Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3980, for Mathew Stroud, North Carolina
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
N. C.

Stroud Mathew or Matthew.     

NUMBER
S. 3980
carded

CONTENTS
Page 2

[edge torn] -st Tennessee 26.405
------------------------------
Matthew Stroud
Shelby Co. in the State of N. C
who was a Pr in the Company commanded
by Captain Griffins in the Regt commanded
by Col. [Claiborne?] in the No. Carolina
line for [blank]
[illegible] $20.00
----------------------------
Inscribed on the Roll of N.C.
at the rate of 20 Dollars 00 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
----------------------------
Certificate of Pension issued the 17th day of June
and sent to 
Hon. Wm S [Hickords?] HR
--------------------------
Arrears to the 4th of Mch 34              50.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept    10.00
                                                          $70.00

{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 2843.      }

Recorded by J. T. Sprague Clerk
Book C.  Vol. 8  Page 51


[note on upper right side]
Transfd. to Mobile [paper torn]
to W. Tennessee fr 4 Sept
Nov. 2[illegible]
Page 3

The State of Alabama Shelby County SS Circuit Court Augt Term 1832
On this twenty first day of August in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court before Leonard Tarrant Judge of the County Court for the said County of Shelby and State of Alabama now sitting Mathew Stroud aged eighty five years a resident citizen of the County and State aforesaid 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 under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That on the (blank day of (blank) in the year 1779 in Orange County North Carolina
applicant volunteered in Captain William Griffins Company as a private soldier and continued in the same Company until the year 1781 when he was honourably discharged from the service in the fall of that year. the Regiment to which applicant was attached was commanded by Col Levi(blackened illegible) Regiment, was attached to the command of Genl Gain Butler, the company to which applicant belonged was commanded likewise by Lieutenant William Hatley Major, Nolls, also commanded in the same Regiment to which applicant belonged. applicant states that he was during this term of service employed within the (illegible) of North Carolina, belonged to the horse and acted as Ranger to keep the (illegible) tories and British in (illegible) during this service applicant was in the following engagement, to wit, against the Tories and British at Lindley's Mill at which place Major Nolls fell his weapon not recollected & the United States troops were successful in that engagement a man by the name of Richard Farming a Tory commanded the enemy and had it was said with them Govener Burke the then Govener of North Carolina . The next engagement was with the Tories at (illegible) Mills in Chatham County North Carolina and the United States troops succeeded in this engagement. Applicant states that he was in some skirmishes between the United States troops and the tories between the time of the fight at (illegible) mill and the battle at Kings mountain that he was at the engagement at Kings Mountain the company to which applicant belonged was in this engagement placed under the command of Major Campbell Genl Bitler was not there Col (illegible) commanded in this engagement the United States troops routed and defeated the British and tories; in this activity took a great many prisoners and sent the prisoners to the (illegible) (illegible) in North Carolina applicant went with the prisoners as a guard
Page 4

after this engagement at Kings mountain applicant states that he was in no engagement worth noting during the entire Service of applicant, he was not associated with either regular or Continental troops unless there was some of both at Kings mountain of (illegible) was they are not now remembered by applicant. Applicant does not recollect any of the officers in the Service at the same time with him, except those already mentioned  applicant has no documentary evidence in his possession sufficient to prove his service. applicant knows of no living witness by which he can prove his service.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Mathew Stroud X his mark

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid

We, James Walker residing in the County & State aforesaid and Sam Willards residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Matthew Stroud who has  subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be eighty five years of age: That he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
James Walker 
Sam Willards

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid

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 and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that James Walker, who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the said County of Shelby and that Sam Willards who has 
also signed the same is a resident of the said County of Shelby, and is a credable person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Leonard Tarrant Judge
of the County Court

I O. B. Hams Clerk of the County Court for the said County of Bibb do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Mathew Stroud for a pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
Page 5

my hand and seal of office this 21st day of Augt 1832.
O. B. Harris Clk seal(circled)

Questions propounded by the court to applicant the same contained in the printed form issued by the Secretary of War, to which applicant gave the following answers

 Answer 1st qst - I was born in Brunswick County Virginia in the year 1747

Answer 2 qst - my age is set down in my bible which is at my place of residence

Answer 3 qst - when called in to the service I was living in Orange County North Carolina ; some time after the close of the Revolutionary War, I removed from North Carolina to the State of Georgia, where I lived for many years and until I removed to Shelby County State of Alabama where I now live

A. 4th qst - I volunteered when I entered the Service

Answer 5th qst - I do not recollect that I served at any time with either Continental & regular troops. I have stated all the militia officers that I now recollect that were in the service at the same time with me. I have given in the foregoing declaration as full an account of the circumstances of my service as I am now capable of giving. I am verry old & have forgot many things no doubt.

Answer 6 qst I did receive a discharge from this service in the fall of the year 1781 as well as I recollect - it was signed by Captain William Griffin - the discharge was taken from me in Alabama by a negro in a pocketbook as I believe. he knows that the pocketbook was taken and that the discharge was in the book at the time

Answer 7th qst The court will call upon David (illegible) and (illegible) to prove the existence of applicants discharge and also call upon James Walker to prove the reputation of the neighbourhood as to (illegible) (illegible) a soldier of Revolution

by the Court  to James Walker 
are you acquainted with the general character of Mathew Stroud for truth and veracity when in a court of Justice, of (illegible) is he entitled to credit in a Court of Justice and is he esteemed a soldier of the Revolution

And I am acquainted with the general character of Mathew Stroud and believe him entitled to credit on oath in a Court of Justice, and that he is esteemed by his
Page 6

neighbours to have been a soldier in the revolution

Question to Mr. [illegible] and Mr (illegible) by the Court have you, or (illegible) you, any knowledge that Mathew Stroud the applicant was a soldier of the of Revolution of [remainder of paragraph illegible]

Answer
I recollect once having been in the possession of Matthew Stroud, a discharge purporting to be from a Militia Officer in North Carolina during the Revolutionary war, my recollection is now indefinite - it was [illegible] a discharge as for a militia soldier. I also recollect being at Mr. Stroud's house when it appeared that his hatch had been broken and among other things there were some pieces of paper scattered about among which I discovered the fragment of his discharges 
Danl E. Watroud

Answer.  I recollect distinctly some several years since that Mathew Stroud placed in my care of a discharge purporting to be from a militia officer for a term of service as a soldier of the Revolution. the length of service or officers names not recollected. The discharge was placed by Mr Stroud in my hand to obtain him a pension I am a Judge and was then practising in the Court of this state & know that there was no law authorizing him to receive a pension at that time for the service mentioned in the discharge. I returned it to Mr Stroud and have not seen the discharge since
Sam Willardis

Sworn to & subscribed in open court the day & date above written.

The State of Alabama Shelby County SS
I Leonard Tarrant presiding Judge do hereby declare my opinion that the facts established by the examination of the applicant and his witnesses are true and entitled to the fullest credit. Given under my hand the 22nd day of August A.D. 1832
Leonard Tarrant Judge
of the County Court

State of Alabama Shelby County 
I Sam Willardis do hereby certify that the County Court for the said County of Shelby is a Court of Record, & that O B. Harris was at the time of making this declaration is now Clerk of said Court. That as such said Harris signed the foregoing certificate, as clerk
Sam Willardis

April 24th 
(illegible)
Page 7

Matthew Stroud Pr #20 per ann. Act June 7 Mobile Al
To what time was he last paid?

Pen office
Nov 2" 3[illegible]
R. B.


3d Auditor
 
To the 4th Sept. 1835.
S. H. H.
Page 8

Rev War
3980

INVALID
File No. 3980
Matthew Stroud
Pvt. N.C. line

Act: June 7/32
Index:--Vol. A, Page 356
[Arrangement of 1870]
Page 9

Mr. Burdine

The Comr. authorizes the transfer to be made, on the statement of the Hon JW Forrester, written
JDW
Oct 31 1836

[upside down text]
John B Forester
Mr. James L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City DC

Oct 31

(circular stamp)
MCMINNVILLE TE
OCT 21
Page 10

McMinnville Oct 19th

Sir,

I enclose you the within certificate of Matthew Stroud, he has removed from Alabama to my neighborhood.  he wishes to be transferred to the agency at Nashville.  I know he is the same man named in the certificate as he is my relation.  I would take his affidavit but he is unable to ride to town and I cannot go out to his residence.  I hope you will make the transfer without any affidavit and enclose it and the certificate to me at this place.
very respectfully, your (illegible), John B. Forester

You will oblige me by attending to this immediately as he needs his pension.
JB Forester

I am informed he has not drawn since march 1835.  I wish you would attend to this also as I saw him a few days past and know him to be the man named in the certificate.
Page 11

Matthew Stroud
Mobile, Alabama
to
W Ten
Page 12

Matthew Stroud

I am willing to compound the Stroud claim at (19) nineteen months service Decr. 23rd 1833 -
G W. Marsis

(illegible) his claim be allowed for six months
L. C.
Page 13

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of 
Matthew Stroud Shelby Co. Alabama which require further proof or 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

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?  [blank]

IV.  Has the declarant mentioned the period of periods of the war when he served?  yes

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?  no  Examine 3 pages XX

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

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

VIII.  Has the Court given their opinion?  yes

IX.  Has the Clerk given his certificate?  yes

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?  no  #
Page 14

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?  [blank]

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?  yes

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

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?  [blank]

XVI.  ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  yes

XVII.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? [blank] And, 
if not, which of them is not so answered?  [blank]

------------------------------------
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 a pension.
Page 15

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.