Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 32113, Nathaniel Bell, N.C. S.C.

Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
N. C. 
S. C. 

Bell, Nathaniel

NUMBER
S.  32113

Born in N.C.

CONTENTS

Page 2

25963
Illinois
------------------------
Nathaniel Bell
of St. Clair Co. in the State of Ill.
who was a Pr in the Company commanded
by Captain [Harris?] of the Regt commanded
by Col [illegible] in the No. Carolina
Militia -
1 Yr 4 Mo at $53.33
-----------------------------------
Inscribed on the Roll of Illinois
at the rate of 53 Dollars and 33 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
------------------------------------
Certificate of Pension issued the 4th day of Feby
and sent to 
[illegible] David Prickett, Edwardsville Ill
---------------------------------------
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833            133.33 1/2
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mch '34   26.66 1/2
                                                             $160.00

{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.      }

Recorded by J. T. Sprague Clerk,
Book C Vol. 8 Page 64

Page 3

Nathaniel Bell
12.904

Adm 1 tr & 4 months

David Prickett
Edwardsville 
Illinois

Page 4

State of Illinois  St Clair County

On this the 5th day of September personally appeared in 
open Court before Theophilus W Smith Judge of  the Circuit
Court of St Clair Court and State of Illinois, now sitting
Nathaniel Bell resident of St Clair County and State
aforesaid aged 76 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
June 7 1832 - That in addition to the tour which he performed
in the regular army in 1776-77 that on or about the 
1st of September 1781 he was again called into service
that he was drafted and belonged to Capt West Harris
Company and in Col William Loftens Regiment and 
under Genl Rutherford - That he was born in Warren 
County North Carolina but has a record of his age made by his father
and has lived since the 
revolution 35 years in Georgia and from thence removed
to Illinois that the time he was drafted he resided
in Montgomery County North Carolina, and marched
to Wilmington where he staid until the British
evacuated Wilmington, and having heard of Cornwallis'
surrender, he was discharged after having served about
two months  that he has lost his discharge and knows of 
no person whose evidence he can procure to testify to this
service nor has he any documentary evidence of the fact.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension 
or annuity except the present and declares that his name 
is not on the Pension roll of the agency of any state

X  mark of 
Nathaniel Bell

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

John Hay C.C.I.C.C.

Page 5

We William Kinney a Clergyman residing in the County of 
St Clair and State of Illinois and William Bridges residing 
in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with 
Nathaniel Bell who has subscribed and sworn to the above 
declaration; that we believe him to be 76 years of age; that 
he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he 
resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur
in that opinion

William Kinney
William Bridges

Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
John Hay C.C.S.C.C.


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 William Kinney who has 
signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the 
County of St Clair and State of Illinois and that William Bridges
who has also signed the same is a resident in the same County 
and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit -

John Hay Clerk of the Court of St Clair
County & State of Illinois do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter
of the application of Nathaniel Bell for a pension -
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office
this 5 day of Sept. 1832

John Hay C.C.C.S.C.C.

[seal]


[written sideways on the right margin]
12904

Page 6

State of Illinois and County of St Clair

On this the 5th day of September 1832 personally appeared
in Open Court before the Judge of the Circuit Court of the County
of St Clair and State aforesaid Nathaniel Bell aged seventy six years on 
the 18th of March last 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 on or about the 1st April and 
in the year 1776 with Capt Potts and served in the regiment 
commanded by Col Huger, that he enlisted for fourteen 
months and continued in service during the whole time and 
was discharged in June of the year 1777; that when he 
entered the service he resided in Montgomery County North 
Carolina; that he marched through South Carolina and 
Georgia and was at Charleston when Clinton & Sir Peter
Parker attacked the fort [Moutri?] on Sullivan Island -
That he served in the company commanded by Captain Thomas
Potts, that Benjamin Huger was his Major and Isaac
Huger his Colonel -
He hereby relinquishes every claim 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 -

X  mark of 
Nathaniel Bell

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid

John Hay CCCSCC

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

John Hay Clerk of the Circuit Court of

Page 7

St Clair County and State of Illinois, do hereby certify
that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said
Court in the matter of the application of Nathaniel Bell 
for a pension 
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand 
and Seal of said Court at Belleville this fifth
day of September A.D. 1832

John Hay CCCSCC

[seal]


[written sideways on page]
Nathaniel Bell
12.904

Adm 1 yr & 4 months

David Prickett
Edwardsville
Illinois

Page 8

State of North Carolina
Montgomery County

On this day 9th day of November
1833 personally appeared before
me Edmund F. Lilly one of the justices of the peace
in and for said County, Benjamin Bell who being 
duly sworn deposes to the following facts respecting 
the services of Nathaniel Bell in the War of the 
revolution - He states that according to a record made
by his father which is now in the possession of 
this affiant, Nathaniel Bell was born on the 
15th day of March AD 1755 which would make 
him 78 years of age the 15th of March last.
This affiant, who is now a resident of the County
aforesaid, states that himself and his brother 
Nathaniel lived with his father in this County which 
was then Anson County, having been since divided
as well as he recollects; that his brother Nathaniel
was the oldest son that his father had and in 
the year 1776 or 1777 as to the particular
year he does not recollect but knows it was 
in the early part of the revolution, and early
in the spring in March or April, his brother
Nathaniel intered as a soldier of the revolution
under one Captain Potts who had sent Arthur
a sergeant under him into the County of 
Montgomery then Anson in order to raise troops
That after his brother Nathaniel had inlisted he 
together with 4 or 5 other persons Dug them a canoe
and launched it in the Uharrie [Uwharrie] River and Departed
for the purpose of joining Captain Potts somewhere
on the river Pee Dee into which the Uharrie
soon emptied.  As to the time for which his brother
Nathaniel enlisted he is not enabled to state
but that he was absent on duty as a soldier
as he believes until June in the following
year which would make fourteen or fifteen months
and that when he returned he was draped in 
the uniform of an American soldier and uniformly 
stated that he had been under Potts
his Captain to Charleston in South Carolina and 
Savannah in Georgia.  That this affiant does not

Page 9

now recollect the names of any other officers of a higher
grade under whom his brother stated he served
This affiant states that in the year 1781 in the month of
September his brother Nathaniel and himself were
Drafted for a term of three months under one Captain 
Harris, who was under the command of Col.
William Loftin who commanded the regiment 
raised in this county; That Loftin joined General
Rutherford some where near Little River in
said County.  That Rutherford's Army marched on 
towards Wilmington crossing the Cape Fear at Elizabeth
City now in the County of Bladen.  They marched
on till they came to Black River between Fayetteville 
and Wilmington and remained there
until they received intelligence that Cornwallis
had surrendered and that the British stationed
at Wilmington had evacuated that 
place; That after receiving this intelligence they
returned home under Captain Harris & Col. Loftin
and were Discharged verbally on the
River Uharrie.  This affiant states that they
returned home a few days before Christmas
their term of service having expired a short
time previous as well as he recollects.
Further this affiant Saith not - 

Benjamin Bell

Sworn to and subscribed before
me this 9th day of November 1833.

E. F. Lilly JP



State of North Carolina
Montgomery County

On this 9th day of November
1833 personally appeared before me 
Edmund F. Lilly a justice of the peace as aforesaid 
Richard Bell who being duly sworn on the subject of 
Nathaniel Bell's services deposeth and saith that he lived
with his father at the time stated by Benjamin Bell 
who is his brother and that the statement made by
the said Benjamin Bell with respect to Nathaniel
Bell's service is substantially correct.  Nathaniel
Bell was the oldest son and about the 
time above stated, viz in the early part of the
war He enlisted under Captain Potts who 
had sent Sergeant Harris in this County to raise

Page 10

men.  That his brother Nathaniel went down with 
Harris & others there in number making five in 
all in a canoe Dug for the purpose which was 
launched in the Uharrie [Uwharrie] River.  That they went to 
meet Captain Potts in Georgetown, which was the 
place of Rendezvous.  that Nathaniel Bell was absent 
until June of the following year having been 
absent fourteen or fifteen months.  That on his 
return he was Draped in the uniform of 
an American soldier.  He states that his brother
Nathaniel Received his bounty money at his
fathers at the time he enlisted;  He further states
that his brother Nathaniel allways stated that
he had been in actual service during the whole
time of his absence - that he was at Charleston, on 
Sullivans Island and at Savannah.  that Nathaniel
Bell & [rest?] who went from Montgomery
from the heat of the Southern climate
were so sun burnt, that these affiants scarcely
knew them.  Further this affiant saith not only that 
he knows nothing of the three months tour mentioned by Benjm. Bell

Richard Bell  X  his mark

Sworn to and subscribed
the day aforesaid -

E F. Lilly J.P.


I Edmund F. Lilly justice of the peace as afsd.
do hereby certify that Benjamin Bell who 
is a resident of Montgomery County and Richard
Bell who resides in Randolph County adjoining
are credible persons and that their statements
are intitled to credit - In testimony whereof I 
have hereunto set my hand the 9th of November
1833 -

E. F. Lilly JP



State of North Carolina
Montgomery County

I John B Martin Clerk of the Court
of pleas and quarter sessions for Montgomery
County do hereby certify that Edmund F. Lilly whose signatures appear to
[words on left side are obstructed by the seal]
of the peace for said County, duly authorized and commissioned
and that the above signature purporting to 
be his is genuine - In testimony whereof I hereunto 
set my hand and affixed the seal of my office
at Lawrenceville the 16th day of November AD 1833

J B Martin
Clerk of Montgomery County 
Court

[seal]

Page 11

Rev. & 1812 War Section

December 6, 1924

Ruth M. Bell 
1064 Peoples Gas Bldg.
Chicago, Ill.

Madam:

I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary
War pension claim, S. 32113, it appears that Nathaniel Bell was
born March 15, 1755, in Warren County, North Carolina.

While a resident of Anson (later Montgomery) County, North
Carolina, he enlisted April 1, 1776, and served fourteen months as 
private in Captain Thomas Potts' Company, Colonel Isaac Huger's 
South Carolina Regiment.

He enlisted September 1, 1781, and served two month as private
in Captain West Harris' Company, Colonel William Loften's North
Carolina Regiment.

He was allowed pension on his application executed September
5, 1832, at which time he was a resident of St. Clair County, Illinois.

He died January 17, 1835.

Respectfully,


Acting Commissioner

Page 12

32113
Revy INVALID.
---------------
File No. 32,113
Nathaniel Bell
Pri Rev War
----------------
Act:  June 7th 32"
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 33
[Arrangement of 1870.]


[notes on right side of page]
1911 Feb. 8  Hist. to Mr. M. B. Keplinger ¢
1913 Apr. 25  Date of death to 
Mrs. E. S. Walker, see her 
letter in claim of 
Edw. F. Patrick
1913 May 20.  History to Mrs. 
H. W. Masters ¢  1913 June 25
Mrs. Masters Ref. to And. for res.
at last payment of pension ¢
1921 Jan. 25  Hist. to Miss
Ruth M. Bell - EW
1924 Dec. 6  Hist. to 
Ruth M. Bell
1930 Jan. 4  hist to 
Miss Alice A. Patten
1931 June 8  Mrs. Clas. E Patten adv
[illegible] of sol's father not shown
See corres. in Benj. Bell W. 3925

Page 13

[post mark] 
-VILLE ILLINOIS
JAN 1

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commr. of Pensions
Washington City 
D.C.


[written sideways on page on the left]
Illinois
Ret.
23 Jan 1834

Page 14

Edwardsville, Ill.   Jany. 1st. 1833.

Sir,

Enclosed I [illegible due to fold in paper] 
papers of Nathl. Bell, which
were returned by you some time 
since.  The testimony of two witnesses
have been obtained in North Carolina
which it is hoped will be sufficient
to obtain the old man his pension.

I am very respectfully
your obt servt.

David Prickett




J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commr. of Pensions

Page 15

[date stamp]
U. S. PENSION OFFICE
B
MAY 14 1913

Page 16

To The Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
D.C.

Dear Sir: -

Will you please
give me the military
service of Nathaniel
Bell a Revolutionary
soldier, who drew a 
pension in Illinois
and greatly oblige

Yours truly

Mrs. H. W. Masters
R.D. No 2
Fennville
Mich.
May 12, 1913

Page 17

U. S. PENSION OFFICE
D
JUN 23 1913

Page 18

[This page is extremely faint.]

Fennville Mich. R. R. No. 2
June 21st 1913

The Commissioner of Pensions

Dear Sir - 

[illegible] kindly send
me the service of Nathaniel
Bell a Rev. soldier - I
[wish?] to know where he drew
his last pension [illegible] give
St. Clair Co Ill as the place
where he applied for a pension
but the tradition is that he 
lived in McLean Co Illinois.
Thank you for [courtesy?] -

Mrs. H. W. Masters

Page 19

Room 1333, Stock Exchange Building,
Chicago, Ill.,  Dec. 18, 1920.

Bureau of Pensioners,
Washington, D. C.

REVOLUTIONARY WAR SECTION.

Dear Sir: -

Will you kindly furnish me certificate of service
of my ancestor who served in the Revolution, to be used in 
my application for membership in the Daughters of the American 
Revolution.  My admission depends on having this.  Kindly give
all data shown in your record on the following:

Gt.gt.grandfather - NATHANIEL BELL, born Warren Co.,
N. C. 5 March. 1755; died 17 Jan. 1835 in 
St. Clair Co., Ill.

Served in Anson Co., N.C. April 1, 1776 Capt.
Thos. Potts, Col. Isaac Huger S.C. troops;
enlisted again Sept. 1781 2 mos. Capt. Thos.
Harris, Col. Wm. Loften, N.C. troops.

Hope you can send this promptly if it meets your convenience, as 
I do want to get in to the Daughters so much.  Thanking you,

Very truly yours,

(Miss) Ruth May Bell,
Room 1333, Stock Exchange Bldg., 
30 North LaSalle Street,
Chicago, Ill.

[date stamp]
U. S. PENSION OFFICE
DEC 20 1920

Page 20

Seattle,  Dec 21 - 1929

The Pension Bureau
Washington 
D.C.

I would like information 
as to whether or not Nathaniel Bell 
of North Carolina had ever applied
for a pension, if so did he ever 
receive one.  It is my understanding 
that he took part in the Revolutionary
War from the [illegible] to the close

Yours very truly

Alice A. Patten 
600 Harvard Ave N.
Seattle Wash


[very faint date stamp most likely from Pension Bureau but only thing readable is]
DEC 28

Page 21

[date stamp]
U. S. PENSION OFFICE
F
FEB 2 1911


[upside down]
S32113

Page 22

Franklin Bank
ESTABLISHED 1886
FRANKLIN, ILL

H. G. KEPLINGER
M. B. KEPLINGER

January 31st 1911

Hon Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir; -

Will you kindly inform me what the records of your
department show regarding the military service of the 
following soldiers: -

Nathaniel Bell, a revolutionary soldier, said to have
enlisted in a North Carolina regiment in 1775 serving 14
months, died near Edwardsville, Illinois, in 1835.

Jesse Bell, soldier of 1812 and ranger, resident of 
St Clair and Madison Counties, Illinois, died 1835.

Thanking you for this information, which I assure
you will be much appreciated, I remain,

Yours Very Truly,

M. B. Keplinger

[handwritten in the left margin]
74088-120-55

Page 23

1064 Peoples Gas Building
Chicago, Illinois
November 19, 1924.

Commissioner of Pensions,
Pension Bureau
Washington, D. C. 

Gentlemen:

In applying for membership in the 
N.S.D.A.R. I need copy of Rev. War Sur. File 32,113.

I will be very grateful if you will mail
me this copy at the earliest convenient date.

Yours very truly,


Ruth M. Bell

[date stamp]
U. S. PENSION OFFICE
S
NOV 20 1924

[handwritten on the right side]
This is Nathaniel Bell

Page 24

Rev. War Section.

June 25, 1913.

Mrs. H. W. Masters,
R. R. #2,
Fennville, Mich.

Madam:

In  response to your letter dated the 21" and received
the 23" instant, you are advised that the papers in the 
pension claim of Nathaniel Bell, Sur. File No. 32,113, Rev. War
fail to afford any information in regard to McLean County,
Illinois, although his name is erroneously recorded in that 
County in the official List of Pensioners printed in 1835.

For the date and place of last payment of pension, (and
to whom paid), application should be made to the Auditor for 
the Interior Department, U. S. Treasury Department, giving 
him all of the following data:

"Nathaniel Bell, Certificate No. 25,963,
issued February 4, 1834, under the Act of 
June 7, 1832, at the Illinois Agency."

Very respectfully,

G. M. Saltzgaber
Commissioner.

Page 25

[The handwritten portions of this page are very faint.]

In reply to your request of [blank], received [blank]
for a statement of the military history of Nathaniel Bell
a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired
information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for 
pension on file in this Bureau.
-----------------------------------------------------

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
April 1, 76
LENGTH OF SERVICE.
14 mos
RANK.
[check mark]
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.      
Thomas Potts
COLONEL.
Isaac Huger
STATE.
S. C.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
Sept. 1 1781
LENGTH OF SERVICE.
2 mos.
RANK.
[blank]
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.      
West Harris
COLONEL.
William Loftin
STATE.
N. C.

Battles engaged in,  [check mark]
Residence of soldier at enlistment,  Anson Co. N. C.
Date of application for pension,  Sept. 5, 1832  [illegible]
Residence at date of application,  St. Clair Co. Ill.
Aged at date of application,  b. Mch 15, 1755 in Warren Co. N.C.
Remarks:  [entire line illegible]
[illegible] He died Jan 17 1835.
[entire line illegible]

Page 26

Rev. and 1812
Wars Section

MCS/HMM

January 4, 1930.

Miss Alice A. Patten
Seattle 
Washington.

Dear Madam:

I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension
claim, S. 32113, it appears that Nathaniel Bell was born March
15, 1755, in Warren County, North Carolina.

While a resident of Anson (later Montgomery) County, North
Carolina, he enlisted April 1, 1776, and served fourteen months as 
private in Captain Thomas Potts' Company, Colonel Isaac Huger's 
South Carolina Regiment.

He enlisted September 1, 1781, and served two months as private
in Captain West Harris' Company, Colonel William Loften's
North Carolina Regiment.

He was allowed pension on his application executed September
5, 1832, at which time he was a resident of St. Clair County, 
Illinois.

He died January 17 1835.

The above noted is the history of the only soldier from 
North Carolina by the name of Nathaniel Bell.

Very truly yours,


E. W. MORGAN
Acting Commssioner.


[handwritten on left lower margin]
Had brothers Richard & Benj. both 
pensioners