Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3368, Joshua Ford, Ga.
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Service
Ga

Ford, Joshua

Number
S3368

Born in Maryland
Carded
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13818
West Tennessee
[blurred "Josh"] Joshua Ford of Rutherford in the State of Tennessee who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Blair of the Regt. commanded by Col. [blank line] in the Virginia line for 2 years.
Georgia Line. Records o.k. Feby 24' [illegible]
Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee at the rate of 80 Dollars [blank] Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 day of June 1833 and sent to Wm Ledbetter Murfreesborough.
Arrears to the 4th of March 160
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Sept 40
$200
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Danl Boyd Clerk,
Book E Vol. 7 Page 74
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Joshua Ford
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State of Tennessee
Rutherford County;
Circuit Court, 
August 6, 1832

On this 4th day of October 1832, before James C. Medchell one of the judges of the Circuit courts in and for the state of Tennessee now sitting for said county of Rutherford at Murfreesborough, personally appeared in open court Joshua ford, a resident of said County of Rutherford and State of Tennessee, 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 act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. 
Applicant entered the service of the United States in Richmond County, Georgia, in the fall of 1777 as well as he can now remember, the precise time he can not state, in a company of about 100 men under Capt. Blair, Danl. Marshall lieutenant. They marched to Mc. Jane's ponds, afterwards called Newsom's in Wilks County, Georgia against the Indians. When they arrived at the ponds, he saw the bodies of 6 or 7 Indians, there was said to be more, which had been killed a few days before by a party of whigs. Blairs Company built a fort a few miles from the ponds on a Sabbath day. They remained there several weeks and returned to their homes without any skirmish. It was understood that they were called home by Col. Few to go against the British and Tories at Savannah. The men were allowed to return to their homes merely to get clean cloths and provisions. In 2 of 3 days they again rendezvoused on a hill near Capt. Stump's near in Richmond County to the number of about 600 commanded by Col. Few. There was no acting Major as he recollects. He lived on the dividing line between the companies of Captains Phelps and Stump which created a contention between them to which he belonged. He served part of the time under one and part under the other of these Captains. The Lieutenant in Phelp's company was Cunningham or Cummins. From the places of rendezvous, they marched to Augusta by the Indian Springs thence on the main road towards Savannah, crossing the creek made by the Indian Springs about 3 miles from Augusta where they halted a day & two nights, and repaired some of the gunlocks. At Burk County courthouse they overtook Lieutenant Col. Ingram with about 200 men who had been detached before by Col. Few. They remained there expecting reinforcements; none came, and in about 2 weeks they were attacked just at day light by a detachment of the enemy from Savannah. The detachment was repulsed, but the whigs made a hasty retreat the same evening having lost 5 or 6 men. They were pursued to Augusta, and had some light skirmishing on the way and at that place. Georgia was then considered a conquered country. Few's regiment was broken up and dispersed. Many went to their homes, but dare not remain there, and continue true to the American cause. Applicant returned to his father's
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but remains there only a few minutes. He then went on horse back and met with about 50 of his fellow soliders at Wrightsborough in Wilks County, he thinks in February or March 1778. They called themselves refugees. They were sometimes in the settled country, and sometimes in the mountains. They were successively commanded by Wosten, Garnett, Alexander and others whose names are not now remembered, as circumstances allowed. They were often scattered in small companies, sometimes not more than 2 or 3 together. Applicant continued in this situation, sometimes routing the Tories, and sometimes routed by them, but without any skirmish worth naming, until the spring of 1780 as well as he now remembers  when he went with 5 or 6 others to Augusta where they joined the army then employed in the siege of that place. Gen. Twigg was said to be the chief commander of the militia, but applicant remembers only to have seen Col. Elijah Clark. He was in the company commanded by Capt. Alexander who was the same that was leader to his party of refugees. The militia were stationed on the south side of Fort Brown, and the regulars on the north side of it. The siege lasted about 8 weeks. The militia raised batteries 25 or 30 feet high, mounted cannon upon them, and in a few days compelled the fort to surrender. The night before the surrender, the enemy threw out their powder and put fire to it. The prisoners marched out and stuck their arms between a line of militia on one side, and a line of regulars on the other. They were then marched to Grayson's fort about 1/4 mile off, and there guarded. On the same day one James Alexander, brother to the Captain, shot Grayson dead while he was eating his dinner in the fort, as said and understood among the soldiers. It was said that Grayson was a very unprincipled tory, that he had given up several whigs to the Indians to masacre [massacre], and that he had once taken Jas. Alexander and intended to use him in like manner, but Alexander made his escape. He also escaped when he killed Grayson. The next day Col. Clark with part of the militia started up the country. Alexander's company, in which applicant served, parted with the rest of Clarks forces about 3 miles from Augusta, and went to the neighborhood of Wrightsborough, where they were permitted to each to his home, but to rendezvous again in a few days. They did so to the number of about 100 men. They unanimously chose Robt. Spurlock, Captain and Josias Avan, Lieutenant. They were employed in guarding the frontiers against the Indians and tories. While thus employed, a party of the enemy came in the night and shot their sentinel. Applicant with about 20 others headed by Col. Josias Dun the next day pursued the enemy and Dun put fire to one or 2 houses of the tories. Shortly after, a detachment brought in 5 or 6 tories, some with thier families, who had been among the Indians. One attempted to escape by running and was shot. These tories had some negroes, horses and other property with them which was sold to the soldiers, but the greater part of the property was returned to them on their proving to be pretty clever fellows.  Not long after this affair, applicant with about 30 others under Captain Spur-
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-lock were detached to join forces collecting at Brier Creek below Augusta to aid in retaking Savannah. When they got to Brier Creek they heard that Savannah had surrendered to the Americans and French and returned to the ballance of their company in Wilk's County where they continued to guard the frontiers until sometime after they had learned that Cornwallis had been taken. Applicant was in a detachment of about 100 men from Capts Spurlocks and Alexander's companies, commanded by Capt. Jackson, in the pursuit of some Indians that had killed a man in the neighborhood by the name of Harry Golden. They overtook them on west bank of the Oconee River where Millegeville now stands, as he has since been told. They killed 8 or 10, took one prisoner and number of horses. The prisoner was shot. This affair was after Cornwallis was taken. They continued to guard the frontiers till the Spring of 1782. From the time the applicant first entered of the United States to the spring of 1782, he was never at home more than a few days at a time. He served always as a volunteer, never had any written discharge, and knows of no person now living by whom he can make direct proff of his services in the revolution. He refers to the Rev. John Warren, Henry Trott Esqr. Charles Parks, Bery Creach, Maj. Lewis Bivin's, William Hunt, and Chapman Reeves, his neighbours, who will testify as to his character for verocity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolutionary war. 
Applicant was born in Maryland near Baltimore in the year 1756 as he was told by an older brother who had his fathers record of their ages. He has no record of his age and does not remember ever to have seen one. His father moved from Maryland to North Carolina, thence to South Carolina on the Savannah River in what is now called Edgfield district when he was about 8 or ten years old where he lived one or two years. Thence about 18 miles over in Georgia in Richmond County where he resided with his father when he entered the revolutionary services. Near the end of the war, his father moved to Wilk's County, Georgia, resided there one year and returned to his place in Richmond County. He made his father's house his home until he left Wilk's County. After that till his discharge from service he considered his home at his sister Miller's in Wilk's County. He then lived with his father 3 or 4 years in Richmond County. He then married in Edgfield district South Carolina where he resided till about the year 1807. Thence he moved to Barren County, Kentucky lived there 3 years, thence moved to Sumner County, Tennessee, live there 2 years, thence moved to Rutherford County, Tennessee, lived in this county 2 years, moved then back to Barren County Kentucky, lived there 2 years, moved then back to Sumner County (Ten) lived there 2 years,
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thence back to Rutherford County where he has  ever since resided. 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. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. Joshua Ford 
Wm. Ledbetter

We, John Warren, a clergyman and Henry Trott both residing in the county of Rutherford, state of Tennessee hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Joshua Ford who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be about 75 years old; 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. H Trott [signature] John Warren [signature] 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid 4 October 1832. Wm. Ledbetter

And the said John Warren further certifies that he has been acquanted with the above applicant about 15 years, that he has always been [crossed out] believed him to be a soldier of the revolution; that he the said Warren was among the regulars at the siege of Augusta or fort Brown spoken of in applicants declaration, and from various conversations with applicant, he is fully of the opinion that he was at the siege as he stated above in his declaration. John Warren
Subscribed and sworn to in open court, 4 Oct 1832. Wm. Ledbetter

And the said James B. Mitchell hereby declares his after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogations prescribed by the war department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the court further certifies, that it appears to him that John Warren who had signed the preceeding certificates is a clergyman, resident in said county of Rutherford, and that Henry Trott who has also signed the first certificate above is a resident in the same county, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.  JB Mitchell 

I, William Ledbetter, clerk of the circuit court of Rutherford County Tennessee, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Joshua Ford for a pension. In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand & seal of office this 4th day of October, 1832.
Wm. Ledbetter
Clerk of the Court

[side of paper] Joshua Ford 15515
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Amended declaration of Joshua Ford for pension 

State of Tennysee
Rutherford County
Circuit court April spring, 1833

On this first day of April, 1833 before me James C. Mitchell one of the judges of the circuit courts in and for the State of Tennysee, now sitting for the county of Rutherford, being duly sworn, deposeth and dayeth, that by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he can not 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 one month I served as a private in Capt. Blair's company, Daniel Marshall Lieutenant. For two months I served as a private under Col. Few part of the time in the company commander by Capt Phelps and part in the company commander by Capt. Stump. For eight weeks I served as a private in Capt. Alexanders Company, being the campaign in which Augusta   was besieged. For twenty months I served as a private in Capt. Spurlock's company as an Indian spy. I was always considered as belonging to Spurlock's company, but was occasionally detached under other officers as stated in my original declaration. Thereby further declare that I have documentary evidence and know of none such by which to prove my service as a soldier of the revolution, and that I know of no person, whose testimony I can procure, who can testify to my service. 
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 1 April. 1833. Joshua Ford
Wm. Ledbetter
Clerk 

I, William Ledbetter clerk of the circuit court of Rutherford county, state of Tennysee, do hereby certify that
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the foregoing after my certificate and deal of office of the 4th of October last, contains the amended proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Joshua Ford for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and deal of office this 1st of April, 1833. 

Wm. Ledbetter
Clerk
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Record Division
Revolutionary War Records Section
S3368

3-525
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions.
Washington, D.C., 19___

In reply to your request of , received for a statement of the military history of Joshua Ford a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you will find below desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. 

[Column headings: Dates of Enlistment or Appointment, Length of Service, Rank, Officers under whom service was rendered - Captain - Colonel, State.]

Fall 1777

1 mo. Pvt. [Captain] Blair [Colonel] written checkmark. Ga. 
2mos. Pvt.  [Captain] Stump [and] Phelps [Colonel] Few
8 weeks. Pvt. [Captain] Alexander [Colonel] written checkmark
20 mos. Ind. Spy [Captain] Spurlock [Colonel] written checkmark

Battles engaged in, skirmishes, at Seige of Augusta

Residence of soldier at enlistment, Richmond Co. Ga. 

Date of application for pension, Oct 4, 1832. [illegible] is June 22, 1833.

Residence at date of application, Rutherford Co. Tenn. 

Age at date of application, b. 1756 near Baltimore Md. 

Remarks: Not now in Edgefield Dist. S.C. name of wife not stated nor is it stated whether he had children. 

Respectfully, 

6-2856 Commissioner.
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1922 Aug 30. Heist to Heewry Robert.aw 
1926 Nov.5 photos furnished E.B. Baldwin 1426.21"St. Was. D.C. (see receipt for payment in Asher Ford w 7296) aw.
3368 Invalid File No. 3368 Joshua Ford Pvt. Na liner 
ACT: June 7/32 Index:_Vol.A,Page 128 {Arrangement: of 1870} Georgia Liner Records corrected Feby 2404 9
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Submit in Duplicate    1-681    PHONE 476

All inquiries regarding this job should refer to Requisition No. 1058
Requisition for Duplicating, Addressograph, Photostat, and Blue Print Work.
     DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
                        WASHINGTON
CHIEF, Division of Publications,
Room G 137.         Nov. 3, 1926.  192
       Please furnish work specified below.
Bureau ordering    Pension   Deliver to Room No. 5033
(ALL COPY FOR DUPLICATING WORK SHOULD BE PLAIN AND WRITTEN IN ELITE TYPE, EXACTLY LINE FOR LINE AS IT IS TO APPEAR ON FINISHED JOB.)
title and description of job photostat copies of four pages from the Rev. War pension claim,S. 3368, Joshua Ford.
No. of copies  1 of each  Shall form be kept standing?  no  days
For further information see   A.E. Wilson   Room No. 5033 Phone No. 541
Approved: O.L.L Garland             A. E.Wilson 
   Chief Clerk of Bureau     Chief of Branch of Division
NOTE: No order made "SPECIAL" unless statement showing necessity is written below and approved by Chief Clerk of Bureau ordering
               CHECK WORK DESIRED
Duplicate
Multigraph  single or double space?...   Facimile signature?
Mimeograph one side or both sides?...  Facsimile signature 
Folding once or twice?
Assembling
Stapling Once? Twice? Side? End?
Electric typewriter Fill addresses?... Dated?...
Addressograph from lists...
Envelopes, size...Cards, size...
Proof list...  Payrolls...
Labels (submit sample)... Corrections...
Fill in letters...   Tabulation sheets...
actual & all copies trimmed to size of largest
Photostat Size...Official use?... Repay?...yes $0.60
Blue Print Size...Official use?... Repay... $
Remarks... 
     (Over) See receipt for payment W Asher Ford. W 7296
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NOTE:  Routine changes of addresses may be made on this blank without formal reference through or initialing of chiefs of branches or chief clerks of bureaus.

                                             .................192
                                                 (Date)

INDICATE BY AN X IN PROPER SQUARE ACTION TO BE TAKEN

Make new addressograph plate         }
Change present addressograph plate}   on list.......
Destroy present addressograph plate}
as follows:

Now reads    
                       1.....
                       2.....
                       3.....
                       4.....
                       5.....
Should read
                       1.....
                       2.....
                       3.....
                       4.....
                       5.....
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR USE OF DUPLICATING AND ADDRESSING SECTION

ADDRESSOGRAPH
The above change was made .............192.
Operator...........

MULTIGRAPH
Operator....... Date........... Type set by..........
Remarks...............

MIMEOGRAPH
Operator........ Date......... Cut by............
Remarks...............
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HENRY ROBERTS
ATTORNEY AND COUNSELOR AT LAW
BRISTOL, VIRGINIA
July 4, 1922
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
I desire to secure as complete information as
practical relative to the war record and family of
Joshua Ford.
The printed report of the Secretary of War, 1835,
Pen. 3, Tenn. 94, under the heading "Statement &c of Rutherford
County, Tennessee, gives the following:
Joshua Ford, Private, Allowance $80, Received $240,
Description of Service: " Virginia line" . Placed on Pension
roll June 22, 1833. Commencement of pension, March 4, 1831.
Age 77.
Joshua Ford is my wife's great-grandfather, and she
desires this information, both as to his war record, and
family, and I will thank you to give me as complete information
on both points as your files contain. If there is any charge
for this service, I shall be glad to remit to cover same.
Yours very truly,
Henry Roberts
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(8-1776)
Service Number
Ga Ford, Joshua S3368
Born in Md
barded
Contents
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Brief objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Joshua Ford which require further proof of explanation. 

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?

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? 

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? 
No

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? 

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? 

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?
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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? 

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 

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? 
No

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? 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 regulation direct? 

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 and --- days, I served as a ---; and for such service I claim a pension.
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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 [italics] about three or four months [stop italics] is too
indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable [objectionable appears to be underlined]. 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. [italics] Proof of Service.
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 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 officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. [italics] Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the paper 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.
[pointing finger image] 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.