Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6,414, Matthew Williams, Va
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SERVICE Va

Williams, Matthew (Colored) or Mathew

NUMBER S. 6,414

carded
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[left side of page]
Died
July 29, 1833

[right side of page]
Virginia 12.468
Mathew Williams
of Southampton in the State of Va. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Euel of the Regt. commanded by Col. Dabney in the Va. line for 18  months

Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 60 Dollars _ Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 2d. day of May '3[illegible] and sent to James Roshell (clk) Jerusalem Va.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 - 120
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Septr. - - 30
$150
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by William Miller Clerk, 
Book E. Vol. 6 Page 30 -
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State of Virginia Southampton County
On this 17th day of September 1832 personally appeared before the justices of Southampton in open court sitting Matthew Williams a ^Free man of colour & a resident of said county aged 77 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 served in the [blank] Regiment of [blank] Enlisted in Cabin Point in the year [blank] under Colonel Dabney was under the command of Col. Dabney & a Lieutenant Slaughter marched from cabbin Point to Hills Borough in N. Carolina thence to Salsbury & was in the battle of Guilford where he was wounded in the knee by a musket Ball That he was at the Siege of York Town in Virginia under the command of Col. Merrywether Major Dick & Capt Ewel That under the
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command of Capt. Ewel they attacked the Pidion Hill Fort and drove the English from it after the Battle of Guilford he marched to the Hanging Rocks under the command of Thomas Ewel. That he had a Discharge but has lost it long since, That from age and infirmity (having been attacked with Eppilepsy) he cannot recollect the dates of the different occurrences and but for of the names of those under whom he served that he knows of no person living that he was in the service with That he resided in the county of Southampton at the time he enlisted under Col. Dabney for Eighteen months That he after ward
Sworn to and Subscribed in open Court on the day aforesaid
Matthew Williams his x mark
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He hereby relinquishes any claim to a pension or annuity except the present & he hereby declares his name is not on the pension rool of any agency in any state - Sworn to and subscribed on the day & year aforesaid
and the said court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states 
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court on the day aforesaid
Matthew Williams his x mark
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We John Denegre a Clergyman residing in the County of Southampton and Thomas R. Gray residing in said County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Matthew Williams who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be Seventy Seven 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 to and subscribed 17th day of September 1832
John Denegre
T R Gray

Virginia Southampton County Court September 17th 1832
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 John Denegre who has signed the preceding Certificate is a Clergyman resident in the said County of Southampton and that Thomas R Gray - who has also signed the same is a resident in the said County and a credible person, and their statement is entitled to credit -
I James Rochelle Clerk of the County Court of Southampton do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Matthew Williams for a Pension. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office this 18th day of September 1832
James Rochelle C. S. C.
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14223
Matthew Williams
Va.
on the rolls, State line
Admit p. 18 mo as a private $60 -

James Rochelle Esqr -
Clk South Ampton Co
Jerusalem Va
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Brief in the case of Matthew Williams a free man of colour
County of Southampton in the state of Virginia
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? 
In open Court 

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? [blank]

3. How old is he? 77 

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 

[column headings: Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.]

Enlisted In 17.|Years, Months, Days. "he enlisted under Colonel Dabney for eighteen months".| As a private.| General. Colonel Dabney Lieutenant Slaughter Colonel Merrywither Major Dick Captain Ewell.|

5. In what battles was he engaged? Guilford, Yorktown, Pigeon Hill Fort

6. Where did he reside when he entered the services? Southampton VA

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary evidence

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so , in what respect? Correct

[Black and White Stamp] Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

John L Watson Examining Clerk.
18th February 1833
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O.W. and N. Division. 
J.R.N.
#6HIH-[illegible]
Revolutionary War

3__525.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C., April 8, 1901

Sir,

In reply to your request for a statement of the of the military history of Matthew Williams, a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.

[column headings: DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICES UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN. COLONEL. STATE.]

[illegible] status.| 18 months.| [illegible].| Ewell. Dabney. Va.

Battles engaged in: Guilford [illegible] Yorktown
Residence of soldier at enlistment: [illegible] [illegible] Va.
Date of application for pension: September 17, 1832
Residence at date of application: 77 years
Remarks: His claim was allowed. He was a freeman of color.

Very respectfully,
[illegible] Howard E. Nutt
To [illegible] Exchange Nutt [illegible]
Chicago [illegible]
Commissioner

16733b3m12-1900
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Matthew Williams a freeman of colour which require further proof or explanation. 

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Not with precision

V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? no

VII. Has mad a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes

X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has is a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes
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2

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? yes

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? [blank]

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? yes

XIV. If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? no

XIV. If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? [blank]

XIV. Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? [blank]

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's services? [blank]

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes 

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? no, 1st 2nd and part of the 3rd


EXPLANATORY NOTES.

*QUERE V.  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 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 [blank] year [blank] months, and [blank] days, I served as a [blank] and for such service I claim a pension.
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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 phrase [italics] about three or four months [end italics] is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state 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 shewn 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 filed or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, the was not employed in any civil pursuit. 

[black cross stamp] QUERE XIV. [italics] Proof of Service [end italics]

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 claimants 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 be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. 


[black cross stamp] QUERE XVI. [italics] Mode of Authenticating papers. [end italics]

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 paper 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 bein improperly attached to the certificate. 

[hand pointing right stamp] In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.
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6414

INVALID.

File No. 6414

Mathew Williams
Pri. Rev War

Act: June 7 1832
Index: -Vol. A, Page 408

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Rev War
6414
Invalid
File No 6414
Mathew Williams
Pri. Rev War

Act: June 7 1832
Index: Vol. A, Page 408 

{Arrangement of 1870.}
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Aug 8, 96 (?) _______
O.H. Briggs ___
JWB

(CROSSED OUT)
April - 8 - 1904
Howard E. Nutt
Chicago(?) ________

1933 - June 10, M.L. Williams advised that this soldier was a colored man (?). See his letter in Francis Jones, S, 36683 J.M.N
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[handwritten]own 
[handwritten]A. C. N. W
[circular stamp]U.S. PENSION OFFICE JUL 29 1896

#622 C Street N. E. Washington, D. C. 
July 28, 1896.

Hon Dominick Murphy,
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington D. C.

Sir:-
Will you kindly furnish me with the military records of the following named parties, pensioned for services in the Revolutionary war:
William Clay, private, Grainger Co., Tenn.
John Amonett, " Madison Co., Ala.
Matthew Nail, " " " "
Matthew Williams, " Southampton Co., Va.
Please give me all facts of date, places of birth. particulars of service, etc.

Very respectfully,
[signature] O. H. Briggs
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His widow, Rebecca, made application and received a pension for the services of her husband as above set forth.

Matthew Williams made application for pension September 17, 1832, at which time he was residing in Southampton Co., Va., and 77 years of age, and his pension was allowed for eighteen months' actual service as a private in the Virginia troops, Revolutionary War; a part of the time he servedunder Capt. Ewel and Col. Dabney. He enlisted at Cabin Point, Va.

John Amminet, (not Amonett) made application for pension October 19, 1832, at which time he was residing in Madison Co., Alabama, and 79 years of age, and his pension was allowed for three years' actual service as a private in the Virginia troops, Revolutionary War; a part of the time he served under Capt. James Franklin and Col. Stephens. He enlisted in Buckingham County, Va.

Very respectfully,

Commissioner,

Mr. O. N. Briggs,
522 C Street, N. E. 
City.
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O. W. & N. Div.
I 16602
I 6414
W 156
I 14004
L. W. B.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
WASHINGTON, D. C. 
Aug. 7, 1896.

Sir:
Replying to your request for information concerning the military records of William Clay, John Amonett, Matthew Nail, and Matthew Williams, soldiers of the Revolutionary War, you are advised as follows:-

Matthew Nail made an application for pension in October, 1832, at which time he was residing in Madison Co., Alabama, and 77 years of age, and his pension was allowed for two years' actual services as a private in the Georgia troops, Revolutionary War; a part of the time he served under Major Ross and Col. Watson. He enlisted in Wilkes County, Ga.

William Clay made application for pension October 10, 1832, at which time he was residing in Granger County, Tenn., and 72 years of age, and his pension was allowed for seven months actual service as a private and one month's services as a sergeant in the Virginia troops, Revolutionary War; a part of the time he served under Capt. Edward Mosely and Col. Robert Goode. He enlisted in Chesterfield Co., Va.