Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 7810, Samuel Houston, S.C.
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Service: S.C [South Carolina]
Houston Samuel 
Martha
Number: W. 7810
Born in N.C
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Georgia  23.835 
Samuel Houston 
of Fayette in the state of Geo;
who was a private [Infantry & Cavalry] in the_ Commanded by captain _ of the Rgm. commanded By Col. Lacy [Edward Lacey] In the Sou Ca Line for 2 years
1833- 71= 1762
1841-76= 1765
Transcribed on the Roll of Georgia
at the rate of 90 Dollars _Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 day of Apr '34 and sent F. G. 
Stuart, Fayetteville Ga
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 24 270-
Semi anl allowance ending 4 Sept 45-
$315
Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1932.
Recorded by N. Rice Clerk, 
Book E Vol. 6 Page 92
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Georgia
 Martha Houston widow of Samuel
 who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Private of Infantry and Cavalry
[illegible] of 73.71
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 90 Dollars_ Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
 Certificate of Pension issued the 29 day of June 1849 and send to L. B. True present
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M401.
No 5496
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State of Georgia Fayette county ss
On this twenty second day of November in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty one,  personally appeared before us, Samuel Martin, Elijah P. Allen, James E. May, Justices of the Inferior court of said county now in session.
Martha Houston, a resident of Fayette county and state of Georgia aged seventy six years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of congress papers July 4th 1836. That she is the widow of Samuel Houston who was a private infantry and cavalry in the revolutionary war. She further declares  she was lawfully married to the said Samuel Houston on the first day of July in the  year seventeen hundred and seventy eight. That her husband, the aforesaid Samuel Houston died on the twenty fifth day of September in the year 1840.  And that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by references to the proof hereto accepted, that her husband the said Samuel Houston  was drawing a pension from the united states. for his service at the time of his death. That she is unable to procure any record of her marriage, and that the person who  married  them is dead. That Susannah Simmons and Carter 
Houston are respectable persons who witnessed her marriage to the said Samuel Houston. 
Martha [her X mark] Houston.  
Sworn to and substantiated before me in open court. on the day and year above written.
Signed: Samuel Martin JIC
E. P Allen JIC
James E. May JIC
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State of Georgia Fayette County 
On this twenty second day of November in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty one. Personally appeared before us Samuel Martin, Elijah P. Allen, James E. May, Justices of the Inferior Court of Fayette County now sitting. Susannah Simmons and Carter Houston who after being duly sworn according to law doth on their oath, depose and say that they have, each of them, been acquainted with Martha Houston, the above named applicant for a great length of time, that they saw her married to the said Samuel Houston deceased on the first day of July in the year Seventeen hundred and Seventy eight. That the said Samuel Houston died on the 23rd day of September in the year 1840. That she has not since been married to any other person, but is now the widow of the said Samuel Houston. s/ Carter Houston
Susannah [her X mark] Simmons
Sworn to and subscribed before in in open court, the day of year above.
Samuel Martin J.I.C.
E.P. Allen J.I.C.
James E. May, J.I.C.
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State of Georgia Fayette County  ss
We do hereby certify that the above named Martha Houston, Susannah Simmons and Carter Houston are all credible persons residents of this County, that the said Martha Houston ought to have a pension, that they were all sworn in open court before us given under ours hands this 22nd day of Nov. 1841.
Samuel Martin J.I.C.
E.P. Allen J.I.C. 
James E. May J.I.C.

I William McBride Clerk of the Inferior Court of Fayette County State of Georgia, do hereby certify that the above and foregoing are the proceedings of Martha Houston widow of Samuel Houston late of this County deceased in establishing her claim for a Pension before the Honorable Justices as in session as above. Given under my hand and seal of office this twenty second day of November in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty one.
Wm McBride CLK, I.C.
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No 25598
Samuel Houston Fayette County
Georgia

Admit as a private
12 mo Cavalry 50
12 " Infantry 40
=90
egm
Finley G. Stewart Fayetteville Georgia
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War Department,
Pension Office,
Augt 24 1833
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.  These 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 Samuel Houston Fayette County Georgia
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 above when he entered the service. 71 years Chester District S. Carolina
Proof by which the declaration is supported. Traditionary evidence & two witnesses, papers correctly attached
Sub. 1778 — 3mo — private G.’l Sumpter [Thomas Sumter], Cap [Hugh] Whitesides, Colonel [William] Goodwin 
Drafted spg. 1779 — 3mo — “  Cap [Philip] Walker, Col Lacy [Edward Lacey]
Vol. Apl. 1780 — — 15 days “ Col [Joseph] Brown, Cap [Robert] Frost
Vol. May 1780— 11mo — “ Cap [John] McLure, Col Lacey
Enlisted May 1781 1yr — — Cavalry Cap [Samuel] Neely, Col [William] Hill, Major Bluford [William Buford] G.’l [Nathanael] Greene
Battle Ramsour’s Mills, Hanging Rock, Kings Mountain, Cowpens
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. Edwards,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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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, 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 
County of } ss. 
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 (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 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
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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 attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be exexpected . 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 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 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 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 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.
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Sam’l Houston
25598
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State of Georgia Fayette County ss
On this Sixth day of May one thousand eight hundred & thirty three personally appeared in Open Court, before Finlay G. Stewart, Samuel Swanson Edward T. Nixon Wm Pace & Jeptha Landrum Justices of the Inferior Court of the County aforesaid, now sitting, Samuel Houston a resident of the County of Fayette, and State of Georgia aged seventy one years, (past,) who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832. 
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. 
In Capt Hugh Whitesides Company of which John McCann was a Lieutenant, In the Regiment commanded by Col [William] Goodwin of the South Carolina Militia. That he entered the service toward the close of the year 1778, a short time previous to the fall of Savannah, as a substitute in place of his father Thomas Houston with whom he then resided in Chester district, in the State of South Carolina & who had been drafted to serve as a private in said Company under authority of the State of its officers, from which place he was marched to the quarter house within six miles of Charleston and from thence was marched toward Savannah, but before he reached that place, it was taken by Colonel Campbell of the British Army, that he was then stationed at Purysburg, and was then discharged after having served not less than three months.  
In the spring of the next year 1779, he again entered the service of the United States as a private soldier, (and as a system of classing the militia had been adopted, he is not absolutely certain whether he was drafted or belonged to the class which was called upon to perform their tour of duty, but is inclined to the opinion that he was of the Class required to enter the service) in Captain Phillip [Philip] Walkers Company of the So Carolina Militia of
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which Company Alexander Campbell was a Lieutenant, and which Company belonged to the Regiment Commanded by Colonel Lacy [Edward Lacey] that he entered the service in Chester district So. Carolina that he was marched thence to Charleston when he was stationed and discharged after having served not less than three months.
In the year 1780 and in the latter part of the month of April or the first of the month of May, he again entered the service of the United States as a private, and became as a volunteer, in Chester district South Carolina, under the Command of Lieutenant Col. Joseph Brown, who then has the Command of Colonel Lacey’s Regiment of the So. Carolina Militia, in Captain [Robert] Frost’s Company of which Michael Gort was a Lieutenant, that he was marched to Camden & thence toward Charleston, but before we reached that place we were sent by Governor Rutledge with the information that Charleston had fallen into the hands of the British, and Lt. Colonel Brown at the suggestion of Gov’r Rutledge returned with us to Camden, when he was discharged by Col Brown having been in the service less than two weeks.
Immediately after he returned to his Fathers in Chester district So. Carolina, in the month of May 1780 he volunteered and joined the Company of South Carolina Militia Commanded by Capt John McLure, of which Hugh McLure was first Lieutenant, John Steele second Lieutenant, and James Johnston third Lieutenant, of Colonel Lacey’s Regiment, as a private, and was marched to Mobley’s meeting house where he had a skirmish with some Tories - thence he was marched into North Carolina near Charlotte in Micklenburg County, at which place General Sumpter joined us and was appointed to the Command in Chief, thence we marched Phifers when Gen’l [William Lee] Davidson of the North Carolina Militia joined us - Cap’t McLure’s Company in which he was, at Phifers were detached by Gen’l Sumpter [Thomas Sumter] to Corp the Catawba River into Lincoln County against some Tories embodying in that county, at Ramsour’s Mills, where we had a Battle with and defeated the Tories, in this Battle Captain Falls who Commanded a Company of Cavalry was killed - from the Battle ground at Rams
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-our [Ramsour] Mill, he was again marched across the Catawba
River into the Catawba Indian Land and encamped for some
time at a place called Cleves branch in Lancaster district South Carolina - From thence in Capt [John] McClure's Company under the command of Col [Edward] Lacey he was detached to cross the Catawba River into York district to met some British &
tories, whom he was defeated at Col William Brattons. Capt Hook a British officer, and Col Ferguson a Torie was killed & a Capt Edmonson of the British Infantry was taken prisoner
from Col Brattons we were again marched across the Catawba joined Genl Sumpter [Thomas Sumter] at Clems Branch thence he was attached with Gen'l Sumpter to Rocky Mount when we had a Battle
with some British & Tories under the command of Col Turnbull of the British army from Rocky mount he was again marched across the River and on that day walk from the
Battle of Rocky Mount had another Battle at a place called Hanging Rock, when Capt McClure fell mortally
wounded, His brother first Lieutenent Hugh McClure having been disabled by wounds in our first skirmish at Mobley's Meeting House the command of the Company devolved upon Lieutenant John Steele, the army again crossed the River, but
he remained to take care of his brother William Houston who was wounded at the Battle of hanging rock, and attempted to convey him on a Bier to the Hospital at Charlotte in the State of No. Carolina, before he arrived however his brother died of his wounds, and before he could reach the army again Genl Gates & Genl Sumter were both defeated. being informed that Genl Sumter retreated toward Charlotte in No. Carolina, after interring the Corpse of his brother he joint General Sumter and the remains of his defeated
army near Charlotte.  thence he was detached in Captain John Cunninghams Company of Mounted men under the command of Col Edward Lacey & Col [James] Williams in pursuit of Colonel Ferguson who was on the other side of Broad
River. Having been joined by Colonel [William] Graham with his Regiment from Lincoln County No. Carolina under the temp- [temporary]
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-rary [temporary] Command in Chief of Col [William] Campbell and the subordinate command of Colonels [John] Servier, [Benjamin] Cleveland & [Isaac] Shelby were attacked
Col Ferguson's army on Kings Mountain & defeated him. Col Ferguson  was killed, and we lost Col [James] Williams who shared in the 
Command that day. On the day after the Battle of Kings Mountain he left the army having taken his discharge for the purpose of returning home, but on hearing that Lord Cornwallis
was on his much or was about to march from Charlotte in No. Carolina to Winnsboro in So Carolina on the fourth or fifth day after he was discharged at Kings Mountain
in York district So Ca he volunteered as a private in the Company of So. Carolina Militia under the command of Captain Benjamin Garrison and was marched to the old nation ford on the Catawba River when it was expected  Lord Cornwallis would either Cross or send a detachment to cross from thence we joined Genl Sumpter [Thomas Sumter] at Palmore Fort York district South Carolina, that he was there
detached by Genl Sumter & was kept reconnecting between  Genl Sumters army at Fort Palmore and Lord Cornwallis' army at Winnsboro until the Battle at the Cowpens, which battle he believes was fought in January 1781. in the month of February after the Battle of the
Cowpens, he was attacked with the small pox with which he was confined in the hospital which was provided
for sick soldiers until about the first of April 1781 and was discharged and left the army in May afterwards, intending to make a Crop in York district So.Ca. and believes after
having been in the Army a little more than one year deducting the days intervening between his discharge at Kings Mountain and his entering Captain Garrison's Company, but for the sake of certainly will say not less than Eleven months-
That instead of making a crop as was his intention when he left the army before the end of the month
of May 1781, believing that much remained undone in which he
could render his country 'some service', and being known and
marked as a victim by the Tories he deemed it more glorious to fall
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in the army of his country than by the hands of those clandestine assassins of their countrymen who had dared to raise an arm for Liberty, he enlisted under Captain Samuel Neely [Neeley] of whose company James McDowell was a Lieutenant which was a company of Cavalry or Dragoons, as a
private, and served in the Regiment of the South Carolina line commanded by Colonel William Hill, and Major Bluford [William Buford](does not remember any Lieut Colonel) that he enlisted in York District, where he had intended to reside that from York district he was marched to Ankrims [Ankrums]
on Congaree River near where Columbia now stands, and there joined Colonel Hill, and drew public arms, for the Cavalry service, under the command of Major Buford he was marched thence to the Juniper springs & thence to the town part of Laurens District, & then joined General [Nathanael] Greene- that he was in a skirmish at Pine log ford on
Edisto River with a Capt Livingston of the British Army, who was killed by Major Buford. afterwards he was in
another Skirmish near the same river with some  Tories and in another at a place called old Church with a party
of British & Tories, in which Major Buford was always victorious 
that the term of his enlistment was for one year and that he continued in the service of the United States, for the full term of his enlistment and was discharged at Orangeburg Court
House State of South Carolina in May 1782. 
That he now has no documentary evidence having lost all his discharges that he now knows of no person besides William Davis & Josiah Houston (whose affidavits
are herewith shown to the Court, who are requested to attach them hereto, & who are in Court further to answer any questions that may be asked them) whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services- that since the Revolution he
has resided in Pendleton District South Carolina, until
1823. from that time till 1828 in Henry County State of
Georgia, and since that time at his present place of abode
in Fayette County Georgia, that he was born in Mecklenburg
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County in the State of North Carolina, 1761. that he has no record of his age, and that the Reverend Thomas
H. Cliatt & Andrew McBride will testify to my character, the belief of the neighborhood, and their own belief of my services.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares
that his name is not on the roll of the Agency of any State.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid s/ Saml Houston

Recapitulation of terms of service
1st Term 3 months
2nd do 3 months
3rd do 1/2 month
4th do 11 months
5th do 12 months
Total 29 1/2 months
We Thomas H. Cliatt a Clergyman residing in the County of Fayette & State of Geo, and Andrew McBride
residing in the same County & State hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Samuel Houston who has subscribed & sworn to the
above declaration: that we believe him to be seventy one 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 & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Thos H Eliott M.G.
Andrew McBride
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interro[gatories]
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gatories prescribed by the war Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary solder
& served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Thomas H. Cliatt who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the County of Fayette State of Georgia and
that Andrew McBride who has also signed the same is a resident in the same County & State and is a
credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit
Finlay G. Stewart JIC
Samuel Swanson JIC
E P Nixon JIC
William Pace JIC
Jeptha Landrum JIC
I William Mc Bride Clerk of the Inferior Court of Fayette County Georgia, do hereby certify that the
foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Samuel
Houston for a pension In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set
my hand & seal of Office this Sixth day of May Eighteen hundred & thirty three s/ William McBride Clk
Inf. Court Fayette Cty
Page 20

Georgia Fayette County
Personally appeared before me Jesse Ward a Justice of the Peace in aforesaid County Josiah Houston who being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he is a younger brother of Samuel Houston who has this day made oath to his declaration to obtain the benefit of the act Congress passed June 7, 1832, that he was between the age of 12 & 14 years, when he saw his brother Samuel Houston at Clems branch in General
Sumpter's [Thomas Sumter] army in the year 1780, that he has carefully examined said declaration from his
having frequently seen him under arms and at different places under arms as well as from his having always understood that he did serve
as he has therein stated, & never having heard any thing to the Contrary does not hesitate on his oath to declare his full belief in the truth of his statement therein made
s/ Josiah Houston
Sworn to & subscribed
before me this 6th May 1833
s/ Jesse Ward J.P.
I William McBride Clerk of the Inferior
Court of Fayette County State of Georgia, do hereby certify that Jesse Ward whose name appears to the foregoing certificate as a Justice of the Peace as he is then represented and that due faith & credit ought to be had & given to his attestation as such Given under my hand & seal of office this 6th day of May 1833
s/ William M Bride Clk
Inf Court Fayette Cty
Page 21

Georgia  Fayette County
Personally appeared before me Jesse Ward a Justice of the Peace in & for said county. William Davis who being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he was a soldier in the army of the Revolution and that he saw Samuel Houston who has this day sworn to his declaration in order to obtain the Certificate of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. In 1779 in the service of the United States, under the command of Colonel [Edward] Lacey, that he saw him at Ancrums on Congaree [River] paraded in Colonel [William] Hills Regiment of Cavalry in 1781. that he saw him frequently at other places during the war, (but does not now recollect owing to his memory being somewhat impaired by age)  with sufficient accuracy any other places, to state an oath, and that he has carefully examined his declaration, and from his acquaintance with him. (Samuel Houston) during the war & since, does not hesitate on his oath to declare his entire conviction of the truth of said declaration. s/ Wm Davis
Sworn & subscribed this 6th day of May 1833 s/ Jesse Ward J.P.

I William McBride Clerk of the Superior Court of Fayette County State of Georgia, do hereby certify that Jesse Ward Whose name appears to the foregoing Certificate as a Justice of the Peace in aforesaid County, is a justice of the peace as he is there represented, and that due faith & credit ought to be made given to his attestation as such. Given under my hand Seal of office this 6th day of May 1833   s/ William McBride 
            Clk Inf Court Fayette Cty
Page 22

Rev and 1812 War Section
April 20, 1925
W. W. Hildebrand
Box. 1007
Memphis, Tenn.
Sir: 
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War Pension Claim W. 7810, it appears that Samuel, son of Thomas Houston, was born in 1761 in Macklenburg County, North Carolina.
   While residing with his father in Chester District, South Carolina, served as a private in the South Carolina Troops as follows-
     From the fall of 1778, three months in Captain Hugh Whitsides Company, Colonel [William] Goodwin's Regiment.
    From the spring of 1779, three months in Captain Phillip Walker's Company, Colonel Lacey's Regiment.
    From the last of April or first of May 1780, two weeks in Captain Frost's Company, Colonel Lacey's Regiment.
    From in May 1780, in Captain John McLure's Company, Colonel Lacey's Regiment was in the battles at
Page 23

Mobley's Meeting House, Ramsours Mill, at Colonel William Bratton's, Rocky Mount, Hanging Rock, soon after this battle he joined Captain John Cunningham's Company of Mounted Men, under Colonels Edward Lacey and Williams, and at the battle of Kings Mountain, and was discharged the day after the battle.
   A few days after said battle he joined Captain Benjamin Garrison's Company, and served until in May 1781
     From in May 1781 in Captain Samuel Neely or Kneely's [Neeley] Company of Cavalry in Colonel William Hill's Regiment, was in two skirmishes near the Edisto River, one at "Old Church" and served until in May 1782.
  He was allowed pension on his application executed May 8, 1833, while a resident of Fayette County, Georgia.  He died September 23, 1840.
  Soldier married July 1 1778, Martha, her maiden name is not stated.  She was allowed pension on her application executed November 22, 1841, while a resident of Fayette County, Georgia, aged seventy-six years.
  In 1849, she was living in Winston County, Mississippi.
        Respectfully,
        Wilder S. Metcalf        Commissioner.     [Note added] This date is a little doubtful but is in claim. Valid by Miss Wilson
Page 24

Revy Widow, &c.

File No. 7810
Martha Houston
Wid
Samuel Houston
Pvr. Rev. War
Act: Feby. 2 of 48
Index:---Vol. A, Page 343

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 25

Rejected
Page 26

Martha Houston
      Geo
Letts Wm. McBride Dec 20 '41
to same Feb 1842
let to J. Green August 12, 1843
"      "J. Geen, Apr 15, 1844
"       "  do July 6, 1844

July 11 1836
Page 27

8827
Mississippi
Martha Houston  SC
Widow of Samuel, who was a pensioner under the Act of 32 and who died on the 25 Sept, 1849 of Fayette Co in the state of Georgia
who was a private Inf & Cav in the _ commanded by Captain _of the regt. commanded by Col [Edward] Lacey- in the S. Carolina line for_
Inscribed on the Roll of Georgia at the rate of 90 Dollars_Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March,1836. Incd From $73.71 
Certificate of Pension issued the 29 day of June 1849 and sent to L. B. True Present

Total amount, $
[Act July 7, 1838]
Recorded by Leo. Jenkins Clerk,
Book D Vol. 1. Page 521
Page 28

6324
Mississippi
Martha Houston
widow of Samuel
who was a private of Infty & Cavly
in the Revolution incd from $73.71.
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 90 Dollars _Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1843. Certificate of Pension issued the 29 day of June 1849 and sent to L B True Present
[Acts of March 3, 1843, & June 17, 1844.]

Recorded in Book A. Vol. 2 Page 222
Page 29

8827
Georgia
Martha Houston
widow of Samuel Houston
who was a pensioner under the Act of 1832, and who died on the 25th Sept  1840, of Fayette Co in the State of Georgia who was a private in the_ commanded by Captain_ of the Regt commanded by Col [Edward] Lacey in the S. Carolina line for 10mo 1d Pri Infty, 9 mo 20d Cavry
Inscribed on the Roll of Georgia at the rate of 73 -- Dollars 71 - Cents per annum, to commence on the [crossed out] 25 Sept : 1840
Certificate of Pension issued the 1st : - day of Nove. 1844 and sent to Thos. Green Richmond, WV -
Total amount, $60.10
[Act July 7, 1838.]
Recorded by Will Stewart Clerk 
Book D Vol 1 - Page 319
Page 30

Georgia   
Martha Houston
widow of Samuel Houston
who was a private in the S. Carolina line Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 73 Dollars 71 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843. Certificate of Pension issued the 1 day of Nov. 1844 and sent to Thomas Green Richmond Va
[Act of March 3, 1843]
17 June '44
Recorded in Book A Vol. 2 Page 173-
No 210 17 June'44 
Act passed Jan 7. 1845
Page 31

Fayetteville ga   December 7 1841

Please direct this [illegible] of this claim to Wm. McBride Fayetteville ga
Page 32

Samuel Houston Rev 
Service
1 year as Cavalry
17 Mos 15 dys  priv
Page 33

11376
Martha Houston
widow of Samuel
Ga
Act of July 1838
Admd
10 mo 10. pri Inft. $33.44
 9  "    20    " Cav.   40.27
                              $ 73.71 per
from 25 Sept. 1840 to 4 March 1841 
Admd 3 March 1843 annl 7 June 1844
$73 71 per ann
Thomas Green 
Richmond Virginia
Page 34

Martha Houston
Wife 43 - 8827
Mr Cole
Feb 25 1837.
Ext March 51
Mr True
Page 35

Widow of Samuel Houston
Rev. Pens Jones from Winston
Coty State of Miss. Certificate
was delivered to my care as her Agent
Feb. 26 1814    LB True
Page 36

1828 papers
to be filed
with Ad
ow wid
#7810

J. L. Edwards Eqr
Pension 
Office
Page 37

Washington 3 Dec. 1828
J. L. Edwards Esq.
   Pension Office
Sir:
I herewith enclose the application of Samuel Houston (of Henry County Geo.) to be placed on the pension roll of the U. States.
You will please to examine the same, and communicate to me the result of your examination.
             Your obd. Servant.
              Wilson Lumpkin
Exd Act Inst. Rej. & old Books
"  Wid. 7810
           23,300
Page 38

no. 2 -
Claim of Martha Houston for arrears of Rev- pension under Resolution of Congress 23 Jan. 1841 -
LB True Atty
Page 39

Whereas the Act of the 30th of April 1844 prohibited me from drawing a pension for the same period during which my husband was a pensioner, I now make the following Statement under oath to obtain the benefit of the resolution above mentioned.  I am the Widow of Samuel Houston who was a private of cavalry in the war of the Revolution; I have drawn a pension at the rate of    dollars per annum from the 24th day of September 1840 and now ask for the amount due me from the 4th day of March 1836 the 25th day of September 1840 to him I believe was my former pension commence. Martha [her Xmark] Houston
Sworn and Subscribed before me on this the 30th day, May in the year 1849.  s/ Wm A. Todd, RM Fox (Seal). In presence of Henry Fox Justice of the Peace
I certify that the declarant personally known to me, and that she is the same individual She represents herself to be in the foregoing affidavit this the 30th day of may 1849.  R.M. Fox (seal) Justice of the Peace
Page 40

The State of Mississippi: County of Winston
I Erastus Huntley, Clerk of the Probate Court of said county do hereby certify that R M Fox who has Signed the foregoing is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Winston in the State of Mississippi and that the foregoing is his signature.
In Testimony whereof I have hereinto Subscribed my name and affixed my seal of office this thirtieth day of May 1849 at Louisville State of Mississippi in and County of Winston, Erastus Huntley Clerk
Page 41

State of Mississippi 
County of Winston ss
Be it known that before me, the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, State of Miss. duly authorized by law to administer oaths personally appeared, Martha Houston and made oath in due form of law that she is the identical person who drew a pension under the act of the 30 March 1843 and 17th June 1844 on account of the Revolutionary Services of her husband the late Samuel Houston priv. SC Cavalry at the rate of $_  per annum; that she now makes this affidavit for the purpose of obtaining benefit Act Congress 2 Feb, 1848 granting further pension to Rev. Widows that she is the widow of said Samuel Houston, late a Rev. Pensioner that she has not intermarried but continues to be a widow ; that she now resides in ____ in the County of Winston State of Mississippi and has resided there for the space of about one year past; and that previous thereto She resided in Fayette County State of Georgia
 Martha [her X mark] Houston 
Sworn to and Subscribed
this the 30th day of May A.D. 1849
                                         over
Page 42

In presence of Wm A Todd 
                       Henry Fox
Before me, R. M. Fox (seal)
              Justice of the Peace
I certify that the above named affiant is personally known to me, and that she is the same individual who drew a pension as Stated by her in the foregoing affidavit.
This the 30th day of May A.D. 1829  R.M. Fox (seal)  Justice of the Peace

The State of Mississippi
Winston County
I Erastus Huntley Clerk of the Probate Court in and for the County of Winston and State of Mississippi do hereby certify that R. M. Fox whose genuine Signature appears Subscribed to the foregoing Affidavit and Certificate is and was at the date thereof an Active Justice of the peace in and for the County of Winston and State of Mississippi duly Elected qualified and Commissioned and that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all of his official acts and the premises.
In Testimony whereof I have here unto Set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Count at my office at Louisville this the 30th day of May AD 1849.
Erastus Huntley Clerk
Page 43

Joint Resolutions 23 Jan 1845
and 1 July 1848
 Admd    Act 7 July 1838
  at $90 per annum
 Comg 4 march 1836,
ded'g    former payts at
$73.71 per annum   from
25 Sept 1840.
Admd Act 43 & 44 at 
$90 per annum, dedg former
payts at $73.71 per annum 
Admd Act 48
at $90 per annum
L B True
Present,
Page 44

Mr. Commissioner
Sir Enclosed are the applications of Wid. Martha Houston for renewal of her Rev. Pension under Act of Congress of 2 Feb 1848 and for Arrears of Pension under Joint Resolution of Congress 23 Jan 1845 - 
Will you have the goodness Sir, to cause the same to be examined and if entitled please forward the Certifcates to me as the Agent and Attny in the case & oblige
Very respectfully your
Obedient Servant,
S. B. True
 - Present
Col James S Edwards June 22 = 49
Comm Pensions
Page 45

Georgia Cowetaw [Coweta] County
 Personally appeared this day Before me William Nimmons a Justice of the peace for the state and county aforesaid Colonel John Dickson of the State and County aforesaid and after Being duly Sworn deposeth and Sayeth that he was personally acquainted with Samuel Houston formaly [formerly] of South Carolina and now of the State of Georgia and Sayeth he was acquainted with the said Samuel Houston in time of the Revolutionary War and as well as I now Recollect and Believe that sometime in the year Seventeen hundred and Eighty one that the said Samuel Houston did enlist in Captain Samuel Neeleys Company of the troops and  Believes the same Samuel Houston continued in it Service till the end of the Revolution.
Sworn to & Subscribed before me this 5 February 1829  John Dickson
Wm Nimmons JP
Georgia Coweta County
I Andrew J. Berry, Clerk of the Inferior Court do Certify by that William Nimmons was an acting Justice of the peace duly empowered to administer oaths in the county and State aforesaid at the time he assigned her foregoing affidavit given under my hand and private Seal this 5th day of February 1829
Andw Berry C I C (seal)
Page 46

Georgia  Coweta County
I John Underwood Presiding Justice of the Inferior Court in the State and County aforesaid do certify that Andrew J. Berry who Signed the foregoing Certificate is the acting clerk of said court given under my Hand and Seal this 6 of February 1829
John Underwood JIC
Page 47

S. Houston
Rec 12 March 1829

1307

Revolutionary Claims
Page 48

Revolutionary Claims

To the Honorable Richard Rush Secretary at War
Washington City
Page 49

February 7th, 1829
Most Honoured  Sir, I received your letter concerning my Revolutionary claims under the act passed the 15th of May 1828 that my proof was not sufficient.  Sir, I will just inform it is become very difficult to find many of the old Revolutionaries in this part of the Country and as it requires applying to the authorities of the State where I served but Sir I have got so old and infirm that I am not able to go am low in the world. But I have sent on two affidavits to you showing to you of my service. I hope you will notice my case as I am old and very needy and I am sure I am entitled to it. You will direct all papers to me now to Fayettville Fayett County as I have lately moved from Henry County to Fayett County Georgia. Sir Captain [Samuel] Neeley who I enlisted under is gone to the Missi. state. Colonel [William] Hill is dead.  I leave my case with you. If I was able to go 300 miles into South Carolina myself I believe I could make more proof of my service. But I am not able to go. I remain your humble servant
Samuel Houston
To the Honourable Richard Rush
Page 50

Georgia Fayett County 
Personally appeared this day before me John Garrison a Justice of the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid Josiah Houston of the County and State aforesaid after being duly sworn deposeth and
sayeth on his oath that he was personally acquainted with Samuel Houston formerly of South Carolina and now of the State of Georgia and sayeth that he was acquainted with the said Samuel Houston in time of the Revolutionary war and knows that the said Samuel Houston did in Enlist in Captain Samuel Kneelys [Neeley] Company and Colonel William Hills Regiment some time in the year Seventeen Hundred and Eighty one as well as I now recollect in the South Carolina Line and did serve as a
Soldier in the Continental army until the termination of the Revolution and sometime afterwards I saw in the Possession of Samuel Houston a Certificate which he received for his Bounty and services in the Revolutionary War but the amount I dont recollect sworn to and
subscribed this 17 of February 1829
Before interlined before signed
s/ Josiah Houston
John Garrison JP

Georgia Fayett County
I William McBride Clerk of the Inferior Court and for the County and State aforesaid do Certify that John Garrison who signed the foregoing affidavit is an acting Justice of the Peace duly Empowered to administer oaths in and for the County and State aforesaid given under my Hand and Private Seal this 18th day of February 1829
William Mcbride Clk IC
Page 51

Georgia Fayett County
I Finley G Stewart Presiding Justice of the Inferior Court in and for the County and State aforesaid do certify that William McBride is the acting Clerk of said Court, & that due faith & credit ought to be had & given to his attestation as such  Given under my hand & seal this 18 February 1829
Finley G Stewart JIC
Page 52

Georgia Fayette County
Explanatory of that part of his declaration made in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832 and which is now of file in the Pension Office Department of War, wherein he alleges to have served eleven months in one tour. Samuel Houston after being duly sworn before me Jesse Ward a Justice of the Peace in & for the County aforesaid makes the following statement on oath, viz.
That from the time he entered the service of the United States, in the State of South Carolina & Chester District in Capt [John] McLures Company which was in the month of
May 1780 and immediately after the fall of Charleston until he was discharged after Battle of Kings Mountain as stated in said Declaration, which his present impression was on the 17th day of October following, it was five months, which term he served, and for the particulars of which he refers to his declaration aforesaid. That from the time he entered the service of the United States in York District South Carolina, in Captain [Benjamin] Garrisons Company, which was within four days after the Battle of
Kings Mountain, (and being so nearly a continuation of the same services produced the idea of throwing both tours together, which composes the alleged service of eleven months) until he was discharged in April following after his recovery from an attack of smallpox, as stated in his said declaration to which for the particulars of this service he refers, it was six months. making as aforesaid
Page 53

the alleged service is of eleven months.
   That his impression now is that the militia of South Carolina did serve tours of six months, and that he thinks about this period there served many individuals in General Sumpters [Thomas Sumter] army who whether they entered the service for three or six months, served more, and where the condition which the State of South Carolina was in after the fall of Charleston---overrun by the British---the Tories vindictive and triumphant--- Gates defeated and General Sumter driven from the State-- is considered, he does not think it will be a matter of astonishment that in the militia service of that state the tour of duty performed was irregular.
And that he did truly and faithfully perform said service as stated in his said declaration and as herein explained.  s/ Saml Houston 
Sworn to and subscribed this first day of January Eighteen hundred and thirty four -- before me 
Jesse Ward  JP
Page 54

Georgia        I William McBride clerk of this Fayette County Inferior Court of said County hereby certify that Jesse Ward before whom this forgoing affidavit by Samuel Houston was made and whose name appears to the same as a Justice of the Peace is a Justice of the Peace, and that his signature affixed thereto is his genuine signature. 
Given under my terms and seal of office this 1st day of January 1834
                      William McBride CFCIC
Page 55

Fayetteville Ga January 25th 1842
Hon J.L. Edwards Pensions
Yours of the 20th Inst on the subject
of Mrs Martha Houstons claim for Pension, came duly to office. Having been absent untill now we proceed to give some explanation of the grounds it appears to be rejected on. In the first place we applied to the Clerks office in Chester District S. Ca. for record proof but none could be found.  nor no family record for no other proof of the kind which we know to be preferable when such could be obtained. In the second place when the claimant and the witnesses
appeared in court, they were all satisfied that the marriage was on the 1st of July some time during the war, but were not certain which year. the court suggested, and enjoined on them the propriety of deciding on the precise time, and after their [illegible] they decided the year 1778 which indeed is [illegible] but there is no uncertainly for they are positive that the Marriage was on the 1st July in some year during the war, other circumstances satisfied them of this fact. If the old Lady is indeed entitled as is fully believed that she is, we think it hard she should be refused on mere supposition she has the appearance and may indeed be older than alleges in her declaration, we hope to claim may be reconsidered, and not rested from her on grounds that she is entirely clear & [illegible].
Mrs. Keron Happock Mills widow of Moses Mills decd is yet living. She has received the benefit of the five years pension act which has run out. The papers upon which her claim was
Page 56

established on with you in office, we wish them examined and know if she is not now entitled. Her marriage was clearly proven from records. Please let me hear from you
I remain your ser
Wm McBride
Page 57

June 17 '43
Georgia
Martha Houston

Col J L. Edwards
Comr of Pensions
Washington
Page 58

Richmond 15 June 1843
Col. J. L. Edwards Washington
Sir, Enclosed is the Declaration of Mrs. Martha Houston of Fayette County Georgia, widow of Samuel Houston who died 25 Sept, 1840 a pensioner.  The case seems to be
positively proved. I am Yr Obt sert
              Thomas Green
P.S. In a former application the alleged ages and the date of the marriage seems inconsistent and irreconcilable- It now seems they admit they may have been mistaken in regard to their ages- as well as the date of the marriage. But the affidavits are positive and unconditional in regard to the material facts and the court in  [illegible] of three judges, certifies its own opinion of the case & the high respectability of the parties.  T.G.
Page 59

Richmond 3, July 1844.
Col. J.L. Edwards Comr of Pensions
Sir, Yr letter to me of 15 April last,
in regard to the application of Martha Houston, widow of Samuel Houston from Georgia, informs me that the proof of service and also the date of marriage, being before 1794.  But as it is not satisfactorily shown that it occurred prior to her husbands last service, you say "if she will prefer a claim under the act of 7 July 1838 it will be admitted, for the above services."
As her Atto: I make the application accordingly- I  suppose, this will be satisfactory,  as such allowances under the Act of 1838, have been frequently received when the declarations were under the act of 1836; a practice well founded-especially as the form for the latter, would require her to swear to what was not so, if she knew, she was married before her husbands last service, altho she could not from so early a date.
        I am Yr Obt sert
            Thomas Green
Page 60


11276
Martha Houston
Widow of Samuell
Georgia
Act 7 July 1838

11276
Page 61

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

State of Georgia Fayett County ss
On this 25th day of July 1844 personally appeared before the subscribed a Justice of the Inferior Court for the County and State aforesaid Mrs. Martha Houston a resident of Fayette County and State of Georgia, aged eighty years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 7th 1838, entitled "an act granting half pay and pension to certain widows." That she is the widow of Samuel Houston, who was a private Soldier of Infantry and Cavalry in the revolutionary war; that the said, Samuel Houston died on the 25th day of September in the year 1840 that he the said Samuel Houston was
drawing a pension of $90 per year from the United States for his services at the time of his death in Fayette County and State of Georgia, that she is unable to procure any record of her age or marriage, that Susannah Simmons is a respectable person and witnessed her marriage to the said Samuel
Page 62

Houston, that Carter Houston who witnessed her other affidavit referred to her removed westwardly and she is unable to prove his affidavit again.
That her declaration for a pension was made under the act of 4th July 1836, but the date of the Marriage not being shown satisfactory to have occurred before the last service of said Samuel Houston the Commissioner of pensions in his letter to Thomas Green dated 15th April 1844 stated as appears from
a copy of it sent to him Stated as appears from a copy of it sent to her, Stated, "If she meaning this affiant will prefer a claim under the act of 7 July 1838. it will be admitted for the above service." This affiant therefore states that she was married long before the 1st January 1794 and relinquishes all claim under the act of
4th July 1836, and prays to be allowed the pension due under the act of 7th July 1838.
Martha Houston her X mark
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me a Justice of the Inferior Court for the County and State  aforesaid
Alfred Brown JIC
Page 63

State of Georgia Fayett County ss                    
I Wm McBride Deputy Clerk
of the Inferior Court for the County of Fayette and State of Georgia, do hereby certify that Alfred Brown whose name is subscribed to the foregoing certificate is and was at the
time of subscribing the same as acting Justice of the Inferior Court for said County duly commissioned and qualified according to law, and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of office this twenty fifth day of July in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty four 
Wm McBride D. Clk
Page 64

1307
W Lumpkin
for S Houston
Recd 13 Dec 1828

Richd Rush
Treasury
Department
Page 65

Washington 12th Dec. 1828
Hon. Richard Rush
Secretary
Treasury Department
Sir,
I am informed, from the War Department. That certain documents in support of the revolutionary claim of Samuel Houston which I sent to that Department (by mistake with other papers) have been forwarded
to your Department, which is charged with the execution of the Law of
the 15th of May 1828. When the documents have been examined-- you will please to inform me of the result. Mr. Houston is one of my constituents, & I therefore wish
to communicate to him the result.
Very
Respectfully
Your Obt Servt
Wilson Lumpkin
Page 66

5496
Martha Houston
Georgia
Act 4 July 36
Comp Genl. 10.1. pri Infantry
                        9.20. " Cavalry
Page 67

State of Georgia Fayette County ss On this first day of June in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty three, personally appeared before us Jacob Bentley, James E. May and Alfred Brown Justices of the Inferior Court of said county, now in Session, Martha Houston a resident of Fayette County and State of Georgia, aged seventy nine years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the pension laws of the United States; That she is the widow of Samuel Houston, who was a private soldier, Infantry and Cavalry in
the Revolutionary war, she further declares, that she may have been mistaken as to the time of her marriage with the said Samuel
Houston, as alleged in her affidavit in making application for Pension in the year 1841, but that she knows the said Saml Houston served in the army after the marriage which
induces her to believe it was at the time set forth in the affidavit referred to viz, on 1st July 1778, that she believes most strongly, that there is a mistake in reciting their ages but
the time set forth is as near as she can say positively
That the said Samuel Houston died on the 25 day of September in the year 1840 that he the said Samuel Houston was drawing a pension from the United States for his services at the time of his death, that she is unable to provide any record of her age or marriage, that Susannah Simmons is a respectable person, and witnessed her marriage to the said Samuel Houston, that Carter Houston who witnessed her other affidavit, referred to, has removed westwardly and she is unable to procure his affidavit again - sworn to and subscribed in open Court.
Martha Houston her X mark
Inferior Court assigned
Jacob Bentley JIC
Jas E. May JIC
Alford Brown JIC
Page 68

State of Georgia Grant County ss
On this first day of June in the year one thousand eight hundred and
forty three personally appeared before us Jacob Bentley, James E. May and Alfred Brown Justices of the Inferior Court of Fayette County
now sitting Susannah Simmons who after being duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath depose and say that she has been acquainted with Martha Houston the above named applicant for a long time that she saw the said Martha Houston married to the said Samuel Houston, that is
she stated in her affidavit in the year 1841 may have been mistaken in the marriage being on the 1st July 1778. but his the said Samuel Houston served in the Revolutionary War after they are married believes more probable they were mistaken in
their ages know they were called young when married that Samuel Houston died on the 25th day of September 1840 that the said Martha is it the widow of the Samuel Houston has not since intermarried
That Carter Houston the person that
made oath with her in 1841 has
removed to the west country.
Susannah Simmons her X mark
Sworn to and subscribed before
us in open Court
Jacob Bentley JIC
Jas. E. May JIC
Alford Brown J.IC.
Page 69

State of Georgia Fayette County ss.
We do certify that the above named Martha Houston and Susannah Simmons are credible persons that we believe the said Martha Houston entitled to pension under the laws of the United states that they were sworn in open court this 1st day of June 1843.
Jacob Bentley JIC
Jas. E. May JIC
Alford Brown J.IC.

I William McBride clerk of the Inferior Court of Fayette County Georgia, do certify the foregoing to be the proceedings this day had before the court, given under my hand and seal of office this first day of June in the year one thousand eighth thousand and forty three
Mr. McBride Clerk.
Page 70

See Muster Rolls in Pension office 1307
Revolutionary claims 
Treasury Department 
5 Dec 1828

Samuel Houston of ___ in the County of Henry in the State of Georgia has applied to the Secretary of the Treasury for the benefits of the act, entitled “An Act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the Revolution,” approved the 15th of May 1828. He states that he enlisted in the Continental line of the army of the Revolution, for and during the war, and continued until its termination, at which a Private in captain Kneely’s [Samuel Neeley] company in Col [William] Hills regiment of South Carolina line; and that he received a certificate for the reward of eighty dollars, provided by the resolve of the 15th of May 1778 and further, that he was not on the 15th day of may, 1828, on the pension list of the United States, and that he has received as a pensioner since the 3rd day of March 1826, Nothing. 
The Third Auditor is requested to report how far the several statements are corroborated by the records in his office. 
By Order of the Secretary 
FA Dickens

Treasury Department, 
Third Auditors’s Office
6th December 1828
It further appears that Samuel Houston is not now on the pension list of any agency and has not been so since the 3rd March 1826. The name of Samuel Houston cannot be found among those of the South Carolina line to whom certificates for the gratuity of Eighty Dollars were issued- Peter Hagner Amr
forward
Page 71

Revolutionary Claims. 
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. 
Treasury Department 
15 Dec 1828. 

The annexed paper, relating to the claim of Samuel Houston under the abovementioned act, is respectfully referred to the Secretary of War, with a request that he will be pleased to cause me to be informed whether it appears, by any records in the War Department, that the claimant has received, or is entitled to receive, the bounty in land granted by Congress for service of the Continental Line of the Army of the Revolution. 
s/ R. Rush The Honorable Secretary of War

War Department. Bounty Land Office.
The records of this office do not show that Samuel Houston of the South Caroline line ever received or is entitled to bounty land of the United States. 
Robert Taylor 
16 Dec 1828
Page 72

For the purpose of [illegible] benefit of an act for the Relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the army of the Revolution approved the fifteenth day of May 1828 I Samuel Houston of Henry County in the state of Georgia do here by declare that I enlisted in the continental line of the army of the Revolution in the year 1781 and continued in its service until its transition at which period I was a private in Captain Samuel Kneelys [Neeley] Company in Colonel William Hills Regiment of the South Carolina line and I also declare that I after wards received a certificate for  the reward of eighty dollars as nigh as I recollect to which I was entitled by a resolve of Congress passed the 15th of May 1778 as nigh as I now recollect the date and further declare that I was not on the fifteenth day of March 1828 on the pension list of the United States. Signed the 28th of October 1828 Saml Houston
Sworn to before me the day and date above written
Willis Barrington JP

Georgia Henry County
Before me Willis Barrington a Justice of the peace duly empowered to administer oaths in the County and State aforesaid Personally appeared this day James Love Col and Saml Wells of the said County who did
seperately make oath that Samuel Houston who signed the foregoing declaration is Generally Reputed and believed to have been a private
Soldier in the Army of the Revolution s/ James Love Saml Wells

Sworn to and Subscribed Before me this 28 of October 1828
Willis Barrington J. P.
Page 73

Georgia Henry County 
I James Kimbrough clerk of Inferior Court of the aforesaid County and State do certify that Willis Barrington Before whom the foregoing affidavits were made was at the time an acting Justice of the peace duly Empowered to administer oaths
Given under my hand and private seal of office this 31st October 1828
James Kimbrough CIC seal 

Georgia  Henry County 
I James Sellers, presiding Justice of the Inferior Court in the State and the county aforesaid do certify that James Kimbrough who signed the foregoing certificate is the acting clerk of said court given under my hand and seal the 31st day of October 1828 
James Sellers JIC
Page 74

Georgia Fayett County
Before me Robert Tucker a Justice
of peace duly empowered to administer oaths in the County and State aforesaid personally appeared
this day William Davis of said County and made Oath Deposeth and sayeth that he was acquainted with
Samuel Houston who signed the foregoing Declaration and know that he was in the army of the Revolution and I believe he enlisted in the Company & Regiment and year set forth in his Declaration and
Believe the foregoing Declaration to be true s/ Wm Davis
Sworn to before me this 31 of October 1828
Robert Tucker JP

Georgia Fayette County
I William McBride Clerk
 of the Inferior Court of the aforesaid County and State do certfy that
Robert Tucker before whom the foregoing affidavits
were made was at the time an acting Justice of the peace duly empowered to administer oaths Given under my Hand and private
Seal this 30 of October 1828
Wm Mcbride clk JC
Page 75

Georgia
Fayette County 
[illegible] presiding justice
of the Inferior Court for the
State and for the County
aforesaid do certify that William McBride
who signed the forgoing certificate is the
acting Clerk of said Court
Given under my Hand & Seal this 30
October 1828
Finley G. Stewart JIC
Page 76

Fayetteville Ga. 2 January 1834
Sir, 
I include you an affidavit of Samuel
Houston explaining that part of his declaration in which he alleges to have served in one tour Eleven months.
Mr. Houston cannot take the affidavit prescribed in the notes to the instructions, for he recollects
the time of his service, and in the absence of any prescribed form, the plan in which his explanation is presented, has been adopted, and it is hoped it will be satisfactory- that Mr Houston did perform the service
as he has stated there is no more doubt, than there is that there was such a war as the Revolution, and the service objected seems to be the favorite part of the the old man services- I have known the old
man for many years, and can say that his moral character is perfectly unimpeachable, & I do not believe
he has an acquaintance who doubts his Revolutionary services. He certainly is entitled to full pay if he is in entitled to a cent, he is poor, and so infirm as to render it probable that very few years will end his claim forever
Very Respectfully
your obt
Finlay G. Stewart
Page 77

Fayetteville 7 Nov 1833
Sir
Inclosed you have the original
proceedings in the case of the application of Saml Houston and Richd Darby adapted (I hope) to the law and instructions from the War Department, I have also inclosed the former declaration of Mr Houston, Mr Darbey's former declaration, if it has been returned to me is mislaid or lost, the letter from the department accompanying Mr Houstons declaration is also returned-
Mr Houston requests that the former
declaration be returned to him if the
department has no further use for it
I will here remark that the seal
attached to these papers is the public
Seal of the County & will in future
be used, the former seal was merely
temporary
Respectfully
Finlay  G Stuart
Mr Darby's paper not found s/  Black
Page 78

Nov. 25, 1843.
Added to case of
Mr Houston
9
Col. J.L. Edwards
Comr of Pensions
Washington City
Page 79

Col J.L. Edwards
Richmond 23 Nov. 1843.
Sir: 
Yours of the 12th August, requiring
proof of service of Saml Houston before the claim of his widow can be allowed, was duly received
I now enclose you, the statement of the Comptroller Gen of S.C. of 16 Sept. 43. furnishing that proof - not exactly in the companies referred to in yr. letter, but in some of them, & in others not stated-- sufficient is shown by the record to make it apparent he was not over paid when placed on the Pension Roll- This document also shows that he was in service as late as April 1783.
In regard to the proof of the marriage Mrs Houston can get no record public or private and if the date as alleged by her (in 1778) be not credible from the supposed age of the husband yet it is immaterial of the marriage took place at all, whether it was in 1778 or within five years almost thereafter according to the record proof now offered. So far as her interest is concerned, she would prefer to get the pensions under the act of
7 July 1838, giving to her 5 years pension (& the 1/6 under the last act)
Whereas but little over 3 years have elapsed since her husbands death
she is certainly entitled, under the one or the other act, if she was
married prior to 1794- she says she was married 15 years before that time. If the evidence be satisfactory of a marriage at all, it must be that it occurred before 1794- She makes affidavit that she is unable to procure
any record public or private of the date of the marriage
In that state of the case, it is understood to be the rule of your office to admit the affidavits of Witnesses. In this case there are two certified to be credible-- a marriage must therefore be admitted & even if erroneous as to the particular year they cannot have erred as many years as necessary to exclude the claim. I am  V. obt servt
Thomas Green
Page 80


26 [cent symbol]
[upside down]
Green esq
Richmond 
Virginia
Page 81

Comptrollers Office
Columbia So.Co. Septr 16 /43
Dear Sir
Your communication of the 8 Inst. I have received: and have duly examd the Books and audts in relation to the services of Mr. Saml [Samuel] Houston & of Mr. John Gellespie -
Subjoined is a copy from the Records in this office of all thats related to their cases -

Indent Book O_ No_672: 
Issued the 2nd May 1785 to Mr. Saml Houston, for Forty Seven Pounds Seventeen shillings & a penny half, penny sterlg [Sterling], for Militia Duty, from 1780 to 1783 Pr. Acct. audited No_32
Principal £47:17:1 1/2 Amt. Ins.t £3:6:11

Acct. No_32_
For Militia Duty as Private Pre Pay Bill of Capt. Wm Freeman & John Calhoun comg [commanding] in Febry 1780 & again in April_ 83
Pr. Capt Freeman- On Food 61 Days @ 10/ £30: 10: 0
Pr     "     Calhoun- On Horse 180 Days @ 20/ £180: 0: 0
On Food 30 Days @ 10/ £15: 0: 0
Duty Pr. Col. Anderson's Return Bill is at £87: 0: 0  £312: 10: 0
Wagons Pairs 38 Days in 1781c £4- " 20:
Flours in 1782   " 2: 10:     22:10 0
                                                     Currency                 £335: 0:0
     Sterlg           £047:17:1 1/2
[Added on the side right beside the above notes]:
180-110= 70 Dragoon= 91.01 pre July

Indent Book R_ No_492: 
Issued the 10th June 1785 to Mr. Saml Houston, for the promised ten Shillings & Sterlg for Militia duty
P.s. Part of ans. audited- Principal  £2:10:0  Instd [installed] £0:3:6

Indent Book, T. No_411: 
Issued the 24th June 1785 to Saml Houston for One Pound eight Shillings & six pence three farthings sterling for Militia Duty pre ans. audited Princl [Principal] £1:8:6 3/4 Ins.t  £1:1:11

Indent Book Z_ No_456:
Issued 26th Febry 1788 to Mr. Saml Houston, for Twenty six pounds four shillings & three pence sterling, residue audt [audited] No_456.Z- Passed by Commissioners
Say 492 R-      Ins.t  £1:16:8-
[added on the side of the above note] 7 mo pr
Page 82

Acct No_11_  For 110 Days Duty
I do hereby certify that Samuel Houston Did 110 Days Duty in Capt. McClures [McLures] Company, under my command  22 March - 80
S/ Edwd Lacey 
Comg [Commanding]

I do hereby certify that Samuel Houston served 110 Days /as Horseman/ in Colonel Lacey's Regt. [Regiment] under the command of Genl. Sumter, in the year 1780 -
S/ Hugh Knox
Capt. [Captain]

Also certified by Col. [Joseph] Brown
I certify the above & foregoing, to be a true copy from the Records in this office
For Comptroller Genl.
S/ JDaval

S/ Thos. Green Esq. 
Richmond
Virginia
Page 83

State of Georgia Fayette County ss 
On this Fourth day of November One thousand eight hundred & Thirty three personally appeared in open Court, before Samuel Swanson, William Pace and Finlay G. Stewart - Justices of the Inferior Court of the County aforesaid, now sitting Samuel Houston, a resident of the County of Fayette and State of Georgia aged seventy one years (past) who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
In Capt Hugh Whitesides' Company of which John McCaw was a Lieutenant, In the Regiment Commanded by Colonel [William] Goodwin of the South Carolina Militia. That he entered the service in the latter part of the year 1778, a short time previous to the fate of Savannah as a substitute in place of his father Thomas Houston with whom he there resided in Chester district in the state of South Carolina, and who had been drafted to serve as a private in said Company under authority of the state of South Carolina and its officer, from which place (Chester district) he was marched toward & near to Savannah, but before he reached that place, it was taken by Col. Campbell of the British Army. That he was then stationed at Purysburg and was there discharged after having served not less than three months, and that during this term he was not engaged in any Civil pursuit whatever.
In the Spring of the next year 1779 he again entered the service of the United States as a private soldier (and
Page 84

as a system of classing the militia had been adopted he is not absolutely certain whether he was drafted or belonged to the Class which was to perform this tour of duty but is inclined to this opinion that he was of the class required to enter the service) in Captain Phillip Walker's Company of the South Carolina militia of which Company Alexander Campbell was a Lieutenant, that said Company was attacked too belonged to the Regiment commanded by Colonel [Edward] Lacey, and was called into service under authority of the state of South Carolina- that he entered the services in Chester district South Carolina & was marched thence to Charleston where he was stationed and was discharged after having served not less than three months, and that he was engaged in no Civil pursuit whatever during the term.
    In the year 1780 and in the latter part of the month of April or the first of the month of May he again entered the services of the United Sates as a private and believes as a volunteer, in Chester district So.Ca. [South Carolina] under the Command of Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Brown, who then had the command of Col. Lacey's Regiment of the So. Carolina Militia, in Capt [Robert] Frosts Company, of which Michael Gore was a Lieutenant, which Company was called into service under authority of the state of So. Carolina, that he was marched from Chester to Camden and thence toward Charleston, but before we marched that place we were met by Governor Rutledge with the information that Charleston had fallen into the hands of the British and Lt. Col. Brown at the suggestion of Gov. Rutledge returned with his regiment to Camden, and he was discharged by Lt. Col. Brown at Camden, having been in the service not less than two weeks, and was engaged in no Civil pursuit during that time. Immediately after he returned to his father in Chester district South Carolina, in the month of May 1780, he turned and joined the Company of South Carolina Militia commanded by Captain John McLure, of which Hugh McLure
Page 85

was first Lieutenant, John Stule 2 Lieutenant and James Johnston 3 Lieutenant, of Col Edward] Lacey's Regiment, as a private, which Company, under the Command of Col Lacey was called into service under authority of the state of South Carolina and was marched from Chester to Mobley's Meeting House where we had a skirmish with some Tories. - Thence he was marched into North Carolina near Charlotte in Mecklinburg County, at which place Genl Sumpter [General Sumter] joined us, and was appointed to the Command in Chief, thence we marched to Phifers where Genl Davidson of the North Carolina Militia joined us. - Capt [John] McLure's Company, in which he was, at Phifers was detached by General Sumter to Cross the Catawba River into Lincoln (formerly Tryon) County N.C. against some Tories embodying, at Ramsour's Mills, where we had a Battle with and defeated the Tories. in this Battle Capt Falls, a brave and vigilant officer, who commanded a company of our Cavalry, was killed. - From the Battle ground at Ramsour's Mills he was again marched across the Catawba River into the Catawba Indian's Land and encamped for sometime at a place called Cleaves branch in Lancaster District South Carolina. - from thence, in Capt Mclure's Company & under the Command of Col Lacey he was detached to cross the Catawba River into York District to meet some British and Tories, whom we did meet, and defeated as Col William Bratton's, Capt Hook a British Officer, and Col Ferguson a Tory was killed, and a Capt Edmonson of the British Infantry was taken prisoner from Col. Bratton's we were again marched across the Catawba River & joined Genl Sumter where we left him at Cleaves branch. from thence Genl Sumter marched us to Rocky Mount where we had a Battle with some British and Tories under the Command of Col. Turnbute of the British Army. - from Rocky Mount Genl Sumter again marched us across the River and on that day week after the Battle of Rocky Mount we had
Page 86

another battle at a place called Hanging Rock, where Capt [John] McLure fell mortally wounded, his brother first Lieutenant Hugh McLure having been disabled by wound, wounded at Mobley's Meeting House, the command of the Company devolved upon Lieutenant John Stule [Steele] the army again crossed the river, but he remained by expressed permission of Genl Sumpter [Thomas Sumter] to take care of his brother William Houston who was wounded at the battle of Hanging Rock and attempted to convey him on a bier to the Hospital at Charlotte in the State of North Carolina, before he arrived however his brother died of his wounds, and before he could reach the army again as he was directed by Genl Sumter, after disposing of his brother, Genl Gates & Genl Sumter were both defeated and being informed that Genl Sumter returned towards Charlotte in No Carolina, after interring the corpse of his brother he joined Genl Sumter forthwith and the remain of his defeated army near Charlotte - thence he was detached by order of Genl Sumter in Captain John Cunningham's Company of mounted men under the Command of Col Edward Lacey & Col [James] Williams in pursuit of Col. Ferguson who was on the other side of Broad River, and having been joined by Col Graham with his Regiment from Lincoln County No Carolina, under the temporary Command in Chief of Col [William] Campbell, and the subordinate Command of Colonel's [John] Servier, [Benjamin] Cleveland: and [Isaac] Shelby, whom we had joined, we attacked Col Ferguson's army on Kings Mountain & defeated him, Col. Ferguson was killed - and we lost Col. Williams who also shared in the Command on that day. - On the day after the Battle of Kings Mountain he left the army having been on that day discharged by Col Lacey for the purpose of returning home - but on hearing that Lord Cornwallis was on his march or was about
Page 87

to march from Charlotte in No Ca [North Carolina] to Winnsboro in So.Ca. [South Carolina] on the fourth or fifth day after he was discharged at Kings Mountain, in York District, South Carolina he volunteered as a Private in a Company then raising by Captain Benjamin Garrison under authority of the State of South Carolina, and was marched in Capt Garrison's Company to the old Nation Ford on the Catawba river when it was expected Lord Cornwallis would either cross or send a detachment to cross, from thence we joined Genl  Sumpter [General Thomas Sumter] at Palmore's Fort, in York district So.Ca. that he was then detached by Genl Sumter and was kept reconnecting between Genl Sumter's army at Fort Palmore and Lord Cornwallis' army at Winnsboro until the battle of the Cowpens, which battle he believed was fought in January 1780. in the month of February after the Battle of the Cowpens he was attacked with the small pox with which he was confined in the Hospital which was provided for sick soldiers until about the 1st of April 1780. and was discharged and left the army in May afterwards. - and from the time he entered Capt. McLures' Company until he left Genl Sumters' army after his recovery from the small pox, excluding the days in the intervening between the time he was discharged at Kings Mountain and the time he entered Capt Garrison's Company which did not exact six days. he believes he was not in the army less than one year as herein stated, but for the sake of certainty he will say that he was in the service of the United States as herein stated not less than Eleven months, and that he was engaged in no Civil pursuit whatever during that time. 
That, before the expiration of the month of May 1780, he enlisted, as a private, in a Company of Cavalry under Capt Samuel Neely [Neeley], of whose
Page 88

Company James McDowell was a Lieutenant, which Company was raised either under the authority of the United States & of the state of South Carolina. & as enlisting was the mode of raising men by the U.S. he presumes said Company was raised under authority of the United States, and served in the Regiment of the S Carolina line commanded by Col William Hill and Majr  Bluford [Major William Buford] (does not remember any Lt. Colonel) that he enlisted in York District So Ca [South Carolina] & was Marched thence to Ankrims [Ancrums] on Congaree river near where Columbia now stands, others joined Col. Hill & drew public arms, for the Cavalry service and under the Command of Majr Buford he was marched thence to the Juniper Springs, & thence to the lower part of Laurens district and then joined Genl Green [Nathanael Greene] - that he was in a skirmish at Pine Logford on Edisto river with a Capt. Livingston of the British army & who was killed by Majr Buford - afterwards he was in another skirmish near the same river with some Tories. - and in another at a place called Old Church with a party of British and Tories. in those skirmishes we were victorious - that the term of his enlistment was for one year, and that he continued in the service of the United States for the first term of his enlistment, and was discharge at Orangeburg Court House, South Carolina, in May 1782.
That he now has no documentary evidences having lost all his discharges - that he now knows of no person whose testimony he can procure besides William Davis & Josiah Houston, who can testify to his service. - that since the Revolution he resided in Pendleton district South Carolina until 1823. from that time till 1828 in Henry County, State of Georgia- since that time at his present place of abode in Fayette County Georgia. that he was born in Mecklinburg
Page 89

Mecklinburg County, in the State of North Carolina in the year 1760. - That he has no record of his age - The Reverend Thomas H. Cliatt, and Andrew McBride can testify to my Character for veracity the belief of the neighborhood where I reside, and their belief of my services as a soldier of the Revolution.
He hereby relinquishes every Claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not as the role of the agency of any state.
Sworn to subscribed the day & year aforesaid
S/ Samuel Houston

To the 1st Interrogatory he answers.
In Mecklinburg County state of North Carolina. in the year 1760.
To the 2nd he ans. [answered]
He has no record of his age. 
To the 3rd he ans.
In Chester District state of South Carolina, He entered the service once on his return home to Chester district and once when he had gone there for the purpose of making that his home, in York District So. Ca.[South Carolina]
- In Pendleton So.Ca. in Henry County Georgia and now in Fayette County Georgia.
To the 4th he ans.-
Once as a substitute for his father Thomas Houston- as a draftee- once enlisted - the remaining tours as a volunteer -
Page 90

To the fifth Interg [interrogative] he ans. [answered]
That he must refer to the body of his declaration which contains the answer at large to this interrogatory 
To the 6th he ans.
He did,  by Col [William] Goodwin
Capt [Philip] Walker
Lt. Col. [Joseph] Brown
Col. [Edward] Lacey 
Capt. Benjamin] Garrison
Maj Bluford [William Buford] each of which discharges have been lost or destroyed 
To the 7th he states
The Rev. Thomas H. Cliatt and Andrew McBride

We Thomas H Cliatt a Clergyman residing in the County of Fayette, and State of Georgia, and Andrew McBride residing in the same County and state,  hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Samuel Houston who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy one years of age, that he is refuted and believed in the neighborhood where he resided to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. 
Sworn & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid:
S/ Thomas H Cliatt M.G. 
S/ Andrew McBride

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting
Page 91

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 Thomas H. Cliatt who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the County of Fayette state of Georgia, and that Andrew McBride who has also signed the same is a resident in the same County & State, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitle to the credit.
S/ Samuel Swanson JIC
S/ William Pace JIC
S/ Finlay G. Stewart JIC

I William McBride Clerk of the Inferior Court of Fayette County, Georgia, do hereby certify that the forgoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Samuel Houston for a Pension
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this Fourth day of November Eighteen hundred Thirty-three.
S/ Wm McBride 
Clk Inf. Court
Page 92

Georgia Fayette County
Personally appeared before me Jesse Ward a Justice of the Peace in and for said county,  Josiah Houston who bring duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is a younger brother of Samuel Houston, that he was between the age of 12 & 14 years when he saw his brother Samuel Houston at Cleaves branch in General Sumpter's [Thomas Sumter] army in the year of 1780. That he has seen the declaration of his brother Samuel Houston made in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832. and has carefully examined the same, and from the circumstance of having frequently during the Revolutionary War seen him under arms as such as he has therein stated, and never having heard anything to the contrary, he does not hesitate on his oath to declare his full behalf of the truth of the statements therein made. 
S/ Josiah Houston
Sworn to Subscribed before me this 4 November 1833
S/ Jesse Ward J.P

Georgia 
I Jesse Ward a Justice of the Peace in & for Fayette County before whom Josiah Houston made the above affidavit, hereby certify that said affidavit is entitled to full faith and credit and that the said Josiah Houston is a credible person-
Given under my hand this 4th day of November 1833
S/ Jesse Ward J.P.

I William McBride Clerk of the Inferior Court of Fayette County, State of Georgia, do hereby
Page 93

certify that Jesse Ward whose name appears to the foregoing certificate as a Justice of the Peace in & for said county, is a justice of the Peace as he is there represented, and that due faith and credit aught to be had & given to his alteration as such. Given under my hand & seal of office this 4th day of November 1838.
S/ Wm McBride 
Clk Inf court
Page 94

Georgia Fayette County: Personally appeared before me Jesse Ward a Justice of the Peace in & for said county. William Davis who being duly sworn deposeth and saith, that he was a soldier in the army of the Revolution and that he saw Samuel Houston in the service of the United States, under the command of Col [Edward] Lacey: That he saw him at Ankrims [Ancrum] on Congaree river, paraded in Col. [William] Hills Regiment of Cavalry in 1781. That he saw him frequently at other places during the war, but does not recollect with sufficient accuracy any other places to state on oath, and that he has carefully examined the declaration made by the said Samuel Houston in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832, and from his acquaintances with the said Samuel Houston during the war and since, he does not hesitate on his oath to declare that according to his belief said declaration contains the truth and nothing but the truth
S/ Wm Davis
Sworn & Subscribed this 4th day of November 1833. Before me
Jesse Ward J.P.

Georgia 
I Jesse Ward a Justice of the Peace in & for Fayette County before whom William Davis made the above affidavit, do hereby certify that the said William Davis is a credible person and that his statement is entitled to full faith & credit.
Given under my hand this fourth day of November 1833
S/ Jesse Ward J.P.

I William McBride Clerk of the Inferior Court of Fayette County, State of Georgia, do hereby certify
Page 95

that Jesse Ward whose name appears to the foregoing certificate as a Justice of the Peace in & for said county is a justice of the Peace as he is there represented, and that due faith and credit aught to be had & given to his alteration as such. Given under my hand & seal of office this 4th day of November 1838.
S/ Wm McBride 
Clk Inf court
Page 96

[printed letterhead] ED CORNISH,
PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER
C. E. GARNER, SECRETARY
NATIONAL COTTONSEED PRODUCTS CORPORATION P. O. BOX 1007
VICE-PRESIDENTS E. RICE
W. C. SCROGGIN H. J. PARRISH
D. D. ADAMS W. S. ROBERTS
MEMPHIS, TENN.
FEBRUARY 23, 1925

COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS
WASHINGTON, D.C.
GENTLEMEN: 
WHEN IN THE RICHMOND STATE LIBRARY I FOUND THE REFERENCES GIVEN BELOW WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE VERIFIED FROM
YOUR RECORDS:

P.R. V.3. P. 31, JOHN HOUSTON, COWETA COUNTY GA., PRIVATE N.C. MILITIA, PLACED ON PENSION ROLL APRIL 12TH, 1833, AGE 69.

P.R. V.3.P.39, SAMUEL HOUSTON, FAYETTE COUNTY GA., PRIVATE OF IND. AND CAV., S.C., PLACED ON PENSION ROLL APRIL 1OTH, 1834, AGE 72.

VERY CORDIALLY,
s/ W W Hildebrand
Box 1007, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

[stamp] U.S. PENSION OFFICE
FEB 26 1925