Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 9460, William Green, S.C.
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(8- 1776)

SERVICE                                                 NUMBER
SC            Green, William                      W. 9460
                                 Biddy                        B.L.Wt 47554-160-55
                                                                       
CONTENTS
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( left page ) 218968 [ Act Mar 3 Oct 19 55  Biddy Green ( wid )  William Green Private  S.C. Troops  Rev. War  Ad 160 Ac's Nov 1/56 Ans Feb 53 Dodge  more information wanted in this case . Date of  Wm Green's death ; date of marriage and if application has been made for a pension under what act and  the  time when the application is made.  Jas Taylor  Sumter Dist. So. Ca. ( notes across text No 47554  issd  Nov 6 / 56 )  ( right page )  Let. Jas . Taylor  July 30 / 56 Erd Peabody 46297 - 160 36 202 70
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6214
South Carolina
Biddy Green
widow of William Green
SC
who served in the Revolutionary war, as a priv. of cavalry.
Inscribed on the roll at the rate of 83 dollars 33 cents per annum, to commence on the 3d February, 1853.

Certificate of pension issued
9th day of Sept 1857
and sent to J. J. Coombs
Present
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act of February 3, 1853.  Page 342 Vol. H (?)
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218968
Declaration of
Biddy Green
Bounty Land Act
3 March 1853
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[ State of South Carolina
Sumter district ]
S.S.
On the fifteenth day of October A. D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty five personally appeared before me a Magistrate within and for the District and State aforesaid Biddy Green aged about 56 years, a resident of Sumter District in the State of S. Carolina who being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the identical Biddy Green widow of William Green deceased who was a Revolutionary Soldier for his marriage unto the said William Green and true of his death.  She refers to the evidence on file in the pension office.  She further declared that never received any Bounty land under the act of Congress September 28th 1850 or any other act in  {illegible} she {illegible} made any application therefore. She therefore 

makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the ___bounty land to which she may be entitled under the Act  approved March 31, 1855. Test.
A. J. Mc Elveen     Biddy ( her X mark ) Green

We Webb Clark and Joseph Raphle Paris residents of Sumter District in the State of So. Ca. upon our oaths declare, that the above declaration was signed and acknowledged by Biddy Green in our presence and that we believe from the appearance and statements of the applicant that she is the identical person she represents herself to be.  

Webb Clark ( signed ) 
{ 2 illegible signatures }

[ State of So. Ca.
Sumter District ]
Know all men by these presents that I Biddy Green of Sumter District and State aforesaid do hereby constitute and appoint James Taylor of Sumterville So. Ca. my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name to receive from the commissioners of pensions the ____ Bounty land warrant to which I am entitled under the act approved March 3d, 1855; as set forth in the above declaration, hereby confirming what-
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ever my said Attorney may do by virtue of these presents. Declaring this my Power of Attorney to be irrevocable, and hereby revoking  all former power or powers of Attorney . In witness whereof  I have hereunto subscribed my name and set my seal this  fifteenth day of October  A.D. 2855.  Biddy Green ( her mark X ) Test A. J. Mc Elveen ( signed / sealed ) ( L.S. ) THE foregoing Declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me  on the day and year first written , and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons ; that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be , and that I have no interest in the claim ; I further certify that on the day and year last above  written  , personally appeared  Biddy Green  subscriber to the above power of Attorney , and acknowledged ,the signing, sealing and delivery of the same to be her own voluntary act and deed for the uses therein  set forth.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name . Jno. R. Logan ( signed ) Magst. [ State of South Carolina Sumter District ] I, G.S.C. De Schamps  Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions  in and for said District  do hereby certify that John R. Logan  Esquire whose genuine signature  appears to the foregoing  certificate is and was at the date thereof a Magistrate in and for said  District  duly commissioned and qualified  , and that I have no interest in this claim.  In testimony whereof  I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this  16th day  October 1858. G.S.C. De Schamps ( signed ) Clerk
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[ State of South Carolina Sumter District ] SS. On this  15th day of October  eighteen hundred and fifty five personally appeared before me  William  Lewis  Ordinary  in and for Sumter  District and State aforesaid   Biddy Green aged about 57  years a resident of said District  and State who being duly sworn according to law  doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the  provisions of the act of Congress passed on the 3rd day of February  1853.That she is the widow of William  commonly called Billy  and  General Green a Revolutionary soldier, that she was married to the said William Green by one. the Reverend James Parsons a Methodist preacher on the 8th day  of March 1828 ; that her name before marriage  was Biddy Lockley ; that  her said husband William Green departed this life  in Sumter District  on the 2nd day of February 1838. aged about 77 years  leaving this declarant his widow and 3 children viz. Elizabeth  Green now Elizabeth Lawson , born 2nd  February 1830 , John Green born 9 February 1832, and Elias James Joseph Green  born January  1836  who was about  2 years old when his  father died as aforesaid and that he last mentioned son died 22nd  September 1849 ; that  she has not legible record of her said marriage - births of her children and death of he husband , the record in his Bible being written with  bad ink  & so  blotted and obliterated with ink and otherwise so defaced and badly written that it cannot be read or depended upon  but she knows the dates of her marriage and husbands death by the  time of her children's births  viz. her first child Elizabeth  Lawson  born on about 2 years after her said marriage and her younger son  Elias James Joseph Green  being about  2 years  old when his  said father died on the 2nd day of February 1838 : She further declares that she believes he was only   a private soldier in the Revolutionary war, and that he was commonly called Billy  and  General Green  as nicknames : This deponent further declares that she  does not know nor believes , that her said husband William  Green
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even made any application for or received  a pension  but understood and believe  is , and in fact knows that her said husband William Green  did accompany one Taylor from Darlington So. Ca.  with the intention of  proving Taylor's service in the Revolutionary war  ; that she thinks Taylor's Christian name was John  but is not certain, but  that  Taylor and her said husband  were fellow soldiers in said war ; and that the said Taylor  came specially to see her said husband for the purpose of proving Taylor's service  as aforesaid ; She  moreover declares that  she has made no application for pension except the present and that she has not again married but continues the widow of the said William  or Billy Green  , and that she also makes this declaration  for the purpose of recovering  the pension due to her said husband under the act of  June 1832 until he died  on the 2nd  of February  1838 , as aforesaid ; that her husband was a careless , ignorant  and  drinking man  and inconsequence  she believes he  never made an application  for  a pension.   Biddy Green ( her mark X ) Sworn to and subscribed  the day and year first within written. William Lewis ( signed ) OCD
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[ South Carolina Sumter District ] On this  29th January  1856 personally appeared  Elizabeth Thigpen  , to me well known as  a person of truth & reliability  aged about 73 years who being duly sworn according to law  deposeth  & says that she was present  & did see  the marriage ceremony performed between William  or Billy  Green & Biddy Lockley  by one Parsons, a Methodist preacher on or about the year 1828 , when deponent's son   ( James J. Thigpen ) was about four years of age .  Elizabeth Thigpen ( her mark X ) Sworn to before me  on the day & year above written. Jno. R. Logan ( signed ) Magistrate.
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Geo. C. Whiting Esq Comm. of Pensions ( vertical note ) ( Biddy Green  S.C. )
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Washington  March 28th 1887  Sir, I respectfully ask a re-examination of the case of Biddy Green ,for  pension under the 2nd section of the Act of  Feby 3rd 1853. She has lately been allowed  a Bounty Land warrant  for the services of her  husband in the Revolutionary War. If the evidence proves a sing day s service , it proves enough to  entitle her to a pension . There is a manifest inconsistency  in the allowance of her bounty land claim, and the rejection of her pension claim. As the  Bounty Land  claim has been allowed since the pension claim was suspended, I trust , on a re - examination  this action upon the pension  claim will be consistent with the decision in the  Bounty Land case. I am very respectfully your obt servt. J. J. Coombs ( signed )  Geo. C. Whiting Esq  Comm.
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Biddy Green  see cases of Obadiah Spears  S.C. No . 23.906 , Wm Vaughn S.C.  23.437, John James S.C. 30.928 [ Wm James dec'd S.C.  Ann Parker 8.044 ] The proof in support of this case is not as satisfactory as is desirable, but  Vaughn is admitted  to have been in the service for 20 mos. from  Oct 8" to June 82 , and without impacting his testimony and ... ( illegible )   his action of the war this claim cannot  be successfully  or properly  revisited.  It should be therefore be allowed for 20 mos  as priv. of Cavalry - On examination of the testimony in the cases of Spears, Vaughn , James & Jones  shows clearly  Vaughan's means of knowledge and accuracy  of narrative  if in  1856 if he had not lost his memory  - This we cannot assume  without reason for doing so. G.C. W.
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Biddy Green , widow of William - So. Carolina  For pension under act of Feby 3rd , 1853. It is alleged that the claimant intermarried  with the soldier on the 8th of March 1828 , and that he died on the  2nd February  1838 , and that she remains his widow. That he never applied for a pension as explained by his widow  by the fact that he was a  careless, ignorant  and drinking man.  The claimant  declares that her late husband was called " Billy "  or "General Green "  and had the  reputation of having served in the  Rev. War.  that he once accompanied  one  Taylor ( whose name she thinks was John )  from Darlington  to testify to the   revolutionary service of the latter. The direct testimony a to the services of William Green is that of William Vaughn  who testifies that when he entered the service in  October 1780 , he found Green in service , and that Green continued in service  until June 1782 , when they and several others left
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the service, the war being  ended [ as it was there ]  That he was intimate with Green who resided a few miles from his  father's  and among the  Reeses at Statesburg . That after this service closed they occasionally  went out in scouting parties against  Tories , thieves and robbers, two of whom were killed and ten captured & delivered up to  Col. Postell. That he  & Green  served under Capt.s Firman, John Malone, Joseph Hill and George Mc Cauley  and Col.'s Peter Horry  and Rich'd Richardson - serving mostly as horsemen.  The general veracity of Vaughn's statement is sustained  by internal evidence in this case and in his own declaration wherein  he gave a circumstantial narrative of the movements and events of the period , and a description of the battle of Eutaw Springs ,  corresponding in minute particulars with historical facts now  well known .  The fact  of his own service  is proved by the testimony of his comrade , Obediah Spears , who was pensioned for 19 mos, 16 dys  service, while Vaughan was pensioned for 20 months service and his veracity is confirmed by the fact that John James , whom he mentioned having known  as a
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Rev. soldier was pensioned for 6 mos service and by the  concurrence  between their statements and his own. The rolls in this office can throw no light on this subject  as we have no roll or record, other than  historical , of the  partisan warfare in which  these men were participants.  As to the  duration of the service it is proper to remark that the history of this particular service shows that  for the most part , the soldiers rendered only occasion service - the country  was in a state of almost  constant alarm - men rallied to repulse or resist the enemy  on particular  emergencies and then most of them returned  to their homes - sometimes to be at home was the general rule and to  be in service was the exception, and in other instances the reverse was the fact. Sometimes the numbers of  men in the field  under Marion and Sumpter were reduced to a handful  and at other times the numbers swelled to  man hundreds. Vaughan , in his own declaration  stated that from the time he entered the service the British were so constantly in possession of
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his own neighborhood that it was impracticable for him to  return to his own home. Whether such was the fact  with Green , and to the same extent , is not really proved, but is only  matter of  inference  from the fact that their homes were but a few  miles apart.  Vaughan's language is " Green  served during the continuance of the war  of the revolution  until sometimes in  June 1782   when this deponent  , Green  and others of his comrades did not attend on their regular duty , peace being proclaimed ." etc. But for the statement of Vaughan  in regard to the impracticability  of returning to his home - the duration of Green's service would be matter of the  greatest uncertainty . It does not follow that because it would be reasonable to conclude that  Green served fourteen days  , it would be  equally reasonable  to extend the estimate  to six months  by  parity of reasoning  the whole time should be credited to him ;  or at least a longer duration than six months. Both Vaughan and Spears mistook the time  when Vaughan entered the service  , which mistake the latter corrected in a supplemental declaration . Vaughan was 90 years of age when he testified to  Green's service  and he may reasonably be supposed to have an imperfect recollection  of the intervals of the  latter's service . In his own case he alleged that he was  never about more than two or three day at a time . He does not
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( 5th page ) mention the duration of any absences of Green ; nor is it  reasonable to suppose  that he could. Aside  from any doubt on this particular point , it is plain that the whole question as to the duration of Green's actual service rests - not on the question of Vaughn's veracity  but upon the accuracy of his recollections. The commencement and conclusion of Vaughan's service should  be regarded as established facts. Vaughan found Green in service and they finally  left it in company . If we must conclude that  Green was prevented from returning home, in the same way as Vaughan , it would be reasonable to allow for his service for the same duration of time , although there might still be a remaining doubt whether  he was not for a  portion of the time in some other direction. But it is unsafe to conclude that because the witnesses statement  was veracious in general , and warranted the conclusion  that he served in some battle or for the short term of 14 days, that it follows that the statement of his recollections is accurate in every particular, or that a considerably longer  duration of service is established. S.G. Dodge ( signed ) July 15th 1887.
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[ State of South Carolina Sumter District ] On this 26th day of April  1856 before me the subscribing Magistrate in and for the  District and State aforesaid personally appeared William Vaughan  aged 90 years and upwards a  United states pensioner  under Certificate No . 23. 437 - who being  duly sworn according to law  upon his oath  swears : that  William Green  deceased, of said District  who was commonly called Billy Green and subsequent to the Revolution  frequently went by the  name of General Green  that this deponent  was  intimately acquainted with  said Green who during the revolution called Statesburg his home  where he resided  among the Reese's a few miles from deponent's father - that the said Green was  in the Army when   deponent joined it in October 1780 , but how long previous he does not recollect and that said Green served during  the continuance of the war of the revolution until sometime in June 1782  when this deponent , Green  and others of his comrades did not attend on their usual regular duty , peace being proclaimed , but held themselves in readiness for service and occasionally  went out on scouting parties for sometime after  in search of Tories , thieves, and robbers two of whom were killed and ten taken prisoners and delivered up to Col. Postell.  The deponent believes he first mustered under  Capt. Josiah  Firman for a few days only , where he found  said Green , but Firman being an overbearing  tyrannical man - the deponent , Green and others
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went under the command of Capt. John Malone  afterwards Capt. Joseph Hill  and lastly Capt. George  Mc Cauley  . Col. Peter Horry  first commanded the regiment and afterwards  Col. Richard Richardson . That said  deponent and comrades sometimes assembled as infantry  soldiers but  generally were on horseback or  Cavalry service ; and by far the greater proportion of the time and service was that of Cavalry as but few men in this country were and now are without  horses. This deponent  further swears said Green died sometime ago about eight miles from his residence  in said District , and that he has no interest directly or indirectly  in the pension to which the widow of said Green may be entitled or in the prosecution of the same .  William Vaughan ( his mark X )  Sworn and subscribed to before me the day and year first written and I certify that I have no interest in this claim or its prosecution. ; say on the 26th  April 1856. Jno. R. Logan ( signed ) Magistrate
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Declaration of
Biddy Green fir pension
under act 7th June 1832
and 3rd February 1853 

J. J. Coombs
June 2nd 1856.
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[ State of South Carolina Sumter District ] I GSC De'Schamps  clerk of the  Court of Sumter District  & State aforesaid , hereby certify that  John R Logan , whose genuine signature  is affixed to the above  acknowledgements was at the time of signing the same a Magistrate duly  authorized  by law to take such acknowledgements , and I do further certify  that William Lewis  whose signature to the foregoing  Declaration   & Certificate was at the time of signing the same Ordinary  in & for Sumter District  and that his seal of office to said Certificate is genuine. I further certify that said Magistrate and Ordinary  are duly authorized by law to administer oaths  & that full faith & credit  are due to all their official acts as such. Given under my hand  seal of the Court  this  seventeenth day of May  A.D. 1856. G.S.C. De'Schamps ( signed )
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Revy WIDOW , & c. File No. 9460 Biddy Green wid  William Green  Privt Rev. War Act : Feby 3rd 1853 Index : - Vol. A.  Page 287 [ Arrangement of 1870. ]
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Biddy Green Act 1853 suspended  Filed by me J. J. Coombs Mar 28/57
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Additional evidence  ( post mark ) [ SUMTER S.C. AUG  5 1836 (?) ]  FREE  J. Minot Esq. Com. of Pensions Washington D. of C.
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J. Minot Esq  Com. of Pensions   Sumter  So. Ca. Aug. 5/ 86 Sir , Yours of 30th ult. calling for information in "  evidence of Biddy Green's husband 's death  and under what act she applies for pension " ; in  order to decide on her application for Land say No. 218.968 . You are informed  her  application for pension is now pending in your department under the act of 3 Feby 1853  by reference to the papers you will find all the necessary  proof to entitle her to Bounty Land. Yours respectfully  James Taylor ( signed ) N.B. The writer of mine of 2nd  in relation to widow Catharine  Furniss 's application for bounty land  No. 249.205 ( your letter of 29 July states the No. to be 249. 215 ) ought to have informed  you that the  Agent  who took out the Warrant for Joseph Furniss under the act 28 Sept. 1850 - only received  Warrant for 80 acres  and not 160 as stated by you.
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218.968 ( post mark ) [ SUMTERVILLE S.C. OCT  16 ]  FREE  J. Minot Esq. Commissioner of Pensions  Washington  D. of C.
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Sumterville So. Ca. Oct 11/ 55 J. Minot Esq. Com. Pensions  Sir, Enclosed is Biddy Green's application for  land warrant  under act March 3, 1855. Widow of William Green  South Carolina   Militia man Revolutionary War  which please enclose to you  obt. servant. James Taylor ( signed )
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47.554  ( illegible )
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( left page )  Mrs. Biddy Green  218.968 Addl ev- Boynton  April 16/ 38 James Taylor Sumter SC ( right page ) 6531 Biddy Green  widow of william  So. Carolina J. J. Coombs  June 5, 1856 same April 6. 1857  Secy of Interior  June 11, 1857 Act Feby 3, 1853
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[Seal with ribbon]
w all men by these Presents,
 Biddy Green Widow of  William Green deceased late of Sumter
So C _______________________________________________
a soldier in the army of the Revolution, do hereby constitute and appoint 
J J Coombs Esquire Counsellor at Law Washington City So Ca:
my true and lawful Attorney, for me and in my name, to prosecute against the Government of the United States, before any department thereof, any and all claim or claims I have to arrears of pay or pension money, under any Act or Acts, Resolution or Resolutions of the Congress of the United States, and especially the Acts, 4th July, 1836, 7th- July, 1838, 3d March, 1843, 17th June, 1844, 2d February, 1848, and 29th July, 1848, as well as the more ancient Acts of 18th March, 1818, 15 May, 1828, and 7th June, 1832. Said Attorney is
moreover authorized in my name to demand at any department of the said Government, a re-consideration of any decision hitherto or hereafter to be given touching my interests, and to obtain from any department or the archives thereof, any and all information or evidence, of whatever character, relating to, or in any wise bearing upon the claim or claims we hereby seek the investigation of.  Said Attorney is moreover authorized to do any thing and all things necessary to carry out the foregoing purposes, and to receive the certificates of pension or other character of drafts or evidences of the amcunts due me, and to appoint one or more Sub-Attorneys, to confer upon him or them all the powers therein conferred upon him, hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney may do, by virtue of these presents.
hereby countermanding and revoking all powers of Attorney and authority heretofore given
for prosecuting said claims.  [hand written note::the words inclu require" and 3rd February
1853" underlined]
Witness my hand and seal, this 28th day of September  1855.

Widow was in} Henry Cater                                 Her
presence of} James Taylor                     Biddy     X       Green             [seal]
                                                                                      mark

State of South Carolina , Sumter District 
BE IT KNOWN THAT ON THE 28th day of September 1855.
before me the subscriber, a Magistrate for  Sumter district 
subscriber to the  aforsaid, personally appeared Biddy Green-
subscriber to the foregoing power of Attorney, and acknowledging the signing, sealing and delivery of the same to be her - own voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes
therein set forth.   In testimony whereof I do hereunto subscribe my name.    

[handwritten note:  the words inclu require "and 3rd February 1853" underlined in the (illegible) before Signing: ]   
                                                           [illegible]: R. Logan
                                                                                   Mags't
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Com. of Pensions Let June 11, 1857 Report of an appeal of Biddy Green of S.C. for  pension under the act of 3rd Feb. 1853 . Papers served Polk Arrears for reconsideration  as requested by  Comm. rec'd 16 June ' 57 W.W. Prichette
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Pension Office June 11. 1857 Sir, I  have the honor to enclose papers in the case of Biddy Green , widow of William, of So. Carolina , for pension , under the act of February 3, 1853 . This claim has been refused on account of the  insufficiency  of the proof as to the duration of service - The sole argument upon which  the appellant relies is , that the office having admitted enough service to procure a Land warrant  is estopped from  questioning  the absolute veracity of the evidence to its  entire extent  yet any one acquainted with the character of Militia service during the Revolution might well be  convinced that a soldier had served 14 days , and still refer to credit  a continuous service of 20 months, though  asserted by the same witness. For in memory of a witness 90 years old, the general fact that a neighbor served may well very distinctly , while the intermissions of that service may escape him. It  should also be  born in mind  that the Bounty Land  Act of March 1853  gives Land for 14 days service , or for any length of service if the soldier was in a battle. Wm. Vaughan , the only witness
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in the case swears that Green , with others , was frequently  sent out on scouting  parties in search of " Tories, thieves , and robbers "  two of whom were killed and ten taken prisoner etc.,  & without any question as to the duration of service the examiner  may have  allowed the  Bounty Land  upon this part of Vaughan 's  affidavit  and if he did  Mr. Coombs argument   and  amusing questions in the Rule of three are sufficiently  answered, but the internal evidence in this case shows the service not to have been  continuous. He partly  served  three or four different Captains, who he appears to have  selected at pleasure. While the name of a William Green is found upon  our Roll , he is evidently  not the husband of  the claimant, as he enlisted at a different time and under different officers from those mentioned by her and her witness. The evidence and the facts surrounding the claim  rather sustain than contradict  the silence of the records. The widow  swears her husband was a witness for  one Taylor of Darlington , yet no such  man ever  applied for a pension  from that District. This if true shows however that  he knew of the existence  of the pension act of 1832 : but though he lived till 1838 , he never pretends to  assert a claim  under it. And it is conclusively  shown that his circumstances were such as must have make a pension important to him. He lives in the  im-
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mediate neighborhood of the witness, who was, pensioned in  1834, and who  mentioning the Revolutionary  soldiers to whom he was known does not enumerate Green among them. No attempt  has been made to procure evidence from the Archives of S. Carolina , nor any but a  very faint one by the witness to show that he was  tradionally regarded as a soldier. Under these circumstances , the omission of Green's name on the muster roll , his failure to assert a claim in his life time, though surrounded by pensioners who  it is asserted  served with him : the fact that the present witness through his claim  was  long registered by this office  , failed to mention  Green's testimony to his services or  even mentioned his name among those who served with him. I cannot feel myself justified in  granting her a pension.  I have the honor to be very respectfully yr obt servt. Geo C. Whiting ( signed ) Commissioner   Hon. Jacob Thompson Secy Interior   Triplett
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Biddy Green widow of William  2nd Sec  act Feb, 3rd, 1853  Brief
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Brief in the case of Biddy Green , widow of William  Sumter Dist. and State of So. Carolina  2nd Sec act February 3rd, 1853  . Claim ( " original " ) Proof exhibited., ( if original )  Is it documentary, tradionary , or supported by rolls ?  If either , state the substance. Service - 20 months Priv. of Cavalry  proved by testimony of Wm Vaughan, a comrade , pensioned for the same service and supported by other comrades. Marriage - March 8, 1828 proved by parol. Death of Green - Feby 2nd , 1838  and widowhood  etc., proved by parol. ( If for increase . ) Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim ? If so , what ?  An appeal  having been taken in this case and the attention of the Quorum called specially  to it. he directed it to be allowed as above.  S.G. Dodge ( signed ) Examining Clerk  Name and residence of Agent J.J. Coombs Present .  Sep. 9, 1857
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Biddy Green widow of William  So. Carolina - Sumter Dist. Act Feby 3, 1853 - 2nd sec  Admitted Private of Cavalry  20 months at $ 83.33 / 100 per annum from  Feb. 3rd, 1853   Certificate payable to claimant. Atty  J.J. Coombs Present .
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[ State of South Carolina Sumter District ] On this 30th day of April  1856 before the subscribing Magistrate in and for said District  personally appeared  Elizabeth Lawson aged twenty six  years and  upwards, resident of  Sumter District who being duly sworn according to law  upon her oath  swears that  before her marriage her name was Elizabeth  Green  and daughter of William and Biddy Green  and that she  believes and has always  understood that she was born in Sumter  District So. Ca. on the 2nd day of February  1830, that she has  a perfect recollection of her said father William  who was a tolerable tall and old man and recollects he died the day after her said  parents removed from near  Brick Church  to Manchester  or its immediate neighborhood  when  her said father died as aforesaid , where she understood and believes she was  between 8  or 9 years old, that she has been acquainted with William Delouch  ever since she recollects, and that he was the man who drove the team and wagon in which her parents family  and household articles were  conveyed from the Brick church  to near Manchester as aforesaid ; that according to the best of her recollection  the youngest brother  James now  deceased  was a young boy  about 2 years old having been born about two years  before her said father died and when the said James the brother died  near Columbia in 1849  he was said  to be over thirteen years of age - as she  always understood and believes from frequent conversations with her mother and others ; that her brother John Green  now  a resident of  Kershaw and herself  are the only two surviving  children of  her said parents and that he said brother  is about  2 years younger than this deponent ; that she recollects her said father was called Billy Green , and that persons have since  spoke of him as Billy and sometimes as General Green - she further swears
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swears that her said mother Biddy Green has not again married since the death of her said father William Green , but continues his widow. Elizabeth Lawson  ( her mark ) Subscribed to by making her mark and sworn to the day and month and year first within written . Jno. R. Logan ( signed ) Magst. [ State of South Carolina Sumter District ] On this 5th day of May eighteen hundred and fifty six  before the subscribing  Magistrate in and for said District  and State personally appeared  Thomas William DeLouch  aged forty nine years on 22 December last ( 1855 )  who being duly sworn according to law  upon is oath  swears that he  is a native of Sumter / formerly called Sumterville / Sumter District and State aforesaid that this deponent  was well acquainted with Billy Green who was more frequently  called General Green  , having  it  was said been a soldier in the  Revolutionary war and so reputed  and also acquainted with the said  William  Bill or General Green's wife Biddy  whose name before marriage was Biddy Lockley , and that he the deponent has known her since his infancy  :  that  he always  understood and believed the said William Green  and Biddy  Lockley  were married lawfully and knows they lived together as husband and wife and were so reputed until he died about the  very beginning of February   eighteen hundred and thirty eight. ( 1838 )  leaving  the said Biddy his widow , and three children , who has not again married but continues the widow of the said Wm Billy  or General Green . This deponent further swears that he was in the employment of one  John D. Bowen  going 5 years and
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and left his employment on the 9th of April  eighteen hundred and  thirty eight ( 1838 ) being about two months after the deponent  at the request of his employer  Bowen  went with  her wagon and removed old Wm Green , his wife, and three children  and household effects from near Brick Church in  Salem Sumter District to near  Bramly place  near  Manchester in said District  and on their way  to  Manchester stopped at Mr.  & Mrs. Oldings all night  in consequence of  it raining and  reached Bramly  in the  Sunday evening ,and  next day  or evening  heard that  Wm Green had died on that day , which was by no means unexpected intelligence as the old man was very weak and feeble , this deponent  and  a negro  having  to remove him from the wagon  to the house, that the said Billy  or General Green  was very tall - old  grey haired man  and must be  a man of 75 or 80 years  of age and  who informed this deponent  at various times that he was a very old man and had  so many ups and downs  in the world having served his time in the Revolutionary war . That their oldest daughter  Elizabeth  was the deponents supposes between  7 and 9 years old  and their two sons  John and  James about  5 and 2 years of age respectively . This deponent  further declares that he has no interest directly or indirectly  in the pension or other claims to which the said widow  may be entitled  for the service of her said husband in said war or in the prosecution of the same and  only makes this statement  as  an act of justice to said widow.  T. W. DeLouche ( his mark )  Sworn  to and subscribed before me the day , month and year first before written ; and I certify  the affiant is well known to me  as a respectable  man ad a credible witness . Jno R. Logan ( signed ) Magst.
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[ State of South  Carolina Sumter District ] SS. Ordinary's office  It is hereby certified that  satisfactory evidence  has been presented to the undersigned William Lewis Ordinary for and in  Sumpter District and State aforesaid  by the testimony of Elizabeth  Thigpen, William Vaughan, Elizabeth Lawson  and Thomas W. De Louch  whose affidavits are hereunto prefixed that Biddy Green of said District who has submitted and sworn to the foregoing declaration  is the widow of William or Billy Green  deceased late  of Sumter District , and that she  has not again married but is now the widow of said Green : that the said Wm or Billy Green was a soldier in the  Revolution and served in said war from at least October 1780  until sometime after the termination of said war  that the said William Green and Biddy  Green were lawfully married on or about the year 1828 0r 1829  and that the said William  Green departed this life about the very beginning or 2nd day of Feby eighteen hundred and thirty eight  ( 1838 )  leaving the said Biddy his widow  and three surviving children , two of whom survive  and that she is now a widow  as aforesaid ; and  I certify that I have no interest in said pension or prosecution . In testimony whereof  I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at  Sumter this twentieth day of May  A.D. 1856. William Lewis ( signed ) OSD
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542
Biddy Green,
S.C. Act 1853
Suspended

Appeal

Rec'd 4 June 57
J J Coombs
Mr.  Pritchette
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Washington  June 2nd 1859 Sir : I beg leave to appeal to you , from the  decision of the Commissioner of Pensions  in the case of the application of Biddy Green  of S. Carolina , for a pension under the 2nd section of the act of  3rd Feb. 1853. This claim  was first presented to the Pension office  about one year ago. The evidence  and ( only ) ( underscored ) evidence of her husband's service  consisted of the  deposition of William Vaughan  a Revolutionary pensioner who swore  that he entered the service in October 1780 , and left in June 1782 ; that when he joined the  army Green  ( the claimant's husband )  was then in the army :  that he ( Vaughan ) joined the same company  Green was serving in , and they both continued in service together  till June 1782. In other words , Vaughan swears ( positively  ) ( underscored )  to  20 month service  by Green ( in the same company  with himself  ) ( underscored ) . For this identical service Vaughan has long been a pensioner. His testimony however , was held by  the Pension office to be insufficient  to establish  the service of his comrade Green, and the claim of  Green's widow  , for pension was rejected.  About the same time that the widow Green  presented her claim for  pension , she also presented a claim for bounty land under the act of 1855 , relying , in support of this claim, upon the testimony of Vaughan , as presented in  the pension
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case sometime after this claim  for pension was rejected, this Bounty land claim was ( allowed ) ( underscored )  by the Pension  office and she received her warrant. Thereupon , I asked a re examination  of the pension claim, insisting that the allowance of the bounty land claim was  the ( admission ) ( underscored ) of the ( credibility ) ( underscored )  of Vaughan's testimony  , and consequently  established the pension claim. I took it for granted that if Vaughan's testimony  was held to be good  to prove ( anything ) ( underscored )  it must be good to prove the ( state of facts he swore to  ) ( underscored ) and not a ( different ) ( underscored )  state of facts.  In answer to this application however , I received the enclosed letter , to the reasoning of which I respectfully  solicit your  attention. It should be born in mind that the only  little of evidence , to prove a single day's service by Green , is the deposition of Vaughan , who swears positively , to a service of 20 months . The Pension Office thinks it is perfectly consistent and logical  to hold that the evidence is sufficient  to prove ( fourteen days ) ( underscored )  service , but not sufficient to prove as much as (  six months  ) ( underscored ) service . By what  ( rule ) ( underscored )  does the Pension Office thus undertake to ( scale ) ( underscored )  the testimony of a witness ? If positive evidence of ( 20 months ) ( underscored )  is good to establish ( fourteen days ) ( underscored )  service, it is good for  ( just ) ( underscored )  14 days  ? or would it be good for something
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month for 20 or 30 or 60 days ? I would really like to know the (rules ) ( underscored )  by which testimony is ( scaled ) ( underscored ) , so that hereafter when I present the testimony of a witness  I may know  just what ( portion ) ( underscored )  of the service he swears to , his depositon will be good to establish whether it is to be just ( one fortieth  ) ( underscored )  or whether it would be good for ( one twentieth ) ( underscored )  or ( one month ) ( underscored )  ? If I should sue B. for ( six months ) ( underscored )  work and labor , and on the trial prove by the positive testimony of a witness, that he faithfully labored for B. for the full term of ( six months ) ( underscored ) ; and if the case were submitted to the Jury on this testimony  ( only ) ( underscored )  , what would be thought  of the Jury were to say  " we cannot believe this witness to the ( full extent ) ( underscored )  of his testimony - but  in as much as he swears positively  that he did labor as much as ( six days  ) ( underscored ) but we can't think  it proves that he labored as long as ( six months ) ( underscored )  or even  ( two months ) ( underscored )  ? Are not the cases precisely analagous  ? Vaughan swears that Green served with him  ( 20 months ) ( underscored ) . The Pension Office ,  (on this evidence alone ) ( underscored )  , says that  ( fourteen days  ) ( underscored ) service is proved, but denies that the testimony  proves the ( 20 months ) ( underscored ) service sworn to , or even as much as ( six months ) ( underscored )  service. I feel certain I have said
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enough to demonstrate  the utter fallacy of the reasoning, in the enclosed letter from the Pension office , if nothing more. I think also , upon every principle of evidence , the claim ought to be  revisited. I have the honor to be  Very respectfully  your obt servt. J . J. Coombs ( signed )  Hon . Jacob Thompson Secretary of the Interior
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Pension Office April 6th 1857  Sir : I cannot admit the  correctness of your position  that the admission of a land warrant  to Biddy Green is inconsistent  with  a denial of her pension claim. The office might well admit that finding her husband in service, he served  14 days  and yet deny that the proof of 6 months service was by means clear. It is time, that a witness does  swear  that he deserved much longer that 6 months , but  to my mind , this testimony can only be taken as sufficient  evidence to prove him to have been  in service, and does not  satisfactorily  fix the length of that service , I cannot change the decision  already made. I am very respectfully your obt servt. Geo. C. Whiting ( signed ) Commissioner  J. J . Coombs Esq. Present.