Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2816, for Joel Meares, North Carolina
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Service 
N.C.                           Meares, Joel                 S. 2816
                                  Mears or
                                                                              carded
Contents
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West Tennessee 30.338
Joel meares
of Warren Co. in the State of Tennessee
who was a Private in the company commands 
by Captain Johnson of the Regt. commanded
by Col. Tillman in the North Carolina mil 
time for 6 months

Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee
at the rate of 20 dollars _____ cents per annum 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 16th day of Jany. 
1836 and sent to Hon. J. B. Forrester. H. R. 

Arrears to the 4th of Sept. '35                 90.00
Semi-ane. allowance ending March '36  10.00
                                                               $100.00
                                              Revolutionary Claim, 
                                              Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by D. Brown             Clerk, 
Book E-2 Vol. 7 Page 97

Next Page:
Dead.  See letter to Po. Ag. Oct
18, 1836
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33.465
Joel Mears
Tennessee,
{{??}}
Declaration{crossed out}
Page 4

[handwritten]
On this 9th day of July 1835 personally appeared in open court in the County Court of said county [underscore] Joel Meares [/underscore] a resident of said County and State aged between eighty and eighty one 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 provisions made by the act of Congress passed June 7 1832. That he was drafted in the service of the United States for three months in Dobbs County, North Carolian in February 1780 as well as he recollects by Capt Branet Johnson’s company. Capt. Johnson organized his company in said County at the town of Kingston ….. Maj Blunt with a detachment of troops was at that place at that time.  Col Tillman took command of our regiment also Col Swinton [?] had the command of a regiment we march from thence down said river to Gen Bryent Mills [?] within 15 miles of Newbern where we remained three weeks and went out in scouting parties in pursuit of the Tories.  We marched to Smithfield thence to Dublin count court house where we came in contact with a detachment of the British and Tories commanded by Maj Craig who took our troop by surprise and defeated us we again retreated to Kingston where we remained until the three months [illegible] were exchanged and returned home
Page 5

Again entered the service for three 
Months as a volunteer in June 1780 as well as he recollects in Cumberland
County North Carolina to which 
Place he moved shortly after he
Was discharged in Capt. Hawkins Dye
Company, Col. Philip Alston’s regiment 
Organized at Col. Alstons {??} {??} {??}
And marched against Col. Fanning and
McNeal{?} who commanded about seven
Hundred tories in Chatham county at 
Lindleys Mill Hawe River Gen Butler 
Commanded our troops the enemy was
In a {??} and could not 
Be approached but in one way our 
Troops made several attempts to 
march in to them but was repelled
the evening at length marched out 
of the swamp and attacked them and gave them a defeat Col McNeal 
was killed with many other marches
thence to Col {??} {??} where
we remained until our time expired 
and we were discharnged.  Again volunteered
for three months in Sept or October 178?
To go in pursuit of Col Fanning who 
Had collected his troups at Betty’s bridge
In Cumberland county in Capt James 
Ruffins company Maj Wood comman
Ded our troops we organized our 
troops ins aid county and marched 
to said bridge attacked Fanning and 
Defeated him and dispersed his forces
And we ranged through the county in 
Pursuit of them as they were
Scattered until our time expired as
We were discharged.
Page 6

And the said court do hereby declare their
Opinion after the investigation of the matter
And after putting the interrogatories present 
By the war department that the above said
Applicant was a revolutionary soldier 
and served as he states. and the court
 
again volunteered for three months in
June and July 1781 as well as he recollects 
In Capt John Locke’s company organized 
in Cumberland County and ranged 
through that county and then {??}
to suppress the tories applicant under
stood five hundred troops were {??} 
to be raised by the state to suppress
the tories and he was doing great deal of
mischief and that Capt Locks company
was a part of the five hundred he served 
his time out in this way and was 
discharged or he never entered the services
of his country any {??} enlisted in 
Jan 1782 for 18 months Capt not recollected
In Col. Thomas Armstrongs {??} company 
And marched about 50 miles and
{??} ended to he discharged and peace
Was made or about to be had not been
In the service more than two weeks.
Never entered the service any more.
He hereby relinguished any clam what
Ever to a pension or an annuity except 
The present and he declares that his name
Is not on any pension roll of the {??}
In any state.  He is acquainted in his 
Neighborhood John Wood Wm West Wm
Cummings and Wm Stone there is a 
Clergyman residing in his neighborhood 
But it is 17 miles from this place and
He cannot conveniently get him to attend.                         his
Sworn to and subscribed                             Joel      +     Meares
In open court this 9th                                             mark
Day of July 1835 
Will Edmondson Clerk
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We Pleasant Henderson and Edmond Pendleton residing in the county of Warren
Hereby certify that we are well acquainted
With Joel Meares who has subscribed and 
Sworn to the above declaration that we 
Believe him to be  eighty years old that he 
Is refuted and believed in the neighbor
Hood where he lives to have been a soldier 
Of the revolution and that we concur
In that opinion
Sworn to & Subscrubed in open 		Pleasant Henderson
Court this 9th day of July 1835		Edm. Pendleton
Will Edmondson clerk
interrogatory says he was born in Dobbs 
County North Carolina in May 1754 has 
No record of his age {??} in Dobbs County
N Carolina until 1780 moved to Cumberland 
County {??} state at the end of the
War moved to Henry County Virginia
Where he lived 20 years thence Hawkins County
Tennessee then Bunkin County North Carolina
Then to Warran County Tenn where 
He now resides and has for 25 years 
He has stated the offices with which
He served in his declaration he moved
Residence any written discharge nor does 
He know of any living witness by whom 
He can from his services he is acquainted
In his neighborhood with John Wood WM
Stone WM Cummings and WM West 
Sworn to and subscribed in open court 		        his
The 9th day of July 1835 Will Edmondson Clk	Joel _|_  Meares
                                                                                           mark
And the said court do hereby declare their
Opinion after the investigation of the matter
And after putting the interrogatories present 
By the war department that the above said
Applicant was a revolutionary soldier 
and served as he states. and the court
Page 8

I William Edwardson clerk
of the court of Warren County do
hereby certify that the foregoing contains
the original proceeding of the said 
court in the matter of the application 
of Joel Meares.

Seal 	In testimony whereas
		I have hereunto set my 
		hand and private seal this 
		9th day of July 1835 
		Will Edmondson clk
		by Will Armstrong DLE

I certify William Edmondson 
is the clerk and William Armstrong the
clerk of Warren county court and the 
above signature is in the hand 
writing of the said Armstrong.  I 
drew up the declaration myself
and have no doubt his services stated 
as he related them to me.  
John B. Forester
Page 9

Rejected 
{??}
P.O. 
Joel Mears 
Enlisted:  , 18   .
Discharged: , 18 ,
Page 10

File No. 2816 
Joel Meares
Privt Rev. War
Act. June 9 1832
Index:--Vol. A, Page 253
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 11


32.125 
Joel Mears 
{??}
708 
Hon. J. B. Forester

{??} 
{??} letter 15 {Jan
1835 to Hon. J.B.
Forrester {??}R
Page 12


{??} {??} 
Letter 21 Oct. 34 
To Hon. J. B. Forester
{??}
Page 13


32.125 
Joel Mears 
{??}
708 
Hon. J. B. Forester
Page 14

State of Tennessee
Warren County
This day of October 1834 Joel Meares
aged eighty years old {??} day of 
May next after being duly 
Sworn according to law in order
To obtain the benefit of an act 
Of {??} {??} 7th of June 
1832 says that he was drafted
Into the service of the United
States on the day of 17 {June/July} in 
Doblin County North Carolina 
In Captain John {??}
In Tilman’s regiment
Company, for three months Capt. 
{??} Company, organized in the County of Dubb at the town of Kingston and march
to Gen {??} {??} {??} 
never in fifteen miles of {??} 
barns thence {??} 
Smithfields  and said never distance of 70 or 80 miles 
Thence to Kingston where saw 
Company organized around 
There until  our terms expired
And were discharged.  Gen {??} 
Commanded this expedition.  Again 
entered the service of his country 
as a volunteer for three months 
in Capt Hawkins Dye company in Cumberland County North 
Carolina Col Philip Alston regiment the troops organized 
At said Alston’s house
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Marched through Cumberland 
And Chatham Counties North 
Carolina principally {??} against 
the tories at which engagement
they continued until our term of 
service expired.  Again volunteered
in a short time for three months
in Cumberland County in Capt
John Locke’s company Lieutenant 
William Basset, organized at 
Captain Locke’s own house.  This expedition
Was against the tories.  We continued 
Ranging through the county until
Our terms of service expired and
We were discharged.  Again volun
Teered again in a short time for 
Three months in Captain Burnet
Johnsons company in Col Tilmans
Regiment in Dupliny County
North Carolina organized at 
Du{??} Court House and 
Marched towards Wilmington 
Where the British were stationed 
Under Col A Jer. Craig we 
marched in 150 {??} miles of 
of Wilmington but as we were
not able to continue with
the enemy we did not go 
anywhere our object was 
to capture and {??} the 
tories who were marching 
in great numbers to the 
British.  After our leaving Dupline Court house we learned
Page 16

Went to Patrick County, Virginia
after living living there 18 years thence to 
Franklin County after living there 
ten years moved to Buchanan Counties
{??} thence to {??}
County, {??} where he was
and has ever {??}
since with any regular officers
received discharges at the end of 
each {??} {??} by his {??}
but they are last destroyed 
he therefore has no documentary
evidence of his service and knows
of no one by whom he could 
prove this same he is be{??}
with {??} {??} William Stone 
WM {??} {??} {??} James Barclay 
{??} and John Wood in his {??} 
Neighborhood.

Subscribed and Sworn to in open court
8th October 1834 J Will Armstrong {??}
P
Use William Cummins and 
William Stone citizens of the 
County of Warren certify that we are well acquainted with Joel Mears
Who has subscribed and swears to the 
Above declaration that we believe him 
To be the age of eighty years of age 
Or near that {??} he is re{??} and 
Believed to be in this neighborhood 
Where be, besides to have been a soldier
Of the revolution and we can {??} in 
that opinion we further state there 
is no clergyman residing in the 
immediate neighborhood of said appli
cant.  
Subscribed and sworn to in 
Open court 8th October 1834 
Will Edmondson          William Cummings 
Will Armstrong 	           William Stone

A considerable number of 
Tories had {??} near that place under {??} {??} {??}
And returned
And defeated them.  McNeal 
was killed with a good many others.  Our troops were then commanded by George Wade 
This terminated his service.
He hereby relinquished he, all 
Harm to any {??} except 
The present and declare{?} him 
{??} is not in the {??} 
Note of the {??} of any state.  
Joel Mark Mears
Subscribed and submitted in open court 
7th October 1834 William Edmondson {??}
By Will Armstrong {??}

Answer to this interrogation
Says he was born in Dobb 
County North Carolina in 
20 May 1755 has no record of his
Age lived in Dobbs County until 
His fall married to 
{??} where he
{??} some time and again 
Returned to Dobbs where he first 
Entered the service as a drafted
soldier for three months again 
moved to Cumberland where 
volunteered two tours of three
months each there moved to
Dupline county so state where 
he again volunteered three months 
Thence to Cumberland where he remained some time after the war
Page 17

Went to Patrick County, Virginia
after living living there 18 years thence to 
Franklin County after living there 
ten years moved to Buchanan Counties
{??} thence to {??}
County, {??} where he was
and has ever {??}
since with any regular officers
received discharges at the end of 
each {??} {??} by his {??}
but they are last destroyed 
he therefore has no documentary
evidence of his service and knows
of no one by whom he could 
prove this same he is be{??}
with {??} {??} William Stone 
WM {??} {??} {??} James Barclay 
{??} and John Wood in his {??} 
Neighborhood.

Subscribed and Sworn to in open court
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And the said do hereby
declare their {??}
the investigation of the mother
and after putting the {??}
preserved by the war department 
that the above named applicant 
was a revolutionary soldier and 
served as he states and the court
further certify that it {??}
William Edmondson and William
who has signed the {??} cer
tificate are residents of and 
courts and are credible persons 
and their statements is {??}
to credit.    William M. Edmondson 
S{??} Ca{??}s
Joseph {??}

I William Edwards{??} clerk 
of the county court of Warren
do hereby certify that the pregoing
{??} the original processing of 
the said court in the matter of 
the application of {??} for 
a pension.
In testimony whereof I 
{??} hereunto set my hand 
and private there {??} {??}
seal of office this 8th 
day of October  1832

Will Edmondson {??}
By Williams{??}
Page 19

I certify William Edwards 
is clerk and William Armstrong 
is deputy clerk of the 
county court of Warren County
and that be forecoming 
signatures to the 
certificates in the care of 
Joel Meares for pension are the signatures of this
said deputy and are genuine.
I further certify I drew 
up the declaration for 
said applicant and that the {??}
whole {??} the clerks {??}
are in my own hand writi--.  
October 8th, 1834
John B. Forester
M{??}
If the whole 2-12 months
cannot be allowed
will take what can.
John B. Forester
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October 17
free
J. Le Edwards Esq
Com of Pensions
Washington City
Page 21

{??}
{??} 3rd Oct 1836
J. Le Edwards Esq
Sir, 
Joel Meares, a pensioner under the {act?} of {J??} 1832 at rate of $20 per annum
did on the 21st December 183{3 or 8} his certificate is dated the 16 January 1836 and was of course need by 
his widow often his death am I authorized to make payment to the widow upon 
the production of the vouchers in {??}
many cases.  

Respectfully your {??} {??} 
from{??}
Open agent
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Sir, I will accept Joel Mears pension for six months for the present please {ilve?} his certificate and send it to me.  I enclose you proof in the care of {An Fraveber?}.  Will you please send me a copy of a letter you wrote me last {Sepiew?} in the care of {?} McMahan.  
Your{?} 
John B. Forester
Page 23

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

Hn. J. B. Ferrolin  HR