Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 5,891, James Cain, N.C.
Page 1

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[3-1776]

SERVICE
N. C.

Cain, James
         Mar [Mary]

Bon in S. C.
CONTENTS
Page 2

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

mes [James]
Mary

NUMBER
W.5891
Page 3

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

23.756
North Carolina

James Cain Sr.
Bladen in the State of No Ca: [North Carolina]
who was a pr [Private] in the --- commanded
Captain --- of the Regt [Regiment] commanded
by Col. Robeson in the N. Ca.
line for 7 ½ months

Inscribed on the Roll of N. Carolina
at the rate of 25 Dollars - Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 4 day of Apl. 34
and sent Hon. J J Mc Kay – H. R.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1834 - 75
Semi=anl. [annual] allowance ending 4 Sept. 12.50
$87.50
{Revolutionary Claim}
{Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by Nath. Rice, Clerk
Book E Vol. 6 ½ Page 49.
Page 4

James Cain Jr

Suspended 
Hon, J. J. McKay 

Wm. [William] J. Cowan 
Elizabethtown
Page 5

[Image 425 of Ancestry—the first part of this affidavit does not appear in the Fold3.com version - On this the 20th day of August in the year 1833 Archibald McDaniel [R.6676] after having been duly sworn according to law, makes oath before me, Robert Melvin one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Bladen, That the applicant James Cain Senior was, for several years during the Revolutionary War, a Sergeant in Captain William Ellis’s Company of Bladen Militia, in which Company he was a private. That this Applicant served in frequent expeditions against the Common enemy with the said James Cain that said Cain served, as he believes several years, and was reputed a faithful soldier – but he cannot particularize any expeditions in which this Affiant served with him except the following – to wit – to Drunken Run below Wilmington – to the Plantation of Thomas Amis, & into South Carolina to the Governor’s Ford on South River, where the Tories were defeated] 

to Great creek or South River, where this affiant was wounded to the lower end of Bladen & upper part of New Hanover Counties. But this affiant has no recollection of the precise time, that said Cain was employed in those expeditions- 
Archibald [his X mark] Daniel
Sworn to and subscribed} 
before me, the day & year aforesaid}
Attn: R. Melvin JP}

On this the 20th day of August in the Year 1833, William Smith [S.7534], after having been duly sworn according to law maketh oath before me Robert Melvin a Justice of the Peace for the County of Bladen: That James Cain Sr. the Applicant was for several years during the War of the Revolution a Sergeant in Captain William Ellis’s [W.7092] Company of Bladen Militia, and that as a Private in said Company, he served with him in frequent expeditions against the Common enemy – that said Cain served a great while, & was reputed a good and faithful soldier: but this Affiant can only particularize the following tours of duty, in which they were jointly engaged, to wit – to Jumping Run below Wilmington, to Great Creek on South River against the Tories, where the Whigs under Captain (then Major Ellis) were defeated [probably a reference to the engagement at Heron’s Bridge, January 30, 1781], and to the lower end of Bladen, & the upper part of New Hanover Counties. This affiant also understood at the time (as he resided in the same 

[this was cut off - neighborhood) that said Cain served one Tour of duty, as a substitute for Thomas Cashwell. 
William [his X mark] Smith
Page 6

State of North Carolina}
Bladen County}
On this the 6th day of May A.D. 1833, personally appeared before me Robert Melvin one of the Justices of the peace for the County of Bladen     James Cain, a resident of Bladen County, in the State of North Carolina, aged eighty-one 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. 
1. In the early part of the year 1776, he entered the service as a Private in a Company of Bladen Militia of which Wm. [William] Ellis was Captain, and James Johnston Lieutenant. The Company marched to Jumping Run below Wilmington, and there joined the Bladen Regiment of Militia commanded by Colonel Thomas Robeson and Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Brown. There were other Troops from some one or more of the adjoining Counties, but he has no recollection of the names of any of the other officers, except that he believes, they were all under the command of Colonel or General Lillington [John Alexander Lillington]. He has, for those reasons which will be mentioned hereafter, no distinct recollection of the time he served, but thinks it was at least three months. He has no recollection of any Continental Officer, or whether he received a written discharge or not, if he received a written discharge (as he received several) he has lost it. 
2. There was a draft in Captain Ellis' Company of Militia, at what time, he has no recollection, but not long after the service above detailed, was performed, when he became a substitute for a man by the name of Thomas Caswell for a service of five months, as he verily believes, but for fear of a mistake he will say three months, and was immediately thereafter appointed first Sergeant. The Company in the first instance marched to the plantation of Thomas Amis on Drowning Creek, or Lumber River in Bladen (now Columbus) County, where they joined two other Companies of Bladen Militia under the command of Capt [Captain] Peter Robeson and Capt [Captain] James Council the whole commanded alternatively by Colonel Brown, Lt. Col. [Lieutenant Colonel], Richardson, and Major Thomas Owen, who made Amis' Plantation their head quarters in the various movements made by them against the Tories in the upper part of Bladen now Columbus & Robeson [counties] and the adjoining parts of South Carolina. On one occasion they marched as far as Cheraw Hills – thence returned and marched over little Pedee [Pee Dee River], at Forts Bridge, where an attack on the Tories had been anticipated, but they having retired and dispersed themselves, the Whigs returned to Fair Bluff, and shortly afterwards were discharged. He does not recollect receiving a written discharge but if he did, it has, as in the other case, been lost. He served with no other Troops except those above mentioned. 
Owing to the decay of his memory from age, and bodily infirmities, those above, are the only services which he can particularize with anything like precision. For many years, he has been afflicted, first with a palsy in the head, and afterwards, also in the hands and arms and during that time circumstances which had been most strongly impressed upon his mind
Page 7

have entirely faded from his recollection. While therefore he could not undertake to state with anything like certainty the commencement, duration, and termination of the different tours of duty he performed during the Revolutionary War, still he does not hesitate to declare that he served more than three years, including the services above specified. He acted as first Sergeant in Captain Ellis' Company – was with him in most of his expeditions, and sometimes when he was with his Company, and the contemporaries of Captain Ellis must all know that there was not a more decided Whig – or other Officer in the County more frequently in service than he was. Among the various expeditions in which he was engaged some for a longer, and others for a shorter period, he recollects the following – 
1. On one occasion he went as a Sergeant (in which capacity he acted as before stated from some time in the year 1776 to the close of the War) in Captain Ellis's Company against the Tories, into the upper part of Bladen, and the adjoining part of South Carolina, and on arriving at the plantation of one Thomas Ord, it was ascertained that the Tories had collected in such strong force, as to induce Col. Richardson the commanding officer to retire to Rockfish below Fayetteville. All the men being mounted they made a rapid march and arrived after marching all night at Leggets Mills, early the next morning, pursued as it appeared by the Tories – whose suddenly fell upon them immediately on their arrival there – and compelled them to retreat, with the loss of a young man by the name of Armstrong, son of Colonel Armstrong. Several of the Whigs were wounded among the rest Captain Ellis who lost [an arm?]. Churn, the Tory Commander, called Major Churn, and said to be a stout Mulatto was killed, as it was said by the hands of Major then Captain Ellis. 
2. He was a considerable time in the service in the same company, on an expedition to the neighborhood of Wilmington – then in possession of the British. About 1000 or 1500 men had been called on the upper side of the No [North] East River under the command of General Lillington [General John Alexander Lillington] – and the British having marched from Wilmington, had thrown up entrenchments on the opposite side. General Lillington having determined to attack them sent an express to General (then Colonel) Brown, who with a portion of the Bladen Militia, among whom was Ellis's Company, had been ordered on a reconnoitering expedition on the sound, in the neighborhood of Wilmington with orders to march up on the Wilmington side of the North East River, and bring on the attack, upon which he would be sustained by the Troops from the opposite side. Colonel Brown accordingly made the attack, but not having been sustained by General Lillington was overpowered by superior numbers of the enemy and compelled to retreat – having received a severe wound in the arm, not a single man of General Lillington's Force crossed the River. 
3. Captain Ellis & Captain Peter Robeson having ascertained that the Tories had collected on South River, with a view as it was said of marching to Wilmington determined on attacking them – they rendezvoused with their Companies at the plantation of James Singleton on the Cape Fear River, marched to South River and on the Evening of the
Page 8

same day attacked the Tories at the Governor's Ford or South River; and defeated them driving most of them across the River. 

On another occasion when Captain Ellis's company was on an expedition against the Tories down the Cape Fear to the lower part of the County – several active Tories were taken prisoners – on another occasion however a detachment of Captain Ellis's Company was defeated and Lewis Avery killed & Thomas Avery wounded. 

They were afterward engaged against the Tories on South River in Cumberland County, at a place called Great Creek. The Tories were on the opposite side of the Swamp and an extensive marsh intervened across which was a causeway made of large timber. It was concluded by Major Ellis, who commanded (James Johnston being in the Captain of the company) to send a detachment of the Company on the causeway to endeavor to get across to the enemy, and bring on the attack, while the rest of the Company by going around the swamp, would make an attack in a different direction – but the detachment had not proceeded far on the causeway before they were attacked by the enemy (who were in ambuscade) and obliged to retreat – Upon which Captain Ellis concluded to retire – Several of the Company were wounded, among others Archibald McDaniel. He was engaged in various other expeditions against the enemy into South Carolina, Robeson, Cumberland, Sampson & New Hanover [Counties]. He received several written discharges, but he has lost them all, and has no recollection for what period of service they were given – He has no documentary evidence, and no living witnesses of his service, whose testimony he can procure except Archibald McDaniel & William Smith whose affidavits are hereunto annexed. 
He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or
Page 9

[note this was all cut off The text was taken from the Ancestry.com version of this document. - 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 & year aforesaid attest Robert Melvin, JP  James [his X mark] Cain. Answers to Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, as propounded to the Applicant by the Court  1. He was born either in September or October 1752, on Little Pedee [River] in the State of South Carolina, removed to Bladen County before the Revolutionary War – resided there during & since the Revolutionary War.  2. He had a record of his age, but the Book which contained it [he loaned] to a neighbor, whose house was burnt while the Book was in his possession. End of Ancestry.com version]

3. I resided during the whole of the Revolutionary War & ever since in Bladen County. 
4. I was a volunteer in every instance, except when I served as a substitute for Thomas Cashwell. 
5. For answer I beg leave to refer to my declaration. 
6. I received several written discharges – but have lost them all. 
7. Revd [Reverend] Daniel McDuffie, Jonathan Jones, Daniel Melvin Sr., Robert Melvin Esqr [Esquire], Robert Harvey Esqr [Esquire] & Revd [Reverend] S. N. Richardson 

We Daniel McDuffie, a clergyman, residing in Bladen County, and Jonathan Jones residing in the same, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Cain Sr. & who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be Eighty one years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. 
attest R. Melvin JP
Daniel McDuffie 
Jonathan Jones 

And I the said Robert Melvin do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And I further certify that it appears to me, that Daniel McDuffie --- who was in the preceding Certificate is a Clergyman resident in the County of Bladen, and that Jonathan Jones who has signed the same is a resident in the County of Bladen, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. I further certify that Archibald M Daniel and William Smith, whose names appear to the annexed affidavit, were sworn to and subscribed the same & are credible persons. I further certify that the said James Cain from bodily infirmity is unable to attend Court. 
R. Melvin JP

On this the 20th day of Augt [August] in the year 1833, [name crossed out - James Cain] Archibald M. Daniel having been duly sworn according to law, maketh oath before me, Robt Melvin one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Bladen. That the applicant James Cain Sr. was, for several years, during the Revolution War a Sergeant in Capt. Wm. Ellis Company of Bladen Militia, in which company he was a private. That this affiant served in frequent expeditions against the common enemy with the said James Cain that said Cain served as he believes several years, and was reputed a faithful
Page 10

State of North Carolina}
Bladen County} Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions August Term 1840

On this 5th day of August 1840 personally appeared before said Court Mary Cain a resident of said County and State aged seventy five years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed [Illegible words crossed out] July 4th 1836 that she is the widow of James Cain who was a private soldier in the American Revolution and who was a Pensioner of the United States. She further declares that she was married to the said James Cain on the 28th day of December in the year Seventeen hundred and eighty and that her husband the aforesaid James Cain, died on the 18th day of July 1835 and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed. 

She further swears that a Pension Certificate issued to her husband the said James Cain which she returned to the Agent for paying Pensions at Fayetteville North Carolina after the death of her husband the said James Cain and she further swears that there is no family record kept in her family.
Mary [her X mark] Cain

Sworn to and subscribed} 
the day and year above} 
Written before me} 
in open Court} 
David Lewis Clk [Clerk]

William Reeves Esqr. [Esquire] aged 61 years appeared in open Court and made oath that he has been well acquainted with Mary Cain and her deceased husband James Cain for forty years that during
Page 11

all that time the said Mary and James lived together as man and wife and this affiant further swears that he has understood and believes that they were lawfully married. The said Mary Cain is the same person who has sworn to the foregoing declaration.
W Reeves
Sworn to Subscribed in} 
Open Court before me} 
David Lewis clk [Clerk]}

John D Salter personally appeared in open Court and made oath that Mary Cain who has sworn to and subscribed the foregoing Declaration is the widow of James Cain decd [deceased] that the said Mary Cain is Now single and hath remained so since the death of her husband the said James Cain. That the said James Cain was a Pensioner of the United States and this affiant further swears that he has always understand and so believes that the said Mary Cain was lawfully married to the said James Cain that being the reputation of the neighborhood in which the resided. And affiant further swears that said James Cain departed this life in the month of July 1835. 
J. D. Salter
Sworn to Subscribed in}
open Court before me} 
David Lewis Clk [Clerk]} 

We the undersigned Justices of the Court aforesaid hereby certify that Mrs. Mary Cain who has sworn to & subscribed the foregoing declaration and William Reeves and John D Salter who has sworn to subscribed the foregoing affidavit are credible persons.

Given under our hands this 5th of August 1840.
Robert Lyon {JP}
H F Shipman {JP}
J M Gillespie {JP}
Page 12

I, David Lewis, clk [Clerk] of Bladen County Court do certify that Robt Lyons, H F Shipman and J M Gillespie was acting Justices of the Peace in aforesaid county and the signatures purported to be theirs is genuine in testimony where of I here set my hand & affixed my seal of office this 26th Dec. 1840

David Lewis Clk [Clerk]
Page 13

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[left side of page] 7940
Mary Cain, dec.d [deceased]
widow of James Cain
who was as a Private
in the N. Carolina Line
Husband died in 1835

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
25 Dollars – 
Cents per annum, to commence on 
the 4th day of March, 1843 & ended 
17 Novr. [November]1844, when she died

Certificate of Pension issued the
5th day of Sept. 184[6?]
and sent to T. A. A. Thos Smith Esq.   
Present

(Acts of March 3, 1843)
And June 17, 184[6?]
Recorded in Book A Vol. 2 Page 153
Payable to Amos, James & John Cain, only children

[right side of page] Refd. 2 Certs. Act 1838 [Illegible]  
Let [Letter] J G Berret Aug. 3d [3rd] 1850
Page 14

12994 
(9037.
(1207.
Mary Cain decd [deceased]
N. C.
Act 7 July 38
m [married] 83 d [died] 35
Admd 7.15 or pri [private] 
$25 
also acts 43 & 44
$25 to 17 Nov 44 - the day of her death 
To Amos, James & John Cain one surviving children 
T. L. & A. T. Smith Present
Page 15

Declaration, 

In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th July 1838, and the act of March 3, 1843, and June 17th 1844 
Also of the Joint Resolution of Congress of the 23 January, 1845. 

State of North Carolina} 
Bladen County} Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, August Term A.D. 1846}

On this the 2d [2nd] day of August 1846, personally appeared in open Court be for the Court of pleas and Quarter sessions now sitting Amos Cain a resident of said County, aged 62 years, and one of the children & heirs at Law of the late Mrs. Mary Cain, widow of James Cain Senior of said County decd [deceased] who being first duly sworn, according to Law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 7, 1838, and the act of March 3, 1843, and June 17 1844 & Joint Resolution 23 January 1845. That this declarant is one of the children & heirs at Law of the late Mary Cain who was the widow of the late James Cain Senr. [Senior] pensioner residing in the aforesaid County of Bladen. 

That this declarants father was a Pensioner of the United States at Twenty five Dollars per Annum. 
That said James Cain Senr. [Senior] Pensioner as aforesaid, did die in the year of A.D. 1835. 

The declarant further states upon his oath, that he has always understood & believes that his father the aforesaid James Cain Senr. [Senior] was married about the close of the revolutionary war, and before the 1 January 1794.

The declarant further states [words cut off]
Page 16

upon his said oath that he has reason to believe that his decd [deceased] mother did make application for a pension, under act (believes) of 1836. but in consequence of not being enabled to produce satisfactory evidence at war Department, that her marriage took place before the last period of said James Cain Senior's service in the army of the Revolution, - as advised, she was about to abandon her claim to a Pension under act 4 July 1836 and make a declaration under the Act of 1838, and the acts subsequent thereto but she died before she had an opportunity of making a new declaration. 

A. Cain
Sworn to and subscribed in open Court} 
the day and date first above written} 
Test, 
H. H. Robinson C. C. C.}
Page 17

State of North Carolina} 
Bladen County} I Herman H Robinson Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for Bladen County, do hereby certify that the foregoing Declaration of Amos Cain, was this day read in open Court, and approved by the Court, whereupon it is ordered by the Court that the Clerk to certify to the war department.

I further certify that satisfactory evidence was this day made in open Court that Mary Cain widow of James Cain Senr. [Senior] an United States pensioner did die on the 17th day of November 1844, and that she left survivor the following children viz Amos Cain, James Cain and John Cain all of full and lawful age. And that the said Mary Cain died leaving no other children her surviving –
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of Office this 3rd day of August A. D, 1846 and of American Independence this 71-----
Herman H. Robinson 
Clerk of the County Ct.
Page 18

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

Revy WIDOW, &c. Own

File No. 5891
Mary Cain
Wid [Widow] Jas. Cain
Pvt. N. C. line

Act: Mach [March] 3rd/43, June 17th/44
Index: - Vol. , Page 

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 19

5268
Mary Cain
N. C.
Let [Letter] to T. L. & A. T. Smith
April 15 ‘46

Act 4th July 1836
Page 20

N. C. - act 1836 - 5266
Mary Cain - James
Let [Letter] to Hon. J. J. McKay 16 Feby [February] 1841, same Feb. 24, 1843. Doto J.D. Beally
Sept. 14, 1844
Let [Letter] to J. D. Beally Nov. 28 ‘44

Act 1836
Page 21

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

11.095.
North Carolina
Mary Cain, deceased,
Widow of James Cain Sr.
who was a pensioner under the Act of 1832 
and died in the year 1835 – 
of Bladen in the State of N. Carolina
who was priv. in the ----- 
commanded by Captain ---- of the
Regt [Regiment] commanded by Col. Robison in the N. C. line for 7 mo. 15 dys. [days]

Inscribed on the Roll of Fayetteville
at the rate of 25 - Dollars – 
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836

Certificate of Pension issued the 5th day of Sept. 1846 and sent to T L & A T Smith. Present

Total amount, $125.00
(Act July 7, 1838.)

Recorded by D Henry Wood Clerk,
Book D. Vol. A. Page 287.   

Payable to Amos, James & John Cain, only children
Page 22

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

Payment to be made at ----
Fayetteville by 
Jno Haske –
Agent for paying Pensioners, in the 
Agency of 
N. Carolina

Payable on the 4th September and 4th March 

Recorded in the Pension Office, in 
Book A. Vol. 2. Page 

D. H. Wood Clerk,

Duplicate
Page 23

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

WAR DEPARTMENT. 
WIDOW'S PENSION. 
----------------------------

I certify that in conformity with the acts of March 3, 1843 and June 17, 1844} 
Mary Cain, dec’d [deceased], late of N. Carolina, 
widow of James Cain, Sr. - - - 
who was a Private in the N. C. Line 
and died on the – day of --- 1835 --
is inscribed on the pension list at the rate of Twenty Five
dollars and --- cents per annum, commencing on the 4th of March, 1843, and terminating on the 17th Novr [November] ‘44 [words crossed out - unless she should again marry; in which case the Pension is not payable after the time of such marriage or death.] when she died, payable to Amos, James & John Cain, only children.

Given at the War Office of the United States this 4th day of Sept. one thousand eight hundred and forty six. 

Secretary of War.

Examined and Countersigned. 

Commissioner of Pensions. 

Duplicate.
Page 24

State of N. Carolina 
Bladen County 
I Owen Smith one of the Justice of the Peace of the County aforesaid & being called and to take the Deposition of Samuel N. Richardson relative to his knowledge of the Intermarriage of James Cain with Mary Meakes the present Widow of the said James Cain (now deceased) do proceed as follows 

The aforesaid Samuel N Richardson being duly sworn, deposeth & saith that he believes about the year 1780 that the aforesaid James Cain and Mary Meakes was married at his Fathers Colonel James Richardson [S40345] house who was then an acting Justice of the peace & performed the ceremony & he the deponent further Saith that he was acquainted with the aforesaid James Cain & Mary Meakes before their marriage that they were poor & Illiterate but was termed Industrious & honest & that he has been acquainted with them since their Marriage that they have raised up a large family of children of whom no one will dare to say there is any Illegitimate, that he the said deponent has lived he thinks not more than six miles from them since their Marriage & that he believes they lived in harmony as man & wife until separated by the death of the Husband James Cain in the year 1835 & that the widow of the aforsd [aforesaid] decd [deceased] is in indigent circumstances & that the aforesaid Mary Widow of the aforesd [aforesaid] James Cain being your Humble petitioner for a Pension for services done by her aforesd [aforesaid] husband during the Revolutionary War he thinks is just & ought to be allowed further this deponent sayeth not.

S N Richardson -
I certify that the above affidavit is duly Sworn to and subscribed before me this 15th day of December 1840. 
Owen Smith JP {Seal}
Page 25

Deposition of 
S. N. Richardson
Page 26

State of No Ca [North Carolina]
Bladen County 

I David Lewis Clerk of the County Court aforesaid do certify the Owen Smith is & was an act Justice the Peace in & for said Court the Synature [signature] purporting to be Given in his testimony where of I here set my hand and affix my seal of office this 26th Decr [December] 1840 

David Lewis Clk [Clerk]
Page 27

Mary Cain - widow 
of James – N. C.

No 5266 

Act 4 July 1836. 

Hon J. J. McKay 
H. R. [House of Representatives]
Page 28

State of North Carolina} 
Bladen County} 

This day Musgrove Jones personally appeared before me an acting Justice of the peace in and for said County and made Oath that he is well acquainted with James Cain Senr [Senior] late a Pensioner of the United States and also with his widow Mary Cain now of said County. That he knows that said James and Mary were married before or during the Revolutionary War. 
Sown to & Subscribed
before me this 31st March 1840 Musgrove Jones 
Geo Cromartie J. P.

I George Cromartie the justice aforesaid certify that Musgrove Jones who has sworn to and subscribed the foregoing affidavit is a credible witness and that full faith and credit is due to his testimony.
Given under my hand 4 April 1840
Geo Cromartie J. P. {Seal}

I David Lewis Clk [Clerk] of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions in & for the County of Bladen North Carolina Certify that George Cromartie Esq who has subscribed the forgoing affidavit & certificate is a Justice of the
Page 29

[paper torn] Sept 10th 1844 

Mr. J. L. Edwards 

Dear Sir 

Having being informed by your representative the Honor James J. McKay that you are the commissioner of pensions; I take the liberty of addressing you to make some enquiry relative to the claim of the Mrs. Mary Cain widow of the late James Cain who was a soldier in the revolutionary [words crossed out] & pension up to the time of his death (about) July 1836. – Mrs. Cains marriage with Jas. Cain has been proved & all the necessary papers (as was thought) were sent5 in to Washington. Please have the goodness to inform me why “this poor old widow has not been allowed a pension. – There is a man living in this City who will prove that Jas Cain served 6 years in the revolutionary war, which I am informed is a long service then was proved when he obtained a pension. This I presume will entitled the widow to a larger sum. Please give me all the information in your power relative to this claim, & if there is obstacle in the way please forward the necessary thanks for the perfecting & procuring of the s.d [said] claim; for it is certainly an indisputable case, & the poor old woman, is extremely needy.

Your compliance oblige
Dr Sir Respy [Dear Sir Respectfully] Yours 
G D Beatty)

P. S. Send to this office)
Page 30

[written on the backside of a page]
Gravelly Hill N. C. 
Sept. 18th ‘44

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City D. C.

[written sideways] Sept. 14 ‘44
Mary Cain
N. C.
Page 31

State of North Carolina} 
County of Bladen} 
Personally appeared before us Robt [Robert] Melvin and John Sikes ---two of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Bladen Richard Cheshire [W25403] who after being duly sworn according to due form of law deposeth and saith that he was well acquainted with James Cain decd [deceased] who was a soldier in the Revolution, that he served with said Cain in the Revolutionary War during the year 1781, that he was at the Battle of Guilford and afterwards in an engagement with the Tories at Elizabeth-Town in Bladen, that said Cain served regularly with this deponent in & during the year 1781 and was in these two engagements. 

This deponent further states that he is well acquainted with Mary Cain widow of said James Cain decd [deceased] that they lived together as man and wife during the war, that they were reputed to be married previous to the year 1780 that he heard James Richardson (now dead) said that he solemnized the marriage between the said James Cain & Mary his wife before he entered into service which was previous to the year 1780 – 

This deponent further states that
Page 32

he is now in his 90th year and that he is a pensioner under the United States. 

Sworn to and subscribed before us this eighth day of October 1844. Richard Cheshire [his X mark]
Rt [Robert] Melvin JP
John Sikes JP

State of North Carolina} 
County of Bladen} 

I David Lewis Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions in and for the County of Bladen do Certify that R. Melvin and John Sikes is acting Justices of the peace in and for said County duly commissioned and sworn that their signatures above is Given in testimony whereof I have set my hand and affix my seal of office of Elizth Town [Elizabethtown] this 8th Octr [October] 1844. 
David Lewis Clk [Clerk]
Page 33

I David Lewis Clerk of Bladen County Court do certify that I have made search in my office for the Marriage Bond of Jas Cain & Mary his wife & cannot find any such Bond in officer & do further certify that the files of Marriage bonds is imperfect - given under my hand & seal this 8th Oct. 1844 
David Lewis clk [Clerk]
Page 34

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

Payment to be made
at Fayetteville 
by Jno Haske –
Agent for paying Pensioners, in the 
Agency of N. Carolina

Payable on the 4th September and 4th March, and 4th September in each year.

Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book D. Vol. A. Page by ---

D. H. Wood Clerk,

Duplicate
Page 35

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

WAR DEPARTMENT. 
WIDOW'S PENSION. 
----------------------------

I certify that in conformity with the act of July 7, 1838, Mary Cain, dec’d [deceased], late of N. Carolina, 
widow of James Cain, Sr. - - - 
who was a Private in the N. C. Line 
and died on the – day of --- 1835 --
is inscribed on the pension list at the rate of Twenty Five
dollars and --- cents per annum, commencing on the 4th of March, 1841, unless the Pensioner married or died before the above mentioned date; in which case the pension is not payable after the time of such marriage or death, payable to Amos, James & John Cain, only children.

Given at the War Office of the United States this 5th day of September one thousand eight hundred and forty six. 

Secretary of War.

Examined and Countersigned.}

Commissioner of Pensions. 

Duplicate.
Page 36

Washington D C 
2 Septr [September] 1846
Sir,

We have the honor to present the declaration of Amos Cain, (son of Mrs. Mary Cain decd [deceased], widow of James Cain Senr [Senior] a revolutionary pensioner from N Carolina,) under the acts of 7 July 1838, 3 March 1843 & 17 June 1844 & the joint resolution of 23 January 1845. Mrs. Cain made her application under the act of 1836, which with the proofs in support of it, are on file in the Pension Office. 

Be pleased to give an early examination to the papers in this case, & oblige 
very resp [respectfully] 
T L & A Tho Smith

J L Edwards Esq. 
Comm of Pensions

3.33
1.66
5.00
Page 37

Feb. 18 1846

Add’l to case

Mary Cain, decd [deceased]
Feb. 19
S

[written upside down] 
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
Page 38

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City 

[written upside down] Feb. 18 1846

Add’t to case

Mary Cain, decd [deceased]
Feb. 19
S
Page 39

Washington D C 
17 February 1846

Sir; 

We have the honor to enclose additional testimony in the case of the heirs of Mary Cain of N Carolina, widow of James Cain, who was a pensioner on the roll of that State, to which we invite your early attention. 
We are very respectfully 
your obt svt [Obedient Servant]
T L & A Tho Smith 

J L Edwards Esq 
Commr [Commissioner] of Pensions
Page 40

Oct. 19 ‘44

N C
Addl pff [Additional proof]
Mary Cain

[written sideways] Gravelly Hill N. C. Octr [October] 15th 
Free

Hon. J. L. Edwards
Commr [Commissioner] of Pensions
Washington City D. C.
Page 41

Gravelly Hill Octr [October] 15th, 1844
Hon. J. L. Edwards

Dear Sir

Your favor of Sept 4th enclosing a copy of your letter to Hon. J. J. McKay came duly to hand. You will please accept my thanks for your [Illegible] attention to my request, relative to the claim of Mrs. Cain, for a pension. – I herewith enclose the deposition of Richard Cheshire, a pensioner at this time, & a certificate from the Clerk of the County Court relative to the record of marriage bonds, which I hope will be sufficient to establish Mrs. Cains claim for pension. -- Your early reply will greatly oblige 

Dr. Sr. Respy [Dear Sir, Respectfully] Yours 
J. D. Beatty
Page 42

Mrs. Cain 
widow of James
N. C.
Copy of letter to Tho L. Hybert
Sent to Hn. J. J. McKay H R
Page 43

Admit as private 
7 ½ mo. $25
Page 44

War Department 
Pension Office 
March 19 1834 

Sir:

I have given the claim of Hugh Murphy, William Smith, James Lewis and James Cain Sr. a further Examination, and have admitted the claims of the three first named applicants, and their certificates are herewith enclosed.-

The case of the latter James Cain Sr., will remain Suspended until he can be able to specify more definitely his services, or should he prefer it, he may now have a certificate for $25, being all would be his due for the service specified leaving the case still open for further explanation.-
I have the honor to be 
Yr Obt. [Your Obedient] Servant 
J L Edwards

I agree on behalf of James Cain to the Information.
Apl 2d [April 2nd] 1834
Jas J Mc Kay

Hon: J. J. McKay} 
House of Reps}
Page 45

House of Representatives 
Feby 9th 1841 

Sir, 

I sent you the papers for Mrs. Mary Cain which I have just received from Thos L. Hybert Esqr. Mr. Samuel Richardson, whose affidavit is among a paper, is personally known to me he is a Methodist Clergyman of respectability & his testimony he relied [Illegible] - I stated this [Illegible] request of T. Hybert [Illegible] that [Illegible] to certify to his credibility.

Respectfully
J J McKay

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Page 46

State of North Carolina} 
Bladen County} Be it known that on this the 31st day of January 1846, came before me Amos Cain one of the acting Justices of the peace and a member of the Court of Pleas & Court Sessions for the said County Musgrove Jones a pensioner of the United States and a resident of said County & State aged eighty-four years who being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that in the days of the Revolutionary war, he this deponent saw James Cain in the service as a private soldier under Major Ellis in the said County of Bladen and that he understood the said James Cain served a good deal in the war – that he this deponent always understood that the said James Cain was a good Whig. 

The deponent further sayeth that very soon after the close of the war he visited the House of the said James Cain and at that time the said Cain was married & had children. 

Sworn to & subscribed on the day & year above written before me. 
A. Cain, JP 
Musgrove Jones
Page 47

I A Cain said Justice of the peace do her by certify that Musgrove Jones is known to me to be a man of truth in witness where of I have hereunto set my hand on this 31st day of January 1846.
A. Cain JP 

State of North Carolina} 
Bladen County} I, H. H. Robison Clerk of the County Court for the said County of Bladen, Do hereby certify that satisfactory evidence has been furnished in this Office - That James Cain Senr [Senior] was a Pensioner of the United States and died on the 17th of July (1835, Eighteen hundred & thirty five, and left Mary Cain his widow surviving who died on the 23rd day of November (1844) Eighteen hundred & forty four And left surviving her 3 children to wit: Amos Cain, James Cain, and John Cain only living children of the said James & Mary Cain and all of Lawful age. I also certify that A. Cain whose name appears as an acting Justice of the peace is & was at time of signing the same, and the signatures are genuine.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 3rd Feb. 1846. affixed the seal of office
H. H. Robinson Clk [Clerk]
Page 48

State of No Carolina
Bladen County 

I Samuel Neal Richardson a Minister of the Methodist denomination do here certify (being in the 76th year of my age,) that I was well acquainted with James Cain who was a Pensioner of the U.S. & Mary Cain his Widow that I knew the said James & Mary before & after they were married which to the best of my recollection was about the close of the Revolution say 1783 - Seventeen Hundred & Eighty Tree,) I also certify that I was appointed Sheriff for the above said County in May 179[paper torn] & acted as such until May 1795 & during that time I visited Said James Cain & he & said Mary was living together as man & wife at that time & had been so living for Several years previous & I further certify that said James Cain was reputed in the neighbourhood as a soldier of the Revolution. 
Given under my hand this 4th day of February 1846. 
S. N. Richardson
Page 49

State of North Carolina}
Bladen County} 

I H. H. Robinson Clerk of the County Court for Bladen County do hereby certify this S. N. Richardson whose name appears to the within certificate is a minister of the Gospel as he states in the said certificate & the certificate is in his own proper hand writing as well as the signature thereof I also certify that he the said S. W. Richardson is a person of credit and veracity and also further certify that I have made diligent search in this office for the license bond of Jas Cain & can fine no such claim.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this the 7th day of February A.D. 1846.

Herman H Robinson C.C.C.