Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3,625, William Folk, Penn.
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Service (upper left)
Penn.
or Folk, Willam
or Volk, Fulk
Number R.3,625
contents
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17707
Wm Folk
Rowan C

Rowan CS
Salem NC
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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of
the act of Congress passed June 1832
State of North Carolina
Roden Court SS
Agent, Court of Pleas and
Quarter reprises Aug 32
On this 20 day of August AD 1832 personally appeared in open Court being in to the Court of Pleas and Quarter, and to open for the County of Rowan now, William Fork, aged about 78 years, who being first duly sworn according to Law call upon his oath, did make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 1832, that he enlisted in the army of the United States perhaps Pennsylvania, in the year 1775 in Lancaster County, State of Pennsylvania where he was bound for a term of eighteen month under Capt. James Ross, and served  under the command of Capt. Eberle and Lieut. Orr - He cannot recollect his Col. during his service. He served agent in a number of affairs and was engaged in the capture of the Hessians at Trenton, that in the operation 
of his 18 months. he recollects it was in the year 1778 or '77, he was honorably discharged
from service, which discharge he has lost, that
he thinks that when he was discharged, his captain - he has no record of his age - that he continued to serve in Pennsylvania regiment 
after. He then moved to the County of Rowan in the State of North Carolina, where he has continued to reside for thirty years. He states that he has no documented evidence & that he knows of no person whose testimony he can presents & testify to his service -he recollected that Gen Washington commanded at Trenton
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He duly relinquishes evidence whatever to a pension or annuity, and he declares that
his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State.
William Folk
His mark X
Sworn to in open Court the 25th August 1832
John Gile, Clk

I, Charles Fisher, a resident of Rowan County, State of North Carolina, hereby certify that I am acquainted with Wm Folk who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. This in believing him to be 78 years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and therein concur in their opinion.
Ch. Fisher
Sworn to in open Court 25 August 1832
John Gile, Clk

And the court does hereby declare the opinion that the above-named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and serves as he states, and the court further certifies that Charles Fisher and John Giles are residents of Rowan County and are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit.
Abel Graham, Chairman
I, John Giles, clerk of the Court of Pleas and qualified representative of Rowan County, do hereby certify this paper contains the reported proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Wm Folk for a pension. In testimony whereof I have given my signature and seal of office this 25th day of August 1820
John Giles, Clk
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Acts of July 14, and March 3, 1873
3625
P.O
WM Folk
Service:
Enlisted: Rejected, 18.
Discharged:____________, 18.
Application filed:___________, 18. 
Alleges:_____________
Attorney:_________________
P.O.
Recognized.____Contract
_______Cert. of Dis.  
Searched for_______, 18.
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Dear Sir
House of Representatives
January 16th 1835
I inclose you the Declaration of William
Folk of of Rowan County North Carolina
The Declaration was returned to him for further ┃
proof of service. The old man is very poor
and having elisted in Pensylvania, he is
not able to procure any further proof
of service. A friend suggests that he is a
german and that his name is by some
spelt Volk and by others Fulk
and that 
his name may be so recorded in the
Department of War. Will you have the
Records examined to that effect. The gentlemen who vouch for his character are
of the first respectability in the country.
I have no doubt he is a meritorious man.
very respectfully
A Rencher
J. L. Edwards Esqr
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Salem NC, Sept 7, 1835
Dear Sir:
There are two claims or declaration for Pensions which remain suspended in your office, in which I acted as agent & which were sent on by us - one in favour of William Folk of
the County Rowan. the other in favor of
Reuben Shields of this County of Stoke. Permit
me to draw your attention to their claims once more in order that they may be completely
examined & oblige me with the result of
examination. Poor Folk has been in suspense a 2 or 3 years & Sheilds near one year
Very respectfully,
Yours
Earnest Shober
J.L. Edwards Esq
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Salisbury NC
August 31st
Sept 5 M
Mr James L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City DC
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Salisbury N C
Augst 31st
Sept 5 M
Mr James L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.
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Salisbury N.C. August 30th 1836
Mr J. L. Edwards
Desir-
I enclose the
Declaration of William Fulk of this County
which appears to be his second application for
a Pension.
he has no proof of his service
in the Regular army in Pennsylvania and
New Jersey and has only been able to procure
proof of his service performed in South Carolina
I presume that the reason why his name was
not found on the Muster Rolls of the war depart
is that the officer who first wrote it his apprehen
the sound of the name and spelt it different from
what appears to be the obvious sound at this time
The applicant is extremely poor very ignorant
and feeble both in body and mind, so that it is with
great difficulty after a long and tedious examination
that many coherent statement can be had from him.
The mark of his wound is plainly visible & I
beleive he is entirely honest
yours Respectfully
Sam Silliman
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L P. Waldo Commissioner of Pensions
Washington DC
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Salem North Carolina
October 26th,1853
act 1850

Sir
On 18 of July 1853, I filed bounty Land Claim No. 168,648 for Mary, new widow of George, which not been heard from. Please look it up & report.
About the 18th of July last, I, in writing, call up a case of William Folk of N.C., in which case I had discovered evidence that had been
overlooked. I have heard nothing from the case since. I would like to hear from it.
About the same time, I called up the case of the widow of Jonathan Barrott of N.C., who was suspended or dropped from the
pension rolls in 1835 & died about 1840.
His widow claims from 35 to 40, in right for
her husband, with grounds that her husband was dropped from the pension rolls without a cause, I now ask to be shown the reasons why Jonathan Barrott was dropped from the pension rolls, I shall be pleased to hear from
Address, Elisha Smith
Salem N.C.
I am Sir Respectfully yours
Elisha Smith
Salem, N.C.
L.P. Waldo, Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C
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Organ Church SC
August 27th 1857
William Fulk, a revolutionary Soldier, made his
declaration in 1839 or 1840, and it was sent to
the Pension office by Charles Fisher Esqr of Salisburg
N.C. Soon after this, the said Fulk died and Mr
Fisher, who was Fulks agent, he also died, not long
after. Without Letting the heirs of Fulk know what had become of the claim. I as agent for Fulks heirs
ask the you for a reconsideration of the Claim and
the reasons why it did not pass, if it did not, any
evidence the Commissioner may deem indispensible
to establish the claim for Fulk will be furnished
by the Subscriber, if possible. Write me as soon
as you can, and let me know concering said claim
and the evidence, if any, that may be wanting in the
case, Revolutionary men are now scarce from
whom evidence may be obtained, and will soon
be all gone
adress Elisha Smith at
Organ Church P Rowan County
North Carolina
James E Heath Esq
Comm Pension
Washington City
D.C.
I am Sir, respectfully you
Elisha Smith
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Salbury, N.C.
Sept 21
Mr. James L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
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Salbury, N.C.
Sept 21
Mr. James L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
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Salisbury N.C. September 20th 1836
Sir
I lately sent you the application of one William
Folk of Rowan County for a Pension; a previous application by him I understood to have been rejected because it was alleged that his name
was not found on the rolls of the regular army. I apprehend however that this must be owing to a mistake in spelling the name, either in the application or in the muster roll.
In order in some measure to obviate this difficulty, I send a list of the names of those whom he says were his messmates while in
the service in Pennsylvania, New Jersey & such as I understand them to be from his pronunciation of them:
Michael Clup
George Everly
George Fink or Phenk
David [Fink or Phenk]
French Shover or Shober
John Bruzel, Fugleman
John Longabrute Do
I would infer that if these names are on the well without anything resembling that of Folk, that this applicant must be the man.
Yours Respectfully,
Saml Silliman
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Salem North Carolina
July 15th,1853
Sir,
I, as the attorney for the Children of William
Fulk or Folk, deceased, of North Carolina, call
a reconsideration of the Pension Claim of
said Folk. This claim was suspended, I don't know for what. When you look at the papers,
you will find that Folk claimed for 18 months
service in the Penn Line, but not proof of that
facts. He claimed for ten months service in
South Carolina, which service is proven by the affidavit of Philip Sell, a pensioner. By looking
at Philip Sell's declaration and Wm Folk's, you
will see that ten months service for Folk. By Sell, the proof of his death and heirship of the Children shall be attended. If you find any objections to the claim, let me know all the objections at once. My power of attorney is in filed with the papers
I am, Sir, respectfully yours,
Elisha Smith

Address,. Elisha Smith, Salem N.C

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C
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Wm Folk
N. Carolina
-----
17 Jan 1835
Act 7th June 1832
-----
Hon A. Rencher
Letter E. Shober, Sept 16 1831

Letter 17 Sept '36
Silleman
Same, Oct 12, 1836
order 16
Letter A. Rencher, Jan 2 1838
E. Smith Nov 15, '51
Same, April 19, '52
Same, Nov.23, 1853

3625
Act June 7, 1832
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Letter Hon. R. Hatton Feby 18, '61
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17707

17707
William Folk

Hon. A. Rencher
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those further proof or explanation, answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of William Folk
which require further proof or explanation
1. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes
V. Has he mentioned 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? Yes
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes
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2

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?

No
 
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 

No

XIII.  If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? 

Yes

XIV.  If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?

No

If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath,
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?

XV.  Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? 

Yes

XVII.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?

EXPLANATORY NOTES.

QUERE V. 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 
days, I served as a ; and for such service I claim a pension.
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3

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 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 shewn 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.
QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
In 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 claimants 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 office, under his seal of office.

QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.
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Salisbury North Carolina
November 27th 1857
Sir, Some time since I addressed a letter to the pension
office enquiring after & into the Claim of William
Fulk of Rowan County & State of N.C. which had been
filed in the pension office some time between 1834
and 1839, as well as I can learn, Mr Charles Fisher of
Salisbury N.C. drew up Fulk's declaration. I think,
and Fishers name may be marked on the declaration
Fulk died without obtaining a Certificate of pension
about 1840. Mr Fisher also died soon after, William Fulk heirs now make application to you, through
me to know what was done with Wm Fulk declaration
or what was the reasons, a pension certificate was not
issued to Wm Fulk in his life time, the heirs of Fulk
now claim what their father might have drawn of
the claim has been established. They claim the right to establish said Claim if it has not been established heretofore

You answered my letter of enquiry, that Fulks Claim above referred to Could not be reported
to me until I produced a power of attorney from the parties concerned. I herewith present you a
power of attorney, made out as well as I know how
Signed by Margaret M Ritchey, the only one of the heirs
that lives any ways near to me, the rest are scattered
over the County so that it would be next to impossible
to get a power from them all. I therefore hope you
will report to me, how the case stands, and if not established what point of evidence or points of evidences are
still wanting to establish the claim. I hope the power
I send you will enable you to report as far as ask for a
above. And if the claim close or can pass and you
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dont think proper to deliver the Certificate of pension on
the power of attorney herewith presented, then and in that
case. I could take the trouble to obtain the signatures
of each one of the heirs, to a power of attorney. I shall
be please to hear from you, and in particular to hear
how the case stands. Those persons from whom any
proof can be obtained, are, rappidly passing away
to if any thing is yet laking in point of proof and the
case is not spead speedily attended to, all hopes of
success will vanish away

As the attorny of Fulks heirs. The first thing I as for is the pension Certificate, if the claim is or has been established
with information, when, how and where the money
is to be drawn, and whether or not it will all be
drawn at one time

Second thing is. I ask for a reconsideration of
of said claim, with information, what point or
points of evidences are still wanting to establish
said claim, together with such other instructions & information as may be necessary to enable me to prosecate the Claim to a successful issue.

I am not conversant with the doing of the
pension office, and have no one at hand from whom I can obtained information, I shall therefore be under the necessity of asking you for information as to what I dont understand. Please Sir, answer me speedily & oblige
Address Elisha Smith at
Salisbury North Carolina, Rowan County

I am Sir
I E Heath Com pension 
Washington City D.C
Respectfully
Elisha Smith
Page 26

Know all men by these presents, that I Margaret M Ritchey of the County of Rowan and State of North Carolina, the daughter and heir at Law, of William Fulk who had made application to the officers of the pension office, by sending to that office a declaration for a pension under existing Laws of the United States granting pensions to certain officers
and soldiers who served in the war of the revolutions. But died before obtaining a pension Certificate, do hereby nominate,  constitute and appoint Elisha Smith of the
County and State aforesaid, my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name to ask the Commissioner of pension for a reconsideration of the declaration of William Fulk my father, and to transact any and all kinds of business
Connected with the further prosecution of the claim of the said William Fulk and to receive the pension Certificate when issued for my use, the Commissioner of pension, or other officers of the pension office, Will Correspond with my attorney, Elisha Smith, on all occasions as they would with me.  I make this power of attorney for the benefit of my brothers and sisters as well as for myself whose names are as follows, Mary Rose, wife of Thomas Rose, Christinia Correll wife Jacob Correll, Sarah Earnhart
wife. Alex Earnhart, Polly Fulk, James Fulk, and
Samuel E Fulk, Witness my hand and seal this 26 day of November A.D. 1851

his
Margaret M Ritchey   Seal
mark

Signed Sealed and delivered in
presence of
E.E. Philips
Montford Holshouser

State of North Carolina
County of Rowan
Be it Known that on the 26th of November AD 1851
Page 27

before the Subscriber a Justice of the peace
within and for the County & State afforesaid, duly autorized by law to administer oaths, personally appeared Margaret M Ritchey above named, and acknowledged the foregoing power of Atorney to be her act and deed, in testimony whereof. I here unto set my hand. The day and year first above written. Given under my hand & Seal
E. E. Phillips J.P.  Seal

State of North Carolina
County of Rowan

Be it known that on the 26th of November A.D. 1851, before me a Justice of the peace within & for the County & State afforesaid duly authorised by law to administer oaths, personally appeared Elisha Smith the attorney named in the foregoing power of attorney and made oath the Claim of the said William Fulk, for a Pension, named the foregoing power of attorney has not been given him, in concequence of any pledge. mortgage, sale,
assignment or transfer of the said Claim.

Elisha Smith

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year first above mentioned, before me

E.E. Philips, J. P.
Northford Holhouser

N Carolina
Rowan County
I E.E. Phillips hereby certify certify that the above named him of William Fulk are considerably scattered about none of them being near, is the reason of none of the heirs signing this power attorney but. Margaret M Ritchey 

this Nov. 26th 1851

E. E. Phillips J.P.
Page 28

State of North Carolina
County of Rowan

I, James E Kerr, Clerk of the Court
of pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County of Rowan aforesaid. Certify that E E Philips who name appears, to Margaret M Ritchey's acknowledgement on oath of a power of attorney made to Elisha Smith named in the foregoing power of attorney, and to the
affidavit of Elisha Smith the aforesaid attorney is an acting Justice of the peace within and for
said County, duly Commissioned and qualified
that as such he had authority by law to administer oaths for general purposes and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court, at office in Salisbury this
the 29th day of November, 1857

James E Kerr Clerk

It having been omitted in the above. I James E Kerr Clerk as aforesaid, by hereby certify as above to the genuineness of E E Philips Signature, as an acting Justice of the peace in the County of Rowan. as it appears to a certification made by him respecting the 
situation of the heirs of William Fulk. This 
certification is dated, signed and sealed as
the above

James E. Kerr Clerk
Page 29

State of North Carolina
Rowan County

On this 19th day of August 1836 Personally appeared before the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions for said
County the same being a Court of Record William Full a resident of said County aged 80 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 provisions made by Act of Congress of
passed June 7th 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1776 with Captain James Ross and served in the Regiment of the Continental line under the following named officers - Captain James Ross - Colonel General Green and General Washington. That about the month of August in the year 1776 he being then resident in
Lancaster County Pennsylvania enlisted at the Court House in the company of Capt James Ross, that he does not recollect the
names of the other company officers; that he was a foot soldier and marched from Lancaster to Princeton New Jersey and was at the
battle there on the 3rd January 1777 that he was subsequently at a battle or skirmish at Elizabeth town point where he was wounded in the thigh by a musket ball through the side of a boot which wound is now at times irritable and painful: that he was afterwards at the Battle of Brandywine on the 11th day of September 1777. That he was near Germantown Pennsylvania at the time of
the Battle there in October 1777 but was not engaged in it; that he recollects to have frequently seen General Lafayette and Col
Washington of the Cavalry frequently.  that about the end of May 1778 he received a written certificate of discharge at Elizabeth
town New Jersey which he has lost. that he returned home from thence having served one year and nine months. That in 1780 he
removed to Rowan County North Carolina where he now resides, and about the month of June 1781 he again enlisted for the term of ten months in Company of Captain Coldiron at Salisbury marched to Lancaster South Carolina and from thence under the command of General Sumter marched to Charleston and was at the Battle of Eutaw spring on the 8th of September 1781. that some time after this his time of enlistment having expired, he received a written discharge which he has since lost
Page 30

That he has no record of his age but believes he was born in Lancaster County Pennsylvania in the year 1756. That he now resides in Rowan County North Carolina & has resided there ever since 1780. That age and infirmity have much impaired his memory, that he is a German and without education, that English people write his name differently as Fulk Fulse & otherwise is that since June 1832 he has made application to the war department for a Pension, but was informed that his application
was rejected because his name was not found an Army rolls in the war department and that his original declaration has been mislaid that he now relies on the testimony of Phillip Sell to
prove his services who is the only man that he knows of now living who was with him in the army and can testify directly to his services and identity. He hereby relinquishes every claim
whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not to his knowledge on the Pension roll of the agency of any State

his
William Fulk
mark

Sworn to and subscribed the day
and year aforesaid in open Court
HY Giles DC

I Phillip Sell of the County of Montgomery North Carolina Pensioner of the United States hereby certify that I am well acquainted with
William Fulk of Rowan County who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration; that I served with him in the same
regiment under General Sumter in South Carolina in 1781 for the term of ten months and have been informed by many credible persons now dead that he was in the several battles mentioned by him in Pennsylvania & New Jersey

HIs
Phillip Sell
mark

Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open Court

Hy Giles S.C.
Page 31

And the Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary Soldier and served as
he states-

W. Walton, Chairman
---

I John Giles Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions for Rowan County North Carolina do hereby certify that the
foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the Matter of the application of William Fulk for a Pension and that Jesse W. Walton Esq is Chairman of said Court for this
Term. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 20th day of August Anno Domini 1836

JM Giles