Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8455, for John Prewit, Virginia
Page 6

State of North Carolina} 
Cleveland County} I Richard Champion Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions do herby certify that the foregoing declaration of Spencer Prewit was made in open Court now Opened and held at the Court House in Shelby N C and that it was shown to the Satisfaction of the Court that John Prewit died on the 30th day of April Eighteen hundred & Thirty Seven and that Eady Prewit died the 2d day of September Eighteen hundred & thirty nine also that it was shown to the satisfaction of the Court that all the heirs at law who Survive the aforesaid Eady Prewit an Elizabeth Smith Nancy Stockton & Spencer Prewit & that it has been shown to the satisfaction of the Court that the claimant Spencer Prewit is a man of veracity & Caracter [character] also that they heirs all reside in this County except Elizabeth Smith who reside in Burke County N C.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of Office this 15th day of August 1846 
Richard Champion Clk
Page 7

Anney Pruitt Born November the 29th 1779
Betsey Pruitt Born ye 8th Day of March 1781
Burgas Pruitt Born 24 Day of November 1782
Spencer Pruitt Born 15 Day of September 1784
Eddy Pruett was Born ye 27 of August 1786
Travis [?] Pruitt Born 16th Day December 1788
Page 18

We do hereby that we are personally acquainted with Thomas B. Stockton as above, that he is an aged an [and] respectable citizen of this County, and a man of strict truth and full faith and credit may be given his statements upon oath or otherwise. 
Given under hands and seals 
This day of December 1857 
Wm. A. Tisdale J P.
Joseph Magniss J. P. 

I certify that I am acquainted with the above named Wm. A. Tisdale and Joseph Magness Justices of the Peace in the County of Cleveland and I that I regard them as in all respects credible witnesses 
T. L. Clingman
Page 20

for he thinks their [there] is Sumthng [something] Rong [wrong] about the matter and if their [there] is anything due to him he is very much in need of it for he is getting old and frail and not able to Labor but very little and that is his dependance for support 
Pleas [Please] Wright [write] to me forthwith an answer to boath [both] of those cases 
P. Peeler

[upside down] To Mr. J. Minnott Commissioner of Pensions Washington City D. C.
[circular stamp] PENSION OFFICE JUN 1859
Page 23

State of North Carolina} 
Cleveland County} 
On this 27th day of December 1857 personally appeared Justices as John B. Gardner & John Cook; two of the acting Justices of the peace in and for said County, John Hoyle, resident of said County, aged Sixty two years who having been duly sworn according to law deposeth and sayeth, that he became acquainted with John Pruett late of this County, a Soldier of the Revolutionary war in the year 1807. That he has known him forty five years, and has repeatedly heard him speak of his services in the Revolution long before the passage of any pension laws by which he was to be benefited, that the said John Prewitt allways [always] said, or stated that he came from the State of Virginia, and resided, this deponent believes in the County of Bedford, as he has been informed. That he was always recognised [recognized] by all who knew him as a soldier of the Revolutionary war - That when he first came to this County, he brought with him a wife and family of children. - One of whom are living, Spencer Prewitt must be from his appearance, and his own statement Sixty eight or Sixty nine years old, and this deponent is informed these four children of John Prewitt and Eddy Prewitt, who were older than the said Spencer. The said Spencer is the Son of Eddy Prewitt, widow of John Prewitt, the Soldier above stated 
John [his X mark] Hoyle
Page 27

Shelby N C August 23d 1846 
Dear Sir 
Enclosed I send you the declaration of the heirs of John & Eady Prewit claiming the areas [arrears] of Pension which was due their Farther [father] and Mother tho [though] him cannot tell the tours time or duration of servis [service] but thinks that he servd [served] Eighteen months
You will after examing [examining] the claim Report to me at the Place
I remain Yours &c
A. R. Homesley

Cap Pananny company pri [private] [Illegible] Va.
Enlisted July 14 1776 
on roll Decr [December] 1776 
“ Oct 1777 John Prewitt
Page 34

Washington Jany [January] 29 ‘52 [1852]

James E Heath Esq.

Sir

Enclosed you will please find additional evidence in support of the claim of Eddy Pruitt widow of John, which I think will be sufficient to identify her husband with the soldier of the Virginia Line whose services have been shown by the certificate of the Auditor of that state now on file with her papers, and also to establish their marriage in 1779. 
The Witnesses were all well acquainted with Prewitt, and has often hand him speak of his services in the Virginia Line long before the passage of any law granting pension for service in the Revolutionary war was passed. The testimony shows also that Spencer Prewitt the fifth child of these parties was “muster free”, being 45 years old in 1828 which makes him at this time 49 years of age This I presence will be sufficient to prove the marriage must have taken place as early as 1779 as stated in the declaration 
I hope that this evidence will be sufficient to remove all objections to the admission of this Claim
Very Respectfully
Your obt Sevt [Obedient Servant]
Geo C. Ames

[written sideways] P S. I filed a Power of Attorney in this case on the 23 of Novr. [November] last
Page 36

State of North Carolina}
Cleveland County}
On 27th day of December 1857 personally appeared before us William A. Tisdale & Joseph Magniss two of the Acting Justices of the Peace in and for said County, Thomas B. Stockton a resident of said County aged 67 years who having been duly sworn according to law, deposeth and sayeth that he became acquainted with John Pruett late of this County, a Soldier of the Revolutionary war in the year 1805 - that he has known him more forty years, and has frequently heard him speak of his services in the Revolution long before the passage of any pension law by which he was to be benefited, that the said John Pruett always stated that he came from the State of Virginia, and resided this deponent believes in the County of Bedford, as he has been informed; and this deponent further alledges [alleges], that he has frequently heard the said John Prewitt say that he received a discharge at the close of the Revolution, and at some time thereafter, he removed from the State of Virginia with his family and settled in Burk County in this State on Rock = Creek in said County, and while he was living in said County, (Burk) his house was consumed by fire and all his papers, and along with them, his Discharge. And this deponent further alledges [alleges], that when the said John Prewitt On hearing of the passage of the pension law, that he the deponent, heard him tell his family, that his discharge having been burnt, and none of his comrades in arms were in this County that he need not make application for his services, as he was fearful he could not prove them, and knew not when to go for proof.
Page 37

And this deponent further sayeth, That when the said John Prewitt came to this County, he brought a wife and family of children with him, one of whom, now living, Spencer Prewitt from his appearance, and his own statement must be sixty eight or sixty nine years of age. And this deponent is informed there four other children of John Prewitt and Eddy Prewitt older than the said Spencer - that the said Spencer is the son of Eddy Prewitt widow of John Prewitt, the Soldier above stated 
Thos B. Stockton 

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before us 
W A Tisdale JP
Joseph Magniss J P. 

We do hereby certify that we are personally acquainted with Thomas Stockton as above; that he is an aged and respectable citizen of this County and a man of strict truth and full faith and credit may be given to his statements upon oath or otherwise. Given under hands and seals the day and year above written.
W A Tisdale J P
Joseph Magniss J P.
Page 41

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, That I, Spencer Prewitt 

hereby constitute and appoint George C Ames Esquire my true and lawful Agent and Attorney, to prosecute the Claim of Eddy Prewitt for any amount of Revolutionary Pension or increase of Pension that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said Agent to examine all the papers and documents in relation to said claim, on file in the Departments at Washington City, or elsewhere; to file additional evidence or arguments; and to receive the Certificate which may be issued for said claim, which Certificate I wish made payable to

to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed; and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and Agent shall lawfully do in the premises. 
Witness my hand and Seal this 4th September A.D. 1851
Spencer [his X mark] Prewitt { } 
Signed and Sealed in the Presence of} 
Berry Pruett}

STATE OF N. C} 
County of Cleveland} SS:
On this 4th day of September A. D. 1851 before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County aforesaid, personally appeared Spencer Pruett and acknowledged the foregoing Power of Attorney to be his act and deed, for the purposes therein mentioned. 
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand} 
the day and year aforesaid.} 
John B.garner J. Peace.
Page 43

Perposes [Purposes] herein expressed and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present hereby Ratifying and confirming all that my sd [said] attorney and agent shall lawfully do in the premises 
test Spencer Prewit of Spencer [his X mark] Prewit {seal}
J. Cook 
Sworn to and subscribed and acknowledged before me the day and year above written and I hereby Certify that I believe the said Spencer Prewit to be directly interested in said claim as set forth and to the Identicle [identical] party as alledged [alleged] and that the Prewit said is a Respectable resident of said County
J. Cook {JP}

State of North Carolina} 
Cleveland County} I Silas Williams Clk [clerk] of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County & State aforesaid hereby certify that John Cook whose name appears to the foregoing is and was an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County at the time of signing the same duly commissioned and quallified [qualified] that his signature purporting to be his is genuine
Given under my hand and Seal of Office at Office the 23d day of April 1853 
S. Williams Clk [Clerk]