Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3294, George Donnell, N.C.
Page 1

SERVICE
N.C.
Donnell, George
NUMBER S. 3294
carded

CONTENTS
Page 2

25247
West Tennessee
=============================================
George Donnell of Wilson Co in the State of Tennessee who was present in the corps commanded by Captain [illegible] Donnell of the regt commanded by Col ---------- in the N.C. line for 10 months from 1776.
=============================================
Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee at the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
=============================================
Certificate of Pension issued the 14 day of Dec ’33 and [illegible]
=============================================
Arrears to the 4th of Sep ’33 			  $86.66
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 March 34	    21.66
						                $108.32
					Revolutionary Claim
					Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Wm. Allison Clerk
Book E Vol. 7 Page 76
Died Mar 10, 1839
See A. B
Page 3

George Donnell
14305
Page 4

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
State of Tennessee
Wilson County		S
On this 28th day of September 1832 personally appeared in open Count, before the justices of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for said County of Wilson, now sitting George Donnell a resident of Wilson County in the State of Tennessee, Seventy three 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 and served as herein stated. Born the 4th July 1759, according to his father’s family record which he has copied into his family Bible 
He belonged to the Regiment raised in Guilford County North Carolina, the County in which he resided. Commanded by Reg Col James Martin Col Commandant, John Paisly Lieut Col & Majors Blair & Owens were the other field officers of this regiment. He entered the service in the militia under a draft in August 1776 as well as he recollects, in the Company commanded by Capt. Robert Bell of Guilford County for the term of three months, he was mustered in service at Guilford Court No. Carolina.  From thence they marched on an expedition against the Cherokee Indians passing through Salisbury to the Catawba River, thence up to the head waters crossing French Broad River at the mouth of Swannanoa. Thence to the Tennessee River crossing it at an Indian Town thence to Hiwassee River. He was not during this service in any general engagement but was in several skirmishes. The North Carolina Troops were at this time Commanded by Genl Griffith Rutherford. After our term of service of three months expired we were regularly discharged and returned home.
The next Campaign he served in was as a substitute for his brother Lathom Donnell who was drafted but was not able to serve a term of duty in consequence of ill health. He was 1st Sergeant in the Company commanded by Capt. John Donnell. John Paisly was Lieut Col but he does not remember who was Col Commandant. Genl Griffeth Rutherford Commanded the North Carolina Troops, this was a tour on the Savannah River South Carolina against the Brittish. He continued in the service of the United States at this time about Six months according to his best recollection and belief.
Some short time after the above service he volunteered his services to guard some Tories that had been taking in Randolph & Mecklenburg Counties and Continued in this service for 8 days & was discharged. 
He was soon called upon again and volunteered his services to go to Randolph County after the Tories and continued this time in that Service of his Country about three weeks. And these are all the services rendered his country by him during the Revolutionary War including, in all about ten months.
He has no documentary evidence to sustain the statement of the foregoing services, nor does he know of any of his fellow soldiers
Page 5

by whom his services can be established except Charles Breden & Wm Donnell who were with him the first Campaign. He continued a citizen of Guilford County up to the year 1803 then removed to Wilson County Tennessee where he has resided ever since. 

He is well acquainted with Levi R. Morrison & John C. Smith who can testify as to his character for veracity, and their belief of his having been a Soldier of the Revolution. 

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.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Josiah S McClain Clerk			George Donnell
of Wilson County Court

We Levi R Morrison, a clergyman residing in Wilson County and Wm Donnell & John C. Smith, of the same County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with George Donnell who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy three 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 to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Josiah S McClain Clerk			Levi R Morrison
of Wilson County Court		William Donnell [illegible]
					John C Smith

And the court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after quitting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Soldier of the Revolution and served as he states. And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Levi R Morrison, who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in Wilson County and that William Donnell [illegible] & John C Smith, is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit. William Donnell who signed the above certificate is the same William Donnell Referred to in the Declaration of the applicant as his fellow soldier and is entitled to full Credit 
Benjamin Billings
M Martin P
D C Hibbetts
Page 6

I Josiah S McClain Clerk of the court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions in Wilson County Tennessee do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceeding of said court in the matter of the application of George Donnell for a pension In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said court at office in the town of Lebanon this 2nd October 1832.
		Josiah S. McClain

Amended Declaration
State of Tennessee
Wilson County

Personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace for said County of Wilson, George Donnell a citizen of Wilson County who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively to the precise length of his service, or the particular periods in which those services were performed; but according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the period mentioned below and in the following grades; for three months he served as a private 1776 against the Cherokee Indians as set forth in his Original declaration. He served as first Sergeant, when a substitute for Lathom Donnell, against the Brittish, in the year 1778 or 1779, but cannot undertake to state which year not less than six months; at another time as a private he volunteered as a guard to take some Tory Prisoners from Guilford to Hillsborough & served not less than eight days on that tour. And lastly he served as a private soldier against the Tories in Randolph (Col Paisley Commanding officer the last campaign) not less than three weeks. And he thinks the last services were immediately succeeding his second campaign but cannot recollect the year, he believes however these services were in 1778. And that his services all together were not less than ten months, for which he claims a Pension. He does not know any living witnesses by whom he can prove any part of his services except William Donnell [illegible] & Charles Breden who served with him the first campaign mentioned.

Sworn to & subscribed before me the 24th day of June 1833
	George Donnell
[illegible] Doak
Page 7

State of Tennessee 
Wilson County

Personally appeared before me the under signed a Justice of the Peace for said County of Wilson, William Donnell senr. & Charles Breden, who being duly sworn, saith: that they both have a personal Knowledge of the services of George Donnell as set forth in his Original Declaration against the Cherokee Indians, and they also know that he was afterwards in the service of the United States during (some parts of) the Revolutionary (War), but how long he served they cannot state, but they doubt not that he did serve as set forth in his declaration. 
Sworn & subscribed before me the 24th June 1833. And I do Certify that said witnesses are credible persons.
[illegible] Doak J.P.		William Donnell Senr
					Charles X Breden (his mark)

State of Tennessee
I Josiah S McClain Clerk of the County Court of Wilson Count hereby certify that John F Doak Esqr whose name appears officially subscribed to the foregoing amended declaration & affidavit is an acting Justice of the Peace in said County commissioned and qualified and the law directs and that his signatures thereto are in his own hand writing. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand seal of office 24th June 1833
	J S McClain
Page 8

14.305
George Donnell
From 1776 private
Sergt 10 months
Pr. 4 m		$13.33
Sergt 6 m	  30.00
		$43.33

[illegible] [illegible] [illegible] 30 Augt 1833
M Harris
J S Topp
Lebanon
J S McClain
	Lebanon
Page 9

14.305
BRIEF in the case of George Donnell
of Wilson Cy in the State of Tenn
	(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1.	Was the declaration made before a Court of a Judge? A Court
2.	If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? ---
3.	How old is he? 73
4.	State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period.	Duration of Service.

Year,  Months,  Days	Rank	Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Augt ‘76	                  3	Private	Capt. Bell
Col Martin
	      about 6	Substitute 1st sergt.	Capt. Donnell
don’t recollect Col.
Genl Rutherford commanded
Some shorttime after guarding tories	                                8		
Soon called upon again	                   about 21		

5.	In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned
6.	Where did he reside when he entered the service? Guilford Cy N.C.
7.	Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Tradition
8.	Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Right

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W.C. Easton
Examining Clerk.
18 Feb 1833
Page 10

3294	Rev War
INVALID
File No. 3294
George Donnell
Sergt. N.C. line
Act: June 7, 1832
Index: --- Vol. A, Page 98
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 11

14.305
George Donnell
5.14
J S Topp
Lebanon
Page 12

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of George Donnell 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 country where he resides, is there any reason assigned for is not doing so? ---
IV.	Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? No
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? 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 13

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? [illegible]
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? No
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? ---
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? Yes
XVII.	Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And if not, which of them is not so answered? Yes
Page 14

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 in according to 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 shewn under what officers the applicant served; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field of 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 the proper officer, under his seal of office. 
# QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers. 
In every instance where 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.