Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 21740, for Thomas Martin, North Carolina
Page 1

(8-1776)

SERVICE
N.C.

Martin, Thomas
Sabra

NUMBER
W. 21740

CONTENTS
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[Amended  Declaration page 1]

State of South Carolina
York District

On this the 29th day of March, & one thousand eight hundred & thirty three , personally appeared, Thomas Martin and for answer to the objections made to his application for a pension made before Hon. [Honorable] William D. Martin, at the sessions & common Pleas for York District October Term 1832- which said application has been returned as defective & the objections thereto marked in Red Ink in a paper accompanying the same deposes & says

1st In answer to First objection, made viz: "Has the Declarant mentioned the period or periods of war when he served."
He says he thinks it was in the year 1780. At all events it was during the time the Battle of the Cowpens [SC Jan. 1781] was fought - and he remember distinctly that he had returned home but a short time previous to the battle which took place at Guilford [Courthouse] North Carolina [March 1781] he further says that he is old & cannot remember dates as distinctly as he once could.

2nd. In answer to second objection viz "has he mentioned with precision the length of his service & 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."
He says as follows. He served six months in the militia horse [cavalry] as a private.

[word "omit" is written in margin beside #3 & #4]
3d. He hereby relinquishes every other claim to a pension, except the one under the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.

4th. He now has no documentary evidence but once had a discharge given by Capt William Jones which he has lost- there is no living witness of his service &  such proof cannot not be had by him
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[Amended Declaration page 2]

Sworn & Subscribed March 29th 1833
A Akin JP 
Thos. Martin

I Andrew McWhorter Clerk of the Court of General Sessions & Common Pleas of the said state, do hereby certify that A. Akins who has attested the above is an acting Justice of the Peace for York District South Carolina and that the above is his own proper signature. March 3d 1833.
Given under my hand & seal of Office
AMcWhorter C,C,C,YD

I Richard Ganett Judge of the Court of Common Pleas hereby certify that Andrew McWhorter who has signed the above certificate is Clerk of the Court of General Sessions & common Pleas of the said State for York District and the above is his own proper signature March 30th 1833
Richzrd Ganett
Page 8

[Declaration page 1]

State of South Carolina
York District

On this 16th day of October personally appeared in open court before William D. Martin Judge of the court of Genl. Sessions and Common Pleas now sitting Thomas Martin a resident of York District in the State aforesaid aged seventy six 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.

1st Was born in Brunswick County in the State of Virginia on the 11th of May 1756.

2. He has copy of his Father's record of his age now in his posession. 

3. Was living in Chatham County in the state of North Carolina at the time he entered the service of the United States - removed thence to Lincoln County in North Carolina about the year 1781 & thence across the line into York District immediately after the close of the war

4 He entered the service of the united states as a Volunteer

5. He enumerated several regular officers, viz
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[Declaration page 2]

4. He entered the service of the united states as a Volunteer

5. He enumerated several regular officers viz
General [Nathanael] Greene, Capt [William] Jones, & Col Tho Wade [Thomas Wade]. He does not recollect any of the Continental or Militia regiments, of what transpired during his service, he recollects as bring upon  scouting parties & after General [Nathanael] Greene removed his army: which he says was after the battle of Cow Penns [Battle of Cowpens, SC 1781] ; he was employed under Col Tho. Wade gathering cattle & hoggs for General [Nathanael Greene's army

-after being discharged from the service of Capt [William] Jones he again volunteered in the service of the United States under the Command of Capt Shuford in Lincoln County and proceeded from thence to the Pleasant Gardens & from thence to the Cherokee Nation & there burnt their towns & destroyed their Corn. The principal commander being General McDowel [Charles McDowell]  Col McDowel [Joseph McDowell] & went on committing depredations as far as the middle settlements in the Cherokee Nation & soon after was dismissed, the whole of his service was volunteer in the united states army amounting to about six months
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3 
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months, is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration in highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit. 
QUERE XIV. PROOF OF SERVICE. 
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the 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 certify to the credibility of the witnesses and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. 
QUERE XVI. MODE OF AUTHENTICATING PAPERS. 
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate. In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.