Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1946, Thompson Clemmons, N.C.

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(3-1776)

SERVICE  N.C.
Clemmons, Thompson
NUMBER S.1946
carded
__________________________
CONTENTS  [blank]

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1380
West Tennessee
Thompson Clemmons
of Wilson Co in the State of W Tenn who was a private in the company commanded by Captain West of the Regt commanded by Col _____ in the N.C. line for 9 Mo

Inscribed on the Roll of W Tenn at the rate of 30 Dollars ___ Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834

Certificate of Pension issued the 6 day of April 1833 and Sent to Josiah S McClain Lebanon Tenn

Arrears to the 4th of March 60.00
Semi-anl, allowance ending 4 Sept 15.00
$75.00

(Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832)

Recorded by Daniel Boyd Clerk,
Book 3 Vol. 7 Page 74

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State of Tennessee September Term of County Court AD 1832
Wilson County
On this 29th Day of September 
AD 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the undersigned Justices of the Peace for the Said County of Wilson now sitting at their
September Term Sessions AD 1832 Thompson Clemmons aged 81 years having been born according to the family Register the 16th of September 1751 [crossed out: according to the family Register] 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 the 7th of June 1832 he entered the service of the United States in the year 1779 in the County of Montgomery in the state of North Carolina where he then resided in the Militia in the company commanded by West Harris as Captain - Drury Ledbetter commanded by the the [sic] militia of said County. and General Rutherford Commanded the Briggade [sic: Brigade] to which he belonged [.] Charles Jones acted as Major [.] he volunteered as a minute man in the militia, the Regiment or Briggade [sic] to which he belonged were all mounted men and furnished

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their own horses [.] the object of calling out the men of the Regiment to which he belonged was for the purpose [crossed out: of subduing] of subduing the Tories who were at that time very troublesome [.] they were ordered from point to point wherever they were informed that the Tories were formed in bodies or were committing  depredations on the Whigs, Declarant was engaged in this service under Captain West Harris for six months during which period they were engaged in a number of skirmishes with the Tories. he recollects an engagement against the Tories that had embodied themselves to the number of three hundred in Anson County after serving six months he was discharged. In the early part of the year 178 [illegible under ink blot] he was drafted in Montgomery County North Carolina and entered the service under Captain Richard Fair they marched and Rendesvoused [sic: rendezvoused] at Sharlotte [sic: Charlotte] ^North Carolina and marched from thence to Charleston South Carolina and Joined the main Army at that place [.] he remained there until his Term of service expired making a service of three months. Declarant was in Service in all. [crossed out: nine months] nine months - his discharges he has long since lost there is no living witnesses by whom he can prove any part of his service except Thomas and Samuel Williams by whom he expects to prove a part if not all his service

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Declarant was born in Virginia raised in North Carolina in the counties of Franklin and Montgomery and from the latter County moved to Tennessee Wilson County about twenty seven years ago - where he still resides he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension except the present and his name is not on the Pension rolls of any State in the United States. applicant refers to [illegible] John Jones [,] Samuel Williams, Martin Hancok & others as to his character for truth
Thompson [his mark X] Clemmons

Sworn and subscribed to in open Court before me this 29th of September AD 1832
S/Josiah. S. McClain Clerk of said County Court


Samuel Williams a citizen of Wilson County aged 74 years hereby Certifys [sic: certifies] that he has Known the applicant Thompson Clemmons from his boyhood [crossed out] he Knows that said Clemmons was a soldier of the Revolution as he served with him a tour of six months under Captain West Harris, Drury Ledbetter acted as Colo. of the Regiment and General Rutherford commanded the Briggade [sic: brigade] - they entered the service in Montgomery County in the state of North Carolina - . he has no doubt he performed the the [sic] ^ballance [sic: balance] of the services - mentioned in the Declaration - he was reputed in his neighborhood

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to be a good Soldier and has [crossed out: been] always sustained a good character for truth is about no reason of age

Sworn to in open court this day and year aforesaid 
S/Josiah S. McClain Clerk of Wilson County Court
S/Sam'l. Williams


John Jones a Clergyman for Wilson County hereby Certifys [sic: certifies] that he has Known Thompson Clemmons for about 28 years he is reputed in his neighborhood to be a soldier of the Revolution and witness concurs in that opinion. he is man of high character for truth and he believes he performed the services as stated in his Declaration - Martin Hancock likewise states that he has long known him said Clemmons is reputed in his neighbourhood [sic] to be a soldier of the Revolution and I concur in that opinion he is a man of undoubted veracity
S/John Jones
S/Martin Hancock

[written down right margin: Thompson Clemmons 15556.]

Sworn to in open Court the day and year aforesaid
Test Josiah S McClain Clerk of Wilson County Court

And the said Court hereby declares their opinion after investigating the matter and after putting the Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a soldier of the Revolution and served as he states and the Court further certifys [sic] that it appears to them that John Jones is a Clergiman [sic: clergyman] resident

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that John Jones is a Clergiman [sic: clergyman] resident in the County of Wilson and that [crossed out: Thomas] Samuel Williams and Martin Hancock who have also assigned the same are creditable persons ^and citizens of Wilson Cty and that all their statements are entitled to full credit [.] Given under our hands and seals this 29th of September 1832
S/Benjn H Billings [private seal JP]
S/D.C. Hibbitts [private seal JP]
S/[illegible signature] [private seal JP]


State of Tennessee }
Wilson County }
I Josiah Mclaine [sic] Clerk of Wilson County Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said court in the matter of the application of Thompson Clemmons ^for a pension and that Benjamin H Billings [,] David C Hibitts [sic] and George H Bullard whose names appear to the foregoing certificate are acting Justices of the Peace for Wilson County duly commissioned and qualified according to law and that full faith ought to be given to their official acts as such [.] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and applied my seal of office at Lebanon this 29th of Sept 1832

[seal]
S/Josiah S McClain

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15,556.

Thompson Clemmons, of
Wilson County, Tennessee.


From 1779 private 
9 months.
$30.





Josiah S. McClain, Clk. 
Wilson County, Tennessee.

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BRIEF in the case of (handwritten) Thompson Clemmons county of Wilson, ____ (/hw) in the State of (handwritten) Tennessee (/hw)
(Act 7th June, 1832)
1. Was the declaration made before a court or a Judge? (handwritten) A court (/hw)
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily injury?
3. How old is he? (handwritten) 81 years (/hw)
4. Stats his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period. 
(handwritten) Enlisted (/hw) In 17(handwritten) 79 
Drafted 1780 (/hw)
Duration of Service
Years, Months, Days.
(handwritten)
  -           6.           -
  -           3.           - (/hw)
Rank.
(handwritten) pr (/hw) 
Names of Generals and Field Officers 
under whom he served
Gen. (handwritten) Rutherford, 
Cap. West Harris
Cap. Richard Feair (/hw) 
5. In what battles was he engaged?(handwritten) None (/hw) 
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? (handwritten) Montgomery County, N.C. (/hw) 
7. Is this statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? (handwritten) Living witness & traditionary (/hw) 
8. Are the papers defective as a form of authentication? and if so, in what respect? (handwritten) No. (/hw) 

I certify that the forgoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

(handwritten) W. R. Gunner, (/hw) Examining Clerk

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(Handwriting) Rev. War. 1946 (/hw)
INVALID.
File No. (Handwriting) 1946 
Thompson Clemmons 
(illegible)/ N.C. line (/hw)
Act: (Handwriting) June 7. 1832 (/hw)
Index:-Vol. (Handwriting) A (/hw), Page (Handwriting) 68 (/hw)
[Arrangment of 1870]

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(Handwriting) Thompson Clemmons
Application for pension (/hw)
(Stamp) LEBANON TEN OCT 13 (/stamp)
(Stamp) FREE (/stamp)
(Handwriting) Honorable Lewis Cags
War & Pension
Washington City(/hw)

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Lebanon [Tenn.]
October 15th 1832

Der Sir

Inclosed you will find the application of Thompson Clemmons for a pension the old man is a very worthy citizen and I have no doubt he served as stated -- You will please let me know the answer--

Yours
Robert M. Burton

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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Thompson Clemmons, - which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides:  [blank]

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides:  [blank]

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?   [blank]

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?  [blank]

V. * Has he mentioned 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?  [blank]

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?  [blank]

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?  [blank]

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?  [blank]

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?  [blank]

X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?  [blank]

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2

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?  [blank]

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?  [blank]

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?  [blank]

XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?  [blank]

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?  [blank]

XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  [blank]

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And if not, which of them is not so answered?  [blank]

_________________________________

EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. 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."

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It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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 [italics] about three or four months [end italics] is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.

† QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.

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 claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which be 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.

‡ QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.

In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end 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.

👉In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.