Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 8,337, Thomas Downs, N.C. S.C.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)

SERVICE
N.C
S. C.

Downs, Thomas

NUMBER
S.8.337
carded
CONTENTS
Page 2

23.755
North Carolina
Thomas Downs
Meck.b.g in the State of N.C.
who was a Pr & Lieut in the_ comma
by Captain _ of the Regt commanded
by Col Hagens [Lieutenant Colonel John William Hagan] in the N. Car.
line for  11 mon.                          (16)
Inscribed on the Roll of N. Carolina
the rate of 66 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 4th day of Apr 36 and Sent Hon H W.
Connor H.R.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1834    199.98
Semi-an. allowance ending 4 Sept " 33.33 = $233.31
Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by Nath: Rice Clerk
Book E Vol. 6½  Page 57.

Let James Blake Dec 11 /51
Let Bryant & Edwards June 7, 1852.              Jno. Y. Bryant Aug 17 185_
Page 3

State of North Carolina
Mecklenberg County   
Court of Pleas and quarter sessions
August Term 1832
On this 31st day of August 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County and State aforesaid opened and held for the County aforesaid on the 4th Monday of August aforesaid and now sitting Thomas Downs a resident of the County aforesaid aged seventy-six years of age who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 – that he was born in the year 1756 August 22nd – that he has a record of his fathers in his possession in which his age is stated – that he was born in the County of Augusta in the State of Virginia and came to the State of North Carolina Mecklenburg County when he was about six years of age in the year 1762 – where he has resided ever since – That being as aforesaid a resident of the said County of Mecklenburg during the revolutionary war he first entered the service of the United States in the States Troop of
North Carolina – under Captain [Neal] Morrison  as a volunteer for three weeks that he was detached under the command of Lieutenant Samuel Flannigen [Flanagan] of said company by order of General [Griffith]
Rutherford to the head of the Catawba [River] on the Indian frontier to protect the frontier from the incursions of the Cherokee Indians – this tour was in the year 1776 that when Rutherford came on with the Main Army against the Cherokee Indians he was discharged and sent
home. That he again volunteered under Captain [John] Springs for two weeks against the Tories under Colonel Moore on the South fork of the Catawba in the County of Lincoln – that from this he
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was discharged – that this was in 1779 – That he again entered the service aforesaid under the Command of Richard Simmons as Captain and that Nathaniel [Marshall] Martin was Lieutenant of the
Cavalry– that they were marched from Charlotte into the State of South Carolina – and joined Colonel [William] Washington at Stono River – in said State of the Continental line – that he was in a skirmish on said River – and was discharged by a written discharge in 1780 in the month of March – by Captain [illegible] in the City of Charleston after the expiration of the time for which he had volunteered which was for three months – which said discharge he has lost – [Benjamin] Lincoln at the time he was discharged was the commander in chief of the Southern Army. That in the summer of 1780 he again volunteered under the command of [Captain] David Reed under Colonel Hagens [Lt. Col. John William Hagen] and [Colonel] Robert Irwin that he was during this tour at the battle of the Hanging Rock and was out for two weeks – that at the Battle of the Hanging Rock the chief officer in command was General Thomas Sumpter [Sumter] that he
was verbally discharged by Colonel Hagens – That as soon as he returned home or some short time
thereafter he volunteered in the Cavalry under Captain John Harris and under Major Davy [William
Richardson Davie] that he volunteered for three months and served for three months and was regularly discharged by Captain John Harris which discharge is lost – this was in the same year of 1780. That he again volunteered in the service in the year 1781, and acted as a lieutenant without a commission under Major James White and Colonel [James] Williams of South Carolina and was stationed at the Tuckaseegee Ford
for two weeks at the time Cornwallis passed the Catawba at Cowans Ford on said River
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and that after Cornwallis passed said River they came home. That he again volunteered under the command of Captain James Osborne [Osborn] for a tour of three months under the command of Colonel Robert Irwin until they joined General [Griffith] Rutherford and went as a Lieutenant and received a commission for the same from General Rutherford that they marched from Charlotte to Wilmington at the time Major Craig lay in the town aforesaid and the said Thomas Downs further declares that he was out many other times for short periods which he cannot recollect – that 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 – that he has no documentary evidence whatever to prove his services aforesaid – But he refers to the certificates herein after set forth of Charles Alexander and
Allen Haron [Herron] as to his character for truth and as to some of his services during the Revolutionary war aforesaid – that he was always a volunteer and ever regularly discharged either verbally or by a written discharge – that the whole time he served was about 11 months and about one week.
Sworn to and subscribed to the day and year aforesaid.
S/ Thos Downs

We Allen Haron and Charles Alexander residing in the County and State aforesaid do hereby certify
that we are well acquainted with Thomas Downs who has
Subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy six years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier
Page 6

of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion. Charles Alexander further swears that he served with Captain Downs in the expedition to
Wilmington that Downs belonged to the infantry and that he belonged to the Horse - Allen Haron certifies
that he was under the said Thomas Downs in the same expedition and saw him in service in the cavalry while under the command of Captain
John Harris. s/ Allan Herron
Sworn and subscribed the
day and year aforesaid s/ Charles Alexander
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 Charles Alexander and
Allen Haran who has signed the preceding certificate are residents of the said County and are credible persons and that their statement is
entitled to credit.

I Isaac Alexander Clerk of the Court of Pleas and quarter Sessions of Mecklenburg County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court
in the matter of the application of Thomas Downs for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office at office in Charlotte this 31st day of August 1832
Isaac Alexander C.MC.
10,915
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( 7) State of N. Carolina Mecklenburg County 
Be it known that on this 11th day of November A.D. 1851, before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared
Frankey Griffith, a resident of Mecklenburg County, and made oath according to law, that she is the daughter of Thomas Downs decd, who made application for a pension, and was allowed at the rate of $96. or $66 per annum, that she has been informed that the said Pension
ought to be increased, that she is directly interested as a claimant in said Pension, & makes this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as my Agent in prosecuting said claim-
Sworn to and subscribed the day
and year aforesaid before me
s/ Test. Alexr Springs J.P.
s/ Franky Griffith

I Alexander Springs a Justice of the Peace in and for said County do hereby certify that Frankey Griffith, who executed the foregoing paper is a respectable resident of this County
and is I believe directly interested in said claim as therein set forth-
s/ Alexr Springs JP

I Brady Oates Clerk of the County Court of the County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that Alexander Springs before whom the foregoing papers were executed was at the time of signing the same a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly authorized by law to administer oaths, and the name thereunto subscribed is his signature-
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal of Office this 1st day of November 1857
s/ B. Oates Clerk of
Mecklenburg County
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State of N. Carolina
Mecklenburg County ⎬
Know all men by these presents, That I Frankey Griffith of the County of Mecklenburg and State of N. Carolina do hereby constitute and appoint William F Davidson my true and lawful agent and Attorney to prosecute the claim of Thomas Downs for any amount of Revolutionary Pension or increase of Pension that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said Agent to examine all the papers and documents in relation in relation to said claim on file in the Departments in Washington City or elsewhere, to fill additional evidence or arguments; and to receive the certificate which may be issued for said claim, which certificate I wish made payable to
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 ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and Agent shall lawfully do in the premises-- Signed and sealed in
Witness my hand and seal the 1st day
of November A.D. 1857 - in the presence of- s/ Alex Springs J.P.
s/ Franky Griffith

State of N. Carolina
Mecklenburg County ⎬
On this 1st day of November 1851 before me, the subscriber a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County aforesaid, personally appeared Franky Griffith and acknowledged the foregoing power of Attorney to be her act and deed, for the purposes
therein mentioned- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand the day and year aforesaid-
s/ Alexr Springs JP
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State of N. Carolina 
Mecklenburg County ⎬  Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions October Term 1851
It is hereby certified that satisfactory evidence has
been exhibited before me Braly Oates Clerk of the Court
of Pleas and Quarter Sessions in and for said County, in
open Court that Thomas Downs was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United States at the rate of $96 per
annum, and he died on the 27 day of November
eighteen hundred and thirty nine leaving surviving
him the following named children viz: Frankey Griffith
who is the only surviving child of the aforesaid
Thomas Downs known to be living-
In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and affixed
my seal of Office this 1st day of
November 1851
B. Oates Clerk of
Mecklenburg C. Court
Page 10

(17)
June 26, 1931
Mrs. Harry B. Swan
903 Poplar Street
Atlantic, Iowa
Rev.& 1812 Wars Section
EEL
Dear Madam:
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary
War pension claim, S.8337, that Thomas Downs was born August 22, 1756, in Augusta County, Virginia, and in 1762, moved to Mecklenburg
County, North Carolina.
While residing in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, he enlisted and served with the North Carolina Troops as follows: in 1776, as a private in Captain Morrison's Company, was detached and served under
Lieutenant Samuel Flannigan [Flanagan] on an expedition against the Cherokee Indians, length of service three weeks; in 1779, two weeks in Captain [John] Springs' Company, Colonel Moore's Regiment and went on an expedition against the Tories; three months in Captain Richard Simmons' Company of Cavalry, was in a skirmish on Stono River and was discharged in
March, 1780, in the summer of 1780, two weeks in Captain David [Reed] Ruel's Company, Colonel Hagens' [Lieutenant Colonel John William Hagan] Regiment and was in the battle of Hanging Rock again in 1780, three months in Captain John Harris Company of Cavalry; in 1781, three months as lieutenant in Captain James Osborne's [Osborn] Company, Colonel Robert Irwin's Regiment.
He also served two weeks in 1781, as lieutenant under Colonel [James]
Williams in the South Carolina Troops.
He stated that he was also out many other times for short periods,
no details of these services given, and that all of his service as
rendered as a volunteer
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 31,
1832, while residing in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.
He died November 27, 1839.
Page 11

He left surviving him one child, a daughter Frankay Griffith,
who in 1851, was residing in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.
The name of his wife is not stated, and there are no further family data.
The above is the only soldier named Thomas Downs found on the
Revolutionary War records of this bureau.
No charge is made for this service.
Very truly yours
E. W. MORGAN
Acting Commissioner.
Page 12

903 POPLAR STREET
ATLANTIC. IOWA
Atlantic Iowa
May 12, 1931

Veterans Administration
Bureau of Pensions
Washington
Gentlemen:

Will you kindly
send me any information your
records may give of
one Thomas  Downs, Son of
Zachanah Downs
who enlisted in the Revolutionary War
from the state of
North Carolina
serving under General McDonel
[stamp] PENSION S MAY 14 1931 U S OFFICE
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I do not know whether or not
there is a fee for this work but
I will be glad to remit is you
will inform me of such.
Very Sincerely Yours.
Mrs Harry B. Swan
903 Poplar Street
Atlantic, Iowa
Page 14

1931 - June 26 -  Hist to
Mrs. Harry B Swan  [illegible]


Rev War
8337
INVALID.
-------
File No.  8337
Thomas Downs
Lt.    Rev.    War
-------
Act: June 7th 1832
Index: -- Vol. 1st,  Page 99
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 15

Filed by Maj Blake
of the Genl Land Office,

W Cole
Nov 10, 1851
Page 16

Washington City
June 9th 1852
Sir. In reply to your enquiry, in the foregoing letter, I have to state that evidence in support of the claim of Frankey
Griffith in right of her Father Thomas Downs, was received
by me from Wm F. Davidson Esqr of Charlotte N. Carolina
and filed by me in your Office on the 25th Novr 1851, with
my letter to you of that date. I now ask that speedy attention may be given to this case, as there has
been apparent neglect in regard to it heretofore
Very respectfully
Your Obt Sert
John Y. Bryant
Hon:
I. E. Heath
Commr. of Pensions.
Page 17

9140
Pension Office,
June 7, 1852
Gentlemen:
The certificate of the Comptroller
of N.C. in the case of Thomas Downs has been
received, but the papers in the case cannot be
found until the Department is informed from
what state the application comes.
Very Respy
Your Obt Servt
T T C Triplett
For Commissioner

Messrs Bryant & Edward
Present.
(Over)
Page 18

June 5 1852
Rel: to claims
of Thomas Downs
& Susanna Alex
ander
Jno  Bryant
Kirby
Present
J. E. Heath
Commr of Pensions
(15)
Page 19

(10 )
State of North Carolina
Comptroller's Office
I, William J. Clarke, Comptroller of Public Accounts in and for the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that it appears of record in my office, among the payments
made by said State to sundry persons for Military services in the Revolutionary War, as follows, to wit:
Thomas Downs
Vol. A. No. 4483 £ 15 S10 D 6 s specit
Book No. 14 page 16 £12 S 16-"
"         "     23 8 £ 9 S 6
$94.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
subscribed my name and affixed my
seal of office this 5th day of February
A.D. 1852
Wm. J. Clarke Comptrl
Page 20

(6) State of North Carolina Mecklenburg County: Superior Court of Law Fall Term 1833
The affidavit of Allen Herron relative to the services of Thomas Downes [sic, Downs] during the Revolutionary
War.
Personally appeared in open Court November 11th 1833 Allen Herron swears that he served with the
said Thomas Downes during the Revolutionary War and that in addition to his affidavit and certificate
contained in the original declaration of said Thomas sworn to on the 31st of August 1832 he says after being duly sworn before his honor the judge of said Court that at the time he served with the said Thomas Downes who was a Lieut. in Capt. [John] Osborn company of which company said Herron was one – that he went with him to Cross Creek and then on to Wilmington as stated in declarant declaration under General Rutherford. That he never as he recollects saw the commission of said Downes but served under him as such and frequently saw him sitting in court Martial as an officer during the three months that he served with him on his trip or tour to Wilmington and down the Cape Fear River – this affidavit to be appended to the amended declaration of the said Downes and sworn to in the Court of pleas and quarter sessions of said County.
Sworn to and subscribed in open Court November 11th, 1833
S/ Allan Herron
P. Thompson CmSC

State of North Carolina Mecklenberg County ⎬ Superior Court aforesaid
We William Carson and
Benjamin Brown who reside in the neighbourhood
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of the said Allen Herron who has deposed to the above afidavit do hereby certify upon oath that the said Allen Herron is a person of good character and reputation and worthy of belief.
Sworn to and subscribed in
open Court, November 11. 1833
P Thompson Clk. S.C
---
William Carson
Benjamin Brown

State of North Carolina
Mecklenburg County -
I, Pearsall Thompson Clerk of the Superior Court of Said fer the County of Mecklenburg do hereby certify that the above certificates were duly sworn to in open Court this 11th day of November A D 1833.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of Said Court at Charlotte this 16th day of November 1833.
P. Thompson Clk. S.C

State of North Carolina
Mecklenburg County
I, William Norwood one of the Judges of the Superior Court of Law and Equity for the County of Mecklenburg & State of North Carolina, do hereby certify that, Pearsall Thompson whose signature appears to the above certificate and in his own hand writing and under the Seal of
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office is the Clerk of the Superior Court of Law in and for the county of Mecklenburg aforesaid, and that full faith & credit should be given to his official acts as such 21st Feby 1834
Wm. Norwood

November 24th A.D. 1833
Page 23

(4)
State of North Carolina
Mecklenberg County
Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions May Term 1833
On the 28th day of May in the year of our Lord 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the justices of the Court of pleas and quarter sessions opened and held on the 4th Monday of May aforesaid and now sitting Thomas [Downs] a resident of said County of Mecklenberg who being first duly sworn according to law doth make this his amended declaration for the purpose of obtaining the benefit of the act of congress passed June 7th 1832 - who declares that he was [born] in the State of Virginia in Augusta County on the 22nd of August A.D. 1756 - that this declarant has a record of his age at home in his possession - that the said record was in his possession at the time of making his original declaration - that the record is in the hand writing of his father who is dead - that in the year 1762 this declarant removed to the County of Mecklenberg aforesaid - lived in said County until the Revolutionary [War] and that he has resided in said County ever since – declarant avers that he went into the service of the United States during the Revolutionary War as a volunteer – never was drafted – nor never served as a substitute in all the various services mentioned in his Original declaration – this declarant further alleges that he has no direct evidence of the fact that he ever did receive from General Rutherford a
commission as first Lieut. in the trip mentioned therein to Wilmington under Capt. James Osborn as
those who have seen the commission to wit his father and all his family except declarant are dead nor
does he now know of any person that can prove the existence of said commission – this declarant alleges the fact that he was commissioned as stated in his original declaration and as evidence of the fact relies upon the Evidence of General Joseph Graham of the County of Lincoln and
Page 24

State of North Carolina whose certificate this declarant will endeavour to obtain before he sends on the Pension office this his amended declaration together with his original papers in this behalf - the said [Joseph] Graham acted as major of Calvary in the same expedition to Wilmington while as this declarant  belonged to the infantry. This defendant at the time he filed his original declaration was unable to obtain the certificate of a clergyman as he was from a remote part of the County and none was present when he made the same. he now is able to obtain said certificate which is set forth below. this declarant is certain that he served three months as first Lieutenant and during that time was commissioned altho he had acted as Lieutenant before without a commission. and that he served as lieutenant - regularly commissioned and as set forth in his original declaration in all of which he is certain eleven months.
Sworn to and subscribed In open Court the day and date first above written s/ Thos Downs

I the undersigned John Williamson residing in the County of Mecklenburg aforesaid and being a Clergyman hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Thomas Downs
who has subscribed and sworn to the above amended declaration, that I believe him to be seventy six years of age last August past. that he is reputed and believed in the
neighbourhood where he resides to have been a revolutionary soldier and that I concur in that opinion
s/ John Williamson VDM
Page 25

Washington City
June 4th 1853
(13 )
Sir.
I have to request that I may be informed, as to what action has been had by your Office, on the claim of Frankey Griffith
in right of her Father Thomas Downs filed on the 25th Novr last; also on the claim of Susannah Alexander filed on the
17th Feby last. These are Revolutionary Pension claims from the State of N. Carolina
Very respectfully
Your Obdt. Servt.
John Y. Bryant
Hon:
I. E. Heath
Commr of Pensions.
Page 26

Feb: 19-52
Evi: in case of
Thomas Downs
Triplett
Original
Bryant & Edwards
Present
Ths Downs applied
under Act of 7 June 32
from N.C. Case ad=
mitted.
Let to Bryant & Edward. June 7/52
Page 27

(11 )

Washington City
February 18th 1852
Sir.
Herewith we transmit to you the Certificate
of the Comptroller of the State of N. Carolina, showing the amount of money paid to Thomas Downs, for Military service during the Revolutionary War. Viz:
Vol A. No 4483 £15 S10 D6 Specie
Book No 14 page 16 £12 S16,--"
"  "  23 "  8  £ 9 S. 6 --  "
£ 37 S 12. D 6  "
The request that said Certificate may be placed
with the other papers heretofore filed in support of this claim
Very respectfully
Your Obdt Servt.
Bryant & Edwards
Hon
I.E. Heath
Com of Pensions
Page 28

(5)
I Braly Oates Clerk of the
Court of Pleas and quarter Sessions for the
County of Mecklenburg and State aforesaid
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains
the proceedings of said Court in the matter
of the amended declaration of Thomas
Downes upon his application for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and seal of office at office in
[illegible] this 28th of May 1833
B. Oates Clerk of
Mecklenburg County Court
[seal]
Page 29

Thos Downs
NC
Admit a private
8 mo-$26.66
3. [illegible] -40.00
-
66. 66
H W Comm
H R
Page 30

(3 )
BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Thomas Downs which require 
further proof or explanation.
1. 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?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or 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 amout of pension he is entitled? yes
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? yes
Page 31

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 revolu-
tionary service? No Clergyman yes as to others

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? no

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?

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? yes
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? Yes
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 personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes

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

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered?
yes except 1, 2d
year --
and -
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; 
and for such service I claim a pension.
Page 32

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 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 is highly objection
able. It must in a
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 claimants 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 paper 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.
Page 33

Thos Downs
M C

Cole
filed by
Maj. Jas. Blake
Page 34

State of N. Carolina
Mecklenburg County
---
Superior Court of Law
Fall Term 1851 - (9)
It is hereby certified that Satisfactory evidence has been exhibited before me Jennings B Kerr Clerk of the Superior Court of Law for the County of Mecklenburg aforesaid, in the state aforesaid, in open court, that Thomas Downs late of Said County was a Revolutionary Pensioner at the rate of $66.66 cts per annum and that he died on the 27th day of November eighteen hundred and thirty nine - leaving no widow, surviving him, but he left the following named children viz: Frankie Griffith, who is the only child of the aforesaid Thomas Downs known to be living -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this 14th day of November A. D. 1851 -
J B Kerr C M SC
Page 35

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12-5-41
---
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives
---
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
Name Downs, Zepheniah  Grade Private  Line New Hampshire
Warrant Number 3062  Acreage 100  Issued Jan. 28, 1790 to James Patterson, assignee
---
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.