Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 9008, James Willson, N.C.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
N.C
Willson, James
or Wilson
Amelia or Milly
NUMBER
W. 9008
B.L.W. 31742 Nov 55
CONTENTS
res. during Rev. about 30 miles from Guilford Co. N.C.
d. October 17 1811 at his res. in Livingston Co. Kentucky
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[printed form, handwritten responses]
Kentucky
Amelia Wilson
widow of James
who served in the Revolutionary 
war, as a Lieut: & Captain 
Increased from $222 
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 
439 Dollars 00
Cents per annum, to commence on 
the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the 
13th day of May 1856
and sent to 
Hon. H.C. Burnett
H. R. 

Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act
February 2, 1848, Page 269., Vol. 3.
Page 3

Lt F.E. Hassler 
June 16/56
Lt. J. Wilson 
Oct. 2/52
Joseph D. Barker May 14, 1857 -
Certified copy of papers 
sent to F.E. Hassler, July 25.1857.
Certified Copies to 
Hon. H.C. Burnett 
March 26/58.
certified copies of papers 
for increase to F.E. Hassler 
March 27/58.
Page 4

160.119
Act March 2./67
June 6/55
Amelia Wilson
widow of James Wilson, Lt: & Capt:

War of Revolution
___________________________________
Pensioned. Act Feby 1853
Ky Feby 48 
-- 6317
___________________________________
AD:160ad Jan. 26/56
Boynton
R

F.E. Hassler
Present

Vol. W2--23.

No 36742 [illegible] June 30/56
[written sideways across the face of the document]
Page 5

(1)
I, Margaret Hinton, of the county of 
Livingston and State of Kentucky, do solemnly, sincerely, and truly affirm and declare, that 
I was born, raised, and was married, the first time, in Caswell County in the State of North Carolina. I was born in the same neighborhood in which Capt. James Willson, who was a Captain in the Revolutionary war, lived, and I always knew him well before and after he was married to Amelia Burgess. I had an elder sister, who was by the name of Agness and who 
has long since been dead, who went over with Capt. 
James Willson into Pittsylvania County, Virginia, 
for the purpose of seeing him married to Amelia 
Burgess. But, for some cause or other which I do not now recollect, Capt. James Willson and Amelia Burgess were not married in Pittsylvania County Va., and when finding they 
could not be married there, though the parents of the said Amelia Burgess were perfectly willing to have her marry the said Capt. James Willson, they, the said Willson and Amelia Burgess then went over to Caswell County, North Carolina, and were married in said County. My Sister Agness Dobbins accompanied them to Caswell County, N.C. from Pittsylvania County, Va., and, as she told me the
day after the marriage at the dinner given upon the wedding occasion, saw them married by one William Moore, a member of the Presbyterian Church. Since the subject of this marriage has been spoken of recently in the family. I now perfectly recollect of the marriage
Page 6

(2)
having taken place as set forth above; that is, Capt. Willson went into Pittsylvania County 
Va., and finding, from some cause or other they 
could not be married in that county, he then carried Amelia Burgess into Caswell County, 
N. Carolina and married her there in that county.  Capt. James Willson gave a large
dinner to his friends in Caswell County, N.C.,
at his own house, upon his wedding occasion, at which dinner there were a great many persons, and among them were myself, an elder Sister Agness Dobbins. This dinner was given the day after the marriage, and my sister Ag
ness told me upon that day, which I now distinctly recollect, that she was present at the wedding and saw the said James Willson 
and Amelia Burgess married by one William Moore, a Presbyterian clergyman. Every person who was at this said wedding dinner, as
well as myself and sister, recognized the said Capt. James Willson and Amelia Burgess as man and wife; the whole company then and 
all the neighborhood, in all time afterwards, looked upon them as man and wife legally married, and the fact of their being man
and wife then and in all time afterwards,
both in N. Carolina and Kentucky, was never called in question. I knew Capt. James Willson well before he was married in Caswell County North Carolina, and I knew him after he 
was married in the said State of N. Carolina and I knew his wife Amelia Burgess after 
She was married in N. Carolina, and the
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(3)
fact of their being man and wife was never called in question while they resided in the said state of N. Carolina; I also knew the same Capt. James Willson and his wife who was Amelia Burgess after
they moved to Kentucky, and the fact of their
being man and wife after their removal to this
State, was never called in question. Capt. James
Willson and his wife Amelia Burgess were
married, to the best of my recollection, about the
year 1793.  He was near forty years of 
age when he was married and Amelia Burgess
was About 18 years of age. I do not know
that any record was ever made of their marriage
of any kind, as they were not married in 
Pittsylvania county, Va. as they expected, at first, to
be, but according to the laws of N. Carolina they
were married in that State. If there is any re-
cord of the marriage in existence, I do not know
where it is or where or how it can be found.  I
knew Capt. James Willson and Amelia Burgess
well as man and wife in N. Carolina, and I
also knew them after they moved to Kentucky
as man and wife, and the fact has never
been called in question of their being man and
wife in N. Carolina nor in Kentucky down to
the death of Capt. James Willson in the year
1811, when I was present at his house in the
county of Livingston and State of Kentucky and
Saw him die, and the day after his death, I Saw
him buried.  His wife, who was Amelia Burgess,
was never married but the one time, and she 
is now living and has continued to live Single ever Since the death of her husband in the
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(4 )
year 1811. This is the same Capt. James Willson
who was a Captain in the Revolutionary war, and
who entered the service, as I have often heard him
say, at an early period of the war and served to
the end of it, and who was in active service nearly
all the time the war continued; and this is the same ["Wills" is crossed out] Capt. James Willson, I well know, who
married the said Amelia Burgess who resided,
prior to her marriage in Pittsylvania County, Va
and this is the very same Capt. James Willson
whom I saw die and buried, and the widow whom
he left at his death, is the same Amelia Burgess
whom he married in Caswell County, N. Carolina,
and she is the very same person who is now living 
in Livingston County, Kentucky, as the widow of
the late Capt. James Willson. She has ever remained
single since her husband's death in the year 1811,
and is well known to all the community here as
such.  I knew Capt. James Willson and his
wife, Amelia Burgess, well during his lifetime
and have always known his widow since his death
and who yet remains single as his widow. I know
all the children of Capt. James Willson, and know
them well to be legitimate.  Capt. James Willson
and Amelia Burgess, I well know now, were married
in Caswell County, North Carolina, in the year 1793,
and her age now is 79 years. The Amelia Burgess, had
her first child in about eleven months after she was married. This child
was called John Matthew, and died when two years old or thereabout.
The second was named Margaret Agness Pringle (Willson); James
Willson; John Green Willson; Amelia Parmley ; ^Willson William B. Willson,
The ages of these children I do not now recollect.
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(5)
Captain James Willson made a will, and to the
best of my knowledge, the will which is hereunto
annexed and purporting to be a certified copy of
the will of Capt. James Willson, I believe to be a
true copy of the will left by him. My brothers,
John and Hugh Dobbins, were executors to said
will, and wound up and settled the estate of said
Capt. James Willson. To the best knowledge and
belief I have upon the subject, Capt. James Willson
died in about three days after he made and signed
the will which is hereunto annexed.
Given under my hand, this the 17th
day of April 1854.
Margaret Hinton

The Affidavit of Jane Thompson.
I, Jane Thompson, of the County of
Livingston and State of Kentucky, do solemnly, sincerely, and truly affirm and declare, that I was
12 years old at the time Capt. James Willson and
his wife, Amelia Willson, came to Kentucky in
the [begin crossed out] year [end crossed out] Spring of the year 1811. I knew them
as man and wife then, and the fact of their being
man and [begin crossed out] wafe [end crossed out] wife was never called in question,
they were recognized, by the neighborhood, as man
and wife until the death of Capt James Willson
in the fall of 1811.  I have known Mrs.
Amelia Willson ever since her husband's death
in 1811, and she has never since married, but
has remained single, and is known by me and
the community in which I live as the widow
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(6)
of the late Capt. James Willson who moved to
this State from the State of North Carolina I
am well acquainted with the children of Capt.
James Willson and his wife, Amelia Willson, but
do not know their ages precisely; the names of
those now living are. Agness Pringle, Willson; James
Willson; John G. Willson; Amelia Parmley (Willson);
Asra William B. Willson, Margaret, the eldest of the
children whom I knew, married an Adcock, and
has been dead for many years.  Given under
my hand, this the 17th day of April, 1854.
Jane her x mark Thompson

Commonwealth of Kentucky,
Livingston County, Set.
I, Robert S. Boyd, an acting Justice of the Peace
in and for said county, do certify that the foregoing affid
vits of Margaret Hinton and Jane Thompson, were this day
subscribed and sworn to before me; and I do further certify,
that, both Margaret Hinton and June Thompson are person=
ally and well known to me, and that they are ladies of
the first respectability and, therefore, are entitled to full
credit for any thing they may testify or say under oath.
Given under my hand, this the 17th day 
of April, 1854.
Robert S Boyd J.P.
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(7)
The Affidavit of Amelia Willson.
I, Amelia Willson, formerly Amelia Burgess, of
the county of Livingston and State of Kentucky, do solemnly,
sincerely, and truly affirm and declare, that I first became
acquainted with Capt. James Willson about the year, 1792.
He resided in Caswell County, North Carolina and I
resided, before my marriage with said Willson, with my father in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Some time after becoming acquainted with Capt. Willson, we were engaged to
be married, and in the fall of the year, 1793, he went
over from Caswell County, N. Carolina into Pittsylvania County,
Va., where I lived with my father, and my parents being
willing that I should marry him and all things being ready for
the wedding but the license, or some kind of authority from the
County, the marriage was suspended until license could be
obtained, but as license could not be obtained when Capt. Willson
applied for it in consequence of the absence or death of the
Clerk, but which I do not now recollect, he requested me to meet
him in his own county, which was Caswell County, N.C., and as
soon as I could make arrangement, in a day or two after, I
met him in Caswell County agreeably to appointment, and
we were married by one William Moore, a Presbyterian Clergy
man, according to the laws of the State of North Carolina I
was married to Capt. James Willson, to the best of my recollection,
in the fall of the year, 1793. I was married at the house
of William Prowell, a citizen of Caswell County. Capt.
James Willson was about 40 years of age and I was about
18 years of age when we were married in the fall of the year
1793.  I do not know whether any record was ever made of
our marriage, by the minister marrying us, in the Presbyterian Church, nor do I know that any record was ever
made in the County of Caswell, N.C. and if any record
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(8)
of the kind is in existence, I do not know how or where
or in what manner I could procure it. I have not the
least knowledge whatever that there is any such record in
existence, nor do I know that there ever was. My husband,
Capt. James Willson, had a family Bible in which I am
of the belief that our marriage was there recorded and also
the births of my children; but this Bible was taken away
from me by one of my sons in-law at a time when I knew
it not and very much against my will. I have often, diligently
and faithfully made efforts to ["obe" is crossed out] recover again this Bible
on account of its containing the marriage of myself and husband
and the births of my children, but I have as often failed
to get it.  It has been a great many years since it was
taken away, and, at this time, it is no where to be found.  It
was taken away from me about 35 years ago. I lived
with my husband from the time we were married in the ["the" is crossed out] year, 1793
until his death upon the 17th day of October 1811; and since that
time I have remained single.  I was married near eleven
months before my first child was born whose name was John Matthew
and who died when near two years of age. My second child was
named Margaret, who first married Samuel Craig and afterwards,
John Adcock; she has been dead near 24 years. My third, Agness
Pringle, was born on the 23d. of Sept. 1799. My fourth, James
Willson, was born, as well as I can recollect, in 1802.  John Green
Willson, my fifth, was born in about 1804. Amelia Parmley,
my sixth, was born about 1806. William B. Willson, my seventh,
was born in Sept. 1808. Having lost my Bible record, I
can not precisely state all the births of my children. That
I have said here is from my best recollection. I am now
nearly 80 years of age. I have often regretted the loss
of my Bible record, and have sought it earnestly,
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6 - 9
(9)
but have never been able to find it, for I never
could prevail upon my son in law Craig to give
it up to me while he was living, and since his death,
I have never been able to find it.  If I had this Bible
record, I could then show satisfactorily the date of my
marriage, and also the dates of the births of all
my children
All I have here stated, from my
very best knowledge and belief, I know to be true
Given under my hand, this the 18th
day of April, 1854.
Amelia Willson

Commonwealth of Kentucky,
Livingston County, Sct.
I, Robert S Boyd, an acting Justice
[of] the Peace in and for said County, do certify, that 
the foregoing affidavit of Amelia Willson was this day
subscribed and sworn to before me; and I do further certify, that the said Amelia Willson is personally
and well known to me, and that she is a person
of respectability and is entitled to full credit and
belief for any thing she may testify or say under 
oath.
Given under my hand, this the 18th
day of April, 1854.
Robert S. Boyd J.P.
State of Kentucky
Livingston County Set
I David Flonnory clerk of the Livingston County Court in the State aforesaid
do certify that Robert S Boyd whose official Signature is attached to the certif
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icates herein is and was at the time of Signing
the Same a justice of the Peace duly commissioned
& qualified in and for Said County and that the
Signature of Said Boyd is genuine. In testimony
whereof I hereunto Set my hand
and affix the Seal of my Said Court
at the office in Smithland on the
19th day of April 1854
David Flonnery JP

15.135
Revolutionary

C
No. 5
R

Additional evidence
claim of
Amelia widow of
James Willson
Kentucky suspended
act 1838

Colt

Filed 29" Apl 1854
F.E. Hassler
Washington

Increased from $222 to $439 by Order of the Secretary
of the Interior, May 12 1856. Triplett
Page 15

[printed form, handwritten responses]
NEW PENSION LAWS.
FORM OF WIDOW'S DECLARATION. No. 1.
STATE OF Kentucky       )
COUNTY OF Livingston ) ss.
Amelia Wilson of said County and state
makes oath and says that she is the widow of
Captain James Willson deceased,
who was a (2) Captain in the Revolutionary war
that the said (3) Captain James Willson died at (4) his residence in Livingston Co. Tn 
who went over to Pittsylvania
County, Va. and not getting license
there he [illegible] hereinto [illegible]
[remaining language illegible] 
on or about the (5) 17th day of October A.D. 1811
She further states that she was married to the said (6) Captain James Willson
in Caswell County N Carolina on the [blank] day of November in the
year ["eighteen" was crossed out] seventeen hundred and ninety three by one (7) William Moore of the Presbyterian Church
a Presbyterian Minister and that her name before her said marriage was Amelia Burgess
and that there are five children of the said Captain James Willson
now living, whose names are as follows:[8] Agness Pringle (Willson) 55 years of age; James Willson 53 do;
John Green Willson, 51 do; Amelia Parnley (Willson) 48 do; William B. Willson 48 do
[insertion] John H. Willson the
older son born in the 
[illegible] 1794--he died in 
{illegible] 1797--if living would be [illegible]
only surviving children of the said Captain James Willson deceased, and that her
husband [9] never received any thing of the United States recovery state Government during his
lifetime, nor have any of his heirs received any thing of any Government since his death
She furthermore by these presents constitutes and appoints irrevocably F. E. HASSLER, of Washington, D. C., her
true and lawful attorney to prosecute and demand from the U.S. Government any pension or money or land that she
may have right to--hereby confirming her said attorney's lawful acts in the premises.
Amelia Willson (seal)
Signed in our presence.
Jordan J. Bass [illegible]
William F. Champion
Subscribed, acknowledged, and sworn to and before me,
this 11th day of March 1854.
and I further certify I am not interested in this claim.
Robert S. Boyd J.P.
I further certify that in consequence of great age disability and infirmity it is impossible for Mrs.
Amelia Willson to go to [illegible] the county court of [illegible] to make declaration of [illegible]
March 11th 1854  
Robert S Boyd J.P.
It is hereby certified, that satisfactory proof has been exhibited before me the undersigned, ["one of the" is crossed out]
Judge of the [blank]
Court, in and for the County and State aforesaid, by the affidavit of Margaret Hinton
and [blank]
of the above named
County and State, being personally known to me and who is entitled to credit, that Mrs. Amelia Willson
is the Widow of the late Capt James Willson who was a
Captain in
the United States service,"(10) during the Revolutionary war
and that the said Mrs. Amelia Wilson now, ["and was on the 3d February, 1852" is cross out] the widow of Capt
James Willson to the best of her knowledge and belief.
Wm. Cowper P.J.L.C.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set
my hand and seal this the 13th
day of March in the year 1854
I, William Cowper, Judge of the Livingston County Court, do hereby certify, that Mrs. Margaret
Hinton from old age and general infirmity and debility, could not present herself in open Court, in
the town of Smithland, The County seat of Livingston County, a distance of 16 miles from her 
residence, there to give testimony.  Her residence is near Berrys Ferry, Liv. co. Ky. Given under my hand 
March 13th 1854
Wm Cowper P.J.C.C.
Page 16

[printed form, handwritten responses]
STATE OF Kentucky           )
COUNTY OF Livingston     ) to wit:
I hereby certify, that the Hon. William Cowper County Judge of said county
before whom the annexed affidavits were made, and who has
thereunto subscribed his name was at the time of so doing, Judge of the Livingston
County Court of the State of Kentucky
in and for the said County, duly commissioned and sworn, and that the signature is genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of 
[blank] Court, this [blank] day of [blank] in the year 185[blank]
and also that Robert S Boyd whose name appears to three official 
certificates hereto, is now and was at the time of signing the same
an acting Justice of the peace for said county duly elected commissioned
and qualified, that full faith and credit are due to his official acts
and that his said signature is genuine 
In Testimony whereof I hereunto set my name
and have caused the seal of said court to be
hereto affixed at office in Smithland this 18th
day of March 1854
D. Flournoy ckcc

[stamped across document]
Claim of [blank]
FOR A PENSION
ACT OF FEBRUARY 3, 1858
War of {blank]

F. E. HASSLER,
ATTORNEY,
WASHINGTON CITY, D. C.
Page 17

State of North Carolina )
Caswell County              )
This day came before Hon Thomas Lea a Justice of the peace Mrs Agness Swan
who being duly sworn upon the Holy evangil
=est of Almighty God.  Says that she is now
upwards of ninety five years of age, who
now lives in the County of Caswell aforesaid
& never lived in any other State or County
That she knowed Capt James Willson
who raised a parcel of regulars & went to
the North & come back & took his Rifle Gun
& went to South Carolina & afterwards he
told her often, that he was in the Guilford
Battle in N. Carolina and afterwards he came
back & Settled on County Line Creek & 
that he then married a miss Amelia Bur
=giss who was much younger than he was
that the same over into this County
and was married at the house of William
Prowells by a Presbertarian [Presbyterian] minister of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ =where did her
Father live. answer in Virginia did you
ever visit her Fathers answer I did
for me all went there after they were
married that same day & stayed all night
& on the next day we come over to my
Fathers House & took dinner with my
mother & Brother. For our Father was dead. when
did he moove [move] from this County- Answer I
think in the year of 1810 or 1811. and where did
he mooved to. Answer I alwas [always] understood that
he moved to the State of Kentucky - why 
were they married in N.C. Answer because
they could get their License so much nearer
Page 18

than they could in Virginia in what year were they married Answer in 1792 or 93 was he your
Brother.  Answer he was_ have you any
interest in a pension should his widow draw
one Answer not one cent. did you
ever hear her called by any other name
answer I have heard her called Milly
or Mildred- & there was much talk about
their being married in a Black Smiths house.
Did you even hear him speak of being
in the Revolutionary war- Answer yes
often after- For he always talked a great
deal about the war. Did you know of any
other person that was with him in the
war. Answer yes-- Mathew McCauley 1st
Lt & Alexander Gray was 2nd Lt and
John Law was Ensign in his company. Did these officers
go with him into the Army_ Answer yes
For they all came to my Brothers & stayed
for several days before they left_ And killed
[illegible] Beeves during their stay at my
Brothers ["Fathers" is crossed out]_ Sworn to & Subscribed
before me Thomas L Lea a Justice of
the Peace in & for the County & State aforesaid
this the 24th of August 1854.
Tho. L, Lea J.P.
Agness her x mark Swan
Page 19

State of North Carolina )
Caswell County              )
This day came Bluford Reid aged
about 90 years before me Thos L Lea a Justice of the peace who being duly sworn
according to law Says the he knowed Capt
James Willson well for several years
before he left this County for the west either
to the Tennessee or Kentuckey one but do not
remember which & that he married a miss
Burgis who lived in Virginia Close to
the line of N. Carolina, I knowed old Mr. William
Moore the minister who married them_  I also
understood that the Captain James Willson was in
the war of the Revolution and he was always
Spoken of as being an officer in Said war_ he
was a man of business & done a great deal for his
neighbours he was a fine man_ I alwas [always] heard
that the British made great threts [threats] against
him if they could only git holt of him-- that
they would pit him up on a poll= I have no
interest in any Pension that the widow of the
Said Capt James Willson may receive of our
Goverment [Government]. I believe that the said Willson did
Serve in the war= I do not recollect when he was
married but it was a long time ago= I think
his wife had a red heir= very red indeed I
knowed and William Prowell at whose house it
was said they were married he was a Blacksmi
=th & further this deponant [deponent] sayeth not
Bleuford Reid
Sworn to & subscribed before me this day this the
25th of August 1854
Thomas L. Lea J.P.
Page 20

State of North Carolina )
Caswell County              )

I Thomas L. Lae a Justice of the Peace
in & for the County & State aforesaid do hereby certify
that I have known Mrs Aggness Swan & Bleu
=ford Reid whose signatures to the foregoing affidavits
are good and respectable Citizens as any within my
knowledge. I have known them for thirty five
years at least. Given under my hand & seal this
the 25th day of August A.D. 1854
Thomas L. Lea J. P. (seal)

State of North Carolina )
Caswell County              )
I Thomas W Groves Clerk of the County
Court of Caswell & State aforesaid do hereby certify
That Thomas L. Lea whose name is subscribed to
the foregoing affidavits of Mrs Agness Swan and
Bleuford Reid & that of his owne [own] Certificate above
was at the time of signing the Same_ one of the acting
Justices of the Peace in our said County, duly qualified
as such; and that his attestations is in due form and done by
the proper officer and that full faith & credit are due
to his official acts as such
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the
seal of my office in Yanceyville this the 25th day
of August 1854
Thos W Graves Clk
Page 21

State of North Carolina )
Caswell County              )
I Thomas Covington a Justice of the Peace 
in and for the County aforesaid, have caused John
Richmond of said County to appear before me
who being first duly Sworn according to Law
declares that he was well acquainted with Captain
James Willson who lived in this County and that 
the said Willson married a miss Burgis who lived 
in the State of Virginia that the said Willson married
her in this County in 1792 or 93 her name was
Amelia or Melia. Captain Willson was Several
years older than she was: The said Capt was
always Spoken of as having Served in the war
of the Revolution= That his Father William Richmond
have told him that he and the said Willson were
in the Revolutionary war together= he well remembers
to of heard them both speak of being together in said
war= but how long they served he cant now
say for he dont recolect [recollect] his Father & Captain
Willson lived neighbours to each other or not
for a part=he remembers to of herrd his Father 
and a Mr William Suit who was a soldier in
said war say what a good Captain the said
Willson was= that whenever he heard the old
Soldiers talking over their trials in said they
would speak of Willson being with them= he
never heard any person doubt the Service of Willson
in said war:  he also says that the most of the old
soldiers & people who lived in his neighbourhood
when he was a young man have moved away
or are dead= he says that he is well acquainted with the sister of Capt Willson who married a
Mr.
Page 22

Mrs. Swan but She's now living in this County who an older than he is & that she can tell
all about her Brothers being in the war as aforesaid: he further says that Mrs. Agness Swan
the sister of Capt. James Willson is now and always 
a woman of Respectability: and in good Standing in 
her neighbourhood as any other for he never heard 
a word against her in his life: that he now recolects [recollects]=
he knows that She is a member of the Presbyterians &
belongs to their church= This deponent says that he is now in 
the Eightyeth [eightieth] year of his age according to the account 
of his Parents. Sworn to and Subscribed before me 
this the 8th day of November AD 1854.
John Richmond
Thomas Covington J.P. (seal)

North Carolina  )
Caswell County  )
I Thomas Covington a Justice of the Peace 
in the County of Caswell do hereby certify that I have 
known John Richmond whose name appears to the 
above affidavit. That he is a man in good Standing
in his neighbourhood or in said County_and that his 
word or oath I would believe as soon as any other person.
Given under my hand and seal this the 
8th day of Nov. 1854
Thomas Covington JP (seal)
Page 23

State of North Carolina  )
Caswell County               )
I Thomas W Graves Clerk of the County 
Court of Pleas and quarter Sessions in and 
for the County of Caswell aforesaid do 
hereby certify that Thomas Coverington 
before whom the affidavit of John 
Richmond was taken is now and was at the time takeing [taking] the same an acting
Justice of 
the Peace in & for the County of Caswell and 
is duly authorized to take affidavits in said County & that due faith and credit should given to 
all of his official acts as such.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto 
Set my hand and seal of office of 
said Court in Yanceyville this 8th 
of November A.D. 1854
Tho W Graves Clk
Page 24

I am well acquainted with [illegible] 
Thomas W. Graves the clerk of the 
County Court of Caswell NC_ and 
have been for more than twenty 
years and I have no hesitation 
in stating that he is a gentleman 
of high character in the county 
in which he lives and whatever 
he states of his his own knowledge 
or certifies in regard to others 
is entitled to full confidence & 
respect. I am also well 
acquainted with Thomas Covington
Esq_ the Justice before whom the 
foregoing affidavit of John Richmond
was taken–and I regard him as 
a very worthy upright citizen & 
of as good general character as
any man.
John Keer
Nov. 9th, 1834
Page 25

8c
Aditl [Additional] Proofs
Amelia Wilson
Revo. [Revolutionary] Pension
Kentucky
Suspd [Suspended] 
Oct 1838
Cole
Filed 20 Novr 1834
F. E. Hassler
Page 26

Washington City D.C. 
Nov 20 1834
Honorable L. P Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir 
Annexed please find additional 
proofs in the application of Mrs. Amelia Wilson
Kentuckey [Kentucky] suspended Act 1838 for a 
Revolutionary Pension. [illegible] reference for proof service to your own records, & the 
letter of the Comptroller of North Carolina 
on file with papers. 
Yours respectfully,
F E Hassler
Page 27

c
4
Revolutionary
Additional Evidence
Claim of 
Amelia Willson
widow of 
James Willson
act 1838
Kentucky suspended
Ex. [Illegible] this case to me
[illegible]
18 May 1834

Filed 26" May 1834
F. E. Hassler
Washington
Page 28

North Carolina  ) 
Caswell County  )
This is to certify that upon an examin
ation of the records & papers filed in the Clerks 
office of the County aforesaid 
That I Thomas W. Graves Clerk of 
Said County and State aforesaid have this 
day found a marriage Band given by 
James Willson which Band is in the following words & figures towit 
"Know all men by these presents that 
"we James Willson and William Willson 
"both of Caswell County are held and firmly "bound unto his Excellency Alexander Martin esquire 
"Governor & in the Just and full sum of five "hundred pounds to be paid unto the Said "Alexander Martin esquire and his Successors & 
"assigns to which payment well and truly to be "made we bind ourselves & our heirs, executors 
"and administrators Jointly & Severally, firmly "by these presents Sealed with our seals and "dated this the 10th day of December A.D. 1792.
"The Condition of this obligation is such 
"that whereas the above bounded James Wilson 
"hath the day of the date hereof obtained License 
"to be Joined in Holy Matrimony with Mildred "Burgess if therefore there should be no Lawfull [lawful]
"Impediment why the said James Willson and "Mildred Burgess should not be Lawfully "Joined together in Holy Matrimony, then the "above obligation Shall be void otherwise 
"to remain in full force and effect.
James Willson (Seal)
William Willson (Seal)
"Signed Sealed & 
delivered in presence of 
H. Harolson D. C.
Page 29

The foregoing is a true copy of record
Witness
Thomas W. Graves Clerk 
of the County Court of Caswell County
N Carolina at office this the 18th of May 
A.D, 1854.
Given under my hand & Seal of office 
this the 18th of May 1854
Tho" W" Graves Clk
Page 30

Yanceyville
18th of May 1854
D. Sir 
Your note of the 8th just came to 
hand and I have examined all of the
marriage Bands in my office and 
I 
Cant find a Band that Capt. James 
Willson ever gave to marry a Miss Amelia 
any body–But have found a Bond and 
have hereunto given you a Copy of it
which I believe to be the one you wanted. There are several old persons here who 
knowed [knew] the Capt. to be an old Soldier 
of the Revolution in your letter you 
wanted me to make out a copy of 
my fees & you would pay them to Hon. John Kerr 
you can pay him (one Dollar for me)
Yours Fraternally,
Tho" W" Graves
To
F. E. Hassler esqr

Washington City DC
25 May 1834
Hon 
LP. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir
Amelia the difference in the 
name as certified to & that used
by the widow applying which 
will require examination & explanation.
Yours respectfully,
F E Hassler
Page 31

c
4
Revolutionary
Additional Evidence
Claim of 
Amelia Willson 
widow of 
James Willson
act 1838
Kentucky suspended
Ex. [illegible] this case to me
[illegible]
18 May 18[illegible]
Filed 26 May 1854
F. E. Hassler
Washington
Page 32

State of Kentucky       )   
County of Livingston  )
On this 22nd
day of May AD 1855, personally
appeared before me a Justice of the Peace
within and for the county & State aforesaid.
Amelia Wilson aged 85 years or thereabouts widow of James
Wilson, who being sworn according to law
states that she is the widow of James Wilson
who was a Captain in the War of the Revolution
& that she as his widow is now drawing a
pension of two hundred & twenty two Dollars per
annum, & has never intermarried, that she further
more refers to her original pension papers now on
file in Washington City D.C. and to the Certificate
of Pension issued to her numbered 6317
hearing date Sixth day of February 1855.
& payable at the Louisville Ky. agency.
She makes this oath & application for the pur
pose of procuring the Bounty Land that she may
be entitled to under act 3d March 1855, hereby
constituting and appointing F. E. Hassler of Washington
her true & lawful attorney to transact her business & pro
secute her claims before the Departments of the
United States Government.
her
Amelia her x mark Wilson

The words thereabouts was Interlined before
the signing of the above Given under my
hand this the 22nd day of May, 1855
Robt. Coffield J.P.
Page 33

We Robert Boyd and William O Roberts
residents of Salem in the State of Kentucky upon
our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was
signed & acknowledged by Amelia Wilson in our
presence and that we know her to be the identical
person she represents herself to be
Robert L Boyd
William his x mark O Roberts

The foregoing declaration and affidavit were
sworn to and subscribed before me on the day
and year above written and I certify that I know
the affiants to be credible persons: that the
claimant is the person she represents herself to be
that the claimant has heretofore been able to
write her name, but is not able to do so
now from age & infirmities: that I have no
interest in this claim. the word "attorney" inserted
before signing the papers 
Robt Coffield J.P.

State of Kentucky
Livingston County Sct
Saml A Kingman, Clerk of the County
Court in and for the County and
State above named, do hereby cer=
tify that Robt. Coffield Esqr before
whom the foregoing affidavits 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 St[ate]
Page 34

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
[illegible]
W9008
James Willson
August 30, 1927
Melvin Hutson
Decatur, Alabama
Sir:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revo-
lutionary War pension claim W. 9008 it appears that James
Willson, or Wilson, while a resident of Caswell County,
North Carolina, was commissioned April 19, 1777 Captain of
Colonel Abraham Shepard's Tenth North Carolina Regiment and
resigned May 20, 1778, after which, he again entered the
service, date not given, was in the battles of Guilford
Court House, Eutaw Springs and other and served to the end
of the Revolution.
He married in November 1793, as stated by his widow,
(marriage license dated December 10, 1792) in Caswell County,
North Carolina, Amelia (often called Milly) Burgess of Pitt-
sylvania County, Virginia. He was then aged about forty years
and she about eighteen years. In the spring of 1811 they
moved from Caswell County, North Carolina to Livingston County,
Kentucky. He died October 17, 1811 in Livingston County,
Kentucky.
His widow Amelia was allowed pension on her application
Page 35

executed April 10, 1854 while living near Berry's Ferry in
Livingston County, Kentucky.  They had children:

John Matthew born about August 1794 and died in 1797.
Margaret who married first, Samuel Craig and afterwards John
Adcock, and she died about 1830.
Agness born September 23, 1799, married James Pringle.
James born in 1802, living in Salem, Kentucky in 1856.
John Green born about 1804.
Amelia who was born about 1806 and married [unknown] Parmley.
William B. born in September 1808.
Respectfully,
E. W. MORGAN
Acting Commissioner.

[handwritten notes added in margins]
I think this is safe.  Would
not have used it if Agness Pringle
(Willson) had not mar. James
Pringle. Amelia Parmley (Willson)
expressed same way
Soldier's mother a widow during Rev. &  he had
the care of
her & his 2 sisters. One sister Agness mar. [unknown] Swan.
sol. had niece Margaret
Dobbins who mar. the 2" time [unknown] Hinton.  She had
bros. John & Hugh Dobbins.
Page 36

[printed form, handwritten responses]
Revolution.
North Carolina
[illegible initials]
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 9008
Amelia Wilson
Wid. of 
James Wilson
Capt. Revolutionary War
Act: Feby 27" [18]48
Index:- Vol. A., Page 339
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 37

1906 James Hill to Mrs. K. W. Ryals
1927 Aug 30 Hist to [Illegible]
Page 38

11.736
Kentucky
Amelia Wilson
 widow of 
James 
who died on the [blank] in 1811
of [blank] in the State of {blank]
who was a Captain in the [blank] commanded
by Captain [blank] of the [blank] commanded
by [blank] in the Revolution 
and for 11 Months & 3 days.
Inscribed on the Roll of Louisville 
at the rate of 222 Dollars 00 Cents 
per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6th day of February 1855 and sent to 
F. E. Hassler
Present
Arrears to the 4th of [blank]
Semi-annual allowance ending [blank]
{Revolutionary Claim, }
{Act July 7, 1838         }
Recorded by G. T. Getty Clerk.
Book D, Vol. 1, Page 381
Page 39

[printed form, handwritten responses]
9588
Kentucky
Amelia Wilson
widow of James
who was a Captain 
in the Revolution

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate 
of 222 Dollars 00 
Cents per annum, to commence 
on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued 
the 6th day of February 1853 
and sent to 
F E Hassler.
Present
[Acts of March 3, 1843, and 
June 17, 1844.]
Recorded in Book A
Vol. 2 Page 188.
Page 40

[printed form, handwritten responses]
111736
Kentucky
Amelia Wilson
widow of the said James Wilson
who died on the [blank] 1811
who was a Lt. & Capt. the [blank] commanded
by Captain [blank] of the [blank] commanded
by [blank] in the Revolution
[page damage] line for [blank]
Increased from $222.
Inscribed on the Roll of Louisville 
at the rate of 439 Dollars 00 Cents 
per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.

Certificate of Pension issued the 13th day of May 1856 and Sent to 
Hon H. C. Burnett.
Semi-annual allowance ending [page damage]
Page 41

[printed form, handwritten responses]
6317
Kentucky
Amelia Wilson
widow of James
[w]ho served in the Revolutionary 
war, as a Captain
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 
222 Dollars 00 
Cents per annum, to commence on 
the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the 
6th day of February 
and sent to 
F. E. Hassler.
Present
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2, 1848, Page 269, Vol. 3
Page 42

Let Jos. D. Barker June 1/55
F.E. Hassler June 22/55
Same June 27/55
Same July 26/55
Jos. D. Barker
July 20. 1855
F.E. Hassler Nov 13 /55
Same Jany 17/56
Secy Jnt Mch 3 1856
Same Apl 8 1856 (by tommr[page damage]
Page 43

9588
Kentucky
Amelia Wilson, 
widow of James, 
who was a Lieut. & Capt 
in the Revolution.
Increased from $222
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate 
of 439 Dollars 00 
Cents per annum, to commence 
on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued 
the 13th day of May 1856 
and sent to 
Hon. H. C. Burnett 
H.R.
[Acts of March 3, 1843, and 
June 17, 1844.] 
Recorded in Book A
Vol. 2 Page 188.
Page 44

31.742
Rev War
Page 45

[envelope cover]
Amelia Wilson
James Ky w
2 Feb 48

Salem, Ky
Sep 20
Hon[illegible] J Minot
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

[three cents stamp]
Page 46

[envelope cover]
Amelia Wilson
James 
Ky w 2 [illegible]
1848
Cole
Salem, Ky
May 12th
Hon. L. P. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.
[three cents stamp]
Page 47

15.135
Amelia Wilson 
widow of James 
Ky
F E Hassler Apl 1 185[page damage]
[ditto marks] May 5 1854
[ditto marks] May 29 1854
[ditto marks] June 24 1854
[ditto marks] Aug 11 1854
[ditto marks] Sep 1 1854
[ditto marks] Oct. 13/54
JD Barker Oct. 26/54
F E Hassler Nov. 25/54
Same June 27/55

July 7, 1838
Page 48

Amelia Wilson 
widow of James
Kentucky
Act July 7 1838 [illegible]
2 mos. [illegible] Lt. $34 -
13 mos. Cap Line $260 
7¼ [illegible] Mil $145
[total] $439
per annum from 4 March 1836 
except 2 years,
[illegible] Deducting former 
payments at $222,
Cert to
Hon H. C. Bennett
Hs Reps
Page 49

Amelia Wilson
widow of James
Livingston Co., KY
adm July 7 1838 [illegible]
11 mos. & 3 ds Cap. In. $222 
per annum from 
4 March 1834
2 years excepted
Cert to
F. E. Hassler
Present
Page 50

July [illegible]1803 Recd of 
James Willson Capt. $/94 
in full of his [Illegible] from 1802
J. Burton
Page 51

Received of Milly Wilson 29 Cents in full for [illegible]
for the Year 1812 this the 5th of July 1813
[illegible] Haynes [illegible]
for Jos Rea S46
Page 52

Recivd of James Wilson on acount [account] of John Baker of Cabarrus County Nine 
Dollars and five Shilling and nine 
pence Virginia money I say Recivd by 
me this 8th of May 1800. 
John Allison
Page 53

Recvd of Pamelia Willson two Dollars sixty
cents infull up to 1st July 1818 
for J & A. Frazer
Richard Miles
Page 54

Frazier 
Receipt 
[Illegible]
Page 55

Salem May 8th 1821
Then recd. of Mrs Pamelia Wilson Two Dollars
on part of her acct [illegible] J & A Frazier
By [illegible] Darby
Page 56

March 11. 1811
Recd. of Capt. James Willson
Seven Shill & Six pence Virga. money
in full of all accts.
John McAlvin
Page 57

Recd. this 24th of April 1824 from Mrs. Parmily Wilson in
full of all Blacksmiths accounts with Givin and Bolton and 
A. Bolton. As witness my hand. Daniel Monroe for A. Bolton
Page 58

Givin and Bolton
and Bolton
Receipt to 
Mrs. Wilson
Page 59

Leasburg 21st June 1804
Rec'd of Capt. James Wilson 3 Dollars P & 6 Cents 
in full of his act with Wm. & Vincent Lea. 
J. Vincent Lea
Page 60

[printed form, handwritten responses]
RECEIVED, this 12th day of February 1816 from Amelia 
Wilson the sum of one dollar fifty six cents 
being the amount of the direct tax of 1815, upon
the property of Amelia 
Wilson in the county of Livingston in the 5th Collection 
District, in the State of Kentucky.

DOLLARS 1 " 56 Cents

William Venton D Collector, 
for the 5th Collection District in the State of Ky.
Page 61

Recd of Mrs. Milly Wilson two dollars 
in full of her apt with us by the 
hands of David W. Megee 20 June 1823.
Holt & Hodge
Page 62

Holt & Hodge 
Receipt
Page 63

Reced of Mrs. Milly Wilson One dollar & Twenty five Cents in full of all Book accounts with 
us April 15th 1825.
Holt & Hodge
Page 64

Salem July 5th 1896
Received of Amelia Willson 31½ cents which 
I am to pay to Allen Hodge as soon 
as He Returns from Florence.
W B Hoynes
Page 65

Andrew Frazers Receipt
Page 66

Nov the 18th 1817 
Then Recd of Pamelia Willson
 in full of my Book acount [account] against 
her up to this date
Richard Mills 
for Anasa [illegible]
Page 67

Milton 6th April 1805 Then Recevd. of Mr. William 
Gordin by the hands of Capt.  James Willson Nineteen 
Shillings & nine pence in full of his Account 
for Thomas Gatewood &Co
Alexr. Carter
Page 68

Amelia Wilson, March 11th 1854
Widow of Capt. James Wilson, who died October 17. 1811 
Was married in Caswell County N.C. in Nov. 1793.
Margaret Hinton says they were married in Pittsylvania County of Va.
in 1791. 1792 or 1793 or thereabouts when next day & he was at the dinner party [illegible]
John [illegible]. Has heard people say Wilson was a Captain
Page 69

Agnes Swain mentions the 
names of Matthew McCauley 
and Alex and Gray, as Lt. 
and John Law or Lew, as 
an Ensign?
Page 70

1 cap        $40
2 Lts            53
1 serg          10
4 corp         29 32
40 pri         266.66
[total]         399.30
Page 71

Application for Increase of Rev. Pension 
of Mrs. Amelia Wilson widow James
admitted Kentuckey [Kentucky] act. 1848.
filed by F. E. Hassler
Page 72

Niles
38.4
[numbers and calculations]
Page 73

Milton 9th April 1803 Then Rcved of Capt. 
James Willson one [illegible] Tobacco Weighing 998 ee
@ keep for which he is to have what it Sells 
for Deducting the Carriage 
for Thos Gatewood [illegible]
[illegible] Alexander Carter
Page 74

William Prowell Dr to Cash
To cash lent ................................................... 0‒2‒6
To cash paid on Crisp Elenchar ..................... 0‒11‒6
for cost off warrant .......................................... 0‒2‒0
To whiskey Dr .................................................. 0‒9‒11
To Iron Willis account ..................................... 0‒1‒6
To cash Dr ......................................................... 7‒10‒1
Balance Dew Prowell ....................................... 0‒19‒1
Paid for five shilling for Willis ............................ 0‒5‒0
Credt for cash rec’d ............................................ 0‒6‒0

= 1‒11‒0
Page 75

William Prowel 
to cash Dn o-s-0

William
prowell
acount [account]
Page 76

Millan 2nd April 1804 Recc from Capt James
William 1 Hhd. Tobaco [tobacco] weighing not Twelve Hundred
and Ten pounds which we are to give him
what we get for the same, when we
See in the Spring
for Thomas Galwood &co
Abraham B Morton
Page 77

Capt James Wilson
To Thomas Gatewood [illegible]
1 pair Spectacles 2/6   L" 2. 6
½ Bushel salt        12/-- "  18 --
1 " Powder           7/6  --"   7. 6
1 " Shot                1/   -- "   1---
1 Butter pot          7/       "   7--
1 Knit tin Needles  3/      " [page damag]e
1 Bottle, 9 gut Runs 4 --  " . 4 -9
1 Nut Meg                7--  " .  1--
[total}                    Pound 2   4-- 9

Milten 16th July 1799
Page 78

Salem Ky
Sept 19 1836
J Minot Esqr
Washington DC

Dr sir Mr Hassler of
Your city acted as agent for my mother in a pension
Claim as you are fully advised an [and] I have learned
failed in geting [getting] her certificate I was advised not to pay
his fee which was one half from the fact as or was said that he had
not performed the agreed services he contends he
did I wish if it is not incompatible with your
duty you would let me know whether he was instru
mental in geting [getting] said claim allowed & whether he services
or would not have ablamed said Cerficats [Certificates] Your respectfully
Jas Wilson
PS please write to me
that I may know if your recd my letter
J Wilson
Page 79

[printed form, handwritten alterations]
James Willson of Captain in the
10th NCarolina Battalion  
do acknowledge the UNITED STATES of AME-
RICA to be Free, Independent and Sovereign States, and
declare that the people thereof owe no allegiance or obe-
dience to George the Third, King of Great-Britain; and I
renounce, refute and abjure any allegiance or obedience to
him; and that I do swear that I will, to the ut-
most of my power, support, maintain and defend the said
United States against the said King George the Third, his
heirs and successors, and his or their abettors, assistants and
adherents, and will serve the said United States in the office of
Captain
which I now hold, with
fidelity, according to the best of my skill and understanding.
Sworn to before me this James Willson
[page damage] Day of May 1778
Lachn. McIntosh [illegible]
Page 80

791 To M
[illegible]
Dec 3 [illegible] Rum.  "5"
Dec 23 [illegible] 2 qte. do [illegible]Order.  "4--                                                        
92 Jany 23 To Cash "12--
May 15 To 12  Bar Iron  @ 6  "6 4'
June 5 To 5~ Blister Steel @11 "5 6
         29 To paid Brooke  [illegible] "5"
         30 To 5 pte Rum V order @ [illeg] "6 3
July 4 To [illegible] William Moore 20 pro "12--
       6 To [illeg] pepper @3/9    "3 9
Novr 7 To 20 yas & awn @5/    " " 3
                      yar Linnin   @3/9   "4 [illeg]
                      1 Ladies Hat @24/-   1 4 --
Decr. 5 To 4 Loaf Sugar @2/91  "11--
                 3: yds Linnen    @4/--   " 14 --
                 1 nutmeg  @ [illeg] " " 8
                 1 do [illeg] @ [illeg] " " 10
                 3 Skiens Thread @ [illeg] " " 9
                                                                4-19-8
          11 To 1 Black Call [illeg] @ 1/  " 1 --
Page 81

1769 — Cost of James Wilson Bot of Tho. Jeffries

Dec 13
To [illegible] brown sugar
To 1 lb [illegible]
To 1 pepper
To 1 quire paper

Dec 29
To 1 shoe knife
To 2½ bar lead
To 1 [illegible]

[Dec — day unclear]
To 300 saddle [illegible]
To sundries paid Will[iam] [illegible]
To 8 [lb] brown sugar
To 1 [illegible] Durante
To 1 scythe blade
To 1 [illegible]
To 1 [illegible]
To 1 set knives and forks
To 2 hand saw files
To 2 [lb] coffee
To 1 [illegible]
To 2½ yds cloath
To 1 doz small buttons
To 2 huck towels
To 2 hanks silk
To ½ oz cinnamon

Dec 22
To 2½ pts rum & [illegible]

Dec 23
To [illegible] pts [illegible]
To 1 quire [illegible]

Dec 25
To [illegible] William Lowrey
To 1 tumbler

Dec 26
To balance in cash

Jan 1
To 1 [gill] rum
To 3 [illegible] line
To 1 hat

Jan 3
To 2 ladies hats
To 2 pen knives
To 1 fine razor
To 1 shaving box
To 5 [lb] sugar & 2 [lb] coffee
To [illegible] hat
To 1 [glass] decanter 3/6 & 2 [illegible] molds
To 1 small [bowl] 1/8 & 20d nails
To 3 doz needles & ½ yd cloath
To 1 Watts hymn book
To 1 frying pan
To 2½ yds cloath
To 2 lb fine [illegible]
To 2 [skeins] silk & 2 [illegible]
To ½ [illegible] thread [illegible]
To ½ yd black lasting
To 2 doz [illegible] buttons
To 2 [illegible] silk & 2 [illegible]
Page 82

Commonwealth [right side of page cut off]
Livingston Cou [right side of page cut off]
The unders [right side of page cut off]
acting Justice of the P [right side of page cut off]
hereby certifies, that Go [right side of page cut off]
Champion, witnesses to [right side of page cut off]
are men of great respec [right side of page cut off] 
and belief. Their pla [right side of page cut off]
Livingston County, Kent [right side of page cut off]
hand, this the 11th da [right side of page cut off]
Page 83

Revolutionary 
Bounty Land
Amelia Wilson
Pensioner 
Kentucky
Act 1848 
Certificate 
No. 6317
F. E. Hassler
Present

160.119
Page 84

I, Amelia Willson of the county of Livingston
and State of Kentucky, do solemnly, sincerely, and
truly affirm and declare, that the old paper which
purports to be the oath of allegiance of Captain James
Willson, my late husband, to the United States, and his
renunciation of his allegiance to George the Third,
King of Great Britain, and which reads as follows,
to wit;
"I, James Willson, Captain in the 10th
North Carolina Battalion, do acknowledge the United States
of America to be free, Independent, and Sovereign
States, and declare that the people thereof owe no alle=
giance or obedience to George the Third, King of Great 
Britain; and I renounce, refuse and abjure any
allegiance or obedience to him; and I do swear
that I will, to the utmost of my power, support,
maintain and defend the said United States against
the said King George the Third, his heirs and suc=
cessors, and his or their abettors assistants and adhe=
rents, and will serve the said United States in the
Office of Captain which I now hold, with fidelity,
according to the best of my skill and understanding.
James Willson {illegible]
Sworn to before me this
the 12th day of May, 1778.
Lachn McIntosh, B.G.
" belonged to my hus=
band, James Willson, during his lifetime, and was
found, at his death, with many other old papers also
belonging to him; and that the very same paper
purporting to be Captain James Willson's, my late hus=
bands oath of allegiance to the United States of Amer=
ica and his renunciation of his allegiance to George
the Third King of Great Britain, has, ever since the
death of my husband, Capt. James Willson, been in my
possession, and I have always taken very great care of
Page 85

it, believing it to be a paper of importance to my said
husband's estate. I do further solemnly, sincerely, and
truly declare and affirm, that I have always, since
the death of my said husband, Capt. James Willson, guarded
this said paper with much care, and have never con=
sented to give it up to any one or to part with it
and let it go out of my possession until very recent=
ly, when I was persuaded to give it up as it would
be the means of aiding much in obtaining whatever
may be due me on account of the services of my said
husband, Capt. James Willson [illegible] to the Government of the 
United States during the Revolutionary war.
I do
Solemnly and truly declare and affirm, that this is the 
same identical paper which belonged to my husband du=
ring his lifetime, and the very same that was found
among his other papers after his death, and the same
identical paper that I have had, since the death of
my husband, Capt. James Willson, always in my
own possession. I know it to be, and solemnly and
truly declare and affirm it to be the very same
identical paper.
Given under my hand this
the 10th day of April, 1854.
Amelia Wilson

Commonwealth of Kentucky
Livingston County, Sct
This day personally appeared before the un=
dersigned an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County
Amelia Willson and made oath, that the foregoing affidavit
is, in every particular, to her very best knowledge and belief just
and true.  Given under my hand, this the 10th day
of April, 1854.
Robert S. Boyd J.P.
Page 86

above named, duly commissioned
and sworn, that all his official acts 
as such are entitled to full faith 
and credit, and that his signature 
thereto is genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have 
hereunto signed my name and 
and affixed my official seal 
this 24th day of May 1855
Saml. A Kingman, C.L.C.C.
Page 87

Penn Office
June 16. 1856.
Sir
In reply to your request, thru F.F.
C. Triplett, Esqr I have to [illegible] that the
inclosed [enclosed] allowance in the case of Amelia
Wilson, widow of James, was granted tes=
timony and arguments filed by you.
The claim was generally allowed for [illegible]
[illegible] same [illegible] by parole proof,
and order of payments therefore from
the office of the Comptroller of bank [illegible]
Carolina.  Away the papers filed in the con
is a duplicate of a call of allegiance letter
of a Captain James Wilson of the 10th North
Carolina Battalion on the [illegible] May 1778, before
Lachn. Mc Intosh, B.G.  ye called
has the same James Wilson also [illegible] the
Rebulic [Republic] service, and in proof of your assumption
filed an extract from an order dated
Valley Forge May 7, 1778 per in [illegible]Resolution of the Continental Congress of the 3d of February
Page 88

of that year, requiring all officers, as well civil
or military holding commissions from that
body to take and subscribe an oath of allegiance which it
needs & the resolution, and of which that
filed in the case of Mrs Wilson is a copy
that [illegible] directs certain officer, to administer
the oath and grant certificates, and designates
Brigadier Genl the Intent to administer it
to the officers of the North Carolina Brigade
and before whom the paper in the possession
M. Wilson as subscribed. This office, how
ever, informed to grant the [illegible] of 
your inference from the above facts; the year
carried it up on appeal to the Secretary of
the Interior [words crossed out]
[words crossed out] who upon
a restatement of the con, granted the
woman claimed.
F.E. Hassler, Esq
Louisville, Ky.
Ky
Page 89

the original allowance in the case of
Amelia Wilson was made before my
connection with this office. The claim
came before me for action ["on" deleted] for
an increase on account of services
not included in the original allowance
I am not aware of any other
party than yourself having any
connection with this Claim for increase as
agent, or rendering any services
therein, while before this office.
The decision was against the claim
and thereupon on appeal by you
the same was transferred to the [illegible]
of the Interior for his decision
for what occurred before him
I must refer to him.
While that appeal was pending
before the Hon Bumele
of H. R. had one communication 
with one relation [illegible] issue of
of certificate for increase of pension in case
The same should be allowed by the Secy
Page 90

Know all men by these presents
that I Amelia Wilson of the County
of Livingston & commonweath of Kentucky
do hereby constitute and appoint Henry
C Burnett M.C. now in Washington
city from the first Congressional district of Kentucky
my true & Lawful attorney for me and in my
behalf to receive such certificate of pension as has or
may be issued to me hereby revoking
any power of attorney which may
have been heretofore given and confirming all
things that the said Henry C Burnett may
lawfully do in the premises hereby confirming
the same as if I were present and done
the same in my own proper person
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and seal this the first day of
May 1836
Amelia her x mark Wilson
oath R. S. Boyd
James T. Boyd
Acknowledged before me the day and
year above written R Spell J P
Page 91

State of Kentucky      )
County of Livingston ) ss
I James W. Cole Clerk
of the court of Livingston County within
and for the county and State aforesaid
do hereby certify that the within named
R Spell before whom the foregoing
acknowledgement was taken was on the
date thereof an acting Justice of the
peace 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 set
my hand and affixed the seal of said Court
this first day of May AD 1856
James W Cade CLcc
Page 92

Washington, June 16 1836
Sir
Mr F.E. Harper requests that you
will do him the favor to state whether
any one besides himself introduced any
new evidence or any argument in
support of the application of Amelia Wil-
son of Ky for 
unused pension
Very Respy &
F E C Triplett

Hon J Minot
Any Pensions
Private
Page 93

H. C. Burnett
H of Rep.
March 24. 1858
Asking a second time for 
the papers of Mrs. Wilson 
of KY. 
Respectfully referred 
to Commr. of Pensions.
Moses Kelly
Chf. Clk.
Dept. Int.
Mar. 25/58

Rec'd 25 Mch '58
Mr. Rhett
Page 94

House of Reps.
March 24th/58
Sir,
I called some time since for a copy of all 
the papers and orders made in your Department in the 
Application of Mrs Wilson of Livingston Co. Ky for a Pension.  Mr. Hassler of this City was the Atty. I want them to be used in a suit in Kenty.
I have the honor to be
very respectfully 
your obt servt,
H. C. Burnett

Honbl 
Jacob Thompson 
Secty of Interior
Page 95

Salem, Livingston County, Ky.
April 17th, 1857

Hon Josiah Minot,
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington City, D. C.
Dear Sir:--
In the case of old Mrs
Amelia Willson, I acted as her agent here, and, as such, I made
out all her papers which you may very readily perceive by ex=
amining, and comparing them with the hand writing herein contained,
though the writing here is somewhat smaller than in those papers. And
such papers, in the case, as I did not make out myself; I obtained
from different sources and paid others to prepare them
I have been very badly treated in this
matter, and in order to save myself and to have justice done me, I
have filed a bill in a Court of Equity.  As it devolves upon me
now to show upon whose affidavit or testimony an additional al-
lowance was made to old Lady Willson by the Department
of the Interior for the service of Capt. James Willson, her husband,
in the war of the Revolution, be so kind and obliging, my dear
Sir, as to inspect the papers in the case of Mrs. Amelia Willson
and inform me upon whose evidence the allowance was made. Also
let me know, if you please, who it was that presented this testimony to
the Pension Office.
Be so good as to inform me what part my
friend, the Hon. Henry C. Burnett, acted in getting, additional pay
Page 96

in this case. With the view of making myself safe; I shall have to prove
at whose suit the Department made the additional allowance.
Should your answer be satisfactory
to me, and should it be what I expect it will, I shall then appeal to
you to make authentic the same information; provided, however, the
Court refuses to receive your letter unless it be authenticated by your
seal of office.
Be so good as to let me hear from you immedi=
ately, or as soon as you can conveniently, as it is very essential
for me to have my case prepared and ready in time. Your
kind attention to this will be of great service to me, and which, were
it possible, I would be very glad to reciprocate.
I am, very respectfully
your most obt., humble servt.,
Joseph D. Barker.
Page 97

asking for copy of
all papers in Int Dep.
filed with application
of Amelia Wilson for
pension.

Respectfully referred to the 
Commissioner of Pensions, with
the request that he will furnish
Mr. Burnett with copies of the 
papers in the Pension claim
of Amelia Willson widow of
Capt. James William_ Admitted
under Act 7th July 1838.
Dept. Int.    )
March 3/59)
Moses Kelly
Chf. Clk.
Certified copies
Rec'd 3 Mch '58
Mr. Rhett
Page 98

House of Reps
March 2nd/58
Dear Sir
I desire a copy of all
the papers &c on file in your depart
=ment filed with the application
of Mrs. Wilson for a pension
on account of Services rendered
by her husband, I think the name
is Amelia Wilson_ it was decided
by your predecessor Mr. McLeland
upon appeal_
I have the honor to be
very respectfully
yours &c
H C Burnett
Honbl J thompson
Secty of Interior
I desire this record to be used
in a Suit in my State
H.C.B.
Page 99

Department of the Interior
Washington April 11th 1836
Sir:
The views expressed by you in your report
of the 8th Instant upon the claim of Amelia 
Willson, widow of Capt. James Willson, for pension
under the act of July 7 1838 et al have been adopted
as the decision of the Department.  The allowance 
will therefore be regulated in conformity there
with.
The papers accompanying your report,
are herewith returned to your office.
I am, very respectfully,
Your Obdt Servt
R McClelland
Secretary
Hon Minot               )
Commr of Pensions )
Page 100

Hon. H. C. Burnett.
April 18.1836

asking the office to with-
hold the Pension Certificate
from Mr. Hassler, in the
case of Mrs. Wilson. _
Page 101

House of Reps
18th April/56
Hon J Minot
Comr of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Sir
Your note, enclo-
sing copy of letter of Mr Hssler has
been received, and reply thereto- I
will state that Mrs Wilson resides in
my district and is very old & infirm
and from the representations of her
friends, I suppose she is not capable
of managing her affairs-- if you will
examine the papers on file in Auditors
office you will discover that Mr
J Boyd of Livingston Cty, Ky acted
as her agent in drawing the amount
ordered to be paid her some time
Since, which was $3800. Mr Hassler
acted as the agent of this old Lady &
in the division of the sum allowed
Page 102

She received about one third-- in
the month of Feby & on the 22nd of
March, the agent of this old Lady--
J Boyd wrote to me, that She had
become dissatisfied with the conduct
of her agents and requested me to
attend to her interest here-- Mr Hassler 
was well advised as to the motives
and reason which controlled my
action in the premises-- I thought
that as this Mr. H. set up claim to
one half of the additional allowance
made Mrs W and as another agent in
Ky, asserts claim to one fourth of it;
and in as much as they had divided
$1800 - between them-- that acting by
the authority of her friend & neighbour
Mr Boyd, whom I know to have
authority to speak for her, that for me
to fully protect her interest, I should
request you to withhold from Mr H
the Certificate -- I have written
to this old Lady & her friend and will
receive an answer in ten days--
Page 103

and if She claims Mr. H to have the
Certificate after she understands the
facts-- I shall certainly intertain [entertain]
no objection-- I hope sir, you will
not deliver the Certificate to any
-one without informing me-- I have
no doubt this old Lady has been
imposed upon and badly treated.
I have the honor to be
very respectfully
Yours &c
H C Burnett
Page 104

From the appearance of the Comptroller's Certificate
it seems that the first 3 payments were made to a pri
vate & the rolls of this office show that there was a private
in the NC Line named James Wilson there is no proof to
identify the applicant's husband with any such service
and it is, therefore, excluded.-- But he appears to have
been a Lieutenant from Feby to 19 up & when he was made
aptain [captain], this will give him 2 month & 19 [illegible] 
On the 19 Apl 77 he has made Captain & resigns
20 May 1778. This gives 15 mos cap of the Line
He recd.  [Pounds]1160, 85 for himself & Co, this makes
$2901, which being divided by $400, the aml.
the office agrees has paid to a Captain & his
Company unto give 7 1/4 months as cap
$34.00
260.00
145.66
[total] 439.66
222
217
 18
1736
217
3506
3352
7658
Page 105

[printed form, handwritten responses]
Payment to be made at Louisvil[page damage]
by J. B. Kinkead Esq
Agent for paying Pensioners, in the
Agency of
Kentucky
Payable on the 4th September and 4th
March
Recorded in the Pension Office on the
Roll of Pensioners under act February
2d, 1848, Page 269 Vol. 3
G T Getty Clerk.
Cancelled [written sideways across the document]
Page 106

[printed form, handwritten responses]
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
WIDOW'S PENSION.

I certify that in conformity with the act of February 2, 1848,
Amelia Wilson
widow of James Wilson,
who was a Captain in the revolutionary war,
is inscribed on the pension list at the rate of two hundred & twenty two,
dollars per annum, commencing on the
4th of March, 1848, and continuing for life, unless she should
again marry; in which case the Pension is not payable after the
time of such marriage
Given at the Department of the Interior,
this Sixth day of February
one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five,
[signature of James Wilson is crossed out]
Secretary of the Interior
Examined and Countersigned
[signature of L P Waldo is crossed out]
Commissioner of Pensions
Cancelled [printed across the face of the document crossways]
Page 107

Washington
Jany 10/55
Sir
Enclosed you have the letter
of Mr Joseph D. Baker dated
[illegible] Novm. 1854. detailing conr
rectly a convesation [conversation] held be=
tween him & myself relative
to the claim of-- Wilson.
I know each and all the
parties refered [referred] to in said
letter to be persons of unim=
peached and unimpeachable
character for truth & veracity.
Very Respectfully
Yr Obt Svt
Linn Boyd
Col L.P. Waldo
Comr of Pensions
Page 108

Salem, Ky.
July 4th
Hon. L. P. Waldo,
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington City,
D.C.

C
July 3/55
Page 109

Salem, Livingston County, Ky,
July 3d., 1855.
Confidential
Hon. L. P. Waldo,
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington City, D.C.,
Livingston County, Ky.
Dear Sir:--
Your very kind and
obliging favor, of the 1st ult., came safe to hand. Please
accept of my most sincere thanks for the information therein
contained.
Be so good, my dear Sir, to allow me once more to
trouble you for a little additional information to that al=
ready given me.  Please state, in your answer, what kind
of testimony, and where this testimony was obtained, and also
who subscribed it, which Mr. F. E. Hassler presented the
Pension Office, in the case of Mrs. Amelia Willson, upon the
strength of which her claim was allowed by the Department.
Be so good also as to inform me, whether or not Mr. Hassler
has presented any further evidence recently, in said case, with
the view of showing more service than 11 months and 3 days ren=
dered in the war of the Revolution by James Willson as Captain,
and, therefore, having Mrs. Amelia Willson, the widow of James
Willson, placed upon the Pension List at the full pay of a Cap=
tain, and at the same time, enabling her to draw as much more
back pension as she has already received.
Be a little particular, when you examine the evidence,
with regard to dates, and if any further testimony has been lately
Page 110

presented, ascertain the fact whence it was received and whether
or not such evidence ought not to have been presented to you long
ago, or, at any rate, when the claim was first allowed.  I obtained
and forwarded Mr. Hassler, as my agent in Washington to attend to
all such claims as I might find and send him, of the Comptroller
of the State of North Carolina, a good deal of record testimony of Capt.
James Willson's services, and I also got Mr. Graves, the Clerk of the Cas=
well County Court, N. Carolina, to procure, in the same case, a consid=
erable portion of evidence and to forward Mr. Hassler, but I have
never been able to ascertain of him, whether he presented all this
testimony at the time the claim was allowed or not. I thought
the testimony, all taken collectively, which I received from the Comp=
troller, showed considerably more service than 11 months and 3 days, &
I was quite surprised, upon the reception of your obliging letter, to find
that this was all the service that had been presented to the Pension.
Office.
This is my claim, I found it, made it out, and forwarded it
to Mr. Hassler to attend to for me in Washington. I have not been
able to hear or receive a word from him about its further prosecution
for a long time. But a short time since, I have found out that ┃
he is writing to another man in our vicinity in relation to this claim
and that, when he succeeds in getting as much more in this case as has
been already obtained, when the additional testimony is presented, he has instructed
this new agent, when taking my business out of my hands, to prepare the
necessary papers, &c., to go to Louisville, draw the money, send him as
much as we both, according to our contract, should receive, pay himself for
his trouble, and pay the balance to Mrs. Willson. He has entered into a
new contract (secretly, with Mrs. Willson for the purpose of getting my per
cent as my fee in the case as well as his own.
Our contract is, that we
Page 111

are to divide equally between us, all that we can make in any and every
claim that I can find out and send him.
I have labored long and faithfully in this claim of Mrs. Will=
son, and after having faithfully earned what little I am to get as a fee,
I do not wish Hassler, after I have done all the labor and borne all the ex=
pense, to get the advantage he now wishes to take of me in the claim, and
to share all and allow me nothing of that which is legally, honestly, and
morally my own.  Be so kind as to let me hear from you at once, for
it may be in my power to stop Hassler in his purpose of getting all
and leaving me nothing.  Please consider this, for some time yet,
as strictly confidential.
I do dislike, my dear Sir, to trouble you with any thing
like this business, but I trust when you come to consider that my
object, for I am an afflicted, poor man, is not to permit myself to be
wronged, you will excuse me, and perhaps lend me a helping hand to
foil the wrong purpose of a man who, of all other men, should be the last
one to attempt a thing he is endeavoring to play off upon me.
I am, very respectfully,
your friend and obt. humble servt.
Joseph D. Barker
P
P.S. If necessary, I can produce the very best testimonials of charac=
ter; no man in the State of Kentucky can produce any better.
J. D. Barker
Page 112

Rev Pension c
Amelia Wilson
Widow
James
Kentuckey [Kentucky]
2d Feby 1848
Cole
filed 25 June 1855
F. E. Hassler
Page 113

Washington City DC
June 25th 1855.
Hon. L.P Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir.
I respectfully ask that an examination
Mrs Amelia Wilson's (now pensioned act 2d
Feby 1848 Kentuckey Rolls) claim may be
made & that the (13) thirteen months
service performed by her husband
as a Captain in the Continental Line
of the State of North Carolina may be
computed and allowed her.  The
present stipend is found from the
amount of his militia service and does
not in any way embrace these 13 months
as is apparent upon the face of the
papers & is known to you, from a remark
made by you, to me, upon the occasion
of the allowance of the first portion of this
claim viz that you thought it singular
that Captain Wilson should have resigned
so immediately after taking his oath
of allegiance, which then appeared
to be your point of objection & now I know
of none other.
Page 114

another reason, the Stipend now allowed
could not have been for the Continental
Since now claimed, is that the Comptrollers
certificate shows Captain Wilson's pay
was $622.28/100= What officer
could have received this sum for only
11 months 3ds. service or how could 11 months
3 days service in the Grade of Captain be made
from $622.28/100 pay?
I consequently feel convinced that it is
self evident to any person examining
these papers that Mrs Wilson's claim
is clearly sustained and that she is
entitled to the increased allowance
now claimed & should draw under the
laws $480 per annum at least
Yours [illegible]
F E. Hassler
Page 115

"Head Quarters, Valley Forge
May 7 1778
"Order No 55" [Extract]
"X X
"The Honorable the Congress having been pleased by their
resolution of the 3d Feb'y last to require all officers, as well
civil as military, holding commissions under them, to take
& subscribe to the following oath or affirmation, according to
the circumstances of the parties:
---
I [blank line] do acknowledge the United States of America to be Free, Independent and Sovereign States, and
declare that the people owe no allegiance or obedience to
George the Third, King of Great Britain; and I renounce,
refuse and abjure any allegiance or obedience to Him;
and I do swear (or affirm) that I will, to the utmost of my
power, support, maintain and defend the said United States
against the said King George the Third his heirs and successors,
and his or their abettors, assistants and adherents; and will
serve the said United States in the office of [blank line] 
which I now hold, with fidelity, according to the best of
my skill and understanding.
Sworn before me this [blank] day of [blank] 1778
(Signed)
In order to accomplish this very interesting & essential
work as early as possible, the following officers are to administer
the
Page 116

the oaths and grant certificates to the officers of the Divisions
Brigades and Corps, set against their names including the staff:
Major General Lord Sterling, to the officers of the late Conway's
Brigade: Major General Marquis De La Fayette, to those of
Woodford's and Scott's Brigades: Major Gen Baron De Kalb,
to those of Glover's and Larned's Brigades: Brigadier Gen
Knox to those of the Artillery in Camp, and the officers of
Military Stores, Brigadier Gen Poor to those of his own Brigade;
Brigadier Gen. Varnum, to those of his own and of Huntingdon's
Brigades; Brigadier Gen. Paterson, to those of his own Brigade;
Brigadier Gen Wayne, to those of the 1st & 2nd Pennsylvania
Brigades; Brigadier Gen Muhlenburg, to those of his own and
Weeden's Brigades, Brigadier Gen McIntosh, to those of the
North Carolina Brigade.-- Printed copies will be imme=
-diately lodged in the hands of the Major and Brigadier
Generals to facilitate the business
The Generals administering the oaths are to keep
duplicates, and to grant certificates of the same. In the
beginning of the oath, the name, rank and corps of the
party making it are to be inserted. Duplicates of the oath
and certificate are to be returned to Head Quarters by
the Generals, who, will keep those respecting the
officers of each Regiment by themselves, that an
arrangement of the whole may be made out with
greater case and accuracy." x x x x"

The foregoing is a correct
extract from ""Revolutionary order of General
Page 117

Washington issued during the years 1778 '80 '81 & '82 selected from MSS of John Whiting and edited by his son Henry Whiting. N. York
Wiley & Putnam 1844" pages 80 81" The above named book is now in the Library of Congress 
Edw B Stetts, Assist. Liba  
September 22d 1855.
Page 118

Pension Office
Sep. 1, 1854
Sir
I do not perceive the bearing the old 
accounts and receipts filed by you are expected to have 
upon the case of Amelia Wilson widow of James of Ky, --
act July 7. 1838--unless to show that her husband was 
called Captain', which fact has not been questioned by this office.
I am respectfully 
Your Obt. Servt,
S. Cole 
Acting Commissioner

F. E. Hassler, Esq.
Present.

Look [illegible] Ca Revo rolls
Page 119

I, Margaret Hinton, of the County of Living
ston and State of Kentucky, do solemn and truly affirm
and declare, that I well knew the late Captain
James Willson, who was a Captain in the Revolution
ary war, prior to his marriage with Amelia Burgess;
that I have now a very distinct recollection of the said
Captain Willson's marrying the said Amelia Burgess,
for I was at the dinner Given by said Captain James
Willson upon the occasion of his wedding when return=
ing to his home in Caswell County, North Carolina. He,
the said Captain James Willson, married his wife, who was
the said Amelia Burgess, in Pittsylvania County, Vir=
ginia, and when returning with her home in Caswell
County, North Carolina, then it was I was present
at the dinner given by him upon the occasion of his
marriage. I was not at the marriage, but I distinctly
recollect of the said Capt. James Willson's going over
into Pittsylvania County, Virginia, there to be married,
and that he returned home the next day with his wife,
and all who were at the said dinner, upon his wedding
occasion, recognized them then as man and wife, and
so they always afterwards live until his death, well as I now can recollect, which took place in the
year 1811 in Livingston County, Kentucky. Captain James Willson and Amelia
Burgess were married by one William Moore, a preach
er in the Presbyterian Church, who resided upon Dan
River in Caswell County North Carolina, but I can not
Page 120

now recollect whether any record ever made of said marriage
or not.  I distinctly recollect of hearing many persons say who were
at the wedding of Capt James Willson, that he and the said Amelia
Burgess were married by the said William Moore of the Presbyterian
Church. As well as I now can recollect, I believe Captain
James Willson and his wife, Amelia Burgess, were mar=
ried about the year 1791 - 1792, or 1793, I am confident
his marriage took place some where near the above
periods of time, but I am not certain as to the precise
year.  I always knew them to live together as man and wife
both in North Carolina and in Kentucky until the death
of Capt. James Wilson in the year 1811. I was born
and raised in Caswell County North Carolina, where
I always knew Capt. James Willson and his wife, and
after removing to Kentucky where they also removed,
I knew them also in Kentucky as man and wife
until his death in the year 1811 as before stated.
The said Amelia Willson, who is the widow of Capt
James Willson, was never married but once, and
that she has always remained single and is now
the widow of said James Willson, deceased.
I do solemnly affirm and declare, that I
have often heard Capt James Willson say, and upon 
divers occusions [occasions]have heard him declare, that he was a
Captain and served faithfully as such in the war
of the Revolution, that he entered the service of the
United States as Captain about the year 1778, and
that he continued in the Service until the close of the
war.  I have heard him often say, that he was
Page 121

in the battle of Guilford Court House and other bat=
tles, and that no Captain rendered more important ser=
vice then he did. I have heard Captain James Willson 
Say, that he was frequently in the service during the Revolution, with a Col. Moore, &. He Served under General Greene in most of his Southern Campaigns.  I have known Capt. Willson all my life until his death in 1811, and I well 
know that he never received any thing for his ser=
vices in the Revolutionary war from the Government of the 
United States nor any State government. I have always known it to be the common saying and general 
report, both in North Carolina and Kentucky where I 
have lived, that Capt. James Willson was a Captain 
in the service of the United States during the Revolution=
ary war. Every thing I have here said and 
set forth I know and affirm, in every respect to be 
true.  This the 13th day of March, 1854.
Margaret Hinton

Commonwealth of Kentucky,
Livingston County, Sct.
The undersigned, William Cowper, Judge of the Livingston County 
Court, hereby certifies that the above erasing and interlineations were made 
before him and under his observation during the time the above affidavit 
was being written, and that nothing has been added or erased since the 
signing of the same by Mrs. Margaret Hinton. 
Given under my 
hand, this the 13th day of March, 1854.
Wm Cowper, P.J.L.C.
Page 122

Commonwealth of Kentucky
Livingston County, Sct.
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned 
Judge of the Livingston County Court, Margaret Hinton of said County and State, at her own
residence, and made oath, that the foregoing affidavit is, in every respect
and to her best knowledge and belief, just and true.  Given 
under my hand, this the 13th day of March, 1854.
Wm Cowper P.J.L.C.
Page 123

[printed form, handwritten responses]
Brief in the case of Amelia Wilson Widow of James, 
[blank] County and State of Kentucky
acts July 7 1838 &c
Claim, ([“original" or is crossed out "for increase.")
Proof exhibited, (if original)
Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
She was a pensioner for the militia service as Captain shown 
to have been performed by her husband by a certificate 
of the North Carolina Comptroller.
She appealed from the decision allowing [illegible] 
militia service, when she contended service in the Line of NC was [illegible] satisfactorily shown.
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?
The Secretary of the Interior sustain the appeal 
and the increase is accordingly allowed deducting former payments.
Thornton Triplett
Examining Clerk
Name and residence of Agent
Hon. H. C. Burnett
Hs of Reps
Page 124

Copied
Page 125

[printed form, handwritten responses]
Brief in the case of Amelia Wilson widow of James 
Livingston County and State of Kentucky
acts July 7 1838 &c
Claim, ("original," ["or "for increase" is crossed out])
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
Record proof of service and marriage, sustained 
by the Affidavits of James Wilson, Margaret Hinton,
Jane Thompson, Agnes Swan, William V Davis, and 
The Hon Linn Boyd certifies to the great respectability of all 
the parties interested and who have filed affidavits.
[("If for increase.) Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? if so, what" has been crossed out.]
This case has been examined by the Commissioner 
of pensions who is satisfied of the propriety of its admission.
Thornton Triplett
Examining Clerk.
Name and residence of Agent
F.E. Hassler 
Present
Page 126

Department of the Interior
Washington April 4th. 1856
Sir
I herewith return to you the papers 
in the case of Amelia Willson, widow of James Willson, with the request that you will give 
me your own views upon this claim without regard to the previous decision of Judge Wolds.
I am very respectfully 
Your Obdt Servt, 
R. McClelland
Secretary

Hon
J. Minot
 Commissioner 
of Pensions

Mar 11th ["3d" is crossed out]
Page 127

Barker Letter
May 10.55

Hon. L. P. Waldo,
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington City
D.C.
Page 128

Salem, Livingston County, Ky.
May 10th., 1855
Hon. L.P. Waldo,
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington City, D.C.,
Dear Sir:-
Salem, Livingston County, Prey
May 10th 1855.
I have been the agent of old Mrs.
Amelia Willson, the widow of Capt. James Willson, to prosecute her
claim in Kentucky, and as I have, heretofore from time to time,
succeeded in finding proof, I would make out her papers and
forward them to F. E. Hassler, Esqr., of Washington City, who would
present them to the Department; and he is the gentleman known
to the Pension Office as the agent of Mrs. Willson in presenting and
otherwise attending to the investigation of her claim.  Notwithstanding
the agency of my friend, Mr. Hassler, and the part he has acted in
the matter, yet, as I have upon more than one occasion heretofore in=
formed you, I have been the agent here, and, in truth, have done
every thing, or nearly every thing in the case that has been done.
Please be so good, my dear Sir, as to accept my most
sincere thanks for the polite manner in which you received the claim
of Mrs. Willson upon the General Government, promptly considered it,
and finally gave to it a favorable hearing.  The claim is a
good one-- one of great merit, and the world must pronounce
your decision to be correct, right, and just.
My dear Sir, the pension of $222.00 per annum which
the old Lady Willson, during her lifetime, is to receive, can not be
the full pay of a Captain rendering, in the Revolution, the amount
Page 129

of Service, and as important Service as was that rendered by her husband, I,
therefore, shall feel myself, as the agent of Mrs. Willson and purely for her
benefit, under many obligations to you if you will be so
kind as to inform me, for her, why she has been placed upon the pen=
sion list at $222.00 per annum only, when, at the same time, the full
pay of a Captain is much larger than that sum
As there is more proof yet remaining in the State of North
Carolina of Capt. James Willson's services in the war of the Revolution dif=
ferent from that already produced in his favor to the Department of
the Interior, please be so good as to let me know what kind of service
it was requisite for him to have performed and the nature of the tes=
timony to establish that service, in order that his widow may be placed
upon the pension roll at higher rate than $222.00 per annum.
As Mrs. Willson, for many years, has been surrounded by
adverse, straitened circumstances, I shall proceed at once, after I can
hear from you, for I am totally dependent upon you for all the in=
formation that I shall need, to ascertain what further I can find in
the State of North Carolina of her husband's services in the war of In=
dependence.  She is a very worthy old Lady, the widow of an
honorable hero of the great war of the Revolution, and if she is justly
entitled to any thing more, above that which has already been allowed
her by the Department of the Interior, she most assuredly ought ┃
to have it, and the faithful Agents of the Government ought to
aid in the removal of every obstacle in the way of her receiving
it.  Be so kind as to answer, and give me all the information
within your power
I am, very respectfully,
your friend and obt., humbl. servt.,
Joseph D. Barker
Page 130

Hassler 
January 11. 55
Page 131

Washington City, D.C.
Jany. 11th 1855
Private
L. P. Waldo, Esqr.
Present
Dear Sir, 
I herewith hand you a letter 
from the Hon. Linn Boyd, touching 
the claim of Mrs. Amelia Wilson of 
Kentucky act 1838, I have endeavored 
to procure from Raleigh the additional 
proofs from the Secretary of State, but 
have not been able to get any reply 
from him, consequently feel com
pelled, (prior to incurring the extra
expense of giving these for the same)
to request your personal reexamination 
of this claim, believing that your news 
of the proofs, will in connection with the 
rolls on file in your office be sufficient 
without these certificates, & if you wish 
I can refer you to sundry histories,
& the General orders of Washington
indicating facts corroborative of the 
original oath of allegiance & the rolls 
as indicated by your office papers.
Yours resply,
F. E. Hassler
Page 132

C
Additional Proof
Revolutionary
Pension claim 
for Increase
Amelia Wilson
widow
James
Kentucky
2d Feby 1848
Cole
F. E. Hassler
attorney
Page 133

Washington City D.C.
Sept 24. 1853
Hon J. Minot
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir
Enclosed please find addi
tional proofs in the claim of 
Amelia Wilson of Kentuckey [Kentucky]
widow of Captain James Wilson 
an officer of the Revolution
who now draws a pension 
under act 7 of July 1838 & applies 
for an increase of the same.
Yours respy,
F. E. Hassler
Page 134

Barker C
Oct. 12/54

Free
Hon. L. P. Waldo,
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington City,
D.C.
Page 135

Free
Hon. L. P. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington City,
D.C.

[upside down]
Baker C
Oct 12/54
Page 136

Salem, Livingston County, KY.
October 12th, 1854.

Hon. L.P. Waldo,
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington City, D.C.
Dear Sir:--
I am the agent of Mrs. Amelia Willson,
in Kentucky, to investigate the claim of her honored husband, upon the General Government, for services faithfully rendered his country in the Revolutionary 
war; services at that period of our national history which were greatly 
needed, but which, I fear, the Government has nearly forgotten, and ser=
vices, too, that have never been rewarded by that Government, though it is 
now of gigantic growth and strength, and can boast of its many millions at 
this time lying idle in the Treasury.
The only reason that this claim was not investigated at 
an earlier day, when Capt. Willson, or his executors since, could, when there 
were so many witnesses then living, have proven and easily established it by 
them, is, there was no efficient agent then living near the family 
whose services they could avail themselves of in its faithful investiga=
tion. This is now daily alleged as the cause why the claim was 
not prosecuted at a time when something might have been obtained of the 
Government in the way of pension.
How can the Government neglect such claims? and partic=
ularly where a claim is good and genuine without the least doubt. Had 
it not been for the success of the American arms at Yorktown, in VA.,
who can tell, or picture to his imagination, the dreadful disasters to
Page 137

the cause of liberty that must have followed defeat upon that memorable 
occasion?
I have, as agent, particularly noticed the different points in the 
claim of Capt. Willson, and since it will be in my power to add to the 
proof already taken in the case, that also of record evidence found upon 
the archives of North Carolina, I think I would be safe to assert the opin=
ion that no Revolutionary claim can be better established at this day than 
that of Capt. Willson; and that enough has now been done to make it 
plain to the mind of every one, that it is a good, genuine, and meri=
torious claim. 
As Commissioner of Pensions, I know you fill an import=
ant station, one that must be shielded by all the safeguards thrown 
around you both by law and the rules of your office, for frauds are 
daily attempted upon you notwithstanding your constant watchfulness; 
but the claim of Mrs. Amelia Willson, which you must sit in judg=
ment upon in a few days, is no fraud, but I trust you will find it a 
claim of great merit and one well deserving the favor of Government. 
If a vote of the people of this county, where it is known, were taken upon 
its merits, I hesitate not in saying, that it would be a unanimous 
vote. It is a claim that has been talked of ever since the death of 
Capt. Willson in the year 1811. There surely can be nothing now 
in the way to prevent this claim from being seen as one well deserving the 
kind regards of Government, and one which the Government will not 
hesitate a moment to pay off.
Old Mrs. Amelia Willson, now in her 81st year, is in 
needy circumstances and wishes much to obtain all she can get of Government 
for her husband’s services. There are many stories of her husband’s ad=
ventures and suffering in the Revolution which the old lady at this day
Page 138

rehearses with tears in her eyes and which would deserve the consideration  
of the Commissioner of Pensions if she could prove them, but the witnesses 
being all dead, she has to forego doing that which she, at other times, 
could have very easily accomplished.  I hope the testimony in this 
case will be sufficiently full as to establish its genuineness in your mind 
beyond the least possibility of a doubt. Whether there is testimony enough 
for that purpose or not, the claim is, beyond all doubt, a good one; there 
can be no mistake about it.
I am, very respectfully, 
your most obt., humbl. servt.,
Joseph D. Barker.
Page 139

Revolutionary
Amelia Wilson
Act 1838
Kentucky
Suspended
Cole
Filed 23d June 1834
F E Hassler
Page 140

Washington City D C
June 23d 1854
Hon. L.P. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir
Enclosed please find letters
from Joseph D. Barker touching
the claim of Amelia Wilson for a
Revolutionary Pension act 1838
Kentucky suspended, to which
I call your attention and
Am respectfully Yours
F. E. Hassler
Page 141

Salem, Livingston County, Ky.
November 7th, 1854.
Hon. L.P. Waldo,
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington City, D.C.,
Dear Sir:--
Your kind favor of the 26th ult., has
been duly received.  Truely as you say, there is no evidence wha[page damage]
the Pension Office that I am an authorized agent in the prosecution of the
Willson claim.  But nevertheless I am the agent in Kentucky whilst
my worthy friend, F. E. Hassler, Esqr., is the agent at the seat of Govern
ment.  The object of my letter of the 12th ult. was not to establish in
your estimation any thing like an authorized agency in the claim of
Mrs. Amelia Willson, but to tell you of its honesty, genuineness, and
correctness, and, as far as practicable, to prepare your mind for the reception
of such record testimony in the case as I shall, through Mr. Hassler, be
able to produce, ere long, from the Comptroller of the State of North Caro-
lina.
Capt. James Willson's services in the Revolutionary war are found
upon the archives of North Carolina, and just as soon as I can obtain
the Comptroller's formal certificate setting forth his services in a way that
it will amount to evidence in the case, I will immediately forward
it to the Department. I trust the evidence which it will be in my
power shortly to produce, will be sufficient to establish the claim be=
yond the possibility of a doubt.
That Capt. Willson served in the Revo=
Page 142

lution, and faithfully too, there can remain no doubt whatev[page damage]
any candid mind after hearing the very many traditionary accounts
which are here told by his numerous relatives and friends.  The
story of his Revolutionary services is a thing familiar to every one
in this portion of Kentucky.
I am, very respectfully,
your obt., humbl. servt.
Joseph D. Barker

Barker
Nov. 7. 54
Page 143

Barker C
Nov 7.54

Salem, Livingston County, Ky.
November 7th, 1854.

F. E. Hassler, Esqr.,
Washington City, D.C.,

R 18 Me.

Dear Sir:--
In another letter which you may
probably receive in the same mail with this, I stated, I would
either write or go and see the Hon. Linn Boyd in relation to
the Willson claim. Accordingly I started for Paducah,
the place of his residence, in order to see him, and fortunately
for me I found him at Smithland, at the mouth of the Cumber
land river, a distance only of 16 miles from Salem.
When seeing him, I immediately communicated the
object of the interview and requested his interposition in our behalf
with regard to the claim of Mrs. Amelia Willson. Whilst con=
versing with him, Esquire Boyd, one of the officers before whom
a part of the proof was taken, came up and made one of the
conference.  R. S. Boyd, Esqr., who knows all the parties well
who are concerned in the claim, related to Linn Boyd, the credi=
bility of Mrs. Willson and Mrs. Hinton, and gave it as his opin-
ion that nothing is more correct than the Willson claim. Esquire
Cowper, another one of the officers before whom proof was taken, is
well known to Linn Boyd.  R. S. Boyd has served two terms in
the Kentucky Legislature, and Cowper served in the Covention [convention] that
gave to the State a new constitution three years ago.
The Hon. Linn Boyd told me he was ready and
willing to endorse the character of every individual concerned
in the claim either directly or indirectly.  He requested
Page 144

me to write you at once and state to you, that he would
be in Washington City a week before the meeting of Congress,
that he would call upon you, go to the Pension Office with you,
examine the papers on file in the Willson case, see the Secre=
tary of the Interior for you and also the Commissioner of Pensions,
endorse the characters of all the officers before whom all the papers
were made out and the characters also of Mrs. Willson and Mrs.
Hinton and other witnesses, set forth the claim as an honest,
correct one, and urge the Secretary of the Interior and Commis=
sioner of Pensions to pay the claim off.  He says, he has
no doubt in his own mind but that the claim is a just one, and
that he will do all in his power to have it paid. He also re=
quested me to say to you, that he wishes you to have the papers,
or case rather, in a state of preparation against the time he may
reach Washington. I am looking by every mail from Raleigh,
N. Carolina, for an authenticated certificate, with the State seal,
from the Comptroller, of the record services of Capt. Willson in
the Revolution, and just so soon as I can get it, I will forward
it to you. I hope it will be in my power to put you in possession
of it before the Hon. Linn Boyd goes on to Congress, but should
it fail to reach you by that time, perhaps it would be well
to defer showing him the case until you can add to it this addition=
al proof.  Boyd told me, he could do more for us in person before
the Commissioner of Pensions than to write out his mere opinion of
the case. He says, he will do his utmost to have the money paid.
When the Hon. L. B. arrives, get him, as he told me he would, to do his very
best for us-- for the claim is, beyond all doubt, a good one.
I am, very respectfully, yours, &c.
Joseph D. Barker
Page 145

Pension Office
Oct. 13th 1854.
Sir
In compliance with your request, I have
very carefully reexamined the papers filed in
support of the claim of Amelia, alias Mildred,
Wilson, widow of James, under the Act of July
7th 1838, and can discover no grounds which rel-
ieves the case of the objections stated in my
letter of the 11th of August last, viz: want of
evidence of service, of which there is not the sli-
ghtest, which is entitled to any weight what
ever, among the papers filed.
I am respectfully
Your Obt Sevrt
L P Waldo
Commissioner,
F. E. Hassler Esq
Present
Page 146

James Wilsons Will
In the name of God Amen this
15th day of October one thousand
eighteen hundred & eleven.  I James
Wilson of the County of Livingston
& State of Kentucky being sick & in a
[illegible] State of health but of sound & perfect
mind and memory thanks be given to God
and calling to mind the mortality of my body
and the uncertainty of this life do make and [illegible]
constitute and appoint this to be my last will & testament and as for such worldly good
as it hath pleased God to bless me with in
this life I dispose of them in the following
manner & form I devise that two hundred and 
fifty dolars [dollars] & two horse waggon [wagon] and hine
gear be to purchase a peace [piece] of land, as to my
household furniture to be equally divided
at the death of my beloved wife, also my
horses to be equally divided among my chil=
dren and also my plantation tools to be for the
use of my wife & children to be divided
for said amongst my children and lastly I
constitute ordain & appoint my friend John
Dobbins and Hugh Dobbins executors to this my
last will & testament and I do hereby dis a=
nul and make void all other wills by me
made. I do ratify and confirm this only
to be last will & testament of testament. In
witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand
Page 147

& Seal the day & year first above written
signed Sealed published pronounced
as the last Will of James Wilson
James Wilson (seal)
in presence of us
Nancy his x mark Dobbins
Susanna Dobbins
Livingston County Sct. The within will was
presented in Court, at November Term
1811 and proven by the oaths of Nancy
Dobbins and Susanna Dobbins subscribing
witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded
Test. Enoch Prinscott clk
State of Kentucky
Livingston County Sct. 
I D J F Flournoy
clk of the court for the county & State aforesaid
do certify that the foregoing is a true copy of
the will of James Willson Decd & as found of
record in my office. In testimony whereof
I have hereunto set my hand & seal
of my office at Smithland this 15th
day of April 1854.
D Flournoy Clk
Kentucky, Livingston County SS. I William
Cowper Presiding Judge of the Livingston County
Court do certify that D Flourey whose sign=
ature is affixed to the above certificate is clerk of said
Court & his said signature is genuine. Given under
my hand this [blank] day of [blank] 1854.
Page 148

Memoranda for the
Correspondence in
the case of
Amelia Wilson.
Page 149

Memoranda to the Commissioner in the
case of Amelia Wilson widow of Captain
James Wilson
Amelia Wilson, widow of James, of Livingston
County, Kentucky, was pensioned on the
6th February last under the Act of July 7.
1838, &c for 11 months and 3 days service
of the said James as a Captain of the
Militia of Caswell County, N.C. Her identity
was established by a number of credible
witnesses, and the duration of service com-piled from several payments made to him
individually, and to "himself and con
pany" the latter of which was made in 1781
and 1782) shown by a [illegible] from the
office of the Comptroller of N Carolina, dated
December 27. 1854 [illegible].  The case was admitted by
[illegible] Triplett under the [illegible] of [illegible] per 
[illegible], who personally examined the testimony.
Among the papers filed in the case is
duplicate of an oath of allegiance taken
by Captain James Wilson of the 10th
North Carolina Battalion on the 12th of
May 1778, before Lacht. Mc Intosh , B.G.
(See paper No 2). It is also shown by the
Records in the office and in the office of
Page 150

the Comptroller of North Carolina, that there 
was a Captain James Wilson attached
to the Continental Line of that State,
who was appointed on the 19th of April 1777,
and resigned on the 20th of May 1778, and
who [illegible] Hassler, the agent in the case, conc-
ludes was the same party who soldiered the
militia some afterwards, and the husband
of Amelia Wilson.  That her husband
was regarded by her old neighbors as an
active and zealous officer, is very clear
from the testimony in the case; but none
of the witnesses connect him, directly, with
the Continental service; and [illegible] Hassler
rests the case though after Wilson's gen-
eral reputation as an active partisan decd
after the fact which he thinks should be admitted
from the copy of the oath of allegiance
aforesaid, when no, dully, in Wilson's
possession at the period of his death, and
after no was in the possession of his
widow, the said Amelia, until it was traced
[illegible] to [illegible] office. The oath of allegiance
is not [illegible seen bears date eight days prior
to the time the Captain James Wilson
of the Continental Army resigned, and was
as stated, taken before Lachn. Mc Intosh, B.G.
Page 151

3
Is proof of his assumption [illegible] Hassler has 
filed an extract from the order dated "Head
Quarter, Valley Forge, May 7, 1778, issued in 
presence of a Resolution of the Continental
Congress of the 3d of February of that year,
requiring all officers, as well and as
military, holding commissions under
that [illegible] to take and subscribe an oath
of allegiance, [illegible] is recited in the Reso-
tion, and of when that filed in Mrs
Wilson's case is a true copy. The same
order directs certain officers to administer
the oaths and to grant certificates and
designates Brigadier Genl McIntosh
as the officer to administer it to the
officers of the North Carolina Brigade
(see paper No 3). The oath which was
in the possession of James Wilson at the
period of his death, was, as noted, taken before
B. G. Mc Intosh, also was an officer of the
Continental Line, and he has the [illegible]
G of H. that the pay subscribing it
he also an officer of that Line-- the [illegible]
[illegible] among others, that he had no
authority to administer the oath to officers
of the militia, who were immediately under
the Control of the state authorizing so
Page 152

for as a then fealty was concerned. Then is
not, it appears, an autograph signature of
the James Wilson of the Continental Line
or the office of the Comptroller of North Carolina
by which to test the identity of the signature
to the oath of allegiance [illegible]
[illegible], a signature, admitted to [illegible]
made by the husband of the claimant,
he adduced, and the whole question
rests upon the facts stated, in the discovery
of a copy of an oath of allegiance subscribed by a James Wilson among the papers of the
husband of the claimant the fact that
[illegible] an oath he required from Continental
officers and has Genl Mc Intosh [illegible]
required to administer it to the officer
of the North Carolina Brigade.
W.M.
Nov. 7. 1855.
Page 153

No 1 6.c
Additional Evidence
Claim of
Amelia Wilson
widow of
James Wilson
Act 1838
Kentucky Suspd

Cole
Filed Aug 3. 1854
F. E. Hassler
Washington
Page 154

(1 )
Affidavit of Margaret Hinton
I, Margaret Hinton, of the County of Liv-
ingston and State of Kentucky, do solemnly, sincerely,
and truly affirm and declare, that Capt. James
Willson, who was a Captain in the Revolutionary war,
was an uncle of mine, and that after his marriage
with Amelia Burgess in Caswell county, North Carolina, I always called her by the name of "aunt
Milly", and to this day, I call her "aunt Milly". My
uncle, James Willson, I well know, during his life=
time, also called her (Amelia Burgess) by the name
of Milly.  She was called Milly by every person
in the neighborhood who was in the habit of
familiarly calling her by her christian name. The
old papers, receipts, &c., which are hereunto annexed, and
which, I well know to be the papers of my aunt Willson,
containing her christian name variously spelled
are papers written by persons, merchants, Officers, &c. who
really from the custom of the neighborhood, supposed they
were writing her genuine christian name, or a synony
my of her real christian name. I have been informed
that the marriage bond executed by my uncle Will=
son in Caswell county, N. Carolina, contains the
Christian name of my aunt Willson, who was Amelia
Burgess, as written Mildred instead of Amelia, her
right name; but this I am not in the least surprised
to hear, for my uncle, James Willson, called his wife
Milly, and as such is the fact, it would have been
an easy matter for the Clerk of Caswell county, in the
year 1792 when he wrote the marriage bond, to write
the christian name of Amelia Burgess, Mildred,
since that is the proper name of which Milly is
the syno[nym].  I have no earthly doubt whatever that
Page 155

(2)
the Mildred Burgess, who I am informed is contained
in the said marriage bond executed by said James Willson,
my uncle, is the very same identical Amelia Burgess
who married the said Capt. James Willson, for, from many
circumstances, it could not possibly be any one else; and
especially do I think and believe it to be the same per=
son since it would be so easy a matter and altogether
right for the Clerk of Caswell county to write the name
Mildred properly as he did at the time my uncle, James
Willson, gave the name to him, (and gave it, too, Milly
instead of her proper name), and not any thing else--
not Milly as he was accustomed to call her and which
is merely the synonomy of Mildred.
When I gave my first affidavit, I think in March,
1854, I there stated that Capt. James Willson and Amelia
Burgess were married in the year 1791, 1792 or 1793, I
was not positive as to the precise time, but still my im=
pression was that 1792 was the year in which they
were married; and the second time my testimony was
taken in this case, I was still of the opinion that my
first impression as to the year 1792 being the time when
they were married, was right, and was only induced
to abandon such an impression from the consideration
of the birth of some of the children which consideration
I have since found to be erroneous. I now sincerely believe
that I was right in the impression I first had with regard
to the year 1792 being the time of said marriage, and
when my affidavits were both first taken, I spoke of
that year as being the right time of the marriage of
Capt. Willson as all would doubtless testify who heard
me then speak if called upon to do so.  Since the
subject of this claim has been agitated in the family &
neighborhood, I have thought of many things and have [page damage]
of many things in connection with it which [page damage]
Page 156

(3)
out of my recollection and which I had entirely for=
gotten and things that I should probably have never again
called to mind, had it not been for the fact, that, recently,
the subject of Capt. Willson's claim upon the General Gov=
ernment has been much talked of in the neighborhood.
I knew my aunt Willson, who was Amelia
Burgess during the time I lived in the State of
North Carolina, I knew her well from the time she
was married in the year 1792 until the time I left that ┃
State in the year 1808 to remove to the State of Kentucky
where I have ever since resided in Livingston County. My
uncle, James Willson, and his wife, who was Amelia
Burgess, also moved to the State of Kentucky in the
year 1811 and settled in the same county-- Livingston,
where I have ever since known her as the wife and
widow of James Willson deceased. I also well know
this same Amelia Willson, who is now present at the
moment this my testimony is being taken, to be the 
very same, identical person-- the very same Amelia
Burgess who married Capt. James Willson in Cas=
well county N. Carolina in the year 1792.
This same Amelia Willson is the very same person
who came from the State of N. Carolina as the wife
of James Willson, is the same person who lived with
the said Willson as his lawful wife during the time
he lived in Kentucky before his death in the Fall of
1811, and she is the very same person who has, ever
since the death of Capt. James Willson, in the year
1811, lived and remained single as his widow. This
Amelia Willson is the same Amelia Burgess,
(and, from circumstances, I believe it is the very same
person whose christian name in the marriage bond
in Caswell County, N. Carolina, is written Mildred in=
stead of Amelia), who married Capt. James Willson
Page 157

(4)
in the State of N. Carolina, removed with him, as
before stated, to the State of Kentucky, lived with
him as his lawful wife until his death, is the same in=
dividual who received the benefit of the Will made by
James Willson a few days before his death, the exec=
utors to which will were John and Hugh Dobbin, two
of my brothers, and she is the very same person who has,
ever since her husband's death, remained and lived in
this county as the widow of Capt. James Willson deceased.
This same woman who is known here as Amelia Willson
who is in her 80th year of age and whom I know to be
Amelia Willson, is the very same, identical person
the very same, identical Amelia Burgess who marri=
ed Capt. James Willson, who was an officer in the Revo=
lutionary war, in Caswell county, North Carolina,
who came with him to Kentucky, and who is now here
and whom I see, recognize, and know to be the widow
of Capt. James Willson deceased, and she is the same
Amelia Burgess above mentioned. The executors to
Capt. Willson's Will, John and Hugh Dobbin, my
brothers, are both dead.
I have often heard my uncle, Capt James
Willson, say, I have often heard him because I
was very intimate in his family, that he was in the
battle of Guilford Court House, that in that battle
and also in the battle of Eutaw Springs he rendered
very important, efficient service.  Capt. Willson I
well know, if man is to be believed at all, and there
was no one in the world characterized for honesty,
integrity, and truth more than he was, was, du=
ring the whole of the Revolutionary war, in the
service of his country, first in one place and
then in another. I have heard my uncle often say,
that at the battle of Guilford Court House, in the very
Page 158

(5)
midst and heat of the battle when all was confusion on
the part of the Americans, when men were falling all
around him and about him, he saw in the distance a Brit=
ish officer who appeared to be of high rank riding with
great rapidity towards him, and when approaching him
sufficiently near, he snatched a riffle into his hands
from some one close at hand, fired right at the officer,
and be fell from his horse.  He never learned who
the officer was that he killed. Capt. Willson lived 
in about 30 miles of Guilford Court House, and, as
his father was dead, the care of a widowed mother and
two sisters devolved upon him. He, at that time, owned
a farm and had it stocked well with cattle, hogs, and
other animals, and some time previous to the battle of
Guilford, he had been badly treated by the British
who coming across his farm and finding nothing to pre=
vent them, in a cruel manner killed and destroyed all
of his stock and broke up and scattered about the yard
and house, all of his household furniture; and it was
this maltreatment of the British that caused him to use
the expression, which I have often heard him say he then
used at that battle, that because of such vile treatment
by an enemy that ought to have done better, he would
follow them--the British--to Hell but that he would
have satisfaction.  I do know as well as I know
any thing, at least I am well satisfied of the fact, that
my uncle, James Willson, was in both those battles, the bat=
tle of Guilford Court House and Eutaw Springs, for
no man could describe and speak of the different
events of those battles as I have often heard him
describe them, without being present and witnessing
the scenes as they actually occurred to him at the
time.  I have heard my uncle say often, that
at a certain time of the battle of Guilford, the Americans
Page 159

(6 )
would most certainly have gained the day, had General
Green, (I think that was the officer in command men=
tioned by my uncle), succeeded in rallying a certain
portion of the troops, the Virginia and North Carolina
militia, who, he said, were breaking ground and
scattering in every direction. I have never heard my
uncle say as much about the battle of Eutaw Springs
as that of Guilford, and, therefore I do not recollect
so distinctly now what I have heard him say in
relation to that battle as the battle of Guilford.
My uncle has often told me, during his lifetime,
that during the Revolution, he had, at different
periods of the war, a great deal of difficulty
with the Tories of the South.  He was during the war, reduced, upon many an occasion, almost to
a state of starvation, and that no language
could express his sufferings which he was often called
to experience during the same eventful period.
Given under my hand this the 15th
day of July, 1854
Margaret Hinton

State of Kentucky      )
County of Livingston ) Set.
This day personally appeared before
the undersigned, an acting Justice of the Peace in
and for Said County and State, Margaret Hinton
and made oath that the foregoing affidavit is,
in every respect, to the best of knowledge and belief
true.
Given under my hand this the 15th
day of July, 1854
Robert S. Boyd J.P.
Page 160

State of Kentucky
Livingston County Sct.
I David Flournoy clerk of the Livingston
County Courtin the State aforesaid do
certify that Robert S Boyd, whose
official signature is affixed to the foregoing
certificate is and was at the time of signing
the same a Justice of the Peace in & for
said County & State duly elected commiss-
ioned & qualified, that said certificate is
in due form & said signature is genuine
In Testimony whereof the
I hereunto Set my hand and affix
the Seal of my said Court at
the office in Smithland this
21st day of July 1854
David Flournoy
clk & C C
Page 161

No 2
Comptrollers Certificate
Dec 28 1854
Page 162

(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 pay-
ments made by said State to sundry persons for
Military services in the Revolutionary War, as follows
to wit:
James Wilson
Vol. A. entry 4421, [pound symbol]15 S15- specie (Salisbury Auditors)

[Vol.] C [entry] 4844 [pound symbol]11 S4 D7 [specie] (Hillsboro [Auditors])

[Vol. C entry] 5074 [pound symbol]11 S5 specie [Hillsboro Auditors]

[note in left margin--"Mr Waldo says a different man]
Book F page 40 [pound symbol]10 S16 specie Lieut James Wilson Feby 1777

[Book F] No. 40 file C. No. 45 Capt. James Wilson $622.28 Resigned

20 May 1778 (List of Continental officers).

The name of Captain James Wilson appears on A Roster
of the officers &c. in Col. Sheppard's Battallion from
the 19th April 1777 until the 1st July 1777 (I think this was
the 10th. Regiment)
The following payments to Capt. James Wilson for
Militia services of himself & Company

Vol. A entry 7495 [pound symbol]309 S8 specie Salisbury Auditors 1781

[Vol.] C [entry] 1967 [pound symbol]851 [specie] Hillsboro [Auditors] June 1783
Hillsboro " June 1782

In testimony whereof I have hereto
subscribed my name and affixed
my seal of office this 27th day of
December A.D. 1854 -
Wm. J. Clarke, Comptr.
Page 163

Additional Proofs
and
Letter asking
reexamination
of the claim of
Amelia Wilson
widow
Cole
James
Kentucky Rolls
No 6317
20 Feby 1848,
F. E. Hassler
Page 164

Washington City DC
Jany. 11th 1856
Hon
J Minot
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir
On the 30th November 1855
I took the liberty of addressing you
a letter containing additional proofs
sustaining the claim of Mrs
Amelia Wilson widow of James
now on the Kentuckey [Kentucky] Rolls, act 1848/.
to an increase of her Revolutionary
Pension, I would now ask that 
the same may be examined feeling
confident that ample proofs to
sustain the claim have been filed
in your office, & that said Amelia
is entitled to a pension at the rate
of $480. 50 per annum under act
7th July 1838. & subsequent acts; such
being the facts as they appear to me
I shall not present to your department
any further evidence; but ask an
increase of said pension on the ground
that James Wilson was the person
who performed, as captain the
Continental service in the 10th
Battalion North Carolina Continental
Troops from the 19th April 1777 to 20th May
1778; that Amelia Wilson is
his widow, & as such is entitled to
the benefits of the said acts at the
rate of $480. per annum & only as
Page 165

ing careful reference will be made to the
different returns of that Battalion
in your office; that of the Secretary
of State of the United States; the oath
of allegiance in said office; as also the
certificate of the Comptroller of North Carolina
& the Secretary of State of North Carolina
to be found with the papers
Your obt sv
F. E Hassler
attorney for mrs
Amelia Wilson
Page 166

J.D. Barker
Ans of
A. Wilson
F. E. Hassler & others
Page 167

Livingston Circuit Court
Joseph D. Barker. Plaintiff
against
F.E. Hapler and others. Defendants
Ansr of A & Jas. Wilson
The answer of
Amelia Wilson and James Wilson to the petition of
Joseph D. Barker against said Hassler and these
defendants
They for answer say that they know
nothing of the difficulty and merrits [merits] of the
controversy between the plaintiff and defendant
Hassler. They say that said defendant Amelia
never made any contract with defendant Barker
as to any compensation he was to receive for any
services rendered or to be rendered by him in
the preparation of her claim for a pension as the
widow of Capt James Wilson for services in the
Revolutionary war.
They answer and say further
that the written contract on file and exhibited
as E.F. is the only one ever made by and
between the said defendant Amelia and any
person as to the last sum mentioned to wit the
second payment as to the first contract made
they say in response to the rule of this court to
file the same, that it was handed to Roberton
Boyd to be filed in the cause and they were
under the impression it had been done.
They deny positively that they ever made or that
defendant Amelia ever made any contract
with the plaintiff Barker relative to his services
or his compensation therefor, and as to the
claim of their Co defendant Hassler, said
Page 168

defendants say that he has been fully comp=
=ensated for all the services rendered by him
in the cause.  They say and believe and
so charge that said Hassler did not succeed in
getting for the plaintiff the last sum directed
to be paid to her or the allowance to her
therefor by the Federal Government that the
made the effort and failed and the Hon
Henry Burnett at the instance of these
defendants gratuitously examined into the
case, and succeeded in geting [getting] the allowance
made. If this be so then the Defendant
Hassler is entitled to nothing out
of the same or upon his contract on file.
They further say that it appears by the terms
of the contract that the deft. Hasler [Hassler] was to
prosecute said claim at his own expense and
pay all charges free of any cost to this
defendant Amelia in prosecuting said claim.
and was to have half the claim or amount
allowed when made and the writing was
so worded as to avoid the laws against
[illegible] and some of the provisions of
the acts of congress. One half of amt that
should be obtained was the full intention
of the parties and this fact is known to
Hassler and he is called on to answer this
charge.  They refuse to pay him any further
sum for the foregoing reasons.
They make this answer a cross petition
against said Hassler and call upon
him to answer fully to the statements
Page 169

and charges herein made and having
Answered fully they pray to be dismissed
with their costs and for all equitable
relief
Fowler for
defts. Wilsons
[illegible] Wilson one of the above named defendants
says he believes the statements made in
the foregoing ans are true. April 3d 1857
James his x mark Wilson
mark
Sworn to by James Wilson before me this 3rd
day of April 1857
James W. Cade clk &cc.
A Copy Att James W. Cade clk
per C.H. Webb D.C.
Page 170

Application
for 
Copy of Papers
for use
in Court.

Amelia Wilson
James --Ky [illegible]
 C.C.
June 10/57

Cole
Page 171

Washington City DC
June. 10th 1857
Hon. Geo. C. Whiting
Commissioner of Pensions
Pensions
Sir
I would respect fully state
that I have now pending a suit in
the state of Kentucky, for my fee for the ┃
procurement of the additional or last
allowance made Mrs Amelia Wilson a
Pensioner under act 1838 for the Revolutionary
services of her husband James Wilson.
You will perceive from the
annexed answer that it is necessary
for me to obtain from your office in
order to refute that part wherein it is
averred that "he made the effort and
"failed and the Hon Henry Burnett
"at the instance of these defendants
"gratuitously examined into the
"case and succeeded in getting the
"allowance made.  If this be [illegible]
"the defendant Hassler is entitled
"to nothing." a certified copy
of the evidence upon which the claim
was allowed & by whom furnished.
also the letters, arguments or proofs
which were adduced before your office
by H. C. Burnett MC of Kentucky to
sustain the claim.
Therefore I beg to request that duly
certified copies of the proofs, arguments
&c filed in the case, setting forth
by whom & when filed may be furnished
Page 172

me, in order to enable me to
attach the same to my
answer to said cross petition
of Amelia & James Wilson
I am Your obt Servt
F E Hassler
Page 173

9C
additional Proofs
Amelia Wilson
widow
James
act 1838
Kentucky Suspd

Salem, Ky.
January 10th

F. E. H[page cut off]
"Colum[page cut off]

F. E. Hassler
Page 174

F E Hassler
Paid
C

F. E. Hassler, Esqr.,
"Columbia Place," 7th Street,
Washington City,
D.C.

Salem, Ky.
January 19th

[upside down]
c
additional Proofs
Amelia Wilson
widow
James
act 1838
Kentucky Suspd
Page 175

Salem, Livingston County, Ky.
January 9th, 1855.
F. E. Hassler, Esqr.
Washington City, D.C.,
Dear Sir:--
At last I have the very
great pleasure to inform you, that the certificate
of the Comptroller of the State of North Carolina
setting forth the actual services of Capt. James
Willson in the war of the Revolution, has been re=
ceived
The Commissioner of Pensions, heretofore, has been
more than anxious to know something of the "where=
abouts" of Capt. Willson in the Revolutionary war, I
think now, my friend, you will have it fully within
your power to answer him perfectly satisfactorily in
relation to his whereabouts; for the certificate, which
I here am happy to send you, is fresh from the old
records of North Carolina, and it shows that Capt.
Willson was in the service, from first to last, five
years and upwards, and that he served in many pla=
ces and in different capacities.  I hope now we
will get the claim allowed without any additional
trouble. I shall wait patiently and anxiously your
answer to this letter.  Write me soon, my dear friend,
if you please, and if there is any thing more to do, I
wish to do it quickly. Let me hear your opinion with
regard to the Stephen Hughes claim and others--whether
they are worth attending to or not.
If Col. Boyd has not yet given his opin=
ion of the characters of the officers before whom proof
will made &c., he had now better do so.  His opinion
Page 176

can be nothing else than favorable, for more correct per=
sons do not live in the State of Kentucky than these
officers and persons claiming under old Capt. James
Willson
I would not prosecute a claim that 
I did not believe to be correct and genuine, and you
can ask the Hon. Richard H. Stanton, a Repre=
sentative from Kentucky, something concerning my
character, and he will answer you satisfactorily.
As soon as the Pension Office again sits
in judgment upon the case, let me know, if you please,
by the first mail from Washington.
I am, very respectfully,
your friend and obt Servt.
Joseph D. Barker.
P. S.  Why the Comptroller delayed sending the  cer=
tificate so long a time, is something strange.  I look
upon it as a paper of so vast importance to us as
to keep a copy of it
Page 177

C
Revo. Pension claim
Amelia Wilson
Kentuckey [Kentucky]
act
2d Feby. 1848.
Cer No 6317
Aug 10/55
Cole

filed 5 Sept 1853
F. E. Hassler
Page 178

Comptroller's Department
Raleigh Aug 11th 1835
F E Hassler Esqr.
Sir: Yours of the 19th was received
at this office during my absence.  I have now
to inform you that it is impossible for me to
furnish you with a copy of the vouchers you
ask for, and referred to in my Certificate as Bundle
No. 8. These papers are not in the office, but the
payments from Book E.G. were allowed on the vouch
er "marked No 8" such is the entry in Book E.G.
from which I made my Certificate, and not
from the papers themselves marked "Bundle No 8"
Nor am I able to furnish you with a "fac simile"
of Capt Jas. Wilson writing.  I have found nothing
that I could rely upon as his own hand
You ask is there any evidence that there were
more than one Capt. Jas. Wilson.  I answer
there is not, and my conviction from the Books
is there was but one.  You enclosed $5
had you paid for the Certificate which you
have & so I shall return the last five,
the notes of the search and correspondence
in his case have been misplaced, if therefore
you wish any other information you will please return a copy of my certificate.
Very Respectfully &c
Geo W Brooks Comptroller

a copy of my certificate,
Very Respectfully &c
, W. Brooks Comply star
Page 179

Washington City DC
September. 5th 1855
Hon:
J Minot
Commissioner of Pensions
Present.
Sir.
I respectfully ask a
reexamination of the claim of
Amelia Wilson now admitted
on the Kentucky Rolls act. 2d
Feby 1848 at $222.00 per annum
as the widow of Captain James
Wilson an officer of the Revolution
and adduce the accompanying
letter, from the Honorable
G. W. Brooks, Comptroller of the
State of North Carolina as
proof collateral establishing
the identity of Capt. James Wilson,
with that, certified as continen=
tal service under Col. N. Sheppard
of the 10th Regiment of N. Ca. as
certified to by the Secretary of
State of N.Ca. from the 19 April
1777 to 20st July 1778. a portion
of which (19 April 1777 to 1st
July 1777.) has been fully
recognized by your predecessor
the Hon L. P. Waldo upon an
examination made by himself,
Page 180

at which time he admitted
the claim as follows

7 ms. 10ds
£1160. S8. for Capt. W. &Co service, payment
equal to 7 months 10 days

2 [ms.] 10 [ds]
£38.4 for Capt Ws  2 [months] 6 days (11)
Service 
for Continental service from 19 April

2 [ms]  10 [ds]  1777 to 1st July 1777 = 2 months 11da
this last service being now proved
by the Comptrollers certificate as
also of the Secretary of State of
North Carolina to have been
performed by Capt. James
Wilson & to have continued
from the 19th April 1777 to the 20th
May 1778. and that Amelia
Wilson is entitled to an increase
of her annual stipend to equal
the amount of $480 per annum
for service in the Continental line
from 1st July 1777 to 20th May
1778. It is clearly proved by
the records that Captain James
Wilson must have received pay
as Captain for two years service
at least.
It appears from the Comptrollers
certificate & letter that there cannot
exist the slightest doubt as to
the identity of the Captain
James Wilson, who signed
Page 181

the Oath of Allegiance on file in
your office, being the husband
of Claimant, & the one whose
service is certified to, by the
Secretary of State, of N.Ca & who
was paid as per Comptrollers
books the $622.28/100 for Continental
service, in the 10th Regiment.
Col N. Sheppard & other payments
for Militia Service
Believing that you will find
the proofs amply sufficient
I request a certificate may
issue under act. 7 July 1838
at the rate of $480. per annum
in her favor & heremitted to
Yours respectfully
F E Hassler
Page 182

C
Application
for
Increase Revo:
Pension
Amelia Wilson
Kentucky
admitted
1848
Certificate
No 6317
F. E. Hassler
attorney
19 Apl 77
Page 183

B
Extract from a volume Entitled
Revolutionary orders of General Washington
issued during the years 1778. 80. 81
& 82, selected from the M S S of
John Whiting Lieutenant & Adjutant
of the 2d Regiment Massachusetts
Line, edited by his son Henry Whiting
Lieut. Col US Army, =Published
New York Londen by Wiley & Putnam
1844.
General Order No 55, Head Quarters
Valley Forge, May 7. 1778
x  x  the Honorable the Congress having 
been pleased by their resolution of the 3rd
Feby last, to require all officers as well
Civil as military holding commissions
under them to take and subscribe
to the following oath or affirmation
according to the circumstances of the
parties- x  x  x  x  x
In order to accomplish this very
interesting and essential work as
early as possible, the following officers
are to administer the oaths, and grant
certificates to the officers of the Division
Brigades and corps set against their
names, including the Staff.
Major General Lord Sterling to the
Officers of the late Conway
Brigade  x  x  x  x
Page 184

Brigadier General Knox, to those of
the Artillery Camp and officers
of Military Stores. x  x  x  x
Brigadier General McIntosh, those
of the North Carolina Brigade.
Printed copies will be immediately
lodged in the hands of the Majors
or Brigadier General to facillitate [facilitate]
the business x  x  x  x  x
The Generals administering the
Oaths are to keep duplicates and
to grant certificates of the same . x
x  x  order No 57
11 May 1778.  Calls a meeting
of the General officers to take
the oaths.  
"This Book is found
with Congressional Library
& is doubtless in the library
at the War Department

Reference to Journal of Congress
Resolve 5 Feby 1777
[Resolve] 10 June 1777 Col Sheppards
Command page 162
[Resolve] 17 June 177, page 169.
Reference is also made to the
compilation of the Revolutionary
Pension Laws &c of F F E Triplett
Article, North Carolina,
Page 185

Reference is made to Resolve
3d Feby 1778 & especially to the
following extract x  x  x  x  x
"That each deponent or affirmant
"shall retain and keep the other
"certificate by him obtained as
"a voucher of his having complied
"with what is hereby enjoined him"
Reference is made to
volumes IX & X of Sparks Writing
of General Washington,
Page 186

Additional Evidence
case
Amelia Wilson
Kentucky Admitted
1848
Page 187

Washington City D C
June 16th 1855
Honorable 
L. P. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir:
I respectfully ask an examination
of the claim of Mrs Amelia Wilson
widow Captain James Wilson
Kentuckey [Kentucky] admitted act 1848.
(20 Feby) certificate No 6317 & refer to
annexed certificate of the Secretary of
State of North Carolina- also the
different references as per annexed
paper B.= hopeing [hoping] that those will
prove sufficient to maintain and
prove her entitled to a pension
at the rate of $480 per annum
under acts July 1838, act 1843, & act 1848.
& for which a certificate may issue.
Yours truly
F. E. Hassler
Page 188

State of North Carolina
Office of Secretary of State
I William Hill, Secretary of State, in and for the
State of North Carolina, do hereby certify that it ap-
pears from the musterrolls [muster rolls] of the Continental line of
this State, in the Revolutionary War, that James Wil-
son a Captain in said line of the tenth Regiment, was
commissioned on the 19th day of April 1777, and that
he resigned on the 20th of May 1778
Given under my hand this
12th day of June 1855.
W. Hill Secretary
of State
Page 189

C
Additional proofs
Revolutionary Pension
Amelia Wilson
widow
James
for Increase
of
Pension
Nov 29/55
Cole
last sent
upon which the case is
now called up
filed 30 Nov 1855.
F. E. Hassler
Page 190

Dept of State,
Washington, Nov. 29. 1855
Sir,
Upon a further examination of the
revolutionary records on file in this Dept, it is
ascertained that James Willson took the oath
of allegiance to the United States, as a Captain
in the 10th North Carolina Battalion, commanded
by Col Abram Sheppard, on the 12 day of May,
1778, before Brig. Genl Lachlan Mc Intosh, and
resigned his commission on the 17th of May
1778.
Mathew Mc Calla also took the oath of
allegiance, before Genl Mc Intosh, on the 12th
of May 1778, as a first Lieut. in the same
Battalion
I am respectfully
Your Obdt. Servant
J. A Thomas
assistant Secretary
F. E. Hassler
Washington
Page 191

Washington City DC
November. 30th 1855
Honorable J. Minot
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir:
Annexed, please find a certificate
from the Honorable Secretary of State's office
filed as additional proof in the claim of
Mrs Amelia Wilson widow James,
who was a Captain of the 10th Battalion or
Regiment North Carolina Continental Line
in the Revolution & now a pensioner on the
Rolls of the State of Kentucky act 1848)
to sustain said Amelia's claim for
increase of her Stipend to the amount
of $40 per annum
I by reference to the affidavit of
Mrs. Swan, on file with Mrs Wilsons
papers in your office & that you, will
have the kindness to compare the
signatures found on the oath of Allegiance
filed in your office with those now
on file in the office of the Secretary of State
that the said affidavit may also
be considered in reference to the oath
of allegiance of Lieut Matthew
McCaweley, found in the same office.
Wilsons original Commission
as Captain, also Col. A Sheppard's
certificate granting him permission
to resign and stating that (he Wilson)
in not indebted to the U.S.
Page 192

will doubtless, be found of record
& should be considered as ample
to cover any point that may have
appeared not clearly proved.
I respectfully request that a certifi
cate of pension, in favor of Mrs
Amelia Wilson may issue under the
act 7 July 1838 & subsequent acts
at the rate of $480 per annum
deducting former payment at the
rate of $222.00 per annum
Your obt srvt
F E Hassler
Page 193

Salem, Livingston County, Ky.
June 10th, 1864.
F. E. Hassler, Esqr.
Washington City. D.C.,
Dear Sir:-
Your kind favor of the 30th ult., ac=
companied by the decision of the Pension Office in the case of Mrs. 
Amelia Willson, came duly to hand.
Against the decision, permit me to enter my solemn 
protest. If this decision is, in any way, a fair expression of the 
opinion of the Commissioner of Pensions with regard to the claim 
of Mrs. Wilson, then the inference is, that he has not given the 
case a faithful and an impartial examination; for if he will 
again examine the papers impartially, he will certainly find 
voluminous testimony establishing many important points in 
relation to the services and identity of Capt. James Willson, points 
of vast consequence to know, but which he has passed over in ut-
ter silence, and again ("requiring" is crossed out) requires me, once more, to establish by wholly disinterested persons. By a re-examination of the af-
fidavits, you will find the testimony very full as regards the 
services of Capt. James Willson, his marriage with Amelia Burgess, 
his migration from North Carolina and his settling in the State of 
Kentucky, and testimony, too, of the very best positive and 
circumstantial character, showing that this same James Willson 
was the very same identical person who served in the Revolu=
tionary war as set forth in these papers. I can prove all
Page 194

this once more as intend to do just as soon as I possibly can.
In writing the affidavit of Mrs. Margaret Hinton a third time,
I can detail many things omitted in the others, things which I now
perceive to be of importance, but that I thought not to be when
first taking her testimony.
In making out the case again, I will follow pre=
cisely the directions in your last letter, I will do all, and can do
all which you therein request, except taking the affidavits of 
the two executors to the will who are both dead; but then I can
take the affidavits of other persons who were present when the old
man signed his will and afterwards died, and who know as much
of the whole matter as the executors themselves knew.
Be so good, my dear friend, as to examine the papers
again as they are now upon file in the pension office, and to as=
certain what it is that I have yet to prove, and what it is that
is the most essential to make out in the case, so that the pension
office will be willing to allow the claim, and let me know imme=
diately all that is requisite to be done, and I shall, without a mo=
ments delay, get all the testimony I possibly can in this State
and when doing all I can here, I shall proceed directly to North 
Carolina in order to obtain all the testimony that I can get in the
neighborhood and town where Capt. Willson lived befor [before] removing
to Kentucky.
The discrepancy found in the Christian name of Mrs. Ame
lia Willson, can be very easily accounted for.  During her hus=
band's lifetime, he always called her by the names of Milly, Per=
milly, Melie, and other names. I can prove this by disinterested
persons. When going to Caswell County, N.C. I intend to examine
Page 195

very closely this record, and to ascertain the fact if possible, that, when the
Clerk, who took the marriage bond, in writing the christian name of Miss Burgess, wrote it as he indistinctly heard Capt. Willson pronounce it, Melie, Milly,
Milded, or Mildred.  Waldo says, that Mildred is not a synonymy of Amelia; neither is Fanny a synonymy of Eliza, or Rose Bud a
synonymy of Emily Eliza; and (begin crossed out) I (end crossed out) yet I well know of the last two cases
mentioned.  I do not see any good reason why Amelia Willson, or Amelia
Burgess, should not have been occasionally called Mildred Burgess was a
Milly, Melie or Miled Burgess. But I shall be able fully to show
that she went by several christian names, and, therefore, account for
the discrepancy in her given name.
When I go to North Carolina, it will doubtless be in
my power to show much about the services, in the Revolution, of
the 10th North Carolina Battalion, and therefore, if I can not show
the services of Capt. James Willson direct as rendered by him, I shall
be able to show those of the battalion in which he served and in
which he served with fidelity as a captain. I do not think
the Commissioner of pensions should rely with so much tenacity up
on the difference as to the date of the marriage shown by the marriage bond and the declaration of Mrs. Willson, for Mrs. Hinton,
in her first affidavit, was not certain as to the precise year in
which the marriage took place, and therefore she had it written
down 1791, 1792, or 1793, though she then said, at the very moment, that her best impression was, that 1792 was the year when
the wedding occurred. If I had known then, as I now do, the importance of establishing the exact year, it could have been easily
done, for had the time been properly canvassed as it might have been
done in the family, Mrs. Hinton, who is a thinking, reading,
Page 196

and very intelligent woman, could have, in the end, precisely
fixed the right time as she was of the impression that 1792
was the year, but I thought that any period prior to the year
1800 was quite sufficient, and was therefore, as particular as
I ought to have been in this respect.  Every circumstance
which I have heretofore mentioned to you, circumstances which
Mrs. Willson and Mrs. Hinton mentioned over to strengthen
their recollections with regard to the marriage, is a circumstance
which should be used in reference to the year 1792 and
not 1793, though at the time of writing their affidavits,
I paused and requested them to be particular in fixing the
exact time.  In Mrs. Hinton's last affidavit, she fixes
the time of the marriage in the year 1793, though at the mo-
ment of taking it, her impression was that the year 1792
was the correct period when the wedding took place.
The Commissioner of pensions says, "this Mildred Burgess
could not have been the Amelia Willson, who is now applying for a
pension as the widow of a James Willson, under the act of July
the 7th 1838".  And now I ask, who could it have been? for
two just such cases, allowing them to be two cases, could not possibly
have taken place, could not possibly exist; for just such an
instance never, in all time before, occurred. But before I am
done with this claim, I will make it appear as clear as noon day,
that this very same Mildred Burgess is the same Amelia
Willson who is now applying for a pension. Be so good as
to answer this immediately and send me the information above
requested. I wish to set out for North Carolina in a few days when receiving
year answer
I am, very respectfully, yours, &c.
Joseph D. Barker
Page 197

Salem, Livingston County, Ky.
June 12th, 1854
F. E. Hassler, Esqr.
Washington City, D.C.
Dear Sir:-
This morning, first as I was arranging my different letters for the post office, Mr. James
Pringle, a son-in-law of Mrs. Willson, called to see me with
a bundle of old papers belonging to her, consisting of old notes,
receipts, and accounts. Amongst these papers, is one in
Capt. James Willson's own hand-writing, bearing his own signature written by himself, dated Sept. 9th 1797. This is a
memorandum of a sum of money paid to one Thos. Jeffreys.
The signature to this paper resembles exactly the one to the
oath of allegiance now on file in the Pension Office.
Besides this paper, I have now in my possession
8 others, old receipts, containing the christian name of Mrs
Willson variously written, and evidently showing that it
was written heretofore in different ways. These old papers
I shall file in again making out the case.  Her
christian name upon these papers, is written upon two of them,
Milly; upon one, Milley; upon another, Amele, upon another, Parmily; and upon three, Pamelia. Not one of these
papers contains the old lady's christian name properly written.
In addition to the papers here enumerated,
Mr. Pringle has a large bunch of others, all containing
her name written in different ways; but I thought the
number above is quite sufficient for my future purpose
in making out the papers once more.
James Willson, in settling up his affairs
in Caswell County, N.C. preparatory to moving to
Kentucky in the year 1810, sold a tract of land 5 or 6
miles from Milton, and in making the deed, he signed
Page 198

his own name, and it may be that the name of his wife
in this deed is differently written from what it is else where.
I intend to write to the Clerk of Caswell County for a copy
of the deed, and I shall request him, when he comes to write
the old man's name to the copy, to write it out as a fac simile and not in his own hand.  But this can do but little
good as I already have his genuine signature in my possession.  I shall closely scrutinize all such things when I
to N. Carolina.  I shall try to find out as much
of Capt. Willson's services as I possibly can. I thought I
and produced testimony enough upon this head to convince
any one of the fact of his having faithfully served, for in 
addition to the declaration of Mrs. Willson and Mrs.
Hinton's affidavit, the old gentleman positively swears,
which oath is recorded upon the old paper showing his allegi
ance, that he will faithfully discharge the duties
of
Captain, which office he then held and held, too, with
fidelity, clearly showing that he had long been rendering Service in that Battalion.  Both Mrs. Willson and
Mrs. Hinton have proven that he served through the whole
war. When I go to N.C., I shall endeavor to show where
Capt. Willson was during the Revolution. I
shall then follow him from that State to this and then
to his grave.
Just such conclusions as the Commissioner
of Pensions came to in the paper which you were so
kind as to send me, I certainly never heard of before 
when
we consider the amount and weight of testimony before
him at the time of rendering the decision. I hope he will
re-consider the matter, even before I send him any more proof, and
conclude to pay the claim at once; for if he will not pay it, I will put
it into Linn Boyd's hands and get Congress to pay it.  Write me immediately for wish to hasten the case in order to get off for N.C.
Joseph D. Barker
The Commissioner of Pensions need not fear this claim as a fraud, for there is not a better claim in the United States, and if he has any suspicion whatever, 
let him send to this county and get an expression of the people of the county and neighborhood in relation to this claim and the character of the persons interested in it, and who
are engaged in its investigation, and he will soon find that he has no fraud to d [page damage]
with, but upon the contrary, he will, no doubt, wonder at himself for withholding the [page damage]
he ought to pay in a case so plain, just, and true as this claim evidently is.
Page 199

We, the undersigned, whose names are hereunto annexed,
being citizens of Livingston County, Kentucky, and being
also well acquainted with the Willson family and Joseph D. Barker, their agent, who is now prosecuting the
claim of the late Captain James Willson, do truly declare
and affirm, that they are all honest, upright, and correct citizens of said county and state; and that the
claim which the said Barker is trying to establish for
the widow of Captain James Willson, deceased, we believe,
from common report and many circumstances, to be
truly valid, honest, good, and genuine; and we believe
the General Government in settling and paying off said
claim, will do nothing more than what is exactly right,
and, in settling and paying whatever may be due, it
can not be imposed upon or in any way the least
defrauded, for the claim is, beyond the possibility of
a doubt, true and genuine.  And we further assert
our belief, that such being the genuineness of said
claim, that should there not be all the testimony pro=
duced which the law may exactly require, it ought
nevertheless to be allowed.  Given under our hands
this the 14th day of March 1854.
J Smith
L Berry
Wm Pippen
George Berry
Sion Bass
A.P. Grainger
G.F. Hanna --Post Master
Thos Linley
W.B. Bethel
J.J. Bass
Page 200

(No 2 c)

Commonwealth of Kentucky,
Livingston County, Sct.
The undersigned, Robert Coffield, an
acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county,
hereby certifies, that the signatures to the foregoing
instrument are true and genuine, and that the
persons thus subscribing their names are entitled to full
credit and belief.  Given under my
hand, this the 14th day of March, 1854
Robt Coffield, J. P.
The Commonwealth of Kentucky )
Livingston County Court               ) set
I David Flournoy clerk of the court for the county and common
wealth aforesaid do certify that Robert Coffield whose name
appears to the foregoing certificate is now and was at the
time of signing the an acting justice of the peace for said County
duly elected commissioned and qualified, that full faith and
credit are due to his official acts, and that his said signature
is genuine
In Testimony whereof I hereunto set my
name and have caused the seal of said
court to be hereto affixed at office in
Smithland this 18th day of March 1854
D Flournoy Lcc
Page 201

7C
Revolutionary
Additional Evidence
claim of
Amelia Willson

Kentucky Suspended
Act 1838

Cole
Aug 24/54
Filed August 28 1854
F. E. Hassler
Attorney
Washington
Page 202

Affidavit of William S. Davis,
I William S. Davis, of the County
of Livingston and State of Kentucky, do solemnly,
sincerely, and duly affirm and declare, that,
when I was a boy, about 12 years of age, living with
my father in Livingston County, I became acquainted 
with Capt James Willson who came from the State 
of North Carolina, as I then understood, and settled
in this county near my father's about the year 1811.
I knew Capt Willson during his lifetime, and always understood from this and from the common
saying and report of the neighborhood, that
he had been an old Revolutionary officer, having
faithfully served in the war of the Revolution.
I have frequently heard him and my father speak
of many events in connection with said war;
and the subject that appeared to engage his attention
most and one in which he was, at all times, deeply
interested, was the war of the Revolution and the ┃
events in connection with the same.  From all
that I ever knew of Capt. Willson and from all
that I could ever learn of him by common report
and general saying, in the county, there can be
no earthly doubt in the least, but that he was an
officer in the Revolution, and as such, faithfully
discharged every duty devolving upon him.
When Capt Willson came to Livingston
county, he had a family, was a married man
and had several children; I knew them all. The same woman who came from North Carolina as
the wife of Willson, who was the mother of his
children, who lived with him as his wife, and who
was his widow at his death in 1811, has always
Page 203

remained single since her husband's death in
about 1811 as well as I can now recollect. I
knew Capt. Willson and his wife ["Amelia Willson" is crossed out]
before his death, and always knew them to live
together as man and wife, and the fact of
their being man and wife, during his lifetime, was never called in question, and the
fact of the old woman's always remaining single, since his death, as the widow of Capt. James
Willson deceased, was never called in question
I know her to be his widow now, and she always
has been.
Given under my hand this the
8th day of August, 1854
Wm S Davis
Pot.
Commonwealth of Kentucky, )
Livingston County,                  ) Set.
This day personally appeared before
the undersigned, an acting Justice of the Peace in
and for said County and State, William S Davis
and made oath that the foregoing affidavit is
in all respects to the best of his knowledge and
belief true.
Given under my hand this the 8th
day of August 1854
Jas H. Bigham (JP)
Commonwealth of Kentucky
Livingston County Set
David Flournoy clerk of the Livingston
County Court in the State aforesaid do certify
that James H Bigham whose official
Page 204

signature is annexed to the foregoing affidavit
is and was at the time of Signing the Same
a Justice of the Peace for this County duly
commissioned, qualified & sworn and that his
said Signature is genuine
In testimony whereof I hereunto
Set my hand & affix the Seal of
the Said Court at my office in
Smithland this 8th day of August
1854.
D Flournoy clk
Page 205

W.

Commissioner of Pensions
or War Records
Have you any record of the
Military service of Elihu
Wilson in the War of 1812?
He was at Fort Jackson below
Savannah Georgia - was he
pensioned?
Mrs. Katharine W. Ryals

[rectangular stamp]
[illegible] Navy
DEC 2 1905
FILES.
[circular stamp]
PENSION OFFICE
U.S.
A NOV 29 1905
Page 206

Oaky Georgia
November 27, 1905
The Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Kindly let me
Know if Capt James Wilson
of North or South Carolina
drew a pension for Revolutionary
services-- He came to Georgia
after the war and settled in
Effingham County.
Very truly yours
Mrs. Katharine W. Ryals
Oaky
Georgia

[circular stamp]
PENSION OFFICE
U.S.
A NOV 29 1905
[rectangular stamp]
DEC 2 1905
FILES
P.S
If pensioned, please give name
of Commander of Regiment &c
or any information throwing
light on Capt. Wilsons service.
Mrs. K. W. R.
Page 207

THOS. W. WERT
MELVIN HUTSON
WERT & HUTSON
LAWYERS
DECATUR, ALA
Answered.
8/30/27
July 25, 1927
COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
I wrote the War Department on June 28th
asking for the record of JAMES WILSON, who joined the
Revolutionary Army in either Pennsylvania or North
Carolina.  However, my information is that he joined
in Pa.  The War Department refers me to the Commissioner
of Pensions to get some identification of this party.
His widow, Amelia Wilson, was granted a pension
after James Wilson's death.  James Wilson died in 1913.
If you could give me the rank and company or regiment to
which he belonged, I shall greatly appreciate it, as I
want to obtain from the War Department the record of his
services.  He was a commissioned officer, probably a
captain or major.
Yours truly,
Melvin Hutson [signature]
Melvin Hutson 
MH/NH
[date stamp]
PENSION
JUL
U. 27 S.
1927
OFFICE
Page 208

THOS. W. WERT 
MELVIN HUTSON
WERT & HUTSON
LAWYERS
DECATUR, ALA
August 20, 1927
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
On July 25, 1927 I wrote you as follows:
"I wrote the War Department on June 28th
asking for the record of JAMES WILSON, who joined the
Revolutionary Army in either Pennsylvania or North Caro-
line.  However, my information is that he joined in
Pa.  The War Department refers me to the Commissioner of
Pensions to get some identification of this party.
"His widow, Amelia Wilson, was granted a pen-
sion after James Wilson's death.  James Wilson died in 1913.
If you could give me the rank and company or regiment to
which he belonged, I shall greatly appreciate it, as I
want to obtain from the War Department the record of his
services.  He was a commissioned officer, probably a captain
or major."
Will you please advise me whether or not you can
give me this information.
Yours truly,
Melvin Hutson
WH/NH

[date stamp]
PENSION
R
AUG
U. 22 S.
1921
OFFICE