Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 11460, Mathias Whiteman, N. C.
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[Printed document with handwritten entries}

(3-1776)
SERVICE | NUMBER
N.C. | Whiteman, Mathias | R. 11460
Margaret
CONTENTS
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[Printed document with handwritten entries]

Pention claim
[crossed out: BOUNTY LAND CLAIM]
By a widow of an old Revolutionary soldier.
Form of Declaration for Widow of a deceased Soldier
State of Indiana}
County of Clark} ss.
On this Seventeenth day of December A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty personally appeared before me, a justice of the peace within and for the county and State aforesaid Margarett Whiteman aged near one hundred years a resident of Clark in the State of Indiana, who being duly sworn according to law, declares, that she is the widow of Mathias Whiteman deceased, who was a private in the company commanded by Captain [inserted: Heinry]  Whitesel & others. in the Regiment of General Gates + Gen Green commanded by {illegible} Paisley in the war between the United States + Great Britain known as the 
Revolutionary war. That her said husband enlisted at Guilford County N. Carolina  on or about the [blank space] day of March A.D. 1781 + before for the term of six month tours.
and continued in actual service in said war for the term of several tours and was honorably discharged at places unknown to her on the
nor does she recolect the names except the last tour of the war A.D. 1783. as will appear by the muster rolls of said company. She further states that she was married to the said Mathias Whiteman in Guilford County on the
[blank space] day of [blank space] A.D. 1784 by one George Cortner - a justice of the peace and that her name before her said marriage was Margarett Low that her said husband died at Guilford County North Carolina on the [blank space] day of [blank space] A.D. about 1816 and that she is still a widow, + wholly without the means of support.

She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining a pention to which she may be entitled under the act Congress in such cases made and provided. She further states that she has been helpless for two years, and unable to make a support for 10 years

Sworn and subscribed before me the day and year above written.

H. Clay Cooms J.P. [the word seal is circled]  [illegible] Margaret her + mark Whiteman [the word seal is circled]

AFFIDAVIT OF WITNESSES.
STATE OF Indiana}
COUNTY OF Clark} ss.
On this Seventeenth day of December A.D., one thousand eight hundred and fifty
personally appeared before me a justice of the peace within and for the State and county aforesaid Gorge Valentin Fifer and [blank space] resident of the State of Indiana and county of Clark who being duly sworn according to law, declare that Margarett Whiteman is the widow of Mathias Whiteman deceased, who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Henry Whitesel + others in the regiment of [blank space] company commanded by Colonel Paisley
that he fought under General Gates at his defeat and was in the army in South Carolina before, and also fought under General Green in Guilford County North Carolina. Witness knew both parties when
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[Printed document with handwritten entries]

he was a boy and before and after their marriage Witness further states that Mathias Whiteman was at the battle when Col DeKalb  was killed &+was in the company that took the baggage wagons and was hotly pursued by the British
(a) That the said Margarett Whiteman was married to the said Mathias Whiteman deceased, at Guilford County in the State of North Carolina on the soon after peace was
made April A.D., 1874 by one George Cotner a justice of the peace, that the name of the said Margarett Whitman before her marriage aforesaid was Margaret Low that her husband,
the said Mathias Whiteman died in Guilford County N.C. on the 4 day of July A.D., about 1816 and that she is still a widow, That* Witness States that he resided in the neighbourhood of the parties during the Revolutionary war though a boy at the time, and until the death of Mathias Whiteman and came to this State with the widow & family afterward + have lived neighbours ever since
And he swears that he is disinterested witness.

his
George Valentin his X mark Fifer

Subscribed and sworn to before me this Seventeenth day of December A.D. 1850 And I hereby certify that George Valentine Fifer and [blank space] is credible witness

H. Clay Coones J.P.

*Witnesses will state here the reasons upon which their evidence is founded.

(a) Witness also states, that when the American army retreated to a River, hotly pursued by the British army that
Mathias Whiteman carried one of his fellow soldiers, who was very large + could not swim, across the river safely on his back together with their guns & knapsacks, while many of the Americans were shot in the river. These facts he learned from the soldiers soon after the battle. He also states that he saw Whiteman going + returning to + from the army * and that he had the name of a noble soldier.

Notes.
The declaration to be executed before a  Justice of the Peace, or other officer authorized to administer oaths for general purposes. If the deceased officer was a regimental or staff officer, the declaration must be varied as to express the fact.
After the words " in the state in what war, whether in the war with Great Britain declared by the United States on the 18th day of June, 1812, the Mexican war, if an officer, or any of the Indian wars, since 1700, describing the same. After the words "that her said husband," insert whether he enlisted, volunteered, or was drafted. After stating the term of actual service, say whether, honorably discharged, or killed in battle. After the words "as will appear by", if the discharge be in existence, say, as will appear by his original certificate of discharge
herewith presented. If the discharge be lost or destroyed, or it is ascertained on inquiry or examination that one was never received, insert after the words as will appear by," the words "by the muster rolls of said company," and in the two following lines state the facts in reference to the missing discharge. If no public or private record of the marriage exists, or can be procured, state the fact in the declaration; after stating the name before marriage; and in such case, other evidence, such as the testimony of persons who knew the parties in the lifetime of the husband, and knew them to live together as husband and wife, and to be so reputed, will be admissible. If no public or private record exists an authenticated copy thereof must be furnished; if it be a private record, the authenticated some disinterested person, proving the genuineness of the orignal, and that the copy certified is a true and correct copy of it. A certificate from the clergyman or magistrate, who solemnized the marriage is not competent evidence, unless the genuineness of the cerficate be proved, and the person who gave it be shown to have been authorized to solemnize marriages.

*that is he saw said Whiteman in the ranks when mustered into service + met them, (the army) as he returned on two if not or three occasions. Said Whiteman was in the service
during nearly the whole of the war, but he usuly served six month tours.  Said witness was at that time about 15 or 16 years of age.
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BOUNTY LAND.
ACT OF 28TH SEPT., 1850.
Attorney,
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[Printed document with handwritten entries]

Power of Attorney.
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, That I Henry Whiteman (administrator of Margaret Whiteman deceased) of the county of
Clark and State of Indiana have constituted
and appointed, and by these presents do constitute and appoint Henry F Smith of Jeffersonsville Ia my true and lawful attorney irrevokably for me and in my name to receive from the United States the bounty land
certificate or warrant, or pension certificate, and all such sum or sums of money due one on account of arrears of pay three months' extra pay, forage, mileage, for horses and other property lost or destroyed in the military service, expenses incurred, or money expended for organizing volunteer companies before being mustered into the service of
the United States, or any money or moneys which may be due one by the United States on any account whatsoever, and to which I may be entitled as the administrator of Margaret Whiteman deceased, as set forth in the foregoing declaration; and generally to do all lawful acts and things whatsoever touching
the premises, and an attorney or attornies under him for the purposes aforesaid, to make and at his pleasure to revoke, hereby confirming all and whatsoever my said attorney shall in my name legally do or cause to be done in or about the premises.

IN TESTMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this [blank space] day of April 1852.

Henry his X mark Whiteman

Witnessed by
C. P. Ferguson
Noah Henby
2 Witnesses

Acknowledged and subscribed before me a Justice of the peace in and for the county of Clark and State of Indiana this 29 of April 1852.

In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name as a Justice of the peace aforesaid.

Asa Glover J P [the word seal is circled]

State of Indiana}
County of Clark} ss.

I Charles P. Ferguson Clerk of the County Court, in and for the County and State above mentioned, do hereby certify, that Asa Glover Esq whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing declaration, affidavit, and power of attorney, is, and was, at the time of signing the same a Justice of the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn; that all his official acts as such are entitled to full faith and credit; and that the aforesaid County Court is a Court of Record, having general jurisdiction.

GIVEN under my hand and seal of office at Charlestown Inda this 29th day of April
A. D., 1852

C. P. Ferguson Clerk.
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State of Indiana}
County of Clark) ss
On this 21st day of April 1852 personally appeared in open Court Henry Whiteman
of said County and makes the following declaration in order to obtain from the United States for the heirs of Margaret Whiteman decd + Mathias Whiteman decd any and all pension money and bounties to which the said heirs may be entitled under any act or acts of Congress passed for the benefit of those who
served in the Revolutionary war of the widows and heirs of such - That he is administrator of the Estate of Margaret Whiteman late of this County who was the widow of Mathias Whiteman decd as appears from letters of Administration herewith filed - That the said Margaret Whiteman died at his house in said County on or about the 20th of July 1851 at the age of about 100 years That she was
the widow of Mathers Whiteman of Guilford County North Carolina who died in that County in 1816 leaving the said Margaret his widow who continued to be his widow up to the time of her death and the following children and heirs at law: who are now living to wit:
Elizabeth Philipee aged 68 years and widow of Henry Philipee decd
The Heirs of John Whiteman decd (towit.  Susan aged 35 years + John Whiteman aged 33 years)
The Heirs of Peggy Clapp decd, (towit: Lewis Clapp aged 35 years Mary Clapp aged 32 years)
Heirs of Sally Clapp decd (towit Samuel Clapp aged 36 years Ephiny Clapp aged 34 years Mary Clapp aged 32 years Joel Clapp aged 30 years William Clapp aged 24 years Peggy Clapp aged 22 years and Eliza Clapp aged 19 years)
The heirs of Polly Wilson decd (towit Matilda Wilson
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aged 31 years )
Etha Field aged 58 years and wife of Abner Field
Esther Wilson wife of Jesse Wilson and aged 56 years
Barbara Cortner wife of David Cortner and aged 44 years
and Henry Whiteman aged 46 years
that there is no other child nor heir at law of the said Margaret Whiteman deed is living.

Henry his X mark Whiteman

Sworn to & subscribed before Hon Willis W. Goodwin Sole Judge of Probate Court for Clark Co. Ind. in open Court April 21st 1852

In testimony whereof I Charles P. Ferguson Clerk of said court hereto subscribe my name and a fix the seal of said Court the date last aforesaid
C. P. Ferguson Clk

Declaration of Henry Whiteman
Administrator &C
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[Left side of document]
14.668
Margaret Whiteman Widow of Mathias Indiana
OD Robb Aug 9 1852-
same Sep 21 1852-
N Sargent Aug 15 1853-
Same Aug 22 1853 - Same
Octo 29 1853 - Same Nov 18 1953 - Same March 8 1954 - Hon W. H. English 10 July 1854 -

[Right side of document]
No 14,668
Margaret Whiteman wid of Mathias
Indiana
Let O.D. Robb Aug 9/52
same Sep 24/52
N Sargent aug 15 1853
same " 22, 1853
same sep 29 1853
same Nov 19th 1853
ACt 7 July 1838
N. Sargent Mar 8. 1854
Hon W.H. English 10th July 1854.

act 7th July 1838
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[Printed document with handwritten entries]

[Crossed out: Act of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.]
11,460
P.O. Margt Whitema
Service:
[Stamped: REJECTED]
Enlisted: ___, 18  .
Discharged:_____, 18  .
Application filed:_____, 18  .
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P. O.
_____Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____Cert. of Dis. Searched for_____, 18   .
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[Printed document with handwritten entries]

I Chas. Ferguson Clerk of the Probate Court in and for the County of Clark in the State of
Indiana, do hereby certify, that administration of the goods chattles, rights, credits, moneys and effects, which were of Margaret Whiteman, late of Clark County, deceased, who died intestate, is granted to Henry Whiteman having qualified and given bond as such administrator, is duly authorized to take upon himself the administration of such estate according to law.

Witness my hand and the seal of said Court, this 21st day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty two

Charles P. Ferguson
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{State of North Carolina
{Comptroller's Office
I, William J. Clarke, Comptroller of public accounts in and for the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that it appears of record in my office, among the payments made by said State to sundry persons for Military services in the Revolutionary War as follows, to wit;
Matthias Whitman or Whiteman
Indent or army certificate No. 63 issued by Auditor of Edenton District September 19th 1781, [British pound sign] specie
Book A. No. 11 page 41, 9 [British pound sign] S6. Specie October 1st. 1783
" " 19 " 10 [British pound sign] 4S12 " April 1781
" EG " 36 [British pound sign] 8 " in the year 1779

[Image of possible seal, illegible]

In testimony whereof I have hereunto
subscribed my name and affixed my seal of office this 28th day of June 1852.

Wm. J, Clark Comptr.

[British pound sign] 7
6
4.12
8
[British pound sign] 28.18
20
81578 S
72.25
$36,12½
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Washington Nov. 21, 1853

Sir,

I have received your decision in the case of
the heirs of Matthias Whiteman & must confess myself very much surprised at it, though from the manifest determination evinced from the first of my connexion with it, to reject it I perhaps ought not to be.

The first, + then only objection raised against the case was the want of sufficient proof of the marriage of Matthias and Margaret Whiteman, This objection was met by additional
satisfactory proof. Two other objections were then raised, one, that it was stated who the heirs were, but not who the children were; the other was the want of identity. The first was soon given up. The last I considered  unreasonable, but as the witness was still living, he was applied to, + stated under that the children named + who are the applicants, are the children of Matthias Whiteman who was in the revolutionary army from North Carolina. This fact was the only one which you then seemed to require further proof of: but upon supplying this, other objections are now
raised: one is, that there has been a delay of fourteen years in the application. The answer to this is, that as Congress has not thought proper to pass a Statute of limitations in
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in regard to applications of this part, I cannot see what right the commissioner of Pensions has to enact one. There may have been very good reasons why the application was not sooner made, but it probably never entered the heads of those concerned that it was
necessary to go into an explanation of them in order to sustain a just claim.

Another objection raised is, that the witness does not State what his age is, but has left it (a matter of importance") as you think, to implications", True, he does; and the "implication" is that he is an old man; which
is the fact. "He must be nearly ninety years", you remark. He may be been older; but does that that invalidate his testimony when he swears to what he saw+ knew when he was about 15 or 16 years of age? If so, then the testimony of the only men now left, of "few and far between", who can testify at all from
personal knowledge in regard to the transactions of revolutionary times, is a good for nothing, + is in all cases to be set aside unless proved by other testimony to be true.

Another objection is that the witness, Fifer, states that Whiteman was in the battle in which DeKalb was killed. The date of this being the 16th August 1780, it is inferred that he could not have served half the period of the
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war; whereas the witness states that he served
nearly the whole of the war. How it can be inferred that because Whiteman was in that battle, that he was not in the army before it, requires keener optics than mine to perceive.

The next+ & last objection is, that Whiteman received an indent or army certificate from the
Comptroller of the Edenton District, Whereas
he ought to have received it from the Comptroller of the Halifax District; and the inference is therefore drawn that there was another Matthias Whiteman, who was the real bona fide soldier, though no such person or any one for him has ever appeared or claimed a pension; and this surmise is set up against the positive testimony of Fifer, that the Matthias Whiteman who was the father of
the applicant, was a soldier in the  revolutionary war in the North Carolina line; that he served nearly the whole of the war & that he was in the battle of Guilford Court House!

Proof is now demanded to overcome these
 surmises & objections, which it must be well known to the Commissioner, cannot now be obtained, Whither this is calculated to fulfil or defeat the intentions of Congress, the Commissioner
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may have one opinion + I another.

I am respectfully your obedt servt
N Sargent

L. P. Waldo Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
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[Left margin of document] Identification only difficulty [illegible]

Objection. That the Court does not certify who the children are, but who the heirs are.

Answer. The Court certifies that the heirs
and the children named in the declaration, that they, Mathias + Margaret Whiteman "have left surviving them no other child nor
him at law now living but those named in the declaration and that the ages are correct as set forth therein. Surely this is sufficiently explicit definite + certain in regard to who the children are.  The children also, severally make affidavit that they are the children of the said Mathias + Margaret Whiteman, & give their ages respectively.

Catherine Smith & David Cobel also testify on oath to the number + names of the children of the said Mathis + Margaret Whiteman.

Objection. "It has not been shown that the
soldier + the father of the
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applicants are identical"
Answer, With all due deference I think this has been clearly shown by the testimony of
George Valentine Fifer, who states that he knew Mathias Whiteman + Margaret his wife before + after they were married. That he saw Whiteman mustered into service, + that he lived neighbor to them in North Carolina
that he came to Indiana at the time Widow Whiteman + her family came, + has lived neighbor to them ever since. If this
testimony does not identify the soldier + the father of the applicants, it is in vain to look
for any that will
N.S.
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Washington May 30, 1853
To the Commissioner of Pensions

Sir

I herewith enclose additional evidence in the case of the Widow of Matthias Whiteman a revolutionary soldier in the North Carolina line.

This case was suspended for the want of a certificate of Marriage, or a certificate from the Clerk of the County, in which it has been set forth they were married, that there is no marriage record; which certificate of "no marriage record" is enclosed together with evidence of no family record.

There being no record of the marriage of any kind, the case stands upon the next best evidence, namely, that they were known &+lived together as man + wife + raised a family of children. This is fully proved by the papers now on file + the papers enclosed as
additional testimony set forth the ages of the children, carrying the marriage back, beyond 1794. I now, therefore, look upon the case as fully established,
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and ask that it may be attended to at your earliest convenience. It comes under the act of 1838, for the benefit of widows of revolutionary officers soldiers, +c.

I herewith file a power of Attorney authorising me to act in this case,
I have the honor to be your obt servt
N Sargent

the only record of evidence of the soldiers of the revolution, in North Carolina line, in the payments to them, which evidence has already
been filed in a certificate from the Comptroller of that State, and which should be conclusive
as regards service for two years or full pension.
N.S.
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Pension Office
Oct 29, 1853.

Sir

In the case of Margaret Whiteman, deceased, widow of Matthias of Ind. the additional affidavit of G. V. Fifer has been examined and filed.

The additional proof of identity required by my letter of 15th August last, has not been presented.

Very Respectfully Your obt svt.
L P Waldo
Commissioner

N. Sargent Esqr.
Present
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Brief in the Case of Margaret Whiteman, decd
widow of Matthias Whiteman

In this case it appears by the certificate of the
Comptroller of the State of North Carolina that
payments for military services in the revolutionary war were made to Matthias Whiteman, amounting in the aggregate to [British pound sign] 28 18- a sum sufficient
to pay for service as private at $6 2/3 per month, for ten months and twenty five days, and entitling him if living at the passage of the act of June 7, 1832 to a pension of $36,12½ per annum

Mathias Whiteman, the husband of Margaret, died in 1816, as is proved by several credible witnesses.

Margaret Whiteman is shown by
satisfactory parol evidence (there being no record evidence, as is duly certified) to have been married
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to a man named Matthias Whiteman in 1784 - she died, as is also shown by satisfactory proof, on the 20th day of July 1851

the children of Margaret (namely, Elizabeth
Philipee, widow of Henry Philipee, Esther Field, wife of Abner Field, Esther Wilson, wife of Jesse Wilson, Barbara Cartner, wife of David Cartner, and Henry Whiteman), now apply, through the regularly constituted administrator upon the estate of said Margaret
(Henry Whiteman) for the amount due
her in virtue of aforesaid services, under the act of July 7. 1838. These parties are duly shown to be the children, and the only children of the said Margaret.

the only difficulty in the case, it will be perceived from this statement, is confined to the point of identity- that is, whether the husband of Margaret was the same person who served as certified
by the Comptroller and it arises mainly, from
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the meagre date furnished in the Certificate by which the service is arrived at. The evidence adduced upon the point consist of the affidavits of Catharine Smith and David Cobel, (who swear that the husband of Margaret was a reputed soldier of the revolution) and two affidavits of George V. Fifer who swear positively that the said husband of Margaret
served in said war in the North Carolina line.
He proceeds to detail several items of such service, but as the certificate of the Comptroller furnished none, the usual test by comparison cannot be applied. The case, therefore, rests upon the credibility and right to be attached to the naked parol evidence referred to the credibility of the witnesses is duly certified - that of Fifer, is the principal witness, is certified by two Justices of the Peace, before whom his depositions were
verified at different periods of time.

I know of no sale of
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the office which would authorize the rejection
of the positive testimony of Fifer as insufficient
of itself to establish the point in controversy-
But under the circumstances, that point is
submitted for the decision of the Commission
the case is otherwise clearly proved.

R Geddes
Ex'g Clerk

[Very faint mostly illegible handwriting, includes these names: John Paisley Mayor, of
Catherine Smith
David Cobel

Case suspended see letter to Claimant's Agent Nov 18. 1853. R.G.

Brief for the Commissioned
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Washington D.C.
May 18th 1832

Sir

I herewith enclose a petition for the Pension due Margaret Whiteman, widow of Matthias Whiteman, both decd. Margaret died on or about the 20th of July 1851, the children now claim the pension due to the widow under the act of 1838, to the time of her death.

Among the enclosed papers you will find a declaration made by her in Dec. 1850, and owing to no marriage record existing, has been obliged to detain the case, but produce affidavits of two persons that she was married directly after the close of the war and that
she is the widow of the same Mathias Whiteman who served in North Carolina during the Revolutionary War.  You will please send the certificate to me to forward to the atty.

Very respectfully &c
O.D. Robb

J.E. Heath Esq
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Pension Office
Aug 15, 1853

Sir

The additional evidence filed in the case of Margaret Whiteman decd widow of Matthias of Ind.  Act July 7. 1838 is not of such a character as to justify its admission. It is admitted that a Matthias Whitman, or Whiteman, did perform some service in the war of the Revolution, but it has not been shown, that the soldier and the father of the applicants are identical. This must be done by the testimony of those who served with him, or who can show that they were in a position
to know, that he did serve as alleged, The
date of the marriage has not been established,
If there is no record, the witnesses must show
how they recollect when it occurred. A
certificate of Court must be furnished showing, not who are the heirs, but who are the children now living
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The Court should show upon what testimony, it bases its certificate.

Very Respectfully 
LP Waldo
Commissioner

N Sargent Esq
Present
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Nancy Stout Jospeh - sus - Ind
Margaret Whiteman Mathias - Ind
N. Sargent
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Commissioner of Pensions

Sir

I desire to have the cases of Margaret Whiteman and Nancy Stant, (wife of Joseph
Stout) both applicants for Revolutionary
Pensions, from Indiana, + whose applications have been suspended, taken up + reconsidered, as I cannot see what solid
objection be urged against either claim.

Very respectfully
Your Obt Servt
N. Sargent
Atty.
Feby 6, 1857
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Know all men by these presents that I, Nathan Sargent of the City of Washington, having been duly appointed the attorney of Margaret Whiteman, widow of Matthias Whiteman, a soldier in the Revolutionary War, to procure
for her + her heirs the pension from the United States she believed herself entitled to, the power of Attorney now being on file in the
Pension Office, do hereby nominate and appoint George W. Barry of Washington City as attorney in the premises in my place and
behalf and do authorize him to do and perform all the acts which I am authorized to perform by the said power of Attorney, hereby notifying whatsoever he may lawfully do in the premises.
In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand this 14th March 1862,

N Sargent
Witnesses

L. H. McShains
N. Davidson
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District of Columbia}
Washington County}

On this fourteenth day of March in the year Eighteen hundred and sixty two before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for said County personally appeared N Sergeant who is personally well known to me as the person who executed the within letter of attorney and acknowledged the same to be his act and deed

Given under my hand and seal the day and year above written

N Callam JP [the word seal is circled]
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State of Indiana}
County of Clark} set

On this 4th day of February 1834 before me the undersigned Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid personally appeared George V. Fifer of said County to me well known, and entitled to credit and who being sworn in due form of law upon his oath States in addition to the statements which he has
made in his several depositions taken to establish the claims of the children of Mathias Whiteman deceased against the United States by reason of Military services of said Whiteman in the revolutionary war. That he the said Fifer says he is 89 years of age next March the 8th day He cannot tell at what particular time Mathias Whiteman entered the war or how long he served, but he suppose that he was about 15 years old when the battle was fought at Guilford Court House N.C. which was called Martinsville then. This was at the same time that the battle was fought at "Guraugh", where DeKalb was killed and the British kept coming until they got to Martinsville, and the same time when General Gates run after two fires and would not stand his ground like De Kalb.

He further states that Mathias Whiteman
frequently hired to serve in other mens
places and went against the Tories and
sometimes one way and sometimes the other
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Witness does not know whether he was
drafted or volunteered on his own account
at any time, but that said Whiteman was out in the service of the war the greater part of the time which he supposes lasted about seven years,

Some of the foregoing facts are stated from
witness' own recollection and observation and
some from the statement of said Mathias
Whiteman and his comrades after their return from the wars, and during the wars.

Question. What was the reason that an application for a pension was not made sooner? Ans. Witness States in answer to the above interrogatory. That there was not much of that sort of business done before he came
away from Carolina and that they did not know that they could get it. Int. A.  What is the reason the widow did not apply sooner
Ans. It was her neglect if she knew it I dont know as she knowed it. I suppose she would not have waited so long is she had knowed it.

Sworn to before me the 4th day of February
1854 aforesaid, and I certify that I believe the said Fifer to be of the age above stated he is a man of sound mind and undoubted veracity and clear district memory- I further certify that I am not interested in this claim and am not concerned in its prosecution

John Covert [the word seal is circled] J. P.
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also before me personally appeared
H. Clay Coones of said county to me well
known as a credible witness and reputable
in his profession, and being duly sworn by
me according to law upon his oath states
that he well knows said George V. Fifer to be a man of sound mind + memory that he has a remarkably clear memory for one of his age, that said Fifer is reputed to be about 90 years of age and is also a man reputed to be of unimpeachable veracity. He also states that he knew Margaret Whiteman who made application for pension by reason of military services of her late husband Mathias Whiteman in the Revolutionary war that for some years before her death she was in a very feeble State of health, and generally of a weak mind and memory and at times her mind was sound and her memory was quite good + distinct.

affiant further states that said Margarett in her lifetime made application to him through
her children + grand children to apply for a
pension for her this was in 1851 as well as
he recollects, that papers were prepared for
the purpose and soon after she died.
whether the papers were ever sent up or not
affiant does not know, affiant further says that said Margarett Seemed utterly ignorant
of the fact that she was entitled to a pension until assured by me that she was upon the statement of herself and children by reason of service + of her late husband
Page 35

affiant further states that she was wholly destitute of means to prosecute her claims, and he knows these are the reasons why she did not apply sooner. Nor would she then have applied had not her daughter with whom she then resided, and on whom I attended as a physician and her grandson in law urged the matter, and consulted on the subject, as I was then also acting as a justice of the peace, and taking positions for those who were applying for Bounty land under the act of 1850. affiant further states that he refers Mrs. Whiteman to H. F. Smith Esqr of Jeffersonville Ia as a suitable [illegible] to prosecute her case or claim and accordingly said Smith was
employed by the said Margarett in her lifetime as I understood but of that he can speak more fully affiant further states that he is disinterested.

H. Clay Coones

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 4th day of February 1854

John Covert [the word seal is circled] J. P.

State of Indiana Clark County SS.
I hereby certify that John Covert Esq was on
the 4th day of February 1854 an acting Justice
of the peace within + for said County of Clark
duly commissioned + sworn, and that his
two signatures to the foregoing affidavits
are genuine.

Witness my hand & seal of Office as Clerk
of the Clark Circuit Court the 9th day of February 1854.

Charles P. Ferguson Clk
Page 36

Power of atty to O D Robb from Smith
Page 37

Know all men by these presents, that I
Henry F. Smith of Clark County Indiana
do hereby constitute and appoint O.D. Robb
of Washington City D.C. my lawful attorney
for me and in my name and stead, to take
the control of the claim filed by me in the
office of the Commissioner of Pensions in favor of the heirs of Margaret Whiteman decd for services of Mathias Whiteman decd in the
Revolutionary War, to do any and all lawful
acts whatsoever necessary in the prosecution
of said claim and to secure the speedy allowance thereof as well as to receive and receipt for all bounties, sums and amounts that may be allowed on said claim. hereby confirming all and whatsoever my said Attorney shall for me legally do in and about the premises,

Attest
Geo W. Lloyd

In witness of which I hereunto set my hand and seal the 8th day of July, 1852

Henry F. Smith [the word seal is circled]

This 8th day of July 1852 came Henry F. Smith
personally before me and acknowledged the
above power of Attorney as his voluntary act and deed for the purposes therein named

Witness my hand and seal
Notarial at the County of Clark + State of Indiana 

Jno F Read Nos. CC
Page 38

[Printed document with handwritten entries]

STATE OF Indiana
COUNTY OF Clark

On this twenty eighth day of December A. D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty personally appeared before me, a Justice of the peace within and for the State and county aforesaid John Amick and John Amick Jr residents of the State of Indiana and county of Clark, who being duly sworn according to law, declare that Mary Whiteman is the widow of  Mathias Mathias [illegible, blurred] in the company commanded by Captain [left blank]
in the [left blank] regiment of [left blank] commanded by [left blank] in the Revolutionary war

That the said Margarett Whiteman was married to the said Mathias Whiteman deceased, at Guilford Co. in the State of North Carolina on the [left blank] day of [left blank] 
after the war A.D. by one [left blank] that the name of the said Margaret Whitman before
her marriage aforesaid was Margaret Low that her husband, the said Mathias Whiteman died at Guilford County on the [left blank] day of about A.D. 1816 and that she is still a widow. That the said Mathias Whiteman lived a neighbour to them in North Carolina from the time of his marriage until his death or nearly so and that the widow with her family removed to this State soon after and they swear that they are disinterested witnesses.

John his X mark Amick Sr [the word SEAL is outlined]
John his X mark Amick Jr [the word SEAL is outlined]

Subscribed and sworn before me this 28th day of December A.D. 1850. And I hereby certify that they are credible witnesses.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto subscribe my name as Justice of the peace
aforesaid.

H. Clay Coones J.P. [the word seal is circled]
Page 39

[Printed document with no entries]

BOUNTY LAND CLAIM.
Form of Declaration for Widow of a deceased Officer or Soldier,
State of}
County of} ss.
On this __ day of ___ A.D., one thousand eight hundred and ___ personally appeared before me, a ___ within and for the county and State aforesaid ___ a resident of ___ in the State of ___, who being duly sworn according to law, declares, that she is the widow of ___ deceased, who was a ___ in the company commanded by Captain ___  Regiment of __ commanded by ___ in the ___

That her said husband ___ at ___  on or about the ___ day of ___ A.D. ___ as will appear  by  ___ She further states that she was married to the said __ in ___ on the ___ day of ___ A.D. ___ by one ___ a ___ and that her name before her said marriage was ___ that her said husband died at ___ on the ___ day of ___ A.D., ___ and that she is still a widow.

She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled under the act passed September 28th, 1850.

Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written. [the word SEAL is outlined]

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I herewith subscribe my name as aforesaid.

[handwritten on right margin: (illegible) Whiteman Margaret]
Page 40

[Printed document with handwritten entries]

State of Indiana}
County of Clark} ss.

I Eli M Calley Clerk of the Court, in and for the County and State above mentioned, do hereby certify, that Clay Coones whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing declaration, affidavit, and power of attorney, is, and was, at the time of signing the same a justice of the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn; that all his official acts as such are entitled to full faith and credit; and that the aforesaid County Court is a Court of Record, having general jurisdiction.

Given under my hand and seal of office, at Charlestown Indiana this 23rd day of January
A.D., 1852

Eli M Calley Clerk.
Page 41

Additional Evidence in the case of the widow of Mathias Whiteman of the N. Carolina Line. Revolution Pension

Henry Whiteman + Esther Field + [name, illegible]
Page 42

Know all men by these presents that I
Henry F. Smith of Clark County Indiana do hereby constitute + appoint N. Sargeant Esq. of Washington City D.C. my lawful Atty for me + in my name + stead to take the control
of the case filed by me in the office of the Commissioner of Pensions in favor of the heirs of Margaret Whiteman decd for services of Mathias Whiteman decd in the Revolutionary War - to do any and all lawful acts whatsoever necessary in the prosecution of said claim + to secure the speedy allowance thereof - as well as to receive a receipt for any and all bounties, sums + amounts that may be allowed on said claim, revoking all powers heretofore given
for said purposes - hereby confirming all + whatsoever my said Attorney shall for me legally do in & about the premises.

In witness of which I hereunto set my hand
and seal this 12th day of Jany 1853.

Henry Smith [the word seal is circled]

This 12th day of Jany 1853 came Henry F. Smith personally before me and acknowledged the above power of Attorney
as his voluntary act + deed for the purposes therein named.

Witness my hand & seal notorial,
F. R. Lewis NP

[image of a seal, legible words: CLARK CO IA]
Page 43

HR Smith to N. Sargent} Power of Attorney
Page 44

State of North Carolina}
Guilford County}

I, John M. Logan Clerk the Court of the Pleas and Quarter Sessions for Guilford County
do hereby certify by request, that I have made
Strict Search among the papers on file in my
the said County Court Clerks office for a
Marriage Licence Bond Supposed to be given by Mathias Whiteman about the Year 1782 to obtain Licence to Marry Margret Low, and cannot find such a bond in my office. I furthermore certify from the appearance of the files of such bonds, that there was but little care or attention paid to them as Safekeeping.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of our said Court at office in the Town of Greensboro this 18th
day of October A.D. 1852.

John M. Logan C.C.C
Page 45

State of Indiana}
Clark County ss.}

In Probate Court for Clark Co
Wednesday April 21, 1852.
Present, Hon. Willis W. Goodwin Sole Judge of said Court, Upon this day it is proven to the satisfaction of the Court by the affidavit of disinterested + credible witnesses taken in open Court that Margaret Whiteman named in the declaration of Henry Whiteman died in this County on the 20th July 1851 at the age of about 100 years: that she was the widow of Matthias Whiteman who was a private in the revolutionary war in the North Carolina line
from Guilford County North Carolina in 1816:
that the said Margaret was the daughter of
Peter Low of Guilford County North Carolina
was married to the said Matthias Whiteman Soon after the Revolutionary war and before 1785, and that she continued to be the widow of said Mathias Whiteman up to the time of her death. Further proved to the satisfaction of the Court that the heirs named in the aforesaid declaration of Henry Whiteman are children of said Mathias and Margaret Whiteman, and that they have left surviving them no other child nor heir at law now living but those named in said declaration and that the ages are correct as set forth therein.

In Testimony that the foregoing is a true copy taken from the Records of said Court I Charles P. Ferguson Clerk thereof, hereto subscribe my name and affix the seal of said Court at
Charlestown the 25th day of Septr. 1852,

[very faint image of a seal, illegible]

Charles P. Ferguson M
Page 46

State of Indiana}
Clark County] set

on this 13 day of May 1853 personally came before me a Justice of the peace within and for said County Henry Whiteman of said County who is personally known to me and entitled to credit and being sworn in due form of Law upon oath states that he is the child and heir at Law of Margant Whiteman late of said County deceased and of Matthias Whiteman decd who was a private in the Revolutionary war in the North Carolina line &+that heir 47 years of age that no family record has been kept of the Marriages and births + deaths of said Matthias & Margaret Whiteman and their children but but that they lived together as man + wife and was so Generally reputed and that he makes this declaration to releave any amounts or bounty [illegible] on account of Military servis of his said father

Teste} Milton McComb

Henry his X mark Whiteman [the word seal is circled]

Sworn and subscribed the day and year first above named witness my hand and seal
William Vanhook J. P, [ the word seal is circled]

also before me personally [illegible] Ether Feild
wife of Abner Field of said County who is
entitled to credit and made oath in due form
of Law that she is the child and heir at Law
of Margaret + Matthias Whiteman decd as
aforesaid that she is 53 years of age and that
there is no record that she knows of kept of the Marriages births + other of the family but
that they lived together as man and wife

[Left margin of document: P Ferguson clk +c]
Page 47

there is no record that she knows of Keeper of
the Marriages births + deaths of the family
but that they lived together as man and wife
and was so generally reputed and that she makes this declaration to release any bounties in amounts due on account of Military service of her said father

Riley Amick Teste Esther her X mark Feild [the word seal is circled]

at test Wm Vanhook

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 13  day the year 1853 witness my hand and seal

William Vanhook JP [the word seal is circled]

also personally came before me Barbara
Catener wife of James Catener of said County
who is entitled to credit and made oath in due
form of Law that she is the child + heir at law of the [illegible] Margaret + Mathias Whiteman deceased that she is 45 years of age that there is no family record of her said parents family but that they lived together as man + wife and was [illegible] so reputed and she makes this declaration o recover any amounts on due on account of her said fathers
Military service in Revolutionary war

Rebecca Cortener Test Banahen her X mark Catener [the word seal is circled]

sworn and subscribed to before me on the 13 of May 1853. witness my hand & seal

William Vanhook J P [the word seal is circled]

State of Indiana Clark County ss
I Charles P. Ferguson Clerk of the Clark Circuit Court certify that [the next line id cut off]

[Left margin of document: Charles P Fergus]
Page 48

also pursonnely came before me Barbara
Catener wife of David Catener of said County
who is entitled to credit and made oath in due
form of Law that she is the child + heir at
Law of the foresed Margaret & Matthias Whiteman deceased that she is 45 years of age that there is no famely  record of her said parents family but that they lived together as man + wife and was [illegible] so reputed and she makes this declaration to recover any amounts on [illegible] due on account of her said fathers Military service in Revolutionary war

Rebecca Cortener Test Banaben her X mark Catener

sworn and subscribed to before me on the 13 of May 1853. witness my hand + seal

William Vanhook J P [the word seal is circled]

State of Indiana Clark County ss
I Charles P. Ferguson Clerk of the Clark Circuit Court certify that
Page 49

State pf Indiana} set
Clark County}

Persaneley cam before me the me the under sign a Justice of the Peace for said County and State of Indiana Catharine Smith and David Cabel who are intitled to credit and who
being fully sworn acording to Law on the
oath state saith that they are disinterested in
making this affidavid and that they were well
acquainted with Margaret Whiteman late of said County who decd a widow of Mathias Whiteman who was reputed to be a Solder in the Revolutionary war in North Carrolina line and well knew the family of the said Marreget + Mathias Whiteman lived together as man + wife and were generaly so Reputed that the
said Mathias Whiteman died in Guilford County North Carolina in the year of 1816
leaving Marget Whiteman his widow who
Continued to be his widow until her death which took place in Clark County Indiana on the 20th day of July 1851 that she had by said Mathias Whiteman the following Children Elizabeth Philipe who died in Clark County Indiana Age 69 in 1852 widow of Henry Philipe Decd, John Whiteman who died in Baling green Kentucky at the age 61 in 1845 of years leaving 3 children Peggy Clapp a widow of Louis Clapps who died in Guilford County
North Carolina at the Age of 30 years leaving two Childerle Saley Clapp a widow of Valitine Clapp who died at the age of 50 years leaving 7 children in 1836 Paley Wlison a widow of Jessey Wilson who died in Clark County Indiana about the age of 25 years leaving one child surving her
Page 50

Esther Feild wife of Abner Feild Aged 39 years
Hester Wilson wife of Jesey Wilson who decd in 1832 in Davis County [illegible] Aged 69 years Henry Whiteman of Indiana Clerk County Aged 47 years Barber Cotenner wife of David Cotenner of Clark County Indiana aged 45 years

David Baldwin Test
Catharine her X mark Smith [the word seal is circled]
David Cobel [the word seal is circled]
Seal

Subscribed & sworn to before me this 12 day of May 1853 

Wm Vanhook JP [the word seal is circled]
Page 51

William Vanhook esq. before whom the foregoing affidavits of Henry Whiteman Esther Field Baraben Cotener, Catherine Smith + David Cobel were made, was at the dates of the certificates thereof an acting Justice of the
peace within and for said County duly
Commissioned & sworn and that his said official acts are entitled to full faith & credit

Witness my hand + seal of said Court the 14th day of May 1853

Charles P. Ferguson clk
Page 52

Oct. 26, 1853. Affidavit in case of Margaret Whiteman, decd., widow of Mathias

Nathan Sargent Present
Page 53

Supplemental affidavit of Val. Fifer in the case of the heirs +c of Margaret Whiteman
Page 54

[Very faint handwriting: 90 years 70 years old if born as the close of the war]

State of Indiana}
Clark County} set

On this day of Sept 1853 before me Justice of the Peace in and for said County personally came George Valentine Fifer of said County
to me well known and entitled to full credit and being duly sworn according to Law upon oath states that on or about the 17th of December 1850 he gave his deposition before Esqr H. Clay Coon in Establishing claim of Margaret Whiteman against the United States
for pension for Military services of her late husband Mathias Whiteman dec'd in the Revolutionary War North Carolina line - that in that deposition he stated that said Margaret Whiteman was the widow of Mathias Whiteman decd, who was the soldier in the
Revolutionary war - that he knew said Mathias and Margaret before and after their intermarriage and came with the widow Margaret from N. Carolina to this State, where they had since lived &c.

Deponent further states that since his said deposition the said Margaret Whiteman
aged about 100 years died in Clark County on or about the 20th of July 1851, and that she left surviving her the following children of her the said Margaret Whiteman, who are also the
children of the identical Mathias Whiteman aforesaid, who was a private in the North Carolina Militia in the Revolutionary War
,
1st Elizabeth Philipee aged about 69 years and
widow of Henry Philipee dec'd
2nd Etha Field aged about 59 years and wife of Abner Field,
Page 55

3d Esther Wilson aged 57 years and wife of
Jessee Wilson
4th Barbara Cortner aged about 45 years and
wife of David Cortner
5th Henry Whiteman aged about 47 years that
these are the children of the sd Mathias Whiteman

- Deponent further states; that the said Mathias and Margaret Whiteman had in addition to the above named children four other children as follows, to wit: John
Whiteman, Peggy Clapp, Sally Clapp and Polly Wilson who were children of the said Mathias and Margaret Whiteman dec'd and who have died each leaving children surviving them.

Deponent states that the aforesaid Elizabeth
Philipee, Etha Field, Esther Wilson, Barbara Courtner and Henry Whiteman are the children of the said Mathias Whiteman dec'd who was a private soldier in the North Carolina line in the Revolutionary War and the children of the dec'd Margaret Whiteman who was the widow of the said Mathias Whiteman, and
that there is no other children of the said Margaret and Mathias Whiteman, and further states the children of the above named John Whiteman, Peggy Clapp, Sally Clapp and Polly Wilson dec'd are the grand children of the said Mathias Whiteman who was a soldier in the North Carolina line, in the service of the United States of the Revolutionary War and that there is no other heirs at law of the said Mathias Whiteman and Margaret Whiteman dec'd but these children and grand children above named
Page 56

Deponent makes this affidavit as an amendment to his aforesaid declaration in said claim, and states he is disinterested
Andrew Bower
Attest John Bower
George his X mark Fifer [the word seal is circled]

Subscribed and sworn to before me the day
and year first aforesaid, and I certify that I
have no interest in the result of said claim and
am not concerned in its prosecution
John Bower J.P. [the word seal is circled]

State of Indiana, Clark County SS
I Charles P. Ferguson Clerk of the Clark
Circuit Court certify that John Bower Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit
was made + whose genuine signature appears
to the certificate thereof was at the date
thereof, an acting Justice of the peace for said County of Clark duly commissioned + sworn, and that full faith + credit are due his said official act

Witness my hand + seal of said Court the 18th day of Oct 1853
Charles P. Ferguson Clk
Page 57

Certificate of Proof
Page 58

State of Indiana, SS
Probate Court for Clark County, April 21st 1832. Present Hon. Willis W. Goodwin Sole Judge of said Court

"Upon this day it is proven to the satisfaction of the Court by the affidavits of disinterested and credible witnesses taken in open Court that Margaret Whiteman died in Clark County
Indiana on the 20th of July 1851 at the age of
about 100 years, that she was the widow of
Matthias Whiteman who was a private in
the Revolutionary War in the North Carolina
Line from Gilford County N.C. and who died
in that County in 1816, that the said Margaret
was the daughter of Peter Low of Guilford
County North Carolina, was married to the
said Matthias Whiteman soon after the 
Revolutionary war and before 1785, and that she continued to be the widow of said Matthias Whiteman up to the time of his death It is further proved to the satisfaction of the Court that the heirs named in the declaration of Henry Whiteman are children and Grand children of said Matthias and Margaret Whiteman deceased and that they have left surviving them no other children nor heirs at law now living but those named in said declaration and that the ages are correct as set forth therein"

A true copy from the Records of said Court,
In testimony whereof I hereto subscribe
my name + affix the seal of said Court
the 21st day of April 1852

Charles P. Ferguson, Clerk
Pro. ct. Clark Co. Ind.