD 1835 
William Headen (signature)


And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states 
Lyman Briggs
Parish Judge


I Ezekiel P Ellis Deputy Clerk of the Parish Court in and for the Parish St Tammany & State of Louisiana do hereby certify that fore going contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the Matter of the application of William Headen for a pension 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 20th day of October AD 1835 
E.P. Ellis Clerk 2 

We Alexander G. Penn and William Cooper residing in the aforesaid Paris of  St Tammany and State of Louisiana, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with William Headen who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be Seventy five years of age or thereabout, that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion 

Sworn & subscribed to the day & year aforesaid 

William Cooper (signature)
A. G  


And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the Investigation of the Matter, and after putting the Interogatories (illegible) by the war department, that the above named applicant was Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Alexander G Penn and William Cooper, who have signed the preceding certificate are 

Mid-page

There appear to be two stamps
Page 23

residents of this Parish and that they are credible persons and that their statement is Entitled to credit, and the Court further certifies that there is no regularly ordained Clergyman residing in this Parish who can give the certificate required by the Department, they not being acquainted with the applicant 

Lyman Briggs 
Parish Judge 

I Ezekiel P Ellis Deputy Clerk of the Court aforesaid do hereby certify, that the following contains the original proceedings of the said in the Matter of the application of William Headen In testimony whereof I have unto set my hand and seal this 20th day of October AD. 1833 

E.P. Ellis Clerk

Bottom of page

Large Stamp
Page 24

28.831 

William Headen 

Louisiana 

allowed for six (illegible),
(illegible)
Return S 

Hon. E.W. Ripley 
H R 

Both lines below were struck out
Hon P Thomas
House of Rep
Page 25

War Department
Pension Office
20th Dec 1883[?]

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. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace (this: }). 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 William Headon (Headen)

Period when the service was rendered
duration of the claimants service 
years
months
days
rank of the claimant
name and rank of the Field officers under whom he served
age at present, and place of abode when e entered the service
proof by which the declaration is supported


I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, James L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions

The claimant is refering to notes S. ____
Page 26

2
Regulations under the act of Jun 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

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 the 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 on 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    linem, 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 enlisted 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
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of   
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 serves 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 that his personal knowledge of the service of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light up on 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 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 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. 

(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 served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine 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 asa ______; 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 Cleck must affix his seal, and if it has no devise 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 us 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 indispensable in militia cases. 
(l) If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact. 
(m))The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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William Headen of P Tammany Louisiana 

This is a declaration made under the act of June 7 1832 stating services under that act and has no doubt been posted and refused at the Pension Office but the reasons of refusal do not appear among the papers. 

It is presumed however that the reason of refusal in the time and indefinite statement of the applicant - He states "that he was called into the service by Capt Magbee (McBee) to whose company he belonged he cannot say whether it was a volunteer company properly speaking or not but they were called minutemen and liable to be called out at any time it was in the latter and if 1779 or 1780 that he was first called into service and continued in nearly 
constant service until the close of the war. That the Colonel who commanded the regiment was John Thomas and the Gen(illegible) was Pickens That Jeremiah Dickson (Dixson) was his captain during part of the time - he declares that he was at least three years the service most of the time with scouting parties in different parts of the State of South Carolina
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he names different rivers that he crossed in his marches but says that the order of these marches with regard to time he cannot recollect 

He believes that he was several times drafted to preform particular tours of service - He was in the battle of the Cowpens Jany 1781 - was a volunteer belonging to no company having at that time a furlough for a few days and being in the neighberhood he went to the place and was in the engagement
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State of Mississippi ⎬
Pike County ⎬

Personally came the undersign I Swan Thompson before me Peter Quin a Justice of the Peace in and I for said County and Being duly sworn deposed as(illegible) (illegible) That he this deponent because acquainted with William Headen the present applicant for this affidavit on or about the Year of Seventeen Hundred and Seventy two or three and that deponent recollects seeing him in the service of his Country from about seventeen hundred and Eighty for two or three years and that this Deponent served with him in the same Company a part of the time and was also a (illegible)mate with him a part of the time this deponent was in the War and that an his deponents joining the service they Both Served under Captain John Mapp but previous to Deponent joining the service he knew of the said Headen serving under Captain Vardry McBee in what was called the Ninty six District in the State of South Carolina and that he served with Headen about three months, but then he saw the said Headen from time to time in the service of his Country about the time before mentioned for the space of Two three years All of which time said Headen served as a private soldier and so far as I knew him as ever understood he was of Good Character as a Soldier and was will respected as such and also was well beloved Generally and consider a worthy Man
Swan Thompson  

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 17th July 1833 
Peter Quin (illegible)
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State of Miss 
Pike County 
The undersigned Peter Quin and Anthony M Perryman do hereby Certify that we have been acquainted with the within named Swan Thompson for a considerable number of years and familiarly So and that we consider him an honest upright man and a man of truth and Varacity and that we Certify to be his general Character 

Given under our hands this 17th July 1838
 Peter Quin
Anthony M. Pryman 


State of Mississippi
Pike County

I Geo. G. McNabb Clerk of the Court of Pike County do hereby certify that Peter Quin whose name is hereunto anveyed was on the 17th day of July 1833 An acting Justice of the Peace in said County and full faith and credit an due his acts as such
Quin under my hand and seal of office this 6th day of July 1833 

Geo C. McNabb (illegible)
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Application of William 
Headen (of the Parish of St Tammany, a Revolutionary Soldier), for a pension

Hon. E. W. Ripley H.R
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Mr William Headen accepts his pension as stated in the letter from J.L. Edwards [?]

Very [?]
E. W. Ripley

Feb 26 1836