Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 32077, Willis Wilder, N.C.
Page 1

(8-1776)

SERVICE
N.C.

Wilder, Willis

NUMBER
S. 32077

CONTENTS
Page 2

Georgia 12.787
Willis Wilder
Jones in the State of Georgia
he was a Sergeant in the company commanded
Captain Bledsoe of the Regt commanded
Col. Rodgers in the No Car.
for 9 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Georgia
at the rate of 45 Dollars - Cents per annum,
commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 day of May '33
and sent Chas. Hutch
ings Clinton C. H. Ga
Arrears to the 4th of March '33 - 90
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept " - 22.50
$112.50
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Wm Miller Clerk,
Book E. Vol. 6. Page 106.
Page 3

Willis Wilder
Admit as Sergeant
9mo.
$45 -
Page 4

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
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. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed,
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when
you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and
you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.
A Statement, showing the service of Willis Wilder
Period when the service was rendered
April 1778
1778
July 1779

Duration of the
claimant's service.
months
3
3
3

Rank of
the
claimant.
[illegible]

Names and Rank
of the Company
officers under
whom he served.
Capt Miles
Capt Bledsoe
Capt Williams

Names and Rank
of the General
and Field officers.
Col Winton
Col Rogers
Maj Griffin
Myton
Griffis

Battles in which
the applicant was
engaged.


Country through
which he marched.
Wake Co.
to Charles
Smith
to  Hull

Place of abode
when he entered
the service, and age
at the present
period-
77 years
Wake
N Car

Evidence by
which the declaration
is supported.
The writings [illegible]

The [illegible] reward about month is [illegible]
 different periods

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 5

2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 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 } ss.
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 law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provion made by the act of Congress, passed 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 __ line, 
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 entered 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.
[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 ___ of the Court of ___
do hereby certify (h) 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 (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 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 day 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 served 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 his personal knowledge of the services
of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
upon 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 alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
Page 6

3
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 became 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 he 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 enquiry 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 for low 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 he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the opened in 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 dule 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 : 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 Clerk must fix his seal, and if it has no device 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 the 
report 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. 
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. 
If 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 is 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.
Page 7

Declaration of Willis Wilder in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832.
States of Georgia } SS.
County of Jones } On this nineteenth day of October in the year of Christ eighteen hundred and thirty two. Personally appeared before the undersigned Lucius Q. C. Laman Judge of the Superior Court of the county and Circuit in said State, this day presiding and holding the Superior Court now in Session in the County & state aforesaid.
Willis Wilder a resident of of said County of Jones in said State aged seventy seven {77} on the tenth day of June last, 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 the act of Congress passed Jun 7th 1832. That he entered the service under the following named officers & served as herein stated to wit in the militia as first sergeant in Captain Thomas Miles under Col. John Hinton in the month of March or April in the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight & served a tour of duty as first sergeant of three months in the County of Wake in the State of North Carolina guarding a Commpany store at or near the court house in said County of Wake N.C. and left the service at the end of said three months tour. The principal object was to save the stores from the British and tories, and [marked out] in the same year about a month afterwards he was again ordered into the same service at the same place and under the same officers & served a three months tour of duty, the applicant resided at the time he entered the first and last time in that year in said County of Wake in State of North Carolina in the first tour of duty was drafted and in the second tour entered as a volunteer. The applicant again entered the service as a substitute for his brother William Wilder who was drafted & went into service for a tour of three months in the militia in the month of July (1779) seventeen hundred and seventy nine, as first sergeant under command of Capt. John Bledsoe under Colonel Michael [image cut off] from the Court house in Wake County [illegible] the
Page 8

principal object was to save the stores from the British and Tories, and [marked out] in the same year about a month afterwards he was he was again ordered into the same service at the same place and under the same officers, & served a three months tour of duty. The applicant resided at the time he entered the first and last time in that year in said County of Wake in State of North Carolina in the first tour of duty was drafted and in the second tour entered as a volunteer. The applicant again entered the service as a substitute for his brother William Wilder who was drafted & so entered service for a tour of three months in the militia in the month of July (1779) seventeen hundred and seventy nine, as first sergeant under command of Capt. John Bledsoe under Colonel Michael Rogers marched from the Court house in Wake County [illegible] the camp at Charleston South Carolina but after starting was stopt in Orange County North Carolina on account of the D[illegible] hostilities of Col. Fannin & his tories & guarded the Commissary stores at Hillsboro North Carolina at the end of the tour applicant & his company marched back to Wake County & was discharged. The applicant again was drafted into the service & served as first sergeant under Captain Hillsmore and guarded the General Assembly sitting at Wake Court house North Carolina upwards of six weeks & his company & himself marched to Smithfield the Court house of Johnson County in said State of North Carolina & from thence marched to Goshen in Wayne County Husky [?] bridge & joined the command at that place under Major Handy
Page 9

[illegible], who h[a]d been in an engagement with the British & tories commanded by General Cragg at Rockfish North Carolina & said, Griffin having been defeated had marched back to Goshen where applicant & his company joined him & then was marched by command of Maj Griffin on the west side of Arlege river at Grays ferry holding the tories in check until applicants tour of duty expired when he was discharged. This last tour commenced the last of May or first of June (1781) seventeen hundred & eighty one & ended about the first of September in the same year, applicant served part of the last tour as Captain, and after that time in the years 1781 and 1782 applicant served as much as a month more in scouting parties arresting & dispersing tories was present and arrested John Harp Richard Harp and John Watkins as tories & turned them over to Colonel Hinton who delivered them to a continental officer whose name is not recalled to applicant has no documentary evidence, his discharges having been long time lost or destroyed so that he now can not find them and knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service, and hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the presents and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. The above declaration made in open Court the honorable L.Q.C. Lawson presiding said Court being a Court of record.
The Judge of said Court then propounded the following interrogatories in open Court to said applicant Willis Wilder who made the answers to the respective questions as hereunder written, to wit,
Q1. Where, and in what year were you born?
Answer I was born on tar river in Edgecomb County in the State of North Carolina on the tenth of June A.D. (1755) seventeen hundred and fifty five.
Question 2. Have you any record of your age; and if so, where is it?
Answer I have no record of my age made by my parents & only know it from being told by my father the time I was born when I was about 12 or 13 years old & wrote it down myself and have kept it in writing ever since.
3rd & 4th. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the revolutionary War and where do you now live? How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute & for substitute for whom?
Answer, I was living in Wake County on Neuse river in North Carolina & there resided until the [illegible] to this State where I have since resided & now reside in same county as above stated; I was drafted, part of the time, served as a substitute & as a volunteer at other times; during the service as I have stated in my declaration above written when I substituted it was in place of my brother Wm Wilder as above stated.
5th. State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops, where [image cut off] served; such continental & milita regiments as you can recall it &
Page 10

presiding
the Judge of said Court then propounded the following interrogatories in
open Court to said applicant Willis Wilder who made the answers to
the respective questions as hereunder written, to wit,
Q1. Where, and in what year were you born?
Answer I was born on Taw river in Edgecomb County in the
State of North Carolina on the tenth of June A.D. (1785) Seven
teen hundred and fifty five
Question 2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it
Answer I have no record of my age made by my parents & only
know it from being told by my father the time I was
born when I was about 12 or 13 years old & wrote it
down myself and have kept it in writing ever since

Q3rd & 4th Where were you living when called into service, where have you
lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live?
How were you called into service, were you drafted did you volunteer [illegible]
Answer
I was drafted, part of the time, served as a substitute was a volunteer
at this time, during the service as I have stated in my declaration above written when I substituted I was in place of my brother Wm Wilder as above stated
---
Q5 State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops, when
you served; such continental & militia regiments as you can recollect
the and circumstances of your service? Answer. I do not know
the names of any regular officers who were with the troops, can not
remember the regular officers the tories were delivered to by him, remembers
other officer but think Major Griffin served under Col Benjamin Exomias
Ackson, my service generally was in Militia against the tories

Q6 Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom
was it given & what has become of it? Answer. I always got discharges
for the different tours of duty signed by the respective captain or Major
as above stated at the expiration of said time of service which have
we lost or destroyed as above stated

Q7 State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present now
who can testify as to your character for veracity & their belief of your
services as a soldier of the revolution? Answer I state Robert Beasley
Justice of the peace & Thomas Humphrey deputy Sheriff of said County
will testify to what is required there being no clergyman in this vicinity
The above sworn to described in open Court
before me on the day foresaid
Lucius J.C. Lamar J.S. C. Willis Wilden
Page 11

32077
Rev INVALID
File No. 32077
Willis Wilder
Serg Rev War

---
Act: June 7th 32
Index: --Vol. 2
Page 456
{Arrangement of 1870.}
Page 12


Willis Wilder
application
for Pension
Page 13

State of Georgia Jones County
In Superior Court October Term 1832
We Robert Beasley a Justice of the peace
Thomas S. Humphris deputy Sheriff of said County Do hereby
certify, that we are well acquainted with the above named 
applicant Willis Wilder, who has subscribed & sworn to the
above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy seven
years of age as stated that he is reputed & believed in the
neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of
of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn & subscribed to in open Court
this 19th October A.D. 1832.
S. Humphris D.
Lucius H Lamar J.S.C.H.C.
Robert Bensley J. P.
And the said Court do hereby certify & declare their opinion
after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the
interrogatories presented by the war department, that the
above named applicant Willis Wilder was a Revolutionary
War Soldier and served as he states and the Court further
certifies that it appears to them that the above named Robert
Beasley is an acting Justice of the peace and Thomas
Humphris is the acting deputy show of said County stable of
then residing in said County of Jones and and
credible persons and that their statement is entitled
to credit. This 19th October A.D. 1832.
Lucius Laman
Page 14

Georgia Jones County
John Sup Court. October Term 1832
of Charles Hutchings Clerk of said Superior
Court now sitting in said County, do hereby certify that the above & foregoing contains the original proceeding of the said Court in the matter of this application of Willis Wilder for a Pension

In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand & seal of office on the
19th day of October A.D. 1832
James Atchings Clk
Superior Court Jones County
Georgia