Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 9,876, for William Smith, Maryland
Page 1

(3-1776)
Service                                             Number
Md.                Smith, William            R. 9876
Contents
res at enl. Charles Co. Md.
Aged 74 & res. Boone Co, Mo. in 1835
Page 2

33,290
Wm Smith
for
A Pension.
Missouri
[illegible] [struck through] 1832
Rejected.
9876
Hon. W. H. Ashley
H.R.
Page 3

State of Missouri}
County of Boone} S.S.
Personally appeared before the undersigned a justice of the peace in and for said county William Smith the above applicant for a pension and makes oath that from age and consequent infirmity he cannot swear precisely to the length of each tour of service, but from the best of his recollection he served as stated in his declaration making in all twenty eight and a half months in the capacity of a private soldier, and that he has never obtained a pension for said services, and hereby relinquishes his every claim to a pension except this pension, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. Sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me Warren Woodson J.P. 
            his
William X Smith
           mark
I, Roger N Tood Clerk of the [Illegible] court do hereby certify that the foregoing (except the above affidavit of said Smith taken by Warren Woodson) contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of William Smith for a pension, and I do further certify that the affidavit of said Smith take as above was taken by the said Warren Woodson, who at the time of taking the same was and now is an acting justice of the peace in and for said County duly commissioned and qualified as such and that the attestation and signature
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above is the genuine hand writing and signature of the said.

[Blurred seal of office]
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of office at the office at Columbia this 5th day of October 1835.
Roger N. Todd
Clerk
Page 5

State of Missouri }
Boone County } SS.

On the 5th day of October 1835 personally
appeared in open court before this judge of
the Boone circuit court now sitting, William
Smith a resident of Carrol county Missouri aged seventy four
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 entered the service of the United
States on the first of April 1777 under Capt
William Winters Cap William Harrison and
General Smallwood, in the state of Mary
land, Charles County.  That when he entered
the service he was then turn into his [illegible]
year, and was home in Charles County Md.
States That the service performed by him was
on the Potomac River principally as a spy on
what was then called minute men, in watch-
ing and guarding the Potomac and preventing the
British from coming up, his principal [illegible]
was from a place called [illegible] tobacco creek, and
Chickamuocen, his tours of duty were frequent,
they were subject to be called on any moment,
and he was kept in constant service almost 
from the time he entered until Corn
Wallis was taken, and finds it impossible 
to state from the frailty of his memory, the 
precise length and number of his tours
during the time Genl Smallwod went off
to the [illegible], & his Col & Capt remained, 
under whom he served.  He [illegible]
states, that from the time he entered until
discharged he served not less then ten tours
from [word struck out] one & a half to three months & a half each, and he is satisfied
that he served more than that, when he
first entered he served three months, he 
was then relieved for three months, he then
Page 6

was called into service again where he served till the middle of December, making two & a half months, and in this [?year] in all five & a half months, in the next spring 1778 he was called on again on the 1st day of March when he went out under his same Capt, and he served under him in that tour for three & and a half months, and on or about the middle of June he was [?released], and at the [illegible] of two months was called on again and served till the first of Dec making three & a half months in the spring of 1779. on the first of April he again was called out and was on duty three months when he was released after three months.  He then served from the first of October to the middle of Dec., making two and a half months, in the [illegible] spring of 1780, in the first of March he was called on again, where he served for three and a half months, making it the middle of June before he was [?] and on the first of October he again [?] into service and was serving till the middle of Dec making two & a half months, in the spring of 1781 he was called on again on the first of April and served till the first of July, making three months and on the first of October he again [?mustered] out and was out not more than a month and a half before they [illegible] released on hearing that [?Commander] was taken in all making twenty eight & a half months and he is sure he served longer than above stated on at times when [?] called for it called for it.  The men on the [illegible] overtaking the British, which was not included in this tour that they had to serve, but few men were left in the country to [? guard] it.
Page 7

as they had all joined the main army
some had to remain, he recollects that he
wished to go himself but could not get
off, during his service was in no engage-
meets but was frequently [illegible] on the
British in their [illegible] and they frequently 
came in [illegible] us, the capacity in which 
he served, was as a drafted man, though
when he first turned out he was not 16
years old, but such was the want of
men that he was compelled to serve
in some capacity as a soldier.

When he was finally released he got a wri-
tten discharge from his Col & Capt and
which he had for many years but age & the
many moves that he has made has destroyed
it, and he has no documentary at this time
to establish his service, nor does he know 
of any person whose testimony he can
procure who can testify to his service.
States that he has the record of his age in his
possession and is as stated above.  States that
he moved from Charles County Md, to Prince
William county Va, from thence to Faquire 
and Culpepper Va, from thence to Madison
County Ky, from thence to Boone County
Missouri.  He firmly relinquishes every claim
to a pension except the present and declares
that his name is not on the pension
roll of the agency of any state, [language struck
out]

The applicant states that in the last few months he has parti
ally removed to Carrol county, a new county in this state 60 or
70 miles distant from Boone county, but cannot fairly claim
it as his residence, and that he has no means in that
county to establish his claim to a pension. Sworn to &
subscribed in open court. William X his mark Smith
Page 8

We the undersigned Richd Gentry & Joseph W. Hickam
resident citizens of the county of Boone state
of Missouri do hereby certify that we are well
acquainted with Wm. Smith, the above applica-
nt for a pension, and who has subscribed
and sworn to the above declaration.  That
we believe him to be of the age stated
in his declaration, that he is reputed &
believed in the neighbourhood where
he reside[letter s struck out] d in Boone County for the 12 or 15 years past to have been a soldier of
the revolution and that we concur
in this opinion.  Richard Gentry
Sworn to & subscribed Jos W Hickam

The day & year aforesaid,
and the court do hereby declare their
opinion after an 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 Richard Gentry & Josheph W Hickam
who have signed the foregoing application are
resident citizens in the county aforesaid
and that they are credible persons & that
their statement is entitled to credit,
and it further appears to the court that
there is no resident Clergyman resident
in the vicinity of the applicant,
Page 9

Thomasville Missouri March 18, 1819

To the Pension Officer for a revolutionary
pension or claim.  Sir we have a claim
to present to your Honor, for a pension of
an old revolutionary soldier William
Smith, who was a citizen of North
Carolina, at the time of his entering into
the service.

We are able to prove the following inter-
rogatories

1st in North Carolina in 1776
2d at the expiration of the war
+3 I do not know
+4 North Carolina
+5 from 9 months to 12 months and to 18 months
6 Volunteered
7 Do not know
8 Do not know names of the Battles he was in
9 Charleston, Cowpens, Eutaw Springs,
Sons Berry, and Guilford, the two last
we are not certain, and perhaps others
not mentioned
10 North Carolina
11 Do not know names of officers he was under
12 Colonel or [Captain struck out] Honnarons [following lined through: not certain]
Captain Jack and Captain Morison
13 he had a discharge, but his House
was burned and the discharge burned in it
14 his two sons Richard and Andrew
15 No
16 No
17 he has received none yet
18 Shannon County Missouri, died 1835
Page 10

19 He left both a widow and children
20 Henry Whitner, Abraham Myers names of soldiers
and, one Wilson
Second Questions
1 Married in North Carolina
2. Maiden name was Charity Lee
3 She has no Bible, nor nothing of that
Nature, it was all burned with the
house no pension [illegible]
4 Has drawed none yet
5 She is decd.  She died in 1848 in
Oregon County State of Missouri
6 She left Richard and Andrew
Smith

Those that are marked with a cross
we are not able to prove precisely but
the others we are, by the two witness
es or heirs Richard and Andrew
Smith

We have written this for informati
on.

Some years ago, William Smith
made an application through a Law
yer, but never received nothing which
we are able to prove.

You will please to let you know
whether this is sufficient proof or not.

James H Karr
for the heirs
Give us a
answer as soon as you 
get this
J H Karr
Page 11

State of Missouri }
County of Oregon } Know all men by these presents
that we Richard Smith and Andrew Smith of the
Town of Thomasville in the County of Oregon and
State of Missouri have made, constituted and appointed and
by these presents do make, constitute and appoint
D. F. Martin and James H Karr of the same place [word my lined through]
our true and lawful attorneys for us and in our name
to apply for and receive all money and land or either that
may be due and owing to us the said Richard and Andrew
Smiths by any and all the acts intitling the revolutionary
soldiers to a pension or bounty land, to give receipts and
[illegible] therefor, to locate the land and perfect the title
thereto, to take possession of the same if located and
generally to do and perform all things that may be necessary
to be done to guard and protect our interest relating to
the same, hereby ratifying and confirming all acts of
our said attorneys in the premises as fully as if we
were personally present and doing the same

And in consideration of the services of our said attorneys
in and about the premises we hereby agree to make to them
a good and valid transfer of two thirds of all the lands also
two thirds of all of the money or property otherwise which they
may recover while under this power of attorney, and
by these presents do transfer and assign over to them
their heirs and assigns forever two thirds of all the land
or money and effect which they may recover as aforesaid
it being understood that they are to bear all expenses of this
business in the state of Missouri

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands
and scrawls.  This the second day of March A.D. 1855
R D G Smith
Andrew Smith
Page 12

be it remembered that on this 2d day of
March A.D 1855 personally appeared before me an acting
Justice of the peace within and for Moon Township
[following lined through: in the County of Oregon and] Oregon County Missouri
R.D.G. Smith and Andrew Smith and says
that they assigned the foregoing power of
attorney to be their [word foregoing lined through] voluntary act
for the purposes therein contained.
Abraham M Depriest
Justice of the peace

State of Missour i} SS
County of Oregon }  I J W Griffith Clerk of the County Court
within and for the County of Oregon and State aforesaid
do hereby certify that Abraham M Depriest whose genuine
signature appears to the foregoing instrument of writing
as Justice of the peace is now and was at the
time of signing the same an acting Justice
of the peace within and for said County
of Oregon duly Commissioned and 
qualified according to law and that
full faith an credit are due to all
his official acts as such Justice &c
in this State or any other Sister
state and that said Court is a 
Court of Record having General 
[illegible]
[Written vertically in left hand margin
R.Smith & A Smith
Jo } Power of attorney
D F Martin & J H Karr]

In Testimony whereof I JW
Griffith Clerk of the aforesaid County
Court have hereunto set my hand
and affixed the seal of said
Court at office in the Town of
Thomasville The 13th day of May 1855
J W Griffith Clerk
Page 13

Rejected Claim
Act of June 7. 1832

William Smith
Mo.

Power of Attorney
to examine claim

Chas. C. Tucker,
Atty,
Present.
Page 14

Know all men by these presents, that I William J.
Smith is hereby constitute and appoint Charles C. Tucker of
Washington City D.C. my true and lawful Agent and
Attorney, to prosecute the claim of William Smith
for any amount of Revolutionary pension, or increase
of pension, that may be due under the provisions of the
Act of [blank] or any other act or reso
lution of Congress and I hereby authorize my said attor
ney to examine all papers and documents in relation
to said claim on file in the Departments of Washington
City, or elsewhere; to file additional evidence or arguments;
and to receive the certificate which may be issued for 
said claim, and to appoint one or more substitutes
under him for the purposes herein expressed; and to
do all things that I might or could do, were I personally
present.  Hereby notifying and confirming all that my
said attorney may lawfully do in the premises.

Witness my. hand and seal this 2 day day of Nov. 1854
1854 
William J Smith [word Seal encircled]

In the presence of } 
WWoodson } SS
W. N. Moore }
State of Missouri County of Boone-SS

On this 2 day of Nov [smudged words]
1854 before me a Justice of the peace in and for the County
and state aforesaid personally appeared William J. Smith 
--- and acknowledged the foregoing power of
attorney to be his act and deed for the purposes therein
mentioned.  John C Devenport J. P.
Page 15

State of Missouri }
County of Boone } Ss

On this 2d day of November 1854 be
fore me the undersigned Justice of the peace in and
for the County and state aforesaid personally appeared
William J. Smith a resident of said County
and made oath according to the law that he is the iden
tical William J Smith [word lined through] (son of William Smith)
--- who executed the foregoing power of Attorney and
the he is directly interested in said claim, and makes
this affidavit to be filed with such additional ev
idence or arguments, as my said Attorney may use
in prosecuting said claim.   William J Smith

Sworn to and subscribed before me the day
and year above written.  John C Davenport J.P.

State of Missouri, County of Boone } SS

I Warren Woodson
Clerk of the County Court of Boone County do here cer-
tify that John C. Davenport Esq. before whom the
foregoing affidavit and acknowledgment were made and
who has thereunto signed his name was at the time
of so doing a Justice of the peace in and for the County
and State aforesaid duly commissioned and sworn and
that all his official acts as such are entitled to full faith and
credit.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto
signed my name and affixed my
official seal this 2d day of
November 1854
Warren Woodson clk
Page 16

Washington, Decr 13th 1853.

Dear Sir.

As the request of William T.
Switzler, Esq, of Columbia, Missouri, we call
up the case of William Smith, Missouri
Suspd., Act 7th June 1832.

We entertain no doubt that
Mr Smith performed some service, but from
its character, the lapse of time, &c he was
unable to specify [illegible] & facts particularly
which the regulations require.

As to proof of service the probability is
that all his contemporaries have passed away,
and there is no record of the service
of the Maryland Militia.

We would however, refer you to
the case of Elwyly Smith, Maryland
roll, Act of 7th June 1832, who served in an
adjoining County, as corroborative of that
of William Smith.

Very respectfully
Evans & Fant.

Hon L. P. Waldo
Commr of Pensions.
Page 17

Thomasville Mo May 8/1854

Dear Sir

I received a letter from
under your hand concerning William Smith
pension and it was thought proper to prove
the dates of his and his widows death.
Wm Smith died in the year 1832
His widow died in the year of 1841
William Smith was married in the year
of 1777 or 1778 and we are not able to
prove the precise date of his marriage, but
the above is correct from the best informa-
tion that we are able to obtain.

Said Smith has two surviving
heirs, that we are certain of.  there
was one living in Texas some years
since but we are not able to state
whether [begin underline] she [end underline] is yet living or not.
Said heirs are known and called
the names following names
Richard Smith and Andrew
Smith.

I think it is rather bothersome upon
us to undertake to prove his services by
the records of his native state, but if we cannot
do otherwise, we will have it to under take the same.
I wish you would be so kind as to inform
me what the amount would be provided we can
Page 18

get the same, and if you think we have
made out our case we will [word struck out] make
out the proper affidavit and send on
after the reception of your answer.

Yours with respect
James H Karr
By Atty D. F. Martin
Page 19

Washington, May 21st 1853

Sir.

We herewith enclose a letter
from Mr. Wm F. Switzler, of Missouri, re
questing us to examine the papers of Wm
Smith, Missouri, Susp Oct 7th June 1832.

We presume that the letter will be
deemed sufficient authority, as Mr
Switzler asserts that he was the agent
in the case.

Very respectfully
Evans & Fant.

Hon L. P Waldo
Commr of Pensions.
Page 20

Columbia, Mo., May 7, 1853

Messrs:

The papers in the case of John Da-
venport are not yet perfect, having
had to send to a remote part of the
State for the certificate of a physician.
All will be sent in a few days.

The enclosed papers will explain
themselves.  Mr. Yates (and several other
agents) wrote to Mr. Smith, one of the
children of Wm Smith, deceased, on
the subject of collecting the pension due
said deceased.  The enclosed is Smith's 
reply.

This being an old case of mine, with
which years ago that much trouble,
I thought it right I should now have
the direction of the claim, under its
new and more encouraging affects--
the more especially as Mr. Yates wishes
to charge one half for his services.  Mr.
Smith is a very poor man, and I thought
you would take charge of the case on
much more reasonable terms.

I therefore write to know on
what terms you will attend to the mat-
Page 21

ter and what we must do here.  Look
into it and write to me immediately.
How much will be the aggregate sum
to which the heirs are entitled?
W. F. Switzler
Page 22

33,290
=====
33,290  Rejected
See letter 8 Decr.
1835 to Hon. W. H. Ash-
ley H. Rep.

did not serve
six months in a mil-
itary capacity
Evans & Fant, Dec 20/53
Jas. H. Karr Ap 6 1854
same May 30 1854
==================

Rejd. - 1832
Page 23

REJECTED
9876
P. O. ___
William Smith
Service: ___

Enlisted: ___ , 18  .
Discharged: ___, 18  .

Application filed: ___, 18  .

[word Alleges lined through] The printed list of 1832
gives cause of rejection as
[word Re-enlisted lined through] "Not military service"

Attorney: ___
P. O. ___
_______
___Recognized. ___ Contract.
___ Cert. of Dis. Searched for ___, 18  .
Page 24

80
Pension Office
April 6 1854

Sir

In the case of William Smith of Mo.
it should be shown when he died, when
his widow died, if he left one, when he
was married to her, what children now
survive, and his service should be
proven, either by the records of the State in
which he served or by the testimony of
contemporaries.

James H. Carr Esq
Thomasville
Mo
Page 25

Pension Office
Dec 20, 1853.

Gentlemen:

In compliance with your request
I have examined the testimony in the
case of William Smith of Mo. whose
claim under the Act of June 7, 1832,
which had been rejected, on the ground that
he did not serve [illegible] months in a
military capacity; and can discover
no good reason why the opinion &
paper in my letter to the Hon. W. H.
Ashley of the House of Representatives
on the 8th of Dec. 1835 should not be
adhered to.  Smith claimed service as
a minute man on the Potomac River
from 1777 until Oct. 1781. But he could
[word not lined through] have [words struck out] served only a brief term of actual service during
that entire time-as the British entered 
the Potomac only once a [illegible] [words during that lined through]
Page 26

per 1777 to 1781, and only for that [word brief lined through] periods.
If, however, the claim is further pur
sued evidence of service should be
sought at the office of the Commissioner
of the Law Office at Annapolis, Md.
for the claim rests upon the naked assertion
of Smith alone; now in its present condition
is entitled to no consideration whatever.
There is no such pensioner as Elwyly
Smith upon the Maryland Role
under the Act of June 7, 1832.

[written in the right hand margin:
[illegible] & Smith
Dec. 20
1833]

Messrs Evans & Fant,
Present
Page 27

May 30/54
Page 28

550
Pension Office
May 30 1854

Sir

Until the proof of service is furnished in
the case of William Smith of Mo. I can
form no idea of the amount of pension
which should be granted, and until that
proof is advanced no allowance can be
made.  I refer you to my letter of the
6th of April last, to yourself, for the
help necessary to be taken for the com
pletion of the case.

James H Karr Esq
Thomasville
Mo
Page 29

War Dept. Pen. Office
Dec. 8th, 1835.

Sir,

The declaration of John Moore
has been examined.  He alleges to have
served [words struck out] three months as an Ensign
and for three months in the quarter master
Dept, under Colonel Nicholas Long; [words in the lined through]
and that he was in the regular service.
Those who served under Col Long as regulars
were enlisted to serve for a much longer
period than is alleged.  Those who served under
that officer in the Quarter Master Dept, [word struck out]
for so short a period as three months, served under
civil contracts and were not bound to per-
form military duty.  The act of 7 June 1832
provides for none who did not perform
six months service in a military capacity.
The claim has therefore been rejected and
the papers filed in this office.

The declaration of Joseph Jackman
has also be exd.  He alleges that he entered
the service in August 177i, in Virga. [words for the lined through]
[words purpose of lined through] and marched in the direction of the
Brandywine river; and on their march heard of the
battle at that place, when they returned home for
which he claims three months.  He alleges that
Page 30

he again volunteered in 1778 or 1779, but did
little actual service, [following lined through: He also alleges to ha]
and that he again [following lined through: served about[illegible]]  entered the service in [word struck out]
April 1781, and left it about the last of July.
The applicant could not have been in actual
service in his first tour more than one
month.  In his second alleged tour it does not appear
that he performed any actual service, and his
third tour did not exceed three months, mak[remainder cut off]
less that six months actual service in all.
[following lined through: The act of 7 June 1832 provides for none which]
The claim has therefore been rejected
and the papers filed.  Enclosed is Mr Rollins
letter to you.

The claim of William Smith 
has also been exd.  He alleges to have served
as a minute man on the Potomac River
from 1777 until October 1781, [following lined through} and that his [illegible]]
claim for upwards of two years actual service.
The enemy did not visit Virginia but once from
1777 to Dec. 1780, and then only for a period of [remainder cut off]
than a month.  In the latter part of Decr. 1780 they
invaded Virginia and marched to Richmond.  The enemy
occupied but little time up the Potomac River.
The applicant could not therefore have been
in actual service six months.  His claim [remainder cut off]
consequently, been rejected and his papers filed.
[Written in the left hand margin next to the paragraph regarding William Smith:
Hon W. H. Ashley
H. Rep.]