Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 3907, William Williams, N.C.
Page 1

[printed form with written comments]

3-1776
SERVICE
N.C.

Williams, William
Mary

NUMBER
W.3907

CONTENTS
[nothing written below this]
Page 2

North Carolina 32, 202
William Williams
of Cleveland Co in the State of N. Carolina
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain Dixon of the regt commanded 
by Col. White in the N.C.
line for 10 months

Inscribed on the Roll of N. Carolina
at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 5th day of Sept
1844 and sent to Hon. J. A
Black, Cherokee Iron Works, S.C.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1844 449.95
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep 1845 16.66
$466.61



Revolutionary Claim}
Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by D Brown   Clerk,
Book E. Vol. 6½ Page 80
Page 3

2935
North Carolina
Mary Williams
widow of William Williams
N.C. 
who served in the Revolutionary war
as a private

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
33 Dollars 33.
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1848.

Certificate of Pension issued the
11 day of Jany 1849
and sent to
Joseph Carroll
Shelby
N.C.

Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act
February 2, 1848, Page 246 Vol. 1
Reputed
Jany 11/49
Page 4

5-38
No 13452

[the word 'Sarah' is crossed out]
Mary Williams
widow of William
N C
act 7 July 1838
married before 1794
husband died 22 Oct 1846
[illegible]
Admd Act 17 June 1844
10 mo. [illegible]
$33.33 per am
frm 22 Oct 1846

James Williams
Shelly
NC
Page 5

State of North Carolina}
Cleaveland County}
on this 20th day of
August 1847
personally appeared Mary Williams
a resident of said County before me
Joseph Carroll one of the acting Justices
of the peace in and for said County
and made oath in due form of law
doth on her oath make the following
declaration in order to obtain the Provision
made by the act of Congress passed July the
7th 1838 and the act of the 3rd of March 1843
and the act of June the 17th 1844 granting
half pay on pensions to certin widows
that she is the widow of William Williams
who was a private soldier in the war of the
Revolution and was inscribed on the pension
list of the North Carolina agency at the rate
of $33 per anum. She further declares that
she was married to the afore said William
Williams some time in the year 1783 and
that her husband the aforesaid Williams
died on the 2nd day of Oct 1846 that
she was not married to him prior to his [illegible] the [illegible] but that the marriage took place previous to the 1st day of January 1794 viz at the time above stated this deponant further deposeth and sayeth that she does not know of any record proof by which she can prove her marriage sworn to and subscribed before me this day and date above written
Test 
Joseph Carroll J.P.
Mary Williams [her mark 'x']
Page 6

North Carolina}
Cleaveland County}
I Joseph Carroll
the Magistrate before
whom the with in declaration was
made do certify that I am personally
acquanted with Mrs Mary Williams and
do certify that she is an old lady who
is not able to attend the Court by
old age and bodily infirmities and
that she is a lady of good caracter and
veracity
given under my hand
and seal this the 20th day of August
1847
Joseph Carroll {JP}
-
State of North Carolina} 
Cleaveland County}
Court of Pleas and Quarter session
August Sessions 1847-
I Richard Champion Clerk of the Court of Pleas
and Quarter Sessions for said County, do certify that the foregoing declartion of Mary Williams widow of William Williams
late Revolutionary Pensioner deceased of Cleaveland County North Carolina, this day was laid before said Court now opened
and had in Shelby for said County of Cleaveland examined and approved by the Court, whereupon the Court ordered that the Clerk certify the same to the War department. And I further certify that Joseph Carroll Esquire before whom the foregoing declaration was proven is and was at the time of signing the same an acting Magistrate for said County of Cleaveland as aforesaid, and that the
foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & affixed the seal of said Court at office the 20th August 1847
Richard Champion Clerk
Page 7

State of North Carolina
Cleveland County
on the fifth day of July  ~ A.D. Eighteen
hundred and forty four Personally appeared
Before us who's names are hereunto subscribed being two Justices of the Peace for the aforesd County of Cleveland and State aforesaid at the House of Wm Williams having met for the purpose of taking the declaration of said William Williams a resident in this vicinity and of the County of Cleveland and State of North Caroline aged about 97 or 98 years old
Who being first sworn according to law doth
make the following declaration in order
to obtain the benefits of the provisions made
by the act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832 that he enlisted in the army of the United
state the spring before the Indepindance of the
United States was declared he supposes 1776 that he was enlisted by one Archabal Litle into
the Company Commanded by Captain M glaughon or Captain Dixon and that he served in the 7th Regiment of Regulars under
he declars that his memory has so failed that he
Cannot recollect the Colonels name except it was Thomas White he recollects that there was
a Cpt Brevard that acted as agitant and a
Major Horney who was in the army with
them also a Captain Donahoe
and a Samuel Gilston a serjant and a Stephen
White who died the night after the battle at
Monmouth Court house -- that he hereby
relinquishes every claim to a pension or
annuity Except this and he declares that his
name is not on the Pension roll of any agency
of any state in the united state or Elsewhere
at the he has applied different times for a pension under the act of the 7th of June 1832 but owing to the
Page 8

State of North Carolina
Cleaveland County
I Richard Champion Clerk of
the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions in and
for Cleaveland County; Certify that John
B. Harry and T. M. Hardin are acting
magistrates for said County and that the
signatures purporting to be their is genuine
In testimony whereof I
have hereunto subscribed
my name and affixed
the seal of said Court
of Office at Office
this 16th day of July 1844
R Champion Clk

[seal is affixed to this document]
Page 9

imbicility of his mind and memory or something else
he has been denied it as til yet
he further declares that at the time he went in to the servece of the United States he was about 30 years old was living in Orange County N. Carolina Mustered with the few that was collected at Hillsborough marched to Wilmington all in North Carolina was there stationed When Congress first declared the American Independance
Some time afterwards marched to Alexandra in
Virginia and there halted and almost the entire
troops was inoculated with the small pox and after a short stay they marched through the upper part of Maryland and into the State of New Jersey and there Joined General George Washingtons Army and was stationed a part of the winter in a little village called Morristown next summer was a while at a place called White Plains that he was sick with fever and ague and could not march with the army
got leave of the Captain to leave got some Instrument of Writing said to be a furlough he thinks in august was absent until some time in the winter supposed to be January he again mustered into the army at or near a place called Valey Forge on the
Schuylkill in Pensilvania where the army was
stationed that winter where sickness and deaths was beyond description. the next summer they marched over into the New Jersey State and on the last of June 28th (he supposes 1778) they met with the British at or near
Monmouth Court house and there had an engagement
this was the first battle that he was in and he thinks the americans gained the victory for he was guard to the baggage wagons that day and they remained on or near the same ground that night they were on the night before and a few month after say sometime in November he was regularly Discharged from the army
whist they was stationed on the North River (but that he had omitted to state that he thinks that he was thrown into the first Regiment to fill the vacancy
Page 10

executioned by death &c but if so it was the
first Regement of the Regular Line and not
of the Militia as set forth in the former
declaration throug the Imbicility of mind or a mistake of the Magistrate for he says he did not serve with the Militia at all during his service in
the army all of Which is sworn to and subscribed this day and date above writen before us
John B Harry [initialled]
TM Hardin [initialled]
Wm his
Mark Williams
X

and the said Court of Justice do hereby
declare their opinion to be that the above Named William Williams who is the applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served in the army upwards of two years as he states for we have known him many years and he has always
been reputed as a regular soldier of the United
State in the Revolutionary war but from our
knowledge of him and the Imbicility
of his body and mind we are satisfied he
cannot give the names and rank of the officers
of the army as he once could do and to
Require that of him at this time would be to
deny him the benefits of the act of Congress
of the 7th of June 1832 and all other [illegible]
on the same subject Given under our
hands this 5th day of July AD 1844
and we do further Certify that we are of opinion that the above named Wm Williams is unable to ride or be hauled to the Court House owing to old age and bodily infirmity to make his declaration given under our hands
this day and date above Writen
John H Harry [signed and initialed] {JP}
TM Hardin [signed and initialed] {JP}
Page 11

State of North Carolina
Lincoln County. Oct 3rd 1840

Dear Sir-
having Sevarial years a go. made Declaration
and had it forwarded to the pension office
in order-- Setting forth my Claims on the
United States for services rendered in the War
of the revolution-- and the agent or atturney
that I had imployed having shortly afterwards
Died I have not been able to assertain what
has been the result -- I persume that the
Declaration and papers in the case are all in the
pension office-- and being in Endgint
Circumstance and learning that all my old
Cotemporaryers have ben favoured with sum
assistance from the United States - I have
again resolved to resume my application
if my atterna ever received any answer
from the Commissioner of pensions I never
was favoured with any from him I persume
in Concequence of his Death-- as I know not
Weather my atturna wrote in my name
or his own I will gave his name, it was
P. G. Roberts - and being persuaded that my
Case would Certianley meat a favourable
Examination form the fact that I had not only proven that I was in the Camps but that
I had percured my Original Discharge I send these lines in way of Enquiry --
yours Vary Respectifully
William Williams 

H J. L. Edwards
William Williams
Com --
of Pensions -- Address Swongstown. N.C. Rutherford Co.
Page 12

State of South Carolina}
York District}
I Ja Kuy Kendal
Clerk of this Court
for said District do herby certify
That the Records of my Office dose
not give any account of the Marriage
of William Williams to his wife
Mary.

In testimony whereof I
have hereunto Set my hand
and fixed the seal of my Office
at Yorkill this 29th day
of October 1847
J. Kuykendal
C,C, Cpls

[seal, covered by paper, affixed to this document]
Page 13

[This document is a printed list of questions. There are no answers -- written or otherwise]

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 Williams [name is handwritten] which require further proof or explanation.


I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?

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

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?

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 amout of pension he is entitled?

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

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

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?

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?
Page 14

[This document is a printed list of questions.]

2

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

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? No [this word handwritten]

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?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?

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?

XVI. ++Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so 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 _________; and for such service I claim a pension.
Page 15

Shelby   November the 21st 1847
Dear Sir I Enclouse you some additional
evidence in the case of Mrs Mary Williams
widow of William Williams Died I wish you
to examin the case assoon as possible direct your
letter to me at Shelby N Carolina
Yours Respectffully
James Williams
Page 16

Shelby Sept the 4th 1848
Sir I enclouse to you the declaration
of Mrs Mary Williams widow of
William Williams who was a pensioner
under act of 17th of June 1844
if there should be any mistake in
the papers please write back to me what
is lacking direct your letter to me
at Shelby, Cleaveland County N Carolina
Yours Respectfully
Joseph Carroll
Page 17

State of North Carolina}
Cleveland County}
this day personally came
James Hardin before me
Thomas M. Hardin one of the Justices of the Peace for the state and district aforesaid and being duly sworn saith that he has been been acquainted with the aforesaid William Williams for upwards of fifty years
and that he has been always Reputed as a Revolutionnary soldier and that he has Just Reason to believe that he did serve in the Revolutionary war in the service of the United States of America and that he did once see a paper purporting to be a discharge from the army of the united state in the Revolution and heard it read and that he does not recollected by whom (that he thinks it was something Like two
years sworn to and subscribed this 25th day of
January 1844
James Hardin
[illegible] TM Hardin JP

State of North Carolina}
Cleveland County} This day personally came Abram Hardin before me Thos. M. Hardin one of the Justices of the peace for said County and being duly sworn Saith that he has been acquainted with the afore said William Williams for the last thirty years and that he has Ever supported a good Character and has been reputed a Revolutionary Soldier
and that said william Williams had in his possesseon a paper purporting to be a discharge from the army of the united state in the Revolutionary war that he once read it but does not recollect the particulars but that he is satisfice that the foregoing Declaration of the said williams is true sworn to and subscribed this 25 day of January 1844
TM Hardin JP
Abraham Hardin
Page 18

State of N Carolina}
Cleavland County}
This to Certify that I have been acquainted with William Williams for the last twenty
five years, and he has ever since My acquaintance, with him supported the Character of truly, an honest, and truthful man either an oath or otherwise, and I further
Certify that I recollect distinctly well about the time
Mr Williams gave his papers to Mr Roberts to attend
to Getting his pension Roberts died in a short time
after that
January the 24th AD. 1844
B B Bridges Chairman
of the Court of pleas, and quarter
Sessions for the County of Cleavland

[begin crossed out words] I do Certify that [end crossed out words]
I TM Hardin one of the acting Justice of Cleveland County N.C. do certify that James Hardin Abraham Hardin and BB Bridges the Subscribing witnesseth is all men of respectibility and men of truth and their Declaration Should receive all faith and credit given under my hand and seal this
5th of July 1844
TM Hardin JP


State of North Carolina}
Cleaveland County}
Richard Champion Clerk of the Court
of Pleas and Quarter Sessions in and for said County, Certify
that T.M. Hardin and B. B. Bridges are acting Magistrates
for said County Cleaveland, & I further certify that BB
Bridges is chairman of our County Court of Pleas and
Quarters and that the signatures, purporting to be theirs
are genuine
In testimony whereof I have
hereunto subscribed my name and
affixed the seal of said Court of
Office at office this 27th day
of January 1844
Richard Champion Clk
Page 19

I do certify that William Williams
is not able to be brought to the
Court house nor has not been able
for some time this  27 January 1844
TM Hardin JP
Page 20

[illegible]
Swangstown [illegible]
February 10

Declaration of
William Williams
Page 21

35836
William Williams
N.C.
Act 7. June '32
Roles -  enlisted 16 May 76
departed aug 79- joined
Jany 78 - discharged
Nov. 78 day 10 mo
aom d
10 mo pri
$33.33
}
Hon J. [illegible] Black
Cherokee Iron works
So. Ca.
Page 22

State of North Carolina}
Cleveland County}
be it known that one
William William a Revolutionary character now
living in the State and County aforesaid appeared before M. Thos. M. Hardin one of the Justices of the Peace for the aforesaid County and being duly sworn as the Law directs saith that he did Enlist in the united states serves in the Revolutionary war that he was enlisted by one Archable Litle but that he does not recollect who was the Captain that he mustered under when he went into the army and that he believes that he mustered in the sixth or
seventh Regiment and that he served something like fifteen months and being in bad health he left the army a few months and Returned to the army and served until he was Regularly discharge from the army and
that he think that he served about two and a half years or near that time that he had his said discharge for several years but by Reason of an attempt to obtain pension he gives up said discharge to one P.G. M Roberts to send on to the war department and that said P. G. M. Roberts died shortly after and that he does not know what become of said paper and further saith that he beleive that he was at the
time that he was discharge in the first Regiment of the North Carolina militia and that there was one sergent in the Regiment by the name of Samuel Gillson who wrote his Discharge and that he beleive that one Colonel Thomas White gave him his Discharge and that he has not received any anuity or pinshon from any source what Ever and that he considers that he is justly Entitled to a pension under the Laws of the United states of America sworn to and Subscribed this 25th day of January 1844 before me 
TM Hardin JP
William his X mark Williams
atest Thos Colling
Page 23

NB the above named William Williams the
applicant declares that the words North Carolina Militia in the 26 line of of his Declaration of the 25th of January 1844 was an entire mistake in him or the Justice he thinks in
him through the weakness of his mind at that time that he did not serve with the Militia but with Regular troops sworn to before me 5th day of July AD 1844
John B Harry
Page 24

[a printed form with handwritten responses]

Resy WIDOW, &c.
[illegible]
---
File No. 3907
Mary Williams ┃
Wid.
Wm Williams
Pvt. Rev. War
---
Act: Feby, 2nd/48
Index: -- Vol. [illegible] Page 337
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 25

Shelby August 1847
Dear sir I Enclose the
Declaration of my mother
to you if the Evidence is not
satisfactory please write what is
lacking  direct your letter to me
at Shelby NC Cleaveland County
Yours Respectfully
James Williams
Page 26

William Williams, N.C. Act of 7 June 1832
$33.33 prann

To what time was he last paid?

Pension Office
Deam Do 1847}

Paid to 4th Sept. 1846
BLB
Page 27

Cherokee Iron Works
York Dist So. Ca.
20th Augt. 1844

Sir
I enclose you the papers of
William Williams for a Pension
Please let these have your attention.
I have no doubt but Williams
is justly entitled to a pension
unless barred by his absence
without leave. or desertion
You will see on this point
the Certificate of Mr Hill
Secretary of State for No Carolina
you will also see by the same
that Williams afterwards served
out his time until regularly
discharged. Your obt sevt
James A Black
Honbl Mr. Edwards [illegible]
Page 28

June 10 1844
NC
Acopn of
Wm Williams
Hon J L Edwards 
Commr Pensions
Page 29

June 11 1844
Sir.
The claim of William Williams of NC under the
Act of June 7 1832 was apeled, [illegible], so far by the [illegible] so the Off [illegible], on account of his desertion, I now enclose a certifect of the Secy of State, showing the whole facts on the case, by which it will appear that Williams returned [illegible], to his [illegible] one year. Whether under the circumstances, you can be factful on [illegible] a full pension is left to yourself to decide. My opinion is, that he shd be fully entitled. Whatever that be [illegible] his due shd [illegible] be awarded him a early or [illegible] will allow, considering that he has been working nearly ten years.
Yours Respectfally
H H Syl[illegible]
[illegible] Edwards
Page 30

Nov 21 '44
[illegible signature]
Wiliams

Hon J. L. Edwards
Commr Pensions
Page 31

Nov. 22, 1844
Sir The claim of William Williams of NC has been upon your files for nearly ten years, under the Act of June 7 it was rejected on account of his desertion. In June last, (11th) I filed the Secretary a certificate showing the whole facts in the case, and that said Williams again joined and served nearly one year.
As for this service that we now wait a certificate. I hope you will consider the [illegible] as one meriting immediate attention.
I am very respectfully H H Sylvester
Hon JL Edwards
Page 33

State of North Carolina Cleveland County I Thomas M Hardin one of the acting Justice in and for said county do certify that I am personally acquainted with Mrs. Mary Williams who appeared before me this day and was qualified to the within declaration and that I do certify that she is an [illegible] lady of respectability and good character whose veracity cannot be disputed given under my hand and seal this 1st day of Sept 1845
TM Hardin
State of North Carolina Cleveland County
I Phillip Whisenant Clerk of the Court of Please and Quarter sessions for Cleveland county certify that Thomas M Hardin whose name appears to the with declaration and the above certificate is one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for said county and that the signatures purporting to be his is genuine and that full faith and credit is given to all his [illegible] as such given under my hand and seal at office the 6 day of Sept 1845 in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of my office day and date above PL Whisenant
Page 34

Mary Williams
Declaration [illegible]
Page 35

N. Carolina 457
Mary Williams widow of William Williams who was a Private in the N Carolina line Husb. died 22 Oct 1846
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 cents per annum, to commence on the 22 October 1846
Certificate of Pension issued the 23rd day of Dec. 1847 and sent to James Williams Shelby, N.C.
Act of June 17, 1844
Recorded in Book A Vo. 2 Page 152
Page 36

State of North Carolina Office of Secretary of State I William Hill Secretary of State in and for the State of North Carolina, do hereby certify, that it appears from the muster rolls of the continental line of this state in the revolutionary war, that William Williams a private soldier in said line enlisted on the 16th day of May 1776, in Capt. McLaughlan's company of the 7th Regiment for the term of three years, and that he deserted in August 1777, was mustered again in January 1778, and was discharged in November 1778. That a warrant for bounty land for tow & a half years services was issued to him on the certificate of a Field Officer. Given under my hand this 1st July 1844
W Hill Secretary of State
Page 37

State of North Carolina Cleveland County I Richd Champion Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter sessions certify that Joseph Carroll whose name appears is a magistrate to the foregoing affidavits and his official acts as such is entitled to full faith [illegible] & the signature purporting his are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of office at office this 28th day of August 1847
Richd Champion Clerk of Cleveland county by PS Whisnant Dep Clerk
[the rest of the document is illegible]