Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2054, Amos Ball, Md.
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(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Md.
Ball, Amos
NUMBER
S.2054.
Carded
CONTENTS
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31,211
East Tennessee
Amos Ball
Monroe Co in the State of Tennessee
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain Flanegan of the regt commanded
by Col. _____
in the Maryland Md
line for 7 1/2  months

Inscribed on the Roll of East Tennessee
at the rate of 25 Dollars  ___ Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of Sept
1837  and sent to Hon Hugh L. White,  S. U. States,

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1837   $162.50
Seminal, allowance ending 4 March 1833   12.50
[total = ] $ 175.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }

Recorded by corded by Wm. S. Allison  Clerk
Book  E.2   Vol. 7   Page  57
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State of Tennessee  }
Monroe County  }
Circuit Court. S.S. May 1837 -

On this 3rd day of May 1837 personally appeared in open Court before the Hon. Charles F. Keith Judge presiding.  Amos Ball, a resident of said County and State, 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 Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832-- The he was born in the year 1756 on the 20 day of August in Bucks County Pennsylvania, and lived there as informed by his father till he was four years of age when his father moved to Baltimore County Maryland  where applicant resided till after the Revolutionary war a few years when he and to Washington County Ten. where he lived 23 years when he moved to Blount County Ten, where he lived till four years ago when he moved to the said County of Monroe where he has since resided.  Applicant has a record of his age set down from the statements and record of his father -- in his family bible.  

Early in the war of the Revolution, appliant thinks in 1776 while living in Baltimore County 15 miles from the City of Baltimore Md. there was a call made for troops, and applicant thinks there was a small bounty given. The call was for the time of four months.  applicant did not volunteer, but his brother-in-law James Griffith did, in the Company of Capt. Flannegan in whose company Nicholas Griffith was orderly Sergeant, said Company marched to Baltimore City, and after being stationed there near about two weeks applicants' sister wife of said James Griffith and her two children were severely attacked with the flu, which proved fatal to both Children. At the instance of said Sister applicant went to Baltimore, and by consent of said Captain took the place of said James Griffith, and served out the whole of said term of service. After applicant joined said Company they remained encamped on the Common (Howard hill) Baltimore some where about a week. They then marched to New Castle, where my found another Company, somewhere at New Castle
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while encamped a scouting party of British came upon said company, and they had to make their escape as the British were most numerous. At New Castle they were encamped a number of weeks- how long he is unable to say. From there they marched to New Town Square Chester County where they remained a few weeks. from where they marched to Trenton where the said Term expired, of which applicant was engaged at least 3 1/2 months. Applicant is unable to say whether written discharges were given. He thinks he got none, though Griffith whose substitute he was perhaps did. Applicant recd. from Griffith a horse for his services; and he thinks Griffith at a County advanced and $8. per month. They drew their pay after their return.

Some months after applicant returned from the be for mentioned service, he joined a Company of what were called Minute Men, under Capt. William Harry, for the term of six months. Applicant thinks they were to get half pay. During said Term there was a call, from the State authorities he thinks for troops to defend the City of Baltimore.  Said Company marched to Baltimore under the command he thinks, of Col Robt Kernnis. They found Baltimore in great fear and alarm; the people,  store goods, and other property were leaving town in wagons, [illegible][?? drazs] &c. At least five British vessels of War were in Sight, but never landed. He thinks there were two Battallions of malitia stationed near the magazine, in Baltimore, but cannot remember the Commander. Applicant was not down at the fort a mile below the City; but [illegible] were there[?] stationed. Applicant is unable to remember how long the British lay in the Bay, but thinks about 3 weeks when they hoisted sail and de parted. The company applicant was attached to remained something more than a week, perhaps two after the British vessels of sailed off, and after the other troops left the City-- guarding the Magazine. He was in service this time at least One month. while in said Minute term of service applicant was called out twice more, said company was marched to Baltimore each
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time, but found no real cause of alarm and returned in a day or two. Applicant remembers of getting no written discharge, but got half pay, in Congress money--somewhat depreciated.

Some time afterwards, applicant thinks in 1777 in the summer or fall, troops were called for, and applicant volunteered in the Company of Capt Robt Lemmons for three months-- John Bose Orderly Sergeant. Were mustered into service in Baltimore City, and marched on to Havre-de-grass, where they tarried a few weeks then marched on to [illegible]  and stayed about a week - the British being in Chester County, Pa. Applicant was in hearing of the guns at the Battle of Brandywine, but could not get there. They passed the battle ground a few weeks afterwards, and marched on to a little village of which he forgets the name where they were stationed till said term of 3 months expired. Applicant received a written discharge from Capt Lemmons, but has long since lost it, and was paid in Congress money.- Applicant was in no battle, at any time.

In all he served 7 1/2 months - and as a private of Infantry, in Militia Service each time.

Applicant has no documentary evidence, and knows of no person who can testify to his service; and his memory is so impaired that he cannot state more particularly than he has done as to his service.

There is no clergyman living in applicants immediate neighborhood, and he is infirm and has made no particular acquaintance with a resident clergyman since his removal to Monroe County. He will substitute the testimony of reputable men who have long known applicant in Blount & this County Viz:

Applicant, having been reduced to extreme poverty by the payment of security debts, would have applied for a pension soon after the law was passed, but made a statement of his services to the person who has written this Declaration; omitting the term for which he had acted as substitute, not expecting to get any thing for it, and was told. he had not served long enough to succeed. Applicant hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his
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name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. unto in open Court
Amos Ball
May 3 1837 by said Amos Ball   E. H. Wear  Clerk

We Charles Donohoe and Archibald Sloane residing in the said Monroe County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Amos Ball other subscribed and swore to the foregoing declaration that we blieve him to be 80 years of age. that said Donohoe has been acquainted with Applicant for a long term of years, and said Sloane from his boyhood; that said Ball has sustained uniformly a character for veracity and general integrity, and his statements so far as affiants have ever heard an implicitly relied on as to his services in the Revolutionary War, And we concur fully in the belief of his statements as to his service[??s] as we have no doubt do all his neighbors.
Charles Donohoe
Archd. Sloan
Sworn to in open Court May 3rd. 1839.
E. H. Wear  Clerk

And the said Court hereby declares their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and 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 Charles Donohoo formerly High Sheriff of Blount County, and Archd. Sloane Deputy Sheriff of said Monroe Cty who have signed the preceding certificate, are resident in said Monroe, are credible persons and their statements entitled to full credit.
Caller F. Kieth
Jud. Presiding

I, E. H. Wear Clerk of the Circuit Court for Monroe County Tennessee do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court, in the matter of the application of Amos Ball for a pension; that said Ball was duly sworn to the foregoing declaration in open Court on this day, and that Donahoo & Sloane were also at the same time duly sworn to the above affidavit. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and private seal (having no official seal) at Office in Madisonville this 2d day of May 1837.
E. H. Wear    Clerk
[hand drawn seal]

I Hugh L. White one of the Senators in Congress from the State of
Tennessee do certify that I have been informed and verily believes it to be true that E. H. Wear is Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County in the State ofTennessee, and that he did actually subscribe his name to the above and foregoing certificates to which his name appears signed.
Given under my hand this 5th day of July 1837.
Hu. L. White
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Rev War
2054
INVALID.
File No. 2054
Amos Ball
Priv  Rev War
Act: June 7. 1832
Index:-- Vol.  A.  , Page  17.

[Arrangement of 1870]
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Amos Ball
Tennesssee

Suspended

See letter 17 Augt. 1837
E H. Wear  clk
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, Affidavit of J & Coffin
in reference to the 
application of Amos 
Ball for a Pension

Ho. H. L. White
Senate US

[crossed out]
Please direct to 
James & Coffin
Marionville 
E. Ten.
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State of Tennessee  }
Monroe County         }
State of Tennessee Circuit Court. S.S. September Term 1837.

Personally appeared in open court before the
Hon. Charles F. Keith, presiding Judge James
A. Coffin, and made oath in due form of law to the following
Statement-

Not long after the passage of the Act of June 1832, in the fall, affiant thinks of the same year, Amos Ball the present applicant for a pension, applied to affiant to make out for him a Pension Declaration; he stated that he had served more than six months, but after the terms of service had been set down as Applicant was willing to be qualified to the whole service did not amount to six months. Applicant appeared to think he had served longer, but readily gave up the idea of getting a pension for six months service, as he manifested great caution in being willing to be qualified as to the length of his service. He  complained much of the failure of memory, but could recollect events better than dates.  Thus the matter rested till the Present year, when affiant in conversation with a neighbor, learned that said Ball had spoken of a term of service in which he had acted as a substitute. Affiant sent word for said Ball to call on him, and when he did so, found that the term he had served as a substitute was entirely distinct from any stated by him to affiant heretofore. Said Ball does not hear well, which renders conversation with him difficult. Affiant had frequent conversations with applicant relative to a pension after he made his first statement; but they were mostly if not altogether, in reference to the probability of a law being passed in favor of those having served a less term than six months. Affiant told him there was some
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prospect of such an amendment, and he was frequently interrogated by applicant on the subject, before he heard of the term he served as a substitute. When applicant made his first statement in 1832, he alledged, as in his present declaration that he had no documentary evidence and knew no one who could testify as to his service.  Affiant unhesitatingly states that aside from the character of Applicant, which is good, he has uniformly considered his statements to be made in a conscientious and careful manner. And affiant thinks had it not been for the deafness of applicant, which rendered conversation difficult, that an account of the term in which he acted as substitute might have been obtained from him in 1832; but, the difficulty of holding conversation rendered our interview short, and unsatisfactory. Affiant remembers distinctly, the circumstances of applicants first efforts to obtain a pension; as his decent deportment and fact that he was ready - having been sold out of a comfortable home to pay security debts - made an in impression on affiant's mind, and rendered him anxious in the case.  This loss of property, at an advanced period of life, was then waged by applicant as one cause of the loss of memory.
James A. Coffin

Sworn to in Open Court  6[?] Sept 1837
E H Wear   clk
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I Charles F. Keith Judge presiding certify that James A. Coffin, a licensed attorney, was qualified in open Court, this Sept 6. 1837, to the foregoing statement, and also that he is a credible person and his statement entitled to full credit.
Given under my hand this Septr. 6. 1837.
Charles Keith

I, E. H. Wear, Clerk of the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Tennessee, certify that the foregoing statement was subscribed and sworn to by the said James A. Coffin, in open court, and also the above certificate made by the Hon: Charles F. Keith Judge presiding on this Sept 6. 1837.
Given under my hand and private seal, having no Official seal, this Sept 6. 1836, at office in Madisonville, Tennessee
E. H. Wear   Clk.

I, H. L. White a Senator in Congress from the State of Tennessee, certify that E. H. Wear was at the date of the above certificate Clerk of the Circuit Court for Monroe county; that he has no seal of Office, and that his signature to said certificate is genuine, as verily believe
Hu. L. White
September 18th 1837
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Senate Chamber
Sept. 18th 1837

Dear Sir,
The inclosed came under cover to me this morning.  May I ask your attention to it at as early a day as other duties will permit.
Most respectfully
Your Obt. Servt.
Hu. L. White


J. L. Edwards Esquire
Comr. [illegible]
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34, 143
Term: Act '32
Amos Ball
July 17.

[postmark]  KNOXVILLE TEN. Jul 9

[very lightly written]
evidence required of
his having taken [illegible words] 
a pension 

FREE

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington