Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 8512, William Forrest, N.C.

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Service: N.C. 
Forrest, William 
Number S.8512

carded

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North Carolina  23.890
William Forrest
Of Green in the State of North Carolina
Who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Shute of the    commanded by      in the North Carolina line for 1 year
Inscribed on the Roll of North Carolina at the rate of 40 Dollars and  --  Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of April 1834 and sent McWilliams Now Hill P. O. N. C.    
Arrears to the 4th of March 34  120
Semi-anl. Allowance ending 4 Sept 34  20
$140
{Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by Nath. Rice, Clerk, Book E Vol.  GY  Page [unreadable]

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State of North Carolina Green County} Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions August Term 1833 Personally appeared in open Court William Forrest aged 72 of the State and County aforesaid, and being duly sworn, doth make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 - That he entered the army of the revolution on 17th September 1778 - at Kinston in the State aforesaid and county of Lenoir, (then called Dobbs) under the command of Thomas Shoote, Captain William Caswell, Colonel, and -- Bryant Brig. General and --- Ashe, Major General -- marched thence through N. Carolina - passed through Elizabeth City - thence through South Carolina near Charleston - thence to Brier Creek - was in the Battle at that place, on the 3rd Day of March 1779 - was with the American Army some time at Purrisburg - marched thence back to Wilmington N.C. - was there regularly Discharged on the 7th April 1779 - as by the original Discharge herewith annexed, more fully appears - making five months and ten days from the time of the rendezvous at Kinston, and the declarant avers that he had been regularly enlisted some-time before - The Declarant further avers

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28.026 William Forrest
That he again entered the service as a volunteer under Captain William George – John Spicer, Colonel, General Livingston – about the year 1780 – he thinks in August – marched then to Newborn North Carolina remained there a short time – marched thence to near Wilmington – and there remained until the enemy evacuated Wilmington – which this declarant believes was some weeks subsequent to the defeat of Lord Cornwallis’ army at Yorktown making this tour of service – the declarant believes to be about or perhaps more than six months.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any agency in any State
Sworn and subscribed in open court as aforesaid William Forrest, his mark} 
H. Miller Chairman [seal]
William B. Taylor [seal]
William Dardy [seal]
State of North Carolina Greene County} I Thomas Moore a regularly ordained Minister of the Gospel and Henry S. Taylor of the County and State aforesaid hereby certify that we have known William Forrest whose name is attached to the foregoing declaration, for a number of years and believe him to be a man of Truth and veracity and that his is generally believed in this County to have been a Soldier of the Revolution.  
August 13, 1833   Thomas Moore   H. S. Taylor

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Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
EEL

October 10, 1930

Mrs. M.T. Norris
519 N. Blount Street
Raleigh, North Carolina

Dear Madam:

You are advised that it appears from the papers in The Revolutionary War pension claim, S.8512, that William Forrest enlisted at Kinston, Dobbs (later Lenoir) County, North Carolina, September 17, 1778, served as a private In Captain Thomas Shute’s Company, Colonel William Caswell’s North Carolina Regiment, was in the battle of Brier
Creek and was discharged April 7, 1779.

He enlisted about August, 1780, and served six months As a private in Captain William George’s Company, Colonel John Spicer’s North Carolina Regiment.

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 13, 1833, at which time he was aged seventy-two Years and resided in Greene Count, North Carolina.

It is not stated that soldier was ever married.

The above is the history of the only soldier named William Forrest, who served with the North Carolina Troops, Found on the Revolutionary War records of this bureau.

Very truly yours
F.W. Morgan
Acting Commissioner.
Date of death not on KB

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Pension Office
Fayetteville Sept 11 1843
James L. Edwards, Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir,
Please make payment of William Forrest 4 March 42 to 4 Sept. 42 $20 Act of 1832.  [unreadable] .
[unreadable] .
James Huske [unreadable]

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Treasury Department,
Second Comptroller’s Office,
May 14th 1840
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,” William Forrest
A Pensioner on the Roll of the N. Carolina Agency, at The rate of Forty Dollars and       Cents Per annum, under the law of the 4th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept. 1838 to the 4th Sept 1839—

Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris Comptroller

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present

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Treasury Department,
Second Comptroller’s Office,
July 18th 1841

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,” William Forrest
A Pensioner on the Roll of the N. Carolina Agency, at The rate of Forty Dollars and Cents
Per annum, under the law of the 4th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March to the 4th Sept 1840—

Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris Comptroller

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present

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State of North Carolina, I William Williams clerk of the court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the county of Greene State [unreadable] do hereby certify that, Matthew Randolph, Wyath Moye, Theophilus Eason, and William Hart Esqrs whose proper signatures appear to the foregoing affidavit and certificate, were at the dates thereof acting Justices of the Peace in aforesaid County, In witness of which I hereunto set my hand and affix my seal of office this 15th March 1834. and further certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of William Forrest for a pension, In Witness  whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix my seal of office this 15th March 1834---
Wm Williams, clerk
Of the County Court

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28.026
Wm Forrest

Admit as applicable
12 mo $40.00
E.G.K.m.

Wm Williams
Snow Hill P.O.
N.C.

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War Department,
Pension Office

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 pages with the following rules and 
The subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed,
Before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is
Necessary to be done. These points of 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 compling with this request facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A Statement, showing the service of 

Period when the service was rendered.	[Dec 18 Apr 19]
Duration of the claimant’s service.	6 months 20 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.

A Statement showing the service of
[Dec 18
Apr 19]	6 months
20 days				
   
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J.L. Wards,
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, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record. 
DECLARATION, 
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832. 
State, Territory, or District of   County of }ss. 
On this      day of          personally appeared (a) before               A.B. a resident (b) of             in the county of            and State, Territory or District of               aged (c)            years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)             , with               and served in the                     (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers: 
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.] 
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of      
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.                         A. B. 
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.] 
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. 
I                           of the Court of                     do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of                for a pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this       day of          &c. 
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out. 
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz: 
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the                        and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with                       , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be         years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. 
Sworn and subscribed the day 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 it neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction. 
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his

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3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore. these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be 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 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 un Officer. Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant. 
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates. 
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject. 
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court. Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace. the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature. 
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter. 
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance. [b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule. 
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned. 
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served. 
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so 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 bis 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            mouths and           days, I served as a                and for such service I claim a pension." 
{It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months, is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with au embodied corps called into service by competent authority that lie 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 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 [j] 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.

The applicant must forward a more detailed account of his war tour – the Militia seldom send in one [unreadable] the actual service

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July 6, 1933
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
William Forrest, S.8512
James Roach, W.18830
BA-J/MLB

Mrs. Virgil Idol
230 North Cherry Street
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter of June 24. In which you Request the records of John Curls, James Roach, Sr., William Forrest and Ebenezer Forrest, soldiers of the Revolutionary War.

Revolutionary War data furnished by the office are obtained From claims for pension and bounty land made to the United States
Based upon military service of soldiers in that war.

A careful search of the records fails to show such claims on file on account of the service of John Curls, and with the information furnished in regard to Ebenezer Forrest, it is not possible to identify his record should it be on file in this Office.

You are furnished herewith the records of James Roach and William Forrest, the only soldiers of those names found in the
Revolutionary War records of this office. The data given in the records were obtained from the papers on file in their claims for pension based upon service in the Revolutionary War.

Very Truly Yours

A.D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator

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July 7, 1933

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

BA-J/EEI
William Forrest – S.8512

Mrs. Virgil Idol
230 N. Cherry Street
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Dear Madame

The date furnished herein are obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, S.8512, based upon the military
Service of William Forrest in that war.

The date and place of birth and the names of the parents of William Forrest are not shown in the papers in the pension claim. He enlisted in Kinston, Dobbs (later Lenoir) County, North Carolina, September 17, 1778, served as a private in Captain Thomas Shute’s Company. Colonel William Caswell’s North Carolina Regiment, Was in the battle of Brier Creek and was discharged April 7, 1779: In Captain William George’s Company, Colonel John Spicer’s North Carolina Regiment.

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 13, 1833, at which time he was aged seventy-two years and resided in Greene County, North Carolina.

It is not stated that soldier was ever married.

The above is the history of the only soldier named William Forrest, who served with the North Carolina Troops, that is found on the Revolutionary War records of this office.

Very truly yours
A.D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator.

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Winston Salem N. C. June 24, 1933 
Department [unreadable[
Bureau of Pensions
Washington D. C. 

Will you kindly furnish the Revolutionary War Record family history and any [unreadbale] you may have of Jolin Curls, Halifax District, North Carolina of James Roach Sec. [unreadable] North Carolina, only N. C. William Forrest of Orange County South Carolina and Descore Ebenezer Forrest – I do not know where this last was from.

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I will appreciate if you will furnish
me any data you may leave me
the above names - 

Mrs Virgil Idol
230 N. Cherry Street,
Winston-Salem,
North Carolina

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3-19 N. Blount St
519 Raleigh N.C.
Sept 18th 1930

Will you give me all that is 
Recorded in Pension of NC
Office of William Forrest
Of Orange [Chaitian in ma?e] B. North Carolina

I am in a great hurry 
For this, and will be
Greatly appreciate
Your kindness
Mis M. T. Norris

(Stamped)
Revolutionary & 1812 Wars
Bureau of Pensions
Section
Sep 19 1930

Page 19

(left side)

1930-Oct 10 - Hist. to Mrs
M.T. Norris - EEL
----------
1933 July 7 - Hist. to Mrs Virgil
Idol. EEL

(right side)

Rev War
8512
INVALID

File No. 8512
William Forrest
Priv. Rev. War

Act: June 7th, 1832

Index: -- Vol [1?], Page 129

(Arrangement of 1870)

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State of North Carolina Greene County} Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions February term 1834 – 
William Forrest an applicant for a Pension under the Act of Congress of June 7th 1832 represents to the court aforesaid that his application as heretofore made before us and duly forwarded to the Pension Office is in some particularly certified by the accounting officer to be deficient, amends his declaration in the following manner.
Personally appeard before me, the undersigned a justice of the Peace for the county of Greene, William Forrest, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and the consequence of 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 upward of twelve months as a private in the army of the revolution, under the officers and at the time stated in his original declaration (herewith annexed) for which he claims a Pension.
Sworn to before me this 12th day of February 1834
Wm. Randolph J.P.
We, the undersigned Justices of the court aforesaid hereby certify that we believe William Forrest to have been a revolutionary soldier and that his declaration, both the original and this amendment) to be true – Given under our hands this the 12th day of February 1834.
Wyatt Moye  J.P.
Theophilus Eason

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Department of War
Pension Office
Nov. 15, 1833

Sir:

The claims of Henry Sauls and Wm Forrest
have been examined - the former claiming only three months
Service is rejected.

The letter is returned for amendment accompanied
by a brief pointing out the objections --

I am respectfully
Yr: Obs Servant

J L Edward

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William Forrest
S. File 8512
N.C.

William forrest William forrest

Page 23

The Bearer hereof William forrest is this day discharged from No Carolina Militia now in the Services of South Carolina It is required he be permitted to pass to the State of No Carolina
and has four months pay due to him unmolested. Given under my hand hand
April the 7th day 1779

John Forrister No

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Treasury Department,
Second Comptroller's Office,
July 6th, 1842

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,"

William Forrest

a pensioner on the Roll of the North Carolina
Agency, at the rate of forty Dollars and
-- cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March to the 4th Sept. 1861 -

Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

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State of North Carolina
Greene county William Williams Clerk of
the Court of pleas and quarter session for the
County aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Forrest for a pension. In witness whereof I hereto set my hand and affix my seal of office. August 13th 1833

Wm Williams Clerk