Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7483, for William Mullins, North Carolina
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[Printed document with handwritten entries]

(3-1776)
SERVICE | NUMBER
N.C. | Mullins, WIlliam | R. 7483
or Mullen
Sarah
CONTENTS
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    State of North Carolina
Watauga County} ss.

On this fifth day of November AD 1857 personally appeared before the Court of Pleas and Quarter sessions now sitting for said County and State Jesse Mullen, a resident of said County and State aged Sixty years, who being by said Court 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 the 7th day of July 1838, entitled an
"Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widow (and their legal heirs); That he is the son of William Mullen who was a private in Captain Collender's Company, and the name of the Colonel who commanded the Regiment he cannot recollect, belonging to the State line
or State service of North Carolina in the Revolutionary war ; that his father William Mullen (he thinks) entered said service in the year 1777, and continued in said service, for many years, at times coming home &
staying a short time, and then returning to his post again; That he so continued through the whole war, and was a portion of this period of service under the command of one Captain Bethel and he thinks in the Regiment
commanded by Col Lock or Lopp, and that he was in a Battle fought at a place called Hanning Rock and another by the name of Guilford Court House and other one that he cannot recollect the name of, that he states
these facts merely from the recollection of his fathers conversation on that subject, being a man of no-
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education at all, and that he has no record of said facts in his possession. Deponant further states that his Mother Sarah Mullen the widow of said William Mullen made a declaration in her lifetime, claiming this pension, and which was sent to the Commissioner of Pensions, and being defective was returned but falling into the hands of one William Hagler, he never returned it, and now refuses to deliver said papers into the hands of the heirs, and on the
account be being administrator on the estate of said Sarah Mullen deceased, is compelled to make and swear, to another Declaration, which may not correspond in every particular with the former Declaration as every fact is stated from memory; That the last time he heard from all the children of Sarah and William Mullen, there were five living and that was
2 years ago viz John Mullin of the State of Indiana + Marcus Mullin of Missouri, Mary Hodges of Watauga County N.C. Elizabeth Hagler of Caldwell County N.C. and Jesse Mullen of Watauga Co. N.C.

Declarant further states that his mother Sarah Mullen the widow of said William Mullen was married to the aforesaid William Mullen in the County of Guilford and State of North Carolina he thinks in the year one thouand seven hundred and eighty eight, but the month
and day he cannot now recollect, that said William Muller died on the twenty Eighth day of March AD one thousand eight hundred and ten, and that Sarah Mullin his widow and the mother of the Declarant did on the twenty eighth day of August A.D. one thousand eight hundred and forty nine as will appear by accompaning testim
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my and that they were not married prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place before the first day of January Seventeen hundred and ninty four. That it is his candid opinion that his father William Mullen served very near all the time that the Revolutionary war continued in the State of North Carolina
and that his mother's name before her marriage was Sarah Triplet, and that William Mullen was at his death about sixty five years of age. He further states that his father and had at his death two or three discharges and an other paper showing when he [illegible]
and the names of his officers, which are now all lost or mislaid, and that these were all the papers that said Mullen had at his death relating to his Revolutionary service. Sworn to and subscribed in open Court on the day
and year above written.

Jesse his X mark Mullen [the word seal is outlined]

State of North Carolina
Watauga County} s.s.

On this 5th day of November AD 1832 personally appeared before the Court of Pleas and Quarter sessions for sd county and state  Jonathan Horton who being first duly sworn according to law declares on his oath that some fifteen years ago he was at Jesse Mullens
house and that he there saw some two or three discharges which were given to William Mullen father of said Jesse Mullen for his Revolutionary services, and that he recollects them well and distinctly as they are the first discharges given to Revolutionary soldiers, that he had ever seen, but he
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cannot recollect the officer's names who had signed them, that Jesse Miller is the reputed son of the aforementioned William and Sarah Mullin, that William Muller died on the twenty eighth day of March AD 1810 and that Sarah Mullen his widow died on 30th day of August AD 1849

Jonathan Horton [the word seal is outlined]

Sworn to and subscribed in open Court on the day & year above written. And the Court hereby certifies that Jesse Mullen is a man of good character and his statements are entitled to credit, and that Jonathan Horton's statements are as so entitled to full credit, he being a man of good character. They further certify that from satisfactory testimony they are convinced that Jesse Miller is the son of William Mullen the husband of Sarah Mullen, and that further they are entirely satisfied that said William Mullen and his widow Sarah
Mullen actually died on the days and in the years as stated in the forgoing papers; of which facts they are entirely satisfied.

D.. Farthing Char. [illegible]


State of North Carolina}
County of Watauga} ss

I, A. W. Penley Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter sessions for said County and State do hereby certify that D Farthing Esq whose proper signature appears to the forgoing Declaration is the acting chairman of said Court was duly commissioned and sworn according to Law I further certify that Jesse Mullen is the Administrator on the estate of Sarah Muller deceased was duly sworn
and give bond and securely according to law.

In testimony of which I have set my hand and affixed the seal of my office at Boon on
this 5th day of November AD 1857.

A.W. Penley C Clk
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State of North Carolina}
County of Watauga} S.S.

On this fifth day of November A D 1857 personally appeared before the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions now sitting for said County and State, Phineas Horton and Ruben Hartly, who being by said Court first duly sworn according to law declare that they were personally and well acquainted with William Mullen deceased who was reputed and believed in the neighborhood who he resided to have been a soldier of the Revolutionary war, that, that opinion was general and uncontradicted so for as their knowledge extended. They further declare that Jesse Mullen is the reputed son of said William Mullen and his widow Sarah Mullen, and that they had other children as follows viz John, Mullen, De Marcus Mullen, Mary Hodges, Elizabeth Hagler and Jesse Mullin the present
Declarant, and that the above named children are scattered to a great distance; that said William Mullen died on the 28th day of March AD one thousand eight hundred and ten, and that Sarah Mullen his widow died on 30th day of August one thousand eight hundred and
forty nine.

P. Horton [the word seal is outlined]
Ruben his X mark Hartly [the word seal is outlined]

Sworn to and subscribed in open Court on the day and year above written; and the Court hereby certifies that P. Horton and Ruben Hartly are both of them credible
and disinterested witnesses and their statements are entitled to full faith and credit, that from their testimony
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which is entirely satisfactory, they further certify that Jesse Mullen is the son of the aforementioned William Mullen who died on 12 day of March one thousand eight hundred & ten and his widow Sarah Mullen died on the 30th day of August one thousand eight hundred and forty nine, and that the statement as to the number of children and their names, and they being scattered is all correct. In testimony of which I the Chairman of said Court have set my hand

D. Farthing Cha

State of North Carolina}
County of Watauga} s.s.  I,, A. W. Perley Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter sessions for said county do hereby certify that D. Farthing Esqr whose proper signature appears to
the forgoing affidavit is and was at the date of signing the same the acting chairman of said Court was duly commissioned and sworn according to law

In testimony of which I have set my hand and affixed the seal of my office at Boon on this 5th day of November AD 1857

A.W. Penley clerk
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[Left side of document]
[First line is cut off]
seal of office this 8th day of august 1845 in open court
W. Mastin Clerk

[Right side of document]
[Crossed out: 12.275
11.197
Rv Oct. 20. 1845.
Sarah Mullens
N.C
act 7. July '38
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State of North Carolina} SS
Wilkes County} On this 8th day of May in
the year 1845 Personaly appeared before me William Horton one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for the county afforsaid
Sarah Mullins late a resident of the adjoining county of Ashe + now a resident of the adjoining county of Caldwell aged 82 years the 2d day of July next who first being duly sworn according to Law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the pension made by the act of Congress passed July 7 1838 "entitled an act granting half pay & pensions to certain widows, that she is the widow of William Mullins who was a private in the army of the revolution as a regular soldier & also a Militia Man his first enlistment was for two years & six months as she has always understood +
has good [illegible] + believed, she does not know the date of the enlistment, but respectfully refers to the testamony of Homer Mullins who was with him & enlisted at the same time and in the same company. he served as she has heard him say under the command of Capt Pearce Major Tho Owins, Capt Davidson. She has heard him say that he was in the battle Near Savannah Geo. Also at the battle or skirmish at Jacksons [illegible]. She has repeatedly heard him & his Brother Homer talking over their services that they served their first tour together. as regards superior Officers. She has heard him speak of being Under the command of Court D [illegible] Genl Lincoln & Others, she has always understood that her husband was considerably over of a year in the serves she believes & so declares a year & six months or thereabouts that he lay three months under the care of the Army surgeon who finaly [illegible] his care as hopeless & he who discharged and after, undergoing great fatigue
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& Anguish he arived house & lay at last six
months confined with his wound which was in
the knee. he was afterwards a soldier in the
Militia but of the extent of that service
She does not know.  She had since his death two discharges which he obtained as a soldier while in the Army of the revolution and when she heard of the passage of the act of 1836 the took them & placed them in the hands of Col. John Harding of Ashe County for the purpose of showing to the Honl Lewis Williams which discharges and now lost or mislaid so they cannot be found. See Col Hardings statement under Oath she has therefore no documentary evidence of her said Husbands service but respectfully refers to the testimony of Homer Mullins

She further declares that she has married to the said Will Mullins in the County of Guilford State of No. Carolina by a justice of the Peace by the name of Clarke they were married by publishment. No documentary evidence was ever kept of the Marriage. She was married in the month of March 1782 She was born 2 July 1762 and was 20 years old the next July after her marriage She had seven children by her husband William Mullins Viz Elizabeth Mary, Jesse John Franky Mark & Fulton they continued to reside in Caswell County State of North Carolina untill some time after the war when they moved to Ashe County where they continued to reside to reside untill her husbands death which took place in the month of March 1811 She knows of no living witnesses by whom to prove her Marriage except Mary Jacks to whose affidavit the respectfully refers. She was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the Marriage took place previous to the first of
January 1794 viz at the time above stated
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in correction of the forgoing declaration as
records [illegible] she states that after leaving Caswell co they settled + resided for several years in Wilks County after which they moved
to Ashe where they resided at the time of her
Husbands death & there she has resided
ever since untill a few months past

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above Written before me

William Horton JP

Sarah her X mark Mullins

State of No Carolina} I William Horton
Wilks County} I William Horton a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid do certify that Sarah Mullins has appeared before me this day & made that forgoing declaration is a credible Person Aged & verry infirmed so much was not In my judgment to be able & go to Court without great [illegible] & fatigued & altho living in in the edge of [illegible] County lives but about one mile from me where she has resided but a short time with her daughter In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 8 day of May 1845

William Horton JP

State of No Ca}
Wilks County} Be it known that on this 8 day of
May 1845 before the [illegible] a justice of
the Peace in & for said County Personally appeared James Brown an aged + reputable person who first being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he was well acquainted with William Mullins the husband of Sarah the above applicant for a pension that they lived together as husband + wife up to the time of his death that he died in March 1811 & that he knew them to live together as husband & wife in the year 1790 & from that time up to the time of his death that they had a large family of children + that Sarah is still a Widow Sworn + subscribed this day + year last above written
before me

William Horton JP
James Brown
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State of North Carolina}
Wilks County} Court of Pleas & Quarter August
Sessions 1845

I William Martin Clerk of the said Court do certify the the foregoing declaration
of Sarah Mullins made before William
Horton Esq one of the Justices of the peace
for the above named county hath been
examined in open Court and the same
Approved by the Court

I further certify that William Horton whose name appears the forgoing attestation + certificate is sworn + acting Magistrate of said
County + that due faith + credit is and
right to be given to his Acts as such that the
signature purporting to be his and genuine

I testamony whereof I have Set my hand + affixed my Seal of Office this 8th day of
August 1845 in open Court

W Mastin Clk
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[Typed document with handwritten notations]

November 29, 1930.

Mrs. S. F. Mayfield
328 Reed Street
Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Rev. & 1812 Wars Sect.
Wm Mullins
R.7483

Dear Madam:

You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, R. 7483, that William Mullins or Mullen married in March, 1782, in Guilford County, North Carolina, Sarah or" Sally" Triplett (Triplet), who was born July 2, 1762. After the war, they lived in Caswell County, North Carolina, from there moved to Wilkes County where they remained several years, after which they went to Ashe County, North Carolina.

He died March 28, 1810 or 1811, in Ashe County, North Carolina , aged about sixty-five years.

His widow, Sarah, applied May 8, 1845, while a resident of Caldwell County, North Carolina, to which place she had moved recently from Ashe County, for pension on account of the services of her husband. It was then alleged that William Mullins enlisted at Guilford
Court House, North Carolina, served as a private more than a year under Captains Davidson and George Pearce, and Colonels Marion and Lincoln in the North Carolina troops, and that during this service he was accidentally wounded in the knee with a tomahawk, was in the Siege at Savannah, Georgia, and in the battle of Hanging Rock.

The claim was not allowed as specific proof of service was not furnished.

The widow died August 30, 1849.

William Mullins and his wife, Sarah, had the following named children:
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[Typewritten document with handwritten notations]

Elizabeth, wife of William Hagler, resident of Caldwell County, N.C. in 1852.
Jesse, oldest child, resident of Watauga County, N.C. in 1851, aged 60 years.
John, resident of Indiana in 1849.
Franky.
De Marcus, resident of Missouri in 1849.
Fulton.
Mary, wife of - - - Hodges, resident of Watauga County, N.C. in 1854.

Flower Mullins, soldier's younger brother, also a Revolutionary War soldier, was a resident of Hawkins County, Tennessee, in 1843, aged about eighty-two years.

Very truly yours,
E. W. MORGAN,
Acting Commissioner.

Mary Jacks - soldiers sister, made aff. in
Surry Co. N.C. in behalf of wid. in 1844. aged 88 yrs
One Thomas Hodges was a just. of peace in
Watauga Co. N.C. in 1854- no relationship
to Mary Hodges shown.
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Mary Jack's affidavit in the Matter of Sarah Mullins
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State of North Carolina}
Surry County} ss Be it known that on this 9
day of July 1844 before the Subscriber a
Justice of the Peace [illegible, bleed through from reverse side of document] of the
Court of said County personaly appeared
Mary Jacks aged about 78 years a credible person + on her oath states that she is the
sister of William Mullins who married Sarah Triplett the applicant for a Pension under the name of Sarah Mullins and as the Widow of William Mullins that she distinctly recollects  the Marriage of the aforesaid William Mullins + Sarah that she was present at the Marriage
they were married by published in the County of Guilford by Esquire Clarke She doesn't recollect his first name. Nor does the recollect the date of the many but thinks her sister in Law Sarrah was about 20 years old + herself
about 3 years [illegible] no record was
ever kept of the Marriage as she believes
such events were not recorded in their family as it was very illiterate She has known William from time of his [illegible] of to the time of
his death which took place about 33 years ago and has before + since been intimate with Sarah Mullins who is the mother of children by
William and is yet his widow they lived together as man & wife
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from the time of the Marriage which took place about 63 or nearly that years ago [illegible] + the time of his death and Sarah now living in Ashe County in this State + still a Widow. She recollects well her brother William being not home from the army and that he had a dreadful chl in the knee, that he lay a long time she should think six months she remembers having the [illegible] direct from him to take [illegible] Deed that he finally got well

Sworn + subscribed before me this day and year last shown

Willam J Cowles JP Mary her X mark Jacks
Witness David Day
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State od No Ca}
Surry county}

I Francis W Armstrong clerk of the court of pleas + quarter Sessions for said Court do certify
that Josiah Cowles is a Justice of the Peace
and a member of the County Court of said
County and that the forgoing signiture
purporting to be his is genuine

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of Office
this 10 day July of 1844

F. K. Armstong clk

[Image of possible seal, round, illegible]
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Mrs. Mary Hodges [illegible] of attest.
To James Calloway
lease of Mrs Sarah Mullens. - widow of William Mullens Dec - Solider of the Revolution-

Sarah Mullen NC - sus 1838

Cole
[illegible]
James Calloway
[illegible]
N.C.
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State of North Carolina} power of Attorney
County of Watauga,} Revolutionary pension claim

Know all men by these presents that I Mary Hodges, Daughter of Sarah Mullins, Dec.
hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint James Calloway of Willisberg N. C. my true and lawfull agent and Attorney  to  prossecute the claim of Sarah Mullins, Widow of Wm Mullins, Decd late a soldier of the Revolution for any amount of Revolutionary pension, or increase of pension that may be due, And I hereby authorize my said agent to examine all papers and documents in relative to said claim, on file in the department at Washington City or elsewhere,, to file additional evidence or arguments, and to receive the Certificate
at which may be issued for said claim, and 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, and revoking
all former powers,- Witness my hand and
Seal this the 26" day of June A.D. 1854

Mary her X mark Hodges

Signed and sealed in the presence of
Witness Darcus Hodges}
Witness Burton Hodges} 
State of North Carolina}
County of Watauga,}

On this 26 day of June 1854, before
the subscriber a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid personally appeared Mary Hodges, and acknowledged the the forgoing power of attny to be her act and deed for the pension therein mentioned,
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and seal the day and year aforesaid, Tho. Hodges J.P.
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State of North Carolina}
County of Watauga,} Ss

Be it known that on this 26 day of June A.D. 1854, before the undersigned a Justice of the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Mary Hodges, a resident of the [illegible] folks, in said County and made oath according to law that she is the identical Mary Hodges, who executed the foregoing power of attorney, and that she is directly interested in said claim, and makes
this affidavit, to be filed with such additional evidence or argument, as said agent, may use in [illegible] said claim-

Mary her X mark Hodges

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
Tho. Hodges J.P.

I Thomas Hodges, a Justice of the peace in and for said County do hereby certify that Mary Hodges, who executed the forgoing paper is a respectable resident of this County, and is
believed directly interested in said claim as therein set forth

Tho. Hodge J. P.

State od North Carolina}
County of Watauga}

J. Henry Blain, Clerk of the County Count of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas Hodges whose name appears to the foregoing certificate and affidavit, was at the time a Justice of the
peace for said County and that the signature
purporting to be his is genuine and that full
faith and credit should be given to all his
official acts-

In Testimony whereof I have hereto set my
hand and affixed the seal of my said office at
office this the 26th day of June A.D. 1856.

Henry Blain C.C.C.
By J W Councill DC

[Image of possible seal, illegible]
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State of No Car}
Ashe county}

Be it known that on this 26th day of August 1845 before the subscriber a justice of the Peace in & for the county aforesaid personaly appeared Col John Harding a respectable & credible person who first being duly sworn
according to Law makes the following
statement that several years ago but since the passage of the act of 1836 Granting pensions to widows that Mrs Sarah Mullins of Ashe County and Widow of the late William Mullins 
of said county came + placed in my hand her
husband papers alledging that he was a soldier of the revolution + that it was
probable I would find said discharge + requested if I found any that I would place therein the hands of the Hon Lewis Williams [illegible] there Members to congress I made search among the paper & found one or two 
discharges for Revolutionary service in the name of William Mullins + signed by revolutionary officers but of the date or time of service he does not recollect. the papers were verry old + much worn. He does not know what has now become of the papers. he has no distinct recollection of giving them into the hand of Mr Williams he might - or might not have done so he has no recollection of returning them to Mrs Mullins. he has lately made search for them & cannot find them.  he
was well acquainted with William Mullins the Husband of Sarah he has known them for many years up to the
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husbands death. they were reputable [illegible] people. he died about the year 1871 since
which time his widow Sarah has lived a near neighbour [illegible] + is still a widow - 
William Mullins was spoken of in the neighborhood as being a Soldier of the revolution + so believe have been + I concur in that opinion

Sworn & Subscribed this day + year above written before me

R Most Justice of the peace {the word seal is circled]

Jno Hardin

State of North Carolina}
Ashe County}

I John Ray Clerk of the court of pleas + quarter session for said county do certify that Reuben
Most is a justice of the peace for said
County and that the name above purporting
to be his is genuine

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of Office this 26th day of Augt 1845

Jno Ray Clk
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State of N Carolina}
County of Watauga} SS

On this 8th day of April AD one thousand eight hundred and fifty two personally appeared before the undersigned an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County and state Jonathon Horton a credible and disinterested witness who being duly sworn according to Law declares on his oath that he had been for many years personally and well acquainted with William Mullen deceased who was reputed and believed to have been as
line of the Revolutionary war and that during the whole period that he knew him he never heard it contradicted. He states further that he knew Sarah Mullen wife of said William Mullin that he knew her as his wife from 1810 down to the day of the death and that when he first become acquainted with them they then had several children most of whom he is well acquainted with, and that from the appearance of Jesse Mullin the oldest of the chill, he would suppose him to be at least sixty four or five years old and that he has heard his
neighbors say that they supposed him at
has that old. He further declares that he
he has never heard the legality of the marraige disputed that in his life, but that they were always considered man and wife since he first become acquainted with them, and that down to the death of said Sarah Mullin, he never heard it
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disputed by any one or at any time. He further states that he is now personally and well
acquainted with Jesse Mullin who is the son
of William Mullin and his wife Sarah who
are now both dead, and that the widow died
a long time after the said William Mullins deceased.

Jonathan Horton [the word seal is circled]

Sworn to and subscribed before me, and I
hereby certify that Jonathan Horton is a man of good character and his testimony is
entitled to full faith and credit, and that he
is an old man, and entirely disinterested in this
matter, In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand on this 8 day of April AD 1852

Eli Brown [illegible] Justice

State of North Carolina}
County of Watauga} SS I 
Clerk of the Court of Pleas and quarter sessions for said county do hereby certify that Eli Brown Esqr whose proper signature appears to the foregoing affidavit is and was at the time of signing the same an acting Justice of our County Court was duly commissioned and sworn according to law In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office at Office
on this 8 day of April AD 1852.

A W Penley Clk
By W L Allen clk

{image of possible seal, illegible]
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Boone N C Jan the 31st 1853

Dear Sir I in close to you the Clerks
Certificate certifying that I am the
Administrator of the Estate of the Widow Mullins Deed in place of Jesse Mullins removed by order of Court. I would be glad you would inquire of some of the members of congress to know what Congress done with
a Petition I sent to Congress for an Extra allowance for taking the census of this County I never could hear whether Congress Ever acted upon the Petition or not I wrote to the Hon J P. Caldwell But Re'd no answer

yours +c
S Godwin Esqr  Jonathan Horton

N B let me know whether you received
my answer to your letter on the subject
of your being accused of trying to purchase
my Mothers Claim after it had been allowed
I wrote to you and Mr Caldwell on
the subject

S. Godwin J. Horton
Page 27

State of Tennessee}
Hawkins County} SS
this day personally appeared Flower Mullins before me John Ball an acting Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid and after first being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that he is upwards of Eighty two years of age and that at about the age seventeen himself and his brother William Mullins enlisted at Guilford Court House in Guilford County in the State of North Carolina under Major Thomas Owens and they was then placed under the command of Captain Davidson and served in the  Company of Capt Davidson for the space of five or six months and was then placed under the command of Captain George Pierce under whom they served during the Siege and Battle of Savannah and in the engagement at Jacksonborough, that they enlisted for the space of Two years and six months and was togather under the command of General Court D Asting Lincoln and Marion and Colonel Tenon Together with the inferior officers, above named and that him and his brother
William Mullins served togather int he Army of
the revolution under the above named officers from the time they enlisted for the space of something over Twelve months and after serving in the two engagements above alluded to his brother William Mullins accidentally cut
his leg with a tomahawk which caused a [illegible] for some time when the Surgeon pronounced him incurable he was accordingly discharged and went home and after he went home his wound was cured and he intermarried with a lady of the name of Sally
Triplett with whom he lived with till the time of his death by whom he had several children.
deponent does not recollect the date of the year in which they enlisted but believes it to have been about the year of 1776 or 1777, but from the long lapse of time is not positive and
that William Mullins was about four
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years older than deponent and that the said William Mullins was married to the said Sally Triplett about one year after he returned home from the army in the County of Guilford + State of North Carolina by a Justice of the peace by the name of John Clark and that of personal Knowledge he knows the the said Sally Mullins widow of WilliamMullins formerly Sally Triplett to be more than Eighty years of age and further this deponent saith not

Sworn to and subscribed this 13 day of
December in the year of Lord 1843} Flower his X mark Mullins

before me
John Ball Justice of the peace for Hawkins County
-
State of Tennessee}
Hawkins County} I Campbell Smith Clk of the County Court of Hawkins County do
certify that John Ball is and was and acting
Justice of the peace in and for said County
at the that the affidavit bears date and all due faith and credit should be given to his act and deeds given under my hand and seal of office at office in Rogersville this the 14 day of December 1843

C. Smith Clk
Page 29

State of Tennessee}
Hawkins County}

 I Charles M Renean Chairman of the County
Court of said County do certify that Campbell Smith whose name appears to the foregoing certificate is Clerk of the County Court of said County and that his name appears to be in his own proper hand writing and that full faith and credit is and ought to be placed in all his official acts as such Given under my hand this 14th day of December 1843

C M Renean CCC of Hawkin County
Page 30

Your obt servant
David S. Reid

Hon. J. L. Edwards, Com of Pensions.
Page 31

Washington
Dec. 15, 1846.

Sir,

Please send me the declaration and evidence
on file in your office in the case of Sarah
Mullins who is an applicant for a pension and
if the proof is insufficient please inform me in what points it is so. Mrs. Mullins resides in my district and requests me to examine her case. After I have examined the papers they shall be returned to you or filed in the House in the event it becomes necessary to petition Congress for her relief
I am very respectfully,
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House Rep's,
Washingn Dec 19, 1846.

Sir,

I herewith enclose you the three affidavits in the case of Sarah Mullins which you sent me yesterday. Mr. Cowles thinks there ought to be other papers on file.

I am, very respectfully, Your Obt sert
David S. Reid

J. L. Edwards, Esq, Com of Pensions
Page 33

Hamptonville NC Oct 10 1845

Mr Edwards

Sir I enclose you Sarah Mullins declaration for a pension. You and award of the great difficulty at this [illegible] [illegible] of making a [illegible] declaration and more [illegible] by a Widow whose husband has been dead over 30 years her claim is no doubt founded in strict Justice. She hopes for a favorable decision in her case - the reason this declaration was not sent on soon after the time it bears date is simply this. before
it could be arranged + application made for approval by the Court that Court had adjourned + urgently it had to lie over to [illegible] court + then we had to wait for Ahse Court + [illegible] of Hardings Statement for the Proof of her Marriage. I refer you to 
Flower Mullins & Mary Jacks statements on
 file at the department for the Proof of Service + Flower Mullins Testimony also on file.

Respectfully
J [illegible]
Page 34

State of North Carolina|
Guilford County|

I, John M Logan Clerk of the Court of Pleas and quarter Sessions for Guilford County do hereby certify that I have made due search in and through the County Court Clerks Office for the marriage License Bond to wit, William Muller to Sarah Triplet, and that the same cannot be found

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and affixed the seal of our said Court at Office in Greensboro the 30th day of March A.D. 1852
John M. Logan C.C.C.
Page 35

N.C. 1838
Sarah Mullins widow of William N.C.
[illegible]record [illegible] S.M
Callaway
Page 36

Pension office
Dec 17, 1846

Sir.

I have the honor to enclose herewith, these papers in the case of Sarah Mullins, being all that are on our files. Her original declaration
was returned to J. Cowles, Esq her agent on the 16th of October 1844, for the reasons
stated in a letter addressed to him on that day, of which the enclosed is a copy. It has not since been returned although he has several times been informed that the original, or a new one is indispensable to a further investigation of the claim.

Be pleased to acknowledge the receipt of the paper

Hon. D. L. Reid
ntR
11197.N.C. 38 Svs.
Page 37

J. Cowles
Oct. 16. '44
Page 38

Pension Office 332
October 16 1844

Sir

The declaration of Sarah Mullins widow of
of William Mullins is herewith returned that the court may approve of the proceedings of the single Magistrate. The declaration is defective also in the date of the marriage, which should be corrected. In this case no term of service is set forth as to period, length and grade with the names of the company and field officers, which is necessary to enable the Department, to adjust the claim understandingly the evidence of any service which may have been performed by William Mullins in the Continental line will be found in the office of the Secretary of State, + the service in the militia in the Comptrollers office at Raleigh, the date of the Marriage should be established by record of documentary evidence, public or private, if attainable, if evidence of this grade cannot be had the
testimony of the respectable and intelligent old neighbors who knew them as husband and wife at a period prior to January 1794 may be received

[Left side of document] J Cowles Esqr
Hampton NC
Page 39

State of North Carolina
{Comptroller's Office
{October 1st 1851.

I, William J. Clarke Comptroller of public accounts in and for the State aforesaid do hereby certify that it appears of record in said office, among the payments made by said State to sundry persons for military services in the Revolutionary War as follows, to wit:

William Mullins or Mullen
Book A. A. page 116 pay & deficiency of clothing to Aug 27. 1781 [British pound sign] 160 S 10 specie Same on Receipt book page
54 account 766-
Statement B. Vol. 3 No. 677 on certificate of Captain Callender allowed pay from 14 August 1777 to 27th August 1781.
 
I furthermore certify that the said William
Mullins or Mullen was a private of the North Carolina Line.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto
subscribed my name and affixed my seal of office the day & year first above written

Wm J. Clarke Compt'r

[Image of seal, illegible]
Page 40

11197
Sarah Mullins widow of William
NC
act 7 July 1838
Page 41

Hamptonville NC

Jas L Edward Esq
Comr of Pensions

Sir I herewith transmit the application of Mrs Sarah Mullins for a Pension as compared with the proof of Service, Marriage+&c. then verry
little doubt but Mrs Mullins should be entitled under the act of 1836 but as she could not prove the service in the Militia it is judged
affiant apply under the act of 7 July 1838 - you will please communicate with me in this
Subject if any thing new [illegible] be wanting to establish the old ladies claim

Respectfully
J Cowles
July 16 1844
Page 42

11194
Sarah Mullins NC
Let to J Cowles Oct 16. '44
" " " Nov. 18. '45
" - Jany 14 '46
" same Sept 12. '46
" to Hon DL Reid Dec 17 '46

act 7 July 1838
Page 43

Washington City.
April 17th 1852.

Sir,

I herewith enclose papers in the case of Sarah Mullen, decd, widow of William Mullen, a soldier
of the war of the revolution Act 38.

Yours Respectfully
L. Goodwin
Page 44

[Left side of document]
No. 11.197
Sarah Mullen dec Widow of WIlliam N.C

S Goodwin July 18 1852
Same Feby 4 1853
B. M. Edney Feb 28. 1854
To same April 6/54
James Calloway Oct 11 1854
Hon, J. B Vance Feby. 7/60
Same May 8/60
7483
act July 7 1838

[Right side of document]
These papers have been in two files until this 28th Feby 1854.
Page 45

Pension Office 255
Septemb 12th 1846


In reply to your letter of the 15th [illegible].
I have to state that if Mrs. Francis Roberts will file a declaration in the name of her husband Jame Roberts under the act of 7 June 1832
and will produce the certificate of a court
of record showing the day of his death and that she is his widow a pension may probably be granted commencing on 4 March 1831 
1831 and terminating at the time of his decease.

No further action can be had in the case of Sarah Mullins widow of William Mullins until the requisitions heretofore made respecting her declaration shall have been completed with.

J. Cowles Esq
Hamptonville N.C.
Page 46

Caldwell County N.C.
July 24th 1852

Sir.
About two years ago a declaration with accompanying evidence was filed in
your office in the name of William Mullins
of Ashe County North Carolina, claiming a pension for said Mullins- a new county (Watauga) has been formd. from a part of Ashe + it is [illegible] that at time of making  of the declaration, the county was called Watauga - the agent who acted for Mrs Mullins in prosecuting the evidence the widows + filing her declaration was John B [illegible] of Yancey county, N.C.

It is suspected [illegible] same that man awarded for a Pension may have been made to W Mullins+ {illegible] [illegible] on some more [illegible] cause he has failed to receive the [illegible - I am the son in law of Mrs. Mullins + feel interested to [illegible, smudged] see that the old [illegible] even Justice - will you please inform me in a letter addressed Elkville Wilkes County NC

yours +c Wm. Hagler
Page 47

State of North Carolina
Watauga County

I A W Penly Clerk of the Court of pleas and Quarter Sessions in and for said County do certify that Jonathan Horton is the Legal Administration of the Estate Sarah Mullins Desast in place of Jessee Mullins [illegible] bay and of Court

Given under my hand and seal at office at Boon this the 1 day of February AD 1853

A W Penly Clerk by W L Allen clk

{image of seal, illegible]
Page 48

Boone N.C. on the 24th 1853
Dear Sir
I have writen to clerk of the court of Guilford for Record Evidence of Marriage in the Mullins
Claim But the clk informed me that he has no such proof in his office and Mr Woodfin told me that he had wrote to the Clk of Caswell and that no Proof of marrige could be got there if the papers are not in the Department
and you have them in your Possesion  would it not be best for you to inclose them to me that I could take the same Proof in another hand write and send it back to you I am anxous for the Claim to be allowed as soon as possible
for the reason that it is alledged here by some that you cannot get any more claims allowed in Washington I am informed that Mr Councill
Says his Partner so informs him in washington and he is trying to get the heirs of Mullins to manage to-
Page 49

Get the claim into his hands, and he tell them that he and his Partners could get it allowed forthwith I want you to write to me and let
me know what the prospect is
S.. Godwin Jonathan Horton
N B Since writing the above I have taken the affidavit of the Widow Councill and in close it
to you if it answers the purpose if not let me know

yours +c
J Horton

S Goodwin Esq
Page 50

Asheville February 3d 1882
Hon R Waldo-
I have now found the list of cases to which I had refference in my letter of yesterday + will furnish it that you may experience no difficulty
in finding them-

1st - Lewis Johnson of Burke County N.C. This claim was filed under act 7th of June 1832. I filed a power of attorney in Sept 1832. The comptrollers certificate + other papers were filed by M Godwin prior Please inform me whether all is not right-

2nd Abraham Tipton Captain the certificate I sent you yesterday claim filed by his Brother Samuel Lipton of Carter County Tennessee by Gene Carter of Tennessee member of Congress afterwards prosecuted by Hon. John Blair of Jonesboro Tennessee. This was a Virginia half pay & commutation claim & comes under act of Congress passed June 5th. 1832 by the provisions of which all legal representatives are entitled- I filed my power of Attorney in this case in September 1852 - Please answer me [illegible] upon this case, for it Merits attention.

3rd Daniel Smith Catawba County N.C. filed
under act June 7th 1832. This case was filed originally from Burk by Pearson & Bettice his name appears upon on rolls. I also filed a power of att in this case in Sept 1852 - Please inform me what is yet wanting as I am desirous of knowing as soon as convenient.

4th Rachel Lynn, widow of John Lynn of
Catawba N.C. filed Mary years ago + suspended or rejected for want of Identity-
Page 51

filed in the name of the widow under act July 7th 1838 I filed my power of all - Sept 1832 - Please let me know what is yet wanting. the claim is a good one

5th. Charity Webb. Widow of John Webb, from Wilks County W.C. Many years ago it not paid because there were three Webbs on our rolls - this was filed under act 7th July 1838, certain this case will no longer be rejected because there were other similar names on the rolls. When Chairty shows herself the widow of John Webb who was a revolutionary Soldier. I filed my power in Sept 1852 - I hope it will be taken up & allowed & I wish to hear from you after it is examined

6th-Elizabeth Webb, Widow of John Webb - of Sevier County Tennessee, filed under act 4th of July 1836 - I filed record evidence of services from Georgia in this case in Sept 1832. That Administrator is Martin Baker + he + his wife are the only heirs - her death was proven. This case is a genuine one + should I think been paid long ago, this case was rejected because Jessie Webb was accused of making false
statement, but his pension was reinstated in
1832, which now under his evidence admissible for his Brother John -- I hope the case will be examined + allowed as nothing remains now to be done. I filed my power in this case in Sept 1852 I hope the case will be taken up + report to me

7th Sarah Mullins, Widow of William Mullins
of Catawba County No. filed under act 7th of
July 1838. filed in 1831-+ I filed my power in 1832 in Sept. this case I hope will be examined + report to me if there be and things wanting it can be had
Page 52

The foregoing embrace the cases I desire to
have examined + report the deficiencies in the
proof if any there be, that they may be
supplied which I will do forthwith as I have been constantly troubled + annoyed by the parties since the cases were turned over to me often accused of willful neglect. I wish therefore to relieve myself from at least future reproach by hearing from the Department. Then all say if there are any other proof  wanting this can be had, + I have no doubt they can so please have them reexamined
that I may see upon what grounds they
have heretofore been rejected or suspended. 
I with a report in each repeate case that I may not only from the applicants how they stand, but be prepare to perfect the imperfect ones, which I shall quickly proceed to do. I have consented t wind up these cases + shall do nothing More, am no pension Agent- I am
Lawyer in good practice + shall persue my
profession.

Very Respectfully
Your obedient Servant
B. M. Edney
Page 53

Hon. L.P Waldo Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.
Page 54

Wilksburg Oct. 4. 1854

Hon, L.P. Waldo.
Sir.
I send you the form of alto made by Mrs. Mary Hodges of the Heirs of Sarah Mullins, dec. Widow of the Mullins of N.C. - Which please put
on file and inform me - how the claim now stands.

Most Respectfully,
James Calloway
Page 55

B. M. Edney Feb 28/54
Page 56

430
Pension Office
Feby 28. 1854

Sir

In answer to that part of your letter of
the 3d instant which relates to the claim of
Sarah Mullins, deceased, widow of Wm of N.C.
under the act of July 7. 1838. I have to inform
you that the evidence of service is not satisfactory.

There is a certificate of the Comptroller of N.C
showing a man of his name in service four
years. The widow declared for about 18 months. Her declaration was based upon an affidavit purporting to have been made by Flower Mullins of Tennessee, a brother of Wm, who testified that he served with Wm, and that
Wm was in active service about one year
when he was wounded and a while afterwards
was discharged. The declaration of Flower
Mullins for his own pension, made eleven
years before this service mentions an entirely
different set of officers from those under whom the affidavit makes him say that he and
Page 57

William served; and in neither case does
he mention the captain whose name is in
the Comptroller's certificate. Whether this
discrepancy arose from defect of memory, or
from some other cause is immaterial; the
statements in Flowers declaration and in
this affidavit are inconsistent with each
other; and by this means the effect of the
affidavit is destroyed.

The papers in this case have been separated
into two files, which has occasioned a misapprehension of the real condition of the proof.

B. M. Edney Esq
Asheville
N.C
Page 58

Sarah Council became acquainted with
Wm + Sarah Mullen three or four years after the Revolution and they were living to-gether there
as man + wife
Page 59

State of North Carolina} January the 25 1853
Watauga County} this day personally appeared before me James W. Councill one of the
acting Justices of the Piece in and for said County and State aforesaid Sarah
Councill aged Eighty years a respectible
witness and after being sworn according to
law deposeth that she was well acquainted with William Mullins and his wife Sarah
Mullins that she became acquainted with
them some two or three years after the
Revolutionary war and that she lived a
a neighbour to them for a great many
years and that they lived to gether as man and wife and raised a family of children all of whom she says she was well acquainted with, and that three or four of their Children ages correspond very nearly with three or four of her own Childrens ages and that the widow of
William Mullins never intermarried after the death of her husband that she believes that William Mullins performed Service in the Revolution

J.W. Councill JP 
Sarah her X mark Councill
Page 60

State pf North Carolina}
Watauga County}

I A W Penly Clerk of the County Court of pleas & Quarter Session in and for said County do here by Certify that the same officially signed to the above that James W. Councill is acting Justice of the peace for said County duly Commissioned and Qualified & that he afficial acts as such Justice are entitled to due faith & credit that his said signature is genuine in
Testimony whereof I have unto subscribed
my name and affix the seal of my office
at office at Boon the 25 day of January 1853

A W Penly Clerk
By W L Allen Clk

[Image of seal, illegible]
Page 61

State of No Ca}
Ashe County}

I Ruben Hartley a Justice of the Peace in and for the County afforesaid do certify that
Sarah Mullins who has made the forgoing declaration before me is a credible person but aged + Infirm so much so as not to be able to travel to the Court House it being 18 Miles in the mountains + crossing a great many water courses
given under my hand this 27 day of May 1844
Ruben Hartley JP

State of No Ca}
Ashe County}
Be it known that on this 27th day of May 1844
before the Subscribed a Justice of the Peace in + for said County Personally appeared John Harding and made oath in due form of Law & under Oath states as follows that Mrs Sarah Mullins brot her papers to me the several years ago. + requested me to look out some revolution discharges & for me to get Lewis Williams the then member of Congress to try to get her placed on the Pension List, I recollect three or two discharges from revolutionary Officers as they purported
to be I do not recollect the date, time of service or names of the Officers who signed them, the papers had a very old appearance, I dont know what has become of them, I might or might not have give them to me Williams. I have no recollection to that effect, I do not recollect of having returned them to Mrs Mullins who is an old respectable lady
a Neighbor mine. I have had diligent search but court find them. I further more State that I do not think, that it would be prudent for the old Lady to attempt to go the Court House. it being a rough mountain road

Sworn & Subscribed this day and year last above written before me

Reuben Hartley J P.
Jno Hardin [the word seal is circled]
Page 62

State of No Ca}
Ashe County} 
I John Ray Clerk of the Court of Pleas +quarter Sessions for the county aforesaid do certify that Ruben Hartley is a justice of the Peace for said County duly commissioned + qualified as such, + that due faith + credit is and ought to be given to his official acts as such

Given under my hand & seal of office this 27 day of May 1844
Jno Ray Clk

[Image of seal, illegible]

State of North Carolina}
Ashe County}
Court of Pleas & quarter Sessions May term 1844 I George Bower  presiding Magistrate
of said Court do certify that John Ray
is the Sworn + acting Clerk of sd Court
duly elected + qualified as such. that the seal
made use of by him above is the lawful seal
of said Court that the signature the purporting
to be his is genuine. I also certify that Reuben
Hartly is intitled to sit + preside as a Member of the County Cpurt
Given under my hand this 27 day of May 1844
Geo Bower JP Chairman CC

Col Harding I have sent a new certifficate
for you to sign in the matter of Sarah Mullins
you will I to that it does not vary the facts
but they states the card third plainly the other was deficent inasmuch as it did not state William Mullins named nor did it state in the begining that you were a credible person. Please have it arranged with the court seal + certifficate + [illegible] the paper by Mr Davis and J Conly
Page 63

J. Cowles Jany 14. '46
Page 64

261
Pension Office
January 4 1846

Sir

The papers in the case of Sarah Mullins have been received and filed to await the
reception of her declaration. If the original
declaration be lost or mislaid she should make
a new one in conformity with the instructions
contained in my letter of the 14 Oct 1844, which is herewith enclosed to you. No further action can be had in this case until her declaration properly authenticated shall have been received in this office

J. Cowles Esq
Hamptonville
N.C.
Page 65

100
Pension Office
April 14th 1848

I have the honor to return hereunto W Hagley letter and to inform you that Mrs Sarah Mullins widow of William Mullers asserted a claim under the act of 7 July 1838 in 1844. but in consequence of some defect in the authentication of her declaration it was returned to her Agent J Cowles in Oct 1844, and has not since been in this Office. Before
any further action can be had the original declaration or a supplemental one must be filed

There are some affiants on [illegible] in her case but they are not at all satisfactory
 to establish the date of that Marriage
of these parties or to show that Mrs Mullins
husband rendered as much as 6 mo service

Hon T. S. Clingman House of Reps
Page 66

S. Godwin July 4/53
Page 67

52
Pension Office
Feby 4 1853

Sir
I have again examined the claim of Sarah
Miller decd widow of William of N C. Act July
1838, and am constrained to require additional
proof of service and marriage. The office is satisfied that Record or documentary evidence of the date of the marriage can not be furnished, but will insist that the parol testimony must be of the character designated in my letter of the 28th of July last, that letter will also point out the kind of proof of service
which will be received as sufficient to
establish the claim.

It is proper that I should allude to the remark of your correspondent, that he had been
informed that you could get no claim allowed before the office, there is no agent whom this office will more cheerfully allow claims than yourself, when they are
Page 68

53
established according to the regulations, and
I trust that no agent supposes he can procure
the allowance of pensions without as rigid a compliance with the rules as is required of you,

S. Godwin Esq
Present
Page 69

J L Edwards Esq
Comr of Pensions
Pension Offices
Page 70

Hamptonville NC Nov 24 1845
J. L. Edwards Esq
Comr of Pensions

Sir yours of 18 Just is now before me, you say that before any further proceedings be had in regard the claim of Sarah Mullins the [illegible]  by you done in Oct 1844 with your letter of the 16 of that month must be returned to the Pension office.  I regret extremely that it not in my power. comply with you command the papers returned and the declaration.  The Deposition of John Hardin and the accompany certificate of the Justice & Clerk at the time I received it the old Lady Mrs Mullins had been [illegible] over the mountain in to the edge of Caldwell co. to reside awhile with her daughter as I did not See Will how the paper made out in May 1844 could be awarded. I thought it best to have her make out a new declaration embodying Such amendments as were pointed out by your letter which was done as near as could be done. This was done in May 1845 before Wm Hardin Esq of Wilkes Co whose residence was not then a mile from where the old lady resided. after getting the papers and I had the mortification of finding that the court had adjourned so it did not meet again till August.  I had to wait till then before it and be formally paid or by the Court, I still had the old paper by me but as I found that Col Hardins affidavit was not as final as it should be it not mentioning the name of Mullins + the Magistrate had failed to say he was a credible person in the body of it I concluded it but have a new and one + as he lived 60 miles from me + I could not see him personally. I tore the Sheet in two
Page 71

which contained the declaration of 1844 and
transmitted that half to him which contained
his affidavit that he might the inner see
when the deficiency was. I also requested him
insert his knowledge of the parties he having
lived a near neighbour, that part he 
returned and with his amended certificate
that as I now send you with a memorandum
made by him to Col Hardin at the time showing wherein the former certificate was deficient the other part of the paper of May 1844 I have lost as I did not think it of any value after the new and was made out.

You say the reforms to the statements 
Flower Mullins & Mary Jacks.  She does
to Flower Mullins as proof of the inlistment
+ services + to Mary Jacks in proof of the marriage + services of Wm Mullins. Flower Mullins is understood to be a Pensioner
living in East Tennessee he is the Bro of Wm
+ they insited together + served together
up to the time of the wound on Williams Knee
his statement was transmitted with the original papers Mrs Jacks was forwarded some in July 1844 + they and both promised to be on file in the Pension office as they were not returned with the other Papers.

as regards myself I should {illegible] truly regret it if my carelessness should in the least
prejudice the just claim of this old Lady
She is worthy + Needy is clearly entitled to a
Pension as the widow of a respectable old soldier of the Revolution, who patriotically entered the army and served with year untill he received a [illegible] of which his term was disposed of by the Army Surgeon + which rendered him a cripple for
Page 72

long time, he has been dead 30 odd years and
her is it possible that the widow can possibly
recollect all the important particulars of his
Service, at the time of his death it was not explained that provision would ever be made
for Pensions as under the act of 1832. in conclusion I hope the papers transmitted may answer every papers as the [illegible] transmitted with the amended declaration
I should [illegible] (together with that of Mary Jacks) to be amply sufficient to establish the [illegible]

I herewith transmit your letter of the 15 Oct 1844 with that part of the original paper not lost + by hand to Subscribe myself your Obedient Servant

Josiah Cowles
Page 73

Asheville North Carolina, March 24th 1854
Hon L.P. Waldo. Commissioner of Pensions

Dear Sir-

I proceed, to answer your letter, of Feb. 28th.
suspending the claim of Sarah Mullins. Permit me to say, as a Lawyer of twenty years practice that, whenever the claimant is shown to be identified with the service, + a Comptrollers certificate produced corresponding with said claim whether it should the service for a greater or less length of time, than that set forth of the claimant, that the presumption is, that the service was rendered, that it should
be allowed, according to the time, stated in the certificate, for it is record evidence + therefore [illegible] to parole. This presumption being in favor of Mullins shall be conclusively, unless the Department shows something more conclusive as rebut it, that others, [illegible] have had the same name, is not much rebutting proof as would be for one moment tolerated, by any Court of record in the Union. + should not be, for an instant, entertained, unless there was declaration sworn to, & on file, by a man of the same name claiming a pension, for the same alledged service, then the claimant, being equal strict proof would be required-Upon another point, how can Sarah Mullins an old lady now at this distant day know, whether William, served 18 months, or four years it is all hearsay + memory with her, but since soldiers themselves can tell the fact time they served, supposing always records which were kept + filed, would show Sarah, may have only heard of one tour of service, her oath is one suggestive relying no doubt, upon what the record would speak. She was however
careful not is put the time too long lest she should be charged with wantonly committing perjury, + now is to be denied, on the other hand, her simple rights, because she has sworn cautiously + therefore in the opinions of the Department, not sworn to enough. Is this, dealing tottering old widows of Soldiers who bled, fairly-
Page 74

As to Flower Mullins, he said William, was in active service for 12 months was wounded, & some time after, discharged. he does not say how long, nor does he pretend to know, nor do I suppose he does now nor do I suppose he now knows if he ever did, does not now remember, the officers, under whom William served, they may have changed officers,
Companies, are often reorganized, officers changed; resign, + die + new one come in. The best recollection old Soldier have, of the events of the Revolution, are but dreams + greatly confused, The declaration of Flower, is not filed, nor offered, as evidence in Williams case, & I found no part of the case, that it does not call precisely, with his Affidavit,
taken expressly in Williams case, furnished not the slightest reason, to suspend the case still left, be destroy his evidence, as set forth in his affidavit. I understand, he is a man of good character, + to be fully relied upon. I desire the Department to understand, that I would be, as far, from insisting on a approval claiming as there would be in allowing it, & that there are still remaining, sone honest, + upright men of integrity in our back woods country- + that bands of conspirators, + [illegible] in cities, now,+  then [illegible] the Government, of a half Million or so does not quite [illegible]
that every pensioner, in an interior county, is a thief , on perjured William, & that his case, shall be looked upon with [illegible] + treated
 with suspicion. Pension laws have been by [illegible] General of Intellect, in the county, construed liberally. If poor old soldiers, + their widows, and to be held down to special pleading + conform to all the duties, technicalities, + subtleties, of a special pleader of the Kings bench, or the high Court of Chancery, then the few remaining, as burning
as soon to be extinguished in death + eternal sleep had better hide themselves, in their rags, + let the government fatten, upon their right as it has done, in many instances, to my 
knowledge, to the manifest detriment of mentioned old Soldiers - whose bones now whiten the hills one redened in their own blood for freedom
Page 75

Your Clerk says in the letter before me "The papers in this case have been separated into two files which has occasioned, a misapprehension of the real condition of the proof", In this last opinion I fully concur
Now my Dear Sir, I was but the other day in Burke County, or the same where William Mullins lived, during the Revolutionary war, several of the oldest people there, speak of him + his services in the highest regard
 as having said several years, during the
war, that he William, the husband of Sarah the Applicant, was the Identical Soldier, that rendered the four years service, as proven by the Comptrollers certificate, I have no more doubt, + [illegible] I have if any fact in life, which I did personally of my knowledge, Suppose Flower had just just sworn that he knew William, did serve actively, for a long
of time in the revolution, but did not know how long or suppose we proved by old men he had the reputation of having served for a long time, during the war + there this some certificate were produced, would not pension
been allowed, it could not have been withheld-- & there is no reason now in my humble judgment, why it shall not be paid, I do hope, upon a reexamination it will be and
I hope you will so order I know it is right, from
all I learn from any source of W's. Character as a soldier + man of character. The pension laws, as a code of laws, are founded in benevolence +humanity, & not to be construed strictly as a criminal code. Pensioners are in most instances, illiterate + in many cases deprived of the benefit of Professional Gentlemen, to aid them in their claims, + therefore, have to rely, on the liberality + fairness of the Department, who ought to be their friends.
If the Department thinks, a pension should not be paid, to William Mullins (or his Widow), because there are other men in the country of the same, then the Department for this
reason will pay it to no boddy because others of the
Page 76

some autograph do not apper- nor they never will, for the plain reason, that they never rendered the service, + because the proof
in Sarah's case, does not exactly agree, with the Comptrollers certificate. She is to be deprived. It is not right, nor fair - nor will it be acquiesced in. If this case, is not re-examined
+ allowed. I will thank you to furnish me copies of the declaration + proofs on file + I will there see, whether I can not present a case which will show to the world, that justice
is not always done to pensioners, whose Agents, or Attornies can not be at the department, to urge [illegible] by days,
the allowances of their claims by lurking about + quoting favor with the offices of the Department. I do hope Sir, you will look at this case on see whether the long argumentative letter, written me on the subject, contains any legal reason, why this case should not the allowed. I think it does not + if Flower Mullins were called upon, he could doubtless easily account for the supposed discrepancy between his declaration & affidavit-If he have sworn falsely in his affidavit, indict him (as you
have a right a do) for perjury. It is on file, + must be taken as true until shown to be false.
The declaration of Jessee Mullins, Son of the Widow, covers about 4 years service, as I have just learned, I refer you to the affidavits,
of Messrs Horton, + others on file as to his long service + good character which I regard as conclusive in support of the Comptrollers
certificate + if necessary; the strongest proof can now be obtained, in support of said certificate from the highest characters in our
State the old Lady's declaration was filed when she was very frail + extremely old +& knew but little respecting, the different tours he served as Militia soldier, the papers last filed -- 1851, or 2. show the case is true light, if any thing more be required, that is reasonable
in support of this unquestionable claim I can furnish it.  all of which is respectfully submitted yours obediently.

B. M. Edney
Page 77

[Printed document with handwritten entries]

7483
P.O. Sarah Mullen
Service:
[Stamped: REJECTED}
Enlisted:_____. 18  .
Discharged: _____, 18  .
Printed list of 1852 gives as cause of suspension" "For further proof and return of the original declaration."
Re-enlisted:_____
Attorney: _____
P.O. _____
_____Recognized. _____ Contract.
[Line is cut off]

[Right side of document]
1930 - Nov. 29 - Hist. to Mrs. S. F. Mayfield - L.L.L.
Page 78

V. 11.197
Sarah Mullens N.C.
Let to J. Cowles
Nove. 18. 1845
Page 79

No 11197
Sarah Mullins NC.
Let to J. Cowles Oct 11. 44
" " do Nov 18. 45
" " do Jany 14. 44
" " do Sept 12. 44:" " His D.S. Reid Decm 17. 44
Sent  Hon. D. L. Clingman Apl 14. 1848
act of July 1838
Page 80

Tuscaloosa Ala.
Nov. 11. 1930

Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

I would like to know if the wife of William Mullin who fought in war of revolution, received a pension. He was in Col. Mebane
1st North Carolina regiment, commanded by
Col. Thomas Clark. her maiden name was Sarah Triplett, but perhaps according to
the custom of the time, she may
have been called "Sallie". Will appreciate it so much of you can do this as soon as possible-
Very Truly
Mrs. S.F. Mayfield
328. Reed St.
Tuscaloosa,
Ala

{Stamped, round, containing: U. S. NOV. 13 1930 OFFICE}