Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 32,114, Alexander Beggs, N.C. Penn.

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(3-1776)
SERVICE                                                      NUMBER
N.C.               
Penn.             Beggs, Alexander                S. 32.114.

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Illinois. 13389.
Alexander Beggs
of Union Co. (County) in the State of Illinois
who was a Private in the Co. (Company) commanded
by Captain Lee, of the Reg,t (Regiment)
by Col. (Colonel) Smith in the Penn,a (Pennsylvania)
line for 21 mo,s (months) & 21(?) days.
$70.44/100
______________________________________________
Inscribed on the Roll of Illinois
at the rate of 70 Dollars 44 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
______________________________________________
Pension issued the 16,th day of July 
1833 and seats Wm (William) H.
Ramsey. Jonesborough, Union Co. (County) Ill,s (Illinois)
______________________________________________
Asserts to the 4th of March 1833
Semi-anl. (annual) allowance ending (July 16,?) 1833
140.88
 35.22
_______
$176.10.
_______
{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Wm. (William) H. Palmer Clerk,
Book S.(?)  Vol. 8  Page 55.

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21279.
Alexander Beggs
Uniono Co.
Illinois
13.389.
Returne d. e c k (crossed out)
Adm 21. Months &
4. days--

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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
23 April  ~   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 nomotes and the regulations will shew (sic) what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed will, when, 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, shewing the Service of Alexander Beggs. Union Co Illinois 
______________________________________________

Column 1- Period when the service was rendered:
Column 2- Duration of the claimant's service. Years. Months. Days.
Column 3- Rank of the claimant.
Column 4: Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.
Column 5- Names and Rank of the General and Field officers.: 
Column 6- Battles in which the applicant was engaged.
Column 7- Country through which he marched.
Column 8- Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.
Column 9- Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
______________________________________________________
First entry:
1- Sep 1776 
But says he served about 7 months in all with Lee & Neil. The 6 month opposite 1777 was the 2 tours under Lee
2- Not stated
3- Private
4- Cap Lee
5- Gen Washington Cadwallader & Ewing --/
6- Brandywine.
7- Pensyl,a
     N. Jersey
8- 79 years on 20 next - Chester Co Pa. -
9- Traditionary
_______________________________________________________
Second entry:
1- Nov 1777*
2- " 1  "
3- "
4- Cap Neil
5- None stated
6-  . . .
7- Delaware
8-
9-_____________________________________________________
Third entry:
1-  1779.
2- " 3 "
3- "
4- Cap White
5- Col. Malburny -
6- Stono
7- South
8- N Caro
9-
_______________________________________________________
Fourth entry:
1- Thinks 1781
     Yours a wrong date, mins 1778 not '88 Sekeanimus the declaration
2- " 3 -
     upwards,
3- "
4- Cap Shin
5- Col Smith
     Gen Rutherford -.
6- None
7- N Caomroli'a
8-
9-  
_____________________________________________________
* 10 months under Neil          4
                                                1
                                              10
                                               3
                                               3.  4   
                                            ______
                                             21.- 4
I am, respectfully,
     Your obedient servant,
           J. L. Edwards
          missioner of Pensions.

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[printed document, no handwriting on page}

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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 brands 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 Spics.

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 applications by transmitting the following declarations, which will be made before a Court of Record at 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 _______________

On this _________ day of _________personally appeared (a( before______ A. B. a resident of (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. [finger pointing icon] 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 proper  record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the role give 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 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 solider 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 is appears to them that A. B. __________________who  has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, 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 applicacation 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 this 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 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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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 ex-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 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 the 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 this 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 [this phrase is in italics] 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 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 office, should accompany the papers.

Mode of authenticating papers.
[Flourish hand written to the left of this paragraph with parentheses around the paragraph]
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 authenticate, 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 much 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. 
[symbol of hand with pointing finger] 
The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by role in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in milia 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.

Joseph Rowen Esq. CK

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21279
Alexander Beggs
A Revolutionist

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State of Illinois
Union County

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832.

On this 16th day 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Hon. Thomas C. Browne Judge of the Circuit Court of Union County & State of Illinois, now sitting, Alexander Baggs, a resident of said county & state, aged 79 years (on the 20th of May respect. having no record of his age) who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his Oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of an Act of Congress (illegible) June 7, 1832.  That he entered the service of the United States under the following names Officers, I served as herein states. This applicant states that in the year 1776 he resided in Chester County Pennsylvania, & that some time in September of that year, he volunteered in the Militia service under one Captain Lee who at that time lived in Philadelphia.  That he was of an artillery company, having with them four pieces (illegible) cannons, 12 two 6-pounders. That he marched from Philadelphia under Capt Lee to Amboy on North River & lay here two or three weeks. That after this he was marched to Fort Lee, higher up the same river  opposite New York. That after remaining here a few days, therein he moved to Trenton, New Jersey, & there again to Bristol on the Delaware River. That upon his arrival at Trenton it was in the possession of the Hessians. [this last line crossed out]

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Than from Bristol they crossed the River to Trenton then in the possession of the Brittish. It was in the night they crossed the River and landed on the Trenton shore above [crossed out] below the town commanded by Calwalladers as Col. [crossed out] Ewing commanders one division of the army commanded in Chief by Washington Gen: There were many prisoners taken. That from there they moved lower down the River, to a little town the name of which he has forgot, under Calwallader where he continued until New Years day when he was discharged.   He further states that one Col. Richard Thomas, with whom he lived at the time of his entering the service, got his discharge. He could or [crossed out] did not get it, does not know what has become of it. That as  soon as he was discharged from this town, he again volunteered under one Capt. Neil commandry over one Company of the Pennsylvania Blues State Troop.  That he was at the battle of Brandywine, where the American forces met the Brittish Commanded by Howe. He recollects that he & some others were sent in the morning before the battle, to fell trees in the road for the purpose of obstructing the march of the enemy. Here he thinks each party kept their ground & that in the night the American troops moved off, to the left of the road & camped at a place called the Red Lion Tavern. That he & some more were taken prisoners of Brandywine, but made his escape that night, came back to his own country men. That on his return he went to his Col. who told him he did not wish him to join

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him again, because should he be retaken by the Brittish he would be hung. He states here that after he was discharged from the first tour he served one month under Capt. Neil he has already spoken of & then he entered with or joined the Pennsylvania troop with whom he fought at the Brandywine, where he was taken prisoner as aforsaid. That he was under Capt. Lee from the time he was discharged from his months service with Capt. Neil, until after the battle Brandywine. That for the reason above stated he left the army after serving about seven months with Neil & Lee (being his second tour with Lee) together, & went to North Carolina. After his arrival in Carolina, he again volunteered under Capt. White, of a rifle Company & served a three months tour. One Malburny or some such name, a Frenchman, was their their [crossed out] Col in this expedition.  He lived at this time in Meclanburg County, N.C.   That during this tour, probably in 1778, he marched to & fro over different parts of the South Country, & had but one engagement called Stone or Honough, in which they were defeated & had to retreat from before the Fort Honough & one camped about 3 miles distant. That on the next morning after the battle they returned to the Fort & found it evacuated, nothing particular transpired after this during the last of the 3 months, at the end of which he was discharged & returned home. That he had not discharge time, but assures they  returned home they all went up to Salbury where Capt White met them & they were paid off.

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That after this he married & he thinks it was two years or thereabouts before he volunteered again. That to the best of his recollection some time in the year '89 he volunteered again under one Capt. Joseph Shin & Col. Smith, Rutherford being their General. That the object of this expedition was to defend the country against the Tories, which they did, occasionally taking some prisoners, without having any battle worth naming. That [illegible] this tour, while they lay about 20 miles below a little town name Crop Creek, between that & Wilmington they heard of the Surrender of Cornwalllis. Upon hearing this joyful news, they returned home after having been out in this Service three months & upwards, & was again discharged. That for this tour received neither written discharge nor pay. That they received orders from some source or other to march to where Cornwallis was taken, little-York, but that his Capt & other men refused to go & return to plough their corn, which was suffering. That besides the Officers above me mentioned, Cadwallader, Ewing, & Washington & Green, he was acquainted with Putnam, Gen, Gen Morgan & others. He further states that he continue to live N.C. until 1800, when he removed to Kentucky, near Lexington, where he lived 2 or 3 years, then he moved to Washington County K. Hence to Butler Cty Kentucky, thence he removed in '16 to this County, Union & State of Illinois, where he

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has resided ever since & still resides. He further states that he has no documents or any evidence& that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his devices. That 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 the agency of any state.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
Alexander Beggs [his signature]
Winstead Davie, Clerk

We William Echoles, a clergyman residing in the county of Union, State of Illinois & John Bridges, residing in the same hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Alexander Beggs- who has signed & sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 78 years of age on the 20 May last, that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a solider of the Revolution & that we concur in the opinion.
Sworn to subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Winstead Davie, clerk
William Echoles [signature]
John Bridges [signature]
And the said court hereby declare the opinion  after the investigation 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 William Echoles who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman

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resident in the county of Union & State of Illinois & that John Bridges who has also signed the same, is a resident in the county & place aforesaid & is a credible person, & that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Winstead Davie clerk or the Circuit Court for the County of Union State of Illinois, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of Alexander Beggs, for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 13th September 1832
Winstead Davie, clerk

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Blank page

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Union County
State of Illinois

The affidavit of Alexander Beggs, supplementary to an affidavit or declaration made by said Beggs before the Hon Thomas C. Browne, Judge of the Union County Circuit Court Illinois on the 16th day of October 1832; in the matter of an application for a pension under the late Law of Congress of 7th June 1832. And also the answers, on Oath, to certain interrogatories prescribed in such cases by said Law.

Personally appeared before me, the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in & for the County & State aforesaid Alexander Beggs, who being  duly sworn, desposed & oath that reason of old age & the consequent lap 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 & in the following grades. For four months (under Lee 1776) one more month (under Lee ditto) year [crossed out]or after Christmas being in 1777 [crossed out]. From Christmas 1776 until the battle of Brandywine 1777 October for ten months (under Neil Capt.) For three months under Captain White (year 1778) not recollected [crossed out] For three months ( under Captain Shin) & four days 1781. & served as a private and for such service & claim a pension.
Sworn to & subscribed this 25th May before me a justice of the peace.
W.P.W. McCabe JP (seal)
Alexander Beggs (signature)

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Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department to be put to applicants in cases of the applications for pension

1st Where & in what year were you born? Ans. In Ireland, Antrim County in 1754

2 - Have you any record of your age, & if so, where is it? Ans. none.

3 - Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, & where do you now live? Ans. In Chester County Pennsylvania, removed first to N. Carolina, thence to Kentucky, thence to this state & county where I now live. How were you called into the service, were you drafted, did you Volunteer or were you a substitute? 4th - Ans. I Volunteered.

5th- State the names of some of the Officers, regular, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental & militia Regiments as you can recollect & the general circumstances of your services? Ans. Rutherford Col Smith, Gen'l Morgan Gen'l Green & Washing the Cap-sheaf of human perfection.

Alexander his X mark Biggs

Sworn to & subscribed this 25 May 1833, before me a Justice of the Peace in for said county and state W. P. W. McCall [handwritten seal]

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State of Illinois}
County of Union}

Be it remembered that I Winstead Davie clerk of the County Commissioners Court of Union County Illinois and the keeper of the Judicial Seal of said Court do hereby certify and make known that William P W McCall who has signed the within attestation is now and was at the signing of the same (To wit 2t, [caret] May 1833,) an acting Justice of the Peace within said County duly elected commissioned and qualified to Office and that full faith and credit is due and of right ought to be given all his Official acts as such, and that John Baltzel Edward Davis and Thomas Ferrill are the Judges of the County Commissioners Court of the County and that a majority constitute a quorum to do business
[seal affixed to left of page]
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the Judicial Seal of said Court at Office in Jonesborough this 3rd, June 1833

Winstead Davie Clerk [underlined with flourish]

We the undersigned two of teh Judges of the County Commissioners Court Union state of Illinois do hereby certify that Winstead Davie who has signed & sealed the above certificate is our clerk duly elected commissioned & qualified to office & that full faith & credit is due & of right ought to be given to all his official Acts as such & that the foregoing attestation is in due form of Law.

Given under our hands & seals this 3d June 1833

Thomas Ferrill [handwritten seal]
John Baltzel [handwritten seal]

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[Envelope]

Jonesborough Ill
June 6th 1833

J.L. Edwards {Free}
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

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Jonesboro Ill June 5, 1833

Sir

Herewith are enclosed your returned declarations & one, new one, with such corrections & amendments, as I trust will be satisfactory to the Department. The principal objections seemed to be those of not having the length of service definitely enough.  Those objections I have endeavored to remove by means of the affidavits prescribed in the forms or briefs, in which the periods & length of service, both, are stated as accurately as the memory will [illegible] of. Those affidavits it will be be [illegible], i presume, are properly attached to the original, as well as authenticated the Magistrates official character being shown by the certificate & seal of the clerk of the County Commissioners court being a court of record.  The interrogatories have also been put to the applicant & answered under the [illegible] & solemnities of a judicial oath, at the time of the making of the affidavits.  The great difficulty & delay necesarily consequent upon getting those. very old man, together with

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their witnesses before a court of record at the same time have influenced me in adopting this course in the amendments. If they are considered satisfactory I shall expect to hear so, as soon as convenient, if not likewise. One of the applicants for whom I have taken declarations, has since died; [illegible]: Christopher Lienly & if his should be considered insufficient I presume no amendments can be made, this or I have not heard from , as well as our two others. 
Yours respectfully, 
William H. Rumsey

J.L. Edwards
Washington City

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Rev. and 1812
Wars Section.

November 22, 1927

Mrs. Earle D. Holmes
1007 S. Wolcott St
Casper, Wyo.

Madam:

I have to advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S.33114, it appears that Alexander Beggs was born May  20, 1754 in County Antrim, Ireland.
While residing in Chester County, Pennsylvania, he enlisted in September 1776 and served four months as a private in Captain Lee's Company of Artillery, and immediately afterwards served 10 months in Captains Neil's and Lee's Companies, was in the battle of Brandywine, where he was captured, but made his escape the same night; in 1778 he moved to Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, he enlisted and served three months in Captain White's Company, and was in the battle of Stono; and in 1781, he served three months and four days in Cap-

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tain Joseph Shin's Company, Colonel Smith's Regiment.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 16. 1833, while a resident of Union County, Illinois. He died February 4, 1837.
Solider state that he married after the battle of Stono and before his last tour of service in 1781, the name of his wife is not given, and there is no reference to children.
Respectfully,

Winfield Scott
Commissioner.

Page 23

[noted in the upper right hand corner]
1915 Sept. 22. Hist to Mrs. E.L. Gillham
1927 Nov. 22  """ Mrs. Earle D. Holmes

32114
INVALID.
File No. 32114
Alexander Beggs

In Rev War

Act: June 7, 1832
Index: - Vol. 8, Page 33

Page 24

[note in upper right - illegible ]

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir - 

Yours of Sep 7 - received and I'm sorry to make you extra trouble. I meant [underlined] to have said we were marking graves of Rev. soldiers in Illinois [underlined] (not Madison Co, particularly - we have finished that county) The record of Alexander Beggs

Page 25

who drew his pension from Union Co, Ills - is the one I wanted. Can you please give me that (Sur File no 32, 114 Rev. War)? He probably is buried in Union Co. He had nothing to do with Madison Co.  Regretting my blunder, and thanking you in advance for further information, I am sincerely yours
Mrs. E.L. Gillham
Edwardsville, Ill
R.R. #6
Sept 10 - '15

Page 26

Casper, Wyo. June 11-1927

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

My Dear Sir:

I would like to know if my gr. grandfather, Alexander Beggs, was in the War of 1812 or any other war. He came to Am. in 1804 and I have been told that he was given as a private in Pa. List. Union Co. Pa. July 16-1833 & was a pensioner.  The War Records Office doesn't show him in any Pa. Troops-but has one Alex. Beggs as private in a company of mounted riflemen, Virginia Militia - commanded by Capt. Daniel Hoffman, from the 8th Reg. in the Co. of Rockbridge in the Flying Camp (McDourells Va. Militia. His service commenced July 16-1813 and he was discharged on account of illness Sept. 28 - 1813 and allowed [illegible] to travel home 160 mi. The War Dept. suggested I would ask you if you had any record of him. He died in or near Canonsburg, Pa. in 1850-Jan. 30. As we are trying to get the family History we will be very thankful for any information about him.
Very Sincerely Yours
Florence M. Holmes
(Mrs. Earle D. Holmes)
10078. Wolcott St

Page 27

In reply to your request of ___________, received _________ for a statement of military history of ____Alexander Beggs____ a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) [crossed out] application for pension on file in the Bureau. 
S.32.114
DATE OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT
Sept 1776 - 4 mons - Private - Captain Lee - Penn
10 mons. - Neil & Lee - "Penn Blues" [crossed out]
[next line illegible due to light pencil marking]
Mecklenburgh Co. N.C.
1778 - 3 mos.- Capt. White - NC.
1781 - 3 mos. 4 days - Capt. Joseph [illegible] - Col. Smith

Battles engaged in, _____Brandywine & Stone_____ June 20 79

Residence of solider at enlistment, ____Chester Co. Penn.__1778 Meckelnburgh Co. NC_____

Date of application for pension, ____Oct 16, 1832. His cl. was allowed_____

Residence at application, _____Union Co. Illinois____

Age at date of application, ____born May 20, 1754, in Co Antrim Ireland

Remarks: Died Feby 4, 1837 Agency book

Page 28

The National Archives
form VAN-51
12-5-41

Bounty Land Warrant Record  Card *

Division of Veterans's Administration Archives

Name Beggs, Moore
Grade Sergeant
Line Pennsylvania

Warrant Number 8977 
Acreage 100
Issued April 6, 1790 
to - not shown - 

* The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates.  Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800.  Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.