Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5354, William Hughes, N.C. Va.
Page 1

(3-1776) 

Service 
N.C.
Va.

Hughes, William
Nancy

Number
R.5354
Page 2

State of North Carolina }
Cleveland County}
On this 5th of December one 
Thousand Eight hundred and fifty Three. personally appeared 
before the Court of please and quarter sessions now sitting 
for the County of Cleveland in the State of North Carolina 
Benjamin Hughs. a resident of North Carolina in the County 
of Cleveland. 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 Acts 
of Congress passed June 7 1832. July l4 1936 and July 7, 1838. 
granting pensions to soldiers of the Revolutionary War and Certain 
widows of Soldiers who were in the said Revolutionary War. 
that he is the son and one of the heirs at law of Nancy 
Hughs, widow of William Hughs, who was a private 
Soldier of the Virginia Contennatial line in the war of 
the Revolution and as such served the United States against 
the common enemy for the space of two years. that he enlisted 
in the army of the United States sumtime in the year 1777 or 78. 
that his said Father William Hughs was a resident of the State 
of Virginia when he entered the service and that at the end 
of said service he was drafted or volunteered and was in
the service until about the Close of the War that said 
service was performed in the States of Virginia, North Carolina 
and South Carolina. that he was at the Battle of Guilford +
at the surrender of Cornwallis; all of which to the best of his 
knowledge belief and information from his said Father, 
William Hughs in his lifetime that Declarant further 
states that his said mother Nancy Hughs was married 
to his said Father William Hughs sometime in the year 
1777 before his said father entered the service as the declarant
has oftern heard his said Father & Mother say: That his said 
father William Hughs Died on the 17 Day of June 1833 and 
that his said Mother Nancy Hughs widow of the said Wm. 
Hughs remained a widow until her death, which 
was on the 5 day of March 1843 and that Declarant 
makes this application for himself and in behalf of his Brothers
Page 3

and Sister now living.  To wit -- Starlin Hughs -- 
Young Hughs, and Rebecca Blanton -- that they may
be allowed the amount of pension. to which 
his said Father William Hughs and his said Mother
Nancy Hughs. widow of the said William Hughs: would
have been entitled to had they applyed in their life
time. Declarant further declares that he never knew or heard
of his said Father or Mother making any application
for a pension in their lifetime.
   Sworn to and subscribed this Day and 
   year above. Written before
   Silas Williams   Clerk   Benjamin Hughs

State of North Carolina | Court of Pleas &
Cleveland County |  Quarter Sessions
|  March Sessions  1854

I Silas Williams Clerk of said
Court hereby Certify that the foregoing
declaration and affidavits was made in
open Court and that the Court is personally
well acquainted with Burwell Blanton,
Jackson Blanton, G. B. Byers, and
Burrell Hamrick whose names appear
to the foregoing affidavits that they are
all men of truth and good character.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto
Subscribed my name and
affixed my seal of Office this
7th day of March 1854
S. Williams   Clk
Page 4

State of North Carolina
Cleveland County

On the 5th day December 1853
personally appeared before the
court of pleas and Quarter session
for Cleveland county state of North Carolina now sitting
Burwell Blanton a resident of said county and
being first duly sworn acording to law, faith
and his oaths,  that he is personally well acquainted
with Benjamin Hughes and Young Hughes, and
Rebeccah Blanton that they are the
Children of William Hughs and Nancy Hughs
deceased and that the accompaning record
containing the ages of said Benjamine Hugh
Young Hughs, and Rebecca Barton in the original family record of 
the said William Hughs and Nancy Hughs and that it 
has been in his possession Ever since the death  
of said Nancy Hughes, the widow of said 
William Hughs and that he believing it to be in
 the hand righting of said William Hughs and 
sworn to and subscribed in open court the 
day and year above written 
Burwell Blanton 

Witness S William clk
Page 5

State of North Carolina
Cleavland County
We the undersigned sitizens do 
Hereby certify that we were acquainted with 
William Hughes deceased, and the claimant
Benjamin Hughes and the rest of the family
for many years, and they were all
highly respectable as a family of
truth Honesty and respectability
given under our hands this 9th day
of December 1853
GSS Swan          Willis McKinney
John Hamrick
John Green
Rev Gen Hamrick
Drury Bridges
JG Bridges
Samuel Durham
Robert A Durham
GG Holland
Johnathan Hamrick
Caleb Bridges
A B Blanton
Jesse Hamrick
Edmond Jones
State of North Carolina Rutherford County this is
to certify that I Henry Culbreath a Clergyman
am personally well acquainted with the above
assigned men and believe them to be 
men of truth and credibility and I
concur in there opinion given under my
hand this 28 day of March 1854
Witnes R L Gilroy
Henry Culbreath
Page 6

State of North Carolina
Cleavland County
We the undersigned sitizens do
hereby certify, that we aew acquainted with
William Hughes, for many years before his
death, that he was always reputed recognised
and believed, in they neighborhood where
he resided to have been a
a soldier of the Revolution, and that we
concur in that, opinion, and that the same
belief prevails at this time, this 9th day of
December 1853
Lamuel Busham
Wiilis McKinney
GSS Swan
John Hamrick
John Green
Rev Cen Hamrick
Drury Bridges
TJ Bridges
Wm B. Lovlace
Caleb Bridges
State of North Carolina Rusterford county
this is to certify that I Henry Culbreath a
clergyman am personally well acquainted
with the above afsigned men, and believe
them to be men of truth and credibility
and I concur in there opinion given under
my hand this 28th day of March 1854
Henry Culbreath
Witnys
R.L. Gickey
Page 7

State of North Carolina,
Cleveland County, I Silas Williams Clark of the court of [ unknown ] for the county of state aforesaid hereby certify that James McSwain, John Hamrick, John Green, Reuben Hamrick, Drury Bridges, TJ Bridges, Lamuel Durham, Robert A Durham, G G Holland, Jonathan Hamrick, Caleb Bridges, A B Blanton, Jesse Hardin, Willis McKiney, Wm B Lovelace, E Jones are all men of health and good character and I further certify that Henry Colbreth whose name appears to the foregoing certificate is a clergyman of the Baptist Church highly respectable and whose veracity could be [ unknown]. In testimony whereof I have hereunto [unknown] my name and affixed my seal of office this 12th day of April 1834.
S. Williams Clk
Page 8

State of North Carolina Court of pleas and quarter
Cleaveland County session March term 1854
Personally appeared in open court Jackson Blanton
a resident of said county and state aforesaid. and after
being duly sworn according to law saith on his
oath. that he was personally well acquainted with
William Hughs. that he was alaways reputed and recognized in
the settlement where he lived to have been a soldier
of the Revountionary war. and that the same belief
prevails at this time. and that the said William
Hughs died on the seventeeth day of June 1833 as does
appear from the ingraven on his grave stone. that he
was also well acquainted with Nancy Hughs the
widow of the said William. that the said Nancy Hughs
died on the 5th day of March 1843 as does appear on
her grave stone. That he is well acquainted with
Benjamin Hughs young Hughs & Rebeca Blanton that
they are the Children and heir at law of thesaid William
& Nancy Hughs, that the said William Hughs & Nancy
Hughs both died in Rutherford County now Cleveland 
County in the Stat of North Carolina and deponant
further saith that he is in noway interested in said 
claim for a pension for the services of the said William
Hughs in the war of the Revolution that he knows the
said Nancy Hughs was the dentical widow of the said William
Hughs and that she remained his widow until her death
sworn to and subscribed in open courth this 7th
day of March 1854
Jackson Blanton
Gnt
S. Williams Clk
Page 9

State of North Carolina Court of pleas and quarter
Cleaveland County Session March Term 1854
personally appeared in open Court. Burrell Hamrick
and George B. Byers. and being duly sworn according to 
law Saith on their oath. that they fully concur
and know all the facts set forth in this foregoing affidavit
of Jackson Blantons to be correct and true. That
they are residents of said county and state aforesaid; that
they are in no way interested in said claim for a 
pension for the services of the afore named William
Hughes . Sworn to and subscribed in open court
this 9th day of March 1854
[illegible]
S Williams Clk
G B Byers
Burrell Hamrick
His X Mark
Page 10

Rebeca Hughes was born October 6 1789
Nancy Hughes was born August 14 1795
Young Hughes was born June 4 1787
Richard Hughes was born 1810
Burwell Blanton was born September 23 1809
John Justice was born the day of June [illegible]
Page 11

Benjamin
was Going
Page 12

TESTAMENT
Of our Lord and Saviour
JESUS CHRIST,
Newly translated out of the
ORIGINAL GREEK;
And with the former
TRANSLATIONS
Diligently Compared and Revised,
By His Majesty's Special Command
Appointed to be Read in Churches.
EDINBURGH:
Printed by the ASSIGNS of ALEXANDER KINCAID, His Majesty's Printer.
MDCCLXXXIV
Page 13

Nancy Hughs
William NC [illegible] 86

H
Cole

Mooresboro NC
31st Decbr 56

Commissioner 
Pensions Washington
City D.C.
Page 14

    P. 8055

Nancy Hughes Dead Widow of William N.C.                         

James Hanson   28 Apl 1854
    “          “          Mch 23 1855
Benj Hughes    Jany  30 / 57

5354

Ach  4 July 183 [ineligible paper folded)
Page 15

Rejected 
5354
P. O.  Nancy Hughes
Service  Wid of William 

Enlisted:______________, 18
Dischated:_____________, 18
Application filed:_________, 18
Alleges:___________________
_________________________
Re-enlisted: ________________
__________________________

Attorney: __________________
P. O. ______________________
___________________________
________Recognized,  __________Contrac
____Cert. Of Dis.    Searched for ______, 18
Page 16

State of the Carolina
I Geo W Brooks Comptroller of Public Accounts
Page 17


Thomas Hughs- Applicant
Jackson County
Indians Fights

Rey Singleton Regt.
Page 18

Thomas Hughs - Suspended-
Sometime during the last [illegible] I report Pvt. Hughs as Enlisted [?] but subsequently requested that a certificate should not be issued until you learn further from me on the subject

I understand from his report James M. Carris[?]  that Hugh's mind is entirely[?] gone - & such was its situation as to this [illegible] making his declaration 

I also learn from other friends[?] that Hughs is a maniac - and has been confined for years-

I learn from Christopher Nutter, William Powers[?] & [illegible]amick Copeland that Hughs resided in western Virginia during the war of the Revolution & was a very efficient man, - at [illegible] neighborhood [illegible] but that he was in no regular service or camp again [after?] - from all I can glean, his service was precisely such as Bergamick[?] Copeland d[illeg] - I therefore refer you to my report in Copeland's care - I think however that his service does [illegible] pension. 
W. Singleton
Jany 2, 1835
Page 19

Mooresboro S. Carolina
Cleveland County
December 30 1856
Sir
I Herewith inclose and forward you the Certificate of William Hughs who was a Soldier in the Revolutionary War, in the Continental line in N.C. for the sum of Eighty five pounds; one shilling; and nine pence which sum Benjamin Hughs, the son and Here at large, of William Hughs and Nancy, both deceased, and Benjamin Hughs, the Claimant, issuing[?]  they[?] certificate with  its amount added to his claim on file at Washington City DC on behalf of himself and the other lawful heirs of William Hughs and Nancy Hughs – [illegible] was sent up about the 5 day of December 1853 and examination you will please report to me the situation of said claim, address to Mooresboro, Cleveland County, N. Carolina. 			Yours Respectfully, 
Benjamin Hughs
Page 20

Moorsboro NC
April 21

Nancy Hughs
wd of Wm. 
N.C. Original 

Mr. J. P. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
DC
Page 21

__ Borough
N.C. Cleveland County
April 12th, 18?4

Sir

I Herewith enclose and forward
you the papers of Benjamin Hughes, claiming
pension under the act of congress of 7 June __
and July 4, 1836 and July 7 1838 - granting pensions
to Certain officers & soldiers of the the war of the
Revolution - and on an examination you will
__ report to me Addressed to 
Mooresborough N.C. yours Respectfully
James Harden

Mr S. P. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.
Page 22

Swangstown NC
March 13th 

Mr S.D. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City DC
Page 23

Swangstown N.C.
Cleveland County
March 13th, 1833

I herewith enclose and fordu[illegible
you, additional evidence to be
used in the pension claim
of the heirs of William Hughes,
which is on the glides in
the pension office
You will whose bepart
and address me at
Swangstown Post Office
Cleveland County N.C. --

Yours very respectfully,
James Hardin

In J.T. Waldo
Commission of Pension
Washington City
D.C.
Page 24

of ?members? from
to Jerson [sic.] county
Halifax county or
Surrey? for starting
Hughes name to
Try to ? this marriage
of William Hughes to Nancy
Page 25

State of Virginia
Lunenburg County, to __
I Thomas W ___ Clerk of the County Court 
of Lunenburg County in the State of Virginia
do Certify that I have examined the Marriage
Bonds and Records of Marriages in the Office
of the Clerk of the ___ County Court and
have not been able to find any bond given
by William Hughs to marry Nancy Bowers
between (?) the [illegible] 1763 & 1797 nor any record
of such Marriage.

___ whereof I have ___
subscribed my name and affixed
my official seal this 27th day
of May AD 1854
___ Clerk

Lunenburg __ VA
May 27th 1854

Sir

In accordance with your request of 
17th ___ I have examined without being able
to find any Bond or Record of Marriage of
William Hughes to Nancy Bowers, and send
above a Certificate of the fact. ___ ___ for
which is 57 cents which you may
send in postage stamps

Respectfully,
J_ ___

Ms Benjamin Hughes
___ ___
Page 26

State of North Carolina } personally (?) are in (?)
Cleveland County          } Court of [Illegible] and quarter                     
session now setting for said County and State of  said
Jackson Blanton George R Byers (?) (?) Blanton Hamrich (?)
all Residents of North Carolina in the County of 
Clevleand and after being first (?) (?)
according to law. Said the on this oath, that they 
(?)are personally well acquainted with William
Hughes, who was a(?) [Illegible]. and recognized in 
the settlement where he lived. To have been
a soldier in the Revolutionary War that the
said William Hughes died in Rutherford County
the part (?), Cleveland County in the state of 
North Carolina, on the 17 Day of June 1838, as 
day (?) are from the engraving on his Tomb
stone - that they are also well acquainted 
with Nancy Hughes the widow of the said William
Hughes - that she died in said County, on the 5
Day of March 1843, as was also (?) on 
her grave stone. That they are well acquainted 
with Benjamin Hughes  Young Hughes & Rebecca
Blanton the children of the said William 
Hughes & Nancy Hughes, that the said William 
Hughes & Nancy Hughes lived together as husband
& wife from the time of their first (?)
which is twenty five or thirty years hence. -
that the said Nancy Hughes was never again
married after the death of the said William 
Hughes - that they are in no way (?)
in the (?) (?) of the (?) of the said 
William & Nancy Hughes - to (?). Benjamin
Hughes. Young Hughes. and Rebecca Blanton
Page 27

Who are the only surviving children
of the said William Hughes and Nancy 
Hughes-Sworn to and subscribed in
open court this 50 day of June 1854 --
B. Blanton
[Illegible]
Burgel his Hamrock
Jackson Blanton
Page 28

The National Archives
       Form VAM-51
          12-5-41                        Bounty Land Warrant Record Card*

Name Hughes, William___Grade Private____Line Pennsylvania 

Warrant
Number 9614________________Acreage 100____Issue December 20, 1791
                                                                        to William Lane, assignee