Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7,002, Zachariah Hester, N.C.
Page 1

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[3-1776]

SERVICE
N. C.

Hester, Zachariah

NUMBER
S 7.002

carded
CONTENTS
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

2921

North Carolina
Zachariah Hester
Granville in the State of N. Carolina
who was a Private in the Compy [Company] commanded by Captain Gill---- of the Regt commanded by Col: Taylor in the North Carolina line for 16 months from 1777-

Inscribed on the Roll of North Carolina 
at the rate of 53 Dollars and 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 8 day of Decr [December] '32 and sent to O'Brien, Oxford N.C 

Arrears to 4th Sept 1832   
79.99
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 March '33      26.67
$106.66
Died June 5, 1837

{Revolutionary Claim,
{Act June 7, 1832
 
Recorded by Nathan Rice- Clerk
Book D  Vol. 8  Page 32
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Zachariah Hester
North Carolina 
No.6025

From 1777 Private
16 months
$53.33/mo
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

BRIEF in the case of Zachariah Hester, of Granville County 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? 71 years

4.  State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

[column headings] 
Period. Volunteered years not state drafted} drafted} drafted} drafted}
Duration of Service. “about” 1 [Month] - 6 [Months] - 3 [Month] - 3 [Month] - 3 [Month] / 16
Rank. Private “ “
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. Col. Joseph Taylor, Col. Paisley, Major O Neil, Capt. William Gill; Genl [General] Lincoln, Col. Lytle, Major Dixon, Capt. Pullam, Ens. Ensian Butler, Col. Eaton, Col. Taylor, Major Harrison, Capt. Birdsong

5.  In what battles was he engaged? Guilford

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

7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Two living witnesses in part & Traditionary

8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?

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

Examining Clerk.
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(1)

State of North Carolina} 
County of Granville} Sct. 

On this the 1st Monday of August A.D. 1832, personally appeared in open Court before the Worshipful Justices of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County aforesaid, now sitting, Zachariah Hester a resident of said County aged Seventy-one 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 was born in Louisa County Virginia & moved to this County at six years of age where he has resided ever since and at the time he entered the service he was a resident of the County & State above stated, that he volunteered his services under the immediate command of Capt. Cuthbert Hudson & Lieut. Joseph Taylor both of this County, and as well as he recollects it was in the second or third year of the revolutionary war. The particular date he is not able, from the lapse of time, to call to memory, but is confident it was immediately after the landing of the British at Wilmington in this State, which was the immediate cause of his volunteering, and that he continued in this service about six weeks. We were marched to a place called Cross Creek at which place we received information that the Tories under the command of General McCloud [Brig. Gen. Donald MacDonald] against whom we were directing our movements had been met by General Caswell [Richard Caswell] and a place called the Black Swamps, routed, beaten & their commander killed, whereupon we were discharged.
He furthermore states that nearly two years after that period he was drafted as a Militia man in this State, and was under the command of Captain
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(2)

William Gill, 1st Lieut. William Royster, 2nd Lieut. William Knight -- Major O'Neil [probably William O'Neal] & Col. Paisley [John Paisley] of Orange County and marched to Purrysburg in South Carolina, remaining in said service six months. We were marched through Hillsboro, Salisbury in this State -- Camden in So. Carolina, thence on to Purrysburg. He furthermore states that he was acquainted with Col. Archibald Lytle, Major Tilman Dixon [Tilghman Dixon] & Genl Lincoln [General Benjamin Lincoln] regular officers the latter of whom was commander in chief of that division of the Army. 
We were marched from Purrysburg to a place called "The Two Sisters" [ferry], where we remained until we were discharged. The particular date of this is not recollected, having lost the written discharge with which he was furnished. During this period above referred to, there was a skirmish between a part of the militia to which he belonged and the British at Briar Creek [March 3, 1779], that he was not himself engaged in it.
About six or seven months thereafter, he was again drafted under Captain Barnett Pulliam of this (Granville) County marched to Charleston by way of Hillsborough, Salisbury, Charlotte, Camden &c and placed under the command of Col. Lytle [Archibald Lytle] & Major Dixon [Henry "Hal" Dixon] -- General Lincoln commander in chief. We remained at Charleston for the space of three months the period for which we were drafted, and were then discharged, nothing memorable occurred in during that term, though a few days after our discharge, Charleston was besieged & taken by the enemy.
Sometime after this (the particular period not recollected) he was again drafted for three months, under Captain William Hicks. We were stationed about a week at Harrisburg, thence marched a few miles near Col. Eaton's, thence on to the High Rock
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(3)

Rock Ford -- thence on to Guilford old Court House -- Major Richard Harrington & Col. Joseph Taylor our Superior officers, and the day after our arrival there came on the celebrated battle [March 15, 1781] at that place, in which this applicant was engaged. The particulars of which are so much a matter of history it is useless to be recounted here -- suffice it to say that he escaped [Illegible] and after General Green [Nathanael Greene] our Commander in Chief ordered a retreat. we marched on and halted at a place called the Iron Works upon Troublesome [Creek], where we continued about three days, thence we were marched on to Ramsay's [sic, Ramsey's] Mills upon Deep River, where we (the Militia) were left under the command of General Butler [John Butler], General Greene in the meantime taking command of the regular troops and moving on to South Carolina. We remained at Ramsey's Mills about a fortnight and then General Butler marched us up to Wake [County] and at a place now [called] Raleigh we were discharged.

Some short time thereafter, this affiant was again drafted for a tour of three months under Captain Birdsong [Batt Birdsong], but in a few days after, was ordered to take charge of a wagon for the purpose of carrying ammunition on to headquarters at Camden, but being so much annoyed by the Tories he was ordered to deposit the stores at Frohock's Mills in Rowan [County], thence he returned in company with one Robert Christie, the wagon master, one Thomas Parham– Archie Golden, and Barnett Thompson to Halifax where he was placed
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(4)

under the command of Col. Nicholas Long [Deputy Quarter Master General], where we remained without any thing memorable occurring until the expiration of the three months and was discharged.
This Affiant hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. 
Sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open Court 
James Wyche, Chairman Justice  Zachariah [his X mark] Hester
Rich'd Sneed
Thos. Turner

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 & served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that John Mallory who has signed the accompanying certificate is a Clergyman resident of this County and is a credible person & that Benjamin Hester & Shadrack Owen whose certificates are also affixed are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Lewis Taylor Ch. preterm
R Bullock 
Tho Willie
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(5)

State of North Carolina} 
Granville County} Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions first Tuesday in August A.D. 1832.

Personally appeared before the Justices of the Court of Pleas aforesaid -- of said County, Benjamin Hester of the County and first having been duly sworn deposeth and saith that he has been well acquainted with Zachariah Hester the applicant for a pension from his boyhood up to the present time -- that he saw him at different times in the service as many as three tours -- first in the Army in South Carolina near Purrysburg -- again we marched together from this County to Charleston where we remained in company for about three months -- and again we were together at the battle of Guilford Court house -- he in the infantry and myself in the Cavalry. This affiant though states that he himself was not immediately engaged in the battle, but has every reason to believe this applicant was. 
Benjamin [his X mark] Hester
Sworn to & subscribed the day & date above mentioned 
[Illegible] 
Richd Sneed
Thos Turner

State of North Carolina} 
Granville County} Court of Pleas & Quarter Session 1st Monday of August AD 1832
Personally appeared in open Court Shadrach Owen of the County & State aforesaid, & having been duly sworn, maketh oath that he has been well acquainted with Zachariah Hester this applicant for upwards of fifty years, and that he served
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(6)

with him in the Militia during the revolutionary war a five month's tour in & about Purrysburg in South Carolina.
[Signed] Shadrach Owen

Sworn to and subscribed} 
in open Court the day & date} 
above mentioned}
[illegible] pro term 
Richd [Richard] Sneed 
Thos [Thomas] Turner 

State of North Carolina} 
Granville County} Court of Pleas & Quarter Session 1st Monday of August AD 1832

Personally appeared in open Court John Mallory a Clergyman residing in said County and certifies that he is well acquainted with Zachariah Hester who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration and that he believes him to be 71 years of age, that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that he concurs in that opinion. 
Sworn & subscribed in open Court the day & year aforesaid 
John Mallory 

Lewis Taylor Ch. proterm 
R Bullock 
Thos Willie
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(7)

I Stephen K Sneed Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions in the County of Granville and State of North Carolina, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Zachariah Hester for a pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office at office in Oxford this the 11th day of August 1832 

Stephen K Sneed Clk [Clerk]
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[typed form]

May 29, 1932
BA-J/MLB
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ZACHARIAH HESTER
S.7002

Mr. Wilford Allen
Utah Light and Traction Company
Salt Lake City, Utah

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letter of recent date, relative to Zachariah Hester, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.

The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S.7002, based upon the military service of Zachariah Hester in the Revolutionary War.

He was born in Louisa County, Virginia, date not stated, and when six years of age moved to Granville County, North Carolina.

While living in said Granville County, North Carolina, he volunteered about the second or third year of the Revolution, and served about six weeks as a private in Captain Cuthbert Hudson's company, Colonel Joseph Taylor's North Carolina regiment. Nearly two years later he enlisted and served six months in Captain William Gill's company, Colonel Paisley's North Carolina regiment. About six or seven months after this he again enlisted and served three months as private in Captain Barnett Pulliam's company, Colonel Lytle's North Carolina regiment. He later served another three months tour in Captain William Hicks' company, Colonel Joseph Taylor's North Carolina regiment and was in the battle of Guilford Court House. A short time after the termination of the last named tour, he again enlisted, date not stated, for three months under Captain Birdsong, in the North Carolina troops, but in a few days was ordered to take charge of a wagon for the purpose of carrying ammunition to headquarters and after his return to Halifax from this trip, he was placed under Colonel Nicholas Long, and served the remainder of the three months for which he enlisted.

He was allowed pension on his application executed on the first Monday in August, 1832, while a resident of Granville
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County, North Carolina, aged seventy-one years.

Zachariah Hester died June 5, 1837.

No reference was made to wife or children.

In 1832, one Benjamin Hester was a resident of Granville County, North Carolina, and stated that he had known the soldier, Zachariah Hester, since boyhood and that they served together in the Revolutionary War, but did not state relationship to him.

The Revolutionary War records of this office fail to show a claim for pension or bounty land on file on account of the service of John Hester.

It is suggested that as a possible means of securing information in regard to the military service of soldiers of the Revolution, you apply to The Adjutant General, War Department, this city.

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[left side] 1932 - May 19 - Hist. to Wilford Allen - MLB

[right side] 7002
[check mark] Rev War INVALID.

File No. 7002
Zachariah Hester
Priv. Rev. War

Act: June 7th, 1832

Index:-Vol. 1st, Page 169

(Arrangement of 1870.)
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Free [written vertically]
P.O.
Augt. [August] 20, '32
No. 6,325
N C

[written sideways] 
The Hnble [Honorable] Lewis Cass
Secretary of War
Washington City

[circular stamp] Oxford, N.C. AUG 11

mail
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Oxford Granville Co. N. Carolina
11th August 1832

Lewis Cass Esqr. [Esquire]
Secy [Secretary] of War

Dr Sir
Enclosed you'll receive evidences of the revolutionary service of Zachariah Hester of this county -- any communication which it may be necessary to make in reply to this, please address to the applicant as to the above address, to my care.
Very respectfully
Spencer O'Brien
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[typed form, with handwritten 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 Zachariah Hester which require further proof of 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 [handwritten]

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 [handwritten]

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 [handwritten]

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

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

VII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes [handwritten]

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes [handwritten]

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 [handwritten]
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

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?
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?

two living witnesses in part

XIV. If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she. or they are persons of credibility? Yes, (court}
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
Yes (court)

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?
Yes

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
No

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? No 26 & 7 not 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 pension."
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3

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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.  

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 magistrates must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. 

QUERE XIV.  Mode of authenticating papers.

In every instance where the certificates of the certifying officer who authenticated 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 end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as the prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

OW?

Salt Lake City, Utah, .ch [March] 27th 1932

Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:--

Can I ascertain through you when and where Thomas Down [^ 0 flat 0 ow] my ancestor received a pension? He was in the war of 1812. Have you his date of birth, etc [etc.]?

I shall appreciate very much your efforts in this matter. Also records of John and Zacariah [Zachariah] Hester of Granville Co North Carolina. Rev War. Vets.

Resptfully [Respectfully]
Wilford Allen
Dispatcher, Utah Light and Traction Co.

[circular stamp with Numbers 1 -12 around the outside] RECEIVED APR 4 1932 RECEIPT SECTION PENSION FILES SUB-DIVISION