Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4002, Richard Gideon, S.C.
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
S.C.

Gideon, Richard
or
Gidden
Elizabeth

NUMBER
R. 4002

Born in Va.
CONTENTS
Page 2

Mississippi 22.854
________________________________________
Richard Gideon
of Monroe Co in the State of Mississippi
who was a Private in the Co. commanded
by Capt Sexton of the Rgt commanded
By Colo Hays in the South Carolina 
line for 24 months.  (19)
====================================
Inscribed on the Roll of Mississippi
at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
===================================
Certificate of Pension issued the 18th day of Oct
1833 & sent to Stephen
Cocke.  Athens Miss
===================================
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 -               200
Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Mar 1834    40
                                                                              ____
                                                                              $240
{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Wm R Palmer,  Clerk,
Book E. Vol 8, Page 69
Page 3

The State
of Mississippi
Momroe County ⎬ On this 10 day of November eighteen hundred  thirty two personally appeared the open Court before this circuit court of said County Richard Gideon a resident of the County and State aforesaid and sixty seven years 20th of June last who according to the law  law doth on oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 1832
that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated He volunteered in
the service of the united states in Lawrence County State of South Carolina where he then
 resided in the month of May or June seventeen hundred and eighty. He entered the service under the command of Captain Lewis Duvauld under whom he served eight or ten months principally against the Cherokee Indians-- The field officers were Col. Hays, Col. Benjamin Kilgore, Maj. Anderson
He was their attached to Capt. Lewis Sexton's Company and under him was in the army commanded by general green
in South Carolina He was at the siege of ninety six. The British officer besieged was Col Granger he there got wounded by a bullet which [?] in the thigh The siege was raised without taking the fort owing to the arrival of the British under Lord Lowden whom report stated had been found by several thousand Irish This was after the battle of Camden and in the summer of the year he thinks in 1781 He was in several skirmishes
and fought the British
on Saluda River under Col. Hays and Col Pickens afterwards general Pickens. The country
Page 4

through which he marched was Georgia and South Carolina
principally in South Carolina
He continued in the service until peace was made. His term of service was about three [illegible]
that he could have named several
all of the regular officers but his recollection at this time is to indistinct to speak of them
satisfactorily. The militia and regulars were not permitted to mix together and being only a soldier he did not become acquainted with
the regular officers, regiment or companies. At ninety six there were two forts. One called Allen [?]
where the tories were supposed to be and the other big redoubt  where the British were. The
Militia besieged Allen and the regulars the big redoubt.
he has no documentary evidence
of his service. He knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his
in except that of old M Wilson which is hereto appended. He hereby relinquishes every
claim whatever 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-Sworn to and subscribed in open Richard Gideon his mark
H Buckingham Clerk

The State of Mississippi
Monroe County
Circuit Court November Term
On this 10th day of November 1832
personally appeared Susan Wilson of said County aged seventy years who after being duly sworn
maketh oath that she was well acquained with ┃
Page 5

the above named Richard Gideon in the State of (2)
South Carolina was [illegible] him frequently
in the service [illegible] in the
State of South Carolina during the revolu
tionary war, that he said Richard Gideon
served in the same company with her husband
James Wilson who hath departed this
life that the said Richard Gideon and her
husband continued in the said service for
about three years or upwards - she further
States that the said Richard Gideon was
wounded in the service and was brought to
her house and that she accompanied him to
his Fathers and that after he got so he
could serve he again entered the service

sworn to and subscribed in
open Court the day and
year aforesaid.                                her
S. H. Buckingham Clerk        Susan X Wilson
                                                           mark

The State of Mississippi
Monroe County
Circuit Court November
Term 1832

We Robert Bell a clergiman
residing in said County and [illegible]
January residing in the same county do hereby
certify that we are well acquainted  with Richard
Gideon who has subscribed and sworn to the
Above declaration that we believe him to be
sixty seven years of age that he is reputed and
believed in the neighbourhood where he resides
to have been a soldier of the revolution and we
concur in that opinion - We further certify
that we are acquainted with the above named
Susan Wilson that we believe she is seventy
[illegible] years of age; that she is a highly
Page 6

respectable old lady of said County and that her
testimony is entitled to full credit
Robert Bell [signature]
James Ganaway  [signature]

Sworn to & subscribed
in open court the 10
day of November 1832.
S H Buckingham, Clk  [signature]

and the said court do hereby declare their
opinion after the investigation of the matter
and after pulling the interrogatories presented 
by the war department that the above
named applicant was a revolutionary
soldier and served as he states and the
court further certify that it appears to
them that Robert Bell who has signed
the proceeding certificate is a clergyman resident
in the County of Monroe aforesaid and
that James Ganaway who has also signed
the same is a resident of the same County
and is a credible person and that their
statement is entitled to credit 10th 
November 1832
J. R. Nicholson [signature]
Presiding Judge


The State of Mississippi
Monroe County⎬ I Sterling H. Buckingham Clerk of
the Circuit Court of said County do hereby certify that
 the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the
Said Court in the matter of the application of Richard
Gideon for a Pension

In testimony whereof I have here
Unto set my hand and the seal of my office - This
18 day of December 1832.
S.H. Buckingham Clerk  [signature]
Page 7

The State of Mississippi
Pontotoc County
Personally appeared
before me Thomas
R Crumpton a Justice of the Peace in and for
said County William Sheppard and Permelia
Sims, credible and disinterested persons, 
who after being by me
duly sworn according to law make oath
and say; That they were acquainted with
Elizabeth Gidden (Gideon), the reputed widow of
Richard Gidden decd late of Monroe
County & state of Mississippi, in her lifetime
that they were well acquainted with
said Elizabeth, that they visited her
frequently during her last sickness-- and said
Permelia Sims states that she was present
and with said Elizabeth at the time of
her decease which occurred according to
the best of her recollection on the 
twenty ninth day of May A. D. (1847)
one thousand eight hundred and forty seven
Or there about 
and the said William Sheppard states, that
although not present at the time of the death
of said Elizabeth he was in the neighborhood
and recollect, that it occurred about
or near the time as stated by said
Permelia Sims.
They being an oath state farther,
that they were also well acquainted with
said Richard Gidden in his lifetime, that
said Permelia visited said Richard frequently during
his last sickness and that according to
the best of their recollecting said Richard
Gidden died during the fall of the year A.D. (1834)
one thousand eight hundred and thirty four
In said Monroe County
in Mississippi, that they were near neigh
Page 8

bers of the said Richard and Elizabeth
Gidden & had every opportunity of knowing 
them well _ that said Richard
during his lifetime was reputed to be an
old Revolutionary soldier, and then to be
drawing a pension from the Government
for his military service as such

They also on oath further state that
during the lifetime of the said Richard and
Elizabeth they lived together as husband
wife, and that they never heard it disputed
that they were such

They further state that they are well
acquainted with Mrs Margaret Hilliard who
is reputed to be the oldest child of the said
Richard & Elizabeth Gidden(Gideon) - that they had
seen the family record of the truth of the
said Margaret which birth date of the eighth
day of December, A.D. Seventeen hundred and
eighty nine, _ said record having every 
appearance of an ancient record and judging
from the appearance of said Margaret she
is fully of the age that date would in the ordinary
course of nature make her appear
Permelia Sims [signature]
William Sheppard [signature]

Sworn to and subscribed
before me the 6th day of
February A.D. 1856
T. R. Crumpton Seal  [signature and hand drawn seal]
Justice of the peace
Page 9

22354 
Richard Gideon Monroe County
Mississippi
Returned    [illegible]
Adm 2 years $80.
Stephen Cocke Athens Mississippi
Page 10

WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office.
31st May 1833

Sir,
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes , you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with the a brace, (thus). You will, when, return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them. , and you will by complying with this request greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim. 

Statement, showing the Service of Richard Gideon Monroe County Mississippi

Period when the
rendered.

Vol served 1780

Duration of the
claimant's service

8 or 10 months

Rank of the claimant.

private

Names and rank of the Field officers
under whom he served.

Genl Green
Cap Devauld 
Colonel Hays 
Col. Kilgore and
Major Anderson

Age at present.
and place of abode
when he entered
the service.

57 years
County of
Lauren 
South 
Carolina

Proof by which the declaration is supported.

Traditionary evidence & Clergimans
certificate, witness certified credible, one
living witness not certified credit by the
Court - paper correct

Served
Not Stated 
Capt Sexton
General [illegible]
Battle of Ninety Six
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,

[hand written note:]
The applicant states that his term of service was 3 years -
Page 11

2
                                                      REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been constructed to extent, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State Troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, etc., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefit of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual
military service.  Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in the Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicants reside. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

                                                                   DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
                                            State Territory, or District of
                                             County of
On this             day of                                personally appeared (a) before  
          A B. a resident (b) of                              in the county of                        and State, Territory, or District of           aged (c)            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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)           , with.        and served in the                (e) regiment of the line,                under the following named offices:

(Here set forth the names and ranks of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service ; (and if he server under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particlar period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.)

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.                                           A. B.
        (And then will follow the certificate of the Court.)

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I                                                                                     of the Court of
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of                                                                       for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand and seal of office (i) this 
                         day of                                          &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the name of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.

Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers, or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and the State Troops of Virginia, will make and
subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz: 

(k) We, A.B., a Clergyman, residing in the                             and C.D. residing in (the same) hereby certify that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we 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 days and year aforesaid.
(And then will follow the certificate of the Court)
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 above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B. and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I Clerk of Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the orginal proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for pension.

 In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand and seal
 of office, this day of &c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the orginal discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath and will then procure, if possible , the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail hid personal knowledge of the service oh the applicant, and such circumstance connected therewith as may have a tendency to throw lightupon the transaction.

If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all material facts, which can be used in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
Page 12

3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department.  A very full account of the services of each person                                                                                                
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, it one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. 

All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case. 

The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?  And if a substitute, for whom? 
5. 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 services.
6.
(To a Soldier.)  Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
(To an Officer. ) Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. 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 services as a soldier of the Revolution.  

The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.  

The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons-one of whom should be nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, fromtheir acquaintance with him; that they believe he is of the age he represents,and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certity to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.

The traditionary evidence of service is deened very important, in the absence of any direct proof except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the inquiry whether the belief is general or whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject. 

Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.  

Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of ofice, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genine signature.

No payments can be made upon account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto,and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and theopinion of the Court upon the whole matter.

                               --------------------------------------------------------------------

(a) The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
(b) The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides.  If he should fail to do so , he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
(c) The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
(d) The declarant must mention the period of the war when he served.
(e) Every continental officer or soldiers must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had.  Every claimant must state, 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.  

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 depots and saith, that by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positive as to the precise length of his service; but according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the period mentioned below, and in the following grades: ---For____year_____month____days, I served as a ______ for _______ months and ______ days, I served as a ________; and for such service I claim a Pension "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 service.  The use of the phrase about three or four months, is too indefinite and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.  ome persons who apply for pensions mere state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of officers, and other particulars respecting their service.  This form of a declaration is highly objectionable.  

It must begin every case, be clearly shown under what officer the applicant severed; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corp 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 n any civil pursuit.
(f) The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
(g) The opinion of the Court is always required.
(h) The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
(i) The Clerk must fix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certified officer, should accompany the papers.                                                   
                                                                  
                                                                    Mode of authenticating papers.

In every instance where the certifing officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certiicate 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.                                                  
                                                                     Proof of Service
(j) In 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 claimant's 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 verify 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.
The note
 from (a) to (i) are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule is 
The note (j) applies to continental troops only.
(k)This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases. 
(l) If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.(m) The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 13

(11)
State of Mississippi
County of Pontotoc ⎬ SS.
On this eleventh day of February A.D. 1856
before the subscriber Judge of the Probate Court
in and for the County aforesaid, personally appears
Word Gidden, who being sworn according to law deposeth
and saith that he is the administrator of Elizabeth
Gidden who departed this life on the 29th May AD 1847

That the said Elizabeth Gidden was the widow of
Richard Gidden, who was a pensioner of the United 
States for his military services in the Revolutionary War:
and that the said Richard and Elizabeth were married
as he has always understood and believe on or about the
                                A.D. 1788, and that they lived together
husband and wife until the death of the said Richard 
which occurred on the 7th day of November AD 1834
and that the said Elizabeth never afterwards married but
remained the widow of the said Richard until the period
of her death as aforesaid.

He makes this Declaration for the benefit of receiving
the arrears of pension or gratuity allowed by law to the
said Elizabeth Gilden at the time of her death, as the
widow of the said Richard Gidden, and I hereby constitute 
and appoint Hampton C. Williams my attorney in this case.
Word Gidden [signature]

sworn to & subscribed in open court
the day & year above written

John S Neely [signature]
Probate Judge
Page 14

(20)
July 28, 1932.
BA-J/ILL
XXXXXXXXXX
Richard Gideon 
R. 4002

Memorial Branch
Office of the Quartermaster General
War Department,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letter requesting information
relative to Richard Gideon, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.

The data furnished herein are obtained from the papers
on file in pension claim, R. 4002, based upon the service of
Richard Gideon or Gidden in that war.

Richard Gideon was born June 20, 1765 in Charlotte County,
Virginia.

While a resident of Laurens County, South Carolina, he
enlisted in May or June, 1780 and served eight or ten months as
Private in Captain Lewis Duvall's Company under Colonels Hayes and
Benjamin Kilgore in the South Carolina troops against the Cherokee
Indians; he next served as private in Captain Lewis Saxon's Company
under General Greene and was in the battle of Ninety-Six during
which battle he was wounded in the thigh; after recovering, he
returned to service, was in several skirmishes and in an engagement
on the Saluda River General Pickens and continued to serve
until peace was established, length of entire service about three
Years.

After the Revolution, the soldier lived in South Carolina,
Georgia and in Tennessee.

He was allowed pension on his application executed November
10, 1832, while a resident of Monroe County, Mississippi; he had
lived there then for twelve years.

The soldier died November 7, 1834 in Monroe County, Mississippi.
1.
Page 15

The soldier married in 1788, Elizabeth,  maiden name not
stated.  She died May 29, 1847 in Monroe County, Mississippi.

The application for headstone for Richard Gideon and all
letters pertaining thereto are returned herewith.

Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER,
Assistant to the Administrator
Page 16

4002

P.O.
Elizabeth Gideon

Service: widow of Richard
REJECTED

Enlisted:          , 18
Discharged:         , 18

Application filed:    , 18
The printed list of 1852
shows reasons for suspension

Alleges: 
"not any proof of service”
    
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P. O. _
_____Recognized.   _____Contract.
Cert.  of  Dis.        Searched for, 18


[Left side]
1931- Aug. 31. Hist. to Mrs. E. W.
Flinn,  - [initials] I.L.L.
1932 - July 28 - Data fur Memorial
Branch - War Dept.   [initials] I.L.L.
Page 17

[a very, very dark small piece of paper... transcribed the few legible words]

Secty of War July
Secty of War to Hon
4 July 46 Hon. (15)

Act 7th July '38
Page 18

12.577 
(19)

Elizabeth Gideon
Richard
Miss.

Hon S Adams April 9 1846
Same June 27, 1846 - same
July 17. 1846. See War
July 17, 1846 - Secy of War to
Hon S Adams 24 July 1846
same Dec 24 1846- H.C.
William April 5, 1856 - 
Word Gedden May 5 1857 -


4002

July
Page 19

12 577 
(16)

Elizabeth Gideon
Richard
Miss.

Hon S Adams April 9 1846
Same June 27, 1846 - same
July 17. 1846. Secy of War
July 17, 1846 - Secy of War to
Hon S Adams 24 July 1846
same Dec 24 1846-
H. C. William April 5 / 56 - 

July 7 1838
Page 20

(18)
Elizabeth Gideon, Mississippi
act - 1832 for arrears of pension due  [illegible]
& under act 1838 for 2 yrs
R. L. Smallwood                           [illegible]
Present                                           [illegible]
Page 21

[All of following text has been  struck out]…
Simon  Drake Maine Admitted to his widow about 1846
Page 22


(13)

Near Falls Church P.O. Va
Jany 13 1857.

Dear Sir

Enclosed you will receive the form of an
application for the balance of Pension due your Father
from the 4th September 1834 (the time to which he was paid)
to the date of his decease. You will annex the letter of
administration to your declaration and the certificate of
the death of your Father; and you can either send the
papers to me or Judge Adams. You need not make any
power of Attorney to one, for if the case is allowed I can
have the remittance made to you by the 3d Auditor's office
I shall charge you nothing for this service.

In regard to the claim for your mother under the Act
of 1838 I am fearful it cannot be substantiated. And the
[illegible] in my opinion on account of the[illegible] manner
in which your Fathers services was stated. He claimed three
years continued service under Captains Duvald and Sexton
and Col. Hays & Kilgore. If he had served this length of
 time the Comptroller’s office in S. Carolina would 
perhaps possess some
evidence of it. He no doubt served at intervals, and for
Broken periods for that length of time, as after the surrender of
Gen Lincoln in May 1780. S. Carolina had no regularly
Page 23

organized Continental force, but maintained a partisan warfare
against the British and Tories with such militia forces as Sumter
Pickens, Marion and others could collect. It was no doubt such
service as this your father performed, and the person who drew his
declaration was not sufficiently explicit. This has enabled the office 
to call for proof of service which it was aware could hardly
be obtained, and decision adverse to the claim was made which
has been sustained by the Secretary of War and will not be reversed
by the Secretary of the Interior. I think the office ought not to
repudiate service it has once admitted unless it can substantiate a
case of fraud, and the burden of proof should be on it.  A second
examination of the Comptroller’s office might bring to light some evidence
but even the absence of such evidence in that office proves nothing
for it must be preserved that a large number of soldiers never 
applied for their Indents.   Many never knew of such a provision for
them and many no doubt, regarded the obligations of the state as
worthless as continental money. These explanations will avail 
nothing now and the only [illegible] for redress is by a law of Congress
requiring service one admitted to be regarded still-- when I undertook
this case I thought the service was admitted and all that was required was
proof of the date of death and marriage. In fact the Chief Clerk to
Judge Adams and myself so, but the office now makes a different decision.

Very respectfully
H. C. Williams [signature]

Wm. Word Gidden
Page 24

Copy            (6)

Pension Office,
June 27th, 1846.

Sir,

In reply to yours asking a review of 
the case of Elizabeth Gideon, upon the ground 
that the late Act controlled the question as to
the proof of her husband's service, I have the
honor to call your particular attention to the
provision of that Act, which relieves the widow
from the obligation of [illegible] additional
proof, if the Department upon a review
of the testimony in the husband’s papers be
satisfied that the pension of the husband
had been properly granted.

My letter of 9th April, conveyed to you
The decision that her husband's claim had
not been properly granted, and referred to the
Proof which should settle the difficulty as to
the service.

I have the honor to be,
Sir,  Very Respectfully
Your obt Servant.
(Signed ) J. L. Edwards

Hon S. Adams,
House of Reps.
Page 25

No. 1.
Hon. S. Adams 
1 July appealing
in the case of
Elizabeth Gideon
Page 26

(7)
House of Rep. 1st July 1846
J.L. Edwards Esq

Dear Sir

Yours of the 27th Sept is before
me. You say "yours of the 9th April contained
the decision & referred me to the proof which
would settle the difficulty. I wrote for the
proof referred to by you, at the suggestion of
Dr Crump, and was informed by the 
Comptroller, that no proof was found on the
files in relation to the services of Mr Gideon
of this fact I advised you, in the first
interview I had with you upon the subject
you refer me to the late act, which gives
the power to set aside claims, where they
pension was originally obtained by fraud.
If you refuse this on that Ground be
pleased to make out your decision, and
prepare the case for the decision of the
Secretary of War _ I know the party and
witnesses to be respectable, and although I
Believe our late system of pensions wrong in
principle, I am unwilling to see injustice done
a poor old lady who has no means of enforcing
her rights. Your power is an absolute one, which
may be executed arbitrarily, unless parties can
Page 27

have a hearing before the Sec. of War. And
I must request that your report in the
case may be made out and sent to the Sec
immediately, and that you notify me of
the time it will be sent to him for his
decision.

Very Respectfully 
S. Adams
Page 28

(8)
Pension Office,
July 17. 1846.

Conformably to the request
of the Hon. S. Adams in his
letter of the 1st instant now I have
the honor to submit to you the papers
of Elizabeth Gideon, No 2, and those of
her husband No 3. together with copies
of my letters to Mr. Adams of 9th April
and 27th [illegible], marked A & B

These letters will apprise you
of the requisition of proof of service
from the Comptroller General of South 
Carolina, not only upon the established
law of evidence requiring the best
attainable proof, but from the inconsistency 
of her husband's statement with
the known course of the militia service.

If the records refered to afford
no proof of his service, or that of
his designated officers, it will be
deemed conclusive against the claim.
Page 29

He assured that he served
under Cols Kilgore and Hayes, and Major
Anderson  It is known that the Banks
of the Comptroller General have furished 
evidence of individual service
upon the returns of Anderson, at least
Mr. Adams appears to interpret the late
law as giving "the power to set aside
claims where the pension has been obtained by fraud.”

The words of the Act, authorize
the adjustment of the widows pension
by that of the husband, only in such
cases as the Commissioner of Pensions
shall be satisfied that the pension
of the husband had been property
granted.

The intimation of absolute
Power which may be arbitrarily
 Executed”, can with equal propriety
be applied to every Executive and
Judicial function of this Government,
and if in this instance "injustice done
a poor old lady who has no means
of enforcing her rights, it would
Page 30

be difficult to assign a plausible 
motive for it,

I have the honor
Sir, to be,
Very Respectfully
Your obt Servant
J.L. Edwards [signature]

Hon. W. L. Marcy
Secretary of War
Page 31

(5)
Copy
Pension Office
April 9th 1846
Sir
I have the honor to inform you,
that the claim of Elizabeth Gideon has
been examined and her papers filed. The only
proof as to the date of her marriage is that
of a female who does not disclose the date
by which she arrives at the date with the
requisite accuracy, and as she appears to be
incapable of reading or writing, must possess
very imperfect means of retaining the dates of
common events long passed.  The relation of
husband and wife at a designated period before
1794, ought not to be difficult of satisfactory
proof in the neighborhood.  But the principal
difficulty in her case is the proof of her
husbands service. If her husbands papers
afford it, she has the benefit of it, but if from
oversight or ignorance his claim was in
properly allowed,  the error can neither relieve
her from the obligation to comply with
the rules or impose upon the Department the
duty of extending to her the repetition of the
Page 32

Error committed in his case.

He assented that from 1780, to
the Peace, he was constantly in
service in the South Carolina Militia
under Capt Duvall & Sexton, Col Kilgore
and Hays.   The Terms of the Militia
were short and limited to the occasions
and corresponded in no respect with his
narrative nor is his name or that of either
of the designated officers found upon the
Rolls of the Line, in which long terms
of service under enlistments were rendered.

The books of the Compltroller General
of South Carolina remove the difficulty
by sharing how much service he did
actually render.

I have the honor to [illegible]

Very Respectfully,
To obt servent
Signed J. L. Edwards


Hon. J. Adams
House of Rept
Page 33


[Large letterhead design]

The Wednesday Musicale
Mrs. E. W. Flinn, Cor. Ser.
Amory, Miss.

August 12, 1931.

The Commissioner,
Bureau of Pensions, Rev. War Dept.,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir;

We have located the grave of Richard Gideon, a Rev. War Pensioner
who lived in this county, Monroe, and is buried here.

Please give me all the data you have concerning his life or record
so that we may make a request for a marker for the grave. I regret that
I have no dates to give you.

Thanking you in advance for your kindness and patience,

I am yours truly,
Mrs. E. W. Flinn.
Page 34

(4)
The State of Mississippi
Monroe County

Probate Court 16th
August 1833
The amended Declaration of Richard
Gideon And The said Richard Gideon
being duly sworn in open Court by way
of amendment  to his original declaration
he states that the period of the war
was in the revolutionary service was from
1780 to 1783 He said to the best of his recollection
and as stated in his original declaration 
that he continued in the service
untill information was received that
peace was declared and the troops
were discharged.- And the said Richard
Gideon further deposeth and saith that
by reason of old age and the 
[illegible] laps 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 three
period mentioned below & volunteered
as a private in the militia of S.Ca.
in the revolution and served as such
[illegible] part of the United States not
not less than three years as stated in my
original declaration and for which
I claim a pension and in answer to
the questions propounded by the Court
in conformity to the interrogatories
prescribed by my war [illegible] declarant 
states that he
was born on the 20th day of June 1765
in the County of Charlotte State of Virginia
that he has now no record  evidence
Page 35

of his age except that many years ago
he  set it down in this family Bible
which he now has that when he  voluntured into the service of the United States
He resided in Lawrence County State of
South Carolina that he has lived since
the revolutionary war in the state of
South Carolina Georgia & Tennessee and
now lives in Monroe County and State of
Mississippi and now
has resided there for twelve years last
passed that he does not recollect whether
he ever received any written discharge
or not but think he did not he
never expected it would be of any
advantage to him and if he received
a discharge he has no recollection whom
it was by or what became of it and he
is satisfied he never received one
as to the regular officers whom he knew
he states he had no personal acquaintances
 with any of the regular officers
that he now recollects that the [illegible]
with which he served mixed very little
with any regulars  his  reference to the
persons in his present neighbourhood
to whom he is known and who can
testify to his character for veracity and
to their belief of his services as a soldier
of the revolution  he will name the
Rev Robert Bell Major James Ganaway
Capt John Bell [illegible] or General of the
Chickasaw Nation Col Abner Prewitt
Page 36

David Flint John Hall and Samuel
Ragsdale Esq and he could names
more than a hundred others of the most
respectable citizens of his neighbour
hood whom he is confident would
willingly bear testimony thereto

his
Richard + Gideon
mark

Sworn to in open Court
2nd Aug 1833
Davis H. Morgan Clk
And I  Richard Dilworth presiding Judge

Of the probate court of said county 
certify that I propounded the interrogatories
prescribed by the war department to the 
above named Richard Gideon that I am
Well acquitted with him personally and
have been a number of years and before
that he had been reputed amoung his
acquaintances to have been a soldier of
the revolution and I am of opinion he
that he was a revolutionary soldier and
Served as he states. I further certify that
acquainted with the Rev Robert Bell
and Major James Ganaway who
have testified to the original declaration
of the said Richard Gideon both of whom
are residents of said county  and are men
of the first respectability, and credible
standing  and that the upmost credit is due
To their statement.   The court further certify
That they are also acquainted with Susan
Wilson who has also testified in favour of
The said service of the Richard Gideon that
She is an old lady of much respectability
and moral worth and that her statement
Is entitled to full credit
26 August 1833

Richard Dilworth 
Presiding Judge
Page 37

the State of Mississippi
Monroe County

I Davis H. Morgan Clerk of 
the Probate Court in and for said county do hereby
Certify that the foregoing contains the original
proceedings of the said Court in the matters of
the amended declaration of Richard Gideon
For a pension

In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and the seal of said
court at office this 26th day of August 1833
D.H. Morgan      Clerk

No 3-

Richard Gideon
Page 38


(12 )
By the Probate Court of Pontotoc County
In the State of Mississippi
Whereas Elizabeth Gidden deceased who was
the widow of Richard Gidden deceased
a United States pensioner at the time of
his death late of Monroe County in said
State died intestate as we are informed
having whilst she lived and at the time of
her death [illegible] goods rights and credits within
the State and we desiring that the said goods
rights and credits may be well and truly administered
do hereby grant unto Word Gidden full power
to administer the said goods and chattels rights
and Credits of the said decedent to ask levy
 [illegible] and receive the same and pay the debts
in which the deceased stood bound so far as
the said goods rights credits lands tenements and
hereditaments will extend according to this
rate and order of the law to make a perfect
and just inventory of said goods and chattels
rights and credits and the same to exhibit
into the office of said Court at or before
the expiration of three months from the date
hereof, and to render a just account of
said administration when thereto legally
required and the said Word Gidden is
hereby ordained administrator of all and
singular the goods and chattels rights
and Credits moneys and effects of the said
Deceased

Witness the Hon John S  [illegible]
Judge of said Court with the
seal thereof annexed this the 12th
day of February A.D. 1886
J. Pitts Clerk
Page 39

The third Auditor will please pay the 
arrears of pension due Richard Gidden at the time
of his death to Hon S. Adams or H. C. Williams

Wood Gidden
adm of Elizabeth Gidden dec’d
Page 40

[transcribed as written including the misspelled or old spelling of words]

(14)

State of Miss Pontotoc County
March 2d 1857
Dear Sir Enclosed you will find a Letter of A
Mr W. C. Williams who has bin trying to
Get that same old pention for my mother
I recor you will recollect the case as I wrote
to you about when you was a member in
Congress in 1846 Stephen Adams attended to it
a Little for me    Judge Adams recommended
this Mr Williams to me as a sutible person to
attend to such business

he has failed to get the pention allowed
on account of the statement that the old
man made in his declaration
you can see what he says they object to in the
Letter he advised me to administer on the Estate
of Elizabeth Gidden my mother wich I did
in order to obtain it and sent him all the papers
in the case I also appointed him agent  for me
in the Case he has the testimony of 2 of the
Miss Nabers, W Sheppard, P. Sims, William
Killpatrick   I want you if you please to
see him and get all the papers for me as
I dont want him agent for me any longer
no way it could be fixed
this fellow Williams says he is in Virgina
near falls Church   I was glad to here of your
appointment and wish you all the success
all the democrats are well pleased
I saw your Brother J. Y. Thompson to day all well
I Live Close to him   attend to this Business
for me or get some one else to do it if you cant
Get the papers wright to me how to do if you think
there is any Cance to do any thing
I remain your old friend
Word Gidden
Turn over on the other side
Page 41

[transcribed -  did not correct misspelled words] 
 
here is the one of the papers in the Case
Mr Williams Sent  it back to me to make
oath that I was administrator of Richard Gidden
in order to collect the Balance due him at
the time of his death wich is only about 15
dollars it dont make any deferance about that
I am administrator of Elizabeth Gidden
wich you see

I would like to have from you as soon
as convenient I hate to trouble you about
this matter tho I had rather ask you then
any of them young.   Truly Word Gidden
direct to Bartersville (?)


[Bottom panel]
Ward Gidden
OKolon Miss
March 24, 1857

Rel, to the claim for
a Pension on acct
of his de'd mother
Elizabeth Gidden
late widow of Richard
Gidden dec'd for his
revolutionary service
& [illegible] closing [illegible]
of administration to
himself &c

Dept Interior
April 7, 1857
Respectfully referred
to Commissioner of Pension 
Moses Kelly
Chief Clerk

Re'cd 7 Apl '54
[illegible]
Page 42

By the Probate Court of Pontotoc County
In the State of Mississippi
Whereas Elizabeth Gidden deceased, who
was the widow of Richard Gidden deceased
A United States pensioner at the time of
his death, late of Monroe County in said
State and intestate as we are informed
having whilst she lived and at the time of her
death divers goods rights and credits within the State
and we desiring that the said goods rights and
Credits may be well and truly administered do
hereby grant unto Word Gidden full powers
to administer the said goods and chattels rights
and Credits of the said decedent to ask, by
recover and receive the same and pay the debts
in which the deceased stood bound so far as
the said goods rights credits lands tenements and
hereditaments will extend according to their
rate and order of the law. to make a perfect
and just inventory of said goods and chattels
rights and credits and the same to exhibit
into the office of said Court at or before
the expiration of three months from the date
hereof and to render a just account of
said administration when thereunto legally
required and the said Word Gidden is
thereby ordained administrator of all and
singular the goods and chatter rights and
Credits moneys and effects of the said deceased
Witness the Hon John S. Nuly
Judge of said Court with the seal
thereof annexed this the 12th
day of February A.D. 1886.

D. J. Pitts Clerk
Page 43

(10)
The State of Mississippi
Monroe County
personally appeared
before me J.L. Dabbs
an acting Justice of the peace in and for 
said County Sarah Nabers who first being
duly sworn by me deposeth and saith
I was well acquainted with Richard Gidden
and Elizabeth Gidden in the State of South Carolina 
Laurens County, I lived a near
Neighbour to them for several years I was at
the marriage of Richard and Elizabeth
Gidden and to the best of my recollection
it was in the year of seventeen hundred and
Eighty Eight I was then about fourteen years
of age they lived together as man and wife
all the time I knew them in South Carolina 
I then lived a neighbour to the old lady
here in Monroe County Mississippi some
four or five years when she departed this life
in the spring of Eighteen hundred and forty
seven  as well as my memory serves me
the old man Richard Gidden was dead
when I moved to this County as the family informed me
her
Sarah X Nabers
mark

Sworn to and subscribed before me
18th day of Aug. 1855

J.L. Dabbs Seal [signature and hand drawn seal]
Justice of the peace

The foregoing declaration and and affidavit were sworn
to and subscribed before me on this day and year above written
and I certify that I know the applicant to be a credible person, that this 
Claimant is the person he represented himself to  be and that I have
no interest in this claim
J. L Dabbs Seal.  [signature and hand drawn seal]
J.P.
Page 44


The State of Mississippi
Monroe County⎬

I Wm G Elkin Clerk
of the Probate Court of
said County (which is a court of Record) do
hereby certify that J L Dabbs Esq before whom
the within affidavit was made and whose
genuine signature appears to certificate thereof
is now and was at the date thereof an acting
Justice of the peace in and for said County
duly commissioned and qualified, that full
faith and credit are due his official acts
in the premises,
Given under my hand and the
seal of said Court at Aberdeen
the 28th day of September 1853
Hon G. Elkin Clerk
Page 45

The State of Mississippi⎬
Pototoc County
Personally appeared
before me Randolph
Mitchell an acting justice of the Peace in for
the County and State aforesaid, William H.
Kilpatrick with whom I am well acquaint
in, and who is a person entitled to credit, and
after being duly sworn makes oath and
says: That he was acquainted with Mrs Eliza
beth Gidden in her lifetime - that his acquaintance
with her began in the early part 
of the year A.D. 1838 and continued without intermption up to the time of her deceased
which occurred as well as now recollected
by affiant in the first half of the year
A.D. 1847. that from the early part of the
year 1838, up to the year A.D. 1842, affiant
has the best kind of opportunities of Know
ing her will, as she lived on adjoining
land to affiants mother with whom affiant
then mostly lived - that said Elizabeth
Gidden was frequently at the house of
affiants mother during the period last
aforesaid. affiant conversed with her often
in relation to Revolutionary reminiscence &
has heard her speak often of the revolutionary 
war and of many scenes of trial and
privation endured by her during that period
affiant very often, at her request, read to
her, not only from the hosting of that time,
but also from the Bible, and other religions
works-- she was then very old and had a
much better recollection of facts occurring
in the days of the revolution than those
Page 46


of recent date. She was then the reputed
widow of Richard Gidden with whom
affiant was never acquainted. That affiant
has heard said Richard Gidden spoken
of as an old revolutionary soldier

Affiant further states that he is acquainted
with Mrs Margaret Hilliard who is re
puted to be the oldest child of the said Rich
and and Elizabeth Gidden- that he has seen
the family [illegible]of the date of the birth of the said
Margaret Hilliard which bears date the eight
day of December A.D. One thousand seven him
dred and eighty nine, that from the pensonal appearance of said Margaret she 
appears to be fully of the age that date would
represent her and that said family record
has every appearance of being an ancient
record
Wm H. Kilpatrick

Sworn to & subscribed before
me this 15th day of [illegible] AD 1856
Randolph Mitchell.   SEAL
Justice of the Peace

The State of Mississippi⎬
Pontotoc County SS 
I  Drury J. Pitt Clerk
of the Probate Court
of said County do hereby certify that Randolph
Mitchell Esqr before whom the foregoing affidavit
was made and whose genuine signature appears
thereto is and was at the date thereof an acting
Justice of the peace in and for said County
duly elected qualified and commissioned
and that all his acts as such are and ought
Page 47

to be entitled to full faith and credit and
that said Probate Court is a Court of record
and has general jurisdiction in matters
of Probate

Given under my hand and
the seal of said Court at
office this the 19th day of
February A D 1856
D. J. Pitts Clk


Senate Chamber
March 11th 1856

I am well acquainted with William
H. Kilpatrick Esq and know him to be entitled
to full credit on his oath
S. Adams U.S.S.

Seal
Page 48

The State of Mississippi
Monroe County⎬

Wm G Elkin
Clerk of the Probate

Court of said County (which is a Court of record)
do hereby certify that J L. Dabbs Esq before
whom the within affidavit was made and
whose genuine signature appears to certificates
thereof is now and was at the date thereof an
acting justice of the peace in and for said
County duly commissioned and qualified
& that full faith and credit are due his
Official acts in the premises

Given under my hand and
the seal of said Court of
Aberdeen the 28 day of
September 1853. 

Hon Wm G Elkin
Page 49

[very diifficult to transcribed for multiple reasons... }

The State of Mississippi
Monroe County
Personally appeared
before me J L Dabbs
an acting Justice of the
peace in and  for said certify Mary Ann
Nabers who is  duly sworn by [illegible]
and                                   well acquainted
about                                   and Elizabeth
Gidden and                       South Carolina
 marriage   of Richard and Elizabeth Gidden                                 
about the year Seventeen hundred
and Eighty Eight. I was there about 
sixteen  years of age .  they lived together
as man and wife.  I then know that
old lady in this county some 
      [illegible]             years before her death
the old man being in that the
the time I moved to Monroe County
is, which was in the year 1842
as well as I can recollect 

sworn to & subscribed before
me the 21st day of March 
1855
Her 
Mary Ann X Naber
mark
J. L. Dabbs SEAL [signature and hand drawn seal]
Justice of the peace

The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn
to and subscribed before me on the day and year above
written, and I certify that I know the affiant to be a
a credible person, that the claimant is the person he represents
Page 50


Revolutionary

H C Williams
Washington 
D.C.
Page 51

the State of Mississippi ⎬I T R Crumpton
Pontotoc County                 acting Justice of
the peace in and for said County do certify
that I am acquainted with William Shepherd
and Permelia Sims whose names are
assigned to the foregoing Affidavit and
know them to be creditable persons and
wholy uninterested in the same Given
under my hand and seal the 6th day
of February AD 1856 
T R Crumpton  SEAL [signatue and hand drawn seal]
Justice of the peace


The State of Mississippi ⎬
Pontotoc SS County SS ⎬ I  Drury J. Pitts Clerk of
                                                 of the Probate Court of said
County do hereby certify that I R Crampton whose
genuine signature appears to the foregoing certificate
of affidavit is and was at the date thereof an
acting Justice of the peace in and for said
County duly elected qualified and commissioned
and that all his acts as such are and ought
to be entitled to full faith and credit
and that said Probate Court is a Court
of Record and has general jurisdiction
in matters of Probate

Given under my hand and
the seal of said Court at
office in Pontotoc this the
19th day of February 1886.
D. J Pitts Clerk. [signature]
Page 52

August 31, 1931.
BA-J/ILL

Mrs. E. W. Flinn
Amery, Mississippi.

Dear Madam:

You are advised that it appears from the papers in the
Revolutionary War pension claim, R. 4002, that Richard Gideon or
Gidden was born June 20, 1765 in Charlotte County, Virginia.

While a resident of Laurens County, South Carolina, he
enlisted in May or June, 1780 and served eight or ten months as 
A private in Captain Lewis Duvall's Company under Colonels Hayes
and Benjamin Kilgore in the South Carolina troops against the
Cherokee Indians; he next served as a private in Captain Lewis
Saxon's Company under General Greene, was in the battle of Ninety
Six during which battle he was wounded in the thigh; after recovering, 
he returned to service, was in several skirmishes and in an
engagement on the Saluda River under General Pickens and continued
to serve until peace was established, length of entire service
about three years.

After the Revolution, the soldier lived in South Carolina,
Georgia and in Tennessee.

He was allowed pension on his application executed November
10, 1832, while a resident of Monroe County, Mississippi; he had
lived there then for twelve years.

He died November 7, 1834 in Monroe County, Mississippi.

The soldier married in 1788, Elizabeth, maiden name not
Stated.  She died May 29, 1847, in Monroe County, Mississippi.

Margaret, the first child of soldier and his wife, Elizabeth,
was born December 8, 1789. In 1854 she was Mrs. Margaret Hilliard.
                                                                  1.

[Handwritten note in the left margin:]

The names  
Duvall and 
Saxon were 
used in the
claims of 
both are in
our files spelled
as in Hist Files
Page 53

Their son, Word Gidden, as he signed, was a resident of Barters-
ville Pontotoc County  Mississippi, in 1857.
Very truly yours,

Assistant to Administrator.