Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 10588, Gabriel Duncan, Va.
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SERVICE: Va.
Duncan, Gabriel
NUMBER: S.10588.
Carded
CONTENTS
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3514
Kentucky
Gabriel Duncan
of Madison in the State of Kentucky
who was a Private in the ~ commanded by Captain ~ of the Regt commanded by Col: Dixon in the Virginia line for 14 months from 1777

Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky
at the rate of 46 - Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of Decr 32, and sent to D. Breck 
Richmond, Ky ~

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 60.99
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 33 23.33
$93.32
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Nathan Rice - Clerk,
Book D Vol. 9 Page 36-
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5883.
G. Duncan.
Declaration

D. Breck
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(Duncan)
State of Kentucky
Madison County} S.S.
On this 13 day of August 1832 personally appeared in open Court, being a Court of record & now sitting, before James Dejarnett William Goodloe and George Alcorn ~
Justices of said Court, now sitting Gabriel Duncan a resident of the County of Madison aforesaid aged 74 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 7th 1832 That he entered the Service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein Stated - That in the Spring as he thinks of 1777 he volunteered in the then County of Bedford & State of Virginia in the Militia to go upon a tour against the Cherokee Indians we were marched to the long Island of Holstein where a treaty was made with the Indians - That he served out the Tower - That he was in a Company
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commanded by Colo James Dixon, Christopher Irvine was Lieutenant - That after his term was out & before he returned home, he enlisted or volunteered a second time to go on expedition upon Clinch River. Capt. Isaac Shelby, afterwards Govr. of Kentucky was his Capt. & said Irvine Lieut. - that said Isaac Shelby not being ready to march at that time, his Father, Colo Shelby, marched us over from the Long Islands of Holstein to a Fort upon Clinch River called Rogers Fort, where he continued to do duty above six months - That he was about from the time he left Bedford & was in service nine months before he returned. That afterwards he went out in the Militia, volunteered, from Prince Edward County, Virginia, in a company commanded by Capt. Allen
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in Genl. Lawsons command - was marched down to old Petersburg in Virginia to prevent the British who were coming up James River - That he cannot state certainly the year, but thinks it was in the year 1780 - That he was in service two months this Tour - that he has no documentary evidence & knows of no person by whose testimony he can Establish his services - He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state -
Sworn & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid - Gabriel Duncan x his mark

We Jacob Dooley & Richard Oldham residents of Madison County aforsd. do hereby Certify that we have been well acquainted with Gabriel Duncan who has subscribed
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& sworn to the foregoing Declaration between 30 & 40 years - that we believe him to be 74 years of age - that he is a man of Excellent Character & we believe all the facts stated in his declaration true - said Dooley states that from facts within his knowledge he believes said Declarant was on the Campaign he has stated against the Indians - Witness was there & is entirely satisfied Duncan was there - Both concur in the truth of his Declaration -
Sworn & Subscribed the Day & year aforesaid -
Richd. Oldham
Jacob Dooley
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And the said Court 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 & served as he states - and the Court further certify that said J. Dooley & Richd. Oldham, who signed & swore to the foregoing certificate are credible persons of good Character & their statement is entitled to credit - 
James Dejarnett
Wm Goodloe
Geo. Alcorn

Kentucky Madison County Sct.
I David Irvine Clerk of the Madison County Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Gabriel Duncan for a pension
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 17. day of August 1832
David Irvine CMC
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Gabriel Duncan
Declaration &c
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State of Kentucky
Madison County} S.S.
On this 3d day of Dec 1832 personally appeared in Open Court before Thomas Willis J. S. White & Will Stapp Justices of the County Court in & for the County of Madison aforesaid now sitting, Gabriel Duncan who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration supplementary to his declaration made in this Court on the 13th day of August 1832 in order to Obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 -
That he was born in Bedford County State of Virginia in the year 1758 - That he has no record of his age, but always understood from his parents that he was born on the 24th August 1758 - That when he first volunteered & entered the service in the Revolutionary War he was living  & was a citizen of Bedford County, Virginia, where
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he volunteered & served his last tour as stated in his Original Declaration he was living & was a citizen of Prince Edward County, Virginia -
That he does not recollect that he ever had any Written discharge from the Service; if he ever had, he has long ago lost it he Knows nothing of it now - That after the Revolutionary War he lived in Prince Edward County Virginia till he removed to Kentucky between thirty & forty years ago - Where he has resided in the bounds of the now County of Madison ever since & now resides - That Capt. Richard Oldham & Jacob Dooley of Madison County Keny have long been his neighbors & can testify & have testified concerning his Character - & their belief of his Services as a Revolutionary Soldier - that he believes he is & has been well known in the County of Madison for thirty or forty years past
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& could name if necessary a Great many other good citizens of said County, who could give their testimony concerning him as said Oldham & Dooley
Subscribed & sworn Gabriel Duncan x his mark
to the day & year aforesaid -

And the said Court do hereby declare that they concur in the opinion of the Court contained within Certificate of the Court attached to said Duncans original Declaration
J S White
Wm Stapp
Thomas Willis

State of Kentucky
Madison County} S.S.
I David Irvine Clerk of the County Court of Madison County aforesaid do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original & Supplementary proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Gabriel Duncan for a Pension - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 5 day of December 1832.
David Irvin CMC
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Rev. & 1812 Wars
Section. ILL

November, 12 1930.

Miss Grace C. Barnett
2013 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C.

Dear Madam:

You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 10588, that Gabriel Duncan was born August 24, 1758 in Bedford County, Virginia.

While a resident of Bedford County, Virginia, he enlisted in the spring, 1777, served three months as a private in Captain James Dixon's Company of Virginia militia against the Cherokee Indians at the Long Island of Holstein. He re-enlisted there immediately and served six months as a private in Captain Isaac Shelby's Virginia Company.

He moved to Prince Edward County, Virginia, enlisted in 1780 and served two months in Captain Allen's Virginia Company.

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 13, 1832, while a resident of Madison County, Kentucky. He had moved there from Prince Edward County, Virginia, thirty or forty years previously.

There are no data on file relative to his family.

Very truly yours,

E. W. MORGAN,
Acting Commissioner.
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Rev War
10588
INVALID.

File No. 10,588
Gabriel Duncan
Priv Rev War

Act: June 7th 1832
Index:-Vol. A, Page 104
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1930 - Nov. 12 - Hist. to Miss Grace C. Barnett - ILL
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Objections

June 1777 Privt
14 months
$46.66 -
- 100 -
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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 Gabriel Duncan which require further proof or explanation.

I. 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 him 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?

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, has a device
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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? yes.

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? yes.

XIV. [notation sign 1]If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? ~

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. [notation sign 2]Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 
1 2, 3d in part 6 & 7.
_________________________
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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G. Duncan

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 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.
[notation sign 1]QUERE XIV. 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 witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[notation sign 2]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 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.
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Hon L. Cass
Sir,
I return herewith enclosed the declaration &C of Gab. Duncan, so certified & amended, it is hoped, as to meet the requisitions of your depart - A speedy return is solicited.
most respectfully.
your obt. servt.
D Week

Richmond, Ky. Decr. 5. 1832
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Washington, DC.,
Oct. 28, 1930.

Bureau of Pensions,
Interior Bldg.
Att: Rev. War Section
I shall appreciate information as to the revolutionary pension papers of Gabriel Duncan, Madison, Co. Ky. who died in that county in 1845, & who was I believe, a rev. soldier & a pensioner
over
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I desire the above information for the purpose of establishing eligibility & membership in the D.A.R.
Respectfully,
(Miss) Grace C. Barnett,
2013 New Hamp. Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C.

[stamp]
REVOLUTIONARY & 1812 WARS
SECTION
OCT 29 1930
BUREAU OF PENSIONS