Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 45835, John Brown, S.C.
Page 1

[black star over name]

(3 -- 1776)

SERVICE
S. C.

Brown, John


NUMBER
S. 45835


CONTENTS
b 1763 in (Screven Co) as
Enlis in S. C.,
In 1833 res in Jefferson Co Fla.
Page 2

[paper torn and dark along the edges]
26.097.
Florida
===================
John Brown
Jefferson in the State of Cy of Fl
Pr in the Company commande
in Conyers of the Regt commande
in the So Carolina
Militia
45835
[illegible]. Pr  40----$  
==============
on the Roll of Florida
the rate of 40 Dollars - Cents per annum,
commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
=============================
Certificate of Pension issued the 5 day of Mar
and sent to
[illegible] Cale Prest
=============================
Arrears to the 4th of Mch 1834                              120.00
Semi-an. allowance ending 4 Sept 34                   90 00
                                                                                          ======
                                                                                          140 00
                                                                                              ====

{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.       }
corded by J F Sprague Clerk
ook E  Vol. 8 Page 138
                           √
Page 3

Revy
45 835
INVALID.
-----------
File No. 45, 835
John Brown
Pri So Carolina
---
Act 7 June 1832
Index: Vol.  3   , Page 6

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 4

In Superior Court
November Term 1833
Territory of Florida
County of Jefferson
On this day the 27th of November Anno Domini eighteen hundred & thirty three personally
appeared in open Court now sitting John Brown resident of the County & Territory aforesaid aged
seventy 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 act of Congress passed 7th June 1832

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated 

That about the year 1788 he entered the service of the United States as volunteer under the command of Captain John Conyers in the state of South Carolina - that he continued for about
fifteen months in the company of that officer. That John Farmer was first Lieut or Ensign of said company: That he does not recollect the names of either the second Lieut or Ensign of said company. That at the time of volunteering he resided in the State of So Carolina in Barnwell District, near Coosawatchie

That from the place at which he enrolled himself he marched to Matthews Bluff, them to [illegible] 
from which point he marched to the county of Ninety six and thence to Cuff Town from place he was marched to Thom's Run - the he went in the direction and soon arrived at Matthews Bluff That being only a volunteer and in the character of scout mostly he was not concerned in any regular engagement. That he was not at any time under the command of an officer of higher grade that captain and recieved no written
Page 5

And the said declarant further states that he was in active service for about the span of two years [illegible] months - sometimes however permitted to return home, but soon ordered into service again. But that he is entirely satisfied that he was on duty not less than fifteen months, that he further states, he resides in Jefferson County and Territory of Florida above named and has resided there for near four years, and that before he removal to this Territory he resided in Georgia, Hancock County

That he was born in the year 1763 in the state of Georgia in what was then as he believes known as
the Province but now as the County of St[illegible] - That he does not know of any person residing in this country, who knew him to have been engaged in the United States - That by now of old age & consequent loss of memory he cannot state with more precision and definiteness, than is hereabove set forth, the facts and circumstances of his service. But he refers William Matthews Esq & Abram Bellamy Esq. as persons who are acquainted with him in his present place of residence, and who can testify to his character for veracity and to the fact of his being regarded & considered in that his neighborhood as a soldier of the Revolution-

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any state 
[signed] John Brown

W H Matthews being absent at the moment Zeke Goodman is the minister referred to for character
estate in the minister referred to for character
Sworn to in open Court
27 Mar 1833 Wm Budd D.C


27th November 1833
We Zeke Goodman a Clergyman residing in the County & Territory above named and Abram Bellamy residing in the same do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Brown who has sworn to subscribed to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy years of age - that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood in which he resides to have been in
[bottom cut off]
Page 6

And the said Court do hereby declare the opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories presented 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 Zeke Goodman who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the County & Territory above named and that Abram Bellamy who has signed the same resides in the same County & Territory are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit

Thomas Randall
Judge
Note in the above statement is various interlineations appear which had been made before signing
& certified to
Tho Randall

I William H. Mathers Jnr. Clerk of the Superior Court of Jefferson County Territory of Florida do hereby
certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Brown for a pension

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal of office this 27th Nov. 1833 & of the Independence of the United States, the 58 year
W Mathers Jr Clk
Page 7

Know all men by these presents, that I Wm P Duval Governor of the Territory of Florida do hereby certify that Thomas Randall whose name appear to the foregoing certificate is and was at the time of
same, the acting Judge of the Superior Court of the Middle District of Florida in which the County
Gadsden is included

In testimony whereof I have hereunto my hand and caused the seal of the Territory of Florida to be affixed this  - day of - in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty three of the Independence of the United States the year fifty eighth
Wm Duval

As the agent of John Brown I hereby relinquish his claim for a pension for military services rendered during the Revolution except for the period of one year
4 March 1894
R. K. Call
Page 8

29.703.
John Brown
Florida
Return   s.
Allow C____
√           Adm
one year

by order of the Commission

Gen R. K. Call
Present

JAMES L. EDWARDS.
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 9

WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office
20. Feby 1834

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 show 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           John Brown
========================================================
Period when the  service was  rendered.   
 1778.                                                                                                                                             
Duration of the  claimant's service. Year. Months. Days.

Rank of the Claimant.   

 
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.   
Cap Conyers.

Age at present,  and place of abode when he entered the service.
70 years
Barnwell
Dist
So. Ca

Proof by which  the declaration is supported.
Traditionary                                                                                                                                  


I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,

JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 10

                                  2
REGULATION 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 claim
ing the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first
instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of
Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is
considered a Court of Record.

                                                                  DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory or District of} ss.
County of                                 }

On this______day of_____personally appeared (a) before
A. B. a resident (b) of______in the county of _______and State, Territory or District
of_____aged_______years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the
following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed
June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)____, with  and
served in the_____ (e) regiment of the_____ line, under the following named officers:

(Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the
town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and the country through which he marched. ☞This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he
declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of
the Agency in the State of

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid._______________A. B.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary
soldier, and served as he states.

I _____________of the Court of
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
the application of__________________ for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
________ day of _____________& c.

If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be
found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out ___________

Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia,
except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and
subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:______________

(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____________ and C. D. residing in (the same)
hereby certify, that we   _____________      are well acquainted with ___________ , who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be ___________
years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier
of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.

Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after
putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary
Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the___________
and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the __________
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I, ____________-Clerk of the Court of ____________ do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of ____________
for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this ______ day of      ____________ & c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission
; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if
possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services
of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
upon the transaction.

If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will
also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful
in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
Page 11

3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case The facts stated will afford one of the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected.
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 Solder.     } 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 be come of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify
as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.

The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are
requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.

The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court,
without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be
the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character
and standing of other persons giving such certificates.

The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the
enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.

Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before
required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper
county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform,
and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.

Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper
Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a
Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is
his genuine signature.

No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before
the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the
declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure,
taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period
of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the
opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.

[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the
claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so
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 served, and the particular rank he held, as the law
directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months,
is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years
in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is
highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement;
the particular place or 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 
witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
☞ The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j]  applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l]  If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m]The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.