Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 5,656, for Joseph Ray, North Carolina
Page 2

Tennessee No. 4309
Lydia Ray
widow of Joseph Ray who died on the 2d January 1786
of Smith Co. in the State of Tenn.
who was a private in the ___ commanded by Captain N.Ca. of the ___ commanded by ___ in the N. Carolina line for 7 Months

Inscribed on the Roll of Nashville at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1931.

Certificate of Pension issued the 2d day of Decr. 1845 and sent to A. Furguson Carthage, Tenn.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1850          $338.28
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 March  11.66
                    $350.94

Recorded by U.M. Stewart Clerk
Book C  Vol.1  Page 199.

(right panel)
Letter to A. Ferguson 2d Feb. 1846
Page 7

State of Tennessee
Smith County
     I Reason Barrow one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for the county and State aforesaid do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Lydia Ray the widow of Joseph Ray that full faith and credit are due to her statements.  I further certify that I am well acquainted with Andrew G. Ford.  That full faith and credit are due to his Statements and i hereby certify the same.
               R Barrow
               Justice of the Peace

State of Tennessee Smith County
I John J. Burnett Clerk of the County Court for said Smith County do hereby certify that Reason Barrow whose name appeared to the foregoing affidavits and certificates was at the time of signing the same and now is one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for said County of Smith and that the Signatures purporting to be his are Genuine.
     In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal of office at office in Carthage this 13 day of February 1839 and the 61st year of our Independence.
(seal)
John J. Burnett Clerk
of Smith County Court
1372
Page 11

afterwards.  This affiant saw Joseph Ray and Lydia Ray pass his father's house next day going to his fathers and a large company with them that were going to the affair as it was called he knew them both up to the time Joseph Ray went in the Service in the War of the Revolution.  They had had several children.  Joseph Ray Returned home sick after he had been out some time and died soon after he returned he understood at that time that he returned home on furlough.  It was about the same time that Cornwallis and the British army camped close to Joseph Ray's.  And further this Deponent saith not except that Ray was out in the 12 month service.
     Sworn to and subscribed before me this 17th day of September 1837.
Patrick Fergusson JP
Justice of the Peace
                                       James Wilson

I Patrick Fergusson one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for said County hereby certify That I am well acquainted with James Wilson who has this day made the above affidavit before me.  That he is a man of truth and that full faith and credit are due to his statements.  I further certify that the above finishing sentence was inserted after he signed the same but in his presence and by his request * "except that Joseph Ray was out in the twelve months Service"
              Patrick Fergusson JP
              Justice of the Peace
Page 18

             Carthage Tennessee
             11th October 1837

Sir
      Inclosed are several affidavits as additional proof in favour of Lydia Ray for a Pension as the same facts are proven by several.  I am in hopes her Pension will be allowed.  In regard to the testamony of George Ray I discover at the moment of inclosing of this testamony that the certificate of the magistrate before whom he made oath to the affidavit was not through my neglect taken.  I regret it and will if you deem it essential have it done yet for I know there is no fault as to the credability of George Ray and the magistrate will at any time give his certificate to that effect.
                Respectfully,
                A. Fergusson
NR  Lydia Ray papers and Declaration were sent last spring and not admitted or allowed for want of satisfactory proof as was stated in your letter of 30th May last.
                   Respectfully
Page 25

applicant declaration but it seems to me that where an applicant alledges a fact and swears positively to it and another witness swears positively to the same fact, thus in effect proving it by two witnesses, certainly your Department will accept of it as true.  In this case therefore i am not mistaken this has been done in manner above stated.  I make these suggestions to you with feellings of the utmost respect and also that Justice may be done.  It is improbably after a lapse of sixty years that each witness will tell the same take exactly - loss of memory and many other things forbid the idea.  It would be a burthen too great at this late day for an applicant to prove every tour of service by two witnesses besides his own oath.  That indeed would be more than is required in a court of Justice.  I hope you will allow the claim without subjecting the old Lady to any further expenses.
                         Respectfully
                         A Fergusson
Page 28

     Know all men by these presents that I Lydia Ray of the county of Macon and State of Tennessee do hereby nominate and appoint Adam Fergusson of Carthage Tennessee my true and lawful attorney revokable for me in my name to receive from the War Department in Washington City my Pension certificate when issued and further to do and perform any act or acts necessary in and about establishing my claim to a Pension hereby complying and conforming all that my said attorney shall lawfully do by virtue hereof.
     Witness my hand and seal this 11th day of October 1845.
                    Lydia X Ray
                     (X her mark)

Atest Gill May

State of Tennessee
Macon County
     On this day personally appeared Lydia Ray with whom I am well acquainted who is a citizen of Macon County formerly Smith County and in my presence as one of the Justices of the Peace for said county acknowledge the foregoing power of attorney to be her act and deed.
     In testamony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 11th day of October 1845.
                   JB Short (seal)
                   for Macon County
Page 34

State of Tennessee
Jackson County
     On this day personally appeared John Allison aged about seventy five years of age a Pensioner of the United States and a resident of White County who being sworn according to law make oath that he was well acquainted with Joseph Ray and Lydia Ray during the War of the Revolution.  He lived about three miles distance Believes they were leggally married in fact he is certain they were but was not present at the weding knows that Lydia Ray is the widow of Joseph Ray.  He believes that Joseph Ray was in the service but this affiant cannot state any of the particulars as he was out in the Service himself and therefore cannot say how long he was out.  Knows he was a true Patriot and friend to his Country and further this Deponent saith not.
     Sworn to and subscribed before me this 7th day of October 1837.
                                John Allison

Attest Robert Lindsay (seal)
Justice of the Peace
Page 35

State of Tennessee
Jackson County
     On this day personally appeared Mary Curtis aged about eighty years who being duly sworn according to law makes oath that she was well acquainted with Joseph Ray and Lydia his wife.  She was present and saw them leggally married they were married in Orang County North Carolina before the War of the Revolution commenced.  They were married by a Justice of the Peace and further this Deponent saith not.
      Sworn to and subscribed before me this 7th day of October 1837
                                Mary X Curtis
                                 (X her mark)
Attest Robert Lindsey  (seal)
Justice of the Peace

State of Tennessee
Jackson County
     I Robert Lindsay one of the acting Justices of the Peace for the County and State aforesaid  do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with John Allison and Mary Curtis who has this day appeared before me and made the foregoing affidavits.  That they are both of good character and standing and that full faith and credit are due and ought to be given to their statements and I hereby certify the same.
     Given under my hand and seal this 7th day of October 1837.
                      Robert Lindsey (seal)
                      Justice of the Peace
Page 36

State of Tennessee
Jackson County
     On this day personally appeared Jane Ray before me George C. Darwin one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for said County and made oath that she is about eighty eight years of age, that she recolects the marriage of Joseph and Lydia Ray.  she was present and saw them married.  She has no doubt that he was in service at several times in fact she knows he was out previous to his death but the reason she cannot state particular is that she and her husband came to Joseph Ray's but a short time before his death from big PD where they lived.  They came there for refuge from the British and Tories.  Almost all the men were out at different times.  It was a distressing and troublesome time.  Joseph Ray died but a short time before Cornwallis marched to Guilford.
     Sworn to and subscribed before me this 9th day of October 1837.
                   Jane X Ray
                   (X her mark)

Geo. C. Darwin Justice of the
Peace for Jackson County
Page 42

State of Tennessee Smith County
I Patrick Fergusson one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for said county do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Lydia Ray who has this day made the foregoing amended declaration before me that she is a woman of truth and veracity and that full faith and credit are due and of right ought to be given to her statements.  I further certify that owing to Weakness and old age she cannot go to make this declaration in open court.
     In testamony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 30th day of July 1840.
                  Patrick Fergusson JP
                  Justice of the Peace

State of Tennessee Smith ounty
     I John J. Burnett clerk of Smith County Court hereby certify that Patrick Fergusson before whom the written declaration of Lydia Ray was made was at the time the same purports to bear date now is one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for said Smith County duly commissioned and qualified as the law directs and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine.
(seal)
     In Testimony whereof I have set my hand and affixed my seal of office the 2nd day of January 1841.
                    John J. Burnett Clerk
                    of Smith County Court