Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 21704, Archibald Brown, S.C.
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SERVICE SC
Brown, Archibald
Mary
NUMBER W21704
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3374
South Carolina
Mary Brown
widow of Archibald Brown
who died on the 14th December 1797
of Charleston in the State of S. Carolina who was a Captain of one of
the light Infantry companies
in the S. Carolina line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of South Carolina at the rate of 480 Dollars
per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22d day of June 1840, and sent to Hon. J.E. Holmes, H. Representatives
Arrears to the 4th of March 1840
$4,320 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sep 1840 $240 = $4560

(Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836 
Section the 3d)
Recorded by Wm W. Edwards Clerk,
Book C Vol.1 Page 186
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The State of South Carolina
District of Charleston
Personally appeared before me Rob Elfe a Justice of the Quorum for the District and State aforesaid, Charles D. Deas and made oath in due form of law, that he is the own Brother
of Mr Brown who is now applying for a pension. That he has examined the entry in the family Bible of the Marriage of his sister Mary Deas
and Archibald Brown, and that he knows it to be in the hand writing of the said Archibald Brown her Husband - This Deponent further declaring saith that from all the traditional evidences which
have come to the family and he has recd from various sources of information he has no doubt of the Revolutionary services of Captain Brown, as made out in the
Declaration of his sister Mary Brown
s/ C. D. Deas
Sworn to and subscribed
before me this 28th May 1840
Rob Elfe
JQ
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Declaration
in order to obtain the benefit of the third Section of the act of Congress of the 4th of July 1836 and joint resolution of July 7th 1838-
The State of South Carolina
District of Charleston
On this twenty fourth day of May 1840 personally appeared before
me Rob Elfe a Justice of the Quorum for the District and State aforesaid Mrs Mary Brown residing in the City of Charleston, aged Seventy Eight 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 4 1836. That she is the widow of Captain 
Archibald Brown who commanded during the war of the Revolution one of the Light Infantry companies raised for the defense of the City of Charleston. she declares that her husband the said Captain Brown was first sent to France by the State of South Carolina to purchase clothing and other articles for the State
in 1776 and on his return was landed from the Ship "Queen of France" at Boston in 1777 and returned to Charleston. He was then appointed a Lieutenant in one of the Light Infantry Companies raised for the
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defense of the City and was first in active service in February 1779 at a battle fought at Beaufort where he was wounded as will more fully appear by reference to Ramsays History of So. Carolina.
In a short time after he was appointed to the command of the said Light Infanty Company as captain, and served in the City of Charleston during the siege by
Provost [Major General Augustine Prevost] May of the same year
and upon the retreat of Prevost he
Marched for Savannah and served
in the memorable siege of that place,
and in the fall of 1779 on his return to
Charleston he and his company were
in service preparing for the defense
of the City and continued in same
until the Surrender of Charleston on
the 12th May 1780. when he and his
company were made prisoners of War. she further declares that her husband the said Archibald Brown was in service from the first of January 1779, first in the Expedition to Beaufort for three months, then in service at the siege of Charleston
for three months, and at Savannah for
two months and from November 1779 to the 12th May 1780 he continued in active service, being then made a prisoner of War.
This Deponent further declared that on the Surrender of Charleston Captain Brown was paroled, and on the 17th August 1780 she was married to him as will better
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appear by the Testimony hereto annexed a short time after her marriage Deponents Husband the said Capt Brown was sent a prisoner to Augustine where he remained for twelve months- she further declares that she was married to the said
Archibald Brown as above stated on the 17th day of August 1780 at the House of her father in the parish of St James Goose Creek by the Reverend Edward Ellington - Deponent has made diligent search in the parish
record for the entry of her marriage but has been unable to find it, the records of the church for that period having been lost. she submits as evidence of her said marriage
the entry made in the family Bible in
the hand writing of her husband the said Capt Archibald Brown and prays that the same may be received as evidence thereof.
In conclusion Deponent declares that
her husband the said Capt. Archibald
Brown died in the year 1797 on the 14th of Decr of said year and that she has never married but remains his widow s/ Mary Brown
Sworn to and subscribed
before me this 25th of May 1840
Rob Elfe
QU
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[Page from Family Bible]
Arch Brown born 9 Janua 1752 os
Mary Deas born 19th June 1762
Arch. Brown & Mary Deas marry'd 17 August 1780
Robert Brown their Son born 23d December 1781
Eliz. Allen Brown born 17 March 1784
Anna Caroline Brown born 23 December 1786
Mary Deas Brown born 26 April 1789
John Leas Brown born 13 July 1793
Archibald Brown born 7th November 1795

The State of South Carolina
City of Charleston
I do hereby certify that the above paper containing the entry of the
Marriage of Mary Brown and Archibald Brown was cert in my presence from the family Bible of Mrs Mary Brown. and attached to
this her declaration and proved before me on the Oath of Simon Deas & Charles Deas to be in the hand writing of Archibald Brown
In Testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand this 28th day of May 1843
Rob Elfe
QU
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In reply to your request of _ received _ 
for a statement of the military history of Archibald Brown a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this 
Bureau. W.F. 21704
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR
APPOINTMENT. 1776 to 1777
On a journey to France to purchase
clothing, etc. for the use of the State of S.C
Jan. 1 1779 RANK. Lieut. Co. of Light Infantry. S.C.
Capt. was taken prisoner at siege of Charleston, paroled for awhile and afterwards detained at St. Augustine for 12 months.
Battles engaged in, wounded at battle of Beaufort; in siege of Savannah and siege of Charleston.
Residence of soldier at enlistment,
not stated
Date of application for pension by widow May 24, 1840. Her cl. was al.
Her Residence at date of application, Charleston, S. C.
Her Age at date of application, Born June 19 1762
Remarks: Solder was born Jan 19, 1752 (O.S.) he mar, Aug. 17, 1780,
at Parish of St. James Goose Creek, Mary, dau of John Deas, and died Dec. 14, 1797.
Children, Robert, b. Dec. 23, 1781; Elizabeth Allen, b. Mch. 17, 1784, Anna Caroline, b. Dec. 23, 1786, Mary Deas, b. Apr. 26, 1789, John Deas,
b. July 13, 1793, Archibald, b. Nov. 7, 1795.
Very respectfully,

Commissioner.
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Nantes August 1777
Captain John Haller
the snow Maria Seraphique belonging to the State of South Carolina under your command; being now loaded
victuated; manned & in every other respect ready for, you will immediately repair on board Stake the first favorable opportunity that may offer of proceeding to Sea, making the best of your way for Charlestown in South Carolina but should contrary wind happen when you are upon that coast, so that you may not be able to get into Charlestown to avoid beating on the coast you should be obliged to put into any port to the Southward or Northward, you'll be careful to give the earliest information of your arrival to George Abbot Hall, Aaron Loocock, Roger Smith & Thomas Corbet Esqr wait their instruction, with regard to proceeding from thence.
For the security of the Vessel & cargo in case you should be met with by a British Man of War in your passage, she is cleared out for Cape Francois, having a nominal French Captain & Crew she will have every appearance of French property thereby avoid all risque of being taken, except on the American coast, where I hope the danger will not be very great - Captain Kangalet has Orders to follow your Instruction, in every respect, you'll therefore direct him to steer his course in such a manner as you think most for the safety of the vessel, observing that notwithstanding the clearances, you
over
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are not to touch at the Cape, or any other place; but make the quickest
passage in your power for South Carolina, the Articles you have
on board being much wanted by the public of that State. In your
passage out as soon as you have got into such a Latitude & Longitude
as will render your French papers useless, you are to mount as many
Guns as you conveniently can, that you may be enabled to defend yourself should you be attacked by any small armed vessel, or make prize of any defenseless ship you may meet with belonging to the subjects of the King of Great Britain, but you are to observe that she is by no means to act as a cruiser & when you are on the Coast of America, you are to be particularly careful to avoid all vessels which you think British, Men of War, Tenders or privateers. The cargo you have on board being too valuable & too much wanted by the State to be endangered when it can possibly be avoided. referring
you to the Instructions you received from the Commissioners &
wishing you a safe & agreeable passage remains,
Your friend & well wisher
Archd Brown
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Monmouth Illinois
July 28 1914
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington DC
Dear Sir
I've been advised to apply to you
concerning Revolutionary War Records. could you give me any information concerning the following?
Archibald Brown W.21704 Charlestown S.C. Capt of Light Infantry. 
Samuel Logan Shermans Valley Pa. later removed to Ky
James Brickenridge of Allegheny
Co. PA  later removed to Bourbon Co.
Ky.
Thank you in advance for
what more you may be able to tell me
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I remain
Respectfully
(Mrs) Nettie B Stewart
P.S. #187- N. 9 St. (from env)
Have you any record of George
Robinson Capt of Fourth Battalion
Cumberland Co. Militia
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MOBILE & OHIO RAILROAD CO
OFFICE OF ASSISTANT TREASURER
PO. DRAWER 717
Mobile, Ala. July 19, 1912

Mr. Jas. L. Davenport,
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir: -
If consistent kindly furnish me with the military record of Captain Archibald Brown of South Carolina, a soldier of the Revolution. He was wounded at the siege of Savannah and his widow Mrs. Mary Deas Brown was a pensioner to the time of her death in 1857.
The information I desire is the name of the regiment in which Captain Brown served and the name of its colonel. He died in 1857. [1797]
Address: P. O. Box 717,
Mobile, Ala.
Very Respectfully
Walter M. Brown
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( 3 -- 464.)
OW&N DIVISION.
Department of the Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Washington, D. C. Feb. 18, 1892
Respectfully returned
to R.M. Geddings,
1813 M.St.  City
who should state the purpose
for which he desires the information,
W.F.#21704
Green B Raum Commissioner.
[stamp] US PENSION OFFICE FEB 20 1892

2" Endorsement
Wash. D. C. Feb. 20 /92
Respectfully returned to Hon. Green B. Raum, Commissioner of Pensions
Wash. D.C. with the information
that request was made for the purpose of obtaining the No. of Regt &c of Capt. Archibald Brown in order
to have some reliable data to start from in arriving at the history of said officer he being an ancestor of the undersigned. The number of the regiment having been secured, inquiry of the War Department would be expedited. the information obtained has not the object of putting in any pecuniary claim against the Government
R.M. Geddings
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Wash. D.C. Dec 21/91
Hon Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
Sir
I have the honor to request
that I be furnished any information
as to Regiment &c of Capt Archibald Brown who was a Captain in the Revolution
I have a pension certificate issued to Mary Brown the widow of said Archibald, issued on the 22" day of
June 1840 and recorded in the Pension Office in Book C. Vol. 1 Page
186 by Wm. W. Edwards Clerk
If possible I would like to
be informed as to the nature
of disability incurred by said
Archibald Brown.
Very respectfully
R. M. Feildings
1813 M. St
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WIDOW, &c.
File No. 21704
Mary Brown
Wid of
Archibald Brown
Capt Rev War
Act: July 4th 1836
Index:--Vol. A Page 90
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1892 Mar 10 hl
to R M Geddings City
1912, July 26. History to
Walter M. Brown. frr
1914. Aug. 7. History to
Mrs. Nellie B. Stewart frr
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State of South Carolina District of Charleston
the affidavit of Mrs Susanna Hall of the City of Charleston taken
to prove the revolutionary services of the late Captain Archibald
Brown. This affiant being first duly sworn according to Law
testifies & says that she has the most perfect knowledge and recollection of Captain Archibald Brown and of his
commanding one of the Light Infantry companies in the City of Charleston during the Revolution and
his company were in service when the city was besieged by [Major General Augustine] Prevost; and also when the city was surrendered on
the 12th of May 1780 when he was made a prisoner of war.
He was sent to St. Augustine as a prisoner of war immediately after his marriage and detained for the space
of 12 months This affiant knows that Capt. Brown was certainly married to his wife now applying for a pension
in the summer of 1780 and that she is the identical person then married to him. s/ Susanna Hall
Sworn to before me this 28th May 1840  s/ Rob Elfe QU
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The State of South Carolina
Office Common Pleas Charleston District

I Charles C Strohecker Clerk of the said Court of the Common Pleas for the district and State aforesaid do
hereby certify to all whom it may concern that Robert Elfe Esqr whose name is appended to
the declaration of Mrs Mary Brown, to a certificate in relation to the record of the marriage of Mrs Brown cut from the family Bible, the affidavits of Joseph Righton, Seamon Deas, Charles D Deas and Mrs Susannah Hall is now and at the time of signing the same one of the Justices
of the Quorum and as such duly authorized to administer oaths, that due faith and credit are also
ought to be given to his acts as such
and that the signatures attached thereto purporting to be his are genuine
Given under my hand
and the Seal of the Court of Common
Pleas for Charleston District at Charleston the Twenty Eighth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and forty
Charles Strohecker
C.C.P.
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Pension Office

[illegible]
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a reply to the objections of the Commissioner of Pensions to the
allowance of a pension to the widow of Archibald Browne of Charleston S.C.
The only objection made to the allowance of the pension in this case by the Comssr is the absence
of record evidence proving the commission and showing the rank of the officer, and the only question
therefore which this appeal presents to the Secretary is whether the positive parole evidence of competent and credible witnesses, proving the military services and rank of the officer, is sufficient under the law and regulations, to establish the rank of a militia Officer serving in the revolutionary war.
The sufficiency of such evidence ought to be considered as established by the terms used in the acts of Congress & the manifest intention of these laws.
If Congress had meant to confine the claimants to record or documentary proof, such intention would have
been expressed - But this has not been done; and the general expressions used in the pension laws admit all modes of proof, & exclude none.
The intention of Congress certainly was to compensate all cases of actual service in the militia. Wherever
such actual service was proved to the satisfaction of the Government,
nothing
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nothing more was required
the circumstances under which the services were generally rendered during the revolution, would have rendered it unreasonable in Congress to have required record or
documentary evidence, either of the actual service or of the rank of the officer, serving in the militia of the States.
It is well known that in almost all the States no records or documents were preserved, which would have
proved service or rank, men and officers were called into military duty upon emergencies admitting of no delay, often without either rolls or commissions, & generally
without any records kept to shew the authority under which they acted-- The patriots who took up arms & answered the call of their country in those days of peril and confusion did
not wait for their commissions. & often discharged their tours of duty without any other authority than the votes of the men who had selected them as their officers-- To have
required, therefore, record evidence in such cases would have excluded those most meritorious, those who were the most ready & Zealous in the common cause.--
The question now presented therefore, ought to held as filled by
broad & general language of the laws, their manifest intent, & the condition of the Country & the circumstances
under which such services were rendered. the rules & instructions from the war department for the 
execution of these laws have been thought by the Comssor to require
record or documentary evidence of the rank of the Militia
officer in such cases.
on examination it
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it will be found directly otherwise-
In those of 27 June 1832 (1st page) it is said 'The case of the State troops, volunteers & militia is different. There are in the Department no rolls of the State troops except those of Virginia: & no rolls of militia except
those of New Hampshire'
It proved then to require as to those who served in those two States, "the same evidence as is prescribed for those who served upon the continental establishment, & adds
"But with respect to the other State troops & militia, there is no record to revert to & no presumption to be rebutted. The nature of the case therefore demands a different rule of
proceeding "
It is then (in 2nd page) required of the applicant, 'except the militia of New Hampshire & the State troops of Virginia, to answer certain interrogatories & among them (3rd page) this '6th Did you ever receive a commission? and if so, by whom
was it signed, & what has become of it?-'
Thus shewing that services by an officer even without a commission, & without producing it, or recent evidence of it, where there was one were considered within the act.
So again in the Instructions of 9 July 1836 - Article 1st 'It must be clearly shown in what company and regiment or corps, he served, and the grade he held. Such proof must be
had, either from the records of the war Department, the muster rolls, the testimony of commissioned officers, or the affidavits of persons of known respectability.-
Surely, then the regulations of the Department, instead
of requiring, as has been suffered record or documentary
evidence, or the production of a commission, expressly
dispenses with such proof, & expressly admit the precise mode
of
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of proof, which is presented in this case, viz the affidavits of persons of known respectability.
a letter of Governor Cass, when Secretary of War, is relied on by the Comptroller as justifying the requisition of record or documentary
proof.- This letter is dated 21 Feby 1833 - and if it has been correctly understood by the Commissioner as requiring this mode of proof, still the regulations, already cited of July 9 1836, expressly recognizing the sufficiency of other modes of proof, would necessarily supersede it.-
But it is not correctly understood. It is in accordance with the regulations before referred to. [illegible] admits
other modes of proof, & would directly authorize the allowance of
the present claim.- It begins thus-
'Claims are frequently presented, under the act of 7 June 1832 of persons who alledge that they acted as officers without receiving
Commissions.
Here then is the wrong case. The
Commr thinks such claims cannot be received. But what says this of letter of Gov. Cass,
'such applications should be received with caution & examined with special reference to the peculiar circumstances of each case. A commission is not in every case 
indispensably necessary to invest a person with rank or command, but some act or instrument of writing tantamount to a commission, or promise of a commission is deemed
essential. It must in all cases be clearly shewn that the person who
claims as an officer, & never held a commission as such, was
prevented from receiving one in consequence of peculiar circumstances over which he had no control. The mere assumption of a
person as to his having performed the duty incumbent on an officer of
a certain grade, does not entitle him to the pension due to an officer of
that grade"-- If it be said that this letter requires 'written evidence of
commission or of a promise of a commission, as essential it may be
replied that the word essential, is used in it; common sense as equivalent to important, & not in it, strict sense as indispensable.
because
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because if it had been used as meaning indispensable 
all the rest of the letter would have been omitted for it would be inconsistent. If an instrument of writing  was to be indispensable in all cases, then it would not 
do to prove peculiar circumstances preventing the officer from [illegible] a commission.-
But however this may be, certainly a letter of the Secretary, in a particular case, in 1833 cannot be considered as modifying, contradicting and annulling, a regulation of the Department deliberately made & promulgated afterwards for
the government of the Commr in 1836.
If therefore the grade of the Officer is proved in this case, by any mode of evidence, so as satisfactorily to establish it as a fact, it is sufficient, according to the pension laws & the regulations of the Department
for their execution. - It is found "by the affidavits of persons of known respectability" one of the modes of
proof expressly authorized by the regulations. This has not been questioned - and it is respectfully submitted that there can be no other question.
such also, it can be shown, has been the usage under these laws & regulations. They have always been understood as admitting parole proof by respectable witnesses
This is believed to be the first case, where such an objection has been taken.
The Secretary is respectfully referred to the pension allowed to the widow of Benjamin Matthews of
Charleston a case proved like the present - and it is believed
there are others.
-
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Mary Brown 5076
widow of Archibald
S. C
Act 4 July 1836
The parties to this claim
are personally known to
me and there can be no
doubt of the service or rank
of the late Capt Brown
whose widow now claims
a pension. The Commissioner
must judge of the period of service
from the evidence before him
JE Holmes So. Car. House Rep.
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State of South Carolina
Charlston District
The affidavit of Joseph Righton
of the City of Charleston taken before me Robert Elfe Justice of the Quorum for the State and district above written to prove the Revolutionary services of Captain Archibald Brown. This affiant being first duly sworn according to Law testifies and says. That he well knew Captain Brown at the commencement of the Revolution and during the whole time it lasted. This affiant can and does testate
that to his knowledge Capt Brown first held the rank of Lieutenant and was at the surrender of Charleston Captain of one of the Light Infantry Companies in the City.
This affiant well recollects the following service performed
by Captain Brown. He was first in service at the commencement of 1779 on or about the 1st of January of that year. I was
in service along with Captain Brown and in an engagement
we had with the enemy at Beaufort in the month of February.
Captain, then Lieutenant, Brown was wounded; he was in service for three months in that expedition. He was in April again in service being then made Captain of the Company
and aided in defending the City from the attack made on it by [Major General Augustine Prevost] we were in service again for three months
April, may and June we were then marched to Savannah to aid in the memorable siege of that place, and served two months, there in the month of November of 1779 we were all again called into service to prepare for the defense of the city, and continued in service until the fall of Charleston on the 12th of May 1780. at which time Captain Brown & his company were made prisoners of War. in the last of the summer
of that year Capt. Brown was sent with many others prisoners
to St. Augustine, and detained there for 12 months
The forgoing facts respecting the rank, service & the duration
of the service rendered by Capt Brown I have the best right to recollect because I was in service with him
In conclusion this affiant can testify 1st that Capt. Brown was married immediately on the termination of the Siege
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Charleston July that his widow now applying for a pension is the identical person then married to him and to the
knowledge of this affiant has never married since his death Given under my hand this 27th day of May 1840
s/  Jos. Righton

Sworn to before me this 27th May 1840
Robt Elfe QU
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The State of South Carolina 
Charleston District
This day personally appeared be
me Robert Elfe a Justice of the Quorum for the District above
Written Mr Seamon Deas of the Parish of Prince George Winyah
who being first duly sworn according to Law deposith and sayith that he is seventy two years of age and a Brother of Mrs Mary Brown widow of Archibald Brown formerly
of Charleston deceased. That he was present at the marriage
of the said Mary Brown and Captain Archibald Brown and this deponent believes he is the only person now living who was present. That the said marriage took place at the
house of his father John Deas deceased in the Parish of St
James Goose Creek in the month of August 1780 and the
marriage ceremony was performed by the Reverend Edmond Ellington long since deceased. This deponent has Examined the entries made in the family Bible of the
said Archibald Brown and Mary Brown and from his
knowledge of the same he is perfectly sure that the said
entries were made by Capt. Brown and is in his own proper hand writing. In conclusion this deponent says
that Mrs Mary Brown his sister now applying for a pension is the identical person married to Capt Brown
August 1780 and that to his knowledge she has never been
married since his death. s/ J Deas
Sworn to before me
this 28th May 1840
Rob Elfe QU