Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7,169, for Ludwick May, North Carolina
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE  NUMBER
N.C.
May, Ludwick
S.7.169
CONTENTS carded.
Page 2

[bifold page]
[left side]
only[?] to pay 30 March 1837
Order to pay 4. Oct 1838
Death not on A.R.
ILL [initials]

[right side]
12.909
North Carolina
Ludwick May
of Orange in the State of No. Car:
was a pri: in the company commanded
by Captain Rogers of the Regt. commanded
by Col. Lea in the No. Car:
line for 15 months

Inscribed on the Roll of North Carolina
at the rate of 50 Dollars  Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17th day of June '33
and sent P.H. Mangum
Hillsboro N.C. 
Arrears to the 4th of March '33 - 100
Seme-anl.[semi-annual?] allowance ending 4 Sept " -25
$125
{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Wm. Miller Clerk,
Book E Vol. 6. Page 48
Page 3

Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the
Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
State of North Carolina}
Orange County} SS.

On this 1st day of September 1832, personally
appeared in open Court, before the Court of Pleas
& Quarter Sessions of the County & State afores.
now sitting, Ludwick May, of the said County
and State, aged 68 years on the 20th January
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 act of Congress, passed 7th June 1832.
That he entered the service of the United 
States under the following named officers,
and served as herein stated.-
He volunteered in Orange County, State aforesd
in February 1781, as he thinks, for three months
in the company of Capt Whitesell - it being
the day on which Col Lea fought the Tories
under Piles in the western part of Orange.
The said Whitesell was Capt of the guard
placed over the prisoners taken by Col
Lea in his sd battle with the Tories. the decla=
rant was a few miles from the Field of
Battle at Guilford, fought by the British
& Americans, under the adversary Genls
Lord Cornwallis & Green- guarding the
Tory prisoners. After the Battle of Guilford
the said Tory prisoners were discharged on
parol[sic] & the declarant was discharged
from the service. Shortly after, he was taken
Page 4

with the small pox. In the summer, he thinks of
1781, he again volunteered, in the County of
Orange, for three months in Capt Rogers'
company. He served the whole of this term
against the Tories, under Capt Rogers in
part- Capt Trousdale, in part; and Capt
Gwin and Col Oneal. He was marched within
this term, in Orange, Chatham, Cumberland
Moore & Randolph Counties, in order to sup-
press different collection of Tories. He
was at Hillsboro when the Torries took
the Town, & his then Capt Trousdale was taken
prisoner, but the declarant made his
escape. The declarant was called into the
service of the United States, a few days
after the expiration of the said term of
service; being a resident in the same section
of Country where the Whig officers, Col.
Oneal & Capt Gwin lived; and served
as a volunteer, with the exception of one
two or three days at a time, untill the
August of 1782. The surrounding country
during the aforesaid time, was much in=
fested with Tories- and the Whigs were com=
pelled thereby, to be on the alert, marching
& countermarching, in order to thwart the
designs & suppress the ravages of the
enemy. During the whole of the aforesaid
period, the declarant hath no recollection
that he was off military duty three days at a
time. In Augt 1782, he was discharged, & did
Page 5

not again enter the service. If he received
written discharges, he hath no recollection
of it. He hath no documentary evidence of his
service. He hath procured the testimony in
the form of an affidavit of John Efland,
of the County & State aforesd, who was a sol=
dier in the Revolutionary War which is
hereunto affixed, as proof in part of his
service. He is known to Doct. James S.
Smith, Major John Taylor and John
Ferrel, of his County + neighbourhood.
He was born January 20th 1764 in the County
and State aforesaid. when he hath al=
ways resided. He hath no written rec=
ord of his age. 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, so far as he hath
Knowledge
Sworn to in open Court
Ludwick hisXmark May
/s/ J. Taylor, CC

The Court having considered the matters contained in the said Declaration & the
proofs in support thereof Ordered to be  certified of their person[?] that
that the said declaration & the proofs in support thereof and entitled to full credit
I John Taylor CC [chief clerk] of Orange County Court of Please & quarter Sessions do hereby certify that the foregoing contains [cross-out] the Original proceedings + the said form[?]
in the Matter of the application of Ludwick
May for a pension
In Testimony whereof I do hereto set my hand & Seal of Office 1st Sept AD 1832
/s/ J.Taylor CC
Page 6


No 7.325
Ludwick May
Admit as a
private for
15 mo $50
5.11.12. 14.
[?].330
11 April
A.H. Mangum
Hillsboro N.C.
Page 7

BRIEF in the case of Ludwick May of the County
of Orange in the State of N.C.
(Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 68 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
[chart with four pre-printed columns]
(Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.)
[first row] In 1781 Feby 3 months Private Col Lea, Capt Whitesill
[second row] 1781 Summer 4 months Private Col. Oneal, Capt. Roger Trousdale & Gwin
[third row] in a few days after this until Aug, 82 9 months Private Same Col. + Capt. Gwin
[total] 15 

5. In what battles was he engaged? skirmishes with the tories
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Orange
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by
incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Deposition in part
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
no clergyman's or other certificate
Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above
mentioned.
Levin Bell[?]
Examining Clerk.
Page 8

Rev. & 1812 Wars
Section.
January 22, 127
Merza May Teague,
Rockville, Ind.
Madam;

I have to advise you that from the papers in the
pension claim, S. 7169, it appears that Ludwick May was
born January 20, 1764 in Orange County, North Carolina,
and while living there he enlisted in February 1781 and
served two and a half months as a private in Captain White-
sell's North Carolina Company.
He re-enlisted in August 1781 and served until August
1782 under Captains Rogers, Trousdale and Gwinn and Colonel
O' Neal in the North Carolina Troops.
He was allowed pension on his application executed
September 1, 1832, while living in Orange County, North Carolina.
There is no information on file as to family,
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT,
Commissioner.
Page 9

7169
INVALID.
[illegible word written vertically on left side]
File No.7169
Ludwick May
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7th 32
Index: Vol. [?] Page 236
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 10

1893 Sept 4 [illegible] to
W.B. McDaniel City.

1927 Jan. 22. Hist to M.
M. Teague. AW.
1933-Nov 3- Hist to Myrtle Mae
Parker - see letter, George Tomason[?].
Rev War cl. S. 7742 ILL [initials]
Page 11

Jan 3rd 1927
2 [cent] stamp returned

Commissioner of Pensions
Interior Dept. Wash. D.C.
Dear Sir I desire to make
application for membership
in the D.A.R. society under the
name of Ludwick May
who served as a soldier in
the Revolutionary war going
[illegible] from Orange Co. N.C. in
Feb 1781. I would be very
much obliged if you will
kindly send me an official
Page 12

Certificate of his service.
Sincerely yours,
Merza May Teague
Rockville, Ind.
Page 13

Jan 20. 1927
Mr. Winfield Scott
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir:
Some weeks ago I wrote
you concerning an official
certificate of service of my great
great grandfather Ludwick
May who served in the revolution-
ary war going out from Orange
County N.C. in Feb. 1781, and
in 1833 his claim for pension
was allowed. I have not as yet
heard from you and was very
anxious to get this certificate
in order to apply for membership
in the D.A.R. Society which
Page 14

Chapter is being organized
here soon. We are asked to
have our papers ready to hand
in by the first of February
and therefore this second
letter to you. Will you
kindly send same as soon
as possible and oblige,
Merza May Teague
Rockville, Indiana
Page 15

November 3, 1933.
BA-J/ILL
Ludwick May: S.7169
George Tomason: S.7742

Myrtle Mae Parker
211 South 17 Street
Wilmington, North Carolina.

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the
Revolutionary War records of George Thomason, pensioner of Mecklenburg
County, North Carolina, and Ludwick May, pensioner of Orange
County, North Carolina.
The record of those soldiers are furnished herein as found
in pension claims based upon their services in the Revolutionary War.

GEORGE TOMASON - S. 7742.
George Tomason (signature by mark, referred to, also, as George
Thomason) was born in the year 1749, in Johnson County, North Carolina:
the day of his birth and names of his parents are not shown.
While residing near the county line dividing Johnson and Wake
Counties, North Carolina, he volunteered in Wake County sometime in
May, 1781, and served three months in Captain William Hunter's company
of horse, Colonel Dudley's North Carolina regiment; he volunteered
in the fall following, and served three months in Captain Solomon Wood's
company of horse, Colonel Hardy Sanders' North Carolina regiment.
He was allowed pension on his application executed May 28, 1833,
at which time he resided in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina; he had
resided in that county then for thirteen years.
There are no data relative to soldier's family in this claim.
Page 16

LUDWICK MAY - S. 7169.
Ludwick May was born January 20, 1764 in Orange County, North Carolina; the names of his parents are not shown.
While a resident of Orange County, North Carolina, he volunteered
in February, 1781 (the day on which Colonel Lee defeated the Tories
under Pyles) and served two and one-half months as private in Captain
Whitesell's North Carolina company; he enlisted in August, 1781, and
served on successive tours under Captains Rogers, Trousdale and Gwinn,
and Colonel O'Neal in the North Carolina troops and was discharged
sometime in August, 1782. His entire services amounted to fifteen
months.
He was allowed pension on his application executed September 1,
1832, at which time he resided in Orange County, North Carolina. He
stated than that he had always resided in that county.
There are no data relative to soldier's family in this claim.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER,
Assistant to Administrator.
Page 17

No 7.325
Ludwick May
P.H. Mangum
Hillsboro NC
Page 18

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Ludwick May 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 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 amout[sic] of pension
he is entitled? no
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
Page 19


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 obtain
ing 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?
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? yes
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? no
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the
regulations direct? [response crossed-out]
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? [response crossed-out]
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
and ___ days, I served as a ___ and for such service I claim a pension.
Page 20

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 in-
definite, 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 objection
able. 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 em-
ployed in any civil pursuit.
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 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. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every case 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.
Page 21


North Carolina}
Orange County} SS
On this the 31st day of May A.D. 1833. per=
sonally appeared in open Court before the Court of Pleas,
& Quarter Sessions of the County & State aforesd it being a
Court of record & now sitting, Ludwick May ["of the said County" crossed-out]
resident in the said County & State, aged
69 years on the 20th day of January last, who being
first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his
oath make the following declaration, by way of
amendment to the declaration made by him be-
fore the said Court, at its August Sessions AD
1832, to which this is appended, in order to obtain the benefits of the Act
of Congress passed June 7th 1832.-
The declarant, by way of explanation of his said
former declaration, which was drawn up in
the hurry & bustle of the business of Court, now
States, that the statement of his services in the
war of the Revolution contained in said
declaration, is true, but general in its
character & ["indefinite in" crossed-out] deficient in
its details. He has an abiding recollection
of the privations, fatigues & perils he
encountered between February 1778, when he
entered the service of the United States, and
August 1782, when he left it.-- From the lat-
ter part of April 1781 until the ensuing August
he remembers well that he was confined at home
Page 22

with the small pox, I was unable to perform mili-
tary duty. From February 1781 untill August 1782.
the declarant remembers well, that he followed
or was employed in no civil pursuit; that with the
exception of the period of his confinement at home
by the small pox, as above stated, he was not out
of actual service as a private in the militia of
North Carolina, during the time aforesaid, more 
than three days at a time. The troubled state of the
Country was supposed to require the services of the mili=
tia and draft for three months tours were con=
stantly being made from the militia of Orange
County aforesaid, where declarant resided during 
the Revolutionary war. The declarant during the
period aforesd did not wait to be drafted, but
Volunteered as a private in the militia for
three months tours, in quick succession,
from the latter part of August 1831 untill his
final discharge Augt 1832, when the inter=
nal enemy, the Tories, were completely disarm=
ed. In February 1781, he volunteered as a private 
in the militia of NoCa as set forth in his said
former declaration: in the latter part of April of that
year, he was attacked with small pox & being
unable to do service, he was permitted to go home
remain untill he should be restored. At the
time of his attack with small pox, he had been in
service two months and a half, and in August
following he served out the balance of the three
months tour for which he volunteered in February
of that year, under Capt Rogers - Captains Rogers,
Trousdale and Gwinn and Col Oneal, are
commissioned officers in the Militia of North
Carolina, as the declarant understood & believed &
Page 23

now believes and resided in time of the war of the
revolution, in the County Orange & State of N.C. and
was under these officers that he performed
the whole of the service he rendered in the
except the service of 2 months under Capt when
Revolution except the service of 2 1/2 months under Captain Whitsell
In the said month of August 1781, as
soon as the half month expired which completed
the three months' tour for which he volunteered in
February as aforesd.-declarant volunteered for
another three months tour, & was attached to Capt
Rogers' Company at first. This tour expired in the lat-
ter part of November 1781: and the declarant
volunteered for three tours of three months each
in quick succession as aforesd. as a private
each time, in the militia of the State, & was as a=
foresd. discharged in August 1782. - During these
tours, or rather in each tour of engagement, de-
clarant was marched in pursuit of the tories
in the southern part of Orange County, through
Chatham, Randolf. Cumberland & Moore Counties N.C.
The declarant cannot remember under what
Captain he served the third, fourth & fifth
tours, in the order named & performed: He remembers that
he served the first tour under Capt Whitesell
aforesd until he was taken sick as aforesd that
when he volunteered for the second tour in August 1781,
he was at first attached to the company of Capt
Rodgers, & afterwards but before the Capture
of Hillsboro by the Tories, he was detached from
Capt Rogers' company & assigned to Captain
Page 24

Whitesell[?] who commanded the guard at Hillsboro
N. C. & When Hillsboro was captured as aforesd Capt Tous=
dale was taken prisoner, and the declarant having
made his escape from the enemy on that occasion
he joined Capt Gwinn's company & served
out the balance of this term of service, under
Gwinn's command. Whether he volunteered for
the third tour of three months, under the command
of Capt Gwinn or Captain Rogers- declarant
cannot remember; and so of the fourth
and fifth tours, for which he volunteered
& served as aforesd. But he remembers, that
it was under the command of those two
officers that he did serve his said third,
fourth & fifth tours of duty. The declarant
did not receive any written discharges from
his officers-- The following is a summary of
declarants services aforesd.:
He served as a private in Militia of N.C.}
under Capt Whitsell & Capt Rogers}
2 1/2 months
1/2 month
3 months [total]
He served as a private in [Militia of N.C.]}
under Capt Rodgers, Capt Toussdale}
Capt Gwinn -}
3 months
He served as a private in [Militia of N.C.]}
Capt Gwinn, Capt Rogers}
Field Officer Col Oneal}
three tours of three months each}
9 months

In all fifteen months
[crossed-out]

For proof of service, in the absence of doc=
umentary evidence of which he hath none - he relies
on the accompanying affidavits of John Efland
Page 25

For proof of service, in the absence of doc=
umentary evidence of which he hath none-- he relies
on the accompanying Affidavit of John Efland,
the reputation of his neighbourhood & the evidence
of his own character.
Sworn to & subscribed
/s/ Ludwick hisXmark May
/s/ J. Taylor CC

We Alexander Albright Clergyman, residing in Orange County, N.C.
& Nicholas Albright
[cross-out]
residing in the same, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted 
with Ludwick May, who hath subscribed & sworn to the above
declaration; that we believe him to be 69 years of age; that
he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood where he resides
to have been a soldier of the revolution, & that we con=
cur in that opinion & that he is a credible person.-
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year
aforsed.
/s/ Alexdr. Allbright [sic]
/s/ Nicholas Albright
aforesd

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after
investigating the matter of the above amended declaration
the original, & after putting the interrogatories proscribed
by the War Department, that the above named Lud-
wick May, was a revolutionary soldier, & served as
he states. And the Court further certifies, that it
appears to them, that Alexander Albright, who hath
signed & sworn to the above certificate, is a Clergyman
and a credible person, and that Nicholas Albright
who hath likewise signed & sworn to the same, is a cred=
-ible person - and that their statement is entitled
to credit.
I John Taylor, Clerk of the Court aforesd do hereby certify
that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court
in the matter of the application of Ludwick May for a pension
Witness my hand & seal of office this the 1st[?] day of [indecipherable] 1833.
/s/ J. Taylor CC
Page 26

North Carolina}
Orange County}
John Efland, after having 
been duly sworn according to Law before
me, one of the Justices of the Peace for said
County, maketh oath, that Ludwick
May served with him in the war of
the revolution, in the service of the United States at different times, under Capt
Whitesell & Col Oneal- John Island
Sworn to & Subscribed
this 1st Sept 1832
/s/ John Efland
/s/ [indecipherable]
State of North Carolina
I John Taylor Clerk of Orange County Court of pleas
& quarter Sessions do hereby certify that David [indeciperable] who
witnessed the foregoing affidavit was then an acting Justice
of the peace duly qualified
[indecipherable] whereof I do hereto set my hand
& seal of Office 1st Sept 1832
/s/ J. Taylor CC
Page 27

North Carolina}
Orange County}
Court of pleas & Quarter Session
May Term AD 1833-
The Justices now holding the Court afore=
said, do hereby certify, that it appears to
them that John Efland, who hath signed
& sworn to the within affidavit, is a
credible person, and that his statement
entitled to credit
W. Montgomery JP
[?] Trolinger, JP
Rankin [?] [indecipherable] JP
 the
I John Taylor, Clerk of the Court aforesaid, do
hereby certify that the foregoing contains the
original proceedings of said Court, in the
matter of the affidavit of John Efland within
Witness my hand & seal of office, this the
11th[?] day of June A.D. 1833.-
/s/ J. Taylor CC