Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 6314, for George Lewis, Georgia
Page 1

GA  Lewis, George R.6314
Page 2

State of Georgia        
Tattnall County   

On this second day of September in the year Eighteen Hundred and thirty three personally appears ed before the court of ordinary of Tattnall county then setting George Lewis a resident of the county and state aforesaid Aged Sixty nine 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 the 7th 1932 -- That he Entered the Service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. He Entered the Service in the year of 1779 under a drafts in the county of Richmond in the State of Georgia under Capt. Townsend and marched to Spirit creek to head quarters where he was Stationed [3] three months under command of Gen. Twiggs Col Lewis and Major Bostic he from there he was marched to Brier Creek in Burk County [2] and was station there two months under the same officers He was then marched to Buck head creek in Burk County and was stationed two months under the same officers Then he volunteer in an Expedition to go to Riceboro in Liberty county against the British under command of Gen Twiggs Col Lewis & Capt. Grant where they fought and was compelled to retreat back to head quarters he was then drafted in Burk County and marched to Ebenezer in Effingham County and was stationed there one month under command of Genl. Wayne Col. Emanuel and Capt. Lewis he was then discharged verbally and returned to Burk county and was then in service after the Indians and Tories under command of Capt. Lewis during the war which ended in 1783----
Page 3

He was to the best of his recollection in service in March and three years and five months he was a resident in Richmond County and State of Georgia when he first entered the service and since the Revolution has been a resident of the Tattnall County and State aforementioned and for the last fifteen years past He hereby  relinquishes Every claim to a pension or an annuity whatever Except the present pension Role of any agency of any state whatever sworn to and subscribed the day year aforesaid. 
 George Lewis
X his mark

H. A. Smith J, J, C,
E. McCall - J. J. C
H. Deloatch J. J. C

We John Coward or clergyman residing in the county of Tattnall and state aforementioned and Horatio Cobb residing in the same place do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with George Lewis who had subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be sixty nine years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resided to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
John Coward
Horatio Cobb
HC his mark

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after fulfilling the interrogator prescribed 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 appeared to them that 
John Coward
Page 4

who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergiman [clergyman] resident in the State and County aforesaid and that Horatio Cobb who has also signed the same is a resident in the same place and is a credible
person and that there [their] statement is entitled to credit
I Philip H. M. Tippins
Clerk of the Court of ordinary do hereby certify the foregoing contains the origin
al proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of George Lewis for a pension for his Services in the Revolution War In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and private seal there being
no Seal of Office this
 2nd day of September 1833
P H M Tippins CCO
Georgia
Tattenall County 
personally appeared John Sharpe in
open court and after being duly sworn saith
that he was well acquainted with George Lewis
in time of the Revolutionary war I knew him to be a friend To his Country and in servis [service] with him too [two] year
Sworn & subscribed in presents of this 2 September 1833
John Sharpe
Elhanan Mc Call J.J.C
William Deloatch J.J.C
S A Surrency J.J.C
Page 5

Answers of George Lewis to the Interogatories prescribed by the war department
Interrogatory 1st
To Which he answers he was born in Duplin County In the State of North Carolina and that he believes He was born in the year of 1764
Interrogatory 2nd He answers that there is a record of his age and that it is with his Brother in Early County
Interrogatory 3rd He answers He was liveing [living] in Richmond County in the State of Georgia when first called into service that he was liveing [living]in Burk County when the war ended and from there he moved to  ashington County and from there he moved to Bullock County and from there to Tattnall where he is now a resident
Interrogatory 4th He answers he was drafted when first called out that he volunteered one tour and after that was a drafted man the war through 
Interrogatory 5th He answers he never was with the regular troops that he was under command of Genl. Twiggs Col. Lewis and Capt. Townsend and was also under Genl. Wayne Col. Emanuel and Capt. Lewis and was stationed as is stated in his declaration
Interrogatory the 6th He answers he never received any discharge only verbal one
Page 6

No 23449
George Lewis
Tattnall Co.
Georgia.
Suspended
[Let Oct 3d 1783]
P. H. M. Tippens
d.c.i.l.m.
6314
Applicant
Perry Mills
Tattnall Co
Georgia.
Page 7

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
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, shewing [showing] the Service of George Lewis Tattnall Co. Georgia.
Headings: Period when the service was rendered. | Duration of the claimant's service.
Years/ Months./ Days. | Rank of the claimant. | Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. |Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. | Battles in which the applicant was engaged. | Country through which he marched. | Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.|  Evidence by which the declaration is supported. |
> drafted -1779 | na/3/na | Private | Captain Bostick, Captain Grant, | Col Twiggs, General Wayne | NA | Spirit Creek, Richford, Liberty Co.,
Buckhead Creek, Brooks County, Ebenezer, Effingham County| 73 years, Richmond County, Georgia | Traditional evidence
>ditto - 2 mo [everything else the same]
>ditto -2 mo [everything else the same]
1783

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
*he states from the time he entered 1779 he served until the close of the war 1783 when required a service of 3 or 4 years in all
Page 8

2
REGULATIONS 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, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians 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              }
County of                                          } ss.
On this     day of     personally appeared (a) before          A.B. a resident (b)    
in the county of               and State, Territory or District of                aged (c)     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 provion  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 enered 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 day 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 applicacation 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 alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
Page 9

3
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 attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. 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 Soldier. { 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 become 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 he 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 clamant 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 the 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 places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that
he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil
pursuit.
[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.
John H Ashton
Page 10

Revolutionary
Power of Attorney
heirs of
George Lewis
Georgia rejected Act 1832
Filed Oct 25 1853
F. E. Hassler
Washington
Page 11

POWER OF ATTORNEY
For ascertaining whether any increase or arrears of Pension are due the Widow or heirs of Revolutionary Pensioners, &c.
STATE OF Georgia    }
COUNTY OF Tattnall }
Be it known that before me Philip G. Tippins a
Justice of the Peace for said County personally appeared Hanson Lewis son of George Lewis aged 50 years, who being duly cautioned and
then sworn in due form of law, states that he is the son of George Lewis who was a   Revolutionary + Soldier in the State of Georgia
and that he died on the Eighth day of June 1844 and that his mother, named Nancy Lewis died on the 20th day of February 1842 and that they were married on about the
day of          in the year 1772 and they were residents of Burke County in the State of Georgia and that they resided there sixty years, and that he now resides in Tattnall County and that furthermore BY THESE PRESENTS, constitutes, appoints, and fully empowers and authorizes, irrevocably and with powers of
substitution, F. E. HASSLER, of Washington city, D. C., as my true and lawful Attorney for me and in my name and stead, to examine into, to prosecute, to demand, and to receive from the U.S. Government and State officers his rights in all and in any manner of claim for increase or arrears of Pension or Land, that may be due me as the son of George Lewis who died leaving the same undrawn, as in right of law I may be entitled.
In witness whereof, I have on this 14th day October 1853 hereunto signed my name, and affixed my seal.
Hanson Lewis                                {Seal}
Witness: Levi S D'Lyon }
Witness: Joshua Sharp }
Signed, sealed, acknowledged, and sworn to before me; and I further certify, that Hanson Lewis has always by the community been known as the son of George Lewis
Dated on this 14th day of October 1853
Philip G Tippins J.P.
State of Georgia      }  
COUNTY of Tattnall } to wit:
I hereby certify, That Philip G. Tippins Esq.,
before whom the foregoing affidavits and acknowledgment were made, and who has thereunto subscribed his name, was at the time of so doing, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, duly commissioned
and sworn, and that his signative above written is genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand there being no seal of office of the 
County Court this Fourteenth day of October
one thousand eight hundred and Fifty three
J. B. Smith Clerk. /JS/
* If a widow applies, state "the date of marriage, and date of death of her husband."
+ State under what act pensioned, or when pension commenced, if a pensioner -- and amount of pension.
Page 12

6314
P. O. 
George Sewis
Service:
Enlisted: REJECTED , 18
Discharged:  , 18
Application filed:   , 18
Alleges:

Re-enlisted:

Attorney:
P. O.  
Recognized
Page 13

State of Georgia}
Tattnall County  }
 On this 11th day of August 1835 personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of the Inferior Court now sitting George Lewis a resident of the County & State aforesaid aged seventy three years, who being duly sworn
according to law, doth on his oath make the following amendment to his declaration made on the --- day of ---------- in order to obtain the benefit of the provision of the act of Congress passed 7 June 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein stated.
1st That he entered the service aforesaid in Richmond County Georgia in the year 1781 as a volunteer under Capt Lewis, that he marched to Spirit Creek in the said County of Richmond under Capt Lewis, and was there stationed for two months under the command of Capt
Lewis, Major Boykin, Col Lewis & Genl Twiggs, from thence he marched under the same officers to Brier Creek in Burke County Georgia, where he was stationed for two months from thence he was marched to Buck-Head in the said County of Burke under the aforesaid officers - that he there received a written discharge from Capt Lewis, which discharge he has since lost, that in this tour he served not less than six months [the number 2 appears three times in the lleft margin]
2nd
That he entered the service of the United States in Burke County Georgia as a volunteer in the year 1781 in the company commanded by Capt Grant & marched under command of Capt Grant & Col McKay to Riceboro in
Liberty County, Georgia, & was there engaged in a Battle with the British, in which Capt Grant was killed & the Americans defeated, from thence he was marched under command of Col McKay to Buck-head in Burke County Georgia, & was there stationed for four months and
Page 14

the command of Col McKay from thence he was marched under command of Col Emanuel to Ebenezer near Savannah Georgia, & was then stationed for about one month under command of Genl Wayne; from thence he was marched back to Buckhead under command of Col Emanuel, when he received a written discharge from Col Emanuel which said discharge he has since lost; that in this
last named campaign he served at least six months.
That he served as a private, that he has no
documentary evidence, and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service except John Sharpe of the County & State aforesaid;
that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. that he was born in Duplin County in North Carolina in the year 1761 and that his brother
residing in Early County Georgia, has a record of his age in his Fathers hand writing that he has resided in Tattnall County for the last forty years -
that the following persons, towit John Coward
James Smith and Luke L Sapp reside in his neighborhood & to whom he is known & who
can testify to his character for veracity & good behavior & their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution
George Lewis [X and "his mark" appear between first and last names]
Sworn to & subscribed before us
the day & year first aforesaid
Elhanan McCall J.I.C.
John A Mattox J.I.C.
William Deloatch J.I.C.
Page 15

We John Coward a Clergyman resident in the County and State first aforesaid, and James Smith & Luke L Sapp resident in the same, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with
George Lewis who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing amendment to his declaration; and that we believe him to be seventy three years of age, that he is reputed & believed
in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion-
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
John Coward
James Smith
Luke L Sapp
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 & served as he states - And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that John Coward who has as a Clergyman signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the County & State first aforesaid; and that James Smith & Luke L Sapp who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same
state and County, and is a credible person & that their statement is entitled to credit
Elhanan McCall J.I.C.
John A Mattox J.I.C
William Deloatch J.I.C.
I John H. Smith Clerk of the Inferior Court in & for the county aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original amendment to the declaration, & amendment
in the matter of the application of George Lewis for a pension - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and private seal (there being no public seal of office) this 11th day of August 1835
Jno. H. Smith C.I.C.T.C./JS/
Page 16

Georgia            }
Tattnall County } 
Personally appeared in open Court John Sharpe a resident of the County & State aforesaid, who being duly sworn according to law saith on oath that he was well acquainted with George Lewis who now applieth for a pension, in the Revolutionary war, and that he knew the said George Lewis to serve as a private soldier in the said Revolutionary War; but this deponent cannot say how long the said George Lewis did serve in said war
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court
the day & year first aforesaid
John Sharp
And the said Court doth hereby certify that John Sharpe who hath subscribed & sworn to the above affidavit is a resident of the County & State first aforesaid and is a credible & respectable person & that his statement is entitled to credit.
Elhanan McCall J.I.C.
John A Mattox J.I.C.
William Deloatch J.I.C.
Georgia            }
Tattnall County }
John H. Smith Clerk of the Inferior Court of this
County being this day duly sworn in open Court deponeth & saith on oath that since he became the Clerk of the Inferior of the County aforesaid in 1834 last that he hath diligently searched his said office, & carefully
examined the papers left therein by his predecessor in office P.H.M. Tippins Esqr who had removed as this deponent hath been
informed out of the state aforesaid previous to the time of this deponents obtaining the appointment of Clerk of the Inferior Court and
this deponent saith on oath that he hath not been able to find either the orig. declaration or amendment of George Lewis who hath heretofore made application for a pension-
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year first aforesaid before us
Jno. H. Smith C.I.C.T.C.