Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31,623, William Conway, S.C.
Page 1

Service: SC
Conway, William
Number: S.31623
Written in "Born in SC"
Page 2

Top Right Corner: 6312
Arkansas
William Conway
of Hempstead in the territory of Arkansas who was a private in the [line] commanded by Captain Trammell of the [line] commanded by Col. Andrews in the 3. Con. line for 6 mos.

Inscribed on the Roll of Arkansas - at the rate of 20 Dollars and [line] cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 27th day of July 1833 of Feby: 1833 and such Hon. A.H.
Sevier, Arks.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1832                  30
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Mar 33         10
                                                                    40
Revolutionary Claim Act June 7 1832
Recorded by Nathan Rice Clerk
Book D Vol 7 Page 172
Page 3

United States of America
Territory of Arkansas
County of Hempstead

On the fourth day of October in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court before the Honorable Thomas P. Eskridge, one of the Judges of the superior court of the Territory of Arkansas aforesaid and sole judge now sitting and presiding in the circuit court holden in and for the county of Hempstead aforesaid William Conway a resident of the county of Hempstead and Territory of Arkansas aged about sixty nine years who being first duly sworn according to law hath on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832, to me.  That from the best information in his possession, he was born on or about the second day of November one thousand seven hundred and sixty one in the state of South Carolina near broad river where his parents removed. When he was about two years old, he was removed to [Packet River] in the state of South Carolina where he was raised and lived during the American Revolution, where he married and had three children that in the year of 1787 he moved to the state of Georgia Washington County where he resided about three years, there he removed back into South Carolina Abbeyville county Rockey river, where he remained about one year, then he removed to Columbia Richland county state of South Carolina where he resided about three years.  In the year of 1800 he removed west of the river Mississippi to a French village about thirty miles below New Madrid.  That he lived there until the year of 1810.
Page 4

when he removed to spring river where he lived several years.  Then he removed to Hempstead county Arkansas Territory where he now resides.  That from lapse of time he finds himself unable to state the particular terms and dates of service performed by him during the war of the Revolution.  That he entered the service of the United States as a militia man in the year of 1778 or 1779 in the state of South Carolina.  He was at that time commanded by Col John Anderson that his captain was named Dennis Trammell.  The company was designated as mounted rangers and served six months.  They were all volunteers that he was at the battle of the Cowpers and that the company he belonged to attacked a tory fort called Mud Lick but failed in taking it.  He further states that he received a severe wound in the left arm that shattered the joints, which he has never got entirely well.  That he served as a volunteer and belonged to the mounted ranger from the year 1779 until the termination of the war and was commanded by different officers and amongst others the following officers Captain Lawson who was commanded by Col Roebuck, Captain Dickson who was commanded by Col White, Captain John Mapp that during said period he was in several engagements and [unknown] with the enemy and particularly at the battle of the black stocks and tiger river where Gen Sumter commanded and at the battle of Mud Lick Fort where Col Brannon commanded at a battle an Fair Forest where Col Brannon commanded.  That he served as a mounted ranger under Col Anderson for upwards of six months.  The following interrogations were propounded to the said William Conway by this court to int.
Page 5

1. Where and in what year were you born?
Answer: I was born in the state of South Carolina in the year of 1761.
2. Have you any record of your age and if so where is it?
Answer: I had my age recorded in a bible but it was burnt up in my house on Spring River.
3. Where were you living when called into service and where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live?
Answer: When I entered the service I resided in South Carolina, I lived in South Carolina and Georgia until 1810 when I removed west of the Mississippi.  I now reside in Hempstead county Arkansas Territory.
4.  How were you called into the service were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom.
Answered. Volunteers were called for and I always entered the army as a volunteer and served as such.  I never served as a substitute 
5.  State the names of the general officers who were with the troops, where you served such continental and militia regiment as you can recall it and the general circumstances of your service
Answer.  The general officers were Morgan Sumpter, Green, Marion, Gates SC.  I served as a mounted Ranger all the time I was in the service.
6. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it.
Answer.  I never received any discharge.
Page 6

Did you ever receive a commission, if so by whom was it signed and what has become of it.
Answer.  I never did receive a commission but I served as a second Liet in Captain Lawson's company of mounted rangers for six months.
Said Deponent further states that to the best of his recollection he served under the following Captains to [illegible] under Captain Trammel six months, under John Lawson six months, under Captain Jeremiah Dickson six months under John Mapp Captain six months that he served under said officers as mounted ranger between the years of 1779 and 1783, but he is unable to state the particular dates that he served under said officers, that he has no documentary evidence that will prove his service in the Revolutionary war that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service except old Mrs. Mary Dickson whose testimony he cannot procure, who now resides in Clark County Arkansas Territory about thirty five miles from this place, but on account of her age and infirmity it is impossible for him to procure her testimony.
Question. Propounded by the court.  
State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood who can testify as to your character for verasity and good behavior, your services as a soldier in the Revolution.
Answer.  I am known to and well acquainted with the Reverend John Henry, the Reverend Tilman L. Patterson, Matthew Gray a merchant at Hempstead Courthouse and also Ephraim Minick also a merchant at Hempstead Court house who can
Page 7

make statement as to my integrity and honesty.
This deponent further states that he never received a pension from the United States government or any state in the United States.  He further states that he never applied for a pension for his services during the Revolutionary war but was informed and believes that he would have received a pension if he had applied on account of the wound received at the battle of the Cowpens.
And I the said William Conway do hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or amenity except the present and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state
William Conway
Page 8

I Thomas P. Eskridge one of the judges of the superior court of the territory of Arkansas and assigned by law to hold circuit courts in said Territory and now holding and sitting and presiding as sole judge in and for the circuit court of the county of Hempstead in the Territory aforesaid, do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogation as presented by the war department that William Conway the above named applicant was a revolutionary solider and served as he states.  And I do further certify that it appears to me that Tilman Patterson who has signed the proceeding certificate is a respectable clergyman in said county of Hempstead and Territory of Arkansas and that his statements as aforesaid is creditable.  Done in open court this 13th day of October AD 1832.
Tho. P. Eskridge

United States of America
Territory of Arkansas
County of Hempstead
Be it remembered that at a circuit court held at the court house in the town of Washington in the county and territory aforesaid on the fourth day of October A.D 1831 before the Honorable Thomas P. Eskridge presiding judge the following proceedings were had relative to the application of William Conway in order to entitle him to a pension under the Act of Congress passed the 7th
Page 9

day of June AD 1831 which was entered of record and are in the words and figures following to it.
William Conway a resident in the county of Hempstead and Territory of Arkansas this day personally came into open court and being first duly sworn made and subscribed his declaration in writing an order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the seventh of June AD 1832, entitled an Act supplementary to the Act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the revolution.
And at the same court continued and held at the courthouse in the town of Washington before the Honorable Thomas P. Eskridge judge as aforesaid on the 10th day of October AD 1831 the following proceedings were had and entered of record to it.
Tilman Patterson, a clergyman residing in the county of Hempstead and Territory of Arkansas this day came into open court and being duly sworn states an oath and declares that he is well acquainted with William Conway of the county of Hempstead and Territory of Arkansas and believes him to be at least sixty nine year old, that he is reported and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a solider of the revolution, and that he concours in that opinion and believes the declaration made by him in this court
Page 10

On the fourth day of October AD 1832 in time
And at the same court continued and held at the court house as aforesaid until the 13th day of October 1832 the following proceedings were had and entered on the record of said court to writ.

I Thomas P. Eskridge one of the judges of the Superior court of the Territory of Arkansas and assigned by law to hold circuit courts in said Territory and now holding and sitting and presiding as sole judge in and for the circuit court of the county of Hempstead in the Territory aforesaid Do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after [illegible] the interrogations as prescribed by the war department that William Conway the above named applicant was a revolutionary Soldier and served as he states.  And I do further certify that it appears to me that Tilman Patterson who has signed the proceeding certificate is a respectable clergyman in said county of Hempstead and Territory of Arkansas and that his statement as aforesaid is creditable.  Done in open court this 13th day of October AD 1832.
Page 11

July 27, 1938
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
BA-J/MCS 
William Conway, S.31623

Mrs. J.A. Johnson
361 Dyckman Street
Peekskill
New York

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your request for information relative William Conway who served in the Revolutionary War and was pensioned while Living in Hampstead County, Arkansas.
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, S.31623, based on the military service of William Conway.
He was born in 1761, about November 2nd, in South Carolina near Broad River.  The names of his parent were not given.
When about two years of age he moved with his parents to the "Packet" (probably meant for Pacolet) River in South Carolina and he lived there during the Revolution.
He enlisted in 1778 or 1779 and served at various times until sometime in 1783, amounting to about twenty-four months in all, 
as ranger with the South Carolina troops under Captains Dennis Trammell, John Lawson, Jeremiah Dickson, and John Napp, and Colonels Anderson Roebuck and White; for six months of this time he served as second lieutenant in Captain John Lawson's company.  He was in the battle of Black Stocks, the battle of Cowpens where he received a wound in the left arm, was in the attack on the Tory fort called Mud Lick and was in the battle of Fair Forest.
He lived on the Packet or Pacolet River until [smudged] married and had three children, names of wife and children not given.  In 1787 he moved to Washington County, Georgia.  After living there about three years
Page 12

he moved back to South Carolina and lived in Abbeville County on the Rocky River.  After living there about one year he moved to Colombia Richland County, South Carolina.  In 1800 he moved west of the Mississippi River to a French village about thirty miles below New Madrid and lived there until 1820 when he moved to Spring River and several years later he moved to Hempstead County, Arkansas Territory.
William Conway was allowed pension on his application executed October 4 1832 at which time he was living in Hempstead County, Arkansas Territory.
The papers in this claim contain no further data relative to soldier's family.
Very truly yours
A.D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Page 13

361 Dyckman St., Peekskill, N.Y.
Veterans' Administration Bureau,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir: 
On the Arkansas Revo. Pension Roll, I find the name of 
William Conway, Revo. soldier,
whose record is desired for making out a paper for the D.A.R.Society.
The memo. reads: William Conway: Private: $20.00. Born South Carolina.
27 Feb., 1833. pension started; application
4 March, 1831.
Senate Docs. First Sess., 23d Congress.
From Hayden: Virginia Families, I find: p. 290:
William Conway. Hampstead Co., Arkansas. Private S.C.
Continental Line, ae. 70 in 1832.
(I infer from this that he was Va. born. In fact, that he belonged to the noted Conway family of Arkansas, born Fauquier Co., Va., which furnished the first and fifth Governors.).
Awaiting your kind attention, I remain
Very Truly, 
[signed] Mrs J.A. Johnson
Page 14

William Conway
6 months
Relative to this application addresses
Allen M. Oakley
Hempstead C/o
Arkansas Territory
Page 15

Territory of Arkansas
County of Hempstead

I Allen M Oakley clerk of the circuit court in and for the county and Territory aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of William Conway for a pension.  In testimony where of I have hereunto set my hand as clerk and affixed the seal of said court at Washington this 16th day of October 1832 and of the Independence of the United States the 57th
Allen M. Oakley Clerk

Territory of Arkansas
County of Hempstead
I Thomas P Eskridge one of the Judges of the Superior Court in the Territory of Arkansas and assigned by law to hold circuit courts and sole and presiding Judge of the Hempstead circuit court do hereby certify that Allen M Oakley whose name is affixed to the above certificate is and was at the date of said certificate clerk of the Hempstead circuit court and that due faith and credit is and aught to be given to all his official acts, and that said certificate is in due form of law.
Given under my hand this first day of November AD 1832.
Tho: P: Eskridge
Page 16

Territory of Arkansas
County of Hempstead

[crossed out]
[Note] After writing this affidavit it was impossible to get the judge and [illegible] together

Ephraim Minick a merchant in the town of Washington County of Hempstead and Territory of Arkansas this day personally appeared before me Thomas P. Eskridge one of the Judges of the Superior Court in the Territory of Arkansas, and assigned by law to hold circuit court and being duly sworn states that he is well acquainted with William Conway of the County of Hempstead and Territory of Arkansas and that he believes him to be sixty nine years old, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that he and that he concurs in the opinion and believes the declaration made by him in the Hempstead circuit court on the fourth day of October AD 1832.  Subscribed before me this first day of November AD 1832.

Territory of Arkansas
County of Hempstead
Be it remembered that at a county court held before the Honorable the Justices of the county aforesaid at the court house in the town of Washington and Territory aforesaid on tuesday the 8th day of January 1833 the following proceedings were had relative to the application of William Conway for his pension which proceedings were entered of record and are in the words following, to writ.
Page 17

Matthew Gray and Ephraim Mirick merchants in the town of Washington in Hempstead county Arkansas Territory this day came into open court and being duly sworn state that the are acquainted with William Conway of the county of Hempstead and Territory of Arkansas and believe him to be at least sixty nine years old that he is reported in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that they concur in that opinion and believe the declaration made by him in the Hempstead circuit court on the sixth day of October 1832 to by time.

United States of America
Territory of Arkansas
County of Hempstead
I Allen M Oakley Clerk the county court in and for the county and territory aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of William Conway for a pension.  In testimony where of I have hereunto set my hand as clerk and affixed the seal of said court at Washington this 9th day of January 1833 and of the Independence of the United states the 57th
Allen M. Oakley clk
County court.
Page 18

Territory of Arkansas
County of Hempstead
I Willis Dillard presiding Judge of the County Court in and for the county and Territory aforesaid, do hereby certify that Allen . Oakley whose name is affixed to the foregoing certificate is and was at the date there of clerk of the Hempstead county court and that due faith and credit is and aught to be given to all his official acts, and that said certificate is in due form of law.
Witness my hand and seal this 12th day of January 1833
Willis Dillard
Page 19

File No. 31628
William Conway
Rev War
Act June 7 32
Index: Vol 2, Page 88

1938 July 27 hist to Mrs. JH.A. Johnson Mrs