Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7809, William Ward, N.C.
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(3-1776)

SERVICE   N. C.

Ward, William

NUMBER    S. 7809

carded

CONTENTS
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[page is divided in half vertically with all printing  and writing on right side of page]

23. 439
North Carolina
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William ward 
of Sampson in the State of N. Caro
who was a Pri: in the _____ commanded
by Captain ____ of the Regt commanded 
by Col Young in the N. Caro
line for 2 years

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Inscribed on the Roll of N. Carolina 
at the rate of 80 __ Dollars ____ Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

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Certificate of Pension issued the 24 day of Jan 34 and Sent Patrick Murphy, _ Taylors Bridge _ N. Car.

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Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 __.   200 -
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 34  40 _
$240 __

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by  A. Rice. ____  Clerk,
Book G   Vol. 6th    Page. 79 ___
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No.  17353

William Ward
Sampson County
North Carolina
Admit as private
2 yr.   $80 ---
Suspended, See let
4 Nov:  1833 to
Patrick Miurphey
Taylors Bridge
Hon. J McKay

Thos. I. Fairson Esq
Clerk Court of Sampson County
North Carolina
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BRIEF in the case of William Ward 
County of Sampson in the State of North Carolina (Act 7th June, 1832.)

1.  Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge ?  Court

2.  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity ? 

3.  How old is he ?  78 years

4.  State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
[Entries in table recording service Period, Duration of Service, Rank, Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served are shown below]

Genl. Caswell

Enld. In 1775, 6 months, minuteman, Capt Love
Vol. In 1776, 3 months, lighthorse, Capt Williams
Vol. In 1776, 3 months, Capt Col Young
Vol. In 1776, 12 Days, Capt Col Young
Vol. In 1776, 3 months, infantry, Capt Dickerson
Vol. In 1776, 3 monts, Horseman, Capt Williams
Vol. In 1776, 2 months, Horseman, Capt Hooks
Vol. In 1776, 2 months, Horseman, Capt Johnson
Vol. In 1776, 3 months, Horseman, Col Rutledge O. William

5.  In what battles was he engaged?  Moores Creek Bridge.  Some scurmishes.

6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Duplin County North Carolina

7.   Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  I. Witness to first tour of Service 

8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication?  and if so, in what respect?   [Word 'correct' is crossed out] Papers not attached by County Court seal.

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

J W Clagett  Examining Clerk.
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State of North Carolina
Sampson County
Court of Pleas &[and] Quarter Sessions August Term 1832

On this the twenty first day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open Court before William Kirby, Archibald Monk, Barrel Dawson, Ben. Phillips, Henry Godwin, &[and] David Dawson Esquires, Justices of the Pleas and Quarter Sessions, aforesaid now sitting William Ward a resident of Sampson County in the State of North Carolina aged seventy eight years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
That he entered the service, a minuteman under the command of Captain James Love, David Cannon Lieutenant, John MacKann Ensign, that he does not recollect the day, but it was in the year 1775, -- thinks it was in the month of September, that he thinks this term of service expired in the month of March 1776, that he rendezvoused first, at a place called Duplin Court House, that when he entered the service, he was residing in Duplin County North Carolina, on Goshen; that he engaged in
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in his first term of service for six months, that from Duplin old Court House, he marched to upper Rockfish Creek in Cumberland County N.C. about eight miles below where Fayetteville now is, then called Cross Creek, that soon after his arrival at this place the Duplin militia came about 250 or 300 in number, whose officers he does not recollect, except Thomas Hooks, who he thinks was Lieutenant, that he served with a company of regulars at Rockfish, commanded by Captain Henry Dickson, Tilman Dickson Lieutenant, about 300 in number;  that there was a company of volunteers there also, commanded by Ashe &[and] called Ashe's volunteers, that from thence he marched to Elizabeth Town, Bladen county N.C.;  that at Elizabeth Town there was a company of minutemen commanded by Thomas Bladworth as Captain and Thomas Devane Lieutenant; that the company in which he was, took boating at Elizabeth Town, went down Cape Fear, to its junction with Black River, thence up Black River to the mouth of Moores Creek, thence up Moores Creek to Moores Creek bridge, where he landed three or four days before the battle at that place, that from thence he marched to Long Creek bridge, that while at Long Creek bridge, an express came from Genl. Caswell to march back to Moores Creek bridge and make intrechments, that he then marched back to Moores Creek bridge, and had made a short piece of intrenchment near the bridge, when another express came, to march as to Corbett's ferry on Black River, that he then marched on towards Corbett's ferry, and got as far as Calvin's Creek, when another express arrived ordering them back to Moores'
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company of Duplin militia, and asked him if he (this applicant) could,nt send his horse home &[and] enter the service of the infantry, to which Capt. Dickson said. "I could,, that he (this applicant) was then enrolled in the infantry under Captain Dickson and served out this term of three months and was discharged by Captain Dickson, that he was a volunteer in this tour also, and a light horseman at first.  that he does not recollect the day, month or year, when he left this service, and that about the time the twelve days service upon the enemy's lines above spoken of was ended, Captain Daniel Williams was promoted to brigade major and Thomas James appointed Captain of the light horse company.
That he entered a fifth term of service under Captain Daniel Williams, he thinks David Banting Lieutenant &[and] Daniel Clark, Cornet or Ensign, that he does not recollect the day month or year, that he engaged for three months as a lighthorseman; that he does not recollect the time when he left this period of service;  that the company rendezvoused at Duplin old Court House; that when the company started on their march, he was so indisposed that he was unable to go with them; that as soon as he recovered he followed on and overtook them in South Carolina at a place called the Four Holes, that when he came up with them, they had captured twenty tories &[and] six British; that this was, he thinks, late in the fall of that year, because pumpkins were ripe, that he, with David Banting who he thinks was Lieutenant, Samuel Oates &[and] others about ten in number, was detached with the prisoners to Newbern N.C.; that this term of service being so near expired when this detachment left the company, Capt Williams told them, it would be unnecessary to return to him; that therefore from Newbern he returned to Duplin &[and] that he was again a volunteer.
That he entered a sixth term of service under Captain
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Captain William Hooks of the Duplin militia that he does not recollect the day, month or year neither does he recollect where he embodied, that he engaged for two months, that he was employed during this tour, in traversing Duplin County and part of Wayne, sometimes in pursuit of a company of tories on Neuse River commanded by Dinkins &[and] Hines; that this company killed two respectable young men on Neuse  viz Blackshear &[and] Franks; that their principal object in this tour, was to protect the inhabitants from the cruelties and depredations of the tories, that he was a volunteer lighthorseman, that he does not recollect when this tour ended; that he served it out and was discharged by his Captain.
That he entered a seventh term of service under Captain Michael Johnson Kenan, that he does not recollect the day, month or year, neither does he recollect when he left; that he engaged for two months. that he was employed during this term, in traversing Duplin County in quest of the tories &[and] in protecting the inhabitants from their ravages &[and] depredations, that he was again a volunteer light horseman; that he served out this period and was discharged by his Captain.
That he entered an eighth term of service under Col. Thomas Rutledge, the captain of his company being Thomas Hooks, that he does not recollect the day, month ore year, that he rendezvoused at Duplin old Court House; that he was then drafted for three months, that the whole company did not serve out this term because danger had subsided, and they were dismissed as he thinks, but that he was not; that he thinks a part of the company served a little better than two months, that from Duplin old Court House he marched to
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that during this tour he was traversing and scouting the country round about Wilmington, that a galley, laden with the enemy, was decoyed ashore, &[and] four of them killed, besides one badly wounded who died next day, that at the end of this service, he was discharged by his Capt Daniel Williams, at, he thinks, Duplin old Court House; where he first rendezvoused.
That he entered a third term of service under the command again of Captain Daniel Williams John Armstrong Lieutenant, that he does not recollect the day, month, or year, nor does he remember when he left this tour of service, that he rendezvoused, again, at Duplin old Court House, that from thence, he marched again to the vicinity of Wilmington, that he traversed the country round about Wilmington, that the enemy still occupied that place; that he thinks he remained about Wilmington till this term of service was expired when he was discharged by his Capt Daniel Williams, and that he engaged for three months as a volunteer lighthorseman.
That he entered a fourth tour of service under Captain Daniel Williams, Thomas James Lieutenant, that he does not recollect the day month or year; that he embodied at Duplin old Court House, that he marched from thence on towards Wilmington, the enemy still having possession of that place, that in his march, he fell in with a company of light horsemen commanded by Captain Thomas Wright at, he believes,
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believes, some place above the Big Bridge; that two or three days before he got to the Big Bridge a skirmish had happened at that place, between the New Hanover militia and the enemy in which the former retreated as he understood. that a Col Young took command of the companies, after they arrived in the vicinity of Wilmington, that he was with others, forty two in number, employed for about twelve days &[and] nights, almost constantly, upon the enemy's lines reconnoitring them; that in this time, two British dragoons were captured, that Col Young ordered Captain Williams, to send a guard with them, who would take care of them; that Captain Williams detached two others and this applicant to guard the prisoners to Captain McClammy's, about fourteen miles from Wilmington on the sound. that the next day after the twelve days service was out, Col. Young told him that he must go with him (Col. Young) again upon the British lines; that he (Col Young) would,nt give him (this applicant) and a fellow soldier named John Ward for ten men he did,nt know; that this applicant was then very much fatigued, and his horse much wearied, very poor and had a very sore back, and did,nt think it safe to go upon the British lines in that condition, and told Col Young, that if he did go, he Col Young must furnish him (this applicant) with a fresh horse to which Col Young replied, "that could,nt be done,,; that he this applicant then said that if he went, he would go confined, unless he had a fresh horse; that Col. Young then said, he would  put him (this applicant) under guard, that he (this applicant) upon this became vened, &[and] went to Captain William Dickson commander of a company
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Interrogatories propounded to William Ward an applicant for a pension on account of revolutionary services, as a volunteer and in the militia of North Carolina.

Question 1st   Where &[and] in what year were you born?
Answer.  I was born in Pitt County in the State of North Carolina, between Tar River and the Roanoke, on the 20th December 1753.

Question  2nd   Have you any record of your age; and if so, where is it ?
Answer   I have a record of my age at home in a large bible.

Question 3rd   Where were you living when called into service;  where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live?
Answer,   When called into service, I was living in Duplin County on Goshen. Since the revolutionary war I lived on Goshen; &[and] near Duplin old Court House, not far from the line now, dividing Duplin from Sampson at which places I lived till about thirty years ago, when I removed to where I now live which is Sampson County N.C.; not far from the Duplin line.

Question 4th   When were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or
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or were you a substitute; and if a substitute for whom ?
Answer   I volunteered every term except the last, when I was drafted; I never served as a substitute.

Question 5th   State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served, such continental and militia regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service
Answer,   the regular officers as I understood who were with the troops where I served were Captain Henry Dickson Lieutenant Tilman Dickson, Col. Malmady &[and] Major DeBaron;  I recollect the North Carolina continental regiment that marched as I understood to Philadelphia and were inoculated with the small pox fought at the battle of Brandywine and were commanded by Genl Francis Nast;  Genl Caswell commanded as I understood six hundred men;  and Genl Lillington three hundred, that I recollect, of the militia, whether they were regiments or not I dont know.  The continental regiment above alluded to was called the first regiment of North Carolina.  the general circumstances of my service are detailed in the proceeding declaration.
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Question 6th   Did you ever receive a discharge from the service; and if so by whom was it given, and what has become of it ?
Answer.   I dont recollect of ever having received a written discharge and if I ever did I took no care of them;  I have examined among my papers and can find none;  we generally got a ticket for our services.

Question 7th.  State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your service as a soldier of the revolution ?
Answer    John Bryan, William Robinson Esq, Dickson Sloan, Major James Matthis, David Rogers, Robert Marley and others I could mention of Sampson County, and the Rev. William Wells,  Rev. Samuel Planford, Rev. Peter Carlton, William Stokes, Gibson Sloan, Robert Sloan, John Linton &[and] others I could mention of Duplin County

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name
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name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state 
Sworn &[and] subscribed the day and year aforesaid
William A Slone [Signature virtually illegible]

We David Rogers, a clergyman residing in the county of Sampson and William Robinson residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Ward who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy eight years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn &[and] subscribed the day &[and] year aforesaid 
David Rogers
W  Robinson

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the afovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states,  And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that David Rogers, who has signed the preceeding certificate is a clergyman resident in the County of Sampson N.C. , and that William Robinson who has also signed the same, is a resident of the same, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Benjn Phillips
D Dawson
A. Monk JP
W. Kirby Chn.
Burrell Dawson
Henry Godwin
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to Jumping Run, about two miles below Wilmington;  that while there he assisted in throwing up entrenchments; that there, two Frenchmen, who were regular officers viz. Col. Malmady and Major DeBaron, selected seventy men and this applicant among them to go with their mounted infantry seventy in number, and seventy mounted men called Knock-em-down men, armed with pistols and white-oak staffs; that from Jumping Run he marched with them to Harrison's Creek which runs into the North East, that while at Harrisons Creek he heard that Lord Cornwallis &[and] Colonel Tarlton, with their forces, were in Wilmington, that this was in the spring of the year, before Lord Cornwallis surrendered in the fall; that while at Harrison Creek, a detachment under the command of Major DeBaron, marched down to Wilmington to reconnoitre the enemy, that from Harrisons creek he marched to Rutherford's Mills across Holly Shelter creek which runs into the North East, that he remained there three days, making entrenchments, expecting Lord Cornwallis and Col. Tarlton with their army along that way; that here two frenchmen fell in with them, one an officer Capt Farrowgood, who took command of the artillery, there being two pieces found there when he arrived, that this was not long after the battle at Guilford, and that he understood that these frenchmen had been in that battle; that at this place he thinks there was a company or part of a company of militia; from Duplin when he arrived; that
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that from thence he marched to Limestone bridge which is across the North East; that he remained there two or three days, that he had been promised to be discharged here, as the three months for which he had been drafted were about to expire, but was not, the officers saying they would discharge the companies after they had marched them to Kingston in Lenoir County N.C., that from thence he marched to Kingston and was discharged on the 29th of April of that year, that soon after his return from Kingston, Cornwallis and his army passed through Duplin; that about fifteen days after his return aforesaid, hearing that a body of tories, consisting of one hundred &[and] fifty two foot soldiers, and thirteen light horsemen, were in Cohara about two miles from Sampson Court House, he rode all night collecting a company to go against them; that seven two light horsemen collected and embodied at Sampson Court House or rather where Sampson Court House now is &[and] were commanded by Daniel Williams &[and] David Dodd, that Genl. Kenan, Major Abraham Moultin and Curtis Ivey who had been an officer in the regular army were in the company; that from thence he marched to Mchan's Bridge on Cohara where he came upon the trail of the tories, pursued them and fell in with them at Porteviat's race paths, where there was a skirmish in which we had two wounded, they retreated, we pursued them, and overtook them at Robinsons swamp where there was another skirmish, that they retreated, and we pursued them on across Black River just below where Newkirks bridge now is, where they escaped from us; that this service was for about five or six days, that he was a volunteer.
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Moores Creek bridge, to make intrenchments, for, the tories had crossed Black River; that he then marched back to Moores Creek bridge; that he arrived there the day before the battle; that a company of minute men commanded by Captain Richard Clinton, Patrick Stewart Lieutenant, met us there; that they then commenced making intrenchments a little further off than the first they had made; that that evening Genl Caswell with his army arrived, (having a few pieces of Artillery,) on the West side of Moores Creek bridge, that curiosity had attracted him to go over the Creek to see the artillery as he had never seen any, that while viewing the artillery, a flag was brought to Genl Caswell from the tories by a Mr Haburn bearing a paper; that a Captain Vance asked Genl Caswell if he might kill the bearer of the flag, and Genl. Caswell shook his head; that then Genl Caswell and his army crossed over the bridge and encamped on the East side of the creek; that after Genl Caswell &[and] his army crossed over, the bridge was partly taken up; that the artillery was fixed that night and pointed to the bridge; that by break of day next morning, the enemy were firing at us across the creek, that they attempted to cross some sounding the bottom of the creek, to ascertain, as was thought, if they could ford it, &[and] some to pass over the bridge, in which latter, four men succeeded, &[and] among them Col McLeod and Capt Campbell who were killed, and the enemy defeated; that the American officers at that place he recollects were Genl Caswell, Genl Lillington, Captains Love, Clinton, Bludworth, Ingram and Captain Vance of the artillery, that he knew but few of the officers belonging to Gen. Caswells army; that the tories
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tories were commanded by Genl McDonald &[and] Col. McLeod; that after the battle at Moores Creek bridge, he marched to Wilmington N.C.; that soon after, a company of minute men commanded by a Captain French from New River in Onslow County, arrived there, that he remained in Wilmington a short time, and from thence marched to Lockhart's or Lockwood's folly, a creek in Brunswick county N.C.; that it was said there was a body of tories stationed there, that when he arrived at Lockhart's folly, there were no tories there; that four companies marched from Wilmington to Lockhart's folly with him, viz. Captain Loves, Clinton's, French's &[and] Bludworth's; that from thence he returned to Wilmington; that on his return-march to Wilmington this term of service expired, that after he arrived at Wilmington, which was about the first of April, he was discharged; that he was a volunteer in this tour of service; and that he thinks he can prove this term of service by William Taylor now residing in the County of Duplin N.C.
That he entered a second term of service under Captain Daniel Williams, who had been a regular officer, John Armstrong Lieutenant, in the year 1776; that he does not recollect the day of the month, or the month, but thinks it was in the fall of the year, that he was a volunteer lighthorseman, that he embodied at Duplin old Court House; that he engaged to serve, this tour, for three months; that from thence he marched towards Wilmington; that in his march to Wilmington either in this tour, or the next one, he fell in with part of Captain John Moulton's company; that the British , then, had possession of Wilmington, the infantry under Major Craig &[and] the cavalry under Captain Gorden; that
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I Thomas J Faison Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of the County of Sampson do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the Original Proceedings of the Said court in the matter of the application of William Ward for a Pension.
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office at Clinton this 6th day of October AD 1832 and in the 57th Year of American Independence
Thomas J. Faison Clerk

State of North Carolina
Sampson County
On this the 27th July A.D. 1833 before me a Justice of the Peace in &[and] for said county of Sampson personally appeared William Ward the aforesaid applicant who for the purpose of amending the preceding declaration doth on his oath further declare and say that his minute service under Captain James Love was six months as a private; that in his second tour of service under Captain Daniel Williams he served  three months as a private that he has no documentary evidence to prove this service, but thinks he can prove it ['this service' crossed out] by John Wright Sen. of this county;  that in his third term of service under Captain Daniel Williams he served three months; that he has no documentatary evidence to show this service
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and that he knows of no person by whom he can prove this service, that he is not positively certain whether he can prove this third tour of service under Capt Williams or the second one, by John Wright Sen. aforesaid but thinks he can prove either one or the other; that in his fourth term he served three months as a private, that he has no documentary evidence to show this service and knows of no person by whom he can prove it;  that in his fifth tour, he served three months as a private, that he has no documentary evidence to prove it, &[and] knows of no person by whom he can prove this tour; that in his sixth tour he served two months, has no documentary evidence and knows of no person by whom he can prove it;  that in his seventh tour he served two months as a private; that he has no documentary evidence and knows of no person by whom he can prove this service; that in his eighth term, he was drafted for three months and served the term out, that he has no documentary evidence &[and] knows of no person by whom he can prove this service.
Sworn &[and] subscribed the day &[and] year aforesaid before me a Justice of the Peace as aforesaid and I hereby certify that said applicant cannot from bodily infirmity attend court &[and] attest    Dickson Sloan  J.P.

I. Thomas J. Faison clerk of the Court of Pleas &[and] Quarter Sessions for Sampson County hereby certify that Dickson Sloan before whom the foregoing amended declaration was sworn to &[and] subscribed is &[and] was at the date thereof an acting Justice of the Peace in &[and] for said County and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this the 1st day of August A.D. 1833. and in the 58th Year of American Independence
Thomas J. Faison Clerk
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[document is divided vertically in the middle as if two pages in a ledger book]

[on left side of document]

1940 - Mch.12 - Hon. G.A. Barden inf (for A.D. Ward.) cost of photos
1940 Apr.3 -- Photos & ctf mailed to A.D. Ward & Acctg. Did notified same date  ___ MLB

[on right side of document]

7809
INVALID.

File No.    7809

William Ward
Priv. Rev  War

Act:  June 7th 1832

Index:--- Vol.  1st,   Page 392

[Arrangement of 1870.]


Rev  War [written vertically from bottom to top on upper right side of right side of page]
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[type written letter]

March 12, 1940

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

WILLIAM WARD
S.  7809
BA-J/MMHF:MLB

My dear Mr. Barden:

Reference is made to your letter in behalf of Mr. A. D. Ward, of Newburn, North Carolina, whose letter you enclosed. Mr.  Ward states that his former request need not be pursued further, except for photostatic copies of William Ward's pension papers, as the scope of his former inquiries was not comprehended by this office.

It may be that Mr. Ward does not know that claims for pension and bounty land which have been made to the United States are the only source of data furnished by the Veterans Administration in regard to soldiers of the Revolutionary War, and that when no such claims have been made, this office does not have the records, which was the case in the report furnished you February 28, 1940, in regard to William Robinson, William Johnson and William Pickett.

With the additional information given by Mr. Ward in regard to the William Ward in whom he is interested, the record has been found of the William Ward who was born in 1753 in Pitt County, North Carolina, and lived later in Sampson County, North Carolina.

Photostatic copies of the papers in that claim (S. 7809)  will be furnished him for twenty-five cents a page. The  number of pages to be copied is twenty-two which, of course, in duplicate as he desires, will be forty-four pages, making a total cost of copies $11.00. Certification of the two sets will cost fifty cents additional; $11.50 entire cost.

Mr. Ward should make remittance by money order drawn to the order of the Treasurer of the United States and mailed to the Veterans Administration, Arlington Building, Washington, D. C. Upon  receipt of his remittance, the copies will be made and mailed to him or to you as may be directed.
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[type written letter continued]

It may be stated that a very full abstract from all the papers will be prepared for Mr. Ward which will include service, residences, date of birth, and all family data, should there be any in the papers.  These official reports have been accepted by various societies and individuals as authentic and might be all that Mr. Ward needs in his research work.  His letter is returned herewith.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator

--  2  --
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[type written letter on letter-head paper]

A. D. WARD
WM. F. WARD

WARD & WARD
ATTORNEYS AND COUNCELORS AT LAW
79 POLLOCK STREET NEW BERN, N. C.

PRACTICE IN THE COUNTIES OF CRAVEN, CARTERET, JONES, LENOIR, ONSLOW, PAMLICO, AND IN THE SUPREME AND FEDERAL COURTS

[written in right upper side of page] Rev & 1812

March 15, 1940.

[stamped under the date] 7382

Veteran's Administration
Arlington Building
Washington, D. C.

William Ward
S.  7809
BA-J/MMHF:MLB

Attention Honorable A. D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator

Dear Sir:

Answering your letter of march 13th to Honorable Graham A. Barden of the House of Representatives, I beg to hand you herewith money order of this date payable to the Treasurer of the United States for $5.75, covering the cost of a photostatic copy of twenty-two pages of the application for pension of the veteran William Ward, born in Pitt County September 20th, or December 20th, 1753, and who died in Sampson County after 1835.  Please have one set of photostatic copies made instead of two and forward to me.

Thanking you in advance, I am
Yours truly,

A. D. Ward

ADW.m

 C:   Honorable Graham A. Barden
        House of Representatives
        Washington, D. C.

1 copy [barely legible time, date received stamp in lower right corner of page]
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[type written letter on letter head paper]

GRAHAM A. BARDEN
THIRD DISTRICT NORTH CAROLINA

Congress of the United States
House of Representatives
Washington, D. C.

COMMITTEES:
EDUCATION
RIVERS AND HARBORS
LABOR
LIBRARY

March 8, 1940

Mr. A. D. Hiller
Executive Asst. to the Administrator
Veteran's Administration
Washington, D. C.

My dear Mr. Hiller:

Please refer to your letter of February 28, your file BA-MMHF:MLB.

I am enclosing a letter received from Mr. A. D. Ward, which I believe, will give you the information requested in the third paragraph of your letter and will appreciate your handling the matter as suggested in the enclosure.

Yours very truly,

Graham A. Barden

Please return the enclosed letter for my files.
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round time and date-received stamp on page; clock face around inner edge of stamp with indicator arrow pointing about 9:16; 
following printing in inner part of stamp:
MAR 9  1940
MAIL SUB DIV
Congressional #1
VETS ADM
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[type written letter on letter head paper]

A. D. WARD
WM. F. WARD

WARD & WARD
ATTORNEYS AAND COUNSELORS AT LAW
79 POLLOCK STREET
NEWBERN, N. C.

PRACTICE IN THE COUNTIES OF CRAVEN, CARTERET, JONES, LENOIR, ONSLOW, PAMLICO, AND IN THE SUPREMEM AND FEDERAL COURTS

December 7, 1939.

Pension Bureau
Washington, D. C.

In re:  William Ward Pensioner as soldier of the Revolution

I was born December 25th, 1859 and am one among fifteen or sixteen great grandchildren of said William Ward, who was pensioned as a Revolutionary Soldier, resident of Sampson County North Carolina, in 1835.

He was born in Beaufort County, North Carolina, in the part which is now Pitt County, North Carolina, on the 20th day of September or of December, 1753.  I have his family bible or rather the family bible of his father, Edward Ward, and his birth has been entered in two places but the month is indistinct in the first place and appears to have been December, and in the second place it appears to have been September.

I would like to have about two copies of his application for pension, and would prefer photostatic copies.

Please write me what they will cost.

Yours truly,

A D Ward [signature]
A.D. Ward

ADW.m

P. S.   He has no relatives now living that are nearer related to him than great grandchildren. The last one of them having been a grandson who died in 1912.

[circular, printed time and date received stamp in lower right corner of page; clock face printed on inner edge of stamp with indicator arrow pointed to about 3:15; the following words and dates are printed in the center of the stamp:  RECEIVED DEC 8 1939. MAR SUB DIV; the remainder of the printing is illegible]
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General Accounting Office
(Thomas) reported by telephone Mch, 11, 1940, that this pension was last paid Sept. 20, 1836, to Samuel Ward, Atty., at that time the soldier had been a resident of Sampson Co., N. C. for 37 yrs., prior to which he resided in Duplin Co., N.C.

MY+[and] P
Page 29

APRIL 2, 1940

[type written ]
twenty-two pages are true photostatic copies of the originals thereof in the claim for pension based upon service of WILLIAM WARD in the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, on file under S.  7809.


[hand written]
The wording filled in on Let. Ad. Form 57 -- Revised July, 1931

FRANK T. HINES

[some other faded, hand written words at lower left corner of page were not legible]
Page 30

[type written letter]

NO.  511
BA-J/MLB
MARCH  23,  1940
REV. &  1812 WARS SECTION  XXXXXXXX
WAR & NAVY, BRANCH 970

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Rev. War claim for pension of William Ward,

File No.   S.  7809.    
Actual   one of each page


$5.50.         22 pages

Kindly leave margin of 1 1/2 inches at top of each page and return papers in folder with corresponding name and number.  

Chief, Rev & 1812 Wars Section

[hand written portion on page written vertically from bottom to top of page on left side]

List of pages to A. D. Ward
Sol's. application-- Aug 21 -- 1832 = 10 pages followed by Interrogatories which equals 4 p.  or total 14 p
A page wh begins "I, Thomas J. Faison +[and] ends "to show.his service" +[and] the reverse side which ends with the date " Aug. 1, 1833 +[and] in this 58th Year of Amer Independence, signed Thomas J. Faison" =   2 p
Mr Taylor's affid --  Aug 28 , 1832 +[and] reverse  = 2 p
Sol's ,  appl -- Dec  6 -- 1833 = 3 p
Ctf. jacket = 1 p  
22 p
Page 31

State of North Carolina
Duplin County

Court of Pleas &[and] Quarter Sessions August Term 1832

On this the 28th day of August AD. 1832 personally appeared in open Court before Alfred Ward, Robert Middleton and Richard Miller . . . . Esquires Justices of the Court of Pleas &[and] Quarter Sessions of Duplin County aforesaid now sitting William Taylor, of said County, who being first duly sworn according to law, maketh oath and says that William Ward now residing in Sampson County N. C. aged about seventy eight years was in the service of the United States in the Revolutionary War, to the personal knowledge of this affiant, that he thinks it was in the year 1775 that the said William Ward and this affiant entered the said service under the command of Captain James Love, that David Cannon was Lieutenant, and John McKann Ensign, that it was in the minute service, that they, the said William Ward and this affiant engaged to serve in the said service for six months, and that the said William Ward actually served out the said six months, in which time a battle at Moores Creek Bridge happened, where the tories were defeated &[and] McLeod killed.
Sworn to &[and] subscribed the day &[and] year aforesaid
William Taylor [signature]
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State of NoCarolina
Duplin County
I James Pearsall Clerk of the County Court aforesaid do hereby Certify that Wm. Taylor Came into open Court &[and] Qualified to the foregoing affidavit
In Witness Whereof I have Set my hand &[and] Seal at office this 28th August AD  1832
Jas Pearsall Clk

State of North Carolina
Duplin County
Court of Pleas &[and] Quarter Sessions . August Term 1833.
We the undersigned now holding the Court aforesaid hereby certify that it is made appear to us that William Taylor who subscribed &[and] swore to the preceding affidavit at August Term 1832 of the Court aforesaid is a credible witness and that his statement is entitled to credit.
Given under our hand,
S. Graham  JP
Jas. Lawson  JP
Ricd. Miller  JP

 I John Watkins  Clerk of the Court of Pleas &[and] Quarter Sessions of Duplin County hereby certify that the persons whose signatures appear above are Justices of the Peace in &[and] for said County and presided at the Court aforesaid, the term aforesaid, and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be theirs are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name this the 28 day of August A.D.  1833
Jno. Watkins. Clk

[written vertically from bottom of page to top of page on left edge of page is the following:] 
William Taylor's affidavit
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State of North Carolina
Sampson County ss

On this the 6th day of December 1833 before the Subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County personally appeared William Ward a resident of Sampson County aforesaid in the State aforesaid aged eighty years the 20th Decr. Ins,t, an applicant for a pension under the act of Congress of June 7th 1832 __ who being duly sworn doth on his oath, in explanation of his original declaration depose and say, that in his minute service in 1775 (---) 76 he actually served six months continued service, except eight days, being furloughed for that time  immediately after the battle at Moores Creek Bridge, and came home, which was the only time he was at home during the six months;  his entering the minute service was called enlisting;  and he was with his company the whole of the above mentioned time in actual service in the army,
All persons at that time subject to military duty in his section were ordered out by the Acting Cols. of the Counties, and those who did not voluntarily enter service, stood a draft, two fourths or one half of the militia being required to be raised out of those who did not volunteer ___ In all this applicant's services, he volunteered, except twice, one of which was his minute service, and the other, three month's service as a private in a company of militia Infantry under Capt. Thos. Hooks when he was drafted __
His services as a lighthorseman, were not entirely against the tories, but principally against the British;  Four months in tours
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of two months each he served against the tories, after Cornwallis and his army passed through the Country, first under Capt Michael Johnson Kenan &[and] secondly under Capt Wm. Hooks --  In his tour under Capt Kenan, he was in a skirmish with the tories under Captain Mobley amounting to one hundred &[and] seventy two in number, the American cavalry being only seventy strong ['strong' underlined] --- and he considers his service against the tories as arduous as any he performed and although he was a volunteer he was in constant actual service;  and that he is as much entitled to pay therefore as for any service whatever,
His other services as a lighthorseman were against the British enemy, chiefly upon their lines;  that in all this service, each tour of which with its duration is set forth in his declaration he was constantly out in the field, never furloughed in the time, but actually served his several tours regularly through till discharged ---  Volunteer companies consisted of fifty three Privates and were raised by orders, he presumes from the Acting Colonel of the respective Counties, to the Captains who raised them, it being done at the time a draft was ordered to be made, During no part of his service was he in any civil pursuit.
Sworn &[and] Subscribed the day &[and] Year aforesaid before me 
witness     G.W. Robinson. JP
William Ward. [signature]

I, Thomas J. Faison Clerk of the Court of Pleas &[and] Quarter sessions for Sampson County hereby certify that George W. Robinson before whom the
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William Ward
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[printed questionnaire with hand written responses]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of William Ward which require further proof or explanation.

I.  Does the declaration show where the applicant resides ?  Yes

II.   Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides ?   Yes

III.   If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?

IV.   Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?   Yes

V.   *Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled ?   Yes

VI.   Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?   Yes

VII.   Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?   Yes

VIII.   Has the Court given their opinion?   Yes

IX.   Has the Clerk given his certificate?   Yes

X.   Is the Clerk's seal affixed ?   And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?   Yes
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2

XI.   Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and other respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service ?   Yes

XII.   If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it ?

XIII.   If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had ?   1 [crossed out letters 'lif'] living Witness to the first tour of service

XIV.   + If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has  he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?   No
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?   Yes

XV.   Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service ?   in part

XVI.   Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily ?   And, if not, which of them is not so answered ?   Answered


EXPLANATORY NOTES

* QUERE  V.   In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c.  A.  B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades;   For ____ year ____ months, and ____ days, I served as a ____   For ____ months and ____ days, I served as a _____;  and for such service I claim a pension.
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3

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service.   The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.   Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c.  [et cetera] without specifying the tours;  the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service.   This form of a declaration is highly objectionable.  It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served ; the duration of each term of engagement ; the  particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that  he was either in the field or in garrison ;  and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.

+QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.

++QUERE XVI.   Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

[index finger on hand pointing to start of paragraph]  In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
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Wm Ward
Page 40

foregoing amended declaration was sworn to and subscribed is and was at the date thereof an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned and sworn, that the foregoing Signature purporting to be his is genuine and that full faith and credit are due to his official act
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name, this the 20th day of December 1833 and in the 58th Year of American Independence
Thomas J. Faison , Clerk
Page 41

Patrick Murphey __
4th Nov:  1833 ___
A. C.


[following text written vertically from bottom to top of page on lower left corner of page]
Patrick Murphy
Taylor Bridge P.O.
Sampson Cy.
N.C.

[following text written horizontally on bottom  left edge of page]

Pue vol 10 p 377
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Department of War
Pension Office
Nov 1  1833

Sir
The case of William Ward has been again taken up and after a careful investigation of the allegations set forth in his declaration the Departt. has deemed it proper to suspend his claim until some further explanations are made upon the subject of the nature of his service.

In the first place it is very clear, that altho. he was a minute man for six months, that he could not have been with his company in actual service in the army of the United States, during the whole of that time.

It appears also from his declaration that that the  services rendered as a lighthorseman [crossed out word 'was'] were not those of a regular soldier but merely that of a partisan warrior voluntarily pursuing [illegible word crossed out] and capturing tories, Scouting +[and] Scouring the county as the phrase was for that purpose + ___

This species of service is not recognized by the Act of June 7 1832 ___

The applicant must shew that he was called upon by the constituted authorities to perform certain tours of of military service;  that he was embodied and served in some regular corps in the Army of the U. S., stating particularly the nature of his service as set forth, and
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The place where, and the Officers under whom it was performed


Patrick Murphy
Taylor Bridge P. O.
Sampson Cty.
NC.


[following text written vertically from top to bottom o right side of page]

Patrick Murphey
4th Nov.  1833
A. C.

[following text written vertically from top to bottom on left side of page]

ue vol 10 p 377