Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 11,341, John West, N.C.
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Service: North Carolina

Name: West, John

Number: R. 11,341
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33800

John West

Tennessee
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Side of Page states: Said County Comptroller of North Carolina

District of West Tennessee

State of Tennessee, Sumner County Court August Term 1836 personally appears on this it being a court of law 1st day of August 1836 personally appeared in open court it being a court of law John West aged seventy three years a resident citizen of said County who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions of an act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States in the year 1781 in the State of North Carolina Onslow County as a volunteer private and served three months under Captain Amos Love and Captain Daniel Newton and was station most of the time at a place called Rockland Chapel on the head of New River in North Carolina applicant was not in any action. Applicant was drafted again into the service of the United States in the latter part of the summer 1781 and served under Captain Bazell Grant whose company was attached to Colonel John Spicer's Regiment of Militia applicant served three months in the spring of 1782 applicant served as a Corporal, this is the amount of applicant services in the Revolutionary War amounting to 14 [24] months served for which he claims a pension. Applicant was born in the State of Maryland in the year 1763. His parents removed to North Carolina during his infancy in which State he resided where he entered the services of the United States and until about the year 1808 when he removed to Sumner County Tennessee where he has resided ever since. He hereby relinquishes his every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on The Pension
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Roll of any State. 

Sworn to in open Court
this 1st August 1836
Thomas Donoho, Clerk
John West

We, Nathanel Parker, a clergyman residing in the County of Sumner and State of Tennessee and Thomas P. Freeland in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John West. Who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy three years of age and that he is refuted and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion. 

Sworn to subscribed in open
Court this 1st August 1836
Thomas Donoho, Clerk 
Nathanel Parker
Thomas Free1and

And the said Court do hereby declare this opinion after putting the interogatories proscribed by the War Department and investigating the matter that the above named John West was a Soldier of the Revolution and served as he has stated and the said Court further certifies that it appears to them that the above named Nathanel Parker who has signed the proceeding certificate is a clergyman resident in said County and that Thomas P. Freeland who has also signed the same is a resident of said County and is creditable person and that there statement are entitle to full credit. Given under our hands the 2nd day of August 1836.

Elijah Boddie
Benjamin Gray
C. Lewis
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State of Tennessee
Sumner County

I, Thomas Donoho, Clerk of the County Court of Sumner County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John West for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 2nd day of August 1836.

Thomas Donoho, 
Clerk of Sumner County Court

Direct your communication to Gallatin Tennessee.
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John West's
Pension Papers
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State of Tennessee
Sumner County

Amended Declaration

On this 13th day of March 1851 personally appeared before me Robert Davis one of the Acting Justices of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid and a Justice of a Court of Record John West a resident of the County of Sumner in the State of Tennessee aged about eighty eight years who being first duly sworn according to law oath on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832. That he entered the service of the United States in the War of the Revolution in the spring of the year seventeen hundred and eighty one about the time of the Battle of Guilford as a volunteer under Captain Daniel Newton but cannot recollect the day of the month he volunteered for a tour of three months and was mustered to service at Richland Chapel in Onslow County, North Carolina and was marched through the upper counties to [upkeep] the supplies carried to the British Army by the Tories. They acted as Spies and to take the foraging parties of the British Army. They took a great many prisoners they was with Captain Davis Company and others he cannot recollect the name of the Colonel who had command of them as sometimes they were in detachments the better to which the foraging parties of Cornwalis Army their company was not in the battle but met some a short afterwards who were in the battle they took also a British Captain recollects serving his commission
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but does not recollect his name he died while a prisoner in their custody they were marching back to Richland Chapel and then honorably discharged having served three months and some days this discharge he gave to his father and believes the same was destroyed or lost as he never expected to have any use for it.

So soon as he returned home there was orders for a draft and although he had just served yet as Cornwallis was in the country and carrying every thing before him there was use for all the men that could bear arms and declarant submitted to a draft and entered the service of the United States under Captain Basil Grant and was mustered into service at the same place Richland Chapel this was while Cornwallis was at Wilmington or in that direction he acted this time as sworn Corporal appointed by his Captain so soon as Cornwallis marched up the country in the direction of Virginia they had orders to march to Wilmington who they did and was stationed there sometime then marched back to Swansberry and was stationed then at Banys Wilet to prevent the British Row Galleys from landing and plundering the town Colonel Spicer was then Colonel as well as he recollects there were several officers of the army would come down to give orders but cannot from the lapse of memory recollect their names nor most of the particulars. They were stationed at Swansberry until the end of their services and were then Honourably
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Honourably discharged which discharge he gave to his father and was lost or destroyed and he never knew what became of he served this tour three months. The money he got for both these tours of service never done him any good as it was continental which was no account or turned out so he thus served six months in all and a few days and for this he claims a pension.

This Declaration he makes this as an amendment to a former Declaration sent to the War Department in August 1836. The reason he did not apply sooner for a pension was that living in a [] part of Sumner County he was told that none but regular Soldiers were enlisted and also that unless he served six months under one engagement he was not entitled until her went to Gallatin while Court was in session and Colonel Guild and Mayor Blackmore told him better and as Colonel Guild was going to Florida in the War with the Seminole Indians Blackmore fixed his papers in year 1836. The reason why they left Wilmington was the breaking out of the Small Pox. They were marched back to Richland Chapel and [moulated] there during the first tour a second tour he cannot recollect which they were sometimes with General Butler while he was in North Carolina but were ordered out by him or General Green on various tours of duty to scour the County and suppress the tories. I do not recollect the name of regiment I was attached to. It was a North Carolina Militia Regiment the second time and their orders were received from General Green and
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and General Butler and sometimes from others not now recollected. Saw a great many of the wounded from Green's Army but we won not permitted to mix with the regulars. I cannot appear in open Court to make this declaration as old age prevents me and I am [] [] with the gravel and cannot walk or ride I hereby relinquish even other claim to a but the one under act of 7th June 1832 and I further declare that my name is not on the roll of any pension agency of the United State or territories.

Questions

1. Where and in what year were you born?
Answer: I was born in Maryland and my father moved to North Carolina when I was a child. I was born on the 12th day of March 1763.

2. Have you any record of your age and if so where is it?
Answer: I have which is here to annexed.

3. Where were you living when called into Service? Where have you since lived and where do you now live?
Answer: I lived in Onslow County, North Carolina when called into Service and lived thus after the Revolutionary War until 1807 when I moved to Tennessee where I have lived ever since.

4. How were you called into Service? Were you drafted? Did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom?
Answer: I volunteered the first three months tour and was drafted the last three months tour. I never was a substitute for any.

5. State the names of some of the regular officers who was with the troops where you served? Such continental and militia regiments as you can recollect and the General command times of your service?
Answer: I cannot the names of the regiments as there was a great many we got our orders from General Green and others not recalled but I refer to my above statement for what I now readout. 

6. Did you ever record a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what has become?
Answer: I have already what become of my discharges and they were give a field officer whose name I do not recollect. 

7. State the names of persons to whom you are known
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in your resident neighbourhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution.
Answer: There are a great many residents who know me and can testify to my character as I believe to wit Nathaniel Parker a Methodist clergyman and William W. Ausbrook a Baptist clergyman and James Taylor, James Rippey, and Thomas Freeland. Declarant further states that he knows of no person now living by whom he can prove his services in the War of the Revolution as detailed by him they being all dead.

Sworn to and subscribed before me this day and year first above written being 18th day of March 1851

Robert Dorris, Justice of the Peace
John West ('X'/his mark)

State of Tennessee
Sumner County

We, Nathaniel Parker and William W. Ausbrook regular ministers of the Gospel and clergymen and James Taylor, James Rippey and Thomas Freeland citizens of the resident neighbourhood of John West and also residents of the County of Sumner in the State of Tennessee hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John West who has sworn to and subscribed the foregoing Declaration for a pension that we have known him upwards of thirty seven years that we believe him to be eighty eight years of age and that he is refuted and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and we concur in that opinion
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and that we fully believe her served as he states.

Sworn to and subscribed before me this day of March 1851.

Robert Dorris, Justice of the Peace
Nathaniel Parker
William W. Ausbrook
James Rippey 
Thomas Freeland
James Taylor 

State of Tennessee
Sumner County

I, Robert Dorris one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid and a Justice of a Court of Record do hereby certify and declare my opinion after the investigation of the foregoing declaration of John West and after putting the foregoing interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named John West the applicant for a pension was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states.

And I further certify that Nathaniel Parker and William W. Ausbrook are clergymen of high standing and reside in the same neighbourhood with John West the applicant, And that James Taylor, James Rippey and Thomas Freeland are citizens of the County of Sumner in the same neighbourhood and that they are men of good character and standing and truth and veracity and that full faith and credit are due and of right ought to be given to their statements.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and official seal this day of March 1851.

Robert Dorris, Justice of the Peace
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John West son of Levi West and Mary his wife was born March the 12th 1763

Rachel West daughter of Samuel
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State of Tennessee
Sumner County 

I, Robert Davis, one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid do hereby certify that the annexed record of the age of John West was cut out of his family record in my presence and that it is part of the family record as kept by him and that the same is genuine said record shows his birth on the 12th day of March 1763.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and official seal this day of March 1851

Robert Dorris (Justice of the Peace)

State of Tennessee
Sumner County

I John L. Bugg, Clerk of the County Court of said Sumner County do hereby certify that Robert Davis whose name appears to the foregoing declaration of John West and the accompanying certificates was at the time his said several attestations purport to bear date and now is one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid duly commissioned and qualified to act as such and that full faith and credit are due and of right ought to be given to his official acts and that his signatures thereto are genuine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court of Office in Gallatin this 26th day of April 1851.

John L. Bigg, Clerk
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Rev.& 1812 Wars Section
MCS:MLB

Mrs. J. C. Rudisill
356 Shotwell Street
Bainbridge, Georgia

Dear Madam:

You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, R. 11341, that John West, the son of Levi and Mary, was born March 12, 1763 in Maryland.

During his infancy he moved with his parents to North Carolina.

While a resident of Sumner County, Tennessee, where he had moved from Onslow County in 1806, 1807, or 1808, he applied for pension August 1, 1836.

He alleged the following service:

That he had enlisted early in the summer of 1780 and served two months as private in Captain Amos Love's company, Colonel Spicer's North Carolina regiment; that he enlisted in the fall of 1780 and served one month in Captain Daniel Newton's company in Colonel Spicer's North Carolina regiment; that he enlisted in the summer or fall of 1781 and served three months in Captain Bazel Grant's company, Colonel Spicer's North Carolina regiment; that he served three or four weeks in 1781 or 1782 as private, officers not stated.

Later he alleged that his service was as follows:

That he enlisted in the spring of 1781, about the time of the battle of Guilford, and served three months and some days in Captain Daniel Newton's North Carolina company; that he soon afterward enlisted and served three months as
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second corporal under Captain Bazel Grant.

His claim for pension was not allowed as he failed to furnish proof of alleged service in accordance with the requirement of the pension law.

In 1851 he was living in Sumner County, Tennessee.

There are no further data relative to the soldier's family.

The Revolutionary War records of this bureau fail to afford any information in regard to John Claypole.

Very truly yours

E. W. Morgan
Acting Commissioner
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Declaration

State of Tennessee
Sumner County

On this 7th day of August 1837 personally appeared in open court before the County court of said County now sitting John West a resident of said County age seventy four years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed 7th June 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States at Wilmington State of North Carolina in the early part of the summer of 1780 under Captain Amos Love whose company was attached to Colonel Speins Regiment and served two months when he was dismissed in the fall of the same year he was again called into service and served one month in Captain Daniel Newton Company and Colonel Spieen Regiment and was discharged he received no written discharge he the full of the year 1781 he was again drafted into the services for The Term of three months and served said three months in Captain Bazell Grants Company which was attached to Colonel Spieens Regiment he was again out for three or four weeks during that year or the early part of the next he served as a private militia man during said service. This is the amount of applicants service for which he claims a pension...applicant has no written evidence of
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his services and does not know of any person living by whom he could prove the fact. Applicant resided in the State of North Carolina when he entered the service and continued to reside their until the year 1806 when he remove to the State of Tennessee, Sumner County where he has been for the last 28 years.

He hereby relinquished every claim to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of The Agency of any state and that this is the only application ever made by him for a pension except one forwarded to the War Department some time during the year 1836 from this Court which has not been since heard from by the applicant.

Sworn to in open Court
T. Donoho Clerk
7 August 1837

John West ('X'/his mark)

We, William Woodale a clergyman residing in the County of Sumner and Thomas P. Freeland residing in the same do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John West. Who has sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 74 years of age that he is respected and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and we concur in that opinion.

Sworn to in Open Court
T. Donoho, Clerk

William Woodfall
Thomas P. Freeland
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And the said Court do declare this opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Soldier of the Revolution and served as he states and the Court further certified that it appears to them that William Woodale who has signed the presiding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the County of Sumner and that Thomas P. Freeland who has signed the same is a resident in said County and is a creditable person and that there statement is entitled to credit.

Ben Gray (Justice of the Peace)
John McLin (Justice of the Peace)
William Barr (Justice of the Peace)

I, Thomas Donoho Clerk of the County Court of Sumner County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of John West for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand affixed my seal of office this 7th day of August A.D. 1837 and 62 and year if American Independence 
Thos. Donoho, Clerk of Sumner County Court
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1931 April 17 history to Mrs. J.C. Rudisill (W.C.S.)

11,341
P.O.: N/A
Name: John West
Service: N/A 

REJECTED

Enlisted: N/A
Discharged: N/A 

Application filed: 1852 history gives following reason for suspension "For a more specific detail of his service in all its material facts."

Alleges: N/A
Re-enlisted: N/A
Attorney: N/A
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Bainbridge, Georgia.
March 12, 1931,

Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C. 

Dear Sir:- Will you kindly send me the Revolutionary war service of John West born March 12, 1763, and lived in Jones County, North Carolina. He enlisted from North Carolina removed to Sumner County, Tennessee, and later lived in Gallatin County, Tennessee and probably died in Tennessee.

Also the Service of John Claypole who gave service in the Militia in Hampshire County, Virginia removed to Rutherford County, North Carolina, died either in North Carolina, Tennessee, or Kentucky.

Yours truly.
Mrs. J.C. Rudisill
Mrs. Annie Grady Rudisill

356 Shotwell St.
Bainbridge, Georgia.
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113211
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33,800

John West
Tennessee

33,800

Suspended

Said Letter 17 Augt
1836 T. Donoho

Let.: 21 Oct 1837
W. M. Blackmore
Jno. T. Neely, May 15 1833
A. Fergusson 29 July 1854

Act 7th June 1832
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W. M. Blackmore

Oct 21, 1837

Tenn.
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War Department Pension Office
Oct 21, 1837

Sir,

The declaration of John West has been examined and filed. His declaration made in August 1836 was examined dated on the 17th of November. Thos. Donoho Esq Clerk of the Court of Sumner County was informed that the applicant had not specified his time of service as required by the regulations. He was also required to give a satisfactory reason in his declaration for not making and earlier application for a pension. The declaration was exhibited is alike deficient. He should give a full and particular account of each time of service as required by the [] printed regulations and state his reasons for not making an earlier application for a pension required in my letter in August 1836, in order to a favorable decision in his case.

W. M. Blackmore Esq
Gallatin, Tennessee
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John West
Rev. Soldier
Act 1832

James Hunt
Rev. Soldier
Act 1832

With State of Tenn.


Jno. T. Neely
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Carthage
23 March 1852

John G. Neeley Esqs.

You are hereby authorized by me as attorney in fact of John West and James Hunt to take up their claims now filed in the Pension Office and take all legal steps necessary to have them allowed and to do and perform all things necessary to procure a favourable decision with power to call in the assistance of any other attorney to act under you by virtue of the power in me vested you are hereby fully authorized to receive their Pension Certificate when after to be hansmitted to me for their benefit hereby ratifying and confirming all and whatsoever you shall do for them in the premises in as full a manner as if they or I were present and acting for ourselves.

Witness My Hand
A. Fergusson 
(attn in face for West and Hunt)
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State of North Carolina
Comptroller's Office

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

"John West."
Book W No.1 Entry 767 #9.S4 Specie
3301 #9.S4
21 Page 50 #9.

Indent of Army certificate issued by auditors of Edenton
District No.970 Aug. 12th 1780 #9.S4 Specie
Ditts      2761 Dec. 29th 1783 #9.   Specie
Ditts      3800 Jan. 24th 1785 #7    Specie

The payments included in the indents are entirely separate and distinct from those given above entered in Books W. which are Entries of allowances made by Auditors of Wilmington District

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Office, July 20 1854

Wm.J. Clarke, Comptroller 

On law in Wilmington District.
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Washington City
July 28th 1854

Sir,

I herewith like a brief in the case of John West.

It appears that he has filed three several Declarations at different times from a hasty examination I believe they all make about the same statement as to his services the last declaration I drew up myself and to satisfy myself went to his house and took a magistrate as he was unable to ride or even walk any distance. I reenlist a letter of J.S. Edwards was shown me stating that a pension would be allowed for six months upon conditions not now recollected but which my impression was easy to be done.

The reason I did not alledge more service at the time was the old man could not tell me satisfactory about it I was satisfied however he served more than alledged.

I have not examined the case since or done anything more than get Mr. Neeley to look into it and he reported to me that the Pension Office required the evidences from the record of North Carolina before an allowance could be made I have
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while on my way here obtained the desired information from the records of North Carolina which is marked Exhibit "A" and filed and prayed to be made a part of the record and proof in the case.

This record of payments covers his services and show part of the payments to have been from Wilmington district the part of Country that he alledges to have served part of his time.

Be pleased to examine the case and allow the pension for such amount as may seem just and equitable.

Respectfully,
A. Fergusson

S.P. Waldo Esq. 
Commissioner of Pensions 
Washington City
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July 1, 1857

Amended Declaration of John West

A. Fergusson
Present
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Washington City
June 30th 1851

To the Commission of Pensions

I therewith like a new declaration as an amendment agreeable to the instruction of your predecessor in office J. L. Edward in his last letter of [] in the case of John West under act of 7th June 1832. The case is I hope now satisfactory for a favorable decision and respectfully ask as a special favor that the same be taken up now and examined in order to be disposed of 

Respectfully,
A. Fergusson
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To: Donoho

August 17, 1836
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War Department Pension Office
August 17, 1836

Sir,

The declaration of John West has been examined and filed with suspended cases in this office. Before a final decision can be heed in his case he should give a more full and particular statement of his time of actual service as required in the [] printed regulations and answer the interrogatories prescribed by []the War Department. He should also give a satisfactory reason for not making another application for a pension.

Thomas Donoho Esq.
Clerk Court of Sumner Co.
Gallatin, Tennessee
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221
Pension Office.
29th July 1854.

Sir,

The additional evidence in the case of John West of Tennessee has been received.

By a comparison of John different statements with each other, and with the certificate of the Comptrollers of North Carolina. I find it impossible to adjust his claim in its present condition. In his first Declaration, (made in 1836), John says he served three months as a private in 1780; and three months as a corporal in 1781. In his second Declaration, (made in 1837), he says he served two months in the early part of the summer, and one month in the fall of 1780. That in the fall of the year 1781 he served three months and was again out for three or four weeks in that year on the early part of the next. In his last statement he does not say whether he served as Corporal or private. By
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a reference to the Certificate of the Comptroller of North Carolina it appears that one John West received payments, which in the aggregate show a service of our twenty months. There is not a single item of testimony to identify the applicant with any part of the services indicated in this certificate; nor is there anything beyond his inconsistent declaration to induce the presumption that he served at all. 

A. Fergusson Esq.
Present.

A. Fergusson
July 29/54
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John T. Neely
Jan 15-83
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124

Pension Office
July 15, 1833

Sir, 

John West of Tennessee made application for a pension for services in the North Carolina Militia, but furnished neither Record nor have we proof of service. 

John T. Neely Esq.
Present
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Gallatin September the 30th, 1837

Dear Sir

Your circular letter on the subject of Pensions directed to Will Blackmore has been shown to me in which you say that the name of an [] to whose Communicator in Relations to my claims for a pension are to be made is not sufficient. I now therefore direct you to forward any communication on that subject directed to me at Gallatin same County, Tennessee and you will very much oblige. 

Very Respectfully, 
Your Obedient Servant, 
John West ('X'/his mark)

J.W. Baldridge
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September 14, 1856

John West
Revolutionary Soldier 

Made declaration his state of Tennessee in which he resided and []
for pension under act 7 June 1832

John T. Neely
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Pension Office
August 26, 1832

Sir,

Before we can comply with your request relative to the claim of John West, for the benefit of the Act of 1832, we must be furnished with the name of the State in which he resided when he made his declaration.

Very Respectfully,
F.F.C Triplett
Acting Commissioner

John T. Neely Esq