Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 26453, for William Sheffield, [Blank]
Page 1

SERVICE
Sheffield, William
Elizabeth
NUMBER 
W.26453
BL. Wt.36648-160-55
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{preprinted form with handwritten answers]
330150
Georgia
William Sheffield
of Baldwin in the State of Ga
who was a Priv. in the
commanded by Captain
of the
commanded by
in the
line for Revolution
Inscribed on the Roll of Savannah
the rate of 40 Dollars
Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued 5 day of July 1853
and sent to
R. E.  Martin
Milledgeville Ga.
Arrears to the 4th of
Semi-annual allowance ending
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by R. McRae Clerk
Book E Vol. 6 Page 101
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Set: Wm Steele. July. 25 56
Vol-1-83
Sept 19, 53
Elizabeth Sheffield
wid. of William
Elizabeth Sheffield Private
Capt [illegible]
Col William Sheffield
[illegible]
[illegible]
[illegible]
Revolutionary War
[illegible] 6/56
Wm Steele
Milledgeville
Ga
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[preprinted form with handwritten answers]
4.401
Georgia
Elizabeth Sheffield
widow of William Sheffield
who served in the Revolutionary war, as a private
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 40. Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the [3d February,] [crossed out] 16th August 1853.
Certificate of Pension issued 3d day of August 1854. and sent to 
William Steele Milledgeville Ga
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 3, 1853, Page 154 Vol. 
[*212111*]
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State of Georgia, County of Baldwin
On this first day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty four, before the subscribed Ordinary and Judge of Probates of the Court of Ordinary held in and for the County and State aforesaid, being a Court of Record personally appeared Mrs. Elizabeth Sheffield who is to me known as a resident of the County of Hancock and State of Georgia near the line dividing the Counties of Baldwin and Hancock of said State, aged Seventy four years, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on her oath, make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress, approved 3d February A.D. 1853, viz: That he is the widow of William Sheffield deceased, who was a Private in the Revolutionary War, and a Pensioner of the United States under the Act of 7 June 1832 at Forty Dollars ($40) annum as will appear by his Certificate of Pension herewith She further declares that she was married to the said William
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who was a Private in the Revolutionary War, and a Pensioner of the United States under the Act of 7 June 1832 at Forty Dollars ($40) per annum, as will appear by his certificate of Pension herewith She further declares that she was married to the said William Sheffield in the Seventeenth day of April in the year Seventeen hundred and Ninety four (1794) by one Jiphtha Virnum a Minister of the Gospel and that she and the said deceased husband after being lawfully married lived together as lawful man and wife until the death of the said deceased husband William Sheffield, as will more fully appear by the proof hereto annexed: That after the most careful search and investigation, there is no Record either public or private to be found of said Marriage
and that she does not know of any person living who witnessed said Marriage. She further declares that her husband William Sheffield died on the Sixteenth day of August in
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the year Eighteen hundred and fifty three at his residence in the County of Hancock and State aforesaid. She further declares that she is now a widow, and that she has never before make an application for a Pension Attest
Israel Palmer Wm. C Smith 
Elizabeth Sheffield X her mark
Subscribed and sworn to before me the day
and year first above written, and I certify that I have no interest in the application as Attorney, Agent or otherwise. 
John Hammond 
Ordinary
I do hereby constitute and appoint William Steele of Milledgeville, Georgia, my true and
lawful Attorney, for the purpose of prosecuting this my application for a Pension; to attend to the same
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I do hereby constitute and appoint William Steele of Milledgeville, Georgia, my true and
lawful Attorney, for the purpose of prosecuting this my application for a Pension; to attend to the same while pending; and to receive the Certificate when Signed, and to do all things necessary and proper, as fully as I could do were I personally present. Dated this first day of May A.D. 1854 Elizabeth Sheffield X her mark Seal
Test. Israel Palmer Wm C Smith
State of Georgia
County of Baldwin 
Court of Ordinary,
May Term 1854.
It is hereby Certified, that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited before me, the under signed "Ordinary" of said Court, a Court of Record held in and for said County, that William Sheffield
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who was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States, at the rate of Forty Dollars per annum,
late of Hancock County and State aforesaid, deceased, died on the 16th day of August, Eighteen hundred and fifty three, and that he left surviving him the following named widow and children, viz: Elizabeth Shenfield, widow, Josiah Sheffield, Nancy Sheffield, James Sheffield, Jepthey Sheffield, Sarah Snipes, Mary Sheffield, Mildred Shivers and William Sheffield.
John Hammond
Ordinary
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Shivers and William Sheffield.
John Hammond
Ordinary
Executive Department, State of Georgia
Milledgeville July 25th 1854
This is to certify, that the Hon. John Hammond, whose genuine signature appears attached to the foregoing Declaration and Certificates, was at the date of the same "Ordinany" and "Judge of Probate" of the Court of Ordinary, held in and for the County of Baldwin and State aforesaid, (a Court of Record) duly commissioned and sworn, which appears of Record in this Department
Witness my hand and the Seal of the Executive Department this the 25th day
July A.D. 1854
Wm Steele
Secretary Ex. Dept
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212.111
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State of Georgia  SS
County of Baldwin
On this Eleventh
day of September, A.D. one thousand eight
hundred and fifty five, personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace, within and for the County and State aforesaid, Mrs. Elizabeth Sheffield, aged seventy five years, a resident of Hancock County, in the State of Georgia, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of William Sheffield deceased who was a Private in the Revolutionary War, and a Pensioner of the United States under the Act of [illegible] June 1832, at Forty Dollars ($40) per annum, as will appear by his original Certificate of Pension, now of file in the proper office at Washington City, upon which, including her application, attended with required material evidence, the said Mrs. Elizabeth Sheffield was "incribed [inscribed] on the Pension List, at the rate of Forty Dollars per annum, commencing on the 16th August 1853, in conformity with the 2d section of the act of February 3, 1853." That her deceased husband William Sheffield died on the Sixteenth day of August in the year Eighteen hundred and fifty three. She further declares that she is still the widow of the said William Sheffield deceased, and that she has never before made any application for bounty land under any Act of Congress. She further declares that she was married to the said William Sheffield deceased, on the Seventeenth day of April, in the year seventeen hundred and Ninety four (1794) by one Jepitha Virnum, a Minister of the Gospel, and that she and
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her said deceased husband William Sheffield
lived together, as will fully appear by the proof
previously filed in the proper offices of the
Capital of the United States. She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled under the "Act approved March 3, 1855." In consideration of the foregoing, the said Elizabeth Sheffield hereby appoints of Milledgeville, State of Georgia, her Attorney and Agent to carry out said application and requests that her Warrant when issued, be delivered to him. 
Elizabeth Sheffield X her mark 
We Hugh Treanor and William Steele residents of Baldwin County in the State of Georgia, upon our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Mrs. Elizabeth Sheffield, and that we believe from the appearance and statements of the applicant, that she is the identical person she  represents herself to be.
Hugh Treanor
Wm Steele
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were
sworn to and subscribed before me
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on the day and year above 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 this claim.
Samuel B Brown J.P.
William Steele
Executive Department
Milledgeville Geo. Sept 11th 1855
I do hereby certify that Samuel B. Brown is a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Baldwin and State of Georgia, duly Commissioned and qualified; that his Commission was dated on the 4th day of January 1853, and will expire on the 4th day of January 1857 which appears by the Records of this Department, and that his signature written
to the foregoing certificate is genuine.
Given under my hand and
the Seal of the Executive
Department, this the 11th day
of September A.D. 1855.
Wm Steele
Secretary of Executive Dept
Georgia
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No 38.280
Wm. Sheffield
Ga 
Sir 7 June 1832
R. E. Martin
Page 16

State of Georgia
Baldwin County
Before me Samuel B. Brown an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County came William Sheffield a Citizen of Hancock County and State aforesaid who being duly sworn, deposed and saith, That when he was about the age of Eighteen he attached himself as a
Private Soldier to Captain William Moore's
Company of Colonel Little's for [illegible] Command of Continental Militia at Macklinburg, [Mecklenburg] State of North Carolina; That in the said Company of Capt Moore he remained the better part of two years, at the end of which time peace was made; That he has at no time ever received from the General Government or from the State of North Carolina, or from any other sourse [source] any compensation for his services which were faithfully performed. That he is now about Ninety two years of age; that the family Record was destroyed during the War of the Revolution and he is thereby unable to speak positively of his age; That there is no individual now living to his knowledge by whom he can substantiate his statements. That he makes this Declaration for the purpose of having his name placed upon the Pension Roll of the United States in order to receive from the Government whatever may have been heretofore provided by Law for Revolutionary Soldiers, and that he herewith submits all the proof that he is advised to be necessary to establish his character as an honest Citizen of Georgia, and that his oath is entitled to full
credit. 
William Sheffield
Sworn to and subscribed
William Shill
the 18th day of September AD 1851
S B Brown J.P.
Page 17

State of Georgia
Baldwin County
We the undersigned Citizens of the County of Baldwin and State aforesaid, state that we have been for a number of years acquainted with William Sheffield, a resident of Hancock County, in said State a few miles from Milledgeville whose affidavit is hereto annexed and take pleasure in ascenting [assenting] that he now and has been since our knowledge of him, entitled to full faith and credit as an honest and upright citizen.
Given under our hands at Milledgeville
this Tenth day of October A.D. 1851
James W Home
Saml T. Bucker
J. W. A. Sanford
Benjamin Betham
Georgia, Baldwin County
We the undersigned
Ministers of the Gospel, from representations
made to us do not hesitate to say that we
believe William Sheffield is entitled to
full faith and credit for veracity, and that
he is a highly respectable citizen of Hancock
County
Milledgeville 10th October 1851
Jos B. Smith MG
Saml K. Talmage
Minister of the Gospel-
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Georgia, Baldwin County
I Samuel B. Brown an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County, certify that the persons whose names appear to the foregoing, including the two Ministers of the Gospel are all Citizens of this County and Gentlemen of the highest standing.
Given under my hand at Milledgeville
this 10th day of October A.D. 1851
Saml B. Brown J.P.
Georgia, Baldwin County
I, William Steele Clerk of the Superior Court for the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Samuel B. Brown whose signature appears to the foregoing Declaration of William Sheffield and to the above certificate, is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said by County, duly Commissioned and qualified, and that his signature is genuine and entitled to full faith and credit as such
Given under my hand and
the Seal of said Court this
10th day of October A.D. 1851
Wm Stelle Clk
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State of Georgia Gainsville 4th Dist Supreme Court
Thursday 23 October 1851
We the Judges of the Supreme Court in & for said State now in session do certify that we are personally acquainted with each of the gentlemen viz James W Horne, Samuel T Beecher, J W A Sanford & Benjamin T Bethune whose names appear to the foregoing
Certificate & that each of them are received & known as citizens of this State entitled to full credit for veracity, One of the Judges (Al Warner) has a personal acquaintance with William Sheffield of Hancock County for a number of years past, who does not hesitate to say that he is entitled to full faith & credit as an honest & upright citizen
Given under our hands in open Court
this 23rd October 1851
Joseph H Lumpkin
Hiram Warner
E. A. Nesbitt
Clerks Office Supreme Court Georgia
Milledgeville 27th Oct 1851
I Robert E Martin Clerk of the Supreme Court of Georgia Certify that Joseph H Lumpkin, Hiram Warner and Eugenius A Nisbet whose signatures appear above are the Judges of the Supreme Court of Georgia & that each of their
Signatures are genuine.
Given under my hand & Seal of office
Robt E Martin CR
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[preprinted form with handwritten answers]
WIDOW, &c.
File No.  26453
Elizabeth Sheffield
wid of
William Sheffield
Pri Rev War
Act Feb 3 53
Index: Vol L, Page 209
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 21

W.38.280
Wm Sheffield
Ga
Act 7 June 1832
R. E. Martin Jan 10th 1852
Page 22

16 Aug 53
[illegible]
[illegible]
Page 23

[illegible] Agency
William Sheffield,
who was a private N.C.
N.C. troops
Ad. Act June 7, 1832.
12 mo private
$40 per Ann
Ca March 4, 1831.
R. E. Martin,
Milledgeville
Geo.
Page 24

July 29 54
Elizabeth Sheffield
Wid: of
Wm N 4.924
Hancock Co:
Geo:
Act/53
$40. per An:
com: 16 August. 1853.
Revy
Wm Steele
Milledgeville
[*DEPARTMENT F THE INTERIOR, Pension Office, Official Business*]
Page 25

Official business.
Suspended Claim of
Mrs. Elizabeth Sheffield
for B.L.
Hon.
"Commissioner of Pensions"
Washington City
D. C.
[*Boynton*]
Page 26

To the 
"Commissioner of Pensions"
Washington City
D. C.
[*Hancock Co Geo:*] [* Hon: Wm Steele Milledgeville Geo:*]
Page 27

May 4, 1853
Rel: to case of
Wm Sheffield
R. E. Martin
Milledgeville Ga


25 March 53
[*DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
PENSION OFFICE OFFICIAL BUSINESS Commissioner.*]
Page 28

36.648
[illegible]
Page 29

Pension Office,
July 29" 1854
Sir:
Please Certify the time
to which the within name
pensioner was [illegible]
[illegible] of his death,
Very Respectfully,
L P Waldo
Commissioner
Francis Burt, Esq
[illegible]
[*William Sheffield, Act 1832 $40 per annum Paid to 4 March 1853. Saml S. Rinds Acty 3rd [illegible]*]
Page 30

[*Pension Office,
July 29" 1854
Sir:
Please Certify the time
to which the within name
pensioner was [illegible]
[illegible] of his death,
Very Respectfully,
L P Waldo
Commissioner
Francis Burt, Esq
[illegible]*]
William Sheffield, Act 1832 $40 per annum Paid to 4 March 1853. Saml S. Rinds Acty 3rd [illegible]
Page 31

Raleigh March 1st 1853
Sir I have this moment very unexpectedly found the name of Wm. Sheffield and a payment showing one years service. I am very sorry that I could not find it before for I assure you it did not happen from any want of care or labor in searching. Hoping that it may yet be in time to get a pension for the worthy old soldier before
he dies
I am
Very respectfully Yours &c.
Wm. J. Clarke
Page 32

Milledgeville Ga 29th Apl 1853
Sir
Some weeks past I forwarded to you
a certificate of the Comptroller of North Carolina
establishing the fact that Wm Sheffield was a soldier of the Revolution. More than a year previous to this I had sent the declaration of Mr Sheffield. Since my last letter I have not heard that my letter enclosing the certificate has been recd. Mr Sheffield is now a very aged man & feels solicitous to know before he depart this life the result of his application for a pension, were it
not for this, I would not trouble you with this letter of enquiry.
Very Respectfully Sir,
Your obedient Servt
Rob E Martin
To the Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.
Page 33

Milledgeville Ga.
June 7 1853
Robt E. Martin
[illegible][illegible][illegible]
of Wm Sheffield a soldier of
the Revl War for a pension
Respectfully referred to the
commissioner of Pensions
for answer
[illegible]
May o for answer
See above
[*Robert McClellen Washington City*]
Page 34

Hon Robert McClellen
Washington City
D.C.
Page 35

Milledgeville Ga 7th June 1853
Sir
Upwards of a year past at the request
of Mr William Sheffield (a soldier of the Revolution) I forwarded to the Commissioner of Pensions his declaration & petition for a pension. The late commissioner promptly replied that additional proof was required. Since the commencement of the present administration I obtained & forwarded to the present Comr of Pensions additional proof (The certificate of the Comptrol of North Carolina, that William Shiffield was a Revolutionary Soldier &c) & deserved to be informed if this was my [necessary][crossed out] sufficient additional proof. To this, I have recd no answer. Upwards of a month Since at the earnest solicitation of Mr Sheffield, I again called the attention of the Commissioner of Pensions to the subject, stating that Mr S_ was particularly desirous to know the result of his application before his death, that he was then bordering upon 100 years of age & could not be expected to live another year. Up to this date, I have recd no answer, nor an
Page 36

acknowledgement of the recpt of the proof sent.
Under these circumstances & by the request
of my aged friend I send you this confidently
believing that you will give such direction to
the subject that will cause me to be put in
possession of the information sought to wit.
Has the certificate of the Comptration of North Carolina been recd & is it sufficient? This
information will gratify one of our most worthy citizens who was a faithful soldier of the Revolution, which information is most
respectfully sought by Your obedient
Servant
Rob E Martin
Hon Robert McClellen
Washington
D.C.
Page 37

[preprinted form with handwritten answers]
rief in the case of Elisabeth Sheffield [illegible]
Hancock County and State of [illegible] 
act 3 [illegible] 1853
Claim, ("original," [or "for increase")] [crossed out]
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance
[answer is all illegible]
(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?
Name and residence of Agent [illegible]
Examining Clerk. [illegible]
Page 38

Treasury Department
Third Auditors Office
March 14" 1852
Sir
The letter you addressed to the 2d Auditor,
enclosing a certificate from the Comptroller of
the State of North in regard to services
rendered by William Sheffield of the [illegible]
[illegible] in 1782, has been [illegible] to me for
[illegible] further information as the records here [illegible] afford_ They are not found to contain any before the issue of a certified in the name of William Sheffield of the North Carolina troops, dates [illegible] 1 1785 [illegible][illegible] dollars the amount of twelve [illegible] pay-- The Comptrollers letter & certificate will be found enclosed
Very respectfully
Your obt Servt
Jn B. Gallaher
Auditor
Robert E Martin Esqr
Milledgeville
Georgia
Page 39

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.
Page 40

Milledgeville Ga 27 Oct 1851
Sir
At the request of Mr Sheffield I have obtained & now inclose to you evidence of his standing in Society which is all the widower he can now furnish of his having been a Revolutionary soldier. Col Little died in this place years past, he at all times recognized Mr Sheffield as one of his Soldiers & was greatly attached to him. Mr Sheffield from the fact of his being a very old man has for a number of years past lived quite a relived life & did not know until about six months past that Revolutionary soldiers were entitled to a pension. Mr S is a resident of Hancock County but lives near this place is the explanation why he comes into Baldwin County to obtain [illegible] . Any communication you may desire to make may be addressed to me or to Clk Superior Court Baldwin
Very Respectfully &c
Rob E Martin
To the
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.
Page 41

State of North Carolina
Comptrollers Office
I, William J. Clarke, Comptroller of Public Accounts in and for the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that it appears of record in my office, among the payments made by said State to sundry persons for Military services in the Revolutionary War, as follows, to wit William Sheffield Vol 10 Payment to 12 months draft, 1782, No. 90708, Eighty Dollars ($80)
In testimony whereof I have here
unto subscribed my name and affixed my seal of office, this 1st day of
March 1853.
Wm. J. Clarke Compt
Page 42

Milledgeville July 25th 18 [illegible]
Dear Sir
I have the honor herewith to forward to your department of the Government, the application of Mrs. Elizbeth Sheffield for a Certificate of
Pension, under the Act of Congress, approved 3d February 1853, and also
the original Certificate of her deceased
husband, as evidence of the validity
of her claim.
I will ask the favor of an acknowledgement of the receipt of this application, and should the Government be satisfied to issue a Certificate in her favor, it will please be sent to my address as for accompanying Power of Atty.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt. Servt.
Wm Steele
Hon. J. P. Waldo
Com of Pensions
Washington City
Page 43

Payment to be made
at Savannah Ga
by [illegible]
Agent for paying pensioners,
in the Agency of
Savannah
Recorded in the Pension
Office, in Book E Vol 6
Page 101 by
R. McRae Clerk
Page 44

[preprinted form with handwritten answers]
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I certify that in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832. William Sheffield of Georgia who was a private in Revolutionary war is entitled to receive Forty dollars and cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi=annually on the 4th of March and 4th of September, in every year.
Given at the Department of the Interior,
this 5th day of July
one thousand eight hundred and fifty three acting Secretary of the Interior
James Campbell
Examined and
Countersigned
L P Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 45

33150
Page 46

Milledgeville Ga 20 March 1853
Sir
Some eighteen (more) months past I
forwarded to the Commissioner of Pensions
the declaration of William Sheffield of this State, a Revolutionary soldier. It is only recently that I obtained the enclosed certificate from the Comptroler of N Carolina. You will also find enclosed a letter to me from the 2nd Auditor
of the Treasury. There is now no living witness
known to Mr Sheffield, who knew him as a solder
of the Revolution. The enclosed is all the proof
he can now procure to support his affidavit
previously filed & now in your possession.
Any communication you may desire
please address to me.
Very respectfully &C
Robt E Martin
Com of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.
Page 47

Brief in the case of William Sheffield,
Baldwin County and State of Georgia
act
the 7, 1832
Claim, ("original," or "for increase.")
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
consulted the Commission, who
agreed that the claim should be
admitted for the worth the
amount of one hour by the
Clerk of the Computley.
(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been fled since the admission of the claim? If so, what?
Name and residence of Agent
R. E. Martin
Milledgeth
Geo
Examining Clerk.
Page 48

Executive Department
Milledgeville Georgia
July 30th. 1856.
I do hereby Certify that Samuel B. Brown was a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Baldwin, and State aforesaid on the 5th day of September A.D. 1855, duly Commissioned and qualified; that the said Samuel B. Brown was the identical Justice of the Peace, who attested the Declaration of Mrs. Elizabeth Sheffield for Bounty Land, (as a Revolutionary Pensioner,) under the Act of Congress of 3d of March 1855, in consideration of the service of her deceased Husband William Sheffield, as a Revolutionary Soldier. That the Commission of the said Samuel B. Brown was dated on the 4th day of January 1853, and will expire on the 4th day of
Page 49

January 1857, which appears of Record in this Department, and that his Signature written to the
said Declaration of the said Mrs Elizabeth Sheffield, and his Certificate attached to the same, is genuine.
Given under my hand and
the Seal of the Executive
Department, this the 30th
day of July A.D. 1856.
Wm. Steele
Secretary Ex. Dept.
Georgia
Page 50

Pension Office
July 25" 1856
Sir 
The bounty land claim of Elizabeth Sheffield, will be admitted as soon as the Official Character of Samuel B. Brown as a Justice of the Peace on the 5" of September 1855. is duly Authenticate
Your certificate, in the case, lacks a seal.
Yours Respectfully,
C H. R Hill
for Commissioner
Wm. Steele Esqr
Milledgeville,
Geo
Page 51

Milledgeville Geo. Sept. 11.th 1855.
Hon. "Commissioner of Pensions"
Washington City DC
Dear Sir:
I have the honor herewith to forward the application of Mrs. Elizabeth Sheffield, for the Bounty Land to which she may be entitled to for Revolutionary services of her deceased husband, William Sheffield deceased; and solicit as early
an adjustment of the claim as may be convenient.
With considerations of high
Respect, your Obt Servt
Wm Steele
Page 52

State of Georgia 
County of Baldwin SS
Court of Ordinary
May Term 1854
Personally appeared in open Court, William C. Smith aged forty years & Israel Palmer aged Seventy five years who being duly sworn, saith on oath that they were well acquainted with William Sheffield deceased, and his wife Elizabeth Sheffield, whose signature appears to the foregoing Declaration, on the term of thirty years by first named deponent [*and forty five by*] [continued on next page] and that from their personal knowledge, the said William Sheffield deceased and the said Elizabeth Sheffield, now his widow, did live together as lawful man and wife, notoriously known as such by the Community generally in which they so long resided; and that the character of the family for their purity of motives, morals and integrity was and is unquestionable and beyound a
Page 53

field now his widow did be together as lawful
man and wife, notoriously known as such by
the Community generally in which they so long
resided; and that the character of the family
for their purity of motives, morals and integrity
was and is unquestionable and beyound a
doubt. That deponents further declare that the
said Elizabeth Sheffield, the applicant and subscriber of the Declaration aforesaid is the identical widow of William Sheffield deceased, late of Hancock County and State of Georgia, who was a Pensioner of the United States as her Certificate of the Secretary of the Interior here in Court exhibited, dated the 5th day of July 1853.
Israel Palmer
William C Smith
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 1st day of May A.D. 1854 And I do hereby certify that Israel Palmer and William C. Smith the deponents of the above affidavit are citizens of
strict integrity and good and are character and that their statements are entitled to full faith and credit as such; and that their residence as specified in the above is correct.
John Hammond, Ordinary
[*forty five by the [illegible] Israel Palmer*]