Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7,687, for William Taylor, Maryland
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(S-1776)
SERVICE
Md.
Taylor, William
NUMBER
S.7.687
Born in England
carded
CONTENTS
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Pen Agent June 13, 1837.
Dead.
order to pay July 21. 1837

North Carolina 30.24.0
William Taylor of Ash in the State of N.C. who was a private in the [illegible] commanded by Captain [illegible] of the Regt. commanded by A. [illegible] in the Md. line for 2 years.
Inscribed on the roll of North Carolina at the rate of 80 dollars --- Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 day of Feb 35. and Sub R. Murchison.
Jefferson. N.C.
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. '35 360.--
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar. 36  40.--
400.--
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Nath. Rice - Clerk,
Book #. Vol. 67. Page 76
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State of North Carolina
Ashe County
Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions November Term 1834
On this 11th day of November 1834 personally appeared William R. Taylor before the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions now sitting who states that he is of the age of Eighty Eight years, or thereabout. He being sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Pension made by the Act of Congress, Passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year as near as he can recollect of 1777 or 1778 - about the time of the battles of Trenton & at Princeton, with Captain speaker and Service in the 7th Regiment of the Meriland line under the Following named officers - Col. Gumby, Lieutenant Anderson he enlisted first for the Term of three years. he thinks the bounty was fifty dollars & the day fifty shilling per month
he first enlisted in the State of Mareland the County he does not recollect but it was between Frederic Town & George Town they marched to Bristol at which place they remained for 3 or 4 weeks from thence they marched to Trenton where they found General Smallwood at which place they were exercised and drilled for some time They was stationed for some time at West Point. he think Smallwood and Gumby both resigned their commands and that the Command was then given to one General Sullivan, who took the command at Valley Forge - they had marched to this place from Wilmington to the Valley Forge - they remained at this place till some time in the summer the year he does not recollect but it was after the battle of Brandywine
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the Brittish was then in Philadelphia - the Brittish left Philadelphia for a place called Monmouth. The new england Troops met them there a battle ensued. The Troops commanded by Sullivan under whom deponent served came upon the rear of the Brittish and drove them deponent was in this engagement. He was Middlebrook and Bolinbrook till under the command of G. Sullivan - they then returned to West Point at which place they built a fort, and as well as he now recollects Stanton and DeKalb were there & perhaps had the Command for some time - his Term of Service for which he first enlisted, to wit 3 years had expired he then enlisted again for and during the war. he was then placed under the command of General Gates and Dekalb and marched under their command to the head of Elk at which place they was placed on
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the Service of the United States. he was born in the Government of Great Britton somewhere about the year 1756 or thereabout he has no record of his age he came to America when about 17 year of age Landed at Baltimore came over in the vessel under the command of Alexander Longman he lived between George Town and Frederic Town about three years and then enlisted being about 20 or 21 years of age after leaving the Army he resided in what is now called Rowan County North Carolina in the Town of Salisbury - he then went into the County of Stokes same state resided there several years - he then went into Grayson County state of Virginia where he lived about 30 years. He lives now in the County of Ashe North Carolina where he has Resided for a few years. He lived in the State of Maryland when he enlisted each time. he was a Volunteer each time and served only as a Private Soldier
Sworn to in open Court William Taylor
Jno Ray CCC

I William Taylor do hereby relinquish every Claim whatsoever to a Pension or annuity except the present and I do believe that my name is not on the Pension Roll of any agency in any State.
11th November 1834 William Taylor
Jno Ray CCC
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Interrogatories put by the Court
1st. Where and in what year were you born
I was born somewhere about the 1746, in the County of Glostershire England and partly raised in the City of London
2nd. Have you any record of your age & if so where is it
I have no record of my age that I know of at this Time nor did I ever have any -
3rd. Where was you living in when called into the service where have you lived since the revolutionary war - & where do you live now
I was living in the State of Mareland near George Town I have lived part of my time in the State of North Carolina many years in Virginia I suppose 30 & a few over. I now live in the county of Ashe North Carolina - 
4th. How was you called in to the Service was you drafted did you Volunteer or was you a Substitute and if a Substitute for whom
I was a Volunteer in the regular Service and served four years and about six months in all I inlisted first for the Term of three years service at my time then enlisted for and during the war and served one year and six months.
5th. State the names of the Regular officers who was with the troops where you served [illegible] continental & Militia segments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your Service - Answer
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The names of the officers under whom I was General Sullivan, General Smallwood Colonel Gumby, Captain Speakes Stanton, General Decalb - General Gates Stanton was in Comp. but he does not know that he had the cmomand at any time he was in but the one battle which was at Monmouth after being stationed at various places, marched to Wilmington, Valley Forge, &c. various other places which cannot no recollect the regement to which he belonged was called the 7th Maryland Regiment he was then what was entered the Army states he cannot not now recollect more Particulars -
6th. Did you ever receive a discharge if so by whom was it given and what has become of it. Answer. I never did receive any discharge whatsoever when the Troops was defeated by the enemy at Camden those not killed or taken Prisoners dispersed & he he his general went home as their General Gates was the first man who arrived at Salisbury & learned the news of his own defeat. &c &c.
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7th. Stsate the names of Persons to whom you are known in your neighbourhood & who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your Service as a Soldier of the revolution. Answers. Thomas Southerland Esqr. & Benjamin Brown - William Garnett &c There is no Preacher of the Gospel of any denomination living in my neighbourhood. He knows of no [illegible] by whom he can prove his Services as above
Sworn to & Subscribed
the day & year aforesaid William Taylor
11th November 1834
Sworn to in open Court Jno. Ray CCC
We the undersigned Justices of the Peace in and for the Court of Pleas and quarter Sessions, which is now sitting in Session, do hereby certify & declare it to be our opinion from direct examination of witness that the above named applicant served as he has stated and was a revolutionary soldier
They further certify that they are acquainted with the character of Thomas Southerland and Wm Garnett and that they have full confidence in their Statements
11th November 1834
J.P.
J.P.
J.P.
Wm Baker JP
C.H. [illegible] (seal)
Gideon Lewis (seal)
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Thomas Southerland swears that he has been acquainted with William R. Taylor the applicant for a Pension for upward of thirty years, and that he has known nothing against him as an honest man and being a man of truth and veracity, that there is no Preacher or minister of the Gospel in his neighbourhood
November 11th, 1834
Sworn to in open Court
Thos. Sutherland
Jno Ray CCC
William Garnett swears he has been acquainted with Wm R Taylor for upward of thirty years that he always have the character of an honest hard working man and a man of truth and veracity. November 11th 1834
Sworn to in open court
William Garnett
Jno Ray CCC

State of North Carolina
Ashe County
Court of Pleas and quarter Session Novem
I John Ray, Clerk of the Court aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing and within Papers contain the original Proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the Application of William R. Taylor for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 11th Day November 1834
Jno Ray CCC.
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State of North Carolina
Ashe County
[illegible] 1834
I John Ray Clerk of the court of Pleas and quarter Sessions do hereby certify that Milton Banks, Gideon Lewis and Charles H. [Caughton?] are acting Justices of the Peace for the County of Ashe and that they attest in open court when they signed the foregoing Certificate and that the same is in the form 11th November 1834
Jno Ray CCC
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Wm Taylor.
32.218.

Please return answer to R. Murchison [illegible] Jefferson Ash Co. N.C.
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Declaration;
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832.
State of North Carolina
County of Ashe
Court of Please & Quarter Sessions, August 1835
On this 24th day of August 1835, personally
appeared in open court, before the Justices of the Court aforesaid, for the County aforesaid, now sitting, William Taylor a resident of Ashe
County aforesaid, in the State of North Carolina, aforesaid, aged Seventy nine, (as near as he can ascertain) who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the Spring of the year 1777 (one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven) with Captain - Speaker or Spyker, and served in the 7th Regiment of Maryland line (also called Continental soldiers) under the following named officers - Capt. Speaker or Spyker, whose Christian name this applicant does not know, but the said Capt kept a mill before he entered the service, which mill was situated in Frederick County, Maryland, as this applicant verily believes. -
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Lieut. - Anderson, whose Christian name is also unknown to this applicant - he thinks one the Sergeants was of the name of Williams - there were soldiers of the following names in the company Dennis Mullins - - Mullins Dennis Shears, (who this applicant believes was waiter to the Capt.) & James Dwyer.
This applicant enlisted at the said Capt Speakers house (as believes in Frederick Co. Md.) between Fredericktown & Georgetown, and went to the place of rendesvous, whence we marched under Lieut. Anderson to Bristol above Philadelphia - having Philadelphia on our Right as we marched - there was in the company, as near as this applicant can recollect, about thirty.- At Bristol we tarried some time & were marched through Trenton to Princeton, where we were drilling
for some time, then we were marched & joined the army not from Princeton - we were put under Col. Gumbee or Gumby - and Gen. Smallwood - but whether one or both or either of these field officers was present when the company joined the coming, this applicant cannot positively state, - From Princeton & its vicinity we were marched in several directions until we arrived at Brandywine Creek in Sept. in the year 1777 as this applicant believes -- when a battle ensued between the Americans under
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Gen. Washington and the British Army - this applicant did not fight in the battle (at Brandywine) he being drafted as a guard, with six or seven others, to guard two baggage wagons from Brandywine to Bethlehem - from Bethlehem, this applicant, with his associates (the guard aforesaid) returned and joined his Regiment again at Wilmington-- after the British had taken possession of Philadelphia-- After remaining some time at Wilmington we marched to Valley Forge, where we tarried the greater part of our time until a short time before the battle of Monmouth - this battle occurred in the summer of the year 1778 as this applicant believes, & about the time of Rye harvest, but the precise day he cannot state, - this applicant positively swears that he fought in this battle with the Americans under Gen. Washington, against the British - that the company in which this applicant was - attacked the British in the rear after the commencement of the battle, and shortly after said attack in the rear the British army retreated off the ground - this was in the afternoon of the day, - 
After the Battle of Monmouth we were at a place called Middle Brook or Bolin Brook - where we encamped most of the winter
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While at Middle Brook there was a very deep
snow, and a party of the Americans of which
party this applicant was one, was sent over from a place called the Blazing Star below Elizabethtown, to Staten Island where the British had a fort, to show ourselves to the British, - the party remained in Staten Island during the night, in the Snow, and next morning crossed over again to the American encampment - crossing & re-crossing on the ice - In the morning after recrossing on the ice, we were paraded and reviewed on the river sides below Elizabethtown - & this applicant thinks Gen. Washington was then present - he also thinks the party had two small pieces of Cannon - after the review above mentioned we were marched again to our winter  quarters at Middlebrook aforesaid -- after several movements of the army which this applicant cannot precisely state, (in one of which he recollects being at a place called West Point - and at another time he heard that Gen. Washington had given permissions to Burguines prisoners to go into the Country and marry--) we were marched towards the South under the command of Gen. Gates - we passed the head of Elk - and then took water and passed
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passed Annapolis, where we landed and tarried a while for refreshment, from Annapolis, we re-embarked and went to Virginia, and were landed & paraded near a town the name of which this applicant has forgotten, thence we marched through Virginia and North Carolina, to South Carolina, where the American Army under Generals Gates and DeKalb halted and this applicant being sick and barefooted, was put on the sick list - this took place in the Spring of the year 1780 - but this applicant cannot state precisely the place at which he was placed on the sick list. -
When this applicant with others (including an officer whose name is forgotten) was left sick the army went on towards the South and to the Battle of Camden S.C. -- after this applicant recovered from his sickness and heard of the destruction of the army at Camden, he came on to the Yadkin River in North Carolina - near a place called the trading ford - where he hard of Gen. Green and went to the Camp of some of the troops under Gen Green - to inquire for his Company - but not finding any of his officers or Regiment, this applicant remained in the Country and was not afterwards bound to the service except on some small scouting parties as Volunteer
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From the loss of memory and old age, this applicant cannot state positively the day or Month on which he left the service, that is the day on which he was left sick behind, but that he served as a private in the service aforesaid three years at least - and he thinks it was more -- He also swears positively that he first enlisted (as he believes) for three years and afterwards - before the time was out - that he enlisted for during the war -- that when he first enlisted he resided with one John Melican, in the County of Frederick, Maryland, to whom this applicant was bound - and to whom he gave twenty pounds Maryland money, for the balance of his time (about 11 months) - to get into the service -- At that time this applicant could neither read or write - and has not therefore a correct account of the incidents of the War - except that afforded by his memory -- that subsequently to the war he has learned to read a little and to write his name - He also swears that he does not know whether he gave his name as Wm. R. Taylor or simply as Wm. Taylor - when he enlisted, but that he believes that he gave it in William Taylor - as he is certain that was the name he answered to on calling the muster Roll.
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that after the war he got account from the relations of his parents, (both of his parents having died before he was 9 years old) that he had been Christained William Robeson Taylor - and that since that time he has been known as Wm. R. Taylor, but that generally when writing his own name writes it Wm. Taylor. - This applicant further swears that he was wounded slightly in the left leg at White Plains in the State of New York - but not at the battle known by that name - it being when on a scouting party - a year or 18 months after the battle of White Plains - that the said wound did not hinder him a single day from duty - and that he does not believe the wound was ever reported -
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, Territory or District - and he further swears that when he was left sick behind the army that there was about two years pay due him, which he has never received, & that he has never received any part of his 500 Acres bounty land promised him when he enlisted -
Sworn to and subscribed the 24th day of August 1835 -
William Taylor
Jno Ray C.C.C.
Page 19

And the said Court declare their opinion that, the afore mentioned applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier & served as he states
James P Nye Chairman
P. Earnest JP
[illegible] Cox JP
[illegible] Miller JP

I John Ray Clerk of the Court of Please & Quarter Sessions for the County of Ashe in the State of North Carolina, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Wm. Taylor for a pension -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this the 25th day of August 1835
Jno Ray CCC
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State of North Carolina
Ashe County
Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions
May Term 1835 -
Wm William Taylor, a resident of said County came into court & made oath in due form of law that he was wounded in the left leg at the White Plains on a scouting party - but that he was never placed on the Invalid pension Roll or received any pension or annuity whatsoever. He also swears that he first enlisted for three years as stated in his declaration made in Nov. last, and afterwards for & during the War.-
that from great age & the consequent loss of memory that he cannot state precisely the day & year he left the Service but that it was not long after the battle at Camden S.C. and the death of Baron DeKalb. The reason he did not apply for a pension under the act of March 18, 1818 is that he never heard of that act until quite lately - he residing in a very thinly settled & mountainous part of the County, twenty-two
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miles from the C.H. - and that he believed & was told by his neighbour that as he was taken sick in the army & did not get his discharge when he finally left the service, that he was not entitled to draw a pension, until he lately before making his declaration in Nov. last he was informed of the late law -
Sworn to and subscribed in open Court May 18th 1835
William Taylor

Jno Ray Clk
James Carson being Sworn deposeth and sayeth that he has been intimately acquainted with Wm Taylor (who has Sworn & Subscribed the foregoing additional Statements to his Declaration heretofore made for the purpose of obtaining a pension for [illegible] of Twenty years ago or thereabout that he lived then in the County of Grayson State of Virginia that he Taylor was then Reputed to be a Revolutionary Soldier among all his neighbours
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Land Office Annapolis, December 16th 1834.
I hereby certify, that it appears by the Muster Rolls of the Revolution, Remaining in this office, that William Taylor, enlisted as a private, in Captain Spykers Company of the 7th Regiment, Maryland line, on the 17th of April 1777, for during the war, and that in the margin of remarks, opposite his name is the following entry, "26th April 1780, to Invalids,"
George G. Bower
Regr. L. Off. W.V.M.

1746
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Pension Claim
affidavit of
Wm. Taylor
of N. C.
Decl. on file
in Dept.

Please return answer
to R. Murchison
Jefferson
Ashe Co. N.C.
Page 24

[continuation of later page 20]

That he was reputed and believed to be an honest man and a man of Truth and veracity. Deponent lives in Grayson County State of Virginia & is a Citizen now of that State & County
Sworn to in open court this 18th day of May 1835
James Carson
Jno Ray Clk.

State of North Carolina
Ashe County
I John Ray Clerk of the County Court of Ashe do hereby certify that the foregoing proceedings were had in open court at May Sessions 1835
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office the 21st day of May 1835 -
John Ray C.C.C.
By R. Murchison D.C.
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Wiiliam Taylor -
North Carolina

Admit as private
2 years $80
Suspended
19. December 1834
Hon. Lewis Williams
Ret. R. Murchison Jun 27. 35
Sept. 12
Page 26

Jas L Edwards Esqr.
Commissioner of Pensions
War Department
Washington City

A.C. Oct 10.
Page 27

Jefferson Ashe Co. N.C. Sept. 28th, 1835
Sir,
In support of the character of Wm. R. Taylor alias William Taylor, the enclosed affidavits and certificates are forwarded which will I hope prove satisfactory. -- I understand that the number of respectable witnesses willing to testify to the old man's veracity & honest words includes most of the respectable habitants of the western part of Ash and many of the citizens of Grayson Co. but I deem three sufficient to establish the fact -- This is in answer to your favor of the 12th Inst.
Respectfully your
Obt. Svt.
R. Murchison

Jas. L. Edwards Esq
Com. of Pensions
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War Department
Pension Office
December 19 1834
Sir:
The papers of William Taylor of North Carolina
transmitted to you by R Murchison Esq of Jefferson, Ash Co. have been examined, and the rolls have been carefully examined. William Taylor is a very common name, and as there are three men of that name on the rolls of the line as which he alleges to have served, and as his statement does not in all respects agree with either of their cases as recorded, it will be proper before any further investigation can be had, that he should state whether he was ever wounded, or was placed upon the Invalid list, and whether he is sure he first enlisted for three years and subsequently for and during the war, and whether he did not leave the same in 1780. He should also give a reason for not making application for a pension under the act of March 18, 1818 - The papers remain on file
I have the honor to be
Your Obt. Servant
J.L. Edwards

Hon. Lewis Williams
House of Rep's
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Rev War

7687
INVALID.
---
File No. 7687
William Taylor
Pri Rev War
---
Act: June 7th 1832
Index: -- Vol. 1st, Page 369
(Arrangement of 1870.)
Page 30

Wm Taylor
NC

Wm Taylor's Claim
for Pension
Proof of Character
Page 31

State of North Carolina
Ashe County
This day came Benjamin Brown a citizen of said County before me George Bower Chairman of the County Court of please and quarter sessions in and for the County of Ashe aforesaid, who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath say that he is well acquainted with William Taylor who hath lately applied for a pension, and that the said William Taylor from his appearance must be 78 or 80 years of age, and that he is a man of the most unquestionable veracity when on oath and that it is currently reported and believed in the neighbourhood in which the said William Taylor resides that he the said Taylor was a Revolutionary soldier & that this affiant does not doubt the fact nor has he ever heard it doubted: he the said Benjamin Brown further swears that he was present when Stephen Thomas and Gideon Lewis on the 26th Inst. made the affidavits hereunto annexed, and
that in the said affidavits they alluded to the identical William Taylor whose declaration for a pension has been sent to the War department
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 28th day of September A.D. 1835
Benj. Brown
Attest
Geo. Bower J.P.
Bower J.P.
Br. Brown
to the
1835
Download
of 40
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State of North Carolina
Ashe County
SS.

I George Bower Chairman of the County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County of Ashe aforesaid do hereby certify that
Stephen Thomas Gideon Lewis and Benjamin Brown are respectable residents of said County and that they are titled to credit on oath - it also appears in evidence before me that the said
Stephen Thomas Gideon Lewis and Benjamin
Brown reside in the neighbourhood of Wm. Taylor - and that the Wm. Taylor alluded to by them is the same identical person who has made his declaration for a pension and sent it on to the war department some time since. I further certify that John Ray is the Clerk of the said Court for the said County
Given under my hand this the 28th day of September A.D. 1835
Geo Bower Chairman
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State of North Carolina
Ashe County ⎬ SS.

I John Ray Clerk of the County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County of Ashe aforesaid do hereby certify that George Bower is chairman of the said Court & that the
foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office this 28th
day of September 1835.
John Ray C.C.C.
By R. Murchison D.C.
Page 34

Wm. Taylor's
Claim
affd of
Gid, Lewis
&
Stephen Thomas
Page 35

State of North Carolina
Ashe County
I Stephen Thomas one of the acting Justice for said County, do Certyfy that I have been aquanted with William Taylor for several years & Never hearn or new any thing but he is a man that Cold be Believed as a man of truth & that he Cold give Credit to him as a man of truth on oath Sworn & Subscribed to this 26th of Sept 1835
S Thomas JP
Witness
Gideon  Lewis JP

State of NC
Ashe County
I Gideon Lewis one of the acting Justice for Sd. County do Certyfy that I have been aquanted with William Taylor for several years & Never hearn or new any thing but he is a man that Cold be Believed as a man of truth when on oath
Sworne & Subscribed to this 26th of Sept 1835
Gideon Lewis JP
Witness
S Thomas JP

State of North Carolina
Ashe County
I John Ray clerk of the County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the county aforesaid
do hereby certify that Stephen Thomas and Gideon Lewis above named are acting justices of the peace duly commissioned and sworn, & that the foregoing signatures purporting to be theirs are genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office this 28th day of September 1835
John Ray CCC
By R. Murchison D.C.
Page 36

Land Office, Annapolis, Decr. 17th 1834.
Sir,
The declaration of William Taylor, has been examined, he states, that he enlisted in Captain Spykers Company of the 7th Maryland Regiment, first for three years and afterwards for during the War, - I find upon the rolls of the Maryland troops, a number of William Taylors, there is but one however, whose name appears upon the Muster roll of Captn. Sphyers Company, a Certificate of which, I herewith send you enclosed, - the declaration is also herewith returned.
I am very respectfully
Yr. Obt. St.
G.G. Brower

J.L. Edwards Esqr.
Page 37

Jefferson Ashe Co. N.C. Aug. 25th 1835
Sir
Herewith I transmit you another declaration made by Wm. Taylor of this County, who has already sent his declaration, & an amendment thereto, which papers I presume are filed in the dept.
By your letter of June 27th 1835 to me it appears, that additional proof of the old man's service is required -- He informs me that he does not know of any proof he can make - as he has not heard of any of his fellow soldiers of the Reg. in which he served for a number of years - 
He however insists that he is entitled to
pension, & has come to this place again to
the present Court in order to make another
effort -- He has therefore made the enclosed
declaration, which I drew for him & which
I have no doubt is substantially correct.

The old man is frail & very ignorant, consequently he cannot relate the history of his services in consecutive order in every instant, hence arose, in his amended declaration sent on some three months since some errors as to battles & perhaps, his age -- In the present declaration, I hope these discrepancies are accounted for. --
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In your letter above alluded to, (I mean
the letter of Mr. Crump) there is some exceptions taken to the old man's name being in the original declaration Wm R Taylor. - I presume that was mearly done by Mr. Wilson who drew that paper, as the old man has generally been so called - for distinction but he (the old man) avers that he thinks his name on the Roll in the service was Wm. Taylor & that since he has learned to write that he has generally wrote his name without the R. - These facts are stated in the present declaration.

As mentioned above Mr. Wilson, an attorney of this Court, drew the first declaration for the old man - & left the papers with me to be forwarded to the War Dept. - When I recd. your letter putting some queries to the old man, as to his having been wounded & not making his declaration sooner &c - I sent word to the old man who resides with his son some 20 or 25 miles from this place - & he was brought to this place during the weeks of our Court when in the hurry of business I drew his answers to the queries contained in the letter which you have on file & which it appears are not entirely satisfactory.-- The old man's friends at that time proposed getting the certificates
Page 39

of some of the neighbors setting forth the old
man's character for veracity & their belief of his service - &c - this I told him I considered
unnecessary as he claimed as a Regular soldier & that his name would be found on the Rolls in the Dept.  On yesterday when drawing his declaration, I told him to mention the names of some of his fellow soldiers of the same company, which he did, but he did not appear quite certain that they enlisted when he did. - There is no person at all acquainted with the old man who doubts his services - on yesterday he [called?] on three or four of his neighbours (who happened to be in attendance at court) who testified before the court that it was reported and believed in the neighbourhood where the old man resides, that he was a soldier of the Revolution. - The old man tells me that I was in error when I stated in his amended declaration that he was wounded at the battle of White Plains - he says he was wounded at White Plains, but that it was in a skirmish between a small party of each side, some 12 or 18 months after the battle. This fact is also set forth in the present declaration.

The old man appears to be constantly expecting to be relieved from the troubles of this
Page 40

World, by the Soldier's friend Death - & no person seeing him in his present condition, (although entirely destitute of worldly property), can believe that he could dare to commit perjury - He often weeps when relating the thrilling incidents of his services - his marching barefoot over snow & ice lying sick without supplies &c -- and will add, that  he does not know what his faults have been, that his country has refused to afford that assistance to him which is so bountifully bestowed on some of his brother soldiers -

I do hope that the old man's claim can be allowed - and his name placed amongst those to whom a grateful Nation affords aid in their old age - for their services so gloriously rendered in the achievement of the Liberties we enjoy.
I am Respectfully
Yours &c
R. Murchison

Jas. L. Edwards Esqr.
Comr. of Pensions.