Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7161, for Gasper Long, North Carolina
Page 1

(3 - 1776)

SERVICE
N.C.

Long, Gasper


NUMBER
S.7161

Carded

CONTENTS
Page 2

[left panel]
Letter to 3d Auditor 28 Nov 183_
Paid at the Treasury under the
act of the 6 April 1838 from
Sept 1835 to 4 March 1838
notified 11 Decr 1838.
[cert] to Pen Agt. 5 Oct 1846.

[right panel]

North Carolina 12
Gasper Long
of Orange in the State of N. Car:
who was a pri: inf & cavly. [in the ___ commanded: crossed-out]
by [Captain ____: crossed-out] of the Regt. commanded
by Col. Taylor in the North Car
line for 9 months
12911

Inscribed on the Roll of North Car:
at the rate of 35 Dollars -- Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 17th day of June '33
Hillsboro N.C. and sent P.H. Mangum

Arrears to the 4th of March 33- [$]70
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept " [$]17.50
[total] $87.50

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832. 

Recorded by Wm Miller Clerk,
Book E, Vol. 6. Page 47
Page 3

Gasper Long
N.C.
No. 24110-

Admit
3mo pri. Infy. 10
6mo [illegible] Cavl. 25
[total] $35

[illegible]
not authenticated
Page 4

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Pension Office,
Apl 29 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. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed,
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when
you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and
you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.
A Statement, showing the service of Gasper Long
[table]
|Period when the service was rendered.|Duration of the claimant's service.|Years|Months.|Days| Rank of the claimant|Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.|Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.|Proof by which the declaration is supported|
|1780 sub.| |2| |Pri.Cavly|Col. Thos. Taylor Maj. McCauley|79 years|Traditionary|
|1780 vol.| |3| | Pri.|Col. Farmer| | |
|May 1781 vol| |3| |Pri.Cavly|Col O'neal| | |

I am, respectfully
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army,
and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and volunteers," all
persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who
were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to
Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are
also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming
the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, 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.
Sate Territory or District of
County of
On this [blank] day of [blank] personally appeared (a) before
A. B. a resident (b) of [blank] in the county of [blank] and State, Territory or District
of [blank] aged (c) [blank] 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) [blank], with [blank] and
served in the [blank] (e) regiment of the [blank] 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 [blank]
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. [blank] 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 [blank] of the Court of [blank]
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
the application of [blank] for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
[blank] day of [blank] & 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 [blank] and C. D. residing in (the same)
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [blank], 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 [blank]
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, [blank] Clerk of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of [blank]
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this {blank] day of [blank] & c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission;
but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if
possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services
of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will
also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful
in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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3
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case The facts stated will afford one of the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; 
and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be exexpected[sic]. 
All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his
case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of
service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State
troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary
war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such
Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. {To a Soldier.} Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, 
{and what has become of it?
{To an Officer} Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what
has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify
as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that 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
in 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
definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the
loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason
of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his
recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: __ For __ year __ months, and ___
days, I served as a ___ For ___ months and ___days, I served as a ___; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant services, and the particular rank her 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 place 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
nesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
The notes 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.
Page 7

Hillsboro N.C.
13th March 1833

Free for Pension Office.

The Hon. Lewis Cass
Secretary of War.
Washington City
D.C.

Mail

March
18th 1833
N.C. 
Gasper, Long
24110
Page 8

Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of One-Congress
passed June 7th 1832.-
State of North Carolina
Orange County SS
On this the 11th day of March A.D. 1833, pesonally
appeared in open Court before the Judge of the Superior
Court of Law for the County & State aforesaid, now
sitting, Gasper Long, a resident of the County and
State aforesaid, aged sixty nine years in August 1832
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 7th
1832
That he entered the service of the United 
States under the following named officers and
served as herein stated.
In the year 1780, in the summer of that year
as well as he remembers the declarant entered the service
in the militia of North Carolina, as a substitute
for William Gilbrath (commonly called Long Billy)
who had been drafted for three months. Declarants
Company, to which he was attached, was organized
at Hillsboro, N.C. under Capt George Hodge Moses
Crawford Lieutenant, James Baldridge, Ensign;
Col Thomas Taylor & Major McCauley were the Field
Officers. It was proposed to the company that if they
would furnish their own horses bridle & saddle,
that there should be a reduction of their term of service
by one month as well as he remembers. This the declarant 
did, as did the company. From Hillsboro, he
was marched to Pedee & thence to the neighbourhood
of the Battle ground of Gates' defeat, not long after
that defeat; from thence down Lynch's Creek
to Cheraw; thence to head quarters on Pedee - thence
to the south side of the Rion some distance, where
declarant's company were fired on from a
Page 9

Swamp by the Tories, & nine of our men were wounded.
His company removed the wounded to Head Quarters-
thence he was marched to George Town, S. C. & took
some tories & conveyed them to Head Quarters: & thence
he was marched home & discharged having been in service
a few days more than two months. His discharge
is lost. The whole of this tour his company was engaged 
in pursuit of tories-- a good many of whom were
taken by his Troop at different places & carried
to Head Quarters on Pedee.-- In the same year, as this [was]
before Christmas, the declarant volunteered for a term of
three months service in the militia of N.C. in the County
of Orange, where he resided. His company was organized
on Col O'neal's plantation on the western side of Haw River
in Orange County. At this place some troops from
Granville City, N.C. assembled & some from Orange, constituting
a number of something like two hundred
Men. Col. Farmer was the Field officer. From Orange
the Regiment was marched to Salisbury, N.C. the declarant
was commanded by a Captain of one of the Companies
from Granville City- whose name he does not
recollect. After a stay of a fortnight at Salisbury,
was marched to Beattis' Ford on the Catawba- where
his Captain, Elliott, came & took command for a
time, of declarants Company. The regiment to which
declarant belonged, was stationed at Beattis' ford
to prevent the British from crossing the river, under
Lord Cornwallis. He was about a week at this
place, when the enemy having crossed the river
below, his regiment retreated; and the declarant
made his way from the Island at Beattis (his own
regiment on the north bank having squandered
& joined the army, lately commanded by Genl Davidson
who had just fallen, at Black water or the vicinity
At this time, Genl Green was retreating towards Danville, 
& Cornwallis in pursuit. and the declarant [was]
in the war of Cornwallis, under the command of
Page 10

Capt Grimes (Capt Graham).  Declarant followed
in the war of Cornwall as far as Guilford. When
Cornwallis advanced to Hillsboro, & Capt Graham 
advanced to the neighbourhood of the High Rock
where he fell in with Genl Green & delivered to him
some British prisoners, whom Capt Graham
had taken in the march. From the High Rock, declarant 
under Capt Grimes, who was then subject to
the command of Col. Washington, marched on foot by
night from place to place so as to be in the neighbourhood 
of Col. Washington's Troop of Horse.
The enemy came on them at Whitesell's Mill on the
Reedy Fork. When a skirmish took place, in
which six of our men were killed. From the
place of this skirmish, declarant marched to the
High Rock & thence went home & was discharged
by Capt Hodge, having served three months.
He hath lost his discharge- In May of the same
year, viz1781, the declarant volunteered for
three months in the militia of N.C. & joined the Horse
service, at Genl Butler's on Haw River, in Orange
aforesd. under Capt Hodge & Colonel. Oneal. The
declarant furnished his own horse, bridle & saddle
He marched to Guilford Cty- thence to Randolph,
thence down Deep River towards Fayetteville,
in pursuit of Col Fanning & the Tories under his
command, but could not overtake the main
body of the Tories. Declarant's Troop took some
straggling Tories.- He continued in this service
for three months, & his troop of Horse returned
home & declarant was discharged by Capt
Hodge. His discharge is lost - Declarant
performed other service for a few days at
a time, for which he makes no account.
Page 11

The declarant hath no documentary evidence of his
service - no doth he know any person whom he
can procure to testify to his services.-
He was born in the State of Pensylvania[sic] in the
year 1763 in the month of August. He hath no
record of his age.
He was removed to Orange County in the State of
North Carolina, when a small boy, & hath resided
in Orange ever since. He is known to
Samuel D. Holt Esqr. Doc. James A. Craig & Doctr Jas
S. Smith
who reside in Orange aforsd.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to
a pension or annuity, except the present, and
declares that his name is not on the pension
roll of the agency of any State. He declares
that there is not any clergyman to whom he
is known, who can attend to attend to[sic] testify to his
character. Sworn to & subscribed the
day & year aforesd.
Gasper Long hisXmark

We Samuel L. Holt & James A Craig
resident in the County of Orange State of North Carolina,
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted
with Gasper Long, who has subscribed & sworn
to the above declaration; that we believe him
to be 69 years old as he hath stated above; that
he is reputed & believed, in the neighborhood [in]
which he resides, to have been a soldier of the
revolution: that we concur in that opinion
and that he supports the character of a
Page 12

man of truth integrity & that from our
knowledge his character, we should feel
bound to believe him when on oath.
Sworn to & subscribed, the day & year aforesd.
Sam L Holt
James A. Craig

And the said Court do hereby declare their
opinion, after the investigation of the matter
and after putting the interrogatories prescribed
by the War department, that the above
named applicant was a revolutionary
soldier, & served as he stated. And the
Court further certifies, that it appears
to them that Samuel L. Holt and James
A. Craig
who have signed the preceding
certificate, are residents of the county of
Orange & State of North Carolina, & are credible
persons and that their statement
is entitled to credit.
Thos Little JSCL&E
I Abner B Bruce Clerk of the Superior Court of Law
for Orange County in the State of North Carolina do hereby
certify that the foregoing contains the Original proceedings of
the said Court in the matter of the application of Gasper
Long for a pension. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal of Office this 11th day of March
A D 1833
A. B. Bruce CSC
Page 13

Hillsboro N.C. March 12th 1833

Sir
Herewith I send the Declaration of
Gasper Long, a revolutionary soldier
which I hope will entitle him to a pension. 
Will you please apprise me of the
result of your investigation of this claim.
Yrs Respectfully
P.H. Mangum
Page 14

Pension Office
Fayetteville Sept 29th 1846

James L Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions

Sir.
Please remit the
payment of the following pensions.
1832 Gasper Long 12 mo 35
" Andrew [illegible] 9mo26d 30 13

respectfully your Ob Svt
Jno Huske
Page 15

Treasury Department
Second Comptroller's Office
December 5th 1838

Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An
act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain
Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury
of the United States," Gasper Long,
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Fayetteville, N.C. Agency, at
the rate of thirty five Dollars [and ____ cents: crossed-out]
per annum, under the law of the 7th June, 1832, has
been paid at this Department, from the 4
6th of September 1835
to the 4th March 1838.
Respectfully, yours
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions
Present.
Page 16

7161
Invalid
Rev War
File No. 7161
Gasper Long
Pri Rev War
Act June 7th 32
Index: Vol. 1, Page 227
(Arrangement of 1870.)