Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 9934, for Christian Soots, North Carolina
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(3-1776)
SERVICE
N C       
Soots, Christian     
Souts  
Suits 
Mary M. 
NUMBER
 R9934  
CONTENTS
[blank]
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Declaration

In order to obtain the benefit of the act of 
Congress of the 7th July 1838. entitled an act
granting half pay and pensions to certain widows;

State of North Carolina}
Wilkes County} ss:
On this 17th day of September 1842 personally appeared 
before me James Martin one of the acting Justices for said County Mary M. Soots a resident of the County aforesaid aged eighty-six years, who being first duly sworn according 
to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision of the act of Congress passed July 7th 1838 entitled an act granting  half pay and pensions to certain widows, that she is the widow of Christian Soots, who was a private in the militia of the United States in the Revolutionary War; that in consequences of old age and the loss of memory and having no record she cannot swear positive to his services, but according to the best of her recollection her husband the above Christian Soots entered the service of the United States by enlisting or as a volunteer in the County of Guilford N.C. in the Company of  Captain Henry Witesel [Whitesel] in the date of 1776 or 1777,and served at that time twelve months' he staed at home a short time and entered the service in the Militia again under (she believes) Captain Albright and served at that time nine months, returned home again, this was in the year 1778. he entered the service again about the date 1778 or 79  does not recollect his officers but he got shot in his right side.
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place previous to the first of January seventeen hundred and ninety four, viz: at the time above mentioned, that she was married by a Justice of the Peace, named Geoerge Cottner. that her oldest child was sixty one years old last May and her second child is fifty nine years, old next October, this is to the best of her recollection. She has no family record to show the Children's age or her marriage but believes, she perfectly recollects the time of her marriage and the age of her children and that she has not married since the death of her husband Christian Soots
Sworn and subscribed on the day and year above written before
[Signatures]
Mary M. Soots [tilted U] her mark
James Martin J. P.

No. Carolina} Personally appeared before me 
Wilkes County} James Martin one of the acting Justices for said County, Catharine Shatterley age eighty two years who first being duly sworn according to Law, says she lived in Guilford County and near Christian Soots in the time of the Revolutionary War, and knows that he was married to his wife, Mary M. Soots the above applicant before the Close of said War. She believes, about the year 1780 and lived together as man and wife untill his death, and further knows, that the above applicant is the widow of the aforesaid Christian Soots, She also knows that said Christian Soots did serve under Captain Witsel in the Revolutionary War, but how long she does not recollect. 
The above was taken before me on her solemn affirmation 2nd 1842
[Signatures]
Catharine Shatterly X her mark
James Martin J. P.

I James Martin one of the acting Justices of the County of Wilkes N. C. Certify that the above applicant Mary M. Soots Could not attend Court to make her declaration without a great deal of inconveniences I further certify that the above
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I William Mastin Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for Wilkes County certify that James Martin is a Magistrate as above, and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my seal of office, and subscribed my name, this 31st day of December 1842.
Wm. Mastin
Clerk of the Court
of Wilkes County
[Signature]
[Seal]
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Mary Soots
widow of 
Christopher
act 38 N. C. 


Ex. by S. Goodwin
Feb. 21- 1852
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Know All men by these presnted that I Mary Souts widow of Christopher Souts of the County of Wilkes and state of North Carolina have made and by these presance do make Constitute and Appoint Shimuel Godwin fo the City of Washington and district of Columbia and John B. Woodfin of burnsville yancy County North Carolina Attorneys at Law and Agents for Claimants. My attorneys both in law and in fact for me and in my behalf and in my same or in there own names or otherwise at there discretion to ask apply for obtain recover and retrieve from the Secretary of War the Commissioners of Pensions the pay master General and Any officer or department of the United States government or any officer or person connected thar all sums of money arrearages of pay extra pay bounty lands pensions claims allowances or property of any kind that may be due or be come due to me for or on account of my military or other services or for supplies furnished by me to for or at court of any officer Agent or other persons in the employ or service of the United States for
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or Any part thare of to atend to the final adjustment of all business now pending before either of the officers or offices above mentioned in which I am interested to give all necessary discharges to not compromise if they during expedient and to do all other acts in the premises that I my self cold do were I personally present here by revoking all like powers heretofore Executed by me and also hereby granting to my said attorneys Shimuel Godwin and John B. Woodfin all my power and authority in the premises formaly and irrevokably and ratifying what so ever they or their deputies shall do lawfuly by virtue here of = this 27 December Act 1951 = I have hereunto set my and and seal
[Signatures]
Mary Souts X her mark [seal]

Witness my hand and seal
Signed sealed and exibited
in the presence of
Samuel Johnson
Joel Souts x his mark

State of North Carolina}
County of Wilkes} SS

personaly appeared before me the above mentioned Mary Souts 
Acknowledged the foregoing
power of Atorney to be 
there in mentioned on this the 27
of December 1851 to me known and act adn deed for purpose.
[Signature]
Jas. Johnson Justiter
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Sworn according to Law and I believe the signature to be jenuine In testimony where of I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of office this 26th day of January 1852.
W. Mastin Clk
By H.P. Waugh D. C.
[Signature]
[Seal]
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KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, That I Mary M. Soots of the county of Wilkes and State of North Carolina, widow of Christian Smoot - a Revolutionary soldier dec'd of Wilkes County and an applicant for Revolutionary Pention, hereby constitute and appoint George C. Ames Esq'r. my true and lawful Agent and Attorney, to prosecute the Claim of Christian Smoot - 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 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, which Certificate I wish made payable to Mrs. Mary M. Soots 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.
Witness my hand and seal this 2nd day of March A. D. 1852
[Signatures]
Mary M. Soots X her mark

Test
Eli Johnson
Signed and Sealed in the Presence of 
A. [illegible]
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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA}
COUNTY OF WILKES} SS:

BE IT KNOWN That on this 2nd day of March A. D. eighteen hundred and fifty two before the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Mary M. Soots a resident of Wilkes in said County, and made oath according to law that she is the widow of Christian Soots and the identical person who made application for a Pension under act of 7th July 1838 and that she has been informed that the said pension ought to be admitted; that she is directly interested as  claimant in said Pension and makes the affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as my Agent may use in prosecuting said claim.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid, before me.
J. Peace.

I,  Eli Johnson Justice of the Peace in and for said County do hereby certify that Mary M. Soots who executed the foregoing paper is a responsible resident of this County, and is, I believe interested in said claim as therein set forth.
[Signature]
Eli Johnson, J. Peace.

I, W. Mastin Clerk of the County Court of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Eli Johnson before whom the foregoing papers were executed, was, at the date of 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 official Seal, this 5th day of March A. D. 1852
W. Mastin Clerk
By H. P. Waugh D.C.
[Signature]
[Seal]
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8692
Mary M. Soots
N. C. 
Act 7 July '38

[illegible writtingin the left margin]
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State of North Carolina} This day came Jacob
Guilford County} Greeson before Jeremiah Clapp one of the Acting Justices of the Peace in and for said county and maid oath that he herd Christian Soots say that he was in the [smudge] ware [smudge] that it has been 40 or 45 years ago sense he hird Christian say that he was in the service of the  indean ware to said Jacob Greeson Born Aprile 24th 1768 gevin under my hand and seal this 28th Day of Sept. 1832.
[Signatures]
Jacob Greeson
J. Clapp J.P.

State of North Carolina
Gulford County
Personally appeared Nicholass Smith before me Jacob Ameck the subscribing Justice of the peace and maketh oath - that Christian Soots to the best of his knowledge served Several towers in the Revolutionary ware to the South & further States that he believes he went mostly as a volunteer but can't certify the names of his officers he served under 
Sworn to and Subscribed Sept. 30th 1842
[Signatures]
Nicholass Smith C his mark
J. Ameck J.P.

I, Jacob Ameck certify that these three persons named in these probats are under a good character so far as I know.
J. Ameck J. P.
[Signature]
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State of North Carolina
I John M. Logan Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sesions for the County of Guliford and aforesaid do hereby certify that Jacob Amuck Esquire whose name is hereto attached that of Jeremiah Clapp, Esquire whose name is also attached is and was at the time of signing the same acting Magistrates in and for said County that their signatures are genuine and that full faith and credit are due all their official acts as such
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of on said Court at office this the 1st day of October A. D. 1842.

Jno. M. Logan C.Clk
By Job Worth D. C. 
[Signature]
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State of North Carolina
Guilford County

Personally appeared Margaret Soots the wife of [illegible] Soots before me the [illegible] being Justice and maketh oath that the following statements are facts as stated - I was present and  saw Christian Soots married to [illegible] Mary Magdalen Farmer by George Countorier an acting Justice of the Peace for [illegible] County at that time - I further state Christian Stoats was in the services of the United States [illegible] years or more but don't [illegible] officers names he served under the sd. Mary Magdalen Soots oldest child is about sixty years old the second about fifty eight years of age [illegible] Sept. 26th 1842

[Signatures]
Margaret Soots [illegible]
J. Ameck J. P.
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9934
P.O.   M. M. Soots
Service: _______________

Enlisted: REJECTED, 18  .
Discharged: ______________, 18 .

Application filed: __________________
Re-enlisted: ___________________

Attorney: _______________________
P.O. ______________________________

__________Recognized. ___________Contract.
___________Cert. of Dis.  Searched for ________, 18  .
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8692
Mary M. Soots
North Carolina
act 7 July 1838
suspended


W, S Allison
Present.
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Know all men by these presents that I Mary M. Soots of Wilkes County North Carolina, do hereby constitute and appoint William S. Allison of Georgetown D. C. my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name to apply at the pension office of the United States and examine the papers I have filed there in order to obtain a pension for me in Consequence of the services of my husband Christian Soots in the Revolutionary War, and to do all things in my behalf in order to obtain the same in as full and ample a manner as I could do were I personally present at the doing thereof, witness my hand and seal this this 30th day of December 1843
[Signatures]
Mary M. Soots X her mark [seal]
James Martin J. P.

State of North Carolina
Wilkes County - Be it known that on the 30th day of December 1843, before the subscriber a Justice of the peace in and for said county personally appeared Mary M. Soots above named and acknowledged the foregoing power of attorney to be her act and deed, In testimomy whereof I have hereunto set my hand the day and year last above written.
James Martin J. P.
[Signature]
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Know all men by these presents that I Mary M. Soots widow of Christian of Wilkes County N. C., do constitute and appoint and by these present do constitute and appoint irrevocably Shimeul Godwin of Washington City my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name to ask for and receive from the Commissioner of Pensions or any other officer of the United States Government, the Pension Certificate due me as the widow of said Christian Soots deceased under act 4 July 1836 and all other sums of money now due me or may become due hereafter granting unto my said Attorney all my power and authority firmly by these presents in as full and perfect manner as I cold do were I personally present and acting for myself; hereby revoking all Powers of Attorney at any time heretofore executed by me or by any one claiming to have the control of the same.
Witness my hand and seal this 14th day of February A. D. 1854

[Signatures]
Mary M. Soots X her mark [seal]
Attest Joel Soots X his mark

State of North Carolina}
County of Wilkes} SS.
On this 14th day of February A. D. 1854
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State of North Carolina{
Wilkes County}
I W. Masten Clerk of the court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the county of Wilkes in the State aforesaid do certify that Wm. Parks is a magistrate as above and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is Genuine
Given under my hand and seal of said Court at Office Feb'y. 17th 1834
W. Mastin Clk
[Signature]
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[illegible]
J. B. Woodfin Sept. 19th
same Aug. 24th

9934
July 7 1838
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Brier Creek No. C.     Free
June 18th                 James Martin P.M.

William S. Allison J.P.
Georgetown
D. C. 

June 20 '45

N.C.

Comb.
Wm. Sawyer} Com'r. has
Mary M. Souts} them


W. S. Allison
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June 13th 1845

Dear Sir,

I have been looking for a letter from you by every mail for sometime, about the Claim of Combs, Sawyer & Mary M. Soots but have received none as yet which makes me think that my last failed to reach you. I now write you again on the subject, they are very anxious to kmow what they have to depend on they are in suffering circumstances, scarely able to obtain support enough to keep them a live and have to depend a good deal on the Charities of their neighbours if any thing can be allowed them it would be a blessing to them and the sooner the better, there is no doubt but all of them are entitled to receive pay yet it may not be in their power to make proof in every repect as required by the regular order of business, Combs served over five years in the late war and is not able to support himself and ought to have his Claim allowed and if all of them are to get any thing it ought to be done soon for some of them are very fair advanced in life and in all probability cannot live many years. They plague me very much by thier enquiries about their claim & want you to let me know as soon as possible what they are to get if anything is allowed them if further proof must be made they must try to do it &c.
yours Respectfully
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Brier Creek N. C.      Free
Jan'y 6th           James Martin J. P.M.

Hon. J. L. Edwards, Esq.
Com. of Pensions
Washington City 
D. C. 

8692
Jan. 17 '43

N. C. 
July 7. 1838
Mary M. Soots
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Jan'y 6th 1843

Sir,

Enclosed I send you the affidavit of Mrs. Soots and others in her favor in order to try to obtain a pension for the services of her husband the proof is not as full as it ought to be but thinking if he served as alleged it is possible his name maybe found on the Muster Rolls and the time he served may also be ascertained, I do not know that  she can make the necessary proof by testimony of persons who served with him as the greater part of the old soldiers are dead, but it is believed there are some yet living who served with him, but they live at a considerable distance, when I hear form you it it is necessary to make further proof she do so if in her power - 
Yours respectfully
James Martin
[Signature]
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Mary M. Soots
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State of North Carolina}
Guilford County}
I John M. Logan Clerk of the Court of Pleas and quarter sessions for Guilford County do hereby certify that, I have made due search in & through the county court clerks office for the marrige license Bond to wit, Christian Suits to Mary M.   and that the same cannot be found.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of our said court at office in Greensboro the 30th Day of March 1853.
John M. Logan C. C. C.
[Signature]
[Seal]
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Washington June 2, 1845

Sir,
I havea been authorized as the attorney of Mrs. Mary M. Soots of N. Carolina, to accept a pension for six months service should there be no record evidence of a greater length of service in the Pension office.
I am respectfully
yr obt. servt.
Wm. S. Allison
[Signature]


J. L. Edward Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
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Burnsville, Yancy Co. N. C. 
11 Sept. 1854

Sir

I wish to know what disposition you have made of the claim of Mary M. Soots from Wilkes County N C. widow of Christian Soots. I have filed two power of attorney in this case both sent there to April in Washington City and have not learned what has been done in the case. She is near dead and her son Joel Soots wishes the claim further prosecuted. He state that he had filed the affidavits of witnesses proving the service, if this be correct, why reject the claim longer. If it is desired I will get  new power of attorney, but I do not wish to be compelled to spend all my time in procuring powers of attorney.
Your very Obt. Srvt.
John B. Woodfin
[Signature]


Hon. Loren P. Waldo
Washington City
D. C.
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Washington. April 5 1832

James E. Heath, Esq.

Sir

You will find herewith enclosed Power of Attorney from Mrs. Mary M. Soots widow of Christian Soots, an applicant for a pension under the act of 7 July 1838. from North Carolina
Mrs. Soots is still living. She asks that her claim may be reexamined the objections to its admission if any there be may be communicated to me. In order that I may understand the claim I wish to see the papers now on file in support of it.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt. Srvt.
Geo. C. Ames
[Signature]
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Burnsville Yancy Co. N. C. 
Aug. 10 1835

Sir

In your letter of Sept. 19 '54 in reltion to Mary M. Soots case act the 7 July 1838 you state that it has been suspended since 1845 for want of satisfactory evidence of service and date of marriage: especially the former. In 1852 I was informed by an Agent that when I got a certificate from the County Court Clerks of Guilford Co. N. C. to the effect that there was no record (often due sevish) of the marriage that there was then suficient evidence as to this point on file I accordingly procured it but before I sent it on I was supperceeded by an other Agent. In 1854 (Feb'y) I again took reptar on. The other day I some apr of this clacks certificate and now send it and wish you to report as soon as convient what evidence is on file in proof of the marriage & what is now required to establish this point.