Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4,557, Robert Hand, N.C.
Page 1

SERVICE N.C.
Hand, Robert
NUMBER R.4.557
Page 2

The State of South Carolina
Laurens District 
SS
On this the fifth day of August in the year Eighteen hundred and fifty, personally appeared before the Judge of the Court of Ordinary for Laurens District Robert Hand a resident of Laurens District S. Carolina who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions of the act of Congress granting pension to certain officers and soldiers who served in the Revolutionary War, and to their children or representatives after their death.  He states that he is the son & executor of his father Robert Hand deceased, that he has heard his father say he was drafted into service in the state of North Carolina, that he performed service in the country about [illegible] in that state, then upper districts of S. Carolina, and on the Georgia side of the Savannah River, that he was engaged in the battle of Bryan Creek.  He states that after the death of his father Robert Hand, he took possession of his papers as executor under his will, and that he found among them the enclosed discharge, which shows the names of the officers under which he performed service, and the date of his discharge.  He respectfully asks reference to the discharge and the paper sources from which the time of service can be ascertained, he being without knowledge on that subject.  From the best information he has his father removed to Laurens District S. Carolina, where he resided until his death.  That he died on the twenty fifth day of June in the year Eighteen hundred and forty one.  That his father never made application for a pension.  He states that he has no doubt that his father was the identical person who performed service under the enclosed discharge.  Sworn to and subscribed this day and year above written.
Robert Hand
W. D. Watts
Judge & Clerk of the C. O. L. D.
Page 3

Before me personally appeared Genl. Thos. Wright and being duly sworn says that he lived near Robert Hand and has known him well for the last forty years previous to his death and that he was [illegible] and reputed as a revolutionary soldier throughout the country where he resided.  That he was a credible person and from frequent conversations held with him, deponent has no doubt of his having performed service.  He states that in looking over the papers of the deceased in company with his son Rob't. Hand, his executor, he found the enclosed discharge and he has no hesitation in stating that Robert Hand dec'd was the identical person who performed service under this discharge.  Sworn to and subscribed before me this fifth day of August 1850
Thos. Wright
W. D. Watts
Judge & Clerk of the C. O. L. D.
The State of South Carolina
Laurens District
SS 
I W. D. Watts Judge of the Court of Ordinary for Laurens District which is a court of record do hereby certify that Robert Hand did this day appear before me in open court and was sworn to and subscribed the foregoing declaration, which contains the original proceeding of the said court in the matter of the application of the said Robert Hand for a pension as the executor of his father Robert Hand deceased.  I further certify that satisfactory evidence has been [illegible] to said court that Robert Hand died on the twenty fifth day of June eighteen hundred and forty one.  That Robert Hand is his executor, and is a credible person.  I further certify that Thos. Wright did this day appear before me in open court and was sworn to and subscribed the foregoing affidavit and that he is a credible person.  The testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the court this fifth day of August eighteen hundred and fifty.
W. D. Watts
Judge & Clerk of the C. O. L. D.
I John Garlington, clerk of the Court of Laurens District, do hereby certify that W. D. Watts is Judge of the Court of Ordinary for the District of Laurens, that it is a Court of Record, that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at Laurens Court House this 6th day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty and in the seventy fifth year of American independence.
John Garlington clerk of the Court of Laurens District
Page 4

N 38040
Robert Hand
SC
Act 7 Mar 1832
Page 5

Washington City
August 19th 1830
Sir,
Herewith be pleased to find the application of Robert Hand of Lawrence District South Carolina for a revolutionary pension the earlier action of your office upon which will very much oblige sir 
Yours very respectfully 
N Thompson
W
Hon L.L. Edwards
Commissioner of pensions 
Washington City D.C.
Page 6

this is to certify that Robert Hand a soldier in Gaye Shepards Company in Cole Brunards Regiment in Rutherford Birgade of No. C. militia hath served as a true and faithful soldier the time for which he was drafted and he is hereby discharged from the NC service given under my hand this 10 day of April 1779
Page 7

House Rep NC
Washington Dec 2 1830
Sir
Col M Thompson of this city informs me that he is prosecuting a claim for pension for the Revolutionary services of Robert Hand, late of Lawsons District South Carolina, + now deceased.
At the request of Col Thompson, I hereto state that I was born bought up within one mile of the said Robert Hand. I knew him well from my childhood to the day of his death, which took place some ten to twelve years ago. According to my recollection or not far from that time. I have often handled business for him as he was a plain farmer and unable to write. I knew all his family male + female- having went to school with his children. He left a will at his death if I mistake not at all events his son Robert Hand was his legal Representative. With his son I
Page 8

have been acquainted also from my youth. He is my senior by several years. It comes within my privilege , that the said Robert Hand Jr not being very competent as an accountant, purchased the assistance of Gen Thomas Wright his near neighbor to settle the Estate of his father that said Robert Hand Senr. Gen Wright resides now upon the same family seat where he was born + where his father Daniel Wright settled long before the war after the Revolution. Gen Thomas Wright has been a Justice of the Quarter for more then a quarter of a century for I know him to have been in that office when I was a boy. He is a man of Education has filled many offices and is a man of high character.
I recollect to have heard told Robert Hand tell many incidents of the Revolution, when I was a small boy. I have often heard him tell of his sufferings for
Page 9

bread, + that he had often boiled vegetables in his camp kettle and eat them without bread- meat of salt. The old mans plantation joined my fathers and him + his sons + slaves often plowed on one side of the fence + myself the other. I dont know to length of time he served, but that he did serve I have no doubt from what I have heard from his own lips more then thirty years ago
I am sir Very Respectfully
your obte servant
D Wallace
J.L. Edwards Esq
War Department
Washington D.C.
Page 10

REJECTED
4557
P.O. Robert Hand
Service:_________
Enlisted: ______, 18___
Discharged: ______, 18____
Application filed: ______, 18____ 
Alleges: ________
Re-enlisted: ________
Attorney: ______
P.O. _______
________Recognized.    _______ Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis.  Searched for ______, 18_____
Page 11

W 38040
Robert Hand ded
S.C.
letter Hon D. Wallace 9th Sept 1850
4557
act 7 June 32
Page 12

No 38040
Col. M. Thompson 
Washington City
D. C.
Page 13

Lawrence County S.C.
August 7 1830
My Dear sir,
on above you will (illegible) the papers of Robert Hand an application writing for pension- I hope that (illegible) to give you but with trouble
your truly
W.R. Truley