Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7883, Grief Whittington, S. C.
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE                                       NUMBER

S. C.        Whittington, Grief          S. 7883
                                             
                                                         Carded
_____________________________________________
Contents
Page 2

Hon. A. G. Grown Apl 19/57

Mississippi  22612
_______________________________
Grief Whittington.
of Amite Co. in the State of Miss.
who was a Private in the Co commanded
by Captain Lloyd, of the Regt. commanded
by Hicks, in the South Car. line for two years.
___________________________
Inscribed on the Roll of Miss.
at the rate pf 80. Dollars 00. Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
________________________
Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of Novr. and sent to R. M. Neilson, Liberty. Amite Co. 
___________________________________
Arrears to the 4th of Sep 1833               200.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Dec 32       40.00
                                                                $240.00

{Revolutionary Claim,}
[Act June 7, 1832]

Recorded by Wm. r. Palmer, Clerk
Book E vol. 8 Page 77.
Page 3

State of Mississippi]
Amite County]

Probate Court of Amite County.
On this 17 day of June 1833 Personally appeared before the Hon. V. T. Crawford Probate Judge of Amite County Grief Whittington a Resident of (illegible), in the state and county aforesaid aged 71 years who being first sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Pension made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
That he enlisted the service of the United States, as he believes, in the year 1778 or 1779 - under the following named officers and served as herein stated & as (illegible) -
(1) Drafted a private and served for 2 months under Capt. Thomas Lloyd's commanded by Col. Wm. Hicks - the Regiment during the time stationed at the Cheraw (illegible) on Big Peedee River in S. Carolina.
(2) The next Service commenced in a few weeks after the Declarant was again Drafted as before a Private and Served 6 months engagement under Capt. Charles Dewit & Commanded by Col. Hicks before named, marched to and were stationed at Service Bay below Charleston and continued at this station till the close of the town.
(3) Immediately after the experation (expiration) of the last named Period the Declarant enlisted in the 5th Regiment of The S. Carolina Continental troops, under Capt. Conyers & Col. Isaac Huger (Uger this added for pronunciation by writer) and served 2 years a private most of the time stationed in Fort Johnson on James Island the called port in Charleston & there discharged (this Document is now lost) from the place the Document returned to his residence on Peedee River, Cheraw District, S. C.
(4) Shortly after the above discharge a call was made for more troops, and the Declarant volunteered his services and served again as Private in a company commanded by Capt. Claiborne Hinson & commanded by Col. Morris Murphy under Genl. G. Marion - During this service he was most of the time stationed on the Santee River first at Montgomery Plantation and then as (illegible) deponent & in waiting the movement of Genl. Green he was present at the Battle of the Eutaw Springs - after this the troops marched to Charleston - and then heard the Declaration of Peace - this term he considers to be about 8 months duration.  The Declarant was regimented During his service with Col. C. C. Pinckney of the 1st Regiment
Page 4

him with Major Tho. Pinckney of same - also with Col. Owen Thompson of the 3d Regt.  Also was acquainted with Col. Lee & Washington of U. S. Dragoons.  The applicant further Declares that he has no Documentary evidence of his services nor can he Procure the testimony of any living witness except those of Richard Whittington hereto annexed.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension of annuity except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any agency in any State.
     Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
                               Grief Whittington
And the said court do hereby declare its opinion that the above applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states.

Mr. Jesse Young, a clergyman and John Jenkins (illegible) of Amite County do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Grief Whittington who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration that we believe him to be 71 years of age, that he is respected and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
                                    Jesse Young
                                    John Jenkins

And the said Court doth hereby declare its opinion after the investigation of the matter and after pulling the interrogatories pursuant by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he stated and the court further certifies that it appears to him that ---
                                   V. T. Crawford
                                   Judge Prob 

The Court also further certifies its opinion that Richard Whittington, whose certificate is annexed to the above Declaration as a witness, is a person of veracity & whose testimony is entitled to credit.
                                      V. T. Crawford
                                      Judge prob.

I, Richard M. Neilson Clerk of the Probate Court of Amite County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the annexed proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Grief Whittington for a Pension.
       In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 17 day of June 1833.
                             R. M. Neilson, Clk of Probat
Page 5

     The following interrogatories were propounded by the Court to said applicant and answered as follows, and as accurate to each respectively.
1.  Where and in what year were you born?
Ans. I was born in Virginia County Unknown I suppose in 1762.
2.  Have you any record of your age and if so where is it?
Ans. I have no written record of my age.
3.  Where were you living when called into service.  I lived in Cheraw District S. Carolina continued in that state till 1806, Since that time I lived where I now live in the State & County first named in my Declaration.
4.  How were you called into service, were you Drafted?  Did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
Ans.  In my first and second engagements I was Drafted in my third I enlisted and lastly I volunteered.
5.  State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served. Such commanded & militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the General circumstances of your service.
Ans.  I stated in my Declaration I was acquainted with Cols. Pinckney and Thompson of the 1st & 3d Regts. while in the Continental Service & when a volunteer.  also with Cols. Lee & Washington of U. S. Dragoons.  I was present at the Battle of Eutaw Springs under Genls. Marion & Green.
6.  Did you ever receive a discharge from the Service and if so by whom was it signed and what has become of it?
Ans. At the close of my enlistment with Col. Huger I received a discharge from him, it has long since been lost.
7.  State the names of Persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and your behavior and as to their belief of your services as a Revolutionary Solder.
Ans.  I name --- and for (illegible) names thus as they are not known at the War Department.

State of Mississippi]
Amite County]
Personally appeared before me the (illegible) ------, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County.  Grief Whittington who being duly sworn deposeth & he saith that by reason of old age and the Consiquent (Consequent) loss of memory, he cannot state positively
Page 6

to the precise length of his services, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods below and in the grade of a Private soldier viz, for 2 months first and afterwards for 6 months I served as a militia man.  For 2 years I served as a Continental Soldier.
And about 8 months I served as a volunteer - amounting in all to three years and four months as nigh as can be now recollected; and for such service I claim a Pension.
    Sworn & subscribed this]
this 17th day June 1833]
   Wm Steward JP
                                 Grief Whittington

State of Mississippi]
Amite County]

I Richard Whittington of said place do hereby certify that I was well acquainted with Grief Whittington who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing Declaration.  I know that his residence was where he states and that so much of the Declaration as relating to his Services at (illegible) Bay under Col. Hicks is also true.
                                  Richard Whittington
Sworn to & subscribed]
before the undersigned this]
----
Wm Stewart, J. P.

I Richard M. Neilson Clerk of the Probate Court of Amite County do hereby certify that Wm Steward JP before whom the foregoing affiants were sworn is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County that the above is his genuine signature and that he is Impowered (empowered) by law to administrate oaths.
   In Testimony whereof I have hereunto
   set my hand and seal of office this 17
   day of June 1833.
                      R. M. Neilson Clerk of Probt.
Page 7


26. 514
22.612 .
Grief Whittington
Mississippi

Adm 2 years $80

R. M. Neilson
Liberty
Amite Co
Miss -
Page 8

WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office

Sir:                           

The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has
been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of
your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules and 
the subjoined notes you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed,
before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed,
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when
you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and
you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.
A STATEMENT, showing the service of 

Period when the service was rendered.         

Duration of the claimant's service  
 Year           Months          Days                

Rank of  the   Claimant    

Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.   

Age at present, and  place of abode when he entered  the service

Proof by which the declaration is supported

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  


I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,

J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 9

      2
REGULATION UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army,
and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia" and "volunteers," all
persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who
were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to
Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are
also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claim
ing the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first
instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of
Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is
considered a Court of Record.

                                                                  DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory or District of} ss.
County of                                 }

On this______day of_____personally appeared (a) before
A. B. a resident (b) of______in the county of _______and State, Territory or District
of_____aged_______years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the
following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed
June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)____, with  and
served in the_____ (e) regiment of the_____ line, under the following named officers:

(Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the
town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and the country through which he marched. ☞This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he
declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of
the Agency in the State of

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid._______________A. B.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary
soldier, and served as he states.

I _____________of the Court of
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
the application of__________________ for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
________ day of _____________& c.

If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be
found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out ___________

Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia,
except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and
subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:______________

(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____________ and C. D. residing in (the same)
hereby certify, that we   _____________      are well acquainted with ___________ , who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be ___________
years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier
of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.

Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after
putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary
Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the___________
and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the __________
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I, ____________-Clerk of the Court of ____________ do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of ____________
for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this ______ day of      ____________ & c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission
; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if
possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services
of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
upon the transaction.

If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will
also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful
in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
Page 10

3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case The facts stated will afford one of the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be at- 
tempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be ex- 
pected.  All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his
case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of
service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State
troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, 
and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such
Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. 
To a Solder.     } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, 
and what has become of it?
To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what
has be come of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify
as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.

The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are
requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.

The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court,
without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be
the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character
and standing of other persons giving such certificates.

The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the
enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.

Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before
required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper
county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform,
and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.

Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper
Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a
Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is
his genuine signature.

No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before
the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the
declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure,
taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period
of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the
opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.

[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the
claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so
definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the
loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason
of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his
recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:--For---year----months----, and ------------days  , I served as a --------- For -----------months and------- days, I served as a ------; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law
directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months,
is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years
in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is
highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement;
the particular place or place where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent 
authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.

[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i ] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public
seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
                                                                                     
                                                                                          Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains
the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must
pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
                                                                                        
                                                                                                    Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses
who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well 
as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the 
witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
☞ The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j]  applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l]  If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m]The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 11

State Mississippi]
Amite County]

I V. T. Crawford Judge of Probate & Richard M Nielson Clerk of the Probate Court of Amite County do hereby certify that the seal of the orphans court as affixed to the declarations of Grief Richard and Cornelius Whittington applicants for Pensions is the seal now and by the Probate Court of said county.  And their having as yet no deals having been provided for the Probate Court since its organization under our new constitution.

Given under our hands & the seals of the court - now and as a fore said (aforesaid_ the 1st day of July 1833.
        V T Crawford (seal)
               Judge Probate & C.
                R. M. Neilson Clerk
                     of Probate (seal)
Page 12

                                 House of Repr US
                                 Jany. 6 1852-

Hon. J. E. Heath
   Comm of Pensions
 Sir
     The enclosed letter of R M Neilson of Liberty Mississippi is (illegible) and (illegible) to supply me with the information sought in the case of Richa. Whittington.
     Be pleased also to send me the4 information sought in reference to the case of Elizabeth Lark.

                                          Very Respfl
                                              Your obt st
                                              A G Brown
Page 13

[left side]
1934 Mch. 28. Inf. for. Hon Wm M.
Whittington - See [illegible] in Richard
Whittington, W. 535-

Rev War
7883
INVALID.
____________
File No. 7883
Grief Whittington
Priv Rev War
____________
Act: June 7th 1832
Index: -- Vol. 1st, Page 403
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 14

1828 papers to
be filed with
[illegible]
[illegible] alld
File # 1883


Grief Whittington
Declaration
Revolutionary
Page 15

                                                                1664.

For the purpose of obtaining the amount of pay accruing to me for the half year ending on the 3d day of September 1828, under the act entitled An Act for the relief of certain Surviving officers and Soldiers of the Army of the Revolution approved 15th May 1828, I Grief Whittington of Zion Hill Settlement in the County of Amite, in the State of Mississippi, do hereby declare that I was a private Soldier in the South Carolina Troops of Infantry of the Army of the revolution in the Continental line, and that I believe that an examination of the proper records, I shall be found entitled, by the Secretary of the Treasury under that act, to the pay of a Soldier in the said line.  Witness my hand this fifth day of December in the year One thousand Eight hundred and twenty eight.

Sworn to before me this 5th of December 1828]
Isaiah Cain, J. P.           Grief Whittington

Before the Isaiah Cain a Justice of the Peace for the County of Amite in the State of Mississippi Personally appeared this day Richard Whittington and Jarratt Whittington for the Said County who did severally make oath that Grief Whittington, by whom the foregoing declaration was made and subscribed, is well known to them to be the person therein described and that he is  generally reputed and believed to have been a soldier in the Army of the Revolution, in manner as therein stated and that the said declaration was made and Subscribed by the said Grief Whittington in their presence on the day of the date thereof.
     Witness my hand this fifth day of December in the year One thousand eight hundred and twenty eight.  Sworn to before me the 9th of Decr. 1828.
Isaiah Cain J. P.]
                                       Richd. Whittington
                                       Jarratt Whittington
Page 16

I, Thomas Batchelor Clerk of the Court of County of Amite in the State of Mississippi do hereby certify that Isaiah Cain Esquire before whom the foregoing affiants were Sworn was of the term Justice of the Peace for the said County and duly empowered to administer oaths.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said County this 8th day of December in the year One thousand eight hundred and twenty eight.

                        Tho. Batchelor Clk.

The Draft to be divided to the pay master in Washington (illegible) or in Draft on order (illegible) N Y Bank.
(illegible) to Liberty Amite Cty Mis.