Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 829, Elija Biggs, N. C.
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SERVICE N.C.
Biggs, Elija
NUMBER R 829
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Elijah Briggs
17962
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State of Illinois
County of Shelly
Elisha Briggs Peletow 
On this second day of October in the year 1832 personally appeared in open court before us the judges of the County Conningham court of Shelly County now setting Elisha Briggs resident of Shellu County and state aforesaid aged seventy years (illegible) who first being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress papered June 7 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated he entered the service under Col Kernan Commander Mason Griffeth Captain William Hall first Liet Bell 2nd Liet Slaughter he entered in the later part of June the day not recollected in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty one he left the service in September in the year last aforesaid drafted at Nash County Court House in Nash County and state of North Carolina marched through Johnson County and Wayne was not out of the state in which he was drafted - In the Battle Rookfish Creek known Commanded no Continental Regiment's or Companies with him during his time of service and he further states that knows of no documentary evidence by which he can offset his claim
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neither does he know of any one who can testify to his services
Sworn to and subscribed the day last aforesaid
Elisha Biggs

We Evan Douthett Clergyman this day in the Co of Shelby and State of Illinois and that Blyth residing in (the same), hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Ilisha Biggs who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe he is respected in his neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concure in that opinion
Sworn and subscribed on this day and year aforesaid
Evan Douthett
Theo Blythe
Did you ever receive a discharge
A  I did
What became of it
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A I do not know
Q By whom was it given
A  by Maser Giffeth
Q Where and in what year were you born
A in Lenore county N Carolina  in the year 1762 to the best of my knowledge
Q. Have you ant record of his age
A I have none
Q Where were you living when called unto service
A Nash County N Carolina
Q Where have lived since the war
A In Va Tenn + Ky
Q and where do you now live
A in Shelby County Ill
Q how were you called into service
A by draft
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion 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 then that Evan Douthett, who has signed the proceeding certificate isa clergyman resident in the County of Shelby + State aforesaid, and is a credible person
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and that their statements is entitled to credit given under our hand in open Court
John Bralby
B.W. Henry
George (illegible)

State of Illinois
Shelby County {JP}
J Joseph Oliver clerk of the court of County Aforesaid of said county do hereby certify that the forgoing contains the original proceedings of the said court, in the matter of the application for a petition given under my hand official of said court at Shelby Biggs this 2nd day of October A.D. 1832
J Joseph Oliver clerk
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No. 17962 Elija Biggs Shelby County Illinois

Reported

Joseph Oliver clerk
Shelby County Court
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BRIEF in the case of Elija Briggs county of Shelby in the State of Illinois
(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?  70
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period. Drafted In 1781 
Duration of Service June to Sept
Rank. Private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served
Capt Hall   Col Kenion
5. In what battles was he engaged?  Rockfish Creek
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? North Co.  NC
7/ Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary evidence
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Dyer Castor Examining Clerk
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EX'r. 
INVALID
No. 829
Elijia Biggs

Alleges: not 6 months service

1925, Jan, 13 - Hist to Edna E Conn

1940 - March 29 - (illegible) R.M. Ser (illigeble)
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March 29, 1940
Colonel C. C. Reynolds
Assistant Quartermaster General 
War Department
Washington, D. C.  

BA-J/AWF
Elija Biggs - R.829
John Jenkins - S.36632
Obadiah Wade - S.32576

Dear sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War service records of Elijah Biggs, served in the Virginia militia, and later lived in Shelby County, Illinois, John Jenkins, pensioned under the Act of March 18, 1818, a resident of Illinois, and Obadiah Wade, pension claim, S.32576. You enclosed a letter from Miss Edna E. Comm, 2204 West Main Street, Shelbyville, Illinois, which letter is returned herewith. 
The data which follow in regard to these soldiers were obtained from claims for pension, based upon their service in the Revolutionary War.
Elija Biggs - R.829
Elija Biggs was born in the month of January, 1762, in Tyrrell County, North Carolina. The names of his parents were not given.
Elija Biggs applied for pension October 2, 1832, while a resident of Shelby County, Illinois, and alleged that while a resident of Nash County, North Carolina, he enlisted sometime in June, 1781 under Captain William Hall and Colonel Kenan, in the North Carolina troops, was in an engagement at Rockfish
Service Records only
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Creek, and continued to serve until September, 1781.
His claim for pension was not allowed as he did not prove six months' service, as required by the pension law. The date and place of his death not shown.

......

John Jenkins - S.36632
The date and place of birth of John Jenkins and names of his parents were not given in the claim.
John Jenkins enlisted sometime in January, 1777, in the State of Virginia, served as a private in Captain Henry Bedinger's and Waman's companies under Major Posey, and in Captain James Gunn's company in Colonel Anthony White's regiment of light dragoons; during service he was in the battles of Camden, Guilford Court House, Ogeechee River, and one in Georgia, served until the close of the war. 
He was allowed pension on his application executed June 10, 1823, at which time he was living in Hardy County, Virginia, aged about sixty-five years. He was living in 1839, in Shelby County, Illinois. The date and place of his death were not given.
Obidiah Wade- S. 32576
Obidiah wade was born in the month of October,
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1761, in Carteret County, North Carolina. The names of his parents were not given.
While a resident of Carteret County, North Carolina, Obidiah Wade enlisted February 1, 1778, served sixty days as a private in Captain John Fulford's company, Colonel Enoch Ward's North Carolina Regiment. He enlisted March 1, 1779, served as private in Captain James Lenzer's company, Colonel Jonas Johnston's North Carolian regiment was in the battle of Stono and was discharged July 18, 1779.
He moved to Tennessee about 1807, where he lived about twenty years, theme to Shelby County Illinois. Obidiah Wade was allowed pension on his application executed May 14, 1833, then living in Shelby County, Illinois. The date and place of his death are not shown in the claim.
Very truly yours
A. D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
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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  Elija Biggs        which require further proof or 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 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 service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine 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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XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
XII. If the clergymen’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? 
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 regulations 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 service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too 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 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 of 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. 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 proper officer, under his seal of office.        
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 tape or 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.
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THE AMERICAN RED CROSS
SHELBY COUNTY CHAPTER
Dr. J. C. Westervelt, Chairman
Edna E. Conn. Executive Secy.
SHELBYVILLE, ILLINOIS
December 24, 1924.
Bureau of Pensions,
Revolutionary Section,
Washington, D.C. 
Re: Elijah Biggs,
John Jenkins,
Obidiah Wade.
Sirs:
We are endeavoring to locate the graves of the above named Revolutionary soldiers said to be buried in Shelby County. If you could give us the date of the death of each or the date when the pension, it would be of great assistance. Below is given all the record we have:-
Elijah Biggs was from N. Carolina to Shelby County Illinois. Doubtless was pensioned.
John Jenkins was from Hardy County, Va. where he served in the War. Camer to Shelby County, Illinois, and died there very aged. Was pensioned.
Obidiah Wade served in the Virginia Militia. Removed to Kentucky and later came to Shelby County Illinois and doubtless died there. He was pensioned.
As indicated above, if we could have some approximate idea of date of death and place of last payment of pension, we might succeed in locating the graves. We shall appreciate any assistance you can give us.
Very truly yours
Edna E Conn
Executive Secretary.
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Rev. & 1812 Wars Section.
January 13, 1925.
Edna E, Conn,
Shelbyville,
Ill.
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in Revolutionary War pension claim, R. 829, it appears that Elija Biggs was born in Tyrell County, North Carolina, in January 1762. He applied for pension October 2, 1832, while residing in Shelby County, Illinoios, and alleged that while a resident of Nash County, North Carolin, he enlisted in June 1781 under Captain William Hall and Colonel Kenan in the North Carolina Troops, was in an engagement at rockfish Creek, and continued to serve until September 1781.
His claim was not allowed as he failed to prove 6 months service as required by the pension laws.
There is no data on file as to his family.
Owing to the pressure of current work and lack of a clerical force available for the purpose, only two reports are furnished each inquirer.
Respectfully
Acting Commissioner
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QM OSO A-(illegible)
D.A.R. - Illinois
March 19, 1940.
Subject: Service Records.
To: Veterans Bureau,
Washington, D.C.
1. It is requested that you furnish this office with the service records of Obadiah Wade, Revolutionary War Pension Clam S.32576: John Jenkins, Certificate 19018, and Elija Biggs, given a pension from Kentucky.
2. It is further requested that the enclosure be returned to this office
For the Acting The Quartermaster General:
C.C. Reynolds,
Colonel, Q.M.C.,
Assistant
Incl.
Let. 3-6-40
MDT